[[ ---Chanel's Point of View--- ]]
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"No!"
"Please Channy?" Lina pleaded.
I looked at her big sad eyes, she had pulled out the big guns as well by using my old nickname.
"Look I know you really want to see him so you two just go, have fun...I can just do this by myself." I assured her.
She looked at me stubbornly, "no, I want to help you and I said I would...now, we are going, if you really want to come back then I will personally pay for a taxi to bring you back to school."
I smirked and shook my head, she will make for one headstrong Luna in the future.
"I think I can pay for my own cab fare." I replied, "are you sure it won't be weird?"
"No, now get everything ready, he'll be here in less than five minutes."
I put the guest lists back into the box and then grabbed my purse, Evalina on the other hand was frantically running around our shared bedroom as she unsurely grabbed this and that, I knew that she would be internally debating on which articles to pack for her first overnight visit with her mate.
I smiled and put my purse down. "Here, you sit down and wait for loverboy...i'll pack for you."
She was so flustered from the thought of tonight's upcoming events that she didn't even protest.
Once I reached her clothes I went straight to nightwear. I knew nothing would happen, Cesare is too much of a gentleman to act upon his feeling on the first night of having her over. If anything, I'm pretty sure it's going to have to be Evalina to initiate anything sexual, and she isn't ready for all of that just yet.
I settled on a cute pair of pajamas, nothing too stuffy but also not too sexy. The short and cami set was playful and comfortable, then I moved on to her outfit for the next day.
After I packed her overnight bag, (remembering to pack all of her toiletries as well) I walked it over to her, and not a minute later Cesare had text to let us know he was in front of the school waiting for us.
I grabbed my purse and the large box and followed Lina.
Cesare greeted us warmly, ever the gentleman he took our belongings and placed them into his trunk before opening the doors for us, I got in, allowing them a moment of alone time for him to sneak her a kiss smoothly before she got in.
Soon the three of us were on our way.
"Thanks for letting me crash your date." I said awkwardly.
"You're hardly crashing anything Chanel" he smiled, "and I am happy to help in any way I can."
I nodded and then turned my head to look out the window. I watched the buildings go by and went to tell Lina about this amazing little boutique I had stumbled upon. But when I turned to talk to her I noticed Cesare reached over and grabbed her hand, he brought it up to his lips sweetly and kissed it lovingly. I smiled but turned once more to look out the window, as adorable as these two are, I could tell it was going to be a long night.
When we reached the house Cesare insisted that Evalina and I relax while he cooked us dinner, he promised we could do the invitations immediately after and so I agreed.
...
"Alright," Cesare smiled after he had cleared the table. "Let's have a look at this list."
I handed him the pages containing the lists of party invitees and then sat back as Evalina and I watched him eye the various names.
"My uncle is on here." He pointed out.
My heartbeat just thumped a bit quicker, of course his name would be on there.
Even if my father didn't like his lifestyle, Luca Minicci is still a very great Alpha with a pack even larger than my fathers. He may be a fast and loose playboy type but when it comes to matters of business, I hear he is quite a fair Alpha and one who puts his pack first.
In all honesty I had avoided looking at the guest lists properly because I knew all too well that I would see his name and my feelings for him would cloud my better judgment, much like the day in the little shop, the day he ambushed me by pulling me into the small dressing room.
"Your parents should be on the list as well..." I tried to sound normally, "where is your restroom?"
Evalina gave me directions as I got up and then made my way.
When I reached the seclusion of the private confines I locked the door behind me and sat on the edge of the bathtub. I leaned forward toward my knees in an attempt to ease my breathing and clear my head.
But as soon as I closed my eyes the all too perfect memory of THAT day began to unfold once more.
*once inside the small dressing room*
"What do you think you're doing?!" I asked angrily as I looked about the cramped quarters.
"I had to see you."
My eyes met his, they were soft and almost sad, what's more, they were full of sincerity.
"How'd you know where I would be?"
"I didn't" he replied. "But I know you're allowed off campus on the weekends, I was hoping my wolf would call to yours and lead you in here...i guess it worked." He said with an almost hopeful smirk.
My wolf was completely satisfied with herself, meanwhile I was upset that I had unknowingly allowed him to bait me into this situation.
"I have to go!"
"No" he said in a slight command as he stepped forward, "not before I say what I need to."
The determination on his face scared me, not because he himself is a scary individual, his extreme closeness mixed with his tenacity was overwhelming my emotions and I was close to losing myself...that's what scared me.
"I don't need to hear anything YOU have to say." I protested tiredly.
