Chapter 15
“What’s wrong is that every morning and every night, I lie in bed wondering why you’re not beside me.” ― K.A. Tucker, Ten Tiny Breaths
Rose's POV
The smell of alcohol and sweat hit me as soon as we stepped inside.
Blue lights bounced off the walls and floor, illuminating the crowd of bodies grinding against each other.
A twinge of unease crept into my veins. This wasn’t my scene.
Maybe the bookworm really was better off at home, curled up with her novels.
I took a deep breath and let Aiden, his arm draped over my shoulders, guide me toward a clearing where he fist-bumped a guy handing out red cups.
“No. Not tonight, Drake,” Aiden said, waving off the offered drink. “I’m the designated driver. Can’t drink. Gotta take her home safely.”
He inclined his head toward me, pulling me closer against his side. It felt surprisingly good, the warmth of him pressed against me. Drake, Aiden's friend, held the cup out to me next. Aiden shook his head before I could even answer.
Maybe it was his assumption that annoyed me, or maybe it was because I wanted to prove I could fit in here. Either way, before Aiden could open his mouth again, I grabbed the drink.
“Thanks!” I said, taking a large gulp.
I made a face. I never cared much for beer, but this wasn’t beer—it was fruity with a pungent aftertaste.
“It’s my own special batch of jungle juice!” Drake laughed, clearly enjoying my reaction.
“It’s too strong for you,” Aiden snapped, reaching for the cup.
I yanked it back and took another swig.
“It’s…perfect,” I choked out, chugging the rest of it down. My throat burned, but I held the empty cup out for more.
Drake grinned knowingly as he refilled it.
“What’s jungle juice?” I coughed, still feeling the sting in my throat.
“Something you shouldn’t be having,” Aiden scowled. “It’s a mix of a bunch of alcohols with juice. Knowing Drake, it’s got hard liquor in it. People get sick off of his jungle juice. You don’t even drink. Let me get you something lighter.”
He reached for my cup again, but I pulled it out of his grasp.
“Oh, come on. Wasn’t the whole point of bringing me here to let me experience these college parties?” I challenged, taking another sip.
“No. The point was you were crying, and I wanted you to stop,” he shot back, lunging for the cup.
I quickly took another swig, stepping away from him.
Aiden clenched his jaw as he watched me down the rest of my second drink. He knew I wasn’t pacing myself. He knew this wouldn’t end well.
“No more jungle juice,” he said firmly.
I ignored him, finishing the last sip before placing the cup in his outstretched hand.
“JELL-O SHOTS!” Drake suddenly announced.
People clamored toward him, and I glanced at Aiden curiously.
He let out a deep sigh, reading my expression. “It’s JELL-O with alcohol in it. Go try it. But only one.”
He waved me off toward Drake, though he still looked hesitant.
I felt hot. Reaching up, I tugged off my leather jacket.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Aiden stiffen. His gaze flickered down my back. It took me a second to realize why—my shirt didn’t have a back. My bare skin was on full display.
I walked toward Drake, feeling the weight of multiple eyes on me. I turned to see Aiden glowering at the men around me.
Aiden was standing frozen. His expression darkened. His jaw clenched. Why was he so angry
After JELL-O shots, Drake convinced me to start downing vodka shots instead. On third shot, I felt a hand on my hip, and a man I didn’t know asking me if I’d like to dance. Before I could react however, Aiden was suddenly in my space.
The guy next to me immediately backed away.
I looked up to find Aiden shooting death glares at the young man who’d asked me to dance. Then, his arms wrapped around my waist from behind, his fingers grazing the sliver of bare skin where my top had ridden up.
The contact sent a shiver through me, but instead of pulling away, I leaned into him.
His grip tightened.
“Dance with me,” he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.
His fingers trailed over my upper arm, rubbing away at the concealer hiding my birthmark—the mark that denoted I was his.
I nodded, letting him pull me into the throng of bodies. His hands roamed up my ribs, then back down, sending electricity through my spine.
Aiden's POV
We were dancing and swaying with the beat of the music, my hand running up and down her body and for the time being… I was lost in her.
I couldn’t help it. I’d tried counting to ten when I’d seen every gaze turned on her, tried to reign in my emotions.
I really tried. But when some guy put a hand on her shoulder and leaned in to whisper something to her, I snapped.
I’d reached her in two strides and pulled her onto the dance floor just to get her away from every salivating male.
I was staking my claim on what was mine.
What was I doing?
She wasn’t mine.
She could never be mine.
I pulled back abruptly, putting distance between us.
Rose immediately swayed back trying to lean into me.
“You feel so good,” she slurred, her body swaying without me to steady her.
My eyes widened. My hands reached out to steady her, palms flat against her waist and I couldn’t help it when they slid across her torso, mapping every curve.
“Rose…” My voice was gruff, strained. “How many JELL-O shots did you take?”
“Four,” she admitted breathlessly.
Oh shit. My hands went still, tightening over her rib cage.
She was only supposed to have had one. Drake’s JELL-O shots hit all at once.
“And three vodka shots,” she added.
I cursed under my breath. She leaned against me, her backside adjusting itself over my hard dick.
“This feels so good,” she purred, molding herself against me.
It did. I had to remind myself again that she was drunk right now.
“It’s your wolf talking, Rose,” I said quietly. “You’ve consumed so much alcohol, your wolf instinct is coming out.”
I couldn’t think straight when she was so hot and needy, pushing her body against me and undulating her hips against me like that.
