Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 44

Suri Nightingale

I got back to my room just a quarter before five in the evening. I still can't believe I spent almost an entire day with Ryder, a person I had only known for the day, and yet, I have never felt as comfortable.

It almost reminded me of my time with Devon. That was until I learnt he was actually a lying prick and tainted that memory for me.

I blew out a deep breath as I stood in front of my luggage that was sprawled on the floor when it suddenly hit me.

I had no freaking idea what to wear for a beach party in a place like this. Let alone the biggest birthday celebration for a famous celebrity.

Shit.

Off to search on the internet what to wear it is.

I'm scrolling through endless pictures and articles on how to properly style myself for a beach party when a caller ID popped up and it's Polly again. I forgot I texted them about my impromptu vacation a few hours ago and also left another message telling them I bumped into some celebrity and he invited me to his birthday party. They must have just woken up in that timezone.

"Hey, Po-"

I barely finish my greeting when Polly in her silk cap and sleeping mask above her eyes beats me to it.

"Suri unknown-middle-name Nightingale!" The shriek was so loud I had to wonder if Keith could have heard it from his room.

When I put my phone back to face me, Polly was staring at me like she was expecting me to say something, but I blinked at her thoroughly confused.

"What? What did I do?" I finally asked when I realized she wasn't going to say anything.

"Two words: Ryder freaking Madden." She says before shaking her head. "Wait, that was three words, but don't mind me, I haven't had my daily dose of caffeine yet since your message was enough to wake me the hell up!"

Oh. They were talking about that.

"You know him?"

"Know him?!" Polly repeated my words like I had just personally offended her.

"I think that word would be an understatement!" Another voice in the background shouted and I guessed it was Elle.

Ugh, they were living in Paris as roommates, eating unlimited croissants and patisseries, painting gorgeous gardens, while I was here getting tormented by the brothers? How is life fair?

Oh, wait. I'm on vacation and going to a party with a super hot guy. Okay, maybe life is a bit fair. Just a bit.

"Ryder Madden is perfection, Suri. He is a living god! Not only is he the youngest male to top the charts consecutively in months, but he's also the youngest EGOT winner! He also writes his own lyrics, but it's his voice that brings back people from the dead. Okay, not literally, but if I died and he sang to me I would probably come back to life so, yeah, you get my point."

"Basically she's a walking and talking encyclopedia on all Ryder Madden knowledge. If Ryder has a million fans, she's one of them. If he has five fans, she's one of them. If he has one fan, that one is her. If he has no fans, then Polly is no longer on this Earth." Elle adds as she appears behind her and Ariana is snickering at the back while she opens the curtains, revealing the gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower.

"Well... that is... something..." I replied, unsure on how to respond to Polly's undying love for Ryder. I'm just glad she's not glaring at me the same way those fifteen year olds were at the lobby and when I was walking back up to my room.

"Oh and did I tell you he looks sexy as f**k with black hair? His natural hair color is hazel brown but when he's in black mode, oh my god, I may just die if I ever see it in person." Polly pretends to exaggeratedly 'die' on her bed while Elle hits her with one of her pillows.

"He has black hair right now," I told her, remembering how his hair reminded me of Atlas. That rich dick.

Polly stopped giggling with Elle as she snapped her head back to the camera and looked at me like I had just told her they're making a second installment of Ratatouille and her life has never been more complete nor empty because she can't see it. Yet. "Putain de bordel de merde!" She bursts out into full French mode as she shrieks in her bed like she's frustrated (not sure if sexually or emotionally).

I hear raucous laughter from behind her, probably from both Elle and Ariana.

"Do you think I'll make it there in time for his party if I fly out now? I'll be back before our color theory class tomorrow afternoon." She turns to them and something in her eyes tells me that she's seriously trying to calculate the logistics of her plan. "Polly Floriane Antoinette!" Elle squashed all her hopes and dreams by just calling her out with her full name and hands on her hips.

"Ughhhh," she groaned on the pillow and somebody grabbed the phone from her hand.

Elle pops up on the screen with her usual glowing Princess-like aura. Her hair looks perfectly curled even when she just got out of bed. This woman was the epitome of grace and beauty if I've ever seen one.

"Do you have an outfit for his party already? Because if you don't, I can get one of my stylists near the area to have you looking like the hottest girl in that place in an hour and both Ryder and Atlas will be kissing your feet before the night ends. Not that you already can't right now. I'd just love to see you do it in the sexiest outfit no other girl in that place can get their hands on." The twinkle in Elle's eyes is so promising that I am tempted to accept her offer, but I don't like taking handouts or in general, help from other people. I don't like owing anyone anything.

