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Chapter Fourteen

Middle Fingers Up

“I still can’t believe you are actually here.” I gasped, shaking my head. Noel was my Uncle, or well, that’s how it was with my family. See, my mom is best friends with his wife Erin and they’re practically sisters. So, seeing as Noel is married to Erin that makes him my Uncle. Sometimes though, I consider myself to be like his son. They haven’t been successful with having children, so any chance I got to make him have a father son moment, I gave it to him.

He deserved it. Especially with the life he had.

“Italy wasn’t on the list of places to go, but as soon as I got to the pack house, that’s all I heard.” I cocked my head to the side and saw Hazel frown.

“I apologize. That was my fault.” She muttered and Noel smiled.

“No no. You are fine! If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s this idiots.” He smacked me upside the head and I hissed. “I come back expecting to see my new Alpha, only to see Ryder still there and you…well…not.”

“I’m sorry Noel. I just…I had to—“

“Get out? Find yourself and mate? Yeah, I know. I heard it all from your mom and that’s why I’m here. Ryder and Scarlet were shitting bricks since they have had no word from the Bounty Hunter,” He paused and looked at Hazel, “I take it your said Bounty Hunter?” She nodded and he hummed before looking back at me.

“They wanted to know why you went from Greece to Italy and seeing as I have never been to either, I offered to go. Of course your Aunt wasn’t too thrilled that I wouldn’t let her come along.” He sighed and I looked at him confused.

“Why didn’t you let her come?” I asked and he looked at me before smirking, then it clicked. “Holy shit. She’s pregnant?” I gasped and he smiled brightly.

“Six months in. Looks like the trip around America was just what we needed.” This was unbelievable. Six years of trying to have a kid, and it never worked. I remember having to go get ice cream for the nights my Aunt Erin came home from the hospital in tears. Her and my mom would just eat and talk while dad took Noel out. The first miscarriage hit us all pretty hard, but after the fourth, everyone was just depressed.

And now they were having a baby finally.

Now we just had to kill Victor tomorrow night and everything will be perfect.

“So, anyone gonna tell me why you all are in Italy?” Noel finally said and we all froze. Was it a good idea to tell him? I mean, he was someone I truated a lot, but I had a feeling he would try and stop us from doing what we needed to. I looked at Nate and he shrugged his shoulders, telling me that it was all or nothing. I took a deep breath and looked at my Uncle.

“We are on a mission. To kill the leader of the shape shifters.”

“Victor Salvatore? Awesome! I wanna come with.” Everyone’s jaws dropped at his reaction. Was this even the real Noel? Shouldn’t he be yelling at us and dragging everyone out by their ears?

“What? That dude is a Grade A- douche.” He all looked at him with wide eyes. “No seriously, he’s an ass.” He said, his tone serious. I wasn’t shocked that he knew about Victor. Anything my mom was told by my dad, she would tell to Noel, and the same went for him. Its why I couldn’t confide in Noel ninety-nine percent of the time. I would trust him with the most secretive thing, and he would go tell my mom.

Yet I still trusted him with my life. I know he only would tell because he was looking out for me, but it’s just annoying. I’m pretty sure everyone has that one person they go to and tell secrets and they go off and tell the world, but you still tell them your secrets.

Say hello to Noel, that person for me.

“Okay then. Now that he’s in with us, what should we have him do?” Hazel asked and a light-bulb went off in my head.

“Noel will be my date and Lysander can stay here.” I concluded and Nate gave me a droll stare. “You really think Lysander is going to stay in his hotel room while you go and risk your life? He just became a were for you, give him some credit.” I pursed my lips together and looked down at the ground. Nate was right. Lysander definitely wouldn’t stay here, but I had no clue what he could do.

“He could stay with me.” We all looked at the source of the voice, Essie. She was staring at us, her face still blank. “I’m going to be waiting with the getaway car. It’ll be good if there was someone else with me in case there’s trouble.”

Ha! Problem solved. “Alright then, sounds like a plan. Any objections?” I asked and looked around and saw no one say anything, so I turned back to Noel. “Here’s what’s happening. I’m going to be disguised as a girl, because both of the girls here have been seen by Victor. You will be my date, Nate and Hazel will be recon and Essie and Lysander will be our escape.” I paused and waited for him to show a sign of not understanding, but when he just looked at me with wide expecting eyes, I presumed.

“I will seduce Victor and get him alone, then Nate and Hazel will go in for the kill and we leave. Which by the way, where exactly do I get Victor alone?” I asked, looking more at Essie than anyone. She lived in the house, she should know someplace. We waited as she thought and then her eyes lit up.

“There’s a room that has a tree right by the window. It has a diamond doorknob. It’s on the second floor, to the right and I think just a couple of doors down. It’s the only one with a different doorknob. Get him in there, and Hazel and Nate will be waiting in the tree.” She looked at them and they both nodded in agreement. “But you,” she looked straight at me, “You need to leave right when they come in.  Victor’s henchmen are always one step behind him and if you waste any time, they will know you were the one who killed him and you won’t get out alive. Especially not in a party filled with powerful shifters and vampires.” We all sucked in our breath at that one.

