Chapter 10

Chilli POV

As we get back to our table, Erin claps and we wave her off. I sit back down and reach for my drink

" That's mine" Pauline suddenly behind me, taking it from my hand inches away from my lips. Ok I think to myself . "That's yours" she points and disappears into the crowd.

" That was strange even for her" Erin says, as I pick up the glass and take a gulp of it and finish it in two. "Wow, Chills" Erin stares at me.

"She does that to me" we laugh.

Erin and Elias are dancing and mingling with our guests, while I nurse a glass of water, that last drink isn't sitting well. It's not like I have had a lot, only two or three. Pauline starts calling my name, then she mind-links to me ' sit up child, stop slouching' with a grown, I do as I'm told, only to see her escorting someone this way. Not another one, she's had me dancing with so many men tonight, there been Lucas, Mika, David, Simeon to name just a few. Now who?

"This is Charlotte" she tells the older gentleman.

"Chilli please" I stand to greet the man. Pauline shoots me a look.

"Charlotte would be honoured to have this dance with you, Thoran" I reluctantly let him take my hand as Pauline smirks at me.

She knows how much I dislike my full name which is why she uses it all the more.

My full name is Charlotte but everyone calls me Chilli because of my preference to the cold. I love to wrap up in a cosy blanket or an old baggy hoodie. Now they also call me Chilli because of my wolf's form and the fact it looks like I have socks on, as of where the red and gold flicks stops and my paws being a completely pale, off white fur. Father is one of the few who still call me Charlie, I like it, plus anything was better than Charlotte.

Thoran leads me out on to the dance floor and pulls me in close, too close and tight. This makes me feel uncomfortable. We start stepping and moving in time with the music.

"So Charlotte.." for fuck sakes, I think to myself. He starts waffling on about his home, his position in his pack and what it's like there, to be honest I'm not really listening, just hoping this is a short song so I can get away from him. As he keeps talking I begin to feel dizzy and things are becoming hazy "... You'd like it there is hot all the time, no need for coats" Hu, staring at him, what does he mean I'll like it there, there where? He continues on and on about it and what he expects from his next mate. MATE! WHAT!?!

Elias POV

I can't stop watching Chilli being pulled around the floor. The young bachelorette I'm swaying with is trying to engage me in conversation but I'm too involved in watching my future beta. I can feel something is wrong. Erin's voice sounds in my head "Elias?" Echoing concern.

"Yes I'm seeing it"

"Something's not right" she's not wrong "songs nearly over, thankfully" she tells me.

"Good, meet you back at the table?" at that we look at eachother and nod, our dance partners oblivious to the link conversation Erin and I have just had. As we nod the song ends and we both thank our partners and excuse ourselves, heading back to the table I see Chilli is still out on the floor, I try to mind-link to her but I can't make the connection. Erin shakes her head at me, obviously having the same problem.

Looking back at her, she looks like she's trying to pull away from this man but he has no intention of letting go of her, anytime soon. I can feel something is wrong with her.

Opening a mind-link to Erin again "I don't recognize him, who is he?"

"Thoran Weston, his from some dessert pack, no where near here"

"Rings a bell, Alpha, beta?"

"No, some kind of business man, his rumoured to be someone not to be messed with"

"Mafia?" I look at Erin and she shrugs. " How the hell did he get an invite" knowing we are both thinking the same thing. We both answer at the same time "Pauline" this has her sent of over it.

I have always been protective of her and Erin, they are like sisters to me but this is stronger than that. Since I danced with her earlier I feel possessive of Chilli like she's mine but I've danced with her hundreds of times and never felt anything like this before. I can't get this feeling out of my head, the thought of when I put my hand on her waist and hers went to my shoulder, the zap that went through me, it was electrifying. But now I feel sick to my stomach and there is a pain in my chest, something is wrong with Chilli and I need to get to her, now and help her. I'm about to walk over and intervene, I hear a tiny, weak voice in head 'help'. It's Chilli! Her helplessness stopped me dead in my tracks for a moment.