"Please send a picture, or better yet, a video if Ryder does kiss your feet! And give me an exact and detailed play-by-play of what it feels like to have a rock god under you!" I heard Polly shout off the camera and I snorted. Oh my god.

"Nobody is kissing anybody's feet!" Not even Atlas even though that would be one hell of an ego boost to see. "And thank you for the offer, Elle, but I think I can replace something in my luggage."

"Are you sure? It's a once in a lifetime chance, Suri. Seriously. You won't owe me anything if that's what you're worried about. For f**k's sake, we're friends." She levels me a glare and I can almost feel the fire in it all the way here.

I choked on air at her extremely direct words. Grace, beauty, and crude language. That's Princess Elleana, everyone, and isn't she just the f*****g best?

I give her a slow nod. "Thank you, seriously, but yes, I'm sure. Although I do have another favor because I'm not really well-versed in beach parties, or parties in general, so do you guys mind if you help give me a long distance makeover?" "Eep!" Three simultaneous squeals erupted just before all their faces popped up on the screen.

"Makeover?! You don't even have to ask! It would be our absolute freaking pleasure!"

-

Half an hour later, a lot of squealing, tacos that I had as a snack and Parisian breakfast for them, and the type of makeup I've never heard of in my life-they call it Coachella festival vibes-I was standing in front of the mirror and staring at myself like I had no flipping idea who I was.

I knew how to do my makeup, but nothing like this before with sequins and jewels sparkling on my face. I told them I don't own such things since I never even heard of them, but Ariana insisted I call the desk lobby. She's stayed here before and their boutiques had everything. Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door and like, twenty sticker sheets of the most gorgeous and sparkly face stickers that looked overly expensive.

"Two minutes," Elle hummed as a cheeky smirk curved up in her lips and the two girls giggled.

"What?" I asked while rummaging through my clothes and looking for something that would match all the sparkle they made me put on, but so far coming in short. Maybe I should have accepted Elle's offer...

Nope. Not asking anyone for anything!

When the girls didn't reply to me, I looked up at my phone and narrowed my eyes at them. "Two minutes of what, you guys?"

Their giggles just got louder and another knock on the door pulls my focus. "Who the heck is that?"

They shrugged their shoulders innocently. Far too innocent for my liking. "Who knows? You should open and replace out," cooed Elle and I knew immediately she was up to something.

"Seriously, what is it? I'm going to be so pissed if it's what I think it is."

"Oh stop being a party pooper, Suri unknown-middle-name Nightingale!" Polly retaliated and I snorted at her new name for me. I can't tell her that I have no idea what my middle name is because my mother never told me. She probably doesn't know either. "Open the door!" They urged me again and I let out a groan as I walked to the door.

When I opened it, nobody was there except for a very pristine-looking pink box sitting perfectly in front of my door.

What the hell? It took a second for me to realize it was exactly what I expected Elle to do. They were new clothes.

"Elleana Beatrix de Luca!" I shouted as I stomped my way back to my room with the box in my hands.

Polly was right. Saying somebody's full first name does have that different effect, but that's besides the point.

I came back to all three urging me to open it, excitement practically dripping from the phone, but I just looked back at them with my arms crossed.

"I told you I can replace something in my luggage!" I retorted.

Elle gives me a wide grin. "Yeah, and it was obvious by the half hour with you throwing everything on the floor that you couldn't so just consider this a gift for our friendship!"

"Elle, I'm not taking this. I can't take this." Whatever this is, but I'm sure it must have cost a fortune.

She gives me a pout that almost makes me cave. "Friendship gift and birthday gift?"

I raised my brow at her.

"Okay, fine, also Christmas." She reasoned out and I knew I wasn't getting out of this so as unwilling and as iffy as I was, I had to accept.

I swear my eardrums almost popped at how loud their combined squeal was when I said yes.

But I wasn't going to lie, I did feel excited and flattered that Elle would go through the trouble just to get an outfit to me on time and everything. God, I love these girls.

"Come on! You're taking forever to wear the thing! We've got class in half an hour and we haven't gotten ready because we were overly excited to see the outfit on you!" Elle demanded and as grateful as I was for them, I needed more than a minute to put on whatever this contraption was!

I am well aware of different styles of revealing clothes since I did work in a club/bar for months to make ends meet so seeing girls in barely there bikinis and even just b**m straps was nothing new to me, but this... oh my god... what is this?!

I think calling it lingerie was more fitting than a dress. The outfit was separated into two pieces, but with more or less the same theme/style which was some sort of modern tribal fairytale fantasy. Jewels and sequins of different shapes and colors formed a halter top and held together by a golden metallic chain. The bottom was a skirt of the exact same pink, gold, and silver colors with the sides of my hips fully bare as the only thing covering it were the golden chains.

