Chapter 9 - Gina

With everything going on with Bailey, I had completely forgotten about Jenks’ party. One of my friends texts me about it not long after I get home, and my previous plans of curling up on the couch with snacks and a sad movie go right out the window.

I need to get out. I need to feel good. I can’t take this stress for one more second.

I take a bit of time getting ready, curling my long black hair and putting on a bit of makeup. I wear my long, bright red dress with the fitted waist and low neckline. It’s a bit fancy for something that’s only a short step above a family get-together, but I want to feel glamorous and sexy. Just in case Bailey is there as well.

My girlfriends swing by and pick me up. Being crammed into the car, gossiping about our night ahead, brings back the high school memories again. It’s hard not to think of Bae.

I wonder what the pack meeting was about. Probably very boring business stuff.

Why the hell did he say that?

I can’t stop thinking about his apology. It has healed my heart so much to hear how he really feels about me. I’m touched, even if I’m not quite ready to give in to my feelings yet.

“Hey, Gina, did we lose you back there?” my friend Laura yells from the front seat.

I wriggle forward so I can lean over and talk. “Just for a second, yeah.”

“Well, don’t fade out. We want to party hard here, so don’t let the team down!”

I can’t help giggling. “You don’t have to worry about me. It’s you two lightweights we need to watch!”

Laura laughs, and so does Tara, who’s driving. It pains me a little that Jill isn’t here. We were so close in high school. We went everywhere together and talked on the phone every night. I’m sure it was obvious to the entire school that I was hot for Bae, but only Jill knew the depth of it.

Anytime we went out, Laura and Tara would be part of our crew, but the heart of it was always me and Jill.

The car rocks a little as Tara pulls up on the vacant land by Jenks’ cabin. His place is a little out of town and consists of a big one-story house and a small farm. He’s an absolute oddball, well-known for wild parties and hilarious pranks, but he only ever makes fun of himself. He would never hurt anyone else.

“Who do you think will be here?” Laura asks.

“Veronica got here early. She’s hanging with Jenks.” Tara answers.

“Oh no, is that still going on?” Laura moans.

“It is,” Tara affirms. “But if she wants Jenks to notice she’s into him, she’s probably going to have to pound it into his skull with a cartoon mallet.”

We giggle at that, and as we head across the lawn, we link arms and snuggle close. I had friends in Denver, but not friends like these, and definitely no one who understood my wolf.

I’m grateful that the girls haven’t asked how it’s going with Bae. I think they can tell it’s not exactly perfect, and that I’m not ready to talk about it.

We reach the wide wooden stairs and head up to the huge veranda. Music is booming from the doors, and the house is full of warm light. There are people everywhere, laughing, drinking, and dancing. The delicious smell of barbecue and fried chicken hangs in the air, making my mouth water.

“My friends!” Jenks announces, appearing in the doorway. He’s wearing a huge, pointed wizard’s cap in bright blue, spangled with stars. A long cloak of the same design hangs from his shoulders and swirls around his skinny body.

“Welcome to the wizard’s den!” he exclaims. People raise their glasses to cheer and toast.

Veronica appears behind Jenks. “Will you calm down? You’re drunk,” she says to him.

“I am not inebriated beyond function, dear lady. And I have so much tolerance, wherefore, I shall drink some more.”

Jenks falls into spluttering laughter, and Veronica dissolves into giggles, grabbing Jenks around the waist.

“Come on, idiot. Let’s get some food,” she laughs, dragging him away.

“That’s Prime Idiot to you, young lady. I endeavor to be the biggest idiot in the room at any given time.”

I can’t help it—now I’m laughing my ass off, too. Laura and Tara can’t stop giggling, either. Jenks is a nonstop riot, and he knows it.

“Looks like that’s going well,” Laura remarks, elbowing me in the ribs.

“Veronica might finally get into his pants,” I whisper back, winking at her.

“I think it was a leotard,” Tara muses. “Spandex.”

That just makes me laugh even harder. I wrap my arms around my friends, and we head to the main tables. There’s a huge buffet laid out, with big containers of ice chilling a selection of drinks. I pile up a plate with fried chicken and grab a cold beer, finding a seat with my friends on the back patio.

I start to relax as we eat and talk. I can actually feel all my tension easing, the muscles in my neck and shoulders loosening and tingling as they release.

We’re finishing our beers and getting ready to dance when there’s a commotion by the doors. I assume it’s Jenks up to something, and I look over eagerly.

Bae .

He’s walking in with Jack, and it seems as though the entire party has turned like the tide to watch him enter the room. Silence even falls over the crowd, making the party music suddenly sound far too loud. Bailey strides into the main room, his wide, killer smile stretching across his face, showing his perfect white teeth.

