Chapter 186: The Alpha Princess Is High
So later that evening, Guru threw a party. It was more like a feast; his daughter was home after 7 months, and the whole pack seemed to have turned out for the occasion. Everyone gathered around the massive pits where meats were being roasted, the scent of charcoal and savory fat filling the night air. My friends kept filling me in with information, talking over each other to tell me what I had missed while I was away. I tried to listen, but my eyes kept drifting toward my girl. Princess was with Guru. Lately, I had been staring at them, wondering what they were discussing about in such low, serious tones. I tried using my hearing to focus on what they were talking about, but the music was thumping too loud, and the shouting and jubilation from the crowd were distracting. I couldn’t focus on their voices.
"So Faye, tell us, how did you bag that girl?" Ruger said, bumping my shoulder. We all looked at Princess, who now happened to be collecting a cigar from Guru. She took it with a practiced flick of her wrist, looking entirely too comfortable in his presence.
I was holding a non-alcoholic drink, the condensation making my palm cold. I watched Princess drag that cigar, the tip glowing a bright, angry orange in the dark. She exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, her eyes half-lidded and calm.
"Well, we just kinda happened..." I said, then sipped my drink. I didn’t want to go into the details of our mess, from enemies to lovers. They all nodded their heads, understanding what I meant, no need for a long description when the bump in my middle said enough.
As the night became longer, we played games, ate meat, and danced around the bonfire. The heat from the flames felt good against the chilly mountain air. Alex showed off his fire tricks, he drank beer, picked up a wooden stick with flames, and spat the beer onto the fire, creating different shapes from it. Everyone cheered, praising him as the flames roared high into the sky, casting flickering orange light over the trees.
But my mind, and my side eyes, were still on Princess, who now happened to be laughing in an uncontrollable way. Her head was tilted back, and the sound of her laughter was louder and looser than I had ever heard it.
I was about to go meet both of them because I had a bad feeling Guru made Princess smoke one of his high shit. I knew that look on his face; it was the look of a man who had just shared a secret that was way too strong for a newcomer.
"Yo, Faye..." Dave’s voice rang out in the crowd. I turned to see him and Stevie pushing through the bodies toward me.
"Whoa!" Stevie made a silent whoa, looking at my condition with his jaw nearly hitting the grass. Great, they are just seeing me now, and they aren’t even trying to be subtle about where they’re looking.
"So Katie was right... and also not right... congratulation by the way..." Dave said, giving me a nod.
Thank goodness the gang filled them in so I didn’t have to start from the beginning. I still don’t get why Stevie acted surprised, just wanting to confirm for himself.
It turned out they were coming back from Oakland. They had been participating in the underground midnight race which happened last night. They complained about not winning, the Oaklanders seemed to always take first place, leaving the Redwood and other outsiders in the dust. Stevie said he was going to work on the bike, make it faster, his hands moving as if he were already twisting a wrench.
Well, I don’t put my mind into Princess’s business, but I did hear Malo talking about how drugs run the race, not the motorcycles.
After some time, I finally went to meet Princess. I navigated through the dancing bodies and sat down beside her on the bench. Guru was busy talking to one of his men, gesturing wildly toward the woods.
"Hey, you okay..." I said, touching her cheek. Her skin felt unusually warm, and her pupils were blown wide. I rested my head on her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her and that sharp, herbal smoke. I wanted to ask what she and Guru were talking about, but I restrained myself. I didn’t want to be a nosy partner when we were finally having a peaceful moment. I just leaned in to feel her warmth.
Then Princess started to laugh again. It was a giggly, bubbling sound that didn’t sound like an Alpha at all.
"Having fun here, aren’t you?" I said, smiling up at her, but she was still laughing, her eyes darting around the yard as if she were seeing things I couldn’t. Something was wrong. I pulled away to get a proper look at her, my heart sinking a little. "Babe..." I called out, but her expression changed from laughter to a wide, loopy grin.
Immediately, I knew what had happened.
"Guru! What did you give my girlfriend?" I shouted at him, my voice cutting through the nearby chatter. Immediately, those who heard my voice turned to look, even Guru paused his conversation.
"What? Ask her. She is the one who said she could handle it..." Guru said, looking at us with a shrug. In his hand, he held a cigar that smelled like concentrated forest and something bitter.
Guru smokes this special weed that keeps him up at night, for vigilance or during his outside work. It’s very strong, with side effects that can knock a normal wolf sideways. Even Alphas can’t control themselves when they hit that stuff; it hits the brain like a freight train. I know Princess smokes, but it’s just her meds and some lesser weed to keep her calm, not the heavy-duty gear Guru keeps for himself.
"You look pretty, hahaha..." Princess said as she leaned over and stole a kiss from me. Her breath tasted like that smoke. Then she stood up, spreading her arms like some scarecrow in the middle of the yard. "Hey! My girlfriend is pretty!" she announced happily to the entire party.
I just sat where I was, staring at the vulnerable Princess, now high as fuck. I felt the heat rise in my neck.
Do Alphas get high, or is it just this one? She was usually so locked in, playful, but right now she was a total mess.
Princess kept acting childish, spinning in a circle until she almost tripped over a log. I just looked at my girlfriend as she praised me in a silly way, telling anyone who would listen that I was the only best in her life. I couldn’t help but blush at the moment, even though I wanted to hide under the bench. I turned to look at Guru, who raised his brows with a smirk. What, was he expecting praise for what he turned my girlfriend into? He looked proud of himself for breaking her cool exterior.
Princess mingled with everyone, stumbling into the circle and even doing what Alex did earlier. She started juggling fire like some jester, her movements surprisingly fluid despite the fact that she was tripping. She was laughing the whole time, the fire reflecting in her eyes.
I tried my best to get her under control, trying to grab her hand and lead her back to the house, but she was like a loose bird, darting from one group to the next. I just smiled as Princess was being herself, or at least a very uninhibited version of herself. Everything she did, I recorded on my phone. Every stumble, every silly praise, and every fire-juggling act. When she wakes up tomorrow and denies it, I’ll have proof to show her exactly how much of a dork she was.
"So you are the girl who is trying to snatch my fiancée."
A voice rang out, sharp and cold, cutting through the fun. I stiffened, the smile dropping from my face as I looked up. It was Shuga Kane, standing there with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed as she looked at me and then at the high Alpha dancing nearby.