I would crouch down and it would be a full f*****g free show for everyone behind and in front of me. At least the neon pink two piece I was wearing underneath was comfortable enough, but still, oh my freaking god, I cannot go out in this.

My insecurities started to drown me in my head, the voices that were telling me I looked ridiculous and pathetic, that I was trying way too hard, but I quickly pushed them aside and moved to the camera so the girls could see me. "Um, what the hell?! Where have you been hiding those curves, Suri?!" Elle almost spit her coffee the second she saw me.

"Putain de merde, Ryder va avoir une crise cardiaque quand il te verra!" Polly is too stunned that her mother tongue comes out naturally.

Based on my minimal knowledge of French, I think she said something along the lines of Ryder getting cardiac arrest, but don't quote me on that.

"Forget Ryder! The whole beach population is going to be groveling for her! Damn, do you think your parents are going to let us steal their jet? We need to see this in person." Ariana asked Polly who looked at her like she had a one up. "I told you we should have gone there two hours ago, but now we're not going to make it on time. Ugh, we're going to miss out on all the fun." Polly groaned and the other two followed with a sigh.

I couldn't help the wide smile that broke out on my face, my insecure thoughts practically getting incinerated by all their unique compliments.

Even when they were saying goodbye since they had to go to class, they still couldn't stop complimenting me and telling me that I was gorgeous and to not settle for less, also known as making every boy in that party beg for my attention. "You're a bejeweled goddess, Suri Nightingale! Let them grovel!" Polly shouted right before adding, "And please for everything good in the world send me a picture of Ryder with his black hair. If he's topless, the more the merrier. Merci!" With that last demand, I huffed a nervous sigh as I stared at myself, still unable to believe that I was the one looking back at the glammed up girl in front of me.

"A bejeweled goddess..." I whispered to myself.

Just then, a knock on the door pulled me out of my admiration and seeing Keith waiting for me with a refreshed look and less tired eyes made me realize it's already dinner time.

"Oh my, wow, look at you. I'm guessing you had a wonderful shopping day." Keith's smile widened when he saw me in my outfit and I no longer felt as conscious being in front of him.

I wonder what my life would have been like if he had just been my real dad...

Then I remembered I'd be related to the three brothers and I would rather jump off a cliff.

"Are you going somewhere? Or is there a dinner dress code I wasn't made aware of?"

I accidentally let out a snort because the thought of Keith wearing jewels was more than enough to do that.

I shook my head. "No, no, not for dinner. I, um, actually got invited to the party you were talking about this morning. You know, with... that celebrity."

His eyes flashed with confusion which made me have second thoughts, but then the smile that gave way not a second later told me that I had nothing to worry about. "Sounds fun. I guess we should start eating then. You'd need that stomach full for later tonight." He tells me before he turns to the side and walks over to the boys' room.

He bangs loudly on the door three times because there's very loud music coming from the inside. I stand at the side awkwardly waiting, hoping nobody passes us by in the hallway. The music finally stopped after Keith's fifth knock and a minute later, all three boys came into view looking like they would rather be anywhere but going to dinner as a 'family'. "We could have just gotten separate room service. We don't have to keep doing these boring family dinners." Wes grumbled under his breath.

"Agreed," Atlas chimed in and both brothers shot each other a smug smirk. At least they don't look like they're seconds from tearing each other apart. How sweet, they're back to being evil confidants. It was Devon that first noticed my presence as soon as he turned and holy mother of everything good, I'd be lying if I said that look he gave me didn't just absolutely drench my neon pink underwear.

Not a second passes until the other two boys realize I'm there too and the craziest f*****g thing happened.

Neither of them gave me the same unbothered or pissed off glare I've gotten so used to them giving me.

Instead, they looked at me like I was the last meal on earth and they've been starved for years.

Their eyes are penetrating like somehow they're trying to get a good look or that they just can't believe they're looking at me, at the girl they've detested for god knows how long.

All of them had fixed their gaze on me. Atlas and his mysterious and sultry gray eyes, like he wants nothing else than to have me tied to his bed. Wes and his usual icy blues were now filled with a soft edge and more (maybe [**t?). Devon and his warm greens that looked at me like I had the answer to all his life's problems.

f**k. Elle was only half right when she said Atlas was going to be kissing my feet by the end of the night, because it looks to me that all three of them were willing to do just about anything for a taste.

Forgive my French-Polly managed to infect me-but, putain de merde...

Tonight, I'm going to have some fun turning the tables on the Wolfe brothers.