Sitting under a tree, I put my hands in my head. Everything I know just got switched
around. We are not the only creatures in Sandy Shores, and now we are all going against each other for the dominant species.
Why would my grandfather not tell me any of his?
"It's going to be okay, Zare." I hear Ajay's voice and feel his arm around my shoulder.
"I am a vampire. What if I try to drink all your guys' blood?" I give him a hopeless look.
"I am sure we can all restrain you." He smirks.
"How are we going to compete with all these creatures?"
"We will, Adagyudi." He kisses me on the top of the head.
"I feel like I am going to disappear."
"I will never let anything to you."
I spot Aanya watching us from across the camp, and she doesn't seem happy. She has her
hand on her hip, and her face looks disgusted.
"You're in trouble."
Ajay looks in her direction, and he cracks up laughing.
"You think that's funny?" I can't help but laugh, too.
"I got myself in a mess," he says, laying his head on my shoulder.
"Do you even like her?"
"She is a nice girl, and I don't want to hurt her, but I don't feel the same way about her as
I do you." He gives me a smile. It melts my heart.
Aanya and Ajay look so awkward together, and I am not saying that from a place of
jealousy. She seems like a socially awkward girl, a little out of place naturally. She only talks
when spoken to, and yet plays guitar for everyone. I guess music is her best communication.
"She is cooler than she looks," Ajay comments.
"I am sure she is."
Riya and Kiara seem to be getting close. They sit next to each other, laughing and
goofing around. Smoke and Cricket are talking to each other. Dev and Chetan are partially
brothers. If you were looking for one, you'd probably find the other. The pack is very close; even with all our dysfunctions and problems, we all had each other's back.
"Come sit by the fire with us," Ajay says.
"I guess." I hesitate.
"We all need to bond."
Getting up from my spot on the ground, I grab my head. Ash's voice enters my mind.
"Are you okay, my little vampire?" he whispers.
"I just heard Ash's voice in my mind," I cry.
"He is your creator; you guys are bonded together and can communicate through your
minds," states Ajay. "He is the one who agreed to let you go. He overstepped AB and said it was best for his vampire."
"Great, now I have a Mark mate, an Alpha, and a vampire daddy."
Ajay laughs and rolls his eyes. "Trust me, you are probably better off than you think. You
have your incredibly strong and handsome Alpha, and Chetan who would jump off a cliff for you and the protection of the vampire clan."
"I know, I just have more stuff to control now. Like the thirst."
"And we will all help you," he speaks with a smile.
"I know."
Ajay encases me in a big hug. With his arms around me and his body close to mine, it is
hard to fight back the feelings I have for him. Aanya is looking more provoked by the minute. With every touch from, her face shows nothing but resentment. Do I blame her? How can she not see the connection between Ajay and me? The way we stare at each other? How protective he is over me; she has to know he still loves me. If not, she is a colossal idiot.
Walking towards the fire, everyone's eyes are upon us, as if they were waiting for an
announcement or something. Chetan is still sitting by Dev. I figure it is a good time to leave
Ajay's side. We need to appear ordinary and non-in love. We need to fool everyone, but
honestly, I don't think that is going to happen. Roaming over to Chetan, I sit on his lap. He
instantly stops talking to Dev and places his hand on my lap.
"Feeling better?" he asks.
"I am still coping with the fact that I am a vampire," I confess.
"It will be fine," he says.
"I had trouble coping with the fact I am a zombie. If you ever want some tips or to talk, I
am always here," Riya speaks up.
"Thanks, I would appreciate that."
"I have an idea." Kiara's wearing a huge grin.
I haven't even talked to my sister in a while. Do we even have a relationship still?
"What's that?"
Getting up from her seat Kiara happily skips over to me. She commands Riya to follow
her, and she does.
"Let's get all dolled up and give these boys a real show," she whispers in my ear.
Nodding, I force a smile. Who exactly am I giving a show to? The right answer would be
my Mark mate, not my Alpha, and secret sex partner lately. Hand in hand, we race to the camper with Riya following.
"We should ask Aanya, too." Why did I say that?
"Okay, but she doesn't talk much," Kiara responds.
"I will ask her to join us," says Riya. She leaves the camper.
The silence is super awkward.
"Look, I am sorry for everything," I blurt out.
"I am over it; I just want to have a fun night," Kiara says with a smile.
Soon Riya is back, and Aanya was with her. It is agonizing playing friends with Aanya. I
have no feelings against her, but wasn't I just having sex last night with the man she's trying to impress? What does that say about me?
"I thought we would give those boys something to howl about with a makeover." Kiara
jumps up and down.
"What have you done with my sister? I thought you were the nerdy computer girl," I
tease.
We all laugh.
"Maybe that's why I need a makeover." She flips her hair over her shoulder.
"I am in," announces Riya.
"Me, too. How about you, Aanya?" I look at the girl.
"I doubt I will be able to hold Ajay's attention no matter what I do," she grouses.
"He likes you, Aanya."
"Not as much as you," she declares.
She noticed. "We are just friends." Smiling, I pat her leg. "You have nothing to worry
about." How could I lie to her like that? This is wrong.
Her face broke into a smile, and she appears relieved. "Okay."
