Obsessions (6 page)

“It's nice to meet you all,” London said sweetly.
She couldn’t stop the ray of sunshine that ran up her neck to brighten her face.
These men were unbelievably gorgeous. Looking around the room, she realized
everyone in the pack was gorgeous. It must have something to do with being a
shifter.

Glancing back at Ryder, he looked like he was
fuming. She wondered if his head was about to pop off. She glanced over as the
woman sitting next to Ryder tried to talk to him, but he just stiffened and
shook his head at her. Apparently, he was angry about something she did.
Better
her than me.

Ryder continued to stare at her with that scowl on
his face. London turned away to look back at the smiling Alpha’s who seemed to
be having a great time. That was what today was about. Having fun, and not
sitting around angry about something stupid. Whatever had the man angry wasn’t
her concern. London decided that she would have fun tonight and flirt with the
men who seemed to be flirting with her.

“Hello folks, may I take your drink order?”

“I would like water, please.” London smiled as she
answered the waitress. She glanced back at Zoey who was smiling at her as she joked
with the Alpha’s. However, she did notice the one named Kayden Lynn was watching
Zoey. They were giving each other some pretty hungry looks. She’d spoken about
him being her brother’s best friend, but Zoey had never said anything about
being attracted to him. She would have to pry it out of her when the dinner was
over. The looks they were giving each other were seriously hot.

Forcing herself to look away from Zoey and all the
beautiful men, London looked over at her grandmother who was watching her.

Tilting her head, London whispered to Me-Len. “Hey,
why are you smiling like you have something up your sleeve?”

“Nothing, sweetie, just watching the Alpha’s trying
to get your attention.” London rolled her eyes.

“Yeah right.” London answered sarcastically, then
picked up her menu, and started flipping through the pages. “What are you going
to eat, Me-Len?”

“Today is a special occasion so I’m going to splurge
and have steak.” London knew that her grandmother didn’t have a lot of money so
if she was going to eat steak, she should choose something cheaper. Me-Len was
buying dinner and she wouldn’t let her spend all her money on her.

“I’m not that hungry, so I think I’m going to have
the salad.” Me-Len looked over at London like she had lost her mind.

“A salad?  London I know how much you like steak so
you need to get it too.”

“Me-Len, I’m really not that hungry and I like what
this type of salad has on it, so stop worrying about me. Really. You go ahead
and eat the steak.”

Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, London
looked up to see that everyone at the table was listening to them. Her face
turned three shades of red when she looked back down at the menu. London wanted
to leave. Today was supposed to be special. It was obvious that money wasn’t an
issue to these people but it was to London and Me-Len, finances were tight for
them. They struggled and pinched pennies to make ends meet. Steak was something
that London loved but rarely had.

London’s head popped up when she heard the woman
laughing at her. The woman didn’t even have the good graces to act embarrassed.
Before her temper could get the best of her, Zoey leaned forward and addressed
the woman.

“Jena I think you’re sitting at the wrong table. It
would be wise for you to get up and sit over there.” So Jena was her name.

London leaned over and whispered into her
grandmother’s ear.  “Come to the bathroom with me.” Me-Len nodded.

“Excuse us please.” Me-Len said as they got up from
the table and walked to the bathroom. London knew everyone was watching them as
they walked away. You could have heard a pin drop when London and Me-Len got
up.

“Look Me-Len, I’m not feeling good so if you don’t
mind—” London didn’t get to finish.

“No. I won’t eat steak either. If you are having a
salad then I will too. I have saved money just for this occasion, but if you
think we can’t afford it then I won’t have it either, but we are not leaving
until we eat. This is your graduation and I won’t let people like that woman
make me feel uncomfortable.” London could see the expression on Me-Lens face
and she knew not to argue with her. Me-Len turned around and walked out of the
bathroom. She watched as the door closed feeling like a heel. She had allowed
that woman to make her feel poor and cheap. Now she knew they were going to
have the steak. She also had money saved for her drive to New York, but she
could eat cheap on the way, and use some of her money for the steak now.  The
bitch wasn’t going to win this round.

Walking back to her seat, London held her head up
and stared at the woman sitting beside Ryder. When the waitress got to her she
ordered. “Yes, I would like the steak medium rare and a salad with ranch
dressing. My grandmother would like the same.” London looked over at Me-Len who
smiled and winked at her.

“Ms. McGregor, I invited you and London today
interrupting your plans so everything is on me. I hope you ordered what you
want today. It’s not every day that my sister and her best friend graduate from
college with honors.” Ryder was talking to her grandmother but he was looking
at London. She knew she shouldn’t get mad, but she also knew that he was only
doing that because he knew they couldn’t afford to pay for the steaks. He was
pissing her off and she hoped it showed through her expression.

Speaking before her grandmother could answer, London
wasn’t going to allow this Alpha to have his way and make her look like she
couldn’t afford a meal.

“That is very kind of you Mr. Malone but I can’t
allow that. I had planned to pay for our meal today. Plus you have so many
people to pay for already, and I’m sure some know that and will probably order
the highest item on the menu, so I have to decline your gracious offer.” London
gritted her teeth as she informed Ryder that she didn’t need his money. She
looked over at Jena hoping the bitch would take the jab she just threw back at
her.
Take that
, London shouted in her head.

Jena gasped as she listened to London. The
expression on her face was priceless. Zoey was snickering and Jena looked like
she was going to slash London’s tires when they left, but it was a great come
back.

“I asked you here today, so it should be up to me to
pay for your dinner.” Ryder demanded. All at the table watched as Ryder and
London bickered back and forth. She felt the tension in the room as she glanced
around the table. Some people made eye contact with her and others continued to
look away like they were not listening.

