Troubled Souls

Chapter 5

"Come on, let me introduce you to everyone!" Rowan dragged me along with him like a ragdoll, resisting was pointless. He could probably snap my wrist like a twig should he tighten his grip. And when Rowan said everyone, he did mean every single person present at the bonfire. So far I'd met Becky, James, Ava, Jennifer, Bobby, Martin, Lily, Ahmed, Raya, William, and did I mention Ava? I forgot their names as soon as they said them. Pretty sure there was a redhead called Joyce around here somewhere too. The only person that stuck with me so far was Isabella, the elderly lady whom Silas had ordered coffees from the night I arrived. She offered me an iced coffee, of which I was sure it was spiked after I sipped it politely, and invited me to visit her bakery sometime soon. Her eyes were an old red, not as bright as Silas's or Rowan's. I was trying to imagine what she'd look like if she were to shift shapes. I giggled at the idea of a wolflike creature with glasses and a cane. As I took another sip from the spiked coffee, Rowan introduced me to a charming young man named Declan. His appearance was immaculate with his blond, short side part haircut and cleanly shaved face, dressed in fitted jeans, a white T-shirt and a dark bluish grey blazer that made his heavenly blue eyes pop out. He acknowledged me with his most alluring smile, offering his hand.

    "It's nice to meet you, Nova." At the touch of his skin, a jolt of static electricity ran through my hand. He snickered, but the uneasy feeling it left me with, was unsettling. Something felt off.

    "You too, Declan," I quickly said, giving him a half smile then turned my attention to Rowan. Declan's eyes burnt on my back as I followed Rowan to a food stand.

    "Want something?" Rowan asked. I shook my head. "You should eat if you plan to drink that entire coffee."

    "I have no idea what you're talking about," I chuckled, taking another sip.

    "Oh, but I think you do," he said with a high and condescending tone as he pinched my blushing cheeks. I slapped his hand.

    "Watch it, grandpa." Rowan snorted as he got in line for food. I gave myself a thumbs-up when I heard someone calling for Joyce, but I was a little disappointed she wasn't the red haired person I thought she was. Everyone was talking and laughing, enjoying their drinks while poking some sausages in the gigantic fire, while I was trying to find a face I hadn't met, so I could have Rowan introduce us and then go home. So far all people looked familiar. Rowan walked up to me with two burritos just as I noticed the one reason I would stay.

    "You haven't introduced me to that guy," I said jokingly, pointing to the other side of the fire. Rowan burst out laughing.

    "Well, let's set things straight then." We weaved through the crowd. "Hey brother! I'd like to formally introduce you to Nova, she's the new girl in town. Silas, this is Nova. Nova, Silas." My heart fluttered when he laughed.

    "You just had to do your rounds, didn't you?" He said, slapping his brother on the shoulder, then pulled me in a one-arm hug as we both watched Rowan disappear in the crowd. "You survived, I see."

    "How do you cope with him daily? Is he always like that?"

    "Pretty much, yeah." Silas sniffed the air. "I can tell you met Bella." I held up my cup of coffee in a toast and sipped it again.

    "Indeed I did. I don't think there's anyone I haven't met tonight. I've done my share of social obligations for the next five years or so..."

    "I'll have to disappoint you, but we have events like these all year round." He led me to a tree trunk closer to the fire and sat down. "I wanted to apologize for this morning."

    "It's fine," I said, "The whole successor of the Alpha thing, you're a busy man. Your presence does make this bonfire a little more bearable, though. So I'm glad you're here."