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[37] Winter Wonderland

Massie watched the two of them from a distance. They moved so gracefully, dancing in synch to the waltz flowing through the speakers. A familiar feeling of jealousy slithered through her stomach, making her feel nauseous. She downed the drink in her hand in one go, forcing the feeling to more numbness.

Whoever spiked the fruit punch needed to be applauded. Despite the winter dance being free of alcohol, it seemed students had other things in mind and Massie couldn't be more grateful.

Keisha leaned in closer to Sebastian, as though their distance weren't close already. Must be nice. Her hand reached for the half-filled glass near her empty one. A large hand revoked it from her reach before she could attain it. Massie pouted, leveling her eyes with the buff man beside her.

"No, don't give me those puppy eyes." Noah said. "You've already had four and I can smell the effect it's going to have on you if you drink more."  

It was funny. Both of them had dates but they were no where to be found. It was probably their own fault. Massie hadn't felt like dancing and Jordan was too much of a catch to be forced to sit next to her. And while Noah too had a date, it seemed she found solace in a more happy human.

Meanwhile, the two of them could only stare at the dancing couple. At least she wasn't the only one in jealousy. Noah probably wanted to be with Keisha at the moment as much as she wanted to be with Sebastian.

Massie sighed, why was life so unfair? Just when she felt she had made progress it all tumbled to the floor in a heap of disaster. Upon returning from Everglades, Massie thought things would go back to normal between her and Sebastian. Get better at the very least. Instead, things spiraled downwards and she wasn't sure why.

For a week straight after their return he completely ignored her. If she initiated conversation, his responses would be one-worded answers. He side-stepped her hugs and avoided her kisses. Once, when he did it in public it embarrassed her enough that she vowed to not do it again until he stopped being mad at her.

To top it off, he delegated his previous task of picking her up after school to Jordan. He was the one who drove her to the Cult's estate and back home for the week straight. You would think in his own home he would open up a bit, but that couldn't be more contrary. Instead, it became easier to avoid her and disappear in his room.

With this new attitude of his, she was afraid of even approaching that door. He would probably bite her ass for real. Not to mention, if she had no success speaking to him anywhere else, his room would be worse. Not only would he not let her in, but he would probably close the door in her face. Now, it was the Winter Wonderland dance and she wasn't sure how much more rejection she could take.

It was taking her toll on herself esteem. Did he not want her now? Was her mistake that horrible? When she thought about this, her body filled with frustration. He was being so unfair. With the way he acted it were as though she committed a heinous crime.

Noticing Noah's distraction as Keisha laughed at something Sebastian apparently said (he never makes jokes so that was probably totally fake) she snipped the glass right under him and downed it before he could take it away. Wow. Now she was really starting to feel good.

"Massie!" Noah scolded, pulling the glass away despite it now being empty.

"I'm depressed honeybear! This alcohol has helped me with my sorrows." She defended. Truly, it hadn't. It just numbed the feeling down until it was bearable.

"There is no need to be depressed. Sebastian is just... I'll admit he's been an ass to you this week, but trust me, you're much better off than me. At least he cares about you."

Massie frowned, shaking her head. "No he doesn't! He's ignored me all week and hasn't asked me to dance all night! He thinks I'm ugly!"

Noah laughed. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "You're far from ugly. I'll prove it to you. When this dance ends, go to the dancefloor and find any person. It can't be me, or Jordan or Jayden. Someone we don't know. A human."

Massie looked at her hand in his. "Kiss my hand again, it made me feel pretty."

Noah chuckled and did just as much. At that moment, the classic music ended and the beat changed to a darker rhythm. More people went to the dancefloor at it's raunchy beat. Massie stood from her seat to do just as Noah told her.

He was right. Screw Sebastian. She was a gorgeous woman in her own right and it was time to enjoy her night. As she wove into the crowd, she felt slightly light-headed. It seemed the drinks were starting to take effect. Better for her, now she could really release herself into the song.

