The Necklace That Protects Me novel Chapter 48

There was lots of food, but my stomach was too knotted to eat. Amy, Thomas, and I sat down at a table. We were all scanning the crowd for friendly faces, but I didn't find the one I was looking for. We just tried to relax and fade into the background. There was lots of music and drinking so no one paid us any attention thankfully.

Finally, Michael walked into view. My stomach, already knotted with nerves, now added butterflies at the sight of him. I had to grip my seat to keep me from running to him. Michael was greeted by tons of people but he slowly made his way to us. I was so thankful when he finally reached us and sat beside me, casually throwing his arm over my shoulder.

Many of the pack members threw me dirty looks, I tried to avoid eye contract. They were doing it skillfully so that Michael wouldn't see, anyone he did catch he would glare right back and sometimes growl lowly.

Two people outright stared at me with hatred: Alpha Alan and Loren, of all people. I truthfully hadn't seen much of Loren since the beginning of the previous school year. Brian had once said something about her brother keeping her in check and after that we never really had an issue. In fact, until this moment I hadn't even really given her a thought since then. Her glaring at me agitated me though so I leaned over to ask in Michael's ear.

"What is Loren's deal?" I ask quietly. Brie and Brian also managed to hear me and chuckled.

"Loren is Brian's sister, hun." Brie explained with amusement in her voice. "She's not happy that I'm with Brian and even less happy, I'm sure, that you're with Michael."

"She was a late shifter." Brian explained, much less amused that Brie. "She, and most of the pack, deluded themselves into thinking she would be Michael's mate. I think that even now, with her wolf finally, she still seems to think they will be together. In denial. I've tried to tell her several times but she doesn't listen. I think she thinks since he's with you and you 'aren't his mate' then even if she isn't his true mate, that she still has a chance."

"Delusional." Brie stated and rolled her eyes, Michael huffed in agreement.

Eventually Michael got tired of the whisperings and asked me to dance. I honestly didn't want to, but agreed because he looked so darn cute when he asked. Dancing with Michael was so much fun. The rest of the world seemed to fade away. I knew we had several pairs of eyes on us but because I was with him I didn't care. I longed for the day when we could be open. When we would be fully claimed, no one would bat an eye then. But for now I look like a werewolf home wrecker.

"No. Thank you though. I'm rather enjoying my dance with Noel." Michael simply responded, pulling me closer to his body. Relaxing my body as well as Lilith. As luck would have it Alpha Alan stepped up beside Loren, a petite woman I had met in the bunkers during the rogue attack was beside him. She had short curly brown hair and brown eyes. She kept to herself in the bunker and I hadn't talked to her. I wondered if this was the 'Luna'.

"Don't you think that if you're going to choose a mate on your own that you should give members of your pack a chance first?" Alpha Alan asked with his eyebrows raised. The music had died down and everyone was fully listening to this conversation. I could sense Brian as he came to stand beside Michael.

"I am not choosing a chosen mate." Michael hissed back, glaring daggers at Loren, who shrunk back under his gaze.

"Then what exactly are you doing? Just playing around til your mate comes along? Not a very good example from someone who is suppose to lead this back." Alpha Alan responded with a tsk. Michael's anger rose and could be felt in the air. The woman beside Alpha Alan shrunk back from it. As did everyone else in the vicinity besides Alpha Alan and myself. I looked around confused, not sure if I had done something wrong, should I have moved back with them? As I looked towards Alpha Alan I saw an evil, knowing smirk on his face. Directed at me. Everyone else gasped seeing me still standing tall next to Michael.