We were werewolves, and we could be pretty dang strong, but if we were taken on by a house full of shifters and vampires, lord help us.

“Okay, so use my sexy skills to seduce him into diamond doorknob room then leave right when reinforcement comes to kick ass. No problem.” I said confidently. I had to be confident in this mission. Any other person would snub Essie off and let her fend for herself, but I couldn’t do that. She deserved a happy life and with Victor still in the picture, she would never get that. So it was time to cut him out.

Forever.

I left the room along with Noel, saying our goodbyes at the elevator. “So Lysander? The mate I have yet to meet.” Noel sighed as we waited for the elevator. I looked at him with a blank stare and he chuckled and ruffled my hair.

“I’ll meet him tomorrow, so you better prepare him for some serious questioning.” I rolled my eyes as the elevator door opened. He climbed in and waved goodbye, and once the doors closed I headed back to my room. I walked in and gasped as I saw Lysander butt naked, pulling out clothes from him suitcase. He turned around, eyes wide before smirking as he saw it was just me. I kicked the door closed and glared at him.

“Put some clothes on.” I snapped and he chuckled.

“It’s like nine at night, I’m going to bed. In the nude. With you.” He stated, putting the clothes he had picked up on the chair in the corner of the room. I rolled my eyes and kicked my shoes off, followed by my shirt.

“I don’t want to do it tonight. You’re still getting used to this werewolf thing, and I really don’t want you to go crazy and tear my shoulder off in the heat of the moment.” I said nonchalant as I walked over to the bed and sat down. I pulled my pants off and sighed, putting my hands in my lap. I felt the bed dip behind me and arms wrap around my waist.

“Well, what if I told you I just wanted to sleep with you. Next to me, spooning all night long.” I chuckled as he kissed my neck.

“That would be lovely, but one suggestion.” He hummed in response and I turned to face him. “Put on some underwear.” He looked baffled at my request and I sighed. “If I feel your little solider on any part of my body, I guarantee I will lose my control.” I told him simply and he snorted before climbing off the bed and grabbing the boxers he set with his clothes.

I pulled back the blankets and climbed under, holding them back and patting the bed as he walked over. He stopped and I froze. I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes and yelped as he growled and dove under the blankets. He started planting little kisses all over my face, neck and collarbone.

“Lys—Lysander sto—stop!” I laughed and he did, but leaned up and placed a kiss on my nose. We smiled at each other for a while, before he lay down on his back and I cuddled up to his side, placing my head on his chest. I started to drift off before I remembered I had to tell him about tomorrow. “Hey Lysander?” I whispered, hoping he wasn’t asleep.

“Yes love?” I tried to ignore the way my heart flipped when he said love and cleared my throat.

“You know how we’re going to be killing Victor tomorrow night right?” He hummed in response again and I looked up at him. “Well, I’m going to dressing up as a girl to seduce Victor and then Hazel and Nate will swoop in for the kill and then we’ll go to the escape van where you and Essie will be and leave. Also, we are going shopping tomorrow, me for a dress and other stuff and you get to go with Nate and Noel to get him a tuxedo. Oh and Noel is my Uncle who just popped up so prepare for some major questioning.” I gasped for breath when I finished and I felt Lysander’s chest vibrating.

“I’m sorry, but I have never seen you so flustered to tell me something.” He laughed and I smacked his chest. “Okay, so let me get this straight. I will be with Essie waiting for you as you seduce Victor dressed as a woman and lure him in for the kill and I’m guessing your Uncle is your date since he’s going tuxedo shopping? That’s seems legit. Questa è una buona idea.” I blinked up at him and smiled. He was so amazing. I was expecting him to freak out or something, but I’m pretty sure he just said the idea was awesome.

“You’re really fine with this?” I questioned. I wanted to double check, just to make sure he wasn’t being sarcastic or something.

“Yes, I am perfectly okay with it.” He reassured me, and I hummed as he started to run his fingers through my hair. That was all I needed to lure me to sleep. I just hoped everything went according to plan.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

“Nikolai I swear to god if you don’t come out here in that dress I will slaughter you.” Hazel snapped from outside the dressing room and I paled. I glanced at myself for the sixth time in the floor-length mirror provided and sighed.

I really looked like a chick.

Before we came to the store, Hazel had disappeared for about an hour. We were all set on leaving her when she arrived back at the hotel with bags in her hand. I was afraid to ask what was in them, given she stared me down with a vicious look, but alas, I found out anyway.

I was now wearing padding that made it look like I had wide hips and huge boobs. How she got them to actually look real baffled me, but I seriously looked like a women with wide hips, big breathes and a skinny waist.

“Every man’s dream woman.” Hazel had said when she showed them to me. I smoothed down the sides of the dress. It was long, ending in a puddle around my feet. The whole thing was flaming red lace, made to look like flowers, but as it traveled up, the lace spread out to a skin color mesh that continued down my arms where you could see the mating mark through the fabric. It was form fitting and hugged every fake curve I had. I gave myself a nod of approval before opening grabbing the door handle, taking a deep breath and opening it.

