3 September's Early Rain: Processing a Transition (Part 3)

"I can't believe her," Luca snapped, holding her arms tightly as she stalked outside.

Vasile sighed, pushing his hand through his hair. "Crina is still in there. We can't leave her."

"Fuck-" Luca paused, staring at him and he looked almost hurt by what she was about to say but she backed off. "Who fucking cares. She can get home just fine." She growled under her breath, walking down the steps towards the car.

"What's that all about?" Sorin raised a brow from the edge of the balcony. She'd waited outside the front door and no more than thirty minutes later they were out and Luca was trying not to have a fit. Vasile looked crushed and Roku looked- She gave him an odd look. "It's like you all lost a terrible bet. What am I missing?" She spotted Nell then and perked up.

"Nell?" Sorin asked, standing up. "What are you doing up here?" Now it felt worse than how Zaleska described it.

Nell looked at her and a small smile rose. "Hello, Sorin."

Roku sighed. "I'll go back in there." He turned to leave then. He was closer to Crina anyway.

Sorin looked back to Roku a moment and nodded before smiling at her old friend. "I didn't think you'd be up here." She smiled warmly at her. A first for Sorin. She was usually sour and withdrawn from everyone, purposefully though.

Vasile looked back at Roku, but he didn't protest. Even if Crina was his mate, he had worked well to give her space and not be overprotective. After all, Stefan had been dead for many years. His heart ached at that. "Sure." He told him quietly, watching him walk back in.

Nell nodded. "I heard about trouble going on here and came to check it out."

"It must be really bad then," Sorin looked down. "Have you seen Jere since he was injured?" She asked softly, trying to be discrete. Jeremiah was well known in the area, but she wasn't sure if enemies lingered near.

"I- have not." She frowned. "I didn't know how they would take a lone wolf walking in on their injured alpha snooping around." She looked down.

"Not kindly and apparently not to us either." Sorin watched Luca. "I think there's more to it than that though. I don't think it's just pride. I think they're hiding more."

~ IMPATIENTLY ~

Roku walked back out to the pool. It's not that he was interested in Crina, it was actually more comforting that she wasn't available.

Crina laughed, watching Suzanna come down to just her top, crossing her legs over one another as she leaned back in the pool. "Crina," Suzanna grinned.

"No." She laughed, "I won't indulge. I'll take the drink instead."

"Oh come on. A true wild girl never misses a piece of cloth!" She cheered, holding her cup up.

Derek was nearly drooling over her ethereal beauty. "Yeah, it's truth or drink. So… Are you single?" He wiggled a brow.

"I am not," she smirked. "Now drink, silly boy."

"Ouch." The other guy laughed. Another girl was hanging off the edge of the tub as a few others gathered around.

"Okay. Okay. I get it. Hard to get." He laughed, taking a drink.

"Okay, Crina. Your turn honey buns." Suzanna smirked.

"Truth or strip?" Crina purred, looking up at her as she leaned her head into the top of her knuckles.

"Depends."

"Alright. Did you lay with Mika?"

Suzanna choked on her drink, looking at her. "Oh hell no." She stared at her.

"Yes." She smirked. Suzanna glared at her a moment but sighed, shrugging. She pulled the back of the string of her top.

"Whoohoo!" Derek whistled.

"Shut the hell up." The girl giggled at Derek, watching them go.

"I'll take one for the team." Another male came out. It was the same wolf from earlier. He threw his shirt off and onto Suzanna. "It's cold out. You'll freeze."

"The tub is warm enough," Suzanna protested.

"Sure." He rolled his eyes. "Michael wants to see you." He nudged her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"He does. Says tomorrow he'll be down at the college. He had to take care of some stuff with the others, but he said he couldn't come out tonight."

"Alright," she nodded, leaning against his hand a little as he leaned over her.

Crina watched them slowly before he moved away and then he was gone. "Who was that?"

Roku watched. Guess it was good to be invisible.

Cameron waded through the crowd around the pool table and past Roku, coming up to the door to lean out. She made a face. "Derek?"

He looked up, smirking from ear to ear. "What's up?" He asked, obviously indulging in his drink more than he should have.

