Second Chance Mates

-31- 🌹 Helpless

"I'm helpless! He's mine, that boy is mine! Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit, I'm helpless! Helpless! Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in 'em."
~Hamilton, 'Helpless'

~~~

*Ryland's POV*

I wake up with a pounding headache; a cruel symptom of the severe hangover that's beginning to set in. Bits and pieces of the party last night start circling through my mind, and I groan from embarrassment. I can't believe I danced like that in public! And if that wasn't bad enough, I also stripped completely naked — again, in public! — and went skinny dipping with Landon.

Speaking of my mate, Landon is currently sprawled out next to me, snoring lightly from his deep slumber. After he brought me back to my room, he promptly passed out from exhaustion. I can't blame him, either. From what I can recall, I was quite the handful while drunk.

| LAST NIGHT |

Once Landon and I finished getting dressed after skinny dipping, he held my hand as we headed back to the party to look for Lia and Lucca.

"Lia! Lucca! Let's go!" Landon shouted to the pair of drunkards.

They were engaged in a drinking contest against a group of vampires, and they were severely losing. Although, it wasn't really a fair contest, considering vampires naturally have a higher tolerance for alcohol.

"I wanna play too!" I exclaimed, trying to run over to them. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, keeping me in place as I ran without moving.

"You've had enough to drink," Landon told me as he held me back. "Goddess give me strength to take care of three drunk wolves tonight."

With much difficulty, Landon was finally successful in prying Lia and Lucca away from their drinking games. He corralled us towards the car, much like a mother trying to gather up her rambunctious children.

The three of us piled in the back seat, leaning against each other as we fought off our dizziness. Landon grumbled something under his breath as he climbed into the driver's seat, navigating out of the woods and taking us home.

"Lucca, you better not vomit in my car," Landon warned his roommate, who was turning an unhealthy shade of green.

"I think I drank too much," Lucca mumbled, his words slurring together as he slumped against Lia. Lia grunted, trying to push Lucca away from her.

"Lia, play nice," Landon scolded her, making Lia scowl.

"Don't act like you're my mom."

"Don't act like a child."

"If you don't shut up, I'm going to call you by your full name."

Landon immediately snapped his mouth shut, which piqued my curiosity.

"I don't know your full name," I commented, suddenly feeling very sad that my mate never told me his full name. My bottom lip began to quiver as tears filled my eyes. "W-why don't you want m-me to know your full n-name?"

"Baby, please don't cry," Landon begged with a groan, glancing back towards me. "It makes me sad to see you cry."

"I'll tell you his full name!" Lia chimed in.

"Lia—"

"My full name is Ophelia Ashley Grey," she said, and I frowned.

"What does that have to do with Landon's full name?" I asked her.