Natalia’s P. O. V

“You – make – me! Feel like I’m livin’ a- teen-age dream! The way you turn me on! I – can’t – sleep! Let’s run away and DON’T EVER LOOK BACK! DON’T EVER LOOK BACK!”

Hailey was singing at the top of her lungs, swinging her head wildly so her, high ponytail kept flying around. It never hit me but she did swerve the car a few times and almost got us into a minor accident more than once. Let’s just say that I found out what the handle on the hood of the car was for.

“Hailey,” I breathed deeply through my nose in an attempt to ease my galloping heart as she narrowly missed another accident, my knuckles white as I gripped the handle, “could you please slow down?! And focus on the road!”

“If you don’t steady this death trap, I will drive it myself!” Kaesha yelled tensely from the back. My guess was that she did not like cars.

Hailey laughed, not the least bit apologetic, “Sorry guys. But, Kaesha,” She glanced back at the slightly nauseous witch for longer than advisable, in my opinion, “are you scared of cars?”

“I am not scared!” Kaesha defended, indignation shining in her voice, “I just get a little motion sickness in vehicles. And your reckless driving isn’t helping anything!”

This time, I joined in as Hailey laughed.

“Oh, you think it’s funny?” Kaesha said. Then I was gripped with a sudden urge to empty the contents of my stomach. A short glance at Hailey showed that she was also green faced.

“Alright! Alright!” She conceded, “I’ll drive safer! Just make it stop!”

Kaesha undid whatever she’d done in the first place and laughed as Hailey and I gulped down air.

“Why’d you do it to me?” I complained as Hailey pouted, muttering about killjoys.

Through the rear view mirror, I saw her shrug, “You laughed at me.”

I simply shook my head and turned to gaze at the rapidly passing scenery, a smile on my face. I had allies, friends and a little family. And they were willing to help me.

Listening to Hailey’s pouty complaints and Kaesha’s smug remarks, I was happy.

Kirstin’s P. O. V

Heels clicking and hips swaying, I strutted down the hallway on the short trip to Brittany’s room. I felt the gazes of horny males and a few jealous females. I had long since gotten used to the attention living the ‘Brittany way’ attracted.

“Come… come in!” Brittany’s breathy voice came at my knock.

I opened the door, cringing at the sock hanging on the handle, and stepped in, shutting it behind me.

“Kirstin…” She breathed, entangled in her sheets and comforter with one of her guys.

When he popped his head out to wink at me, I recognised him. He was her favourite of all of them and was the one she went the most rounds with. I wracked my head for his name: Dexter? Darik?

“Didn’t know you liked to watch, Kirstin.” He gave me a sly side grin, “Wanna join?”

Derek. Definitely Derek.

I smirked and shook my head, giving a short laugh, “Not into threesomes, Derek.”

“You sure you don’t wanna try?”

“I’ll pass.”

He made a half shrugging motion and resumed whatever the hell he was doing with Brittany under there. To occupy myself, I silently inspected her room again as I recorded them. It wasn’t really much to look at. She had a few posters of the Royal Werewolves and power quotes here and there. Contrary to the stereotype that followed people with her kind of reputation, her room didn't have a trace of pink in it. I was pretty sure she despised the colour. Said it made her want to gorge her eyes out. Instead, her favourite colour was yellow - light dusty yellow to be exact. The colour of her wolf.

Ironically, she hated her wolf.

Sitting there, passively observing her room as she rode wave after wave of ecstasy – as she liked to call it, I realised I’d gone numb to the vivaciousness of her activities. It no longer seemed to bother me how comfortable she could be as she cheated on Callum time and time again, without a trace of guilt. I’d have to analyse how her mind worked later.

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I stood and decided to subtly snoop around. On more than one occasion, I’d found secret stashes of money and profiles on some really important members of Werewolf society but, save for taking photos for later reference, those held no interest to me. Still, I wandered around lazily, hoping to find more.

Her room was meticulously clean. Not a single object out of place. She hated messes, that much I could tell. It showed in her nitpicky eating and spotless locker at school. Every single poster was perfectly straight and every one of her clothes were neatly ironed and hung in her mini walk in closet.

But, again, save for now having knowledge of her borderline OCD under my sparkly black belt, this information was technically useless. Still. I took note.

Minutes passed, and when I noted that the pair were nearly tired out, I shut off the recorder.

“Kirstin?” Brittany stood just as I closed the app, wrapping a previously neatly folded sky blue towel around herself, “I think us girls should hang out. I need something to eat after all that exercise.” She joked.

