Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 36

Suri Nightingale

When Atlas pulls away and is no longer kissing me, I can only think of one thing - I've forgotten how to breathe.

It's only when the pumping of the loud music sounding off in every inch of the room finally registered in my brain that I managed to let out the loudest exhale of my life and not a second later I sucked in a lungful of air, trying to get back all that oxygen I just lost kissing Atlas.

And then it hit me like a six-wheeler truck.

Holy fuck. I kissed Atlas.

Atlas, the a*****e who's had it for me since before I even stepped foot in this place. Atlas, the dick head who has made it clear that he wants me gone and nowhere near him and his family. Atlas, the pervert whom I've caught eyeing me sexually many times before.

And Atlas, the man I haven't stopped getting wet dreams for since that night in his room. Atlas, the man who was so devastatingly handsome it's almost unfair that someone that looks as perfect as he does exists. But most importantly...

Atlas, the guy who has just now officially taken my first kiss.

Oh my god. What have I done?!

"Breathe, Suri. Breathe." Elle says as she rubs my back like a concerned older sister.

I turned to her, the horror and confusion visibly evident on my face.

"What have I done?!" I whisper-shouted to her the question that had been running in my mind repeatedly.

"Well, for starters, you just kissed the most popular guy in school, which if you ask me, sounds like a very romantic book cliché, but we don't have to get into that... yet." Elle giggled and I restricted myself from aggressively shaking her by her shoulders while I tell her that now is not the time to be imagining Atlas and I in a romantic book!

"And then there's the matter of hoping the entire ninety-nine percent of the female student body get jealous instead of angry that you just kissed their precious King." She said with a tight-lipped smile, a hint of sympathy present in her expression.

All I could do was stare at her dumbfounded while hoping the truth or dare game would continue like nothing had happened and in my optimistic and maybe slightly naive world, I wanted to believe that maybe kissing the most popular guy in school didn't matter so much as I thought it would? Surely Atlas would have done these stupid dares-or worse-back then and this is nothing new to them.

I forced myself to turn my head back to the circle and desperately hoped and prayed to all the higher beings out there that nobody cared.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized that I was wrong. So very, very wrong, as everyone stared at me like I had just committed a crime punishable by execution.

And the worst part about all of it? Atlas acted like he didn't give a crap, like we hadn't just been making out twenty seconds ago, and oh my god, I think I was going to be sick.

I scrambled to get up from the floor, the alcohol hitting me at the worst timing and I felt slightly dizzy, but thankfully I was able to control myself and not fall on the floor and make myself look like an even bigger i***t in front of everyone. God knows they already have more than enough ammunition against me and my ego.

"Where are you going?" Elle asked, concern vivid on her face and in her voice.

"B- bathroom. I- I can't right now. I just- I just can't." I told her, unable to properly complete a sentence without stuttering as my whole body was shaking with nerves and all.

"Do you want me to come with you?" She asked in a heartbeat.

I shook my head as I gave her a reassuring smile. "No, no, it's okay. I- I'll be fine. Just... just need some time. Take care of Polly. See you!" I said my last few words abruptly before speeding out of that pool house like my pants were on fire.

Which, honestly, seemed less embarrassing than having done what I did.

Oh my freaking gosh.

As I was bumping and shoving other people that were on my way to the bathroom, the entire moment of kissing Atlas kept repeating in my head like I had gone to the cinema, paid for a movie, but their player was broken and so I am just forced to watch one scene in the entire movie over and over... and over.

And for some reason... I didn't entirely hate it.

Oh shit.

"Excuse me!" I shouted/pleaded for the girls blocking the door to the bathroom and as soon as they gave way, I shoved open the door and went straight for the toilet.

My stomach feels like it's burning and seconds later, acid coats my mouth and I hurl every single thing I've eaten since I got here.

I feel like my organs have been doused in gasoline and set on fire. I feel like vomiting even more when I smell my own vomit. I feel utterly gross and like I'm going to pass out any second from now. Everything is wrong. Everything is so wrong.

