AUTHOR'S POV
Diana and Kate arrived in a flashy limousine at the newly opened night club, where Kate chose to celebrate her birthday this year. For a time, birthdays has been private for them. They found pleasure in blowing birthday candles at midnight, making wishes for each other, and maybe getting a few beers and vodkas. Alone together. After one drunken night, they both swore to make a difference. Explore new things. Meet new people. And if they get lucky, find a good man and fall in love. Diana thought it was just an impulsive talk under the influence of alcohol. The following years, Kate made sure to keep that promise and fulfilled their vow ever since. It was then that Diana a different side of Kate. She saw how Kate giggle in excitement each birthday celebration they go out for. Her only friend glowed differently connecting with other people, as if she is born to do it. At some point, the smile in Kate's eyes made Diana doubt if her only friend ever loved the times that they spent together, with just the two of them. From then, Diana thought she won't keep Kate all to herself.
The new night club lived for its 'talk of the town' fame. It was thronged with overflowing partygoers, queuing in a line at the entrance of club. Luckily, Kate secured herself with a VIP access so she and her friends skipped the long line. Entering the club, all corners were shouting with art of expressionism. Dark, aesthetic, and maximalist. It was an entirely different vibe making Diana feel out of place.
Kate, wearing a hot pink backless frock, went up to the second floor where her friends are waiting. Diana in her red strappy mini dress with an asymmetrical lower end, and a tight drape hugging her figure followed the thrilled birthday celebrant. She flawlessly walked in her gold stilettos highlighting her long slender legs, with her loose curls swaying as she move. Despite in a sea of strangers, Diana stood out naturally.
Kate greeted her guests with much more giggles, and cheek kissing. She even hugged some of his male guests, which caught Diana off guard a little. As a social butterfly, Kate earned lots of peers from way back in college, and from her previous jobs too. Diana isn't very familiar with Kate's set of friends. She did recognized a few but not all. Looking stiffened and awkward, Diana offered a hand shake with some, and a simple nod with the others. Unsure if she'd loosen up more a bit later, Diana sighed at how the night is just getting started.
Diana sat within the circle of the VIP lounge and just smiled in every hellos. She watched Kate get wild, dance on the table, and get body shots. The deafening music, the smoke and the beaming lights. They were all too much to handle for Diana. The tequilas and whiskeys were outpouring, as the servers send out drink after drink. Their group screamed at every beat of the songs played by the DJ, and screamed even louder each time the music transition smoothly.
Diana took part in their partying in her seat. Tugging Kate's dress each time she goes out of control. Clapping her hands, cheering for Kate and smiling widely until her face hurt. It was all good at first, but then, as time went on, the noises and the flashing lights served to disconcert her. Partying is indeed not really her cup of tea, she realized. Or maybe, it isn't really not the time yet for her to socialize after all that she has been through lately.
When she was swarmed with invitations for drinking and dancing, her unnerving sensations persisted. Her head began to throb and spin even without liquor, with muffling voices echoing in her ears. Just then, Diana decided to transfer seats in the corner of the lounge to avoid getting attention. A little space would ward off the sinking feeling. At first, it worked. It was like, she no longer exist in the group. However, her plans of being invisible ended early when someone approached her.
"Uh.. Hi Diana? Do you uh.. still remember me?", a man of color shyly asked as he shout to Diana, while the loud music drum their ears.
"Oh Hi! You're Dylan, right?", Diana recalled one of Kate's friends as she smile casually. Having a hard time hearing Dylan, she squinted trying to lip read what he is saying.
"Oh you still remember me? That's nice! Hmm.. would you like to dance?", Dylan stretching his arm behind Diana.
Diana flinched a little, and stood up. "Uh no, Sorry Dylan, I was actually about to go to the restroom actually. But thanks though!", Diana waved to refuse as she excuse herself. Dylan shrugged it off and just joined the partying crowd.
After her previous attacks, Diana feels uncomfortable around unfamiliar men. She feels something heavy on her chest when someone she barely knows approach her. When she stepped out of their VIP lounge, her heart skipped a beat noticing a man she didn't wished to see sitting in the next exclusive room. In perfect timing, he's in the arms of a woman. 'Things never change, Scott', she thought. Startled and afraid to be seen by Scott, Diana went down the stairs hurriedly. She didn't mind telling Kate. She's busy having fun anyway.
MEANWHILE
Scott has been watching Diana's every move. The moment she set foot in the night club, he couldn't get his eyes off of her. Lucas smirked seeing how Scott patiently observes Diana at a distance. The Alpha's self control truly have improved with his Luna. Leaving Scott entranced with his Luna, Lucas just went on monitoring the operations of his night club on its first night. Scott was so immersed, he didn't even noticed Lucas was already gone. He sat in one of the seats where he can see a clear view of Diana. He hoped she should've worn something less revealing. Though, he's glad that she went out with her friends. It's probably what she needs.
