Black Rose Pack

Chapter 4

Eden's POV

Parking the car, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. The driveway was packed with cars and beautiful people walking towards the house.

As we started to approach the house, I could hear the music blaring. Olivia and I walked with our arms linked.

We opened the door and and saw pretty much the whole pack in the house. Well, the younger members at least. In the entrance hall, people were standing around holding their red cups and talking. To the right, I could see people dancing in the living room while to the left there were people snacking and getting drinks in the kitchen. There was also a group of people playing beer pong in the dining room.

I felt the growing nerves and could feel my hands slightly shake. For some reason, I was nervous to see Charlie. I squeezed Olivia's hand a little to stop the shaking.

"Oh come on. It will be okay. Plus you look gorgeous so don't worry about it" she said to try and reassure me.  I had explained to her about what happened in the woods and how Charlie had saved me while we were getting ready.  And how I felt dizzy after he left, like my body was in shock or something.  She couldn't help but smiling and then saying that it seemed like I was in love with him.

Once she had said that, half joking, I couldn't get it off my mind.

"Let's get you a drink" said as she pulled me in the direction of the kitchen. People stared as we passed. I could hear some say to each other "what is she doing here?" and "ugh, who invite the human?".

I tried to avoid eye contact and we reached the drinks area. Olivia poured me a cup whiskey sour and herself a beer.  Taking the cup, I was glad to have something to do with my hands.

As the night went on, Olivia and I danced and drank.   I hadn't seen Charlie all night but maybe that was for the best. After a few hours I told her I had to go to the bathroom and started walking away.  I hadn't realized how much I had had to drink until then.  I could barely make it there. 

I washed my hands and walked out of the bathroom. Walking down the hall, slightly stumbling, I felt myself being pulled.

"What the hell?" I said but no one responded. I was pushed onto the hard ground outside and I could finally see who it was.

Zach. He was one of the guys that had been giving me a hard time since I got here. I was sure it was him and his girlfriend and best friend in the woods that day.

He had a smirk on his face that frightened me. "Finally got you alone" he said. 

"Come on, Zach. Don't forget about us." I moved my head around and saw two people.  It was Jeremy, his best friend, and his girlfriend, Ashley.

"What the fuck do you want?" I asked.

"For you to finally understand that you're not welcome here" Ashley responded. I tried to get up but Zach easily pushed me back down.

"No one here to save you now" Ashley said and kicked me in the stomach. I winced in pain and tried to call out for help. "Oh please. No one can hear you."

She kicked me again, this time at my face.  Then all three of them started in one me. One kick after another. All I could feel was searing pain all over my body.

And then, nothing.  I couldn't feel them hurting me anymore. 

"They're gone now." My heart skipped a beat. Charlie. I slowly opened my eyes to see him bending down to look at me.

"Here" he said, "take my hand." I grabbed his hand and tried to stand up.  I tried to take a step but almost fell. Charlie caught me before I could.

"You okay if I carry you? Probably hurt less."

"Yeah, thank you" I replied. He lifted me up with ease. Carrying me, he took me inside through a door that I hadn't noticed before.  We then reached what I assumed was his bedroom and he placed me on his bed.

"Stay here, I'm going to get some bandages."  He returned quickly and started to clean any cuts that I had and bandage them. "Seems I'm always having to save you" he finally said.

"Yeah, thanks for that. I'm not very welcome here. Most people either ignore me entirely or give me dirty looks. I know I'm not wanted here."

Thoughtfully, he replied "I want you here."  He then looked up from my bloody arm to meet my eyes. Charlie started to get closer to me and for a moment I thought we were going to kiss.

But then I could feel myself start to sway and I barely heard Charlie say, "Eden?". Then nothing.
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