It reminded her of late parties and wild nights with her friends in previous schools. She was always a popular girl. Easily making friends and having people naturally love her. Massie decided she wouldn't find a guy. She would dance all by herself. She chased after a guy like Sebastian and look where it landed her. No, she deserved to be chased.

She easily fell into rhythm, shaking her hips and moving her body to the beat. She knew she looked sexy, her dark hair moving around her only complimented her steps. It was less than a minute before a dark haired guy with smirking lips and dark intentions approached her. Massie let him come up behind her. She was used to those guys. They danced wonderfully and whispered empty promises.

He pressed against her, one of his hands falling on her waist and another dangerous low near her bum. He kissed her neck. "You look absolutely exquisite tonight."

Massie didn't respond. She wasn't looking for a one-night stand. She wasn't even looking for a rebound. All she wanted was a great dancer like him to make her forget everything else.

Noah watched Keisha's retreating figure as she excused herself to go to the bathroom. In the midst of a crowd of scantily dressed ladies and gorgeous girls, in his eyes she superseded all of them. He's been drawing near to her each day, purposely developing a friendship with her just as Massie suggested. While it did succeed in having them in friendlier terms, it in no way lessened her affection for Sebastian.

What a hopeless cause.

Until Sebastian gave himself to someone else, she would continue to pine after him and lock her heart away.

"Where is Massie?"

Noah drew his eyes to his long time friend. That has been his game for the past week, ignore Massie and keep tabs on her through them. For such a wise man, he was so unlearned when it came to relationships. "In the same place your date is currently going."

Sebastian nodded once before sitting himself down.

Noah felt...irked. Massie was a mess and he was sitting here so calmly. He could relate to her, feel her pain on a similar level. The difference of their situation was that she actually had a handle on the man who strove so hard to evade her. "You need to talk to her again. Avoiding her is messed up and you know it."

Sebastian didn't bother directing a glance at him. "Mind your business." He responded, his tone void of any feeling or emotion.

What exactly was he trying to play? He may fool Massie, but he wasn't fooling him. They've been antiquated since birth, and while he'd been successful at avoiding women like the plague, this specific female's tenacity managed to break through his barriers. He was a lost cause and he knew it.

"I telling you this because I care."

"I'm fine. No need to concern yourself." He clipped.

Noah's gaze flickered to the empty glasses on their table. Massie had been trying to dull her pain. It wasn't fair.  Noah clenched his fists. "I had her tell me to kiss her hand twice because she said it made her feel pretty. Do you have any idea what she's going through right now?!" He boomed.

Sebastian gave him a steely gaze. "I'm doing what's best for her. Stay out of it."

"No, you're doing what you think is best for her. You keep throwing those stupid excuses, like her not knowing enough. Why not just tell her? Let her decide if she would be willing to be a mate of an alpha wereman."

Sebastian stayed quiet. Noah laughed, but it was void of any humor. "You're afraid. Afraid she'll say no once she finds out that in order to mate you she has to endure hours of pain, that if she becomes pregnant with your children she may have many miscarriages, that everything that happened to your mother--"

"Stop it!" Sebastian slammed the table with his fist, causing one of the glasses at the edge of the table to fall and break into a million pieces. The table became severely dented. His eyes glowed with rage. Aunt Mia always said he looked so much like his father in his youth when he got to this point.

"I want you to tell her and let her decide for herself. She thinks you hate her!"

"I don't care what she thinks of me."

Noah breathed deeply. Sebastian was being so hard-headed. "Just because she-wolf don't deal with the same complications those matura do doesn't mean it happens in every case. If you keep ignoring her she's bound to pull away."

"I don't care."

Noah smirked. Doesn't care, really? "Remember how I said Massie was in the bathroom." Noah chuckled as he saw Sebastian stiffen. "I lied."