And yet I'm still thinking of how good Atlas felt and tasted on my lips. This shouldn't be happening. This can't be happening.

My hands running through his soft hair. My lips kissing his soft lips. My tongue dancing to the same rhythm as his. My body against his as he practically laid on mine.

Atlas' strong and warm hands all over my face and neck. Atlas' tongue demanding for more. Atlas' lips kissing me hard and full of passion.

At one point, I remember thinking 'I shouldn't be doing this' and for some reason, I don't know when it happened, but all of a sudden the thought had changed to 'I hope this never ends'. "Damn it, Suri!" I said, grumbling just before I hurled another time.

All of this felt awful. That word doesn't even fully comprehend exactly how awful everything is, but it's the closest one I can think of.

After what seemed like too much time on the floor hugging the toilet bowl and puking my guts out, I finally felt like I could break myself free from it.

When I got up, I stared at myself in the mirror and grimaced at the sight of me. Quickly, I no longer felt as pretty as I did when I was getting ready.

My hair was sticking out in weird directions, my mascara was a bit smudged, and a bit of my own residue had dropped on parts of my shirt. Fuuuuuck. I looked like s hit and felt like it, too.

All because I fell into temptation with the devil's kiss.

The urge to cry was getting stronger the longer I stayed there looking at myself. The pity party in my head was loud and the voices were even louder.

"Little naive Suri really thought she could be pretty after some makeup and expensive clothes." "You can take the girl out of the trashy places, but you can't keep the trash away from the girl." "Remember when you thought your life would be better here? That was a good f*****g joke."

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

"AAAHHHH!" A scream broke out of me.

It had just come out of nowhere, but it was so loud that it felt like I had almost lost my own voice. It was the type of scream anyone would only dare do if nobody was around them in a five mile radius. Except that was not the case for me right now. But you know what? It felt so f*****g good to let all that out that I didn't feel even a bit of guilt about it.

I would do it again, but I knew if I did, I would completely lose my voice and I would really prefer being able to speak as a means to defend myself against the assholes in this place.

Enough with the stupid pity party, Suri. You need to get your s**t together.

With that thought in mind, I washed what I could wash, cleaned what I could clean.

A few minutes later, once I've decided this is the best I could do with myself, I am once again hyping myself up to face the wrath of rich kids.

"You're fine, Suri. Everything is fine." I whisper to myself as I take long and deep breaths.

Find Elle then get a ride out of here and then you're free, I think to myself.

"Okay, okay. Let plan 'get the f**k out of here' commence." I said one last time before pulling open the door and the silence in the bathroom is completely overpowered by the loud music once again. Love got me f****d up

Got me on stuck, chasing that rush

Had to give in, couldn't give up

I just want you, but I don't do drugs

Still I want you, ooh-ooh

Find Elle. Find Elle. Find Elle.

That's all that is in my head as I continue to squeeze myself out of the crowd that just seems to be getting bigger and bigger while the night progresses. I don't understand how that's even possible. Do none of these kids remember that there's still freaking school tomorrow? Ugh, I don't care. It's their funeral.

I'm starting to lose hope of ever replaceing my friends in this gigantic place with over hundreds of people when it feels like I've been looking for them for over half an hour.

My legs were tired. My head was aching. My body was rejecting any smell of alcohol or other substances. And all I really, really wanted was to be making out with my bed.

My bed. Not... him.

Definitely not him.

"You need to stop all of this s hit, Atlas."

My entire body froze the second I heard his voice and that name. I looked around and realized I've somehow managed to bring myself to the second floor where there were fewer people. This area was darker, and it looked like it led to the outside balcony. I was so distracted with replaceing Elle that I didn't even know where I was anymore, but apparently, and unfortunately, I am back to square one - where Atlas is. "Stop what, little brother?"

It wasn't hard to decipher who the owner of the voice was as well as get the hint of sarcasm in it, and based on his 'little brother' comment, the one he was talking to was... Dev.

My heart skipped at that thought.

Since we were higher up, the music was a little less loud and listening in on their conversation was easier. I know I should go. That I should just turn around and continue looking for my friends because this is none of my business and eavesdropping is bad, but a part of me-a big, big part-wants to stay in the hopes of replaceing something I can use against Atlas or any of the like.

