Nina POV
Slap! Owww! What the fuck? I snapped out of my daze and realized Kelly had just slapped me across the face. Rubbing my cheek, I gave her a dirty look. “What was that for? I asked, annoyed.
“Girl, you like going somewhere else, you like zoning out and it was like you weren’t here anymore” Ashley said quietly. I must have scared her. I looked in the review mirror and Zach was analyzing me. We couldn’t mind-link without people knowing.
“I don’t know, I just got a really bad feeling. Like something will happen.” I said. I didn’t want to hide that part of me. I started having ‘feelings’ before now and it is just who I am. I saw a very dark look across Zach’s face. He knew how to take my ‘feelings’ seriously. Zach was just plain scary when mad.
Brooke looked torn. Something was bothering her. She kept looking at Zach like he was pissing her off, but yet she was concerned. Ashley and Kelly looked scared. They didn’t know me for very long but we have grown close and I think they believe me.
“Well, we will just stay close and watch each other's backs. I guess it is a good thing Liam is with us,” Ashley said. I am learning she is a very positive person, where Kelly and I are more realistic.
The drive to the shopping mall was fairly quick. The conversation turned to what dresses we wanted to get and how much skin was going to be flaunted. Pulling into the parking lot, we all piled out and made our way to the front door.
“I know the perfect place to start shopping” Ashely said, jumping up and down. She led us to this store which was nothing but dresses. It had everything from prom dresses to cocktail dresses to summer dresses. We all started browsing.
“Nina, what’s up?” Zach asked me quietly.
“I honestly don’t know. Did you notice all the birds and animals were gone?” I said.
“I did…” Zach trailed off and he spotted Brooke looking over at us with a frown on her face.
“What is wrong with Brooke?” I asked. I know I felt like it was directed towards me.
“She thinks we are or have fucked”, Zach said, sighing and running his hand over his face.
“You go help her and I will talk to her girl on girl to help” I said with a small smile on my face.
“Thanks Nina” Zach said smally and walked off.
I found a royal blue off the shoulder dress and a ruby red strapless dress and decided that was enough to try for now and made my way to the fitting rooms. Kelly and Ashley had already started trying things on.
I put the blue one on first. It was one shoulder that hung off to the side, a sweetheart neck line with satin material. The top was a mesh corset style so you could see my skin under it and it stopped just above my knee. I liked it but it just wasn’t ‘the one’. I heard the other doors open door so I went ahead and stepped out. The boys had found seats in front of the fitting rooms looking incredibly bored. I saw Kelly in a bubblegum pink fitted dress. It had openings around both waist areas and stopped mid-thigh. The top was a simple spaghetti strap that ended in a V to show off her cleavage. Ashley chose a more modest dress that was, at a halter top, a more relaxed fit that ended at her knees. It has summer flowers on it in shades of purple, blue and yellow.
“You girls look good!” I said, fanning myself.
“You are looking pretty hot yourself” Kelly said.
“Yeah, I am not a fan of this one, I have one more to try on.”
Brooke emerged from the changing room in a deep purple sundress that had small sparkles throughout it. She was strapless, showing off her mark and stopped at her knees. Zach growled and said mine quietly before grabbing her and returning to the changing room. We all busted out laughing and I made my way to change.
I slipped the blue one off and put the red one on. Red has always been my go-to color if black wasn’t available. The red one was a strapless dress that fit me like an extra set of skin. It was a sweetheart neckline that was a stretchy material that hugged my curves all the way down to just below my knees. It was a little dressier than I intended but I did look hot. I opened the door and stepped out. The girls had changed back and were sitting with boys. Zach and Brooke had just emerged from the room and made their way to the chairs.
I looked in the mirror and I hadn’t heard anything. I turned to see them with their mouths open.
“Do you not like it” I asked, suddenly feeling insecure and second guessing myself.
“Fuck no, that dress was made for you!” Kelly said. Everyone nodded their heads in approval. Liam’s phone started to ring and he stepped out. I watched him leave and as I went to turn away I saw a guy outside the store staring at me. It was the same guy I met outside the bathroom from the other pack! The creepy guy that I doubted in my story! I glanced at Zach and by the time I looked back, he was gone. I ran to the front door to the store. I can’t believe this is happening! I am pretty sure that was the same guy and he was looking right at me!
