Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 46

Suri Nightingale

Let it be known that Ryder Madden can single-handedly throw the coolest party that will outdo any parties you have ever gone to and will ever go to.

Okay, maybe not single-handedly, because he probably had a s**t ton of help from his assistants and other people, but oh my god, I know I don't have the best comparison for other parties since I don't usually go to one, but if the infinity color-changing pool, fire shows, inflatable slides on the beach as well as different water sports, an awesome f*****g DJ, submerged in sea dance floor, carnival performers, and of course unlimited alcohol of every kind you can think of, and so much more isn't enough to say greatest party of the century then I have no idea what will. "This is... just... wow." I said to Ryder whom I had my arm linked with as we stood a few steps away from the entrance of his beach party.

He looked at me with a wide grin. "Now I've got you speechless."

"I guess you have..." I smiled back at him and just then, a group of girls came up to us giggling and blushing.

"Hi, Ryder! Happy birthday!" They all greeted in unison, their eyes brimming with excitement and admiration for the man in front of them, either completely unaware of my existence or they just chose not to acknowledge me.

Either way, I wasn't complaining. I'd much rather prefer this than the stink eyes.

I've never had crushes. I didn't have time for that since I was busy busting my ass to have a roof over my head and food in my stomach, so seeing girls really fawn over a guy was something new and odd to me. How life would have been so different for me if I also had the same privilege to have time for crushes at their age.

If fifteen year old Suri could see me right now, at a party, holding one of the biggest celebrities in the world, she would never be able to recognize me.

"We're so honored to be here with you at your party so we got you these gifts."

The five girls each brought out gifts wrapped perfectly in a cute gift paper and bow tie, all varying in different sizes. It's like they were purposely trying to beat the other on whose gift could be the biggest.

The girl with a way too tiny hot red bikini for her age had the smile of victory as she held out the biggest box that I can't for the life of me figure out what it could be. It looked pretty heavy.

"Oh, that's really kind of you girls. I appreciate it, but I don't think I can open them now. You can put them by the gift table and I'll open them in private later, alright?" Ryder told them with a soft and patient tone like he was an adult trying to calm kids, which looked a lot like it because not a second later, the girls' happy faces turned into a small frown.

"But we want to see your reaction to it!" They whined and I was surprised at how quick their moods had changed in the blink of an eye.

Ryder, though, wasn't as fazed. It was obvious he was used to this, even probably expecting it.

"Yeah, of course. I'll open them on live tomorrow morning so make sure to have your notifications on for when I do, okay?" He gives them one charming smile and the girls are back to being giddy over him.

"We've always had our notifs on for you, silly!" The taller girl said in an obvious flirting tone, her eyelashes fluttering at him and if Ryder didn't tell me how old his usual fanbase was, I would have had no idea they were more or less fifteen because of the amount of makeup and lack of clothes they were wearing.

Maybe that's why I never fit in with anyone during that age. I didn't have the capacity to make myself look better and flirt with guys. That's why I was always bullied for being different.

While I was distracted with my past, I hadn't noticed one of the girls was now staring at me with the judgiest expression possible as she scanned me up and down, like she was thoroughly assessing me from head to toe.

"And who are you? His girlfriend? Ryder doesn't have a girlfriend." She asks, but answers her own question instead and with a tone dripping with irritation.

That was enough to have all other girls' attention on me and crap, there goes the stink eyes again.

"Uh, no, no, I'm just a friend!" I answered quickly, or more like desperately because I did not have the willpower to fight off millions of his fans that might come after me if this goes up online somewhere.

"Now, now, girls. Don't make my special guest feel left out. She's very important to me." Ryder says as he tries to pacify the situation, but when he turns to me and looks at me like how a boyfriend would look at his girlfriend, it's like he's just pouring gasoline over the fire.

Not helping my case here, Ryder. I wanted to tell him, but couldn't, so I just used my eyes and he must have gotten the hint as he let out a soft chuckle that somehow melted my insides all together at the sound.

"Aren't we important to you too, Ryder? We've been fans of you since before you even started your career. We watched you blow up on UTube and helped fund your concerts until you got contacted by the biggest management. We supported you even after your controversy with your brother and we reported each tabloid that talked about you and..."

They lost me when they started to talk about their life as fangirls, my mind drifting away to the cool fire show happening just behind her.

Ryder quickly noticed me feeling left out because he leans over to my side and whispers, "You can go around and check out the entertainment. Get a drink, eat some food. I'll have to talk with them for a bit so they don't feel unimportant, alright? I'm sorry about this, but I'll be with you as soon as I can." He gives me a sympathetic smile and I nod at him, fully understanding his situation.

It would be nice to go around the place without having his fangirls stare at me like I'm stealing him away from them, too, anyway.

