THE PARTY

THIRD PERSON.

~THE NEXT DAY~

It was barely the break of dawn at the Mojéleno residence when a 6'1, overly chipper and frighteningly light-skinned— accented by his ginger hair— which was in a sexy mess. Now unlike Hakan, this man had softer features. Maybe it was because he was always smiling and infectiously bubbly.

Hakan wanted to kick his best friend out. He really did. He was getting a headache just from the overwhelming and infectious bright mood of his friend.

"It's three o'clock in the morning! Callum Fucking Fraser! Hell! And why are you so happy?!"

"Am I supposed to be sad? Huh? Hak?"

His playful tone annoyed Hakan even more.

"I give up, do whatever the fuck you want. I'm going for a run."

"Be saaafffeee!"

"Oh shut it! You're giving me a headache."

"Love you too!"

Hakan had always wondered if his friend was on drugs because it made no sense how Callum was always so excited and motivated. He stripped, shifted and trotted out of the mansion for his dear sanity. This run wouldn't be like the other ones, cause he was merely running in his distant wolf's body. It was a mere shell. And there was nothing more disheartening than to know your wolf wanted nothing to do with you.

Callum Fraser, a cheerful, witty, friendly, overly joyous sly young man. Callum exuded innocence and a sort of social grace. He could get in and out of anywhere at any time he pleased. He was social butterfly —module—Do.Not.Fuck.With.00. Several ignoramuses had tested his programming and they took to the hills running for their lives. Callum walked around the vast residence, inspecting every nook and cranny searching for clues, signs and symptoms. Trying to verify his theories about a woman he had yet to see. He was very much aware that one couldn't be too careful and that the Luna of the pack wasn't in charge of cleaning. What drove him? Curiosity. Plane curiosity. And well...himself as well. I mean it was Callum.

Hakan came to meet Callum with a steaming cup of tea, one leg over the other and a satisfied look plastered onto his features. Hakan sighed. He just didn't want to think about it. He was tired enough for the day.

Callum immediately perked up when he saw the naked Alpha walk into the grand living room.

"Hak!"

"Shut up."

The Alpha mumbled. As if on queue, Gaia came striding down the wide marble stairs in tweed grey high waist palazzo suit pants and a white chiffon turtleneck shirt. The Alpha and his friend could not see her but they seemed to brace themselves as the click of her heels got closer and closer.

She finally reached the living room, they saw her, Hakan averted his gaze, whether it was from shame or guilt, we might never know.

"Good morning, gentlemen."

She greeted politely.

Callum grinned at her like a little boy who'd been handed his favourite candy. Gaia was a bit confused at her ginger's reaction but never let it show nonetheless.

"Alpha, here's a bathing robe for you. It's unbecoming for a man of your stature to be walking around in plain skin."

She started as a matter of factly. The Alpha met her gaze for a moment and grabbed the robe she had brought, sliding it in with ease.

"Thank you." He said, and upon realising he'd never thanked her for anything, he felt a bit out of place. Guilt still slowly eating away at him.

Callum cleared his throat, shooting him a glance. The Alpha understood.

"L-Gaia."

"Yes Alpha," she responded meeting his gaze with her curious eyes.

"I'm sorry..." He said bashfully.

She looked at him with a blank expression. Then asked.

"I beg your pardon? What is there for you to be sorry about?"

"Yesterday, I-I assaulted you."

"Yesterday, wasn't the only day...you've 'assaulted' me." Her response was as-a-matter-of-factly and devoid of emotion. She didn't mean to offend, she simply stated facts. Callum gasped, and Hakan flinched.

It was like a flip had been switched in Hakan, he hit her across the face before Callum could register what he had done. He was in pure shock and taken aback by his friend's actions.

"Now look here you! I get that you don't have emotions or whatever, so you just state facts and all that logical bullshit! I tried apologising and you just have to go on and tell me about my other mistakes. Are my feelings a joke to you?! Huh!" He reached for her wrist when Callum slapped it away.

"Get out!" He roared.

Hakan growled but complied anyway.

After Hakan had exited, Callum pursed his lips and faced her.

"I'm sorry about that, you know how restless werewolves can get when they're disconnected from their wolves."

He mentally slapped himself for that statement. The woman simply stared at him.

"That doesn't make any sense. I apologise. That sounded out of place."

Gaia nodded with a smile, the last thing he'd thought he'd see on her face given the situation. He was pleasantly puzzled.

"Would you like anything? Tea? Coffee? A full course meal maybe?"

She inquired. He shook his head in amusement.