"Where's Selene?" She asked, blinking. "I've looked for her all over. I need someone to go with me back to the house. My parents called me." She frowned.

"Dunno. Was off with her dream."

"What?" She stopped, blinking and then it hit her. "Oh god." She slacked. "Oh she's going to hate me." She pulled back out of the doorway.

Crina looked at Suzanna, unphased by Derek and his conversation. "Who was that?" She asked again.

"Oh? Kalan?" Suzanna looked back at her, a little out of it.

"Yeah," she continued.

"He's kind of my connection. Keeps me informed."

Crina nodded, leaning back and she looked over, noticing Roku. She almost didn't catch him. "What is it?" She asked him, nodding towards him. He didn't talk much.

His attention shifted to Derek and Cameron's conversation though. The girl seemed concerned about Selene. What was the problem? He heard Crina and looked at her. "What?"

"You came to see me? What's going on, Ru?" Her cute pet name for him but only because she likened him to a pup still, fresh and young.

"I was just getting away from the others. They're a little worked up," he sighed.

"Really?" She frowned, sitting up. She looked at Suzanna, "Come. Sit with me a little while and relax." She motioned. "Let them all brood outside." Crina knew how to get information without being pushy. Vasile was always bad about that.

He sat next to her and looked back at the house. He wanted to tell Crina about it, but thought if he said it aloud he'd just be reopening the wound.

Crina looked back at Suzanna, grinning softly at her. "I didn't realize Washington was becoming so cozy."

"It's taken some time to develop but it's quite nice." She told her, tugging the shirt on.

Derek leaned his head back as he sighed. "Ah man."

"Hmm?" Suzanna looked at him.

"It's hard to believe graduation is coming up in a year. I hardly feel ready."

"Really?" She asked him. "I've got another four years."

"Bachelors?" He asked.

"Mhm," she leaned against her hand.

Crina looked at them confused but then back to Roku. "We might stick around a while." She told him, leaning out of the tub somewhat.

Roku only kind of understood what they were talking about because of Selene. He nodded to Crina. He wouldn't argue it.

Crina watched them start to spiral into conversation and she looked at Roku slowly and leaned back, keeping her eyes on Suzanna. "Take a look upstairs a bit for me and see if you can count any more wolves in the house. Kay?" She asked him.

He looked at her and nodded. He couldn't argue if he wasn't ready to tell her what was wrong. He stood up to head back into the house.

"What was that about?" One of the girls asked Crina. "Is he like your pet or something?" She snickered, obviously too drunk to notice Crina's question.

"No, but he's doing me a favor. He got me a drink earlier."

"Oh? Like your boyfriend?"

Suzanna laughed at that.

"No." Crina looked back at the door, watching it. "Like a little brother who's at his first gathering."

~ A KNOCK UPON THE DOOR ~

Cameron knocked on the doors, slowly going down each room till she knocked on the last one.

Selene looked up and she looked at Dean. "Ignore that." She told him. Nothing ever came from someone at the door.

Dean watched her try to hide. "We can try again when you're sober." He told her. He internally winced though. Why did it matter now? He looked at the door before pulling back to pull his pants on. He pulled the condom off and stuffed it in his pocket.

"No." Selene whined, flopping back onto the bed.

Cameron could hear her voice and she knocked again. "Selene? Selene, it's Cameron. We need to talk. Please."

He looked at her. "Come on." He held his hand out to her. "We'll try again another time."

Selene dragged her cheek against the bed, groaning. "Must you kill all my fun?" She grumbled, rolling her eyes before sitting up to take his hand. "You're lucky you're cute." She blushed, looking up at Dean before Selene heard Cameron sigh then slowly step away.

"Cameron!" Selene gave a holler, standing up. "Just wait. I'm coming."

Cameron turned around, looking at the door for a moment as she had her back to it now. "Selene?" She stepped back closer to it. "Hey. Selene. I need to talk to you."

"I hear you. No need to yell." She looked at Dean, squeezing his hand a little as she beamed at him.

He smiled at her. "Do you need help getting dressed?"

