Chapter 5

I gulped the fresh air and let the breeze cool my heated skin.

"What the hell was that about?" Maya murmured, referring to my uncontrollable body parts.

I shrugged, "I have no idea. Can't really blame me though, he is smoking hot."

"You're right there." Maya smirked, "And a nice ass."

I scoffed, "You mean, he is an ass."

"Well well well, if it isn't Lola. Never thought I'd see your face again." A cocky voice called out.

I grimaced as Ethan made his way up to me. Ethan didn't seem to change at all. He still had that lanky build with hints of muscle, and his blonde slicked back hair. He looked just as sleazy as ever.

"Ethan, so good to see you." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes at his stupid smirk.

I walked away and groaned as he followed.

"Your legs are too short. There's no escaping me." Ethan smirked proudly and I stifled a gag.

"Unfortunately." I mumbled. I remembered very clearly his smug look when Tyler found his mate and left me in the dust. He was always encouraging Tyler to go out and try new girls. Thinking back on it, Tyler probably did cheat on me. Not that it mattered anymore.

Ethan smirked, walking much too close to me.

"So how're you doing since the whole Tyler thing? Kind of embarrassing, huh?" His mocking tone made my blood boil and I came to a halt.

"Listen here," I growled, taking a step closer. "It's been a year. And entire f**king year. Now back the hell off before I knock your teeth out." I spat.

I turned on my heel and left Ethan's annoying face in the dust.

"Ooh, she's still feisty." I heard his voice call out, and I flipped him the bird as I walked away.

"Still annoying as ever, isn't he?" Breyona rolled her eyes, making me jump. I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed her standing there.

"Insufferable. I feel awful for his future mate." I rolled my eyes, refusing to glance in his direction.

Breyona gave me a small smile, "So, where are you headed?"

"Oh, I'm just going home." I shrugged, glancing at her. I couldn't help the guilt that swirled around me when I thought of her.

What kind of best friend drops you for an asshole boyfriend?

"My house is on the way. Mind if I walk with you?" She smiled.

"Not at all." I was kind of surprised, but I knew I needed to apologize for what had happened between us.

"Look, I'm sorry okay? You know I'm not good with apologies, but I'm sorry for being the worst friend ever." I frowned.

Judging from the look on her face, I definitely caught her by surprise.

"I forgave you when I found out what happened between you and Tyler." She shrugged as if it were no big deal.

That was always one of my favorite things about Breyona. She never made a big deal out of things, and she wasn't one for drama or gossip.

It su*ked at the time, but I honestly feel lucky." I scoffed, trying to imagine myself as Tyler's Luna.

Breyona chuckled, "As mean as this may sound, losing Tyler was the best thing that ever happened to you. You were always way too good for him."

"Well, thank you for that." I elbowed her side and gave her a playful smile.

For once, the thought of leaving and going back to grandma's wasn't so appealing. With Tyler gone, I felt like I could actually start over here. The only thing that would've made it better was my Mom. The thought send a sharp pang running through me.

"So, fill me in. What has life been like since I left?" I asked, and listened intently as she gave me a run down.

Breyona told me how her older sister and finally found her mate in a neighboring pack and was currently pregnant with her first child. Only a handful of our pack members actually died in the fight, my mom included. Alpha Asher was quick to end the fighting once our side surrendered, and once he realized our Alpha had abandoned them. I hadn't realized before, but some part of me blamed Alpha Asher for the death of my Mom. I knew it wasn't directly his fault, but the blame was still there. The rest of the blame I placed directly on Tyler's shoulders.

"So, are you excited to find your mate?" I smirked at her, watching a light blush fill her cheeks.

She shrugged, "I'm not pressed about it." I could tell there was something she wasn't telling me, but I let it slide for now.

"So what have you been up to?" She quickly changed the subject.

I have her the very short rundown of what my year consisted of. While it sounded boring, it had been the best year of my short life.

"So does that mean you can kick all of our asses now?" Breyona chuckled, referring to the intensive training I went through for a year.

I giggled, "I'd sure like to think so."

"You held up against Alpha Asher pretty well." She shrugged.

"You think so? Sean said the same." I frowned. Did getting punched and kicked over a hundred times classify as good fighting?

Breyona shuddered, "Yeah, that's actually really good. Alpha Asher fights like a damn monster, I've never seen anything like it."

"Yeah, neither have I." I shook my head, wondering if Alpha Asher was on some kind of magical werewolf steroids or something. As far as I knew nothing like that existed, but I still wondered.

"Did you see Chelsea earlier at training?" Breyona snorted, gauging my reaction on my old friend.

My eyes widened, "Chelsea was in training? I hadn't even seen her." I shrugged, thinking back on my old friend.

"Yup, she's obsessed with Alpha Asher." Breyona rolled her eyes, "She hasn't changed at all."

Her words made me feel funny for some reason.

"She really hasn't," I frowned, "She was always obsessed with Tyler."

"She wants to be Luna." Breyona shook her head.

I shuddered at the thought of Chelsea becoming Luna, "That would be wonderful." I said sarcastically.

Breyona chuckled, "Even the old you would've made a better Luna than her."

I gave her a smirk, "Why thank you for that, but I'm done with Alpha's." I shook my head.

"Are you sure about that?" Breyona giggled, "What was up with you and Alpha Asher?"

I shrugged, "I just piss him off. He wants me to be obedient." I rolled my eyes. I may be a werewolf, but I'm not a damn dog. Lola the Golden Retriever had a good ring to it, but I think I'd look better as a Husky.

"I'm surprised he hasn't killed you yet." Breyona shook her head at my stupidity.

I shrugged, "The guy's like 6'3 and almost 200lbs, he probably just doesn't see me as a threat."

"That's true," Breyona snorted. "You looked like a kid when you trained with him." She cackled.

"Not everyone can be 5'8' with long legs, ma'am." I grumbled at her, but a smile quickly formed on my face when Breyona struck a pose.

"If you keep complimenting me like that I'm gonna start thinking you're my mate." She cackled and I could stifle my giggles.

Breyona invited herself over for dinner at my house, and I didn't mind one bit. Breyona had met my grandma a handful of times when we were kids and she loved the woman. Grandma loved Breyona's honesty and bluntness. Grandma always said Breyona and I were practically sisters with the way we act.

We all sat around the table and ate the dinner grandma had made. Dad was looking so much better, his skin wasn't translucent like it had been.

Sean teased me for being stuck with Alpha Asher again while my dad feared for my safety. I tried to assure him Alpha Asher wouldn't kill me, but he didn't buy it. I kept my disobedient behavior towards our Alpha quiet. The last thing I needed was Dad and Sean finding out. They'd think I had some kind of death wish.

Brianna and I made plans Sunday to hang out and maybe grab some lunch at the cafe in town.

I rolled into bed after dinner sore as all hell. While it was only 7 p.m. I wanted a head start on going to bed. I was looking forward to sleeping my Saturday morning away.

I realized the full extent of my bad luck when an annoyingly attractive voice rang out in my head.

"Lola, report to my office at 9 a.m." Alpha Asher's rough voice spoke through the mind-link.

"Come on, Alpha." I groaned, "It'll be Saturday."

"9 a.m, Lola." His rough voice growled and ended the mind-link.

I grumbled and turned over in bed, and let sleep claim me.

Saturday would've been so much easier if I had just remembered to set a damn alarm.