"I'll have some cinnamon biscuits and a penny for your thoughts."

"Right this way please."

***

Callum sat across from Gaia in Hakan's study, the table armed with biscuits, whiskey truffles and some tea and last but not least a glass of water for Gaia.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?"

Callum asked sweetly. The Luna nodded in negative with a small smile.

Callum took a bite of his 'biscuit' and softened it with some tea sending it down smoothly. He put his cup down and looked at Gaia, neutrality masking his featuring.

"He's a bastard isn't he?"

He asked solemnly. Gaia didn't have to be Einstein to know who he meant.

She cocked a brow, meeting his gaze.

"Oh come on, don't pretend! You know who I mean and how I mean it."

He said with more emotion.

"Ah, am I supposed to be concerned about that?" She asked a bit puzzled

"How do you mean?"

"Well, his behaviour. True, he's not perfect but there is no perfect man is there?"

She explained,

"Are you making excuses for his behaviour?"

"No excuses can be made Mister..."

"Callum, just call me Callum."

"Alright, Callum. I'm not making any excuses I'm just repeating what I know."

"What you know? Excuse me Luna, but that sounds like excuses to me."

"Alright. Take it how you will."

There was a pause, no one spoke or looked at each other.

"Doesn't it bother you? Gaia?"

Bother her? She hadn't the space in her brain to give two shits about Hakan's temper tantrums and insecurities. She was made to be used. That fact alone made her think enough.

"Why should it? They say men will always be men."

She said coolly.

"That doesn't justify his toxic behaviour. It doesn't justify him raping or sodomising you. It doesn't justify his lack of common human decency!"

Callum had realised he was beginning to lose his shit at her overly calm and somewhat cold attitude. He needed to calm down. He breathed out and sighed.

"He must mean a lot to you for you to be this concerned."

He didn't reply.

"Are you his lover? If so I'm sorry for what will happen soon."

What on earth was she talking about? Scrap that, she was initiating conversation. This was his chance to get her view on the matter.

"And if I said I was, would you be bothered?"

"No. I have no reason to be."

"And why is that?"

"I'm not holding any hopes of him magically falling for me or that romantic nonsense. He married me for convenience. That's all it is. He can have as many lovers as he wishes. I have a duty to him as Luna, that is all this is."

Professional much? This woman was, emotionless? How could she be so objective in this situation? Callum was stunned beyond words. At this point, he could only ask himself one question, who on earth had raised this woman and what had they put her through?

He was eager to know! He was determined to know! No, that's not the right string of words. He was by hook or crook going to uncover what lay beneath that cold and calmly calculated exterior.

But little did he know, that it wasn't up to him to decide. For fate had other plans looming on the horizon.

He continued to gaze into Gaia's unwavering eyes. The woman intrigued him so much so, that it internally frustrated him. Why on earth?! What was it about her?

Gaia broke eye contact and looked at her watch.

"Ah, I have office duties to attend to, Callum. I'd like to excuse myself."

"Right, but the thing is...I have permission to hijack you for the day. Plus, you have a party this evening, correct?"

"Mmm, it is as you say."

"So then, let's go shopping or something. I'll foot the bill."

Callum suggested.

He must be pulling her legs, Gaia thought. She simply couldn't understand why it was prudent to skip important work just to spend time with her husband's lover.

"Are you being serious? Why should one skip work to engage in such auxiliary activities?"

Callum giggled at her reaction, finding her confusion amusing.

"Mmm, well, Alpha's orders. Plus you should have fun once in a while. You know what that is, right?"

He was teasing her at this point and she was well aware. I mean, with the childish look he was giving her it didn't take a genius to know.

"If it so pleases the Alpha, then I guess I have no choice but to oblige."

Callum sprung from his seat at her words, scampering over to her and gently grabbing her shoulder and tugging it. She got off her seat and they moved out of the Alpha's study.

****

They had been in and out of changing booths but Callum still hadn't seen a dress that screamed as much elegance and class as he thought the Luna did.

At this point, he was probably just trying to satisfy his own tastes and not hers. He sighed and mentally reminded himself, that this was about her not him.

Just then, the mixed-blood Luna walked out of the changing room in an off-shoulder Burgundy suede mermaid dress that sinfully accented her bodacious curves, coupled with matching elbow-length gloves. She looked to him for his approval.

"Do you like it?"

She looked down and slowly looked back at him, responding with a small nod. That was the first time anyone had asked her if she liked anything, and she actually did. She liked something! And it was satisfying and exhilarating.

She bit her down hard on her tongue to suppress the welling emotions.

