Unwanted Thoughts

*NOT EDITED*

I kept following Mason glumly as I kept thinking of what could have happened between Axel and Jade.

"Mason, where are we going?" I wasn't feeling very up to seeing her face, and maybe if I tell him I am tired I can get out of it.

"We are going to the commons. The building is only a couple minutes from here. Actually, see that humongous building right over there," he indicated with his pointer finger, "That is where we are going."

"Why? All of a sudden, I feel really tired. Can we do this some other time?"

"No, it'll be fun. I told Jade to meet us there and bring some of her trusted friends who can help us plan the ball. And don't worry, the Gamma, Jace, is going to be there, so she will behave." Great! I am going to be surrounded by Jade and a bunch of her other friends for God knows how long. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. Although, thankfully Mason didn't see because I was trailing a couple steps behind him. I sped up to catch up to him, although, I tried not to make any eye contact.

"You alright, Calista? Your mood changed all of a sudden," he questioned me. Mason was really excited about the idea of the ball and having it be a success. So, I couldn't ruin this for him. Maybe I will ask him about Jade and Axel another day.

"Yeah, I am just not a people person. So, I don't know how I feel about meeting Jade's friends," I replied, masking what was really bothering me.

"Don't worry, Serena, Jace, and Daphne are great. You will be fine, don't worry."

"Who exactly are Serena and Daphne?" I asked him. Did something happen between them and Axel too? No, Calista, get those thoughts out of your head. You need to focus on the ball, and you can deal with Axel and his women later.

"Chillax, Cal! You'll meet them in a couple minutes."

We kept walking for a little while longer until we stopped at front steps of the massive building, where we waited Jade and her posse to show up. I wanted help planning it, but I don't know how I feel about having to share the reins with Jade. She just isn't a nice person, and I don't feel comfortable around her.

A couple minutes passed, and they showed up, Jade looking as gorgeous as the first time I met her. If she is my competition to Axel's heart, then I am royally screwed.

"What is your deal, Mason? Today was my day off," Jace, I am assuming, directed at Mason, annoyed, glancing at his phone indicating his lack of interest.

"Hello to you too! Anyway, guys this is Calista Jesson. She is, uh, new here," he said introducing me. I didn't know whether Serena and Daphne knew that I was their Alpha's mate, and maybe Mason wanted to keep it that way. Either way, I just smiled at them and waved, uttering a low nice to meet you. "And Cal, this is Jace, the gamma, Serena, and Daphne," he said, pointing at each of them.

"Nice to meet you," Serena and Daphne said in unison, glancing at each other and giggling completely in sync. However, Jace just nodded his head. I expected him to at least look at me, acknowledging my presence but his head remained directed at his phone. Ok, that is just rude!

"Ok now that we are all introduced, let's go inside and eat something. It is dinner time, and I am so starving!" Jade joined in. Now that she mentioned it, I was feeling pretty hungry as well. So, with a unilateral consensus we all walked in the building to order some food. While walking up the elegantly huge staircase, I heard Mason whispering to Jace, "For fuck's sake show her some respect, or at least acknowledge her presence."

"Why should I? She isn't the Luna yet, so as Gamma, my rank is higher than hers" Jace chided. Wow, good to know how he really feels.

"I am your Beta, and my rank is higher than yours. So, I order you to treat her with respect. She has gone through enough since she got here, and she doesn't need you adding to her drama. So, when we go in there, you will treat her like the Gamma should treat the Luna, or like any gentlemen treats a lady. She has done nothing to you and doesn't deserve your cold treatment." Mason reprimanded. Even though I felt very grateful for Mason, I think what he just did made Jace dislike me even more for reasons I am not sure of myself. First it was Jade, and now her brother. Great! Was it just me, or were the names annoying?

They kept talking about this in hushed tones, but I couldn't hear them because Serena had came up to me and asked, "So, how come you're new?"

