"Get the hell out!" Shouted Kale from the top of his lungs but the Lycan didn't even blink. He made himself more comfortable on the couch, reaching for the remote and turning on the TV. He moved the channels rapidly until he reached a children's show. It was some kind of farm musical, with talking-animals and some very lame lyrics. Kale seemed to be particularly annoyed by the channel.
"Hayder, we don't have time for your games. Get out." Says Asher, trying to turn off the TV but is stopped by the curly-haired Lycan.
"I don't have time to waste either," argues Hayder and his grimace disappears. "I need Kale's help more than you, cousin."
I look over at Asher and Hayder and beside the green eyes, they look nothing alike. I couldn't have guessed that they were related, but Kale's commentary from early makes a lot more sense right now. If this is how this Hayder behaves every time he visits Kale, I don't doubt that the halfbreed is trying to avoid Asher's hellish cousin at all costs. But as annoying as he is for everyone in the room, Hayder is my best friend now: he saved me from the boring tarot session and diverted everyone's attention from me. On top of that, I always love to watch people arguing, and he does know how to throw a show.
"I've tried to help you, Hayder," exasperatedly shouts Kale at the Lycan, "but it's not your time. You have to accept it."
"You only say so because you wish for my cousin to win the competition." Argues Hayder, looking at both men with anger in his eyes. "You're all so afraid that I'm going to win the crown, so you'd do anything to keep me from even having a shot at it."
"You're an idiot for believing it, cousin. I do wish the crown, like all the other Heirs, but I wouldn't try to sabotage you."
"Then let Kale help me." Says Hayder, his eyes pleading although his voice was harsh. He pauses for a moment, glancing at me, before speaking again. "You are already a lot ahead of me."
"I would dare to argue," replies Asher and although he didn't spare me a look, I know they were talking about me. But why?
I didn't ask right away, but I'll remind myself to pressure Asher into telling me what he and his cousin meant. I was trying to look uninterested by their fight, watching the cartoon but keeping my ears glued to their conversation. It got a little hard near the end of the argument because Mr Piggy just proposed to Miss Pinky and she turned him down. When did children television get so cruel? Did everyone grow bored of fairytale endings after all?
"Well, I guess I can complete the analysis on my own and give you the results after the ceremony." Says Kale to both Asher and me, just as the credits started rolling. "And Hayder, come back tomorrow. I promise to try and help you one more time."
Just as he finished talking, Kale threw the three of us out of his cottage, because he was already falling short with the preparations for the dinner. We walked back to the pack and I listened as Asher and Hayder talked about rescheduling the trainings they missed with the past and upcoming holidays.
"Hayder! Asher!" Shouts a Chase, as he and another guy exit the mansion. "Come to help us move the chairs for dinner!"
"Tell them I had other business to attend to," says the curly-haired Lycan, before sprinting out of our sight. Asher just sighs before trying to catch my hand. I escape his try by walking ahead of him, toward the mansion.
I, like Hayder, will try to avoid everyone until the stupid dinner. After all, I am in need of a bath and a change of clothes, and getting them won't be so easy in this place I don't know, but I can get creative. My mother trained me to survive a world war, abandoning me in the woods and remembering to collect me a good week later. And if normal forests have cottages or cabins, this one was particularly free of any human touch. The only time I saw a person, was when I was glancing at my reflexion in the lake's waters. I spent most of my time in the tall trees neighbouring the water, shooting rabbits with my bow and arrow. I was allowed to have one weapon with me, and I was glad for what I have chosen because it let me hunt while staying safe from other predators. The best thing is that I found out I could've survived the Hunger Games, after my very Katniss week.
"Aline! Glad we meet again, without you pointing an arrow at my head." Jokes Chase just as I stop before them. Not because I was in any mood for the small talk Chase started, but because they were blocking the entrance. Idiots.
"Well, you should move from my way if you don't want to keep the tradition." I smile at him, although my eyes must have been ice-cold as I spoke.
"Always such a lovely presence," he continues the mockery and I roll my eyes. He loves to test my patience, doesn't he? "I told you it'd be nice to meet her, Jace."