Selene looked down at herself and laughed, "Sure." She told him rather giddily. She stood up a little, teetering a moment before plopping back down on the bed. "Are you my hot nurse?" She asked him, feeling a little dizzy.

She heard a muffled laugh from the door and she felt a little worse at what news she had but- Honestly. She wasn't entirely surprised Selene was drunk.

Dean chuckled. He grabbed her shorts and got down on his knees before her. He took one foot and slid one leg in before going to the other. He slid them up as far as they would go with her sitting down and looked up at her. He kissed her thigh just before her center and pulled back taking her arm as he stood up, pulling her with him. He reached around to pull her shorts the rest of the way up slowly as he felt her ass at the same time.

Selene snickered a little, looking down at him in a bit of a haze. She held onto the top of his shirt, biting her lip as she watched him kiss her inner thigh. "I like you." She told him after, before he pulled her up and she swayed a little in his arms. "More. Please." She begged him, chewing on her bottom lip. She swayed a little, closing her eyes and laughing. It felt good to rock back and forth.

"Geez," Cameron crossed her arms, waiting for her. She flipped her phone out and looked down at it, grinding her teeth together before looking back up at the door.

He smiled and gave her ass a smack. "Go to your friend."

"What if I don't want to?" She told him, stepping away to come back to him, obviously stalling but for her time felt eternal.

Cameron looked down at her watch and then back to her phone, trying not to pace and she started to walk back towards the kitchen, visibly pissed.

He took her hand and pulled her to the door. "Come on."

Roku walked into the house and looked around. He counted a few wolves before looking up the stairs. Was she still up there? Was she- with him? Stop it! He chided himself. He started up the stairs to see if there were any wolves up there too.

Selene stumbled a little, trying to keep upright as she laughed and followed Dean. The door opened and she came out with him as Cameron perked up, walking over to her quickly.

"Hey!" She stopped, seeing Selene and her stomach dropped. "Oh my god, you're drunk. She's drunk." She looked at Dean and tapped her fingers on her thigh, trying to think. "Okay. Maybe you can help me get her in the car. Um…" Shit.

Dean nodded. "Very." He looked at Selene and helped her stand.

She looked at her, "Selene."

"Go without me." She snickered, leaning into Dean. "I'm gonna sleep here." She laughed.

"If you knew what you were saying right now you wouldn't be telling me this." She walked for the door when she came down and Cameron ducked her head, grabbing Selene's arm as she shuffled the car keys out of her pocket. "Damn."

"Stop tugging." Selene shifted, pulling her wrist up and out of her hands. Cameron stopped, turning to look at her and it all felt so much worse.

"Selene?" The girl asked, her face a wide question but the smile that crept across her lips was sinister and held amusement.

Roku was at the top of the stairs then when he spotted the three of them. Cameron was blocking his view of Selene, but he could smell her.

Dean was about to ask Cameron if everything was alright when he caught sight of Roku.

Mystique covered her mouth, laughing at Cameron and Selene as she looked at Dean. "She looks all partied out. Did you see Duke?" She grinned at Cameron and Cameron grimaced, stepping back.

"Stay. Drink some more. It's a college party. I'm not here to judge." She shrugged.

Mystique stepped down the stairs slowly and Selene leaned against Dean, her eyes closed as she swayed, humming to herself.

Dean gave a quick glance to Mystique before holding an arm around Selene. "I think she's done for tonight." He looked at Roku again and felt something was off with these people. "You need something?" he asked him.

"Nonsense," she waved at him, her jaw tightening a bit. "That's what the spare rooms are for. Just have her lay down a while. She can sleep it off."

"I have a family matter and I promised Selene I'd take her home. It's fine." Cameron told Mystique solidly.

"Fine. Have it your way." She shrugged, crossing her arms.

She walked down the steps and looked at Dean. "At least I can hold my liquor, I'll be around." She smiled at him, walking slower a moment before sliding between him and Cameron and walking past them. "Ciao." She told them all, waving off.

Cameron sighed, feeling a little relief but she caught Roku staring at them and she felt her nerves rise. "Um, yeah. Can you help me bring her to the car?"

