Chapter 2

Valyne

The words dropped like a bomb and instantly the once quiet garden became noisy, but I still stalked slowly towards Sara, my eyes never leaving hers.

She made to run but my hands fisted her hair roughly before she could get far, her scream vibrated through the air.

As if regaining themselves Micheal and Rita rushed towards us,

“This is between us, if you have any complaints come to me, now let her go.” Micheal ordered in the same stern tone he always used that would have me pleading and begging.

“Let go of my daughter in law you crude witch" Rita shrieked.

“Take even a step forward and I won't promise not to yank her hair off” I snapped. All I could think was how incompetent I am, if Ophelia had been in my situation she'd probably set this entire Venue on fire. I can barely lit a whick, fuck, a powerless witch is basically a human.

They both glared at me ferociously but stopped moving, after all this hypocritical family cared more about appearances than anything.

“You've always loved to have my vomit” I chuckled humourlessly at Sara, her face darkened, then she let go of the innocent and harmless look she always carried around.

“At least I'm not the one getting dumped, he married me Valyne, deal with it” she hissed, just enough for me to hear.

My grip tightened, “Ahh, there's my viper” I teased, “Know one thing Sara, you didn't steal him, I'm dropping him, anything worth stealing isn't worth having.” I said disgustingly, enjoying the hateful glare on her face.

“Go back to the slums where you belong, at least I don't have to pretend to be friends with you any more. Gullible fool, how does it feel? Planning your boyfriend's wedding and you're not the bride.” she chuckled, face still contorted with pain from my iron clad grip.

That stung, but refusing to let her see just how much her words affected me, I tipped the glass over, watching as streaks of red trailed down her heavily made up face down to her white gown, her lips parted but only a broken scream came out, her voice had already gone hoarse from being over exerted.

With a satisfied smile, I tugged even harder “I hope you have fun eating my left overs, that's all you're good at any ways.”

I stepped back, letting her go, Micheal and Rita rushed to her, she quickly slipped back to her usual act, “Mom, Micheal, don't blame V, she's just hurt now, it's all my fault” I heard her teary voice as I walked away.

The guests tacitly cleared a path for me on their own, I could barely hear much apart from the curses spilling out Rita's mouth.

I bumped into a figure just at the garden entrance,

“Boss.” Andre called out,

Suddenly it clicked, all the meetings, the agreement, contract signing, he handled them.

“Did you know?” I couldn't recognize my own voice, like a different presence had possessed me.

“I'm sorry.” His head hung low, no explanation, no excuses, just an apology.

“Good.” I nodded, “don't let me see you again.” I walked away head held high.

A gentle wave of fresh air hit me as I made out in the garden. I wasn't going to let them make me feel like nothing, they didn't deserve my tears, not even one bit, my teeth grazed my trembling lips but I kept moving, I wasn't stopping now.

Somehow I found myself standing outside the same club I had always wanted to visit with that bastard, and yet he never agreed, claiming his mother wouldn't appreciate his future wife being seen in a low class bar.

Well, he can go die with his mother for all I care.

Music blasted loudly as I walked into the bar, it glowed red with neon lights that lit up the entire hall, bodies swayed drunkenly to the rhythm from the DJ.

The air reeked purely of alcohol and something else I didn't even want to bother thinking of, nearly retching from the thought of all those bodies jam packed together, moving wildly without a care in the word, I made a beeline for the Bar.

“What can I get for the pretty lady?” A hoarse voice asked with an accent, his dark hair tousled over, with a carefree smirk on his lips, his eyes glowed yellow under the moonlight.

“Great.” I scoffed, “What's a wolf doing here?” I wondered.

He cocked an eyebrow, “I take it you're not human then.”

I shrugged, “I know my creatures.”

“No.” He shook his head, arms folded, “You're not a wolf, and not a witch either, not unless you've got a death wish.” he stated matter of factly.

I leaned into the table top, “Maybe. I do have a death wish, can you offer that”

Surprise flickered in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, then flashed me a flirty grin, “Terrible day?”

“That obvious?”

“Well, considering how you're in a bar that's restricted to wolves and Lycan only, probably.”

I hid my surprise, “There are humans here.”

He gave me a mysterious look, “Really?”

I took a quick glance around and nearly shivered.

“Damn, was I a trouble magnet or what?” I muttered to myself digging my nails into the back of my palm and forcing myself to calm down.

Laughter rumbled through his chest, “relax. You're safe, for now.” He added the last bit, “but, piece of advice, get out before the Lycans enter.”

I found my feet about to leave, but somehow I was rooted to the spot, my life flashed through me.

Years of restriction, do this, do that, don't do this, don't do that, I didn't get this far by being afraid of animals in a human body.

I turned back to him, “On second thought, I'll have a cocktail.”

He looked at me with amusement, “Not running?”

“I didn't get this far by running from things with a tail on their butt”

He choked on nothing, chuckling “I think we'll get along just fine.” he flashed me a flirty smile, hands working quickly as he mixed something.

“What are you mixing?” I wondered.

“Something to get you wild for the rest of the night.” He shrugged, sliding the cup over to me, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Holding his stare, I tipped my head back and downed it all in one gulp, “woooh” I shook my head from the effect, my breath quickened, suddenly I felt hyper aware and sensitive. “Another one,” I yelled.

“Sweet.” He winked, “Name's Rigel.” He slid another cup my way.

My hands suddenly froze, the hairs on the back of my hands and body stood, like a gaze had locked onto me.

Taking down the contents of the cup in one go, I turned towards it, to find a pair of eyes hidden in a more secluded corner staring unblinkingly at me, too far to make out his facial features. I could only notice how its red pupils glowed darkly where he sat.

I scoffed, “What's his deal?” my head was already swaying, I could feel myself moving to the rhythm of the music.

Rigel gave me a meaningful look, grabbing the cup from my hand, “Only one way to find out darling.” he gestured towards the stranger.

I rolled my eyes, “I couldn't”

He scoffed, “Oh yes, you can and you will. Now off you go, don't tell me you're going to leave that poor stranger all by himself?” His eyes carried a mischievous glint.

“Why do I feel like you're going to lead me astray?” My head was already fuzzy from all the drinking.

“You'll thank me later. Now off you go”