CHAPTER THIRTY - FIVE

--Alyssa--

"I always attend, but this year I won't be able to," Meridith continued, smiling despite her evident disappointment.

"Do other people from the Pack go as well?" I asked, hoping that at least I might see some familiar faces at the event.

"Yes, my aunties and uncles go as well," she said, which gave me some comfort. At least there would be people there who might not be complete strangers.

"You have to start getting prepared because it starts at six in the evening, and it's already four in the afternoon," she added. The tight timeline made me anxious. I was frustrated at the lack of notice. Why did Xavier want me to go with him when he never attended these events before? Now he wanted to drag me along on such short notice?

But I had no choice. I couldn't afford to make him angrier than he already was. Suppressing my irritation, I forced a smile. "I’m sure there will be about a thousand people there," I said, trying to sound excited even though I was dreading it.

"See you tomor