Peaches

XIX

Going through the double doors back into the house was a surreal experience. I felt detached like I was floating above, watching everything happen.

I stepped back into the living room, where everyone was sat talking and sat on the sofa next to Anna when the Luna noticed my nervous disposition.

"Are you okay dear, you look flushed," she asks.

"I'm okay, it's just hot in here." I look over to Adam who can barely look at me and Raphael's no better.

"Lets get you something to drink, what would you like?"

"Scotch, neat please," I breathe out.

Anna leans in next to me. "Easy," she whispers while the Luna just laughs and calls the butler over, ordering my drink.

"You're a woman after my own heart. Scotch neat is John's drink," she says smiling brightly. Using her superpower of summoning, the next person to enter the lounge was Alpha Johnathan but to the surprise of us all, he had a short, red-haired girl on his arm I began to recognise. The only thing more shocking than arrival was her outfit. Her dress was an off-white grey which shocked everyone in the room. The audacity of her, to show up to the Luna's house wearing white.

I know I did the same but I am the future Luna and the current Luna specifically requested I do however by the look of shock and anger across Luna Maria's face, whoever this girl was not given permission to wear that. She might as well've walked in and slapped the Luna in the face.

"What are you doing here Courtney?" Adam asks curtly, a harsh sting in his voice.

I knew Courtney. I'd gone to high school with her. Her father was the Alpha of a large pack nearby.

"Your father invited me. I guess I'm now considered family," she says with a cheery tone.

I could take one look around at the faces of her 'family' at it was clear she was not welcome. Anna even had a cold expression on her face and Anna liked everyone.

"Reine, it's good to see you again," Courtney says. I KNOW that one's a lie. She was horrible to me at school. She was the kind of mean girl who'd pretend to be nice and bitch about you behind your back. Kind of like Regina George... actually she was more like mean Kady because of the horrible pranks she used to do. She once cut off a massive chunk of my hair when I fell asleep in class.

Adam cleared his voice and said "It's Luna to you Courtney, it's disrespectful to not use proper titles." His voice was low and filled with hate.

"Adam that's enough," Alpha Johnathan spat.

I watched as her eyes flickered to something and I followed the line to see Raphael at the other end, his face defeated and sad, looking at the ground.

At this point I was very confused. Once again, everyone except me seemed to know what was happening but this time Natalie was just as confused as I was.

The tension was interrupted by the butler sauntering in and handing me a glass filled with brown liquid.

"Your scotch, neat Luna," he said and I took the glass off his tray, embarrassed that I was responsible for the short interruption.

"Thank you George."

Everyones attention refocussed on the Courtney train-wreck as I sunk back into the sofa and downed my scotch. Whatever was going on had nothing to do with me so why should I get involved.

It was silent for a while until Anna spoke up. "Natalie and I are going to get another drink, join us?" Before I could answer, Anna grabs my forearm and pulls me away from the lounge, Natalie following after. She drags me all the way to the bar and my eyes immediately go to the wooden cabinet with the glass doors containing the liquor. I open the door, grab the scotch, place it on the counter and pour myself another glass.