Chapter 16: The Barbeque

The pack warriors of Blood Stone Pack are not training today. Everyone seems to be so relaxed. It looks like they got their much-needed break. After the rogues attacked the second time, the pack was quite busy. Damien took some strategies and precautions after that. He made allies with the other three large werewolf packs. It was not that much work for him. It seems like other packs were more interested in being allies than him. Obviously, it is the largest pack. He also hunted down some of the hideouts of the rogues and burnt them all. There were thousands of them. It was Lotus’ idea to search for their hide-outs. Some of the hide-outs were so close to the pack territories. They couldn’t even imagine that the number of rogues was that big.

Today is different from other days. All pack members are busy. They are busy decorating the big garden behind the packhouse. Today is Barbeque day. It happens once every year. All the pack members gather at the backyard garden and enjoy food, each other’s company, and dance with each other. It’s kind of a werewolf’s party where they can enjoy everything without being threatened to be exposed. All the ladies are more excited about this. It is their opportunity to show themselves off. They prepare for this for a long time.

Lotus was watching the decorations with a smile on her face. It’s been so long she is away from home. So much happened in the past months. She became married to the most feared alpha; her siblings successfully merged all the ancient moon packs, the rogue attacks, and so much more. Things didn’t change much between her and her devil husband. A few days ago, another blonde showed up in the packhouse while serving breakfast to her husband, and that bitch ran towards Damien shouting his name.

**Flashback**

“Dami! So good to see you!” and then she hugged him. Hello! I am still standing here, Lotus thought to herself. But her pervert husband hugged her back.

“Lauren! What a pleasant surprise!” Damien said with a big smile on his face. Lotus was a little disheartened. But to her surprise, that girl kissed Damien on his lips!  Everyone was watching them. Her wolf whimpered in pain.

‘He is not ours, remember?’ Lotus reminds her wolf.

‘Not ours! It’s painful.’, her wolf said. Her voice was painful. She was heartbroken. Lotus sighed. Until we find out, mate, she murmured. She left the diner silently and went back to the kitchen.

Later she learned that the girl was the alpha’s daughter of Midnight Pack and one of her husband’s toys. Lauren learned about the treaty between Midnight Pack and Blood Stone Pack. She was beyond happy as this might be her chance to be the Luna of Damien. Hence, she is here to woo him!

Lotus couldn’t believe how shameless someone could be. Lauren was always with Damien holding him, hugging him, kissing him, and whatnot. Damien also seems to enjoy her company. One day Lauren came to the kitchen in the morning. Lotus was talking to Adeline and Ben. They did not pay any attention to Lauren.

“Hey, you! I want bacon today. Cook some for me right now!” Lauren said to Lotus in a very harsh tone. “Come on! Work fast. You get paid for that, remember?” She said again. Ben and Adeline were shocked as well.

“I am sorry, Lauren, but I have been hired as the personal cook of alpha.”, Lotus said in an icy tone.

“After our marriage, you will be my personal cook as well, so why not start practising from now?” Lauren said with a crooked smile on her face. Ben was furious about that. How could Damien do something like that?

“For your kind information Miss Lauren, Lotus happens to be his current wife, and I haven’t heard about any chances of them getting divorced.”, Ben said sarcastically.

“Yeah, right! You mean that treaty wife?” Lauren smiled. She knew! “If Damien cared for her, then why am I the one holding him publicly? Why am I the one sleeping with him in his bed every night while she is not even living on the same floor as an alpha! Tell me, did he even ever try to do something with you? Damien is not the kind to wait until your maturity, and I am a living example of that. Look in the mirror. No wonder he does not want you. You are not even that honoured to live on the same floor. So, do not talk about their marriage in front of me. It was just a mistake, and I am here to correct it.” And Lauren left, giving a sad smile to Lotus.

Lotus did not utter a word. She was standing there just like a statue. Those words hurt. They hurt a lot. Damien came to her room only once, but he just teased her and then left. It was true that Damien was not that kind to hold back. Clearly, he did not find her attractive. She is not even living on the same floor. Every word Lauren spoke was true.

She felt Adeline hugging her tight.

