Chapter 2 - Zaine

I awoke with a start, hearing Presley throwing up, making my own stomach turn. I never did make it back to the party. She was such a lightweight. Having placed her in bed, and she had fallen straight back out I knew it would be better for me to crash at hers with her. At least until her friends came back. Laying on my phone waiting for their return, it seems, I was more tired that I realised…

“Oh, Pres!” I jumped up from my makeshift bed on her bedroom floor, glad I had not chosen the space next to her in her bed like she had offered, which was now a pool of vomit. Could she not have at least made it to the bathroom?! I knew the responisbility was going to fall to me for cleaning this mess, only making my stomach turn more.

“I think I was sick.” She mumbled, making me chuckle. Her pink hair, which last night had been all beautifully curled and in long luscious waves was now twisted up into something that resembled a messy bun. That or a gone wrong bee hive. It was a good job I was her friend and not a date, let us just say that...

“No shit.” I teased, as she sat up. Wearing nothing but her bra and panties. When had she got undressed? “Pres, chuck some clothes on.” I warned her. I knew we were just friends, but still... I was a guy, all the same...

“Why? Is only you.” She grumbled, putting her hand to her stomach. Yes, it was only me. And we only saw one another as friends. Have done since we met. Presley had fast become one of my cloest friends since we met, having learned she too, had come from a werewolf back at the opposite side of the country. She was a Gamma’s daughter, so she had some clue of the pressures of what I was going through… some… And, havig cleaned up far too much of this girls vomit, and seen her looking a state on far too many occasions, I don't think I could ever look at her in that way...

“Come on, pukey Pres, get up, you get showered, while I sort this bed. And by the way, you owe me for this. Big time!” I told her, to which she giggled.

“Add it to the others?” She grinned sheepishly. This was not the first time I had had to clean up her vomit. Nor sort out her mess. She was a princess was my little Presley, used to having things done for her, but I don’t think she would be her any other way. It also meant she had a little bit of a rebellious streak, which mande her a whole heap of fun. And that was one of the reasons she was so good for me. She had brought me out of myself during our time in college. Allowing the carefree side of me to be free, and I loved her for that.

“Do I have a choice?” I stuck my tongue out at her, as she slid from her bed, and stalked across her room, wearing nothing but the aqua coloured panties, and matching lacy bra. I turned away and looked back to the bed, my stomach turning heavily as I did so and bile filling my own mouth. How do I find myself in this mess?

'Because you are a soft touch?' Blade teased. My wolf loved Presley as much as I did. Protecting her like family. So I didn't doubt for a moment he would think twice of me helping her.

Only after I stripped the bed of the vomit bedding, and dealt with it, does my phone begin to vibrate from it’s place upon the bedside cabinet. I glance down at the phone and see I have six missed calls from my Dad. Six? They had to be while I was sleeping right? Wonderful. That meant he would be in the greatest of moods. He hated being ignored. A demanding Alpha indeeed.

I picked up my phone. “Hey Dad, sorry…” I began, ready to explain.

“About fucking time, Zaine. You don’t have a phone for you to chose to ignore it. You should be ready to answer my calls as and when I reach out to you. What if it was pack business? You are not going to be a very good Alpha if you chose to ignore people, you know?” My Dad’s voice interrupted me, and as predicted he sounds far from impressed. Not that he ever sounds impressed with me.

“I was asleep Dad. You rang early…” I tried to defend myself.

“A man is up early. Starts his day well.”

I rolled my eyes. Not when he has had a shit load to drink the night before…

“Zee, you want breakfast?” Presley’s voice was a lot more alert as she came striding into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around her lightly tanned body, disturbing the call. At the sound of her voice, my Dad clears his throat and I know he heard her. I put a finger to my lips to signal my friend be quiet, though it is likely too late now...

“Zaine. Is that a woman?” My Dad was instantly upon it… Shit.

“No, Dad. It is Presley.” I explained, giving my friend a knowing glare. She shrugged nonchalantly.

‘Sorry.’ She mouthed at me, offering me a pleading smile, fluttering her eyelashes at me playfully at me the way she did when she wanted me to forgive her for something. I couldn't help but smile.

I shook my head as my Dad continued. “And last time I checked, she was still a woman. Friend or not.”

Presley shrugged, having heard my Dad's words, and evidently not caring in the slightest, she began rummaging around in her wardrobe while I awaited my father continuing the lecture, but to my surprise he did not expand further on his disapproval. Instead he simply sighed. “I was just calling to say good luck with your exam, son. I know it is an important one...” Shit. “Near the last, is it not? Or is it the last? And then you will be home? Back to your duties now you have finished fooling around…” My Dad adds, but my mind is not on his insulting words, it is on the fact it is my exam. This morning, and I had forgotten!

Shit. Shit. And shit again! How could I have forgotten? Even last night as I was drinking I has known… “Thanks Dad. Sorry, I got to go.” I told him, knowing he will not appreciate the abrupt end to the phone call. But, as I glance down to the time upon my phone I can see, that I now have less then twenty minutes to get back to my place, shower, change and get to my exam!

“Lovely of you to want to talk, as always, Zaine. Like I said, a man is always up early. Maybe something for you to remember. Better organised, and you would be ahead. I need to talk to you later about something…” He pauses.

Wait… there was more he wanted to speak to me about? “What?” I begun, edging toward the door.

“We will speak later, it sounds to me like you have other things to attend to.” And with that my father was gone. Asshole. Leaving me focusing on him and what he wanted, rather than where I should be, on my exam…