Chapter 273

Chapter 273: [BONUS] Convenient store

Ariel was at the convenience store buying some stuff she might need on her short trip to Crescent pack. She was at the counter when another guy appeared right next to her, presumably to stand next to her in line, until he blurted, “Can you let me? I am in a hurry”. He asked Ariel.

Ariel could smell the wolf smell on him, but she had never met him before, “Why?” She raised an eyebrow, refusing to budge.

As soon as the guy noticed her face his eyes widened, “Never mind”. If Ariel didn’t know any better, she would say that this guy had seen a ghost.

The more she tried to make eye contact with him the more he avoided her gaze, “Do you have a problem with me”? Ariel couldn’t help but straight up ask him.

“N..no” he gulped.

“Come on! I’m not an idiot. Do you know me”? Ariel pressed.

“Not... exactly. I ran into you in the parking lot.. yesterday” That guy gulped.

.....

“Which parking lot”? Ariel.

“The one in the pack house.” He clarified.

“I wasn’t there yesterday,” Ariel shook her head.

“Right. No you weren’t” He shook his head.

“What did you see that made you so uncomfortable with me?” Ariel pressed.

“You were... with your boyfriend” the guy began.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Ariel rolled her eyes.

“I mean, yeah. It doesn’t have to be a boyfriend for hookup-” he began, but was cut off by Ariel.

“Ewww”! She could taste the disgust in her tongue. “I haven’t hooked up with anyone! Is there a chance that I had shorter hair? Till this much”? Ariel pointed her shoulders at the level of her collarbones.

“Yeah..”the guy nodded after a moment of careful thinking.

“That was not me. It was my twin sister, Ava. She can be a bit... wild, I guess” Ariel chuckled fondly.

“Twins”? The guy’s eyes widened.

“Yeup! How the hell do you explain sudden long hair, at least as long as mine”? Ariel rolled her eyes.

“Wig”? The guy suggested, only to get an glare in return. “I am sorry. That was a poor joke. Let me start over, hi. I am Riley”.

“Riley?” Ariel tilted her head at the familiarity of that name. “Ahh, you’re that beta from Ice Fountain pack, the one who helped us win against them” she smirked. “Thanks for helping my brother”.

“Your brother?” Riley frowned.

“Ashton. The pureblooded Alpha” Ariel clarified.

“Ahh.. you are his sister. I see” Riley nodded.

“Why are you in a hurry? You going to Sebastian’s party”? Ariel asked.

“Sebastian as in Sebastian Kyles?” Riley’s eyes widened as his breathing hitched. Ariel gave him a suspicious look, “He is throwing a party”?

“Yeah, almost everyone from the ages of 21 to 35 are invited.” Ariel shrugged.

“Not me,” Riley chuckled. “I think he finds me annoying”

“He is not comfortable with fan interactions here,” Ariel smiled. “Plus, you are really close with Christian, so he has reasons to not like you.”

“I am not gonna steal his friend” Riley rolled his eyes. Ariel raised her eyebrow at the word friend.

“Friend”? Ariel asked out loud.

“They are dating”? Riley was definitely surprised to hear that. “That’s awesome.” He chuckled. “But why hate me, it’s not like I am interested in Chirstian like that. I am straight.”

“He doesn’t know that,” Ariel smirked. “You seem to have a tendency of coming off as flirty”

“Really?” Riley was indeed taken aback. “That’s too bad.”

“You wanna know what’s funny, I think Christian believes you like Sebastian,” Ariel laughed.

“No, I love him. But, as an actor.” Riley clarified. “Wow, looks like I created a whole misunderstanding for nothing” he sighed and looked down. “Anyways, I gotta go”

“I paid for your stuff, just take them,” Ariel shrugged.

“What”?! Riley was taken aback. “You didn’t have to.” Riley blinked. “Just so we are clear, I wasn’t flirting with you”

“The guys who try to flirt with me get kicked in their nuts, not paid for their stuff. Just think of it as a gesture. Thank you for helping my brother. No matter how weird you are, going against your alpha must not have been easy” Ariel smiled.

“You kick the guys who flirt with you”? Riley was taken aback, a bit horrified by her. “Literally”?

“Sometimes” Ariel shrugged. “Sometimes just metaphorically”

“Why?” Riley asked, baffled.

“Cause I don’t wanna date them. And apparently having no boyfriend is a free pass for keep pursuing till you give in” Ariel rolled her eyes. “I am just not into them.”

“Who are you into? Girls”? Riley asked.

“Look, I know we were having a moment, but I am not really not comfortable discussing this with you. We are not that close” Ariel declared.

“Sorry, I was just trying to make conversation” Riley apologised quickly. “As you know I am new here, and everyone here has some sort of dynamic where I don’t really fit into. I guess... I have been trying to make conversation too much.” Riley sighed.

“Having trouble fitting in, huh,” Ariel nodded.

“I mean, I am a friendly guy, I would like to make friends” Riley shrugged.

“Well, you are not making friends with me today,” Ariel added.

“That was not what I meant. I was saying that I have been trying so hard that I guess, I came off as creepy. I was apologising” Riley corrected.

“Well, I can be guarded,” Ariel sighed. “But you know who is not guarded”? Ariel smirked. Riley frowned at her, “People who are drunk as a skunk” She smiled.

“So what, you are suggesting I should go to a bar or something”?Riley thought for a moment. “I mean, that doesn’t sound so bad, but if I end up too drunk, there won’t be anyone to drive me home.”

“I am not talking about a bar” Ariel rolled her eyes. “I am talking about Sebastian’s party,” she clarified.

“Nooo...no” Riley shook his head immediately. “I was clearly not invited. I don’t wanna overstep my boundaries. I think I have pissed him off enough.”

“It’s gonna be crazy, no one will even notice that you’re there.” Ariel sighed. “And if it helps you feel any better, you can come with me. I am allowed to bring friends”

“I thought we would not be friends today”? Riley remarked sarcastically.

“We won’t,” Ariel smirked, tilting her head a bit. “But, Sebastian doesn’t need to know that”. Riley raised his eyebrows, “I’m gonna need a feedback though, I wanna see if it works”

Riley simply stared at her blankly. “And you called me weird”

“I am a psychology student, currently I am studying interactions. You would be a perfect candidate”

“Great, a lab rat,” Riley nodded.

“You wanna come or not?” Ariel snapped.

“Yeah,” Riley nodded.

“Good, meet me at the pack house at eight” Ariel shrugged and left.
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