"It is, indeed. Hi, Adeline, my name is Jaceson Durmont." The guy that was also blocking the door extended his hand, but I didn't take it. As I said, I'm in the mood for small talk just as much as I am for meeting new people. I'd rather be trashing someone's wardrobe.
"I do remember you, so no need for introducing yourself." I cut him off, waiting for one of them to step away from the fucking way. But they stood there like gargoyle statues, watching me, probable amuser by my anger. Lycans are so annoying.
As I was trying to calm down, Asher catches up with me and salutes the guys. He tries to catch my waist, but I again shy away. The Lycans were, even more, enjoying the show I was giving now, trying to evade Asher's flirting and keeping my cool.
"Take a bloody hint!" I shout at Asher, maybe a little too loud. People stopped and started glaring at us... at me like I was insane. Like I was the one harassing him, not the other way. Even Chase and Jaceson stopped their giggling, mortified by my reaction.
I didn't even get a chance to see Asher's reaction, because he disappeared in the blink of an eye. For a second I was relieved, but then insecurity started growing inside of me. Did he leave me alone here, after forcing me to come back to the pack? What was I supposed to do now? I know I may have finally hit a nerve, after the day I gave him, but I didn't expect him to abandon me here. And why do I feel like this? I can take care of myself, but my heart aches and makes me feel vulnerable. I should go back to campus, but I'm reluctant to travel alone after this morning's events. Damn it! When did I start respecting myself so much, that I give a shit whether I get killed on my way home or not?
"I see you just had your first fight," comments Chase out of the blue, but I don't even give him the slightest reaction. I was more concerned about why did Asher leave me alone. And where could he have possibly go? But even more, why do I even care?
"I don't care," I swiftly say, more to assure myself that this is how I should feel. I don't care about him.
"Right," speaks Chase again. "Well, the girls came back from the mall, so you may want to check in with them. The ceremony starts in a few hours."
"And where are they?"
"Last floor, second door on the left."
They finally let me pass and I hurry up the stairs. But I don't make it to the last floor, stopping on the first and walking to the room I left earlier today. I closed the door behind me, stripped off of my leather jacket and boots, then walking towards the bathroom. I abandoned the rest of my clothes on the floor and stepped into the shower. I was really glad when the warm water touched my dirty, sweaty skin, and I took my time to wash my body. I didn't wash my hair because I was not fond of Asher's shampoo and I doubt he has a blowdryer. I'm going to pull it into a ponytail and call it a 'bad hair day'. As I was drying my skin with a towel, I heard knocking at the door. I quickly wrapped myself in the towel, hurrying to the door. I don't know why I was expecting to be Asher waiting outside the door, because he clearly wouldn't have knocked. It is his room and he doesn't even know I am here.
"Uhm, hi! My name is Tiara." A teen girl was shyly smiling at me with a pile of clothes in her arms and a little bag hanging on her right wrist. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," I half-heartedly reply and she suddenly cheers up. She enters and leaves the clothes on the bed.
"Phoebe hopes you'll like the clothes, she picked them for you. I also brought you some make-up supplies." She abandons the bag on the nightstand and stares intensively out of the window, before her smile drops and sighs. She turns on her heels to face me, and her smile is back on.
"So, you seem a little on edge," she comments and I just continue to be wary about the way she just waltzed in here, like we were deskmates in primary school or something. "Is it that fight you had with Asher?"
"It's private," I cut her off, already annoyed by her. "Thank you for the stuff, but I'd like to be alone for a while."
"Sure," she answers sweetly, making me feel like a hag for being mean to her. "Just don't forget about dinner. Everyone is waiting to meet you."
She leaves the room gracefully and I tremble after she shuts the door. I really can't be part of their ceremony, can't attend the dinner, I can't be here. I wish I could go back to the halls, but there is where my mother expects me to be. I need to avoid her at all costs because I don't want to go back to London. The crone won't hesitate to drug me and send me as a package back home, just because she feels like reuniting the family. Like every single time things are working for me, she makes sure that I will be miserable again.
Where should I go?