Scarlet Flame

Chapter 19

James's Pov

After I agreed to go out with the girls, I sent a quick message to the guy's group chat, which included Darren, Thomas, and Joey was recently added. 'Girls invited us out to a club tonight. Meet in the front hall around 8.' After the message was delivered, I went up to my room and showered.

After I showered, I chose a red button-down and black dress pants, I left the first couple of buttons undone for a more casual look. I went down to my office to do some work, seeing as how the girls would still be getting ready for a couple of hours. I sat down at my desk and started looking over the plans for the new Alpha house and signed a couple of papers. I went over the room assignments of the packhouse to try and find a spot for Shelby; she had told me that her father had kicked her out. However, the only open room was next to Sara and I did not want to see what would happen if they lived next to each other. I guess she could live with me, I have the entire west wing of the top floor. Shelby was very independent so I was not sure what her answer would be, she liked to do things by herself. I never minded, but at the same time, I would like for her to rely on me for a little more. 'We are almost done,' Amanda's voice rang in my mind. I stood from my chair and went to meet them by the stairs, Darren, Thomas, and Joey were already there.

Carli was the first one down the stairs her pink ombre was in loose curls, she was wearing a black dress with pink sides. The dress was sleeveless and ended mid-thigh, Darren was looking her up and down causing her to huff and give him a glare. Amanda came out wearing a dark blue off-the-shoulder dress that was about the same length as Carli's. Her blonde hair was straightened, and Joey seemed captivated by her, that is the pull of mates. Shelby was the last to come out, her red hair twisted into a high bun with jewels throughout her hair. She was wearing a black one-shoulder dress of the same length as the other two. Darren and Thomas laughed when I tensed up, I sent them a glare, but that only made them laugh harder.

"You look fucking hot," Joey said to Amanda, I had distracted Eric with night duty.

"I'm driving," Shelby said.

"No," I responded.

"Yes," she put her hand on her hip and stood straight trying to intimidate me.

"No," It continued like this for a couple of minutes before I put my pointer finger under her chin and brought her face close to mine. Her lips were centimeters away from my own, I watched her face turn red, "I am driving and that is the end of the story," I said loud enough for everyone to hear. Then I pull her by her waist, closer to me, and kissed her, "Now get your ass in the car before I take you back upstairs and make that dress disappear," I sent her a wink. Her face matched her hair and she nodded then stiffly walked to the car causing me to let out a hearty laugh. I caught a glance of Amanda's face, it was softened watching the interaction between Shelby and I, when she noticed she caught my eye she shot me a sympathetic look. I just gave her a reassuring smile and walked out to the car to go out to the club. We took two cars and went down into the human club where we would be spending our night.

We barely got out of the car before Shelby had dragged Amanda to the bar to do shots or something along the lines of too much alcohol for her age. "When did they get fake ids'?" Thomas asked.

"My guess is about two years ago," I shrugged it off, I did not care that they drank but the legal age was still 18 and they were both underage.

"Why did it have to be a human bar?" Joey asked.

Carli laughed and simply stated "That way when Shelby dances with a stranger James can not hurt anyone because they are human," I let out a low growl, I knew that she was right. "See what I mean," Carli gestured to the growl and stifled a laugh.

"I hate you," I responded with a monotone. To which Carli put her hand over her heart and pretended to faint.

"I can't believe that you would say that" Carli was now fake crying.

"Let's go in before they close please?" Thomas asked walking over to the door. "Or would you two prefer to continue this fake fight?" He opened the door and gestured for us to go in.

"Jerk," Carli mumbled and stuck her tongue out before rushing in the door pulling Joey with her.

"Keep your eyes open, Amanda told me that she had a bad feeling about tonight. Unfortunately, her feelings are usually right," Thomas told me in a hushed tone before I entered the club.
I nodded and entered the door Thomas and Darren entered shortly after me, my eyes immediately landed on Shelby doing a shot of vodka. I made eye contact with Darren and Thomas silently telling them to do a quick once around the room before I headed for my red-haired beauty at the bar. "And how many shots does that make?" I asked coming behind her putting my hand on her hip. She tensed slightly at the contact but then relaxed into my touch before turning to face me.

"4, what's it to you?" She smiled.

"I think you are done for now," I said.

"But I'm not even drunk yet. You and I know that it will take a lot more than that to get any of us drunk," She continued to argue.

"Enough," I told her. "If you get drunk, then every guy in this club will be staring at you," I bent down and my lips were right next to her ear, she shivered at my breath on her neck. "You look hot in that dress," I squeezed her hip.

"Can you save the sexual tension for the bedroom, please? The rest of us are trying to have fun," Amanda interrupted handing a shot to Shelby, who took it before I could say anything. Shelby laughed awkwardly before working her way out of my grip and dragging Amanda to the dance floor. I stood at the bar and watched as the two girls moved to the beat, I could not help but laugh. That was the girl I had been missing for the past six months, such fire and drive, no one would ever be able to fully control her, she was as free as a bird and I just loved to watch her fly.

"Alpha..." Joey timidly started to ask.

"Yes, you can go have fun with your mate. Eric is on the night shift tonight," I told him. Joey gave me a grateful smile and went dancing with his mate.

"You know you could dance with Shelby if you wanted to," Carli said sipping on her long island.

"I don't know that it is a good idea," I admitted.

"If she did not want you here, you would not be here..." Carli started to say but got interrupted by the bartender.

"Can I get you something handsome?" She asked. I heard Carli laugh and a quiet growl coming from the dance floor, the corner of my lips tugged up.

"Bud Light," I told her in a monotone voice and looked back to Carli. "You were saying?"

"You seemed way too amused to have just ordered a beer. You heard her, go dance, have fun, let loose, make mistakes, go too far. You two clearly love each other, I mean she did accept you,"

"She told you?" I asked looking at her, I could not help but smile.

"Of course, Amanda and I are her best friends... and Thomas told Amanda that he found you two making out,"

"This pack and its rumors,"

"Are you saying that it did not happen?"

"...no,"

"Go dance with her," Carli gave me a light shove on the shoulder.

"I need a beer before that will happen," she laughed as I chugged the beer then made my way over toward Shelby. Her back was turned toward me, and I took the opportunity to grab her waist and whisper in her ear "Miss me, love?"

She did not respond but continued to move to the beat only now she was dancing against me. I let out a low chuckle knowing what she was doing, "You aren't going to distract me," she threw me a smirk that told me she was up for the challenge. I let her win; I knew that she was still upset at me for winning earlier plus I would be lying if I said I was not enjoying having her body pressed up against mine. I knew what was coming, but tonight all I wanted to do was enjoy the woman in front of me.