“Shit.” I heard someone gasp and my eyes met with Lysander’s, who was staring at me with his eyebrows raised and a hand over his mouth. I looked at Hazel who pursed her lips and walked around me, survey the dress before sighing.

“No, this one doesn’t’ work. The red clashes with your skin and the long sleeves will rub the makeup off on your mark.” She groaned and tugged at her hair. “This is the sixth dress we’ve tried on.”

“You mean I tried on.” I corrected her and she flipped me the bird. I rolled my eyes and looked at the other men, only to find them all standing up.

“Well, looks like you all are going to take a while, so we’ll head over to the tuxedo shop and we can all meet back at the hotel.” Noel informed everyone, before the left. Lysander pulled me in for a quick kiss, but it ended up being long and passionate. Someone cleared their throat and he let go of my lips, smiling and kissing my nose before leaving with everyone.  I watched him leave, a smile still on my face and then looked back at the girls.

Hazel was now in front of me with a yellow dress in her arms. “Try.” She demanded and I groaned, snatching it up and marching to the dressing room. I quickly took off the red dress, throwing it over the door and hearing Hazel curse. I chuckled as I put the yellow dress on, shifting it around so it fit comfortably around my boobs and hips.

Hah, that was funny to say.

I zipped myself up and then looked in the mirror, my eyes wide. The dress was strapless, not a problem because the padding was formed like a strapless bra. The top half was snug and made up of glittery sequin type material, before it added out to the lower half that was just flowing and soft material. It was gorgeous, not to mention the fact that the color extenuated my hair and eyes.

“You done?” Hazel called out and I opened the door, smiling when I heard her gasp.

“I know right?” I chuckled and she walked over to me, her mouth still open. She motioned for me to turn and I did and couldn’t help the smile that fell on my face. God, I felt like such a girl right now.

“This is perfect. There’re no questions about it, we’re getting this. Take it off so I can pay for it.” She ordered and I hurried back inside, stripping the dress off along with the padding and putting back on my skinny jeans and hoodie. I stuffed the padding back in its bags and walked back out and handed the dress to Hazel, who rushed to the checkout with it.

“You make a beautiful woman.” I turned to see Essie smile at me and I gasped.

Essie smiled.

The stone cold woman actually showed an emotion. Holy shit, this was a brand new day now.

“I’m not some emotionless rock. It just takes a lot to make me actually show any emotion.” She chuckled and I snorted. She could’ve fooled me, but I felt my heart warm up when I realized that I had made her smile.

Score for Nikolai bitches.

Hazel returned with the paid dress and a smile on her face. “Now we just have to get you some new hair, some shoes and accessories.” I groaned as she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of the store and towards others.

When I got back to the hotel room, it was one in the afternoon and I was exhausted. Lysander and the other guys hadn’t gotten back yet and I thought about waiting up for Lysander, but decided not to. I threw the shopping bags in the chair and flopped on the mattress. The ball didn’t start till nine, so I could take a quick power nap and be up and ready to go. I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until I was been shaken awake.

“Kolya, are you alive?” Lysander chuckled and I threw my hands up to smack him away. I jerked up and groaned as I looked at the clock. 6:53. Fuck me over a cliff and call me a donkey, I was so fucking tired.

“Yeah, I’m up.” I yawned and got up from the bed, dragging my feet over to the bathroom. I splashed some water on my face and quickly brushed my teeth. I saw Lysander surf through the channels on the television as I grabbed my shopping bags.

“I’ll send the guys over and then we’ll call you when we’re ready.” I told him, my voice sounding like I smoked five packs of cigarettes a day. Sometimes I wished I sounded like Lysander in the morning. He had that stereotypical sexy morning voice that just made you want to cream your pants.

“Sounds good.” He said and I turned to walk to the door, but was pulled back and had a pair of lips on mine. I sighed into the kiss before he pulled away and smiled down at me.

“Sorry, I just can’t go a day without kissing you a million times.” I smiled at him and pecked his lips before leaving and going to the other room. I opened the door and walked to the bed, dumping my stuff down.

“All the guys need to get your asses out right now while I get beautified!”  I yelled as I took my shoes off, watching as Noel appeared and smiled at me, Nate right behind him. As they walked out the door, Nate gave me the bird and I grabbed my shoe and threw it at the door.

“You finally arrived.” Hazel said as she walked in with her arms full. I sighed and plopped down in an empty chair. The two hours it took for Hazel to work her magic was worth it, because as I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see Nikolai, the man. I saw Nichole, the sexy and dignified woman. My hair was the same color only longer, falling to my chest in soft vintage curls with one side tucked in behind my ear. My makeup was done to draw away from my manly features. My eyes were in a dark smoky look, with long fake lashes, my eyebrows drawn to the perfect arch and fullness, my already defined cheekbones were highlighted and deepened and a dark red lipstick filled in my lips. Hazel had