"If you like it, then that's fine. Now it's shoe shopping time."

Gaia nodded.

"A minute, I'll go pay for the dress."

She nodded again but with a small smile.

Callum paid for the overpriced Jovani piece and they were on their way to spending more of his money.

For the rest of their little adventure, Callum let the Luna do what she wanted. He had deduced that giving her freedom to pick and choose items of her choice might help him better understand her—by her choices. But it yielded no fruit. She was the textbook definition of the perfect lady. She let nothing slip at any point in time no matter how hard he tried.

After spending almost three hours shopping, they came back to the mansion and unloaded the stuff. Gaia as usual meticulously sorted through them and thanked Callum for his 'gift'. He had, in an attempt to rile her up bought her a three-hundred-page book titled 'Drifting through Emotions'. She hadn't reacted as he would have wanted. She looked rather curious and half amused by the gesture. Tsk! He had had it! What on earth was she made of? This was so fucking frustrating! But he had to be patient nonetheless. A few moments later he excused himself and took his leave, understanding that as Luna she had to be part of the preparations for her welcome party since her husband didn't give two shits. He was going to have to give Hakan a piece of his mind next he saw him. And that would be tonight.

*************

It had been quite challenging to prepare for the party, even for Gaia. When most of the pack women and some of the men saw you as the villain in their Alpha's story, it didn't leave you with many options. They had tried and failed to trip her, causing accidents that would make her stop trying so hard to look good and you can guess the rest.

But the Luna saw these things as not much of a bother as she considered them as very daft individuals, given that they had only assumed her role and character with little to no information about her. She found the whole situation laughable and ironic. If only they knew.

After almost another three hours of back and forths with pack chefs, interior designers, and technicians everything was set. She just had to go wash down and doll up for this farce. Nothing more, nothing less.

She got into their suite and discarded her clothes in the laundry basket, put on a bathing robe and headed into the bathroom. She came out minutes later and after long minutes of skin prep, plucking some brows and applying her very own rose-scented perfume that smelled divine. She slipped into her dress, gloves, and shoes, did her own her because no one would.

She decided against using foundation because her poreless and unrealistically smooth skin was already giving! Her brows were done, her lips were already in a layer of devilishly red lipstick.

I mean, they didn't like her but that didn't mean she couldn't slay for her party, right?

She sat at the end of their bed, prepping herself mentally when Hakan walked in. He didn't just walk in though.

He walked in with a smile. His black three-piece suit clung to his sturdy and ripped body as if its life depended on it. Damn, he was fine. His hair was slicked back with one pretentious side part.

"You look stunning."

He complimented. She was confused, to say the least, none of such emotions showing on her mask of a face of course.

She simply gave her signature smile and nodded in acknowledgement of his words.

"Shall we?" He held his hand and waited for her to loop hers in.

They got to the reception area. The dim lights set a charming atmosphere.

He leaned down and whispered to her.

"I'll be introducing you to some business partners and some branch executives from different countries. Do your thing, although don't know what it is."

She nodded again. He gave her a light peck on the cheek and excused himself. The waiter came over with champagne cocktails on a tray. She grabbed a glass for herself and proceeded to an area highly populated with cocky-looking old men in expensive-looking suits.

"Hello gentlemen, I  hope you're enjoying the party."

She said with a graceful smile. They all turned to meet her gaze. Each passing questioning glances at the other. Gaia simply smiled and continued.

"Mrs Mojéleno. A pleasure."

"Good God, I can see why such a shrewd and straight-laced man would make you his."

One man remarked. The others erupted into laughter.

"Damien Forestt. Managing director of the Texas branch. A pleasure to make your acquaintance ma'am."

The accented man said with a slight tilt of his black leather hat and a patronising smile. Gaia smiled back.

"The pleasure is all mine Mr Forestt."

"Missus if you would permit me to comment on this, but, you have the most beautiful eyes—"

"Gregory, you just got a promotion. Now you want the boss's wife?"

Damien interrupted the man named Gregory from finishing his abominable sentence. Saved his life, in short.

"Well, then gentlemen. I'll be on my way."

She said raising her flute slightly.

The men nodded, while others smiled.

She later moved to a section with two shrewd-looking women who seemed to be in their late forties—were in gossip. But she was not expecting what happened next.

She walked over to them and before she could speak, the V-shaped-looking woman in a velvet A-line dress with a semi-sweetheart neckline turned around, meeting her gaze.

Gaia froze to the spot, curling her finger tightly around her champagne flute.

"Mother?!"

She all but whispered. It wasn't one of pleasant surprise but a fearful one.