Selene had her head against Dean, lightly dozing a little. She was completely out of it.

Dean looked away from Roku and nodded. "Yeah, I got her. You lead the way." He bent a little to scoop her legs up and cradled her against his chest.

Roku watched and a twinge of jealousy hit him. He looked away and continued down the hall to see if there were anymore wolves.

Dean couldn't help but think what a weirdo this guy was. Just staring at them, not saying anything.

"I assume she still has her car keys." Cameron sighed, worried as they walked out. She looked at Dean and she felt a little jealous but really she just wanted to leave before Duke came around. "T-Thanks for this." She told him quietly, watching him carry her.

They must have hit it off finally…

"No problem," He told her. "She doesn't drink much does she?" he asked, humor in his tone.

Cameron felt her stomach swirl a little excitedly talking about Selene even though she was right there. "She… Doesn't drink. She- Honestly, I don't think I've seen her do much of anything. Not even cigarettes." She looked down, feeling like her ears were burning.

"Honestly, I sorta wish I was like that. Some of that stuff just isn't worth it." She smiled a little, looking at him. "I'm sorry if she caused you any trouble. I'm sure she'll apologize by tomorrow. I'll let her know um… You helped."

He grinned. "I just hope she talks to me after the liquid courage is gone," he said with a small laugh. She was cute and it was nice knowing she didn't over indulge in drugs and drinking.

Cameron nodded, feeling a little better hearing that. "I can give you her number…" She came down the stairs to the front door. It was set on its own level, leaving the two floors separated from it save only the stairs as its connection. "Though, I can't guarantee she won't be nervous. It's- It's taken a bit to get her to open up. She came home from abroad a few years back and she's been pretty kept to herself."

Cameron opened the front door for him and Sorin straightened up, seeing them come out. She got out of the way easily, stepping aside to lean against the rail as Cameron went down the steps quickly. Her sneakers smacked the wood rather urgently before she skipped the last step and looked around. More cars. Okay. As long as they weren't blocked in…

Dean walked down the steps carrying Selene with ease. "You can give her mine," he told her. He was serious about her taking the first step. Plus, if she wasn't the one to give him her number then it was kind of invasive. He didn't know if she'd appreciate it.

"That works," Cameron told him. She stopped at the bottom and looked at her, making a bit of a face. "Um, I… I think her keys are in her pocket." She told him.

Selene opened her eyes, smiling at her. "Hmm?"

"Oh," Cameron remembered she had the car keys. She fished Selene's house keys out of Selene's pocket.

Dean shifted a little to help her pull the key's out.

Selene pulled them out of her pocket and she held them up, smiling as Cameron smiled back at her, relieved as she took them slowly. She watched Selene a moment before she turned around and pulled the car keys out of her own pocket. She turned the remote over in her hand and clicked it. The Durango beeped as she walked towards the vehicle. "I'll take her home. After…. I'll come get my friends… um. If they ask. I took her home on a family problem that came up." Honestly she had no idea Duke was here.

He nodded. "Alright. Do you want her in the front or…?" he asked. He didn't think her friends would ask him before calling her, but he at least knew what to tell them.

"The back seat." She told him. "Honestly… I'd say lay her down but I don't want her to throw up while I'm driving while laying down." She was a bit squeamish anyhow. She climbed into the driver seat and opened the center console to fish out a water bottle and set it in the back seat before sitting down.

Selene opened her eyes. The familiar scent of the car wafted in and she turned into Dean. "Stay." She mumbled into his chest, barely coherent.

Dean sat her in the back seat and buckled her in. He smiled at her seeing her wake a little more. "You better message me," he told her. He kissed her forehead. He turned to Cameron then and gave her his number. "Let me know when you guys make it," he said before turning to go back inside.

She giggled a little, whining as she tried to catch his sleeve. "No. Stay please."

"Selene." Cameron sighed. She was acting like a child. She looked up when Dean looked at her and she took her cell out and typed it in. "I sent you a text. I'll send one when she's home."

