Hidden Intentions

Thirty minutes ago.

Kael's POV

Ryker's party is a blast. The heavy bass of the music pulses through the house, rattling the living room windows and shaking the floorboards beneath my boots. Red plastic cups and empty beer bottles litter the ground, crushed under the feet of dancing teenagers. The living room is packed tight, the space overflowing with sweaty, drunk bodies grinding against each other on the makeshift dance floor. The air is thick with the smell of cheap alcohol, heavy cologne, and raging hormones. I ignore the chaotic mess around me. My focus is narrowed down to the mundane task of fetching a fresh bag of ice.

"Hey, Kael. Want to go upstairs?" Brielle steps close to my side. My current cheerleader girlfriend trails a manicured finger down my exposed chest. Her nail scrapes lightly over my skin, her eyes filled with a sultry invitation.

"I am busy." I push her hand off my chest, rejecting her blatant offer without a second thought. I bend down, grab a heavy, dripping bag of ice from the outdoor cooler, and turn my back to her, heading straight for the kitchen.

Brielle follows right on my heels. She lets out a heavy, irritated sigh, her annoyance grating on my nerves. When I try to sidestep her to carry the ice inside, she aggressively steps directly into my path. She crosses her arms over her chest, putting up a defensive front. "What is wrong with you? Something is off about you tonight."

"What do you mean? Get out of my way, Brielle." I grip the plastic bag of ice tighter, my patience wearing thin.

"Is it that bitch? I noticed that you have been bothering her much more often lately." Brielle spits Danica's name like venom, her eyes narrowing as she studies my face.

I stop and stare at her. My eyebrows furrow in deep annoyance. I boldly remind her of the dynamic. "I bully her, Brielle. I torment her daily life."

Internally, I know the real reason I single her out. Danica is the only person without a wolf in our entire high school. She is the outcast product of a forbidden mating between a werewolf and a human. She lacks a wolf of her own and remains oblivious to the existence of our supernatural world. That ignorance makes her incredibly easy prey for the pack. We are a school full of predators, and she is the lone sheep.

"Yeah, sure. Most guys hide behind the transparent pretense of bullying the very girl they secretly have a massive crush on." Brielle scoffs at my explanation, rolling her eyes.

I am done listening to this utter nonsense. I shove past her shoulder, ignoring her offended glare, and retreat into the sanctuary of the kitchen.

Ryker operates the large beer keg positioned by the stainless-steel sink. He pumps the metal tap and pours out cups of foam, dumping the excess down the drain until the dark brown beer flows smooth. He looks up the second I step through the doorway and instantly notices my foul, dark mood.

I aggressively dump the heavy bag of ice onto the floor next to the cooler. It lands with a loud thud, sending a few loose cubes skittering across the linoleum.

"Is everything okay, man?" Ryker pauses his pouring to study my rigid posture.

"Brielle." I mutter her name through gritted teeth. The single word is all the explanation my Beta needs.

Ryker takes a casual sip from his red cup, leaning his hip against the counter with a pointed look. "Why are you even still dating her? Just dump her and find another piece of eye candy for the week. You are the soon-to-be Alpha of this pack, Kael. You have the power to have any girl you could possibly want. You do not need to settle for a headache."

I do not bother commenting on his suggestion. I step up to the metal tap, pour myself a fresh cup of beer, and chug it down in one aggressive gulp. The bitter liquid burns a welcome path down my throat. I wipe my wet lips with the back of my hand, tossing the crushed empty cup into the nearby trash bin.

"Ryker!" Paige shrieks his name over the loud thumping bass from the living room.

Ryker's girlfriend bursts into the kitchen. She throws her arms around his neck, yanking him down for a messy kiss. Ryker balances his plastic cup in one hand like a pro. He grabs her waist with his free hand, pulls her flush against his solid body, and kisses her right back. When they finally break apart, Paige giggles loudly. She stares up at him with blind adoration and grabs his hand.

"Let's go dance!" Paige demands. She wraps around his arm and physically drags him toward the packed dance floor.

Ryker quirks an eyebrow at me over his shoulder, silently asking if I am fine with being left alone.

I grab another empty cup from the tall stack on the counter and salute him silently. I tip my chin toward the door, signaling him to go have a good time. He deserves to enjoy his own party.

Ryker disappears into the sea of dancing bodies. I fill up my cup with fresh beer and head back into the main room. I steer clear of the chaotic center floor, retreating into a dark, secluded corner of the main room where the overhead lights are busted. I lean heavily against the cold drywall. I stand in the shadows, sipping my beer and watching everyone else have the time of their lives.

A sad, strange, and unexplainable spark of jealousy strikes me right in the chest. I am the future Alpha. I have status and power. Yet, standing here watching these teenagers laugh and grind against each other without a care in the world, I feel isolated.

However, the universe refuses to let me brood in peace.

Wyatt, another loud pack member, shuffles over and leans against the wall right beside me, holding a half-empty bottle. "Nice party, right?"

"Yes." I give him a sharp, one-word answer. I stare straight ahead, silently praying he will take the glaring hint and just leave me alone. My brain has zero patience for a conversation right now.

Wyatt remains oblivious to my cold demeanor. He keeps talking, crudely pointing out various girls on the sweaty dance floor. Wyatt points his bottle toward a red-headed girl grinding nearby. "She was nice. The carpet matches the drapes with that one. I wouldn't go near that ass again though. Once was enough."

He laughs loudly at his own piggish joke. I shake my head at his crude, disrespectful comments. Some guys in this pack are just disgusting pigs, and honestly, sometimes I know I am no better. I keep my mouth shut, letting him ramble to the empty air while I take a long sip from my cup.

Suddenly, Wyatt lets out a low, sharp whistle. He stops slouching and stands up bone-straight, his eyes locked intensely on the open front door across the room. "Now, her on the other hand. I wouldn't mind hitting that specific ass a dozen times. Does she go to our school? She looks vaguely familiar."

Annoyed by his constant commentary, I casually follow his hungry gaze across the crowded, dimly lit room. I peer through the throngs of grinding bodies, looking toward the open entryway.

The moment my eyes land on the girl standing at the door, my entire body freezes in place. My breath catches in my throat.

Jesus Christ. What the hell?

It is Danica.

The very same Danica who hides her body under baggy clothes. The girl who never shows a single inch of skin. The outcast who refuses to wear makeup and walks the hallways with her head down. She sure as hell never attends loud, chaotic parties filled with sweaty, horny teenagers. Yet here she is, standing in the doorway, transformed.

My mind short-circuits as I stare at her. The jealousy and brooding irritation I felt seconds ago vanish, replaced by pure, paralyzed shock. A singular, burning question echoes loudly in my head as my eyes trace over her new appearance.

Why the fuck is she doing it now?