"You will hear me out." He insisted. "Chanel, I know I'm not your ideal mate, but I can be. I know I have a long way and I'm nowhere near close enough to being acceptable as the mate you deserve but I promise I will change, I mean, I have changed already. Every since you showed up its like I can't even see another female without thinking of you first, they just don't register for me anymore...you're it pussycat, you're the only girl I want from here on out."
His words touched me, and as much as I wanted to deny him and push down my feelings I couldn't, and then to hear him call me that odious nickname of his, 'pussycat'. While it slightly revolts me I couldn't help the stirring it had awoken in me and soon I couldn't stop myself from closing the small gap that remained between us and pulled his head down to meet mine.
Our lips met and I kissed him hard, it didn't take long for him to take over, he pinned me against the wall and soon our kiss was headed into a very dangerous territory, one I was all too familiar with, but this time it meant so much more.
As his mouth trailed down and his hands roamed up I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the moment.
"Luca" I whispered as I let my fingers run through his soft blonde hair, "Luca."
He stopped and looked at me, as if he was really seeing me for the first time, as his eyes looked into mine I grew a bit uncomfortable. I was use to attention from males, but not like this.
Most men notice me, my body specifically. But him, Luca, he was actually seeing me, and in the worst possible way too...he was seeing me at my most vulnerable.
His hand slowly reached up as he caresses my face and a soft smile grew along his own face, he bent down once more and kissed me again. But this time it was slower, gentler...loving.
I liked it.
I panicked.
"Stop!" I shouted before pushing him off of me, his back hit the opposite wall of the changing room, "we can't do this, I refuse to do this...I, just, can't Luca."
Frazzled and more than a little confused he looked at me, his eyebrows drawn together, "why?" He demanded.
"Luca..."
He shook his head, he wasn't going to let this go so easily. "Tell me now why we can't be together or so help me woman I will follow you to the end of this Damned world until you take me as your mate!"
I knew I shouldn't say it, its so cliche and overused but I really didn't have anything else to say. "it's not you, its me."
He gave me a deadpan look.
"Well it's actually my family, my father specifically." I clarified. "Y-your name carries such a distasteful light, your lifestyle in particular... and my father, well he wouldn't stand for it."
"No offense" he said, "but I don't give a fuck what your dad thinks, its me and you Pussycat, you know my past, every does...but only YOU can choose to know me on another level and grow WITH me toward OUR future. Not your dad, not Evalina, no one, Only YOU pussycat."
I didn't know how to reply so I remained silent.
With a sigh he ran his hands through his hair in a frustrated fashion and then silence filled the small area.
Finally he spoke, "give me your phone."
I hesitated at first but ended up giving it to him.
He took it and put in his number before handing it back.
"Call me when you decide to live your own life instead of the one planned out for you pussycat."
And just like that he left.
*back to present day*
I opened my eyes only to find that a couple of tears had fallen, I quickly cleaned my face and exited the restroom.
I was greeted back at the table by a smiling Evalina.
"I've taken it upon myself to divide the lists into three piles, we'll each have a pile and we can knock these invitation out of the way much quicker." She assured me.
"Thanks for everything Lina."
She nodded before giving me one of the piles and then setting off to begin her own.
...
"Is that all of them?" Evalina yawned.
"I think so." I said as I carefully wrote out the last name on my list, "I'll have to call my dads office and see about getting these hand delivered tomorrow, they should be ready to go if someone picks them up tonight." I said as I looked down at my cellphone, the time read 11:09pm. "I'm gonna text him and then call a cab."
"We can give you a ride back to school." Cesare offered, "you're also more than welcome to stay as well."
I declined his offers.
"Well then I'm going to hop in the shower." Cesare announced. "If you ladies will excuse me."
After my dad text back that he would send someone over immediately and I had then placed my call to the taxi service, my taxi didn't take long and I was soon back at school. I left the invitations at the front desk and they assured me they would watch them until my fathers messenger arrived, finally I went upstairs to the dorm room. I walked around our room out of boredom, I wasn't particularly sleepy, even given the late hour. Despite my lack of tiredness I still decided to get into some pajamas.
I cleaned up the clothes Lina had littered along the floor and then moved on to wash a couple of dishes that we had in our sink. I rearranged the pillows on the sofa and even fixed our dvd collection before I finally found myself lying in bed, phone in hand.
Like so many nights before, I had pulled up my contacts and was steadily looking at HIS name...so tempted to press it, even if just to hear his voice.
But with a sigh I turned off my phone and tossed it onto Evalina's bed, I turned off my lamp and then rolled over onto my stomach, I closed my eyes and silently begged to succumb to sleep in an effort to free me from my torn feelings.