Selene's eyes fluttered closed as she leaned back in the seat, groaning tiredly. She was falling out of it again.

Dean pulled out his phone getting the text. He grinned. She was something else. He shook his head and walked back into the party.

Cameron waited for the door to close before she looked at Selene. "I'm certain you'll be more embarrassed over this and forget I drug you away early. I'm sorry…" she looked at the house, feeling her nerves rise before she drove away. She was steering clear of Duke.

~ CERTAIN ~

"What was that about?" Suzanna asked Crina, noticing Roku didn't come back.

"Nerves. He needed something to do." A half truth. "Are you feeling alright?"

"No." She looked away. "Maybe… maybe we can talk about it a bit later." She put her hand to her head.

"Come talk with me a little." Crina insisted.

Suzanna sighed and finally relented. "Okay." She stood up, getting out as Derek continued speaking with the girl who was standing outside the hot tub. Crina stood up, eager to follow her but she refrained.

"Hey man. What were you doing outside?" Keith asked Dean as he watched him come back inside. "Are you leaving?"

"No, I was just seeing that someone was taken care of."

"Oh," he laughed, "well come up here then. There's some pretty good girls up here and they're cute. Playing beer pong. You gonna join?"

"I'm in," he smiled and picked up his pace a little.

"Great!" He laughed, coming back to the door. Little John noticed Dean coming up and he grinned wider. His eyes glowed softly but it wasn't noticeable enough to anyone else. "Hey Dean," he smirked. "You come to play a bit?"

"Dean is here?" Chelsea asked, peeking over her brother's shoulder to him.

Dean smiled at them. "Of course! This is a party isn't it?"

Chelsea smirked, letting go of her brother to walk up to Dean, taking his hands. "Well then, come on." She beamed, the edges of her eyes creasing as she smiled more. "Come play with us."

John shook his head to his sister. "Be nice, Chela," he called her as he walked back to the table with the rest. Their pack had mainly gathered around the table and he watched Andy disappear into the back room. He said he was seeing Duke for some supplies. He was certain of what it was, but they had guests so he would stay here.

He followed after her, anxious to enjoy the rest of the party. He wasn't blind to Duke's 'business' either.

Chelsea clung to Dean's arm, looking up at him as they walked back into the main room.

"Hey handsome," Chanelle tapped on Roku's shoulder. "You look like you're brooding. Want a drink?" She was being friendly with him. A lone wolf in a party of wolves always could be a new pack mate.

He looked at her. "I-" he thought better of arguing with her. "Yeah. I'll take a drink."

"Good." She smirked, stepping up under him. She turned her back to him. "Where are you from? I haven't seen your face before."

He watched her turn and tried to calm down a little. "Far away," he answered.

"Europe? Asia? The Australian Outback?" She teased, "Give me a name. Please." She puckered her lower lip, attempting to feign innocence. She let her back press against his chest as she turned her head up to him.

He stilled when she pressed against him. "Japan," he told her looking down at her.

"And what's your name?" She smiled, noticing someone else come up.

"Who's your friend?" Mirianna asked her, looking up at him.

"I'm getting to know him." Chanelle told her. "Could you get an extra drink for him?"

"Sure." She walked around Roku, eyeing him up and down.

He was starting to feel claustrophobic when another person came up and crowded him. "Roku," he told them.

"Where's the rest of your clan Roku? Or are you a lone wolf?" She asked him as she slipped past.

Chanelle gleamed at him as her friend left. "Yes. I'm curious as well."

He watched them. "They're around."

"You're quite the mysterious one." She smirked, looking into his eye. "Might you be interested to join a new pack?" She whispered.

He refrained from making a face at that. Why would someone ask that? It hit him wrong. "Why?" he asked, trying to seem interested without outright telling her no.

"Michael is second in command and treats us well." She breathed in. "It's fresh… and we often join together on hunts. I thought you might want to find a mate… there's plenty of us here." She looked him up and down.

He looked at her, his blue eyes glowing just a little. "Is that the only way to find a mate?" He asked. "To join another pack?"

"No," she smirked, "but it's like marriage. You live with my family… We live together…" she placed her hand on his chest. "What do you say, Roku?" She liked his eyes.

"You're wanting to be my mate?" he asked. She had no idea who he was.

"Maybe," she teased. "You'd have to be in the pack first… Come join us… Learn the ropes a little… Tell me more about yourself."

He sighed and stepped back away from her. If only she knew… "What ropes?" There had to be more of a reason she was being so persistent.

She pouted. "The rules." She told him, "Of course."

"What are your pack's rules?" he asked. Would she divulge that information to him?

She smiled at him, "That's the leader's job to say. He'll size you up and give you a job." She looked back to see the boys playing beer pong. "It's no rush to go. You should think about it. Maybe we can be mates if things work out. You know?" She raised a brow at him, smiling devilishly.

He looked in the direction she was to see the others. "I'll think about it." He told her. He set his drink down without having tasted it and started to leave. "I have to talk to someone," He bowed his head and tried to leave.

She looked back at him. A question on her lips but she leaned back against the table to watch him go. "See you, Roku," she sighed.

He walked out then to go back to Crina and the others. She might find it interesting that this pack was trying to recruit.

Crina was gone. The hot tub had a few unfamiliar faces to it but Derek looked up at him. "She's gone, man," he told him.

"Gone where?" he asked.

"Her and Suzi left to have a girl talk." He shrugged.

Michael came up behind him. He hardly looked happy. His eyes were hard on him as he waited for him to step back.

Derek looked back at the girl chatting with another girl and he took another long drink from his solo cup.

Roku felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand and he turned to look behind him. He looked at Michael and stood straighter.

"You wanna talk?" He asked him, a light undertone straining in his voice as he refrained from audibly giving off a threatening tone.

Roku looked at him. He wasn't intimidated, but maybe he could play into this and get more information. "Sure."

"Come out back with me. We'll talk." He told him, his lip curled a moment before he turned to walk away.

Roku sighed and followed after him. Was he going to try a little more force now to get him to join the pack?

Michael led him upstairs to another room. It was a bedroom but he walked through it with ease, opening the next set of double doors to a balcony. He stepped out onto them and stopped, looking at Roku. "You're awful nosy, aren't you?" He growled, chiefly irritated with his behavior.

Roku's eyes widened a little. He'd hardly said anything so his meaning was lost on him. "How so?"

"I see you poking around." He looked at him, ���Unless you want to end up on the wrong side of the line. I suggest you keep your rubbernecking habits to yourself. You're an outsider here. Remember that." He growled, pointing at him. "And stay away from Mariana." His eyes glowed softly in the low light and he curled a lip.

"And just in case you don't get it." He stepped up to him, his breath hot in the cold air. "Quit probing around the alpha. If you so much as start digging anything up, people will notice."

Roku looked at him and felt his fangs itch. Roku straightened a little more and was eye to eye with Michael, his eyes glowing gaslight blue. "I'm sure people will notice. Maybe that's the point." He enunciated. "If you have nothing to hide then there shouldn't be a problem. If you do have something to hide, don't make it so obvious."

Michael grabbed him by the shirt. "Then I guess maybe an example will be made." He was in his face, standing close enough that he could feel Roku's breath on him.

He grabbed the wrist of the hand that held his shirt and growled. "You don't want to do that." He was not like a normal Lycan.

He stopped, thinking about it as he let his shirt go slowly. "You're right. I don't." He sighed, "I may not be the one to have the final say on how or what goes on with you but I do know you're fleecing the wrong pack." He walked away from him, laughing. "Best keep your wits about you. Wouldn't want anything you care for getting destroyed." He walked out of the room, leaving him alone. He didn't want to hear his comeback. He'd just get riled up again.

What did this dick head know about what he cared about? He took a deep breath and tried to calm back down. The glow of his eyes dimmed so the irises were just a cerulean blue. He needed to find Crina and make sure she was okay.

Crina passed the room alone when Roku came out and she stopped, a little surprised but smiled weakly at him. "Ready?" She asked, meaning to leave.

Roku looked up at her quickly. That was easy. "Yes," he told her. He wasn't wanting to stay any longer.