The Millennium Wolves novel Chapter 2

Sienna

“Sienna, can you grab the champagne??

I looked across the dining room at Aiden, who was bringing a platter of cheese and crac kers to the table. I almost pinched myself. It felt surreal. We were throwing a dinner party, our first dinner party, as a coupl e. Not a mated couple, of course, but a couple for the season.

The whole mated thing... that would take a little more time to figure out.

I still hadn‘t had the ah– ha moment I was looking for, the one I‘d always assumed would come when I saw my mate. Selene had said that sometimes it takes longer to realize.

Like with Mia and Harry. They were best friends for years before they mated. But I need ed to be sure that Aiden either was my mate or wasn‘t before I decided anything drastic. I was waiting for a sign.

“Sure,” I called back to him, walking into the kitchen and pulling a bottle of champagne from the fridge. As I walked it back into the dining room, the doorbell rang.

“Here we go,” he called out. And then he opened the door.

There were hugs and kisses, exclamations and laughter, and by the time the door shut again, there were four more familiar faces in the room.

“Sienna, honey,” Jocelyn greeted me. “You look beautiful.”

I hugged Josh hello and then kissed Mia and Harry on their cheeks. “Guys, thank you for coming!” I exclaimed to the newly mated pair.

“We wouldn‘t miss it,” Harry said, and I couldn‘t help but feel overjoyed for my friend. Ha rry was such a good guy, and I knew they were really meant to be. Just then Erica grabbed my arm, f orcing me to swivel, and I saw she had located the champagne bottle.

In one swift motion she‘d popped it, hande us each a champagne flute, and poured a healthy dose of bubbly into the glasses.

“Cheers!” she said, and we brought our flutes together. I eyed Mia, and we shared a loo

k. Ever since Erica had been the only one of us to go without a real catch for the season , she‘d been drinking a lot more I didn‘t think it was cause for concern, but I was still hop

ing she‘d find someone. I looked over Harry‘s shoulder and found Aiden talking to Rhys, one of his oldest friends.

“Hey, Aiden, we have champagne over here!” I called out and watched as their little gro up came to merge with ours. Introductions were made, as per my plan. Aiden had menti oned Rhys was single for the Season, so I wanted him and Erica to chat.

“Erica, I think Rhys wants a drink.”

“Do you?” she asked him. He smiled at her, grabbing a flute off the table and then holding it out for her to pour. Good.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Mia. “Where‘s Michelle?” she asked.

“I don‘t know. I thought she was coming with you guys.”

Mia shook her head. “She was supposed to come with Ross. I tried to call her before we left, but she didn‘t answer.”

“Weird. They‘ll probably be fashionably late. You know how they are when they‘re toget her.” together.”

“Can‘t go five seconds without...” We looked at each other and erupted into giggles. So mething about the champagne and having all my friends together, with Aiden, it kind of made me giddy.

Michelle im outside

Sienna

??

Sienna Come in silly Michelle can u come out

Sienna

Mich

Sienna What is goin on

Michelle ES GW

please sienna Michelle i need u to come

I snuck out of the dining room as everyone was taking their seats at the table, closing th e front door gently behind me. “Michelle?”‘ I called out softly, not wanting anyone inside to get worried.

I didn‘t see or hear anything at first. But then, a few seconds later, I saw some moveme nt by the edge of the lawn. Michelle stepped out from the shadow of a tree.

“I‘m here,” she said, and I could

tell she‘d been crying. Immediately my mind went to the worst— to what had happened to Emily and how I had been too late for that, too.

I ran over to her. “Are you okay? What happened?” I asked so quickly the words were in coherent.

“He... he...”

“Shhh, come here. Take a deep breath,” I said, guiding her to the big rock beside the dri veway. We both leaned on it as I rubbed

driveway. We both

leaned on it as I rubbed her back. I watched as Michelle, usually my hyper–

confident, badass, outspoken friend, brought a trembling hand up to wipe the tears from her cheek. “Did he hurt you?”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with pain, but a different type of pain than Emily‘s had been on that day. “He dumped me.”

“What???

“For another girl. He said she‘s... she‘s hotter. And better in... in bed.” I could barely und erstand her through the sniffles, but I knew that was the worst possible thing Michelle could hear. Sh e was used to getting her way, especially with boys, and Ross had been a guy she trust ed.

“I‘m sorry. I‘m so sorry, Mich,” I said, hugging her. She hugged me back. Then she pulle d away

“I don‘t think I can come inside…”

“Stop that. Of course you‘re coming in.”

“I‘m a mess.”

“If you go home, he wins. You need to have a fun night. You deserve that.”

She smiled at me. “I‘ve missed you, Si,” she said. “I‘m sorry we‘ve been...‘ CCTT

“Yeah. Me too,” I said, grabbing her hand. “Can we not fight again? Like, ever?”?