His golden-eyed friend immediately stood to attention, his posture becoming tense. Jayden and Jordan were easily spotted near the food table, but Massie was not so much in plain sight. "Where is she?"

"Well, since you don't care, I guess--"

Noah felt his shirt being fisted, an aura of darkness descending upon them. But he wasn't scared. He'd take a punch for Massie. "Where is she." He demanded.

Rather than answer him, Noah let his eyes do the talking. They went to a specific spot in the room. Completely not visible with human eyes, much less in the muted darkness of the dance floor. Sebastian would have to activate his wereman senses to even spot her. It took him less than five seconds to locate her. Noah felt the grip on his shirt loosen.

They both watched her, dancing with a human stranger in a most...provocative way. It was clear she had the man enraptured, he was all over her.

Noah saw darkness fill Sebastian. The control he held so tightly evaporated as even his teeth shifted to a sharper state, it was a rare sight. He had been mad at him, but the way he felt towards that man holding Massie was absolutely lethal. He recognized that look in his face, it was the look of a man as he watched the woman of his dreams being handled in a way only he wanted to. To be touched in places only he wanted to touch.

Weremen use touch to express many things. While to humans a dance like that may not mean much, to a wereman it meant a mating. The exact thing Sebastian truly wanted from Massie--to claim her as his own and care for her. It's the reason Sebastian only danced classical songs with Keisha.

But Noah didn't care. Let him watch in pain. It wasn't fair that Massie should deal with his silence.

Liar.

Noah watched as the man who had so adamantly said he didn't care prowl to the joined duo. It's the reason he told Massie to pick anyone who wasn't part of the pack. Sebastian trusted them, and they cared for him too much to ever cross the line with her. He knew in their care she was safe. But humans had no boundaries. Sex was commonplace for them before marriage. Noah felt it was fine for her to enjoy her night the way she wanted to. She was smart. She would make good decisions. He was watching over her if the dude didn't know the meaning of the word 'no'.

He hoped Sebastian heeded his advice. Now more than ever before it was too late.

Massie found herself enjoying the dance. It felt nice to admired in this way, to be wanted. At some point he flipped her around and brought them chest to chest. He looked the typical playboy: a pretty guy with styled hair that probably took him over an hour to style, always smirking of course.

The complete opposite of him.

He lowered his head, taking all of her in. His eyes were full of pure lust. The direction of his eyes told her he was going to kiss her. She was ready to pull away from him when someone did that for her.

Massie gasped as a taller, more foreboding figure stood behind her. She saw her previous dance partner's face fall, his seductive eyes be replaced with fear.

"Don't touch her." Sebastian growled, beginning to place her behind him. She could hear the animosity in his tone, his desire to hurt him. The words weren't directed at her but they still managed to sting her.

"S-sorry man I didn't know."

Massie placed a hand on Sebastian's chest, giving him a withering glare. What gave him the right to intrude on them like that when he'd been ignoring her all week?

The man who had danced with her scurried off at the vibes of imminent danger. Rather than leave her in place, Sebastian pulled her along. He was leading them back to the table, but he had another thing coming if he thought she would just do his bidding.

"No, I'm not going back to the table just because you feel like it! That was such a prick move!"

Sebastian clenched his jaw, his grip on her becoming tighter. He hauled her to a private corner, away from any eyes. "Prick?" He snapped, his eyes turning darker. "I just saved you from a man who wanted nothing but to take you to his bed. You think he has any intentions of taking you seriously?!"

Massie slapped his hand away from her waist. "I'm not stupid. I know exactly what he wanted. I don't see your point here."

Sebastian looked at her with repulsion. "And you're okay with that? You're okay with him—"

"Just shut up! Just because he wants something doesn't mean he'll get it. I just wanted a good dance partner and he happened to be it. I was ready to leave him the moment the song ended. At least he saw me and didn't decide to ignore me."

Sebastian stayed quiet at her jab, deciding to only glare as a form of communication. Massie spoke again. "Do you have anything to say about that? About how you've been ignoring me and pushing me away? Nothing?"

