Chapter two

CHAPTER TWO

The bang came again and I cut the call with Patricia. I stood up to answer the door with fear in my every step.

I opened the door to come face to face with an obviously drunk man from the party. His hair was disheveled and his shirt askew. I looked around in confusion.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I… Is this the b…bathroom?” He stammered and wavered on his feet as I watched him.

“No!” I hissed and shut the door in his face.

I turned around and fell back to the bed, my heart still pounding.

I feel like I barely closed my eyes last night, and here I am up at 6 a.m. with my bags packed.

It was not long after my cab arrived that I slowly snuck out of the pack house.

Everywhere was dead silent, people was still asleep, some with hangovers from last night’s party.

I managed to sneak out of the house and I pushed my things into the back seat of the cab and off I was to the airport.

Four hours later, I stirred from my sleep as the air hostess announced our arrival.

The bang came again and I cut the call with Patricia. I stood up toanswer the door with fear in my every step.

I opened the door to come face to face with an obviously drunk manfrom the party. His hair was disheveled and his shirt askew. I lookedaround in confusion.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I… Is this the b…bathroom?” He stammered and wavered on his feetas I watched him.

“No!” I hissed and shut the door in his face.

I turned around and fell back to the bed, my heart still pounding.

I trusted my friend's flair for showing off. She wore a fashionable gray-colored fitted biker short, a jean jacket draped over her shoulders, and a pair of black boots. Dark sun shades adorned her eyes. She epitomized radiant beauty, and sometimes I wished I could walk in her shoes for just a day. Well, I never got the opportunity.

"Hey, bestie," Patricia smiled as I approached her. She engulfed me in an embrace, the warmth almost bringing tears to my eyes. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I last saw her.

"Thank you for coming through; I didn’t think you would be out waiting already."

"I am a girl. Besides, you sounded troubled, and I was concerned. I called my dad to help pick you up, but he's been having cold feet. I didn’t trust him enough, and I didn’t want you to be stranded at the airport, so here I am," she explained, shrugging her shoulders and smiling at me. I thought I had overcome the feelings I've always had for Patricia’s father until she mentioned him.

"What’s up with you, Pearl? You sounded urgent over the phone last night," she said, stepping back to study my face for a moment. I shut my eyes, trying to hold back my tears.

“I’m famished,” I informed her. She gave me a sharp look and then helped me put my luggage in the car. I noticed the sadness on her face as she loaded the bags into the trunk. I wanted to apologize for not answering her questions earlier, but my hunger took precedence.

Finally settling into the car, I rested my head on the headrest and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the thought of being in the same space as her dad.

“About the food, I think we should stop by at a restaurant so you can eat before we get home,” Patricia told me as she turned on the ignition and started the car.

"It’s a Chinese restaurant, and I bet you'll love the food there," Patricia chuckled as we exited the airport parking lot. I caught the tongue-in-cheek look she threw my way.

"Can we go already?” I groaned, clicking my tongue in impatience. Patricia shot me a shocked stare but remained silent. Her surprise at my sudden change in demeanor was evident. I turned to face the window, contemplating if my decision to come to Pearlia was a wise one. It had to be, and even if it wasn't, I didn’t care much at this point.

"Patricia, please move the damn car," I whispered, leaning against the headrest and inching closer to her side. She said nothing, focusing on the road and stealing occasional glances at me.

Suddenly, she accelerated. I screamed and gripped the seat tightly. After what felt like hours but was only three minutes of chaotic driving, she slammed on the brakes and pulled over by the roadside. My heart raced as I shot her a glare.

“What?” she shot back, meeting my glare with her own.

“Pearl, are you fine?”

“I wanted us to talk about everything over lunch at the restaurant, but I can't hold it in until then. I just didn’t expect us to meet in this situation and in this mood,” I added, my voice cracking between words. Knowing Patricia's sensitivity, I sensed she was restraining herself from speaking. She knew I was hiding something, but I couldn’t bring myself to reveal it. I knew she would break down, just like she always did in the past. She hadn't changed a bit. I clenched my hands, preventing them from trembling as they usually did when I was anxious or sad.

