Tasting 109

109–The Shady Party

Nora:

I descended the stairs in a blue skirt and white top, only to be met with an immediate disapproving

look from Silas, who was downstairs in a black oversized hoodie. “Go back upstairs and change into

something more suitable,” he instructed firmly.

“Silas! How many times do I have to remind you that you can’t dictate. what she wears?” Lord

Atwood interjected from the living room, holding a TV remote but paying attention to our exchange.

“Dad! She can’t show up at the party dressed like this,” Silas was more adamant than Nash,

shooting me disapproving glances and avoiding looking directly at me as if I were indecently

dressed.

“Why not? Are there other girls at your party?” dad shouted from the living room to make sure we

heard him.

“Yeah, but they’re not my stepsisters. So I don’t care who looks at them or how,” he retorted.

“Then ensure your friends are respectful in their gazes. Don’t try to control my daughter,” Lord

Atwood asserted, looking pleased. Silas shook his head and grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with

the idea of his friends ogling my revealing outfit. I realized myself that my attire was a bit too

inappropriate, with the skirt too short and the top showing too much cleavage.

“At least throw on a hoodie,” Silas murmured softly, not wanting his father to hear. Not wanting to

make anyone uncomfortable, I hurried upstairs and grabbed a white hoodie, putting it on before

returning

109–The Shady Party

THE

downstairs.

“Enjoy yourself and let me know if he misbehaves,” Lord Atwood said, eliciting a smile from me and

an eye roll from his son.

“Shall we, Miss Burden?” Silas quipped as he mockingly held the mansion door open for me.

“Huh!” I scoffed and followed him to his car. He didn’t even open the door for me and took his seat

first.

The minute the door opened and I was about to settle in, he drove off, and I was left behind. He

stopped ahead and yelled, “Come on in. I am getting late.”

I knew what he was doing. That asshole!

I ran and hopped in, shutting the door with a thud.

“Nora! If my car gets dented, you’re dead!” he screamed, turning to me. I was shocked, but then he

took a deep breath and settled into his seat.

“Put your seatbelt on,” he grunted aggressively, and I followed the rules. Wow! He was really stern

and arrogant.

He then started the engine, and I noticed how he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, while his

foot tapped up and down.

The entire car ride, he never turned to look my way and didn’t speak a word to me. He was very

meticulous when driving, never breaking a single rule. Soon, he took a turn and we entered a

neighborhood that instantly put me on high alert.

“Why are we here? Are you going to sell my kidneys?” I asked, moving to the corner and staring out

the window.

109 The Shady Panty

“I am going to sell you here,” he murmured in the calmest voice, and the color drained from my

face.

“Silas! What are you saying?” I quickly held up my phone, my finger on speed dial to Ryker.

“Not like anybody would buy you,” he shook his head and calmly drove us into a dark alley. I was

surprised how he insulted me in such

a chill tone.

“You really are rude,” I could have said harsher things, but the vibe of this area was scary. I had

heard that mostly rogues or shady pack members hung around here.

“And you are clingy,” he commented before parking the car in front of the apartment complex at the

end.

It wasn’t the type of apartments I had seen around. There were broken windows, litter everywhere,

and the entire vibe was off. But I could tell there was a party going on from the fact that the

partygoers were

standing under the apartments with drinks in their hands. They had music playing in their cars, and

couples were making out in those cars. at the same time.

“You are friends with these people?” I asked as I witnessed one guy spitting on a girl’s face because

she didn’t accept his advances.

“Shut up and follow me,” he said after silently examining the area for a few seconds. He then ran to

my side and held the door open for me. That was new.

As I walked out, he grabbed my wrist without looking and started leading me towards the apartment.

I squeezed closer to him, and surprisingly, he let me. Once we entered the ground–floor apartment,

my heart began to pound more vigorously than ever.

109–The Shally Party

I gulped hard, trying not to puke at the smell of drugs and alcohol.

“Stay close,” Silas said, pulling my hand even more, and I was basically submerged in his hoodie. I

put my nose in his cloth and sighed in relief. His intoxicatingly beautiful smell was the only thing that

prevented me from throwing up everywhere.

He took me upstairs to the main apartment. We were barely able to walk with how crowded the

place was. I didn’t really look around a lot, but whenever I did, I found eyes on me.

Once we were in the top apartment, I reckoned this was where the main party was. Silas was

instantly greeted by a dark–haired, brown- eyed guy, probably the host.

“Hey! You brought a chick,” the guy yelled, and everyone cheered. Silas instantly let go of my hand

and shook his head.

“She is my stepsister,” he replied bitterly, pulling his nose up.

“Oh! Hello, Alpha King’s sister, I’m Jad!” the guy smirked, pulling his hand out for a friendly shake

when Silas slapped it away.

“I didn’t know she was forbidden fruit,” the guy’s comment made me slide behind Silas.

I didn’t like this party and was already regretting coming here. The worst part happened when Silas

gestured for me to sit on the couch in the corner while he left for the room on the side with some of

his friends, to do Goddess knows what.