Chapter XXXII

It nearly took us four hours to get ready. To be fair, all of us were taking turns working on each other.

Willow was born to be a personal stylist. She did a color analysis, measurements, and styled our clothing. I did everyone's hair and Ellie did makeup. Artemis sat there and enjoyed being pampered.

By the end of it all, we looked like we were about to walk the runway. Willow carefully selected our wardrobes from the things she had brought and from my closet. You couldn't tell she had limited supplies though.

She placed me in an emerald green spaghetti strapped satin cami dress that had a modest draping neckline. The satin wrapped around me, ruching on my right side. The back of the dress came to my knees but the front held the same wrapping theme and rose to the middle of my right thigh.

All of the girls insisted that I wore a pair of Willow's nude open-toed heels that shot me up about three inches above my normal height.

I did a simple half-up hairstyle. I pulled two pieces to frame my face but left the rest of my straight hair to fall on my back.

My makeup was a simple look. Ellie made sure to not go overboard and stuck with a nude pallet. She applied brown to my eyes so they would stand out.

"Alright," Artemis pats down her skirt. "So what's the plan?"

My freshly groomed eyebrows came together while applying another pin for support to my hair. "What do you mean?"

"We all look smoking hot. I plan to prey on men at the club. You all have to mess with your men. What is the point if you don't?"

"I agree," Ellie says walking from my bathroom showing off her very revealing romper.

"Holy shit," Willow's eyes widened. "You are trying to get pregnant."

"Elianna, what in the world?" Artemis' gaped at our best friend. "Since when do you dress like that? I mean I'm not downing it. I think you look great but I was not expecting this from you."

Ellie adjusted the plunging v neckline that went above her belly button. "Declan was being rude this morning because I woke him up," she paused with a sly smile. "You know, apparently he is not a morning person. I'm going to make him wish he was."

Artemis clapped at her proudly. "That is what I'm talking about! Willow, what's your plan?"

Willow bit her lip and looked around the room awkwardly. "I want to kiss him. We have been taking it slow and I just want a kiss. Just one."

"Awe," I cooed at my brother's mate. "That's so precious."

"What about you, Ms. So Precious?" Artemis eyed me playfully and it immediately brought me back to the couch.

I blinked back the memories before I went too far into it. "I want to get drunk."

"Nice one, but that does not involve Atlas so try again." Ellie sat down on my bed next to me.

Willow clicked her tongue and came over to my other side sitting down. "Maybe you should try to get marked? It has been long enough. You both are smitten with each other."

I shook my head with disappointment. "I don't think that will be happening soon. We had a..." I didn't even know what to call this morning. "Conversation?" I say more like a question before continuing. "He wants to wait."

"Considerate Atlas. He probably wants to make sure that you are completely ready to be with him." Artemis tsked and held up different necklaces to my neck. "Ignore me. This dress desperately needs jewelry with it."

"He said he wanted to tell me something before he marked me. I told him no matter what it was, I would still be here. I want to be with him no matter what." I say lifting my chin so she could do whatever she was doing.

"The obsidian one," Willow tells Artemis and then lays a hand on my back. "So you plan to prove that to him and to make him eat his words at the same time. I think we should all include getting drunk in our plans."

Artemis hummed in agreement and clasped a gold chain necklace around my neck. The crystal was a black obsidian tower wrapped in gold wire.

"I think that is perfect." Ellie stands and faces us. "Declan said the guys are ready to go. Declan is D.D. tonight because he has a meeting tomorrow. We are taking his Tahoe."

"Let's do this," I muttered under my breath.

• • •

Willow is the first one to go down the steps and the rest of us follow. My cheeks were burning before I even dared to take my eyes from my feet coming down the stairs.

When my feet hit the first floor, I could see Declan reaching for Ellie like a mad man but she smacked his hands away. "No touching," she bit at him.

A laugh came from my nude lips but my attention was drawn away from them when a pair of hands intertwined their fingers with mine. The sparks shooting through my arms let me know it was Atlas.

Without thinking, my gaze went to him. Luckily, before I got a good look at him, he leaned into me. His lips kissed my cheek adoringly.

"You just had to wear satin, my love." his voice dripped with something intoxicating.

"I didn't realize it was a favorite of yours," I say trying to hide the fact that my heart was about to escape my chest.

"You didn't? Haven't you slept in that big bed upstairs with satin sheets? " he raised an eyebrow, going back to his full height. I nearly died on the spot. Which is a common theme with me.

He was wearing a black button-up with black dress slacks and shoes. His hair was styled to perfection and his eyes were covered by sunglasses. I couldn't tell if I wanted them off or on.

"I don't recall." I smile at him and look over at Josh blatantly staring at Willow's breasts.

"Geez, that kid is going to have a heart attack," Artemis says, shaking her head. "Alright everyone, to the car."

