Chapter 6: Sariah: Breathtaking

My face instantly heats as rage climbs up my throat. My heart pounds against my ribs, and my palms begin to sweat.

Danika? Fucking Danika! Of all fucking people it just had to be her? But of course it did! Her family is one of the most prominent names in the village and she certainly couldn’t be Alpha by herself.

I should have seen this coming. I should have seen Alpha Axton’s need to carry on his legacy at all costs. Brock was going to be put in the Alpha position no matter what his wolf shows. 

I grimace and cross my arms across my chest. Brock doesn't look disappointed by the arrangement, that’s for sure.

I didn’t realize that I had been staring at the bottom of the stairs, revengeful and angry thoughts filling my mind until my vision was completely blocked.

I look up at the six foot seven guy in front of me holding two beverages. “Are those alcoholic?" I ask, curiously.

He cocks an eyebrow, “you really haven’t ever been to a party have you?” He snorts.

I swat his arm and grab both of the drinks, chugging one as fast as I can, wiping my lip with my sleeve and then downing the other.

Ellis stares at me, equal parts confused and concerned. The alcohol burns all the way down, leaving acid on my tongue and a knot in my stomach. 

I’ve never drank. Not even when it was just me and Brock, hanging out alone and he would sneak his parents liquor and wine coolers over. I always wanted to keep a clear head. Make good choices and let nothing affect my admission into medical school.

Fuck being the good girl all the time.

I take the last tiny sip of the second drink and pass Ellis back both cups. “Refill please.” I say, leaning back against the living room wall. I close my eyes and try to picture the liquid dissipating through my veins. I don’t want to feel anything right now. I don’t want to think about anything except my back against this cool, brick wall and Ellis- grabbing us more to drink.

A few moments later Ellis is rounding the corner from the kitchen and passing that stairwell again. The anger that disappeared ever so slightly is now re-emerging.  I give him a full smile, feeling completely out of my element and very unlike myself. He’s holding a red solo cup and a bottle of water.

The solo cup better be for me, I think to myself.

He approaches me and outstretches the arm holding the bottle of water and I eye him. “Take it slow.” He says, setting his cup down on a nearby end table, opening the bottle of water and handing it to me. “Why do I have the feeling you’ve never drank before.” He laughs.

I smile, “Probably because I haven’t.”

I take a few sips of the water, the beverage doing nothing to subside my rage threatening to come to the surface at full force.

Ellis leans on the wall next to me, sliding down to the carpet and looking up at me to join him down there. “You know, despite what you may think- I hate coming to these parties, too.”

Our shoulders are brushing just slightly and I can’t help but notice the electricity that it ignites in my chest. Maybe those drinks are finally kicking in.

“I feel like everyone is staring at me.” I say, trying to shrink myself into a corner.

“Nobody’s staring at you,” Ellis says, nonchalantly. He takes his sweatshirt off and hands it to me. “But if it makes you feel better you can put this on and it will mask some of your scent.”

I hesitate for a second but then gladly take it. I put his sweatshirt on and instantly feel calmer. I inhale his scent and it does something to my stomach. Not anxious butterflies like it does sometimes with Brock, but something more…settled.

“And I don’t believe for a second that you don’t like coming to these things,” I say, going back to his initial point. “You’re always the life of the party.”

“Or so it seems.” Ellis interjects. “We all have roles to play, love. Some of us are just better at playing than others.” He winks at me then takes a sip from his solo cup.

Love.

Why did that nickname sound so sweet and intoxicating coming from his lips? Why am I sitting in the corner of someone else’s living room having a drink at a party with Ellis Lockwood?

Another guy from the hockey team sees Ellis and comes over, handing him a beer. Ellis sets the beer down and I take that moment to grab it, wanting to feel that burning liquid stream down my insides again. Ellis stands and daps him. “Rog. Hey man.” Ellis says, positioning himself in front of me.

Is he ashamed of me too?

