Chapter 7

Odessa POV

“Are you sure my hair is okay? I used two bottles of gel to get it laid down,” Evyn said.

“It’s perfect. Your curls are awesome.”

She smiled at me from the passenger seat. I drove her blue second-hand truck. It wasn’t as flashy as the other cars, but she got the job done.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on now? We have like twenty minutes until we get to the party.”

“I would, but you’ll be freaking out the entire time.”

“I will not!”

I’d known this girl since we were pre-teens, practically our whole lives. She was as bad a liar as I, loyal to a fault, and subtlety wasn’t one of her best qualities.

Since the incident with the pictures happened, I went to live with Evyn and her family. Mom and Barnette were still on their honeymoon. There was no one to save me from Sienna.

“I’ll explain everything after tonight. I promise.”

Maverick shocked me when he said he wanted our relationship, or whatever it was that had formed between us. I was scared he would realise how important he was and reject me because we came from different worlds.

“What was it like seeing Gage at work?” Evyn asked.

“Weird. He pretends like I don’t exist. He’s all lovey-dovey with Sienna all the time. The mate bond is gone, but why do I feel so much pain and anger?”

“The mate bond is a powerful thing, maybe it takes time for it to fully go away.”

On the other hand, I felt an incredible pull towards Maverick. It was intense. I’d find him staring at me. Lost in his desire as if the world wasn’t going on around him. I wanted to be in his embrace. I craved his touch and kiss, but then he opened his mouth and all that vanished.

“I can’t believe I’m at a football player's house! Who invited you? Are you sure we won’t be kicked out?”

I parked behind an oak tree. The front lawn was packed with all sorts of sports cars and massive cars. I should have asked how big the event was.

“Umm, Maverick did,” I confessed.

Evyn asked so loudly that I jumped. “As in, Alpha Maverick, the captain of the Wildcats?”

“Could be,” I chuckled nervously.

“I need an explanation!”

‘You’ll get it. Let’s just go and get some drinks.”

We stepped into a new world. One of power, intrigue and social standards. I’d never seen any of these people at Jim Burger Joint or running laps at the Daisy Den. It smelled like expensive cologne instead of cheap liquor.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” Evyn whispered.

“Neither can I.”

No one was trying to throw someone over a table. The night was still young there was a lot to be seen.

Where’s Maverick? I thought he’d be here already.

Evyn and I waded to the kitchen and found the stash of alcoholic drinks. There was everything from wines to cocktails. I picked up a strawberry and apple blend.

After a couple of minutes of blending in with the crowd, I became nervous because Maverick hadn’t shown up yet. No one from the Daciana Wildcats was here yet.

That was until I noticed a cheerleader. I swallowed hard and averted my eyes. Evyn and I watched a game of beer pong as more people flooded in. I expected to see Maverick any minute.

As more people came in, the subtle atmosphere turned into a wilder atmosphere. Well, no one was being punched yet, so that was promising.

A cold hand wrapped around my arm and yanked me back.

“Someone’s looking for you,” a whisper came in my ear. “Let’s not put on a show. Come with me.”

I turned to meet the dark brown eyes of a Daciana Wildcat reserve player. I saw him training at the stadium a few times.  His grip on my arm tightened. I had no choice but to follow him.

Where’s Evyn?

“Leave me alone!” I heard her shout from the stairs.

The guy on my arm shoved me upstairs. I doubted Maverick asked his guy to get me!

“Get your hands off me,” I yelled.

“Be quiet and get in there,” he barked.

Another reserve player shoved Evyn into a bedroom, and I went in next.

“Kicking us out would have been a lot easier!” Evyn yelled.

“Aww, her little best friend is feisty. That won’t help you. Alright, there’s a crowd. Goodbye, Damon, River, you can stay,” Sienna said.

Sienna sat on the window bed with her legs crossed while her friend, who was also a cheerleader, named Britney, leaned against the wall. My heart slammed into my chest as the door closed behind us.

Sienna smiled. “Little sister, you haven’t been home in forever.”

I nearly gagged when she said little sister.

Her smile was venomous. Ugh, what had I just gotten into?

River, the guy who dragged me here, barred the door shut.

“What do you want?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the predator in front of me.

“Not much. How did you even get in? That’s not important, I’m sure you have your ways,” she spoke as she polished her nails on her mini-leather skirt and blew on them. “I heard about your internship, you’re really levelling up, aren’t you? You and your slut Mother’s plan is working just fine!”

“Stop! I’ve worked my ass off for everything I’ve ever had!” I yelled.

“And you realised all that work doesn’t pay off, so you turned to throwing yourself at every man with a dime in his pocket. Everyone knows it. I think you should stop with the righteous act and show everyone who you really are.”

“Yeah, Odessa, no need to hide anymore,” Britney said. “I think everyone will accept you as the slut you really are.”

“Yeah! We even got you a little present for your showcase tonight,” Sienna said, beaming. “Show her, Britney!”

Oh shit my heart nearly stopped beating.

Britney pulled out a one-piece wolf costume with shiny diamonds lined on the crotch area. She brandished a pair of ears, too. I stared at Britney in horror.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m not wearing that.”

Britney frowned. “I have another costume if you don’t like the wolf. I’ve got a cat too. A wildcat.”

Britney held up a shimmering yellow and black bodysuit with a matching cat-ear headband.

“Put it on, slut then we’ll all go downstairs,” Sienna said.

She’d lost her mind if she thought I’d willingly strip and put that on.

“I’m not wearing that,” I said firmly. “I know you’re mad at me—”

“Mad?” She laughed. “You have no idea. Put it on or your little blue rust bucket rolls down the hill.”

“No, my car!” Evyn screamed.

“She’s bluffing. You wouldn’t do that,” I said. I hoped she was bluffing.

Sienna shrugged. “I honestly don’t care about the car and with your whoring tendencies you’ll have one in no time.”

She marched passed me to where Evyn stood. “You won’t have a new best friend, though.”

Sienna grabbed Evyn’s shoulder. She screamed.

“No! Stop.”

Sienna’s hand shifted from a flawless manicured hand into a hairy paw with thick black nails. I stumbled backwards, but Britney was there to catch me.

“Does your best friend’s life mean so little to you?” Britney asked.

“I’ve been told my venom’s got an extra kick to it. Now feels like a good opportunity to find out.”

Her eyes flashed neon yellow. She held her hand up, and venom seeped out of her claws. I’d never seen anything like that before.

“Fine,” my voice cracked. “I’ll wear the costume.”

“If she’s wearing one, then so will I,” Evyn protested.

“Whatever,” Sienna rolled her eyes.

“You’re a psychopath,” I spat.

“Shut up before I fill you with venom and throw you out of the window.”

My point was proven!

“Wait, wait, the look isn’t complete without a tail. You have to wear the tail, Odessa,” Britney giggled.

“Fine! Let’s get this over with.”

Britney rummaged in her bag and pulled out two hairy tails, one for the wolf and the other for the wildcat. Except they weren’t just stick-on tails. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when she held the object out for me.

“Make sure you get it all the way in,” she laughed maliciously.

Britney held out a butt-plug.

Oh crap.

“You’re going to wear this, and every wolf out there’s going to know just how much of a slut you are!” Sienna shouted.

I was in big trouble.