Apparently this man just didn’t get it. London knew
he was an Alpha male and all demanding but he needed to give it a freaking
break. This time she made it her mission to not give the conceited man her
surrender.
Nope it is not going to happen,
London thought. She gritted
her teeth then gave it to him again.

“I know you asked us, but we have the money to pay
for our own food, Mr. Malone,” London spouted off. She was gritting her teeth
as she spit out the last comment.  Before London could say something else, Zoey
reached over and whispered in Ryder’s ear. “You are making it worse for her,
Ryder. Everyone knows now that money is tight for them. Don’t make it worse by
demanding to pay for their meal.” It finally hit Ryder that everyone was
staring at London. Her expression was pure anger and it was all directed at
him.

“Good God, just let him pay, we all know you can’t
afford a place like this.” Jena spit out. Before she could think about it,
London pushed her chair back and jumped across the table knocking Jena
backwards as she straddled her chest. Her hand was around her neck putting
pressure on it. London could feel people scoot their chairs back from the table
as she held Jena to the ground.

Getting close to her face, London started
whispering, but everyone in the room was a werewolf and could hear exactly what
she was saying.

“Now you really don’t know me and I sure as hell don’t
know you, but where I come from, it is not polite to talk about things you
don’t know about. What makes it worse is that you think you are trying to
impress him, but it only makes you look stupider when you open your mouth. We
all know why men want you and it’s not because of your intelligence. However,
if you so much as look in my direction again or say anything else to me, then
consider an ass-whipping coming. Do I make myself clear?”

London felt powerful ripple through her body as she
held Jena down on the ground. She could feel every one’s eyes on her back, but
she didn’t care. She felt invincible, super powerful, and stronger than she has
ever felt before and it felt natural, but how? Was she a witch or was her
adrenaline pumping so hard that she felt powerful. Her thoughts were so
scrambled she didn’t know whether to fly or run out the door and hide. The one
thing she did know for sure was that she proved a point to Jena who looked
scared to death. She always kept her control even when people pissed her off. For
some reason, she just jumped across a table and held a werewolf down to the
ground. Now that isn’t normal.

Slowly getting up and backing away from the
frightened Jena who lay on the floor staring up at her. London didn’t look at
Ryder or anyone else, when she held her head up and walked back around the
table. Now she was shocked and embarrassed at what she had just done.

As she approached her grandmother, London bent down
and whispered in her ear, “Do you want a drink from the bar?”

“No dear but you go and get yourself one. I’ll sit
right here and enjoy the rest of the show.” London thought she would be angry
with her for scaling across the table and practically chocking one of the
wolves, but Me-Len just smiled back at her. She patted her hand like it was a
normal day.

Grabbing her pocketbook, London shrugged her
shoulders then cleared her throat as she walked out of the dining room area.
The bar was empty since Ryder had closed it down for the party. She walked up
to the bar and took a seat.

“May I get you something? It’s on the house.” The
man behind the bar informed her.

“What the hell. I’ll have two shots of tequila,
please.”  Today had gone to shit so she might as well take something that will
hopefully, calm her nerves down.

“You got it. By the way, that was a great move
jumping over the table. You must be a gymnast or something, because I have
never seen anyone jump that far.” London cleared her throat. She could hardly
believe it either. The table was big and she just scaled it like it was nothing
then she took a werewolf to the ground. Again, like it was nothing.
Drink
London, just drink. Don’t think about this right now.

“Uhm thanks.” The bartender placed two shot glasses
on the bar and filled them to the top. London didn’t waste any time when she
grabbed one of the glasses and shot the liquid down her throat. She closed her
eyes as the clear liquid burned its way down to her stomach. This had to be the
good stuff with the extra burn she felt. Tequila always helped her with the
stress. She didn’t drink much, but when everything started to close in on her,
London would get out the bottle and take two shots. That always seemed to do
the trick. However, tonight was turning out to be the night from hell. Thinking
she may need another to help wash it away, London asked the bartender for
another round.

Hearing someone clear their throat, London slowly
opened her eyes and turned to see who was sitting next to her. Ding, ding it
was Tiger boy sitting next to her smiling. What was his name again?  Nolan. Yep
that was it.

“Can I get you something sir?” The bartender asked.

“Yes I will have the same as her.” Nolan Banks
answered.

London knew she needed more alcohol so she could
stop the panic that wanted to take over. Taking the second glass, London poured
the tequila down her throat.

“Liquid courage.” Nolan muttered.

“Yep.” London coughed out as she put the glass down
on the table. Nolan patted her on the back as she laughed.

“What’s so funny beautiful?”

“This whole day has been bizarre, wouldn’t you say?”

Nolan turned on the stool toward her. “I think it
has been quite interesting.” Laughing, Mr. Nolan Banks turned in his seat propping
his head up and stared at her.

He was flirting with her and she didn’t want to lead
him on. Hell there probably was another woman sitting at the table just waiting
to start something with her. Trying to ignore what he was saying, London changed
the subject. “So Mr. Banks what is it you do for a living?”

“I think I would like to get to know you better.”

London thought the man was gorgeous, but he did
nothing for her. Not even a tingle or spark. “Well there really isn’t much to
tell. I’ve been at college for four years and now I’m moving to New York for a
job with the Landon Computer Company.”

“Well that’s not going to work,” Nolan protested.

“Why is that?” she asked.

“Because I live in Alpha City and with you going to
live in New York City,  that will hinder me from getting to know you,
beautiful.” There it was again. He called her beautiful. London knew she wasn’t
ugly but good grief this man was beyond good-looking.
What is his game,
London wondered.