Well, since we are still trying to keep the fact that I am mated to Axel under wraps, I answered, "It's complicated, but hopefully I will be able to stay here for a long time."

"Where are you from, Calista, right?" Daphne chimed in.

"Yeah, you can call me Cali if you want. And, I am from the Mystic Pack." I answered, I guess these two weren't as bad as I thought they would be.

"Oh, that is a cute pack! I heard your Alpha just found his mate, and they had their mating ceremony already." Daphne said.

"Yeah, I was there, it was really beautiful. They really love each other." I added.

We finally walked inside, with Mason and Jace still trailing about 10 feet behind us, talking about God knows what. I hope they aren't still talking about me, because they were both sharing intense facial expressions, and each of them was ready to pounce on the other.

After we found the food court and ordered our meals, we started talking about the ball and began planning it. After a while of talking and discussions, we finally reached a good place.

"So, let's see," I started, "So far, we have Jade and Serena on decorations, lighting, décor and 'pizzazz,' Daphne on flowers, Jace on security and patrol, Mason on designing and sending out invitations and dealing with RSVPs, and I am on food and entertainment. Invitations will be sent out at the end of the week, and Mason and I will personalize them together. We will meet again in one week to check on the status of everything and make sure that everything is going as planned." I finalized, waiting for anybody to ask me questions. Even though Jace wasn't very into this whole idea, he accepted his assignment without any complaints.

We were already done with our desserts and we were getting ready to leave, when Serena said, "God, I can't wait to see Alpha Axel's reaction when he sees me in my dress!"

"Puh-lease, like he is going to look at you. He is totally going to be all over me," Daphne rebuked, giggling with Serena, while Jade just scoffed at the both of them. I guess Mason was right, every girl in the pack has a crush on my mate.

"Have you met Alpha Axel, Calista?" Daphne asked me.

"Yeah, I have," I answered. I was getting a little annoyed that they wanted to impress my mate.

"Oh my Gosh! He is sex on legs, isn't he?" Serena squealed. I was starting to get a little uncomfortable with this, but tried to maintain a cool façade. After all, from the way they were talking, it didn't sound like Axel reciprocated their feelings. So, in a way, I have more in common with them than I had thought.

"Both of you, shut up. Everybody knows that if someone was going to catch Axel's attention it would be me. I am better looking than you," Jade said pointing at Serena, "and you," she said pointing at Daphne, and "definitely better looking than you," she ended at me. Ouch. Although, there was no denying it, even a blind person can see that she was the sexiest one here.

"There is more to life than looks, Jade. And it is going to be a masquerade ball, half our faces will be covered. So, maybe it wouldn't really matter who is better looking, because our identities are hidden," I countered. The girls just rolled their eyes at Jade, and I think I even heard Daphne mutter bitch under her breath. I mean, self confidence is great and all, but putting everybody around you down to lift yourself up, wasn't.

I stayed behind a little to pack my notes, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Jade with what looked like a sympathetic smile on her face, "I know you want to look good for Axel. But sometimes people just don't get blessed with a spectacular physical appearance. Don't worry, I am sure your personality makes up for what you lack in looks." Ex-fucking-cuse me? This is the third time she has called me unattractive in one way or another.

"Listen Jade, you can look as good as you want. In fact, I won't deny that you are beautiful on the outside. But, what you are blessed with on the outside does not make up for what you lack in personality. And like I said last time, stop being disrespectful and use his title to address him!"

"Oh my God! Your own mate makes you call him Alpha, doesn't he? No wonder you are so butthurt about it!" She sneered. I didn't know what else to say. She was right. I didn't want her to have the upper hand, but it was true. "I've been calling Axel by his name my whole life. I am not going to change that now."

"What I call Axel is my business and his. Not yours. Just get out of my way Jade and get your filthy hand off my shoulder." I gathered my leftover food and the notebook and walked past her.

If I am keeping track of the score, I guess it is Jade 1- Callista 0.

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