He stepped away from her, beginning to back away. Massie's eyes welled up with tears. The emotions she tried to heavily drown with alcohol came to the surface. "Seriously? You're going to walk away and keep ignoring me even though you know I didn't do anything on purpose?"

Sebastian looked at her with an expression void of emotion. The air between them felt heavy with tension. His silence and distance spoke in more volumes than any words could.

"Fine. Screw you then, I'm over this" she spat, spinning on her heel and getting out of there as fast as she could.

Him ignoring her all week had hurt her dearly, his silence even more. But right now what hurt the most was how he didn't try to stop her as she left, and she promised to herself that she until he stopped his resistance and reached for her, she would otherwise never direct a word to him ever again.

It was 11 P.M. The dance wouldn't finish for another hour, but the prom dress she had so happily put on was now haphazardly in her closet. The tail of her studded dress poked out from her closet, further emphasizing how much she didn't care when she hung it in there, uncaring of whether it would wrinkle or not. Her face was slightly red from all the scrubbing she did to get rid of the layers of make-up she had so carefully placed on her face. Maybe even from the bitter, angry tears she cried too...but for now she'd just blame it on cleaning spin-brush.

A feeling of exhaustion rested upon her, so she plopped herself on the bed. The pillows and covers were strewn around her in disarray, she had not taken the time earlier this morning to properly arrange her bed. The soft mattress beneath her provided little comfort, the pain radiating every pore was not an outward one with could be fixed with physical things. It was an inner pain she would have to bear until she got over him. Movies and ice cream would not help her. There was only one thing she needed now: escape.

"LYDIA!" Massie called, her voice reverberating through the halls. "I NEED HELP!" Any other night it would be too late to screaming so loudly, but today was Saturday and her family always stayed up to the wee hours of the morning.

"I'M BUSY!" She hollered back. 

Massie rolled her eyes. She highly doubted her sister was doing anything of much importance, most likely her head was stuck inside a textbook. "IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"

"EVERYTHING'S AN EMERGENCY WITH YOU! I TOLD YOU I'M BUSY!"

For a moment, Massie paused, considering what would be a good course of action to convince her sister to come to her room. "I'LL PAY YOU!"

Massie sighed victoriously when she heard the light footsteps of her sister dashing towards her room. Lydia entered, raising a curious brow at her splat form. "Yes, sister dearest? May I just say you look quite lovely today." Her voice lowered to her regular tone. "This better be at least twenty bucks."

"Thirty bucks. I need you to find me a cruise ship that will take me away from this place for at least a week. This is my budget." After signing in to her bank account, Massie threw her phone in Lydia's direction. The device landed softly at the edge of her bed.

Lydia pried it off the bed but did not hide her expression of inquisitiveness. "Not for nothing, but why do you suddenly want to go on a trip? I thought you were—and I quote, 'spending winter break in my future husband's house'."

Massie sighed and closed her eyes. "It's not meant to be and I've accepted it. Today at the dance we had a massive blow up. I've been on this crazy wolf chase feeling one moment like I'm making progress, and the next as though I never went anywhere in the first place. I get it, mating is a serious thing but I'm just so tired. I'm tired of chasing, of being putting all this work with nothing to show for it. I need some time to clear my head and just be on my own."

Lydia nodded, her mouth dropping in a silent 'o'. Her attention dropped to the phone at hand. "Well you've saved quite a bit of money. Exactly how soon are you planning to go?"

"As soon as possible. I would go today even... I just want to leave as soon as possible. I know what's going to happen—Jordan's going to call me and apologize for his friend. If not him Noah will. I don't want to hear it. I'm just tired, so tired." She repeated.

