Ramsey
But half an hour later, I was still struggling with one document, reading and rereading to understand what it said because I couldn't concentrate.
Lax was pacing inside me.
"She's saying her vows right now," He whined in my head. "Can you imagine how beautiful she looks?
"You're a fool. Lax growled. Lyla should be ours."
"Not now, Lax," I muttered under my breath, returning my focus to my work.
"Remember how her skin felt under our hands. Her scent, her smile," Lax continued ignoring me. "How could you let her go?"
I slammed my pen down as I growled. "Enough! Please Lax, I don't want to be worked up. Please…. I don't want that, let's just go through with this."
Thankfully, the door burst open and Lenny sauntered in, he was in a good mood.
"Hey, groom!" he called out to me coming to my desk immediately. "Are you ready for tonight? It's your bachelor's eve! The last hurrah before you're a married man."
"Thrilling," I said dryly, not looking up from my papers.
Lenny dropped into the chair across from me, undeterred by my lack of enthusiasm. "Come on, man! I've planned the perfect night. Drinks, music and of course, some entertainment. I've got the VVIP section at TIC booked and the whole club locked down for us. I ordered the finest whiskey, all your favourites and the drinks too. There'll be alcohol, booze, women…"
He paused as if he was expecting a reaction from me.
"Fine," I murmured.
"Fine? That's all you've got?" he rose and came to perch on the edge of my desk. "I've got all the hottest shifters dancers from three different packs coming. The twins from Silver Creek – you remember them? Strippers, games, a little mischief and that vampire contortionist you liked from last year's full moon celebration… it's tradition."
"Sounds great," I muttered, still not looking up.
"C'mon, man! It's your last night of freedom! We've got games planned, women, the guys are flying in from everywhere, there's this new thing with the cherry stems that you wouldn't believe…"
"I said it sounds great!" I finally raised my head, trying not to show my exasperation. "Lenny, I appreciate the effort, but I'm not in the mood."
Lenny leaned forward, his grin fading. "Not in the mood? Ramsey, I won't let you spend this night, sulking in your office."
"I'm not sulking," I snapped. "I'm working."
"Right," Lenny snorted. "Well, like it or not, you're coming. The guys are already gathering at the club. You're not backing out of this."
~~~
Later that night, the club pulsed with energy around me, but I might as well have been sitting in a void. I nursed my fifth – or was it sixth? – glass of whiskey watching dispassionately as my friends celebrated around him.
The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat and unbelievably loud music. Most of the people that had come were friends from college days, Lycans from other packs, and business partners abroad. They all looked like they were having fun.
I tried not to think of Nathan touching Lyla… I was trying to dispel the thoughts from my mind, but it was the only thing I couldn't bring myself to do. Were they fucking around the room now? Did Lyla like it?
"Come on, Ramsey!" Lenny shouted over the music. "Get in here! This is your night!"
I shook my head, raising my glass in a silent toast. I didn't want to celebrate. I just wanted the day to end.
The strippers Lenny had hired were performing their routines all over me and the party grew increasingly wild, but none of it was enough to arouse me. I was thinking of something else.
It was nearly midnight. Most of the guys were drunk and the ones that weren't were in one corner, pleasuring themselves with the women. I didn't want to go home either, because my thoughts would be too loud, so here was perfect to say the truth.
"Just check," Lax's voice filtered into my head. "One quick look at your phone."
I pulled out my phone. I could feel the alcohol beginning to kick. As soon as I opened my phone, a news notification caught my eye and I clicked on it automatically.
The headline literally made my heart stop:
Alpha Nathan Ditches Late Alpha Logan's Eldest Daughter to Marry Her Sister
The whiskey glass slipped from my numb fingers, shattering on the floor. No one noticed over the music. For a moment, I thought I was imagining things. I blinked, my vision slightly blurred from the alcohol as I read the headline again and tapped on the article.
A video was attached, and I didn't hesitate before playing it.
The clip showed Nathan, standing before a Moon Priest, speaking his vows. But the woman beside him wasn't Lyla. It was Clarissa, beaming triumphantly as she repeated her vows.
I stared at the screen, my mind was reeling. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"She's not married…" Lax growled, his voice filled with urgency. "Lyla's not married."
Lax's voice seemed to spur me on the more. I stood so abruptly that my chair toppled backwards. Lax was howling in my head, a sound filled with both rage and desperate hope.
What had Nathan done? And why hadn't anyone told me?
"Ramsey?" Lenny appeared at my elbow. "Are you drunk? Do you need anything?"
But I was already moving, shoving my way through the crowd. I had to find her. Was she okay? I had to…
"Alpha!" Lenny crossed my path. "What's wrong?"
I didn't answer, I kept moving. Suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks. Tomorrow was my wedding day. I was supposed to be getting married to someone else in less than twelve hours.
"Since when has that stopped us?" Lax hissed. "Find her!"
"Lycan Leader!" Lenny was practically shouting in my ears.
I finally turned my attention to him.
"I need to fix something," I said firmly.
"What? I'll get it done for you," he immediately volunteered.
I shook my head. "Don't worry, just have a swell time. I'm going now."
Without another word, I left the club, smiling for the first time that day.