"Yes Ma'am," I giggled at her trying to be the ringleader of us all.

• • •

The new environment was overwhelming and Atlas made sure to keep a good hold on me. With our statuses, we were able to score a table in the VIP area away from everyone. The section was still about 10 feet from the dance floor and only guarded by a velvet rope. This made me decide against getting hammered.

Atlas was visibly relieved by this. He hadn't made it known that he was uncomfortable with me drinking here and was going to let me if I wanted to. My fondness for this man just kept growing.

So far, we all were having a great time. Artemis and Ellie were giggling in the corner of the table about something. Josh and Willow had runoff. Declan and Atlas were having a conversation about something that brought smiles to both of their faces.

The girls were drunk and I couldn't understand what they were saying so I just relaxed in the safety of Atlas' arms as he had me tucked away in his side.

"We want more drinks." Ellie slurred and dropped down beside me.

"I do not think that's the best idea, Babe." Declan looked past Atlas and me.

She let out a growl at him which caused him to become small in his seat.

"One more," Atlas said with a bit of his Alpha tone. Artemis groaned from across the table and Ellie toned down her sassiness. "What do you two want?"

"A strawberry frozen daiquiri," Ellie said a bit shyly now that she was speaking to Atlas. "I like strawberries.." Ellie giggles and crawls over to Declan.

"The same thing." Artemis went to stand but fell causing all of us to laugh.

"Declan, watch them." Atlas stood and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. "Do you want to come with me?" This time he was talking to me.

I gave a small nod. He extended his hand for me to take and I did without a second thought. Once I was to my feet, he held my hand securely and began walking through the crowd to the bar.

Atlas allowed me in front of him and sat me on a stool. Once I was where he wanted me, he came behind me protectively and put his arms on either side of my body. His front was pressed flush to my back bringing warmth throughout my body.

"What can I get you two?" The bartender asked as he dried a glass with a hand towel.

Atlas placed the girls' orders and then kissed the back of my head. "Are you getting tired?"

"Yes but not enough to leave," I answered back, laying my head on his bicep that was near my face.

"Okay, just let me know when you are ready. We can take an Uber back home. We don't have to stay with them."

"Everly!" A familiar voice called to me before I could answer. Spinning on my stool until I could see over his arm. Esme waved with a giant smile.

"Oh, my goddess!" I broke from Atlas' death grip that he had on the bar, trapping me in a safe bubble. She had her arms extended once I got to her so I complied with a big hug. "How are you? What are you doing here?"

Drawing back after returning my hug, she held my hands in front of our bodies. "I love this place. Some of the Royal Attendants come here for the weekend for a getaway. I can't believe you are here! Queen Fallon told me you had found your mate, I didn't realize you were so close!"

"This is great, you have to meet my friends," I say as Atlas slides a protective arm around my waist. I looked up to see him holding his jaw so tight that it could break. His entire body was tense and he did not dare to send a gaze my way for some reason.

"That would be lovely, I am guessing this is your mate. Alpha Lycurgus." Esme gave him a bow and held out a hand for him to shake.

He was taken away from whatever was going on with him long enough to shake her hand before leaning his mouth to my ear. "We need to go. Something isn't right, I am getting all kinds of scents."

I bit my lip and gave a sad smile to Esme. "I am so sorry, we were on our way out." I grabbed a napkin and pen from the bar. Scribbling a couple of circles on the napkin making sure the ink worked, I wrote my number and then gave it to her. "Text me when you come back to town. I would love to hang out with you again."

"Will do!" She grabbed me from Atlas' arms while he was distracted which caused him to growl. She held me in a hug for a moment until Atlas nearly ripped me from her hold. "I guess I'll see you."

I could beat Atlas with my shoe with how rude he was being to her. I didn't even get to tell her bye with how fast he rushed me to the front door.

The cool air smacked into me and I shivered. "What about the others?"

"They are coming, my love. Declan is bringing the car around." He reassured me.

Crossing my arms over my chest I tried my best not to let my teeth chatter. "How is it so cold?"

Wrapping his arms around me, he relaxed a bit and played with my hair laying on my back. "We are higher in the mountains and you are without a wolf."

"Give some of yours." I pouted like a child snuggling into him.

He chuckled at that. "I don't think you could handle Helix. We are lucky I ran for so long last night that he is behaving tonight."

"I know for a fact you could not handle Celeste so," I say with a bit of sass as Declan pulls the Tahoe in front of us.

Atlas opened the door and instead of letting me go first, he climbed in. I was super confused until he picked me up like a child from the ground, holding me on his lap. "You can sleep now, I will wake you when we get home."

I wanted to protest but instead of words, a giant yawn left my lips. He just had to be so darn comforting. My eyes grew heavy and I drifted off while he rubbed my back.

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