And truly, tired was the best word to describe what she was feeling. Exhausted. Out of energy and enthusiasm. She needed some time to recollect herself, and when she came back she would purposely distance herself from Sebastian and stop pouring so deeply into him. Instead of seeing her future in Dark Falls, she would take into consideration colleges outside of here. Why should she invest so deeply in a man who refuses to acknowledge how he feels for her? While he's scared away any man that would even consider dating her, he's left it wide open for any she-wolf to test the waters. And what hold did she have over him to stop them?

Massie was glad Keisha went to the dance with him. It hurt her heart, but it helped refocus her perspective and show her that although Sebastian's actions did indicate his desire of her, at the end of the day unless he fully acted upon them she would be left in a limbo.

But no more.

"Alright, I'll see what I can find." Lydia made way to leave, but before she exited the door she hesitated, as though wondering if she should say the next thing or not. "I want you to know, that Micah and I are actually talking now. You were right, I let myself be too guarded when it came to relationships. Your dynamic with Sebastian is an interesting one. In a way, Micah is with me the way you were with him, and I'm glad I ended up giving him a chance.

"I'm not saying you should be open to him like before, I'm just saying perhaps you and I were unbalanced—at opposite sides of the scales when it came to relationships. I became more open, and things adjusted. You just need to be more reserved...but just don't close off completely. I almost lost something very valuable. And I've seen the way he is with you, he's just being stubborn. Micah stepped away from me and I came to the realization of things. So... if when you come back he's ready to move things in a new direction, don't resist him too much. That's all."

And with that she scampered away. Massie was in awe of her sister opening up to her like that. She knew Micah and her had shifted things in a new direction, but she didn't think she'd be so changed. It amazed her how Lydia wasn't so against Sebastian anymore. Her words were encouraging in a way, but at the end of the day, Massie did not want to think about Sebastian's reaction to her leaving. She didn't want to think of him at all, and so she wouldn't. Until the time came to dealing with him, she would just focus on herself and enjoying her winter break. Far, far away. Preferably in a warm place. Surrounded by a large body of water that would make her forget about the wooded area of Dark Falls.

Half hour later, Lydia came back with great news. Apparently, there was two open spots at a cruise in Florida. It would leave tomorrow afternoon, so she would have to take their joining plane at 6 A.M to get there in the morning. Surprisingly enough, the ride was cheap.

"I can't believe this is the price!" Massie beamed, staring at the confirm purchase at hand. The vacation was all inclusive. In the cruise she would dorm in a single bedroom. All food, drinks, and activities were included. They would even make a stop in the Caribbean, where tourists can go shopping and explore the surrounding area.

Lydia shrugged good-naturally and pat herself on the back. "I know, I know. Some people canceled last minute, and since the ride goes out tomorrow, they sell the remaining rooms super cheap."

"You are the best! The money is in my wallet," Massie said, pulling her sister into a tight hug and then gesturing towards her hanging purse.

The rest of the night passed in a hurried tizzle as she packed in super speed. Since the weather would be warm, she was glad to pack in many shorts, crop tops, light dresses, and open-toed shoes and sandals. She would only have to dress warmly on the way to the airport. After that, it's bye-bye freezing cold.

At 12 P.M, when the dance was officially over, she received her first phone call from Jordan. And then Noah. Even Kristen called her, but Massie promptly ignored all the calls, replacing it with a short text message that said she was safe at home. More messages.

They were probably confused. They saw her argue heatedly with Sebastian in a corner, and then excuse herself from them to hangout with her other school friends. Emma and Lily didn't question her when she joined them, her fake smile and hyped demeanor was enough to fool them. They were the perfect coverup as she called a cab and sneaked out.

Jordan was suppose to be her ride home. They were probably just now connecting the dots that she was not with Emma and Lily anymore.

Too bad.

As much as she loved them, the idea of showing defeat in front of Keisha and having Jordan take her home sounded too repulsing. Her actions made her feel independent. It was time to distance herself.

It was time to heal.

A/N: it happened 😭. COMMENT & Vote! This book is pretty much 2/3 done. I have a surprise coming soon though 😉 check profile