Scott wanted to say hi, but he's afraid of rejection. He wouldn't want to ruin her night. He followed her with his eyes through the crowd. She stood out like a lotus in a bed of waterlilies. When she entered the VIP lounge next to theirs, his jaw hardened at how many men there were. It almost like he wanted to kick them all out of the club, and cut off their fun without even starting yet. As he watch closely, he felt indifference on Diana's downcast eyes and strained smiles. She looked detached, sitting afar from the group. It didn't seemed like she was enjoying herself in that party despite all of her upturned lips, handclaps, and cheers. Her dull eyes surely tell a different story.
Scott flinched when Diana moved seats. She looked paler, and more exhausted... still trying to blend in. Momentarily, Scott took deep breaths when a man made a move on her. He almost dragged himself towards them to break the guy's arm. The audacity of that guy to reach for his Luna. Scott kept his eyes on her until he got interrupted by a sudden familiar presence.
"I'm surprised you're here!", Reina exclaimed as he saw Scott. Hugged her brother's arm, slumping beside him.
"What are you doing here? This isn't a place and time for you", Scott pinched her nose biting his lower lip. Scott knows Reina silently adores Lucas. She blushes in every stolen glances she makes towards him. An infatuation that he tries to dismiss.
"Ouch!! I just want to see how distasteful Lucas' another bar is! I won't stay for too long", Reina gasped upon seeing Lucas approaching them. When Lucas was about to sit, she bid goodbye and hurriedly left.
"Hey Reina! Not even a hello?", Lucas wondered as he sat with Scott, looking exhausted from roaming and chatting with different people.
"Don't mind her", Scott smiled. He never wanted Reina to get entangled with a complicated guy like Lucas. Knowing his friend, he'll just end up breaking his sister's heart. Besides, they will both imprint soon, Scott thought it's best that they won't get tangled with each other. Just then, Scott turned his head to Diana only to find her no longer in sight. He started to get highly strung, looking out with bottleneck and curious eyes.
Lucas scoffed shaking his head seeing how occupied Scott despite surrounded with women and a wild rave. "Why don't you just talk to her?", he teased as get fed up with Scott's stalking. "She's here now, don't let the chance slip away", he handed a glass of scotch to Scott for him to get more courage.
"I've got nothing to say", Scott took the glass and drank all the liquor down his throat then placed the glass it on the table. He stood up, tapped Lucas' shoulder, and left their lounge. He looked over the balustrade and searched for Diana with his eyes. 'Did she leave already?', he thought as he look over the loud shindig on the dance floor.
SCOTT'S POV
I rushed down the stairs searching for her. Spinning my lighter in my pocket, I trailed through the people ripping the dance floor. The smell of mixed sweat and liquor was strong down here, almost nauseating to the stomach. I weaved the crowd, scouring through when I sensed her faint scent. Harrowed with the search for my Luna, I desperately snapped my head side to side in pursuit of her scent. On the dance floor, there were so many girls in the same color shade that Diana wore that my search for her was like a mystery game in difficult mode. Thus, with every girl I see, there's only one face I'm dying to catch sight of.
As I went on, I stopped when I finally found her in the middle of the crowd. She was motionless, with eyes swelling under the beams of the lights. Drawing near, time seemed to have stood still. And when we locked our gaze, I already forgot the screaming crowd, and the music that bangs with it. Diana was blankly staring right back at me. Might be weighing her thoughts between staying or running away. The lucky stars might be aligned tonight, that she gave me a timid smile. Well, it was way too better than a slap on my cheek, or a kick on my ass.
When I took a step closer, she took one step back. Her eyes tells it all. She stared at me serving that look of a silent farewell that made me harden my jaw. My heart sank when that tear fell. It felt like my Luna, whom I haven't even confirmed if she have imprinted on me, is slipping away. My world shattered... almost too quickly when she turned around and walked-off.
Fuck.
I didn't know what went through me. Maybe I have gone completely insane. In long strides, I sprinted towards my Luna until I take hold of her arm pulling her to my chest. "Can we talk somewhere quiet?", I whispered close to her ear. The sounds are too loud, I'm not sure if she heard what I said.
"No", Diana placed her hand on my chest pushing me away, then she carried on going her way. She did heard me. Clearly, I believe. Still, I didn't take her no for an answer. I held her hand and took her away from the crowd. She didn't clasp my palm, though she didn't resist my grip. We went pass through the bar, then the corridor, towards the fire exit. As soon as we were out in the back alley of the night club, I shut the door, put my hands at the back of my head and anxiously paced back and forth. The dark alley is only lit with a flickering light bulb attached on the roof. I can tell that even with minimal lighting, her face is trembling with sadness. There's awkward silence in the air that made me bite my lip, taking time to catch the right words to say. With one deep breath, I traipsed in front of her looking directly in her eyes. "I'm sorry, truly I am", as I tried to reach and caress for her cheek.