CHAPTER TWO - ROSALIE

Three hours later, we’re in the bar. I’m more dolled up than I’ve been in a long time and if I’m honest, I’m more than a little on edge. I don’t wear makeup, I don’t do my hair. I deliberately pick clothes so that I don’t stand out. So that I blend. So that I’m anonymous.

And yet tonight, I’m wearing mascara, blusher, eyeliner, you name it. My hair is down, and the ends are curled. Rachel pretty much forced me into one of her dresses. It isn’t even that revealing but thanks to Silas, my body is very noticeable, no matter how much I try to hide it.

“Oh my god, Dee, look at you. Who knew such a babe was hiding under all that uniform?” One of the waiters says and I give him a glare.

“Shove off, Mark.” Rachel says, giving him a look too. We all know he’s a bit of a creep and none of the girls have time for him, though thankfully he gets the hint pretty quick when he’s told.

The whole room is heaving with bodies. Half the staff are in the bar and, by the looks of it, half the hotel guests too. It feels like a party already. Alcohol is flowing. Music is blaring and I can see drunk people dancing and grinding in the corner.

“Right, who’s doing shots?” Tyler asks as he throws his arm around me and Rachel, and I do my best not to flinch away. I don’t like being touched. In fact, I hate it, though thankfully no one here seems to have thought anything was suspicious about it.

“We absolutely are.” Rachel says grinning.

I smile and play along, partly because I don’t have any choice and partly because I want these people to be my friends. It’s been so long since I’ve had real friends and maybe I’m just starting to believe that my life might be becoming good again.

We do a round of tequilas. I screw my face up at the taste and then Rachel demands we do another.

We go and sit down at one of the tables with some of the waiters and Tony comes over to make his announcement. They’re expanding the hotel. We’ve been doing so well of late that they’re going to double its size. I wince, this is great news for my job, but potentially not great news for hiding out.

The more people that come here, the more risk there is.

Though in truth, if I’m hiding in the kitchens and stick to my rooms, I’m not sure I’m in all that much danger. Afterall, how can I be caught, if no one even realises I exist?

“That guy won’t stop staring at you.” Rachel says in my ear. I frown, glancing over somehow knowing instinctively where to look.

Our eyes lock and my stomach drops. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I can feel my heart racing, thumping so loudly against my ribs.

That’s not a man. That’s a Wolf.

“He’s hot.” Rachel says. I can hear from her voice, she’s already feeling the effects of the shots.

“Yeah.” I say, looking away.

I need to be calm. I need to be cool.

It could be nothing. It could just be some coincidence.

Wolves are everywhere for godsake. Statistically speaking, I’m bound to bump into one at some point. Besides, I don’t even look like me anymore. Like the girl that ran. She was literally plastic fantastic, a bleached blonde bimbo, who men couldn’t help but stare at. I’m a strawberry blonde that looks more at home in a library and who, thankfully, most people don’t even notice exists.

I glance over again and he’s still staring. He’s not even blinked.

Fuck. I can feel my hands shaking. My palms are so sweaty, and I try to wipe them on my borrowed dress under the table.

“I’m just going to get some fresh air.” I murmur.

“You okay?” Rachel asks, slurring slightly.

“Yeah, it’s just hot in here.” I say smiling my best fake smile.

I deserve a god damn Oscar for the way I walk out as if nothing is wrong, as if I’m just heading to the ladies and as soon as I’m round the corner, I sprint to my room.

Shutting the door. Locking it.

I don’t want to overreact. I don’t want to panic, but I know in my heart what this is. I’m not an idiot. I trust my instincts. I trust what my head is telling me.

I yank the dress off, pulling on some leggings, a t-shirt and a hoody. I need to be quick. I have very limited time now, before the Wolf realises I’m not just going for a wee. I grab my bag, cramming in the few belongings I need and can fit, and run out the door.

If I’m good, I can hike through the woods, be on the main road in ten minutes, and can hitch a lift. It doesn’t even matter where I go. Just as long as I’m gone from here.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Someone snarls.

I gasp turning round.

It’s not just him. Not just one Wolf now. There’s three of them.

I step back, shaking my head. This can’t be happening. This can’t be.

One of the Wolves moves to grab me and just as he does, I grab the gun at his waist and shoot. I know it won’t kill him. It won’t kill any of them, but it might just hold them back.

He snarls, wincing at where the bullet has penetrated his side. He’s pissed now. Really pissed.

I hold the gun up, pointing it right at them and they snarl.

“Dee?” Rachel says suddenly there, suddenly right in the middle of it. “What’s going on?”

One of the Wolves smirks, grabbing her quickly, before I can even react. She screams struggling in his grip but he’s so big, so powerful, she doesn’t stand a chance.

“Let her go.” I shout. The gun is still raised. Though we can all see how much it’s shaking in my hands.

“Are you gonna play nice?” He growls as I shudder.

“She has nothing to do with this.” I say.

“What’s going on?” Rachel cries.

“Tell her, Rosalie.” The Wolf says squeezing Rachel so tight she winces.

“Who’s Rosalie?” Rachel says. “Why are they calling you that?”

“I’m so sorry.” I say, shaking my head.

“Drop the gun and we’ll let her go.” The Wolf says.

“Please, Dee. Please do as he says.” Rachel begs. “He’s hurting me.”

I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to give in. It feels like some awful repeat of three years ago. Of me sacrificing myself again for someone else’s life. Only this time, I fully understand what I’m getting into. This time I know how much shit I’m in.

“Rosalie.” The Wolf growls.

“Promise you’ll let her go.” I say. He grins, baring his teeth, and releases his grip just a little. Rachel isn’t of interest to them. It’s me they want.

I shut my eyes, tossing the gun and as one of the other Wolves grabs me, I hear a cry and then an awful crack. My eyes snap open as they drag me away and I see Rachel’s body lying in the mud.

She looks lifeless. She looks dead.

“No…” I cry.

The Wolf that did it laughs. “Your actions have consequences. It’s about time you learnt it.” He states.

I snarl, kicking out, crying out, but they’re too strong. Too overpowering. They bind my hands behind my back, bind my feet. They shove some fabric in my mouth and throw me into the trunk as if I am nothing more than a piece of luggage.

As the lead Wolf stands over the open trunk he leans in. “Silas can’t wait to have you back.” He says before slamming the door shut and pitching me into darkness.