After a long pause, she spoke again.

“Pearl, what happened?” This time, tears welled in her eyes as she searched my face for answers.

“I think its best we talk at the restaurant." I told her and turned my face away.

Silence reigned between us after I said those words. None of us could bring ourselves to speak again.

The air became hot and suffocating, making it difficult for me to breathe. I couldn’t bear the silence. Tears welled up and spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. I wiped my eyes with the back of my palm and sniffled.

“I’m sorry for hiding it from you for so long, Patricia," I cried softly.

With guilt written on her face, Patricia leaned over and patted my shoulders in a comforting way. "It's fine, Pearl; let’s go to the restaurant like you suggested,” she said, starting the ignition.

"I am a girl. Besides, you sounded troubled, and I was concerned. I called my dad to help pick you up, but he's been having cold feet. I didn’t trust him enough, and I didn’t want you to be stranded at the airport, so here I am," she explained, shrugging her shoulders and smiling at me. I thought I had overcome the feelings I've always had for Patricia’s father until she mentioned him.

"What’s up with you, Pearl? You sounded urgent over the phone last night," she said, stepping back to study my face for a moment. I shut my eyes, trying to hold back my tears.

“I’m famished,” I informed her. She gave me a sharp look and then helped me put my luggage in the car. I noticed the sadness on her face as she loaded the bags into the trunk. I wanted to apologize for not answering her questions earlier, but my hunger took precedence.

Finally settling into the car, I rested my head on the headrest and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the thought of being in the same space as her dad.

I trusted my friend's flair for showing off. She wore fashionable gray-colored fitted biker shorts, a jean jacket draped over her shoulders, and a pair of black boots. Dark sun shades adorned her eyes. She epitomized radiant beauty, and sometimes I wished I could walk in her shoes for just a day. Well, I never got the opportunity.

"Hey, bestie," Patricia smiled as I approached her. She engulfed me in an embrace, the warmth almost bringing tears to my eyes. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I last saw her.

"Thank you for coming through; I didn’t think you would be out waiting already."

We continued driving to the restaurant in silence. There, I told her everything that had happened without holding back any information.

Once I was done with my long and winding tale Patricia sat dumbstruck in one spot, too stunned to blink. She did not even move.

“The witch finally hatched her evil plans. I mean, I’m sorry she’s your stepmother, but she’s got some nerves. How dare she?!” Patricia finally let out her emotions, totally disregarding the decorum required at the restaurant.

She didn’t seem to mind, even when the other customers gave us puzzled stares.

“She's a total douchebag. That a bitch!” She snarled.

A tear slipped down my cheeks in my angst and dismay.

“And to think that your father disowned you because you got rejected by your mate is preposterous, if you ask me.”

“What happens to your inheritance?” Patricia asked with concern, recalling the details I shared about the little inheritance I would receive after finding my mate.

“I don’t really care about it right now; I just need peace and tranquility, and maybe a new life," I told her, resigned to the fact that my life as I knew it had changed.

After we finished, we headed to her house. I prayed deep within me for her father not to be home waiting by the time we arrived.

It was already 8 p.m., and I still hadn’t seen any trace of Alpha Harold. Patricia and I sat in the living room for a while, talking and catching up with each other.

“I think I have to leave you now. I'm really feeling sleepy," she informed me, then ran her fingers through my long hair before retiring to her room.

I sat on the couch, munching on some potato chips. Patricia and I had earlier started watching our favorite series, so after she left, I continued, fully engrossed in the TV show. About thirty minutes later, I heard some rustling and footsteps approaching me.

“Patricia, I thought you said you were going to sleep. What are you doing up?" I queried as I chuckled, but when I turned, I was faced with the shock of my life. Alpha Harold was standing right before me with his bare chest and a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.

Alpha Harold still looked every inch like the hot Alpha he was. His black and silver hair was thoroughly wet as water streamed down his face, dripping onto his bare chest. He ran his eyes over my body, seemingly stripping me entirely naked with his gaze. I could tell he was surprised to see me.

My body burned. My heart ached, and immediately, there was a dampness between my legs. I was wet. What was going on?!