If I could have just one thing, then that would be more than enough.

And so, without much conviction needed, I hid myself further behind a giant statue along the hallway.

"Don't act coy with me, damn it." Dev responded and for the first time, I heard him sound like he was pissed.

He seemed so jolly and carefree that I can't for the life of me imagine what he would look like annoyed. I got the sudden urge to have a glimpse of that kind of Dev, but managed to stop myself because that would be a terrible idea, especially if I get caught which was highly likely in this scenario.

"I'll act however the fuck I want." Atlas says, his words now sounding more affected as compared to earlier where he seemed to just be playing around.

"Why are you being so difficult?" Dev asks his brother, sincerity evident in his tone like he is genuinely curious as to why he is doing what he is doing that my heart breaks slightly for him.

"And what the fuck do you care, huh?" Atlas, on the other hand, is filled with rage now. I can't see him, but I can tell he is likely staring down his brother.

Though not by a lot, he is still the tallest amongst the three of them.

"I do care." Dev responds.

"No, the fuck you don't." Atlas says in a heartbeat. "You've already made that clear when you chose that girl over us."

Wait... what the hell? That girl? Did he mean... me?!

"What the hell are you talking about, Atlas? I didn't choose anyone. You're acting like a child. This isn't a damn competition!" I am starting to hear the desperation in Dev's voice, but at the same time, I can't focus much when the anticipation of knowing which girl they're talking about is killing me.

"I told you, Devon. I told you when Keith talked to us about her that she was bad news. She is bad news. We don't even f*****g know her. She doesn't have the right to be here, to be in our house. Keith may have been blindsided and I let that go knowing I had you and Wes, but you decided to be brainwashed by her, too. You're no longer on our side."

Oh my god. So they are talking about me.

I suddenly felt like I was going to hurl on the floor. Damn it, Suri, not again! I placed my hands over my mouth and internally shouted not to do anything. Thankfully, it helped. For now.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Atlas." Dev retaliates.

I heard Atlas scoff before saying, "Brainwashed."

He merely said one word and that was all it took for Dev to show his true colors.

"So what if Suri is brainwashing me? So f*****g what? It's only a matter of time until the same happens to you and Wes. Besides, dad likes her so no matter what we do, he will always be on her side. So what if I am just being nice to her to get on dad's good side, too? I don't care. It gets me what I want and what do you get? You get jack s hit. You're just pissing him off. Honestly, you're just pissing everyone off, including Suri. Your bull s hit antics aren't going to work here anymore. It's obvious you want her. It's obvious that kiss wasn't just a dare to you, too. You want Suri, and you know what, Atlas? I'll make sure I take all of her so there's nothing left for you. That fresh meat is mine."

I hadn't realized I was crying until after he had finished and by then, my face was completely wet from my own tears.

I couldn't stay there anymore so without any other thoughts, I turned around and pushed my feet to start running away. As far away as possible from them.

My tears weren't stopping. With every step I took, my heart broke a little more. I can't believe I just heard all of that. I can't believe Dev said all of that. How could he? And how could I have been so dumb to believe that he was actually nice? I knew I should never have let my guard down around them.

They're evil. They're monsters. All of them.

I hate them. I hate them. I hate the-

"Ow!" I must have hit a warm post because I almost ricocheted backwards, but suddenly, strong hands kept me from tumbling down to the floor.

"Whoa, take it easy, honey bee..." The smooth and deep voice said as he continued to hold onto me.

His arms felt safe and comfortable to be in and in between all the alcohol swimming in my liver and coursing through my veins, I felt like I could just stay right there until the world just turned black around me.

I didn't care anymore. The ground could open up and swallow me whole and I'd much rather prefer that.

"Suri?" The voice asked, pulling me out of my thoughts as curiosity got the best of me and when I looked up, a familiar set of blue eyes looking intently at me was the last thing I saw...

Right before I felt like I could no longer keep my eyes open and the world around me did turn black.