Derek laughed and I forced a giggle.

“Be a dear and round up the others. And tell the Omega to pack a picnic for us.”

“On it.” I nodded as she breezed past, giving Derek a peck on the lips on her way to the bathroom.

He ‘mmm’-ed appreciatively.

“Derek, change my sheets. Then leave before my mate gets back.” She ordered before firmly shutting the bathroom door behind her.

He gave a short laugh, infinitely humourless, before getting to work. A sudden scowl marring his admittedly handsome face.

Interesting.

I promptly left to do as I was told, making a mental note to coax his true feelings about Brittany out of him later. Turning a corner, I nearly barrelled into Kylie.

“Sorry, Luna.” I mumbled, bowing my head and doing my damnest to appear apologetic.

“It’s okay.” She looked uncomfortable.

Good.

“Brittany wants us to hang out. She sent me to tell you guys.”

“I’ll be ready.” She started down the hallway.

I let her get a few paces away before calling out to her, “Luna, please wait!”

She turned slowly, apprehensive.

I kicked my acting skills into gear, letting regret flirt across my face, opening my mouth and closing it several times in faux hesitation. I congratulated myself internally as I saw the tension ease significantly from her demeanour.

“Kirstin…? What is it?”

I briefly cast my eyes to the floor before looking back at her, avoiding her gaze, “I- I just… I wanted to say I’m sorry…” I said quietly, managing to force the words past my lips.

From my peripheral, I could see her expression of utter surprise and sceptism.

I shifted my feet, laying my remorseful expression on thick, “You and Alpha Lightwood have always been together. You’re the perfect couple in every way. La Luna obviously made a mistake when she paired me with him.” I looked away, casting my eyes to my left before dragging them back to her now sympathetic face, “But even though all that… despite every obstacle… you two faced everything and you still stuck together.”

By now, Kylie had moved close enough for me to grab her hand. I grasped it gently when really, I wanted to squeeze it hard enough to turn her bones to mush.

“He is your true mate. I will never be worthy of him,” I stated, winding down my performance, “and I’m so sorry if I’ve made you two uncomfortable.”

I paused for empathetic effect. “Could you ever forgive me?”

Kylie’s guard had completely lowered as she stared at me with wide, forgiving eyes, “Of course! There’s nothing to forgive.” She consoled.

I let a hesitant smile if relief grace my face, “Thank you so much, Luna.” I bowed my head.

‘Try your gift on her.’ Gracine suddenly prompted.

I wasn’t too sure. I’d never actually used it on people before and I didn’t want to mess up what I’d just achieved with my intense acting.

‘Her guard’s completely lowered now.’ She persisted, ‘There’s no better time.’

She wasn’t wrong.

Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to relax and raised my eyes to meet hers. Her brows knitted together briefly before the green of her eyes clouded over and her expression went blank.

‘It worked!’ I cheered, doing a little happy dance. Then I stopped, ‘What now?’

‘Ask her about her real mate.’

I stared at her clouded eyes, “Who is your real mate and what happened after you rejected him on the night of the birthday party?”

“My real mate is Andrea Daniel Bennett, Battle General of the Lightwood pack.” She responded, voice monotonous and subdued, “I rejected him on the night of the birthday party then went to make out with Callum Jacob Howling to take my mind off of it. The previous Omega burst into the room and tore me of him, claiming he was her mate. He denied her and we beat her up a bit then went back to making out while she limped out of the room and passed out. Some minutes later, Callum claimed he wanted to use the bathroom and left. I heard him hit the previous Omega a few times before rejecting her. Then she accepted the rejection. He returned to the room and we resumed for a while till I left, not wanting to be caught cheating on Harry Theodore Lightwood. I found Harry back at the party, about to touch Kirstin Lina Crest, who I assumed was his mate. I snapped him out of his trance and went ahead to the bedroom when he told me to. I assumed he was rejecting her. Some minutes afterwards, I heard her threaten me through the mind link. I was terrified as he and I had se-”

I interrupted her, not wanting to hear any more, “Okay! Thank you, that’s enough!”

I fished a voice recorder out of my pocket and handed it to her. Then I led her to a bathroom. Brittany always took at least two hours in the shower so I figured I had some time.

“Answer the question again then elaborate on five of your dark secrets. Once you’re done, hide the recorder in the top cabinet. Then snap out of it.” I commanded, then pressed the record button and turned a faucet on just as she started talking.

Smirking, I left her locked in the bathroom to fulfil my initial task from Brittany.

‘Good work.’