He always looks just a bit savage.

The noise from the crowd bubbles back up again as everyone moves in to shake his hand or clap him on the shoulder. People start calling out to him.

I can tell Laura and Tara have no idea what to do. The fact that I’m not immediately rushing over to greet my husband is a clear sign that something isn’t right in our marriage. I’m sure my girls want to support me, but in this moment, they have no idea what I need.

Jenks blows through the room, greeting Bae but not stopping long. Bailey hasn’t been able to make it through the first room, he’s so swamped with people who have to get close to him, talk to him, touch him.

It’s worse than high school.

Suddenly, Jill appears, right by Bailey’s side. I sit up so fast, I drop my bottle of beer, and the remaining liquid foams out the top as it spins away from me. I don’t even notice—I can’t take my eyes off what’s happening in front of me.

Bae turns and smiles at Jill. It’s a big, easy smile, not the way he smiles at me at all. They look into each other’s eyes and lean in, almost whispering in each other’s ears.

What the actual fuck?

Jill’s hand comes up and touches Bae on the shoulder. Even from this distance, I can see her give him a little squeeze. I’m so furious, a little growl sounds in my throat.

“Hey, Gina,” Laura asks gently, “you okay?”

“Yeah, girl, I’m not liking this,” Tara agrees. “You want to move on or what?”

I have a horrible, intense feeling rising in my guts, filling my chest and making me want to scream. I want to run over there, shove them apart, yell in their faces, and then storm out. I know it’s what I should do.

I’m Bae’s wife, his fated mate! They can’t get away with this!

The wolf in me agrees, growling fiercely, demanding I assert my dominance and make my feelings known. The problem is, I still don’t feel like an alpha mate, and right now, I feel like a shy, dumpy girl sitting against the wall at a high school dance, staring at the one boy I can’t have.

“Yes, let’s… go,” I whisper, my eyes still locked on Jill as she sidles up close to my husband, laughing and joking, patting him on the chest and strokes his arm. Laura and Tara grab me on either side and march me into a nearby room that is dark and quiet.

Music is playing, but it’s very soft. A TV flickers in the corner, and a few people are half-heartedly watching a movie. On the other side of the room, a few others are playing cards.

I focus on the TV for a bit, letting my heartbeat settle and waiting for the tense feeling inside me to go away. My girls sit on either side of me, happily chatting and letting me know they won’t leave me alone, but they also won’t ask unless I’m ready to talk.

After the shock settles down, I decide to get some more food and head out to the back deck. Tara and Laura come to get drinks and then head for the other end of the house, where the music is loud and throbbing with irresistible dance beats.

I hang out by the tables, finishing off some more fried chicken and grabbing another beer. I’m about to find the girls when I see Jill by the tables, filling a plate with food.

This time, my wolf won’t be denied. Fury rises in me, and my blood runs hot as I stare at her, my rage rising like a bonfire.

“Jill,” I say, my voice even and strong.

“Oh, Gina,” Jill’s tone is light and condescending as she turns to me. “Don’t you look… lovely.”

She gives me a quick glance up and down, and my anger spikes again.

“What the hell was that?” I ask, my voice a low hiss. I don’t trust myself not to scream.

“What was what?”

“You know! When Bailey walked in, you were all over him! Did you think I wouldn’t see?”

Jill puts her plate down and turns to face me. Her eyes are cold, and she has a small, mocking smile.

“I always wanted Bae. That’s what you just don’t understand. We belong together. I’m the daughter of a pack elder, and who are you? Nobody! I would have gotten him if you never came back. He was almost ready to fall into my arms until you came along and screwed everything up.”

I stare at her, shaking my head slightly. “We’re fated mates!”

Jill scoffs. “That makes things difficult for me, sure, but not impossible. It’s pretty obvious that he likes me a lot more than he likes you.”

Slowly, I start backing away from her. Her words terrify me because they could be true.

I’m also shocked by the idea that we were such close friends—best friends—and she was plotting against me the whole time. I shake my head, fury and shock colliding inside me and stealing my voice.

Jill gives me a casual little wave, and I turn away from her, heading towards the dance floor. This new information cuts almost as deep as prom night.

Even though my eyes sting with tears and my hands shake, I push the bad feelings away. I’m not going to let this ruin my night. I’ll talk to Bae eventually—or maybe it’s better if I don’t.

Either way, it’s time to find the girls, have a few more drinks, and cut loose on the dance floor for a few hours.

I need to forget. I so desperately need to forget.