The Alpha Who Cursed His Mate novel Chapter 16

"I'll try my best to behave, mum." Waltzing downstairs, my breath is caught. Nina stands by the window near the front door, looking out. She has a red fitted dress that sits just above her knees with little black heels and a matching clutch purse. I want to tell her how beautiful she looks. I take a step toward her.

"Wow, Moss is a lucky man," Flint says as he and Josie approach, Nina. Flint is wearing a white shirt tucked in suit pants, and May is wearing a black dress with straps. Flint sees my steel gaze on him and laughs nervously.

"I'm assuming Moss will be here to pick you up any minute?" Flint asks her.

"Yep, any minute,"

"What!?" I say.

Nina tilts her head to look at me.

"Moss is taking me out for dinner. Then we are going to Claire's party afterwards," she smiles. I want to punch the front door, but I know I will knock it off its hinges and mum and dad would be angry. So instead, I walk out the front door and do not say a word.

Flint and Josie run outside after me.

"Aren't you going to get a lift from Seth with us?"

"No thanks, I'll walk. The fresh air will do me good." I huff.

Claire stands on her front lawn looking for me. She is wearing a pink fitted dress with one sleeve and some frills with her freshly curled hair draped over one shoulder. Claire looks simply gorgeous. She races up to me with a smile on her face.

"Oh Boo-boo, I'm so happy to see you," she says, giving me a peck on the cheek. I realise I may have been ungrateful towards Claire all this time. She seems to like me a lot, and although she can be pretty overbearing, she has been nothing but supportive and sweet towards me. I can't help but feel Nina will never forgive me and never want to be my friend again. It's a hole inside me that will be there forever, but I shouldn't make others who care about me suffer. Nina has moved on, although I would have preferred her to move on with anyone other than Moss. I can't help but sense something is off about that guy, but I need to focus on what is in front of me.

"You look lovely, Claire,"

She steps back and does a twirl. 'I'm glad you like it. Let's go inside." Her house is very tidy. She leads me to the kitchen to a vast island table. There are a few different platters she has prepared.

"Wow, this looks great, Claire,"

"Really?"

"How bout we have a drink first, lemonade or cola?"

"Cola, please, Boo-boo,"

I pour her a cola and sit on the couch, patting the seat for her to sit next to me. She sips her cola, places it on the coffee table, and leans her head on my chest. I wonder where Moss has taken Nina for dinner. Are they laughing and enjoying each other's company? I notice Sean, the school's notorious bully, has joined the party.

"Ready to dance?" Claire asks. I was about to say no until Nina and Moss entered through the front door, giggling and laughing. Moss immediately wraps his arms around Nina and dances with her.

"Sure," I stand up, pull her close, and keep both hands on her hips.

"This is so much fun!" Claire yells over the music.

I try to dance with Claire to keep as calm and relaxed as possible and show everyone I'm not fazed about Nina and Moss.

Claire wraps her arms around my neck and pulls my face closer to hers. We share a long kiss as Claire's hands move down to my chest. My mind keeps telling me to relax and enjoy the kiss. My shoulders relax, and one hand leaves her hip and slips behind her head, pulling her in for a more passionate kiss. The room fills with 'oohs' and wolf whistles at our show. Not wanting to dance anymore, I take her hand and go to the kitchen for the delicious food she made.