Once I finally managed to pluck myself out of that awkward situation, I decided to head over to the bar area where two bartenders were doing a cool show throwing around glasses and drinks and whatnot.

"What will it be for you, pretty lady?" The bartender, who looked like a guy in his early twenties and had a dragon tattoo in his upper arm, asked just before winking at me.

I wasn't sure if he was hitting on me or just doing his job. Either way I was not used to getting winked at or called a 'pretty lady' and I am happy it's night time so no one can see me blush over such a small thing.

"Um... what's the sweetest and lowest alcohol percentage you have?"

I have no plans of getting drunk-especially not after Raquel's party when I woke up without knowledge of half the night-but damn do those drinks look good. I want to at least try one for the sake of being at a party and not be dubbed as a party pooper. The bartender looks at me like he's trying to gauge if I was serious or not, but when I don't respond, just giving him a smile, he finally says, "You look like an Aperol kind of girl, so Aperol Float it is."

I have no idea what Aperol is, but I do know a float means having ice cream or something of the like so I nod and watch as he does more of his tricks.

A minute later, he slides over a glass filled to the brim. Its color is a fun orange-pink with a cloud foam on top, and a little sliced orange hanging at the side. It definitely said 'beach party' and I thanked the bartender for giving me the best drink I could ask for. "Any time, gorgeous. You have a good time and if you need anything else, I'm here all night." He gives me another wink in which I return with a timid smile before moving away before I make an even bigger fool out of myself.

With my little summer drink in hand, I go around and watch everything around me with absolute fascination.

I can't help but feel ecstatic and at the same time still be in disbelief that I was here. Me, the girl who knew nobody back then and definitely didn't go to parties, let alone a celebrity's. None of it made sense, and what's even crazier to think about is that it all just started with a letter.

I replace a somewhat quieter spot, tucked between palm trees draped with warm fairy lights all around making it glow and the gorgeous light of the moon reflecting on the dark blue sea. It looked like a painting and I thank whoever laid the beach blankets around because I wouldn't have to lie down on sand.

"Ah, mom... If you could see me now..." I whispered to myself, my words getting washed away by the sound of the ocean and the cool breeze around me.

It was not hard to appreciate tonight. Everything just felt so peaceful, sitting here, good-tasting drink in hand, and the music behind me getting muffled because of the waves.

I remembered when Keith told me that he just wanted to give me a life which my mother would have wanted for me, and now here I was. Sure there were some downs, too, but what life didn't have that?

I enjoy my drink, taking some sips, and a few minutes later, I lie down on the blanket and my mind wanders off.

Somehow, I replace myself thinking of them. The brothers. The first time I met them and the development of whatever relationship we had with each other.

Kissing Atlas. Finding out what Devon really thinks of me. And whatever it is I did with Wes that I don't even remember.

It was all so... complicated, but you know what? I couldn't imagine being here without them being a pain in the a s s to me. The conundrum of that entire realization made me laugh to myself.

I felt like I was going insane.

"Did I miss a joke?"

The voice came from behind me and when I tilted my head on the blanket, I saw an upside down Ryder.

I don't know how much time passed since we separated, but I guess more than enough time for him to change clothes. He was now wearing a black polo shirt and black jeans. Completely different from his white clothes earlier, and looking at him now reminds me so much more of Atlas.

"No, no joke. I just... remembered something." I tell him as I sit back up on the blanket.

"Are you done appeasing your fangirls?" I asked in a teasing voice and he looked at me with a raised brow before he realized what I meant.

"Ah, yeah, those girls. Right. All done with them. I'm all yours now." He says before walking over to me and he sits right next to me on the blanket, barely an inch of a distance from me making me feel shy all of a sudden.

Then I remembered I already kissed this guy-in front of everyone even-so why the hell am I still self-conscious?

"You changed clothes?" I asked in order to break the silence.

He nodded his head as he turned to me and that's when I noticed his eyes were darker. Must be the lighting from here? They were still a gorgeous shade of green, though.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked as his hand found mine and I let him intertwine them together, trying to hide the blush creeping up on my face.

I gave him a slow nod, hoping he doesn't see how slightly nervous I got.

"Do you like me?"

Oh my god. Out of all the questions, that was not what I was expecting. Does he really want me to answer that? Is this some kind of prerequisite before he asks me out?

First of all, I don't even know if I want to be in a relationship so to be in one with a celebrity and battle his millions of fans? That sounds waaaay too much for me.

But then again that's the overthinking side of me so maybe he's just asking it... as a friend?

I shrugged my shoulders to make it seem like I wasn't absolutely freaking out in my head. "I mean, yeah. I think you're a really nice person and being with you is fun. I may not know the celebrity version of you, but even my friend admires you and your talent, so that probably says a lot."

