Chapter 7: Brock: Get your hands off my Girl

The room is silent and Ri doesn’t answer me. I’m staring into those dark grey eyes like there is no one else in this entire room with us.

Ellis Lockwood stands close enough to her that there’s barely any space between them.

She’s wearing an all black hoodie, one that I know she doesn’t own- and his scent is marked all over her.

And she’s drunk.

Sariah doesn’t drink.

“Well…” I say, still waiting for a response. I’m more concerned than anything. What happened in this short amount of time for Sariah to have completely become unhinged and so un-like herself?

“You said you were staying in.” Her quiet voice states, barley above a whisper.

I look around the room, people still staring and phones still recording. If we haven’t gone on everyone’s live social media feed by now I would be shocked. The last thing I need right now is drama. Not before both mine and Ri’s ceremony.

I can’t have anything mess up my leadership position right now. I didn’t score on the Darkthorne Rite the way I needed to. I run my fingers through my curly, black hair. “Fuck.” I whisper.

“What’s going on in here?” Danika’s high pitched voice screeches as she enters the kitchen.

“Nothing.” I state, not taking my eyes off Sariah.

From the corner of my eye I see as she pats down her long, blonde hair and slips an arm around me. My body tenses and freezes at her touch. And I don’t miss the look of disgust written on Sariah’s face as she sees it, too. 

“Awwwww Brockie, you didn’t tell me you invited your little pet to the party tonight, too!” She cackles.

Her laugh, her voice, everything about Danika makes my skin crawl. Especially when Ri is at the other end of her bullying.

I step away from Danika’s touch, the look on Sariah’s face bothering me in ways it shouldn’t.

“Let’s talk somewhere more private.” I say, taking a step toward Ri.

As I step closer toward Sariah, Ellis steps in front of her, completely blocking me. “Problem?” I ask Ellis, gritting my teeth and clenching both of my fists at my side.

When the fuck did he become her knight in shining armor? Since when has Ellis Lockwood ever paid her any attention whatsoever and since when did the fucking bro-code become so non-exsistent it isn’t even a funny joke.

He smirks, “that depends.”

From behind Ellis I see Sariah lifting another red solo cup to her lips. I don’t know how much she has had tonight but she’s never drank alcohol before tonight. She needs to take it slow.

“Sariah,” I say, lowering my tone and trying to remain as level headed as possible. “Stop drinking. You don’t drink. This isn’t you.”

She scoffs and steps from behind Ellis, swaying slightly. I go to reach out for her but she grabs onto Ellis’s arm for balance and he wraps his arm around her waist effortlessly. Like he was anticipating her stumble. Like his arm was meant to fit around her waist perfectly. Like they’re already comfortable together. Like he’s done it hundreds of times before. 

“People are recording us.” I say, trying to get her to come to her senses and get out of this kitchen “Come on,” I reach my hand out to her again, ignoring the fact that she is still clutching onto Ellis. “Let’s go out back and talk somewhere more privately.” I repeat. 

Sariah doesn’t move. “Aren’t you too tired, Brock? Or is that just what you wanted to tell me so that you can come to your little party with her?” Ri spits, her words slurring.

Danika scoffs. “No one likes you pet. Of course he wasn’t going to invite you. Why would he?” I turn around and give Danika a pleading look but in my head I really just want her to shut the fuck up before her voice gives me a migrane.

All night tonight my body has felt high strung, stressed. Like there is rage and anger deep inside of me that’s threatening to come out. I know that my wolf wants to emerge but I need him to hold off until after the ceremony. There can be no mistakes before I’m forced to marry Danika Vale and inherit the Alpha position that should have been mine to begin with.

I’m doing everything in my power to control my emotions right now and seeing Sariah here at all, let alone with Ellis is not helping whatsoever. 

“It’s too late to try and protect your image now, Brock. You should have thought about that before you lied to me.” Sariah’s voice has anger in it that I’ve never experienced before. Even the hatred she’s had for my father, this pack- is nothing compared to the hurt I see in her eyes.

I did that. I fucking did that.

Sariah turns to her side, trying to grab for the liquor bottle.

Ellis notices and says gently near her ear, “hey, I think you’ve had enough.”

I clench my jaw, the sides of my face pulsating like a heart beat. I arch my shoulders back and crack my neck. I’m going to fucking snap. “You’re right,” I say to Ellis. “She’s had enough. I’ll take her home.”

Ellis steps in front of me again, blocking Sariah and his protective instinct toward her is going to send me over the edge.

Why him?

Why tonight?

I grit my teeth again.

Why does this bother me so damn much?

“Sariah.” I say, demanding.

She doesn’t answer. Just leans her head against Ellis’s shoulder.

Danika grabs my arm and pulls me back. “Brock, let’s go.” I stumble back a few steps, not taking my eyes off Ri. I let Danika pull me toward the front door. I turn one more time to see Ellis’s arm still snuggly pulled tight around my best friend. A manic laugh escapes my lips, “Congrats Lockwood.” I say.

Ellis raises an eyebrow.

“Looks like you just made yourself my problem.”