“Lo, don’t mind her words! She is just another bimbo.”, she felt Ben’s hand on her shoulder. Lotus couldn’t sleep for the night. Her wolf was whimpering. She wanted to get her rightful position. After that day, Lotus did not come in front of Damien. Not even at least once.

**Flashback ends**

“Lo! So here you are!” Lotus turned back to see Adeline. She smiled.

“Come on, Lo! We need to go shopping! Else we will be late”, Adeline said again. According to Adeline, Lotus basically has nothing to wear for tonight, and hence Adeline, her fashion expert, decided to give her a makeover.

“All right! Let’s go, Ad”, Lotus said with a giggle.

They both went to the market. They hopped around almost every shop. Adeline made Lotus trying nearly hundreds of different types of clothes and accessories. Lotus started to feel tired.

“Ad! Please, no more!” Lotus almost cried. She could never imagine that shopping could be that tiring.

“This one, Lo! This one is last.”, Adeline said. This is the five hundredth last one, Lotus thought to herself. Still, she is happy to be here with Adeline. It gives her some space to be away from the packhouse where she can always smell Lauren with Damien.

“Wow! She looks royal in this dress!” another she-wolf said who was also trying on some clothes. Lotus offered her a smile. It is a ruby red dress with a princess cut that stops at her knee. It has a halter neckline, and the dress is backless. Red goes well with her pale pink complexion and caramel-like hair. 

“Because she is royal!” Adeline was smiling. Her eyes were shining. “We are taking this one, Lo”.

Lotus was relieved that she did not have to try any more clothes. After bagging a bundle of clothes, shoes and ornaments and eating some junk food, they both returned to the packhouse.

They saw that people had started to arrive at the back.

“Come on, Lo, fast”, Adeline shouted. “Go and take a shower! Then come to my room with your dress!” she said again.

“Relax, Ad”, Lotus giggled and went to her room to take a shower. She washed her hair and dried them properly. She wore her regular hoodie and sweatpants and then grabbed the dress she bought today and the matching ornaments and went downstairs to Adeline’s Room.

Adeline was already wearing that navy blue dress she bought today. It had spaghetti straps, and the dress was hugging her body tightly. It ends at her mid-thigh. She was tying up her hair. She looked terrific, thought Lotus. She had quite a good figure.

“Wow, Ad! You look amazing!” Lotus said. Adeline smiled at her.

“Lo, wear your dress, quick!” she said.

Lotus changed quickly into her new ruby red dress. Once she was done, Adeline dragged her in front of the mirror and made her sit on a stool. She started to tie her hair in a messy bun leaning some straps falling on her face. Then she curled those straps and applied light makeup on her face. Once she was done, Lotus could not believe her own reflection. Adeline smiled at her reaction.

“What did you think? You have a pretty face, Lo. You just need a little touch-up!” and she winked at her.

Once Adeline was done with her makeup, they both went to the garden. It was beautifully decorated. There was everything! Food, Alcohol, Dance floor, DJ. Some other wolves were dancing. Some were talking. Everyone was wearing beautiful clothes, and all the males were wearing tuxedos or suits.

Lotus looked around and saw Damien. He was wearing a black tuxedo. He looked dashing. His hair was combed properly. But he was holding Lauren in his arms. They were dancing together. Lotus felt a little pain again. Her wolf was also sad. Then she saw Alex. He was also dancing with a random girl. She sighed and turned towards Adeline. She also looked sad.

“Ad, are you ok?” Lotus asked her. It seems like she is not in this world. She looked lost. Her eyes were vacant.

“Ad!” Lotus hover her hand in front of her eyes. Still, she did not get any reaction.

“Hello! Earth to Adeline!” This time, Lotus pushes Adeline a little.

“Ha? Hey Lo! I’m sorry. Let’s have some drinks.”, She said with a sad smile on her face.

“Oh my god! Look at these two beautiful ladies!” Ben shouted at them. He jumped in between them and held both of them on their waist. “I am so blessed to have beautiful ladies surrounded by me!” he winked.

“Ben!” Lotus and Adeline said in chorus. Ben started to laugh, and they giggled. The music is getting louder. More people are now on the dance floor.

“So, what are you two up to?” Ben asked.

“We are heading for some drinks!” Lotus said.