The player, Rog, eyes him and then his gaze trickles down to the ground where I’m sitting. I peek around

Ellis’s leg and let out an awkward grin, taking a swig of the beer. It doesn’t have the same effect as the liquor.

“Interesting choice of company.” Rog comments to Ellis.

When Ellis doesn’t reply Rog says, “Too bad you couldn’t play in the game tonight, huh?” There’s an undertone of disrespect that I catch, but Ellis doesn’t seem bothered by it.

“You boys did just fine without me,” he says, smacking Rog on the side of the arm playfully, but a little aggressive.

Are they even friends? I wonder to myself. This is the most awkward interaction I’ve seen in a while. I take a few more sips of beer, my head starting to throb slightly as I feel the effects of the liquor from before.

“He’s here you know.” Rog says and I instinctively know exactly who he’s talking about. “And he’s not going to like this.” He eyes me then lands his gaze back on Ellis.

Brock.

Ellis says with slight sarcasm in his tone, “who?”

Rog gives a look like he knows Ellis knows damn well who he’s talking about.

Ellis turns to my direction and I stand wanting to get out of this awkward encounter as quickly as possible.

“Are you and Brock a thing?” Ellis asks me, taking a long drawn out sip from his red solo cup. His eyes are peering at me from the rim of the cup, waiting for a response.

I clear my throat. “Uh, no?” I say. “Just…friends.” The way the last word falls on my lips tastes as sour as the liquor.

Rog’s head tilts back and he laughs. “I’m glad I came tonight. This is going to be interesting.”

“I’m going to go grab another drink,” I say, scooting past Ellis, slightly stumbling. I use his arm to catch myself and he gives me a look of concern I brush off. Before leaving their vicinity I catch the last thing Rog says. “Brock’s a little more than aggressive tonight.”

I think about his words as I make my way into the kitchen, noticing all the glares and stares coming in my direction. When I first got to the house I must not have noticed them because I was so anxious.

And being shielded by Ellis.

Now I’m alone and definitely out of place. I see people whispering, knowing they're talking about me. But that liquid courage people talk about is true and I have some new found confidence.

“I don't give a fuck what you all say about me. You know that right?” I say, pouring myself a large cup of clear liquid and a splash of punch. I miss the cup at first, spilling a few drops of liquid onto the table. I feel dizzy.

Snickers and laughs erupt and I’m probably embarrassing myself more than anything but I don’t care. I finish filling the rest of my cup with ice and take a step back, bumping into a hard torso. Before I even turn around, I know it's Ellis. The familiar scent lingering on the hoodie I'm wearing surrounds me again.

“Just checking on you.” He says.

I look around, the snickers growing louder, people’s eyes getting wider. He just made it known to everyone in this room that he’s here with me.

I’m still trying to figure out why he’s here with me. Is this the prank of the year?

I swallow hard noticing how close to me Ellis is standing and how much of a fuck he doesn’t seem to give.

He takes a step closer, my breath hitching.

Around us, phones begin appearing.

“People are watching.” I whisper, slurring.

"Let them." He steps closer, bracing one hand on either side of the table behind me.

Ellis leans down close to my ear and says in a deep, low voice. “We’re either both about to be the most hated people at school Monday, or the most popular. I can’t wait to find out.”

My heart pounds so hard I swear he can hear it. Every nerve ending in my body suddenly feels awake. What I’m feeling is confusing. But what I do know for sure is that the air feels thick where Ellis’s words just were.

And when he releases his hold on me I feel like I can’t breathe. 

Ellis takes a step back, releasing me and suddenly I remember how to breathe again.

My head is spinning but I’m coherent enough to realize the silence in the room is thick. Every single conversation has halted.

I hear someone whistle, making my cheeks blush from the encounter.

Everyone’s phone is still out and I hear more laughs from close by. 

A familiar voice cuts through the silence. “What the hell is going on?”

I freeze.

Brock.