I gave him a meek smile though my heart was already thumping loud and fast.

Please don't ask me out because I wouldn't know what to say, I thought to myself. Maybe kissing him to get Atlas pissed was a bad idea, but I know for sure if it happened again, I would probably do the same thing.

A smirk curved his lips and something about it made me feel... uneasy. I don't know why because I haven't felt that way around him since we started hanging out so I just brushed it off as nothing and just a misjudgement on my part.

Out of nowhere, he brings out a bottle of water from behind him and dangles it in front of my face with a wide grin. "Drink up. Better to keep you hydrated while you're drinking alcohol." He tilted his head behind my drink that I've now finished so it was just an empty glass now.

Random, but kind of thoughtful, so okay. I thanked him and chugged half of it then put it beside me before laying back down on the blanket to watch the stars that have started to fill up the night sky.

"Are you enjoying the party?" He says softly, almost like a whisper to my ear as he leaned his head closer to me.

I felt shivers at his warm breath against my skin.

"I am, though I don't think this area is considered part of the party." I chuckled as I closed my eyes, feeling peaceful with Ryder by my side and forgetting everything else as I began to get more comfortable with him.

Forgetting my old life. Forgetting my struggles. Forgetting the brothers who can't seem to understand I'm not here to start trouble, I'm here to try and get away from trouble.

As my eyes were closed I felt Ryder's arm slide behind my neck and my body leans over to him, letting my head rest on his chest. There was a strong scent of nicotine on him which was odd because I don't think he was a smoker, but still, this felt nice so I stayed. "You know what I hate the most?" He murmurs into my hair as he twirls a strand in his finger.

"Not being able to eat pizza in peace," I say with a light chuckle, remembering his story of how he had to hide inside the bathroom of a pizza place when fans found him.

He scoffed, the sound coming off more tense than I was used to. Weird.

Also, is it just me or is it getting much warmer here? I shifted my body, trying to move away from Ryder because his body warmth was not helping, but before I could, he held me tightly, pressing me against him.

"Wha- Ryder, what are you doing? My body's starting to feel really warm. I need to stand up and walk around." I told him and I could have sworn I saw him roll his eyes before he let me go.

"Be my guest," he said as he gestured for me to stand.

He then shot me a smug smirk that made me shudder. What the hell was going on with him?

Whatever. If he wants to be an a*****e then I don't have time for his bullshit. I guess it was too good to be true. I rolled myself out of the blanket and positioned my body to get up, but as I was face down, my head started to throb and everything around me started to feel unstable like my body was swaying around without me moving. What the f**k?

Just then, I felt Ryder's hand come up to my chest and I quickly slapped him away.

"What the f**k, Ryder?!" I shouted at him harshly because that was such a dick move and now I am completely done. I'm f*****g leaving.

I quickly realized it wouldn't be that easy when I fumbled back on the sand, my body feeling like jelly.

It was only when Ryder let out the most spine-chilling laughter that I knew something was definitely wrong. Terror crept into my bones. "Stupid b***h," he spat and it made me shudder.

This wasn't the Ryder I knew, but then again, I've only known him for a day so maybe this is really him and I was once again fooled just like Devon. I felt so f*****g stupid and felt tears pricking the back of my eyes, but pushed it away.

I'm not going to cry. I'm stronger than this and if this a*****e thinks he can get away with this then I'm going to have fun kicking him in the balls really, really hard.

"f**k you," I spat back at him.

My vision started to double, but I pushed through. I have to get out of this one way or another.

"Suri!" I heard my name getting called from a distance and I quickly tried to look for the sound.

"Suri!" I heard it again, this time much closer.

"I'm here! I'm here!" I shouted back, but before I could say anything else, Ryder had grabbed me from behind and placed his hand on my mouth.

"Shut up, you b***h. My brother can't save you now. I'm going to have a lot of fun with you and putting all the blame on him." He whispered menacingly into my ear and I began to get even more scared now.

What brother? What fun did he mean? What's he going to blame him for? What the hell was going on?!

"Suri!" The voice sounded off again and I realized it was definitely much closer now, the hope in me sparking up and from the shadows, a figure came out.

It was...

Ryder?!

"Suri! I've been looking all over for you! What are you-" He froze when he got closer and noticed that I wasn't alone.

The horror in his eyes were obvious, but the only thing in my head was - why the f**k are there two Ryder's? Oh f**k. Then it hit me.

He didn't just have a brother. He had a twin brother.

"Get the f**k away from her, Ryan." Ryder-I think based on the white clothes-demanded.

I don't know what the hell or how the hell it even happened, but the next thing I knew, I had been shoved to the side, back on the sand, and when I opened my eyes, both brothers were now fighting. "Why the f**k are you here?!" Ryder questioned as he held his brother by his collar.