They went to the drinks counter. Other male wolves started to notice these two beautiful ladies by now. Some came willingly to talk to them. Lotus and Adeline were smiling and replying to them politely. Adeline took five shots. Lotus was not a drinker. She took one cocktail. She can sense something is off about Adeline. She looks sad.

“Wo! Wo! Wo! Slow down, girl”, Ben said to her. But it looks like she is lost again.

“Is she ok?” Ben asked me in my ears.

“Something is wrong”, she replied in a worried tone. She looked towards the dance floor. She saw Damien was not there anymore. She pulled Adeline by holding her hand, “Let's dance”, she said. Adeline smiled a little.

They went to the dance floor. Their bodies started to move with the beats. The other males on the dancing floor started to watch their hip and breast movements. But they were too busy to notice their gaze.

Suddenly Lotus felt that someone was dragging her, holding her hand. She smelt mint. It's him! Why does he always have to spoil her day? Everyone was watching her. Adeline also came out of the dance floor. She saw alpha was furious. What is wrong with him?

“Let go of me!” Lotus shouted, “What’s your problem?”

Once they were out from the dance floor, Damien released her hand, “Go and change. Now!” he ordered.

“What? Why? Are you insane?” Lotus was holding her wrist. It was still hurting.

“Do you think you can dress like a slut and tease other men without my notice? Do not test my patience, Kitten. Go and change.”, he kind of yelled at her this time.

“You are crazy, and you know what….” Lotus could not finish. A painful scream escaped from Adeline’s mouth. It was not loud but loud enough for Lotus to hear. She turned around quickly to search for her. She saw her holding her stomach. She was in pain.

“Adeline!” Lotus shouted. Damien was also in shock.  Lotus ran towards her. She helped her to stand up.

“Lo, take me to my room, please. Will you?” she said in a shuttered voice. Ben was there at that time. Ben and Lotus both help Adeline to get inside her room.

“Ad, what’s wrong?” Lotus asked her, caressing her hair. Adeline was lying on her bed, and Lotus was sitting beside her. Ben was standing in the room. Adeline did not answer.

“Ad, please let me. What is it?” Lotus asked again. But Adeline was still silent. Her eyes were closed.

“Adeline! Swear to the moon goddess, tell us what’s wrong. Please Ad”, Lotus pleaded this time.

“Lo, I came to this pack a few months before you did. The Blood Stone Pack attacked my pack. Our alpha was killed. Very few of us were left. Alpha Damien gave us a choice. I joined this pack. After two weeks of joining this pack, I turned sixteen. I found my mate in this pack. He sensed me before I did. But he didn’t show any emotion towards me, Lo. I thought he might reject me. But he didn’t do that either. The day you came to this pack was the day he spoke to me for the first time. I thought you were special to him, but I knew that you guys hardly knew each other as soon as I saw you. I didn’t say anything to anyone. Days passed but things didn’t get better, Lo. It still hurts so much. Today I saw him holding another girl; I saw him kissing her. It was so painful, Lo.”, she started to cry. Lotus could not utter a single word after hearing that. She can guess who that person is. She saw him dancing. She saw him kissing that girl.

“Who is that?” Ben asked Adeline in an angry tone.

“Alex”, Adeline said like a whisper. Lotus couldn’t hold herself back anymore. How can he do that? She is his mate. His other half.

She left Adeline’s room in that instant and walked towards the garden. Many had already left by that time. Slow romantic music was playing. She saw Damien was dancing with Lauren again, and his forehead was resting on hers. She has no time to react to him right now. She saw Alex was also there dancing with that wolf. She walked straight toward Alex. His back was facing her. She put one hand on his shoulder. Alex turned back to see who it was.

Lotus slapped him with all her strength. Everyone was looking at them. Damien left Lauren and started to walk towards them. Alex was also in shock.

“How dare you torture her like that? She is your mate! Never mind. A person like you cannot deserve her.”, Lotus yelled at him. Damien was stunned by her words. Alex found his mate already! Then Lotus turned towards Damien and pointed at him to say, “You know why you two go so well? Because you both are cruel and pathetic. Both of you deserve to be rotten in hell.”

Lotus did not wait for their reply after that. She walked straight into Adeline’s room. She needs her support right now.