Madeline’s POV
I could have sworn that someone was watching me.
I kept glancing toward the row of trees on my right, but I couldn’t see anything. It would be easier to see if I had my wolf, but I would have to wait a little while longer.
I was just being paranoid. No one was watching me. No one even knew who I was. Why would anybody want to watch me? I was nothing and no one.
“So, what pack are you from?” a guy whose name I couldn’t remember asked me.
I looked away from the row of trees and saw him grinning at me. He was a little bit drunk and he kept looking up and down my body.
“Red Moon,” I answered.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” the guy asked.
I could have sworn that I heard a growl coming from the same row of trees I was staring at just a few moments ago. I was really going insane.
“Stop it, Jasper,” Seth said angrily. “She is underage.”
Jasper’s eyes widened a little.
“You don’t have your wolf yet?” he asked, surprised.
Was he so drunk that even his wolf senses were off? He should have known that I didn’t have my wolf yet. He should have sensed it.
“How drunk are you, man?” Seth sighed as he handed me a plastic cup.
I took a sip and frowned a little. I would never get used to the taste of wolfsbane and beer. It was bitter and I never knew why wolves liked that stuff.
“At least I am not the one getting her drunk,” Jasper said, rolling his eyes. “I was just asking if she had a boyfriend.”
I thought I heard another growl coming from the row of trees. I looked to my right, but I couldn’t see anything. I was really losing my mind. I didn’t even have that much to drink. This was only my second drink.
“I am not getting her drunk,” Seth said. “I didn’t even put that much wolfsbane in it.”
I looked at Seth and saw him take a big sip of his drink.
“And you weren’t asking her if she had a boyfriend because you were curious,” Seth added.”You asked because you want to be her boyfriend.”
Jasper wanted to argue, but I interrupted him.
“You guys aren’t waiting for your mates?” I asked, looking from Seth to Jasper. “You are okay with dating before the mate bond?”
Both Seth and Jasper shrugged a little.
“I am excited to meet my mate,” Seth said, giving me a warm smile. “But I don’t see the harm in dating before I do. As long as my girlfriend is aware that our relationship would end once I found my mate, I wouldn’t have an issue dating her.”
“Yeah,” Jasper mumbled as he poured some more beer into his cup. “As long as it isn’t anything serious, I am down for it.”
I chuckled a little. “So, to simplify what you just said, just sex?”
Jasper laughed, and Seth sighed.
“You are funny,” Jasper said as he stopped laughing. “I like you. Maybe you will be my mate.”
He winked at me and this time I definitely heard a growl. We all did. Both Jasper and Seth looked at the row of trees. Maybe they would see something I couldn’t.
“Probably just some two idiots fighting,” Jasper mumbled.
Seth furrowed his eyebrows but remained silent. He had a few drinks so his senses probably weren’t as sharp as usual.
Seth and I looked back at Jasper.
“I wish I was a Lycan so I could tell if you are my mate or not,” Jasper grinned at me.
Seth sighed and took another big sip of his drink.
“Are you jealous, man?” Jasper asked, laughing at Seth.
I furrowed my eyebrows. Why would Seth be jealous?
“I am not answering that,” Seth mumbled as he took the cup out of my hand and placed it on the table next to us.
I glanced up at him. Why did he take my drink?
“What are you doing?” Jasper asked. “She wasn’t done with that.”
“I am taking her home,” Seth said. “It’s 2 a.m.”
Jasper grunted unhappily.
“I am okay with staying longer, Seth,” I said. “You don’t have to leave the party because of me.”
Seth shook his head and gave me a small smile.
“It’s okay, Maddie,” he said. “I am tired and I want to leave.”
“Let the girl stay, Seth,” Jasper said. “I will walk her home.”
I shook my head. Seth growled a little.
“That’s not going to happen, Jasper,” Seth said angrily.
Jasper sighed and rolled his eyes. He looked at me and smiled.
“I am looking forward to seeing you around, cutie,” he said. “I will be coming by the diner more often now.”
“I will see you around,” I told him, trying to hold back a chuckle.
Seth took my hand in his and started pulling me away.
“I am sorry if he made you uncomfortable, Mads,” Seth said as soon as we were alone. “He is a good guy. He is just a bit goofy and he doesn’t think before he speaks.”
I looked up at him and smiled.
“It’s okay, Seth,” I said, making him look at me. “He didn’t make me uncomfortable. He is nice.”
Seth sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I sometimes can’t believe that jackass is my best friend,” he mumbled, making me chuckle.
He looked down at me and grinned.
“Did you have a nice time?” he asked.
“I did,” I said. “Thank you for taking me.”
I did have a nice time. I met some of Seth’s friends. Jasper did make me laugh a couple of times. I managed to forget about Janet for a little while.
Seth smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“I am glad, Mads,” he said. “I will take you out with me whenever you want.”
I looked up at him and smiled. If Janet continued to be such a bitch, I would definitely need to spend more time outside the house.
“Deal,” I said, making Seth smile brightly.
“I am glad you came to my pack, Mads,” he said. “I am lucky to have a friend like you.”
I smiled at him.
“Thank you for giving me a job,” I chuckled. “I am lucky to have a friend like you too.”
I stopped walking because we reached the tree line behind Mike’s house.
Seth surprised me by pulling me into a tight hug. He didn’t say anything. He just held me tightly. I furrowed my eyebrows and patted his back gently.
“I will see you tomorrow, Mads,” he mumbled as he let me go.
I gave him a small smile and walked toward Mike’s house.
I couldn’t wait to shower and get into bed. I was hoping that I would sleep as well as I slept for the last few weeks.