“Nina! Where are you going?” Ashley said.
Quickly, I made up a story. “I wanted to make sure I could move in this dress so I could dance!”
“HAHAHA well you should could move!”
Making my way back to the fitting rooms, I changed back into my clothes and went to check out with everyone. Liam made his way back to us and had a pissed off look at him.
“You okay bro?” Zach asked.
“No, rogue attack. We need to head home”, Liam said. He was pissed off and I was a little scared of him.
We all immediately tensed, Brooke curling into Zach. I frowned at that. Not because I wanted him, but because I couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t learn to defend yourself. We left the mall with the guys on either side of us and I grabbed Ashley’s hand. We all piled into the car and Liam looked off driving like a mad man to get back onto pack lands. Once we did get back, he eased off and relaxed. Liam got a mind-link that it was all taken care of and there was no immediate threat.
“Well, let’s all go swimming!” Kelly said.
“Sounds good! Let's change and meet down here in five minutes!” Ashely said. We nodded and made our way to our rooms. I realized I didn’t have a swim suit but Kelly beat me to it and grabbed two and was at my door before I could even go looking for her room.
“I figured you needed one!”
“Thank you! I didn’t get to do all the shopping I needed!” I grabbed the two black pieces and went to the bathroom and changed. I grabbed a towel and put a baggy t-shirt over my body that landed just below my ass. Kelly had actually brought a bathing suit cover that was more like a dress and we made our way to the front door. As always, we were the last to arrive!
“Alright, let’s go!” I said. I actually felt excited about going swimming! I loved the water.
“It is only a 10-minute walk from here but I grabbed a golf cart anyway!” Ashely said. We all piled in and made our way to the pond.
Laying our towels down, Kelly and I decided we wanted to just jump right in and Ashely, Brooke and Zach decided to ease in. It was a nice 80-degree day but I couldn’t resist jumping right in. We played for about 30 minutes, swimming and racing before we decided to lay out and get some sun. Zach ended up heading back in to call his parents. Brooke decided to stay out there with us after some convincing.
“Brooke, can I ask you a question?” I said hesitantly.
She was watching Zach walk away after he kissed her forehead, “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Are you okay? Like are we okay? Did I do something to you that you seem upset with me for some reason today?” I said, just kind of spilling it out from my mouth. Kelly and Ashley just kept looking between us like we were stupid.
“Well, to be honest, I am concerned about your relationship with Zach,” Brooke said, looking me straight in the eyes. I heard Kelly sigh and lay back and Ashley just looked super confused.
“I can honestly tell you that we never kissed, or had any kind of sexual relationship. I am a virgin and I am saving that for my mate.”
“I know that but I can feel what Zach feels and he feels responsible for you, like he must always protect you and needs to be close to you.”
“That is because of my past. I don’t feel like sharing everything right now, but I don’t know if you know or if Zach told you but I had a boyfriend for years. His name was Damian and he ended up being mated with my best friend. He casted me to the side and took her like I was nothing. He told me he loved me and I loved him too. Zach was part of our friend group and we all grew up together. The day this happened was also the day both my parents died in a rogue attack. Zach promised his parents he would look after me and they are looking after my parent’s house while I am on a ‘vacation’ or whatever you want to call it. I will not ever take Zach away from you. He is yours. I do like it here. I know I said I was not sure where to go after Wyatt’s birthday party, but I might see if I can stay here a little longer. I feel ‘safe’ here.” I looked at the girls and they all had tears in their eyes.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry. Zach wouldn’t tell me anything, he said it was your story to tell.” Brooke came over and gave me a hug.
“Will you let him off the hook now?” I said, teasing her with a sad smile of my own. I will not break down and cry here. That is saved for the privacy of my shower.
“Of course!” Brooke said, sniffling.
“Come on! I am hungry and we missed lunch!” I said it was getting late in the day and I wanted a hot shower and food. “Let’s shower and order pizza and watch a movie!?”
“Great idea!” Ashley said.