"Why the f**k not? Can't your big brother go to your big eighteenth? Oh wait, it's both our big eighteenth." Ryan said with that same smug smile he gave me earlier and all of a sudden I felt like puking. f**k. Not again. Oh my god. My head hurts and my body is starting to feel really, really warm that I just want to take my clothes off.

"You are not my brother. We may be the same blood and look like each other, but the day you hurt Heidi was the last straw. Now get the f**k out of here before I call the cops." There was anger and hurt in his voice and it was obvious Heidi meant a lot to him. Ryan puffed up his chest in a cocky confidence. "Sweet little Heidi. She really was your hottest girlfriend, but it looks like you've found a replacement already. How interesting this girl looks almost exactly like your ex. Still hung up, little bro?" Uh... what the hell?

When I blinked another time, fists were flying as the two brothers shouted and beat the ever-loving crap out of each other.

I tried to think of what to do, but whatever was coursing inside my system right now was not helping me stay focused. I felt like I was floating away and I know even if I tried my darned best, I wouldn't be able to stop these two.

Oh, s**t. This isn't good. This is so not good.

When I tried to stand up to ask for help, I collapsed back on the sand. It was as if my body was no longer mine and even when I kept telling it to move, it wasn't doing anything.

I can hear grunts and curse words getting thrown around behind me, but it all tunes out as my mind thinks of Atlas. How I should have listened to him when he said not to go to the party. All I can think about is being in my bed, laying down, as he comforts me. My head hurts. My body feels like it's on fire.

And all I want is somebody to take me away from here.

"f*****g hell, sis, what did you get yourself into?" The voice quickly pulls me out of my thoughts and it barely takes me a second to register whose it was when I looked up and met blue eyes that were both worried and enraged.

"Wes?" I managed to croak out, my mouth feeling dry.

"Uh-huh. You pulled me out of my make out session, but f**k it, I'll replace another girl." He scoffs jokingly and suddenly, I don't feel so worried and scared anymore especially when he pulls me up to him, the feeling of his body pressed against mine as he carries my weight makes me feel safer.

I've never been so relieved to see one of the brothers and that says a lot.

"Put this on," he mumbles to me as he gently positions me against a tree for balance and then he takes off his shirt.

As lightheaded as I was feeling, I still had the capacity to ogle at seeing Wes and his washboard abs. They were literally so perfectly sculpted, no wonder girls drool all over him. Oh f**k, am I drooling right now?

"Yes, you are." He laughed and I wondered if I had said that out loud.

"Yup, you did." He answered just before placing his polo shirt around me and I am thankful for the warmth it gave.

"I've let my brothers know what's going on. They'll be here in a sec and-"

Wes' head snapped to our side. I don't know where they came from, but people must have finally noticed the two brothers were fighting like hell around here and all of a sudden, they began to swarm around here. Cameras started flashing and Wes looked like he wished he could teleport at that very second.

In seconds, the area had become completely filled with hundreds of people making running or hiding pretty much impossible.

"f**k, no one can see you here or you'll be dragged down the mud by his fans. They're f*****g overprotective when it comes to their idol and they won't live this down. They'll come up with some story blaming you for getting him and his shitty brother to fight and I'm not letting that f*****g happen. s**t!" Wes began to curse a storm up, but all I could think about was how soft and pink his lips looked and there was a strong urge building inside of me.

I... kind of... want to... kiss... him...

He stopped talking as his eyes stared into mine intensely. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."

"Huh?" I looked at him confused, not even sure of what I said anymore. I'm completely out of my head right now because of whatever was in my system.

His eyes twinkled as if he just had the best idea and then he leaned closer to me, his lips so close I'd open mine and it would touch.

And then he whispered, "Just go with it."

I didn't have time to say anything else because the next thing I know, warm lips have smashed into mine and for a second my body stiffened up though not for long as I melted into the feeling of kissing him.

Both his hands come up to cup my face as his kisses get deeper and my thoughts are saying this is so wrong, but it feels so right at the same time. Hearing his soft moans against my lips has me blushing like one of Ryder's fangirls and I feel stupid, but at the same time I can't stop myself.

f**k, this feels so good. There's something inside of me that's begun to stir and I can't even begin to explain it, but it seems so familiar, and I remember it was when I kissed Atlas. I didn't feel it for Ryder though that kiss also felt nice, but this is different. It's strong, it's powerful, and it's taking over every inch of my body.

Fuuuuuck I kind of don't want this to end, and-

"For f**k's sake, Wes, seriously?"

The feeling of Wes' lips disappearing from mine was more disappointing than I thought it would be, but that thought evaporated into thin air when I turned to where he was looking and my eyes met certain angry ones.

Or actually, two of them.

Atlas and Devon.

Big f*****g oops.