Heaving a sigh, I guided her away from the dance floor and out into the cool night air.
“I didn’t get to play beer pong yet!” Rose whined, almost tripping over her heels.
Well, at least she knew what beer pong was.
I held her arm to steady her, bringing a cup of water to her lips. Rose grabbed the cup greedily, drinking the water.
“This isn’t jungle joooocce.” Rose giggled, pulling the cup of water away from her lips and sloshing it down her front in the process.
I had to close my eyes for a minute because the water made her black top cling even more to her chest, outlining the pebbling of her nipples in the cool night air.
“You’ve been cut off,” I stated, opening my eyes and guiding Rose towards my car. “Let’s hope this walk helps you sober up.”
She leaned on me heavily, her chest pushed against my upper arm so that my arm was practically nestled between her breasts. I exhaled again slowly, cursing myself for ever thinking this would be a good idea.
We turned onto the street towards my car and her boobs pushed against my upper arm more firmly, sending lust roaring through my veins.
“Why don’t boys like me?” she asked in a small voice as we walked.
I stopped in my tracks, taken aback by Rose’s statement.
“You don’t like me; Jake doesn’t like me…no one likes me. No one wants to date me,” Rose pouted.
“Is…is this what’s really been bothering you?” My voice was hollow, like I wasn’t exactly present mentally.
The truth was I couldn’t be mentally present when I was so hard for her and my arm was nestled between her boobs. A place I sorely wanted to bury my face. Ah fuck. I was so horny for her.
Rose nodded, suddenly sitting down on the sidewalk.
“The road is spinning,” she murmured.
I caught the warning in her voice.
I was able to step back just in time as Rose threw up. I was behind her, holding her hair back and patting her back soothingly with a strong hand.
“Better out than in,” I stonily remarked.
“Is there any more water?” Rose asked weakly once she finished throwing up.
I offered her a bottle of water that I’d taken from the party before leaving.
She rinsed her mouth first, spitting any residual vomit from her mouth before taking big sips of water.
Once she felt like she could walk, she allowed me to help her up.
My hand kept a firm grip on her as we walked to my car.
“If you throw up in my car, you’re walking home,” I quipped as I got behind the wheel and Rose settled in the passenger seat.
I took a minute, sniffing my car and taking in the surroundings. If anyone was watching us, it looked almost as if I was looking for something, or someone. Then I started my car, checking all the lights, the brake, and the accelerator, before finally driving into the night.
Rose weakly rolled the window down, allowing the cool wind to hit her face during the drive home. Once I turned onto pack territory, Rose finally spoke.
“I don’t want to go home. Dad…he can’t see me like this,” Rose explained shakily.
I looked sideways at her. She still looked a little green.
“Are you sure you’re OK? Take another sip of water,” I cajoled.
Rose shook her head weakly, turning to face the window so the cold air kept her grounded. It looked like she was going to throw up again.
Biting back a curse, I gave Ezra a call. This conversation was not going to be fun.
“We’re going to be late so don’t stay up waiting for Rose. She’s with me,” I spoke into the phone.
“I don’t think it’s at all appropriate for the two of you to be spending the night together,” Ezra replied sternly. “Things might get out of hand. I’d rather she come–”
I cut his words off as anger sparked inside of me. Who was Ezrra to tell me what I could and could not do with MY MATE?
“Isn’t that what you all want anyway? I’ll take care of her. We’ll see you tomorrow.” I ended the call and glanced at Rose.
“Tha…thanks,” Rose murmured, clearly still feeling woozy. She obviously hadn’t heard what her father said to me. With the way she was looking, she probably couldn’t tell much of anything that was going on around her.
Once we’d reached my home, I helped her get out of the car, careful to hold her weight up so she didn’t fall.
“Josie,” Rose mumbled fearfully, leaning into me. “She’s my mentor and she’s going to think I’m the most irresponsible person ever!” Rose wailed out as we walked up the steps. I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, come on, Rose. You got drunk, it’s not punishable by death,” I snapped.
Rose kept quiet, allowing me to open the door to my house. My one arm remained steady around her waist. I guided her up to the third floor and heard Rose swallow audibly.
“Isn’t the third floor the alpha living quarters?” she whispered meekly. “Josie and the kids live on the second floor.”
“Yeah well…since you don’t want Mom to see you, you probably don’t want to share a room with her either,” I supplied breezily, opening the door to a room attached to mine. A room that was supposed to belong to my luna once I had a mating ceremony.
I helped her into the room and heard her mumbling something about needing a change of clothes. I asked Rose to go to the adjoining bathroom and splash some water on her face.
Then I went to my room and picked up a t-shirt and came back to the room where Rose was.I don't know why my wolf was preening over the thought of Rose wearing one of my shirts. Maybe so she'd be covered in my scent.
“Am I going to sleep in just a t-shirt?” she asked weakly.
“I could get someone to go grab your clothes in the morning from your house,” I offered, reminding myself to send off a text to Ezra or Hilda. “I don’t have any pants that would fit you,” I explained apologetically. She was too short for anything other than a t-shirt of mine.
“This will have to do; it’s long enough to cover you down to your knees.” I added.
Rose sat down on the bed and held her head.
“The room is spinning,” she grunted.
She looked like she felt like shit.
“Why do people get drunk?” she moaned into her hands.
I chuckled. “You’re going to feel it even more in the morning.”
Suddenly, she was running back into the bathroom and puking again.
I gave an exasperated sigh. It was going to be a long night. And I couldn’t leave her alone to endure it all by herself.