I need to keep Ajay in the friendzone, but how?
Kiara walks over to the closet and pulls out a huge box. It is full of makeup, hair care,
tools and products. Kiara and I brought it with us forever ago and never used it. There was no reason to do your makeup when you would be a wolf over half of the day.
"Who wants to go first?" Kiara asks.
"Aanya should," I insist.
She shrugs her shoulders.
"Go on, girl," says Riya.
"Okay." Aanya doesn't sound too confident.
Kiara gets busy working on her makeup. She puts on eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara.
She finishes it up with some ruby red lipstick. She looks gorgeous.
Next, we did hair extensions, making flow down by her butt.
"You look breathtaking, Aanya." And I really mean it.
"I can't believe that," she says, looking into the mirror.
Aanya wears some of my clothes. She chooses my tight jeans and a red and black plaid
shirt. She also wears my cowboy boots. It is like a new person; she is striking. Aanya is pretty before, but now she was perfect.
Can I compete with that?
It is Riya's turn. We use the foundation to cover up her decaying spots along with rosy
pink blush, and we couldn't even tell she is a zombie anymore. She looks like a human, a
perfectly beautiful human. We dress Riya in a pair of sexy overhauls and a green crop top. She wears military-style boots and a camo hat. This is a mixture of Kiara and my stuff. We each had so little, so we had to get creative.
Kiara is easy because, to me, she was already superb with no makeup. I like her simple
laid-back look, but this was a makeover. We do her makeup in bright peach color around her
eyes, and she wears hot pink lipstick. This reminds me of the pink mini dress I own. She wears that and her white tennis shoes. We have no heals, but it doesn't matter because Kiara was born for tennis shoes.
Lastly, I am scared to see what my sister has planned for me. Kiara does my makeup in
dark colors putting black eyeshadow around my eyes, heavy eyeliner, mascara, and then dark purple lipstick. I wear a black crop top, leather jacket, and skin-tight black leggings. Kiara wanted leather pants, but we had none, and leggings had to do.
"I look like a rebel." I spin around, admiring myself.
"Because you are one," Kiara responds.
We all laugh. It takes a little over two hours to get ready. I am shocked the boys didn't
come and check on us.
"We got this; just walk out normally, like we didn't try to do anything special," Kiara
instructs.
"They are going to know," I warn.
"That we are trying to get some," Riya remarks.
"Have you and Dev?" I arch an eyebrow at her.
"Not yet," she answers.
"Well, you will see tonight, girl."
Aanya is the first to walk out, and with her long hair, it sure catches the boys' attention.
They begin to whistle and clap their hands. I notice Ajay licking his lower lip like he used to do for me.
He does want her. I am glad for her; she tried so hard to impress him.
Riya follows behind her, and Dev's mouth hangs open as he crosses his legs. She indeed
is a remarkable transformation. That girl is zero percent zombie tonight.
Kiara and I walk out together, hand in hand. Cricket eyes her up and down. She is
fabulous in that dress; it shows off her ass.
Cricket whistles at her, calling out, "Work it, baby."
We both laugh.
Chetan looks quite pleased as well. He smiles at me and cheers.
"I give her a ten." He points to and blows me a kiss.
I notice Ajay give me a wink with a whistle. Hopefully, Aanya didn't see.
Smoke cheers for all of us. Actually, I am surprised. I bet he is lonely not having a mate.
He will have to find another girl, wolf, vampire, or zombie. Maybe behind being an asshole,
there was more to Smoke.
"Wow, I am sure all of us are hard after that!" Dev exclaims.
Chetan laughs, shaking his head.
"I sure am," states Smoke.
"And there is no one even here for you." Ajay laughs.
"Seriously, dude?" He laughs, too.
"I can somewhat help with that." I bat my eyes coyly at him.
Ajay's mouth hangs up, and Chetan stands up, ready to deck someone. Walking over to
Smoke, I place a kiss upon his cheek.
"Thanks, beautiful," he says, flashing me a smile.
He does have a sweet smile, or a handsome face. He gives my ass a little slap as I walk
away. It doesn't bother me. Chetan, on the other hand, not some much.
"Let's not get carried away," he cautions.
Smoke puts his head in the air, and Chetan chuckles.
Okay, no fight. Looking over, I see the makeover is a success.
Riya is kissing Dev as they head back to the camper. Kiara and Cricket are already gone.
Aanya is sitting on Ajay's lap while he makes out with her, kissing her roughly before carrying her to the camper. The sight sends arrows through my heart. It makes my eyes dizzy and head heavy. On the other hand, I am happy for her because she deserves it.
Chetan comes behind me, placing his hands around my waist. He nibbles on my ear and
then turns me around to face him.
"You know you never have to change a thing for me. I am just as turned on for you now
as I am normally," he states.
"That's because we are Mark mates," I mutter
"No, it's because you're the loveliest girl in the world and because I love you."
My heart nearly skips a beat. It's not the pull making me want Chetan; I want Chetan,
just me and my feelings alone.
"I love you, too." He picks me up in his arms, and I bring my lips to his. He kisses me
excitedly."
"Make love to me."
"You look like a naughty girl in that outfit, so now I have to punish you."
I smile at the idea.