"Darling fix your face, you look like you've seen a ghost. It's unbecoming of you."

The tan-skinned woman said dismissively.

Gaia's mind was in a frenzy. Who on earth had invited her mother here?! Just which idiot decided to—

Her thoughts were halted by an arm lightly wrapping itself around her waist. She looked to see who it was. Hakan. She had never been happier in her life.

"Mrs Eldrin. Glad you could make it."

"Oh, but of course dear son-in-law. Anything for you."

She said with a pretentious giggle. Gaia was growing anxious by the minute and began to tremble. Hakan had noticed and looked at her but she couldn't notice him looking. She was beginning to lose that practised cool. It was almost as though she was cracking.

"So,  when do you plan on popping the pups?"

Hakan's head snapped toward the older woman as Gaia's little vibrations grew. She had begun to remember that day. That day. That day. But it was alright. She had to keep it together. She had to, she...no! She simply couldn't. Seeing her mother triggered the most horrid memories of her childhood. It triggered everything that was wrong with her. Her well-hidden anxiety, her well-hidden insecurities, her eating disorder. Reminded her of her bipolar disorder. Her 'perfection-complex'.

Hakan had noticed the state in which Gaia was. And, it scared him. He'd never seen the woman look so afraid and confused and anxious. Never in their short time of being together.

"Or is Gaia being stubborn? I can help with that."

She said with a look of disdain directed towards her daughter.

"N-n-no mother I-I w-we will have pups very soon. I swear. No need to w-worry."

She was stammering? 'I swear?'. Hakan concluded that this had to do with her fear for her mother. But what would make one so terrified of their mother? It didn't make sense. He had to get her out of the place to Callum somehow. Before she fainted from shock or something.

"We'll have this conversation later. And it's none of your business mother-in-law."

The venom in his voice didn't express enough his distaste for the older woman.

Still holding a dazed Gaia by the waist, he took out his phone and called Callum.

"Hak, what's—"

"It's Gaia, she's...I think she's having a panic attack."

"What? How? Why? Where are you?"

"I'll take her up to our suite, meet me there."

"On my way Hak."

He hung up and carried her bridal style out of the reception to their suite.

Callum came marching in a few seconds later.

"What happened? "

"I don't know, she was already in some kind of shock when I got to her. And the more her mother spoke she started losing it. And then her mother said something about 'helping' me with her if she was being stubborn. I think that's when she really lost it."

He explained.

"Go get us some water or something that she likes eating."

Callum ordered in frustration.

"Well, I don't know what she likes eating. I don't okay!"

"Then just get us some water. Your emotions are fucking with my brain. Just order the water to be sent upstairs and go take a piss or something."

"Right, Mr Empath. I forgot you're wired to everybody's feelings."

Hakan stormed out of the room. Callum sighed and knelt in front of a trembling Gaia.

He slowly reached for her hands and just as he did, she jerked away. Seemingly falling out of her daze.

"Where? Don't touch me!"

She exclaimed.

Callum stood. An apologetic look in his eyes.

"Please calm down Gaia, I know you're upset but please. Relax. I won't hurt you. Look, I have my hands up."

"Yes, you will! You'll do it even if I tell you to stop! I need to g-go back downstairs! If I mess up I'm gonna be in trouble! I have to be good! I have to be perfect! I have to."

"Gaia, listen to me. You're alright. No one's gonna hurt you I promise. I promise."

His words just weren't reaching her. He had to resort to a tactic he wasn't comfortable with. Being an empath, this could go one of two ways. He could either connect with her and have them share her mental and emotional burden so that the strain on her would be less or take what she was feeling and convert it into other emotions depending on her desires. And with the deep emotions, he was feeling from her already he surmised that he wouldn't be up to task on the former. So he went to the latter. Releasing calming pheromones and lust-filled ones as well, so he could deceive her senses. And it worked perfectly. But it still felt very wrong to him. Although she had calmed down and was probably in dreamland, he felt disgusted with himself.

Werewolf empaths, although not as strong as the average werewolf were feared and held in awe. They could feed on other people's emotions, twist and turn them into any directory pleased. They could essentially make puppets out of people and project their emotions unto And these abilities could break or make even the strongest werewolves. Callum hated them so much. He'd wished he'd been born like any other werewolf. He was like a receptor to emotions, that was taxing enough. But constantly feeling the urge to manipulate and deceive the bearers of such emotions made him hate himself. He positively affected others' emotions without even trying. You could say he was born on the lighter side.  But, enough about that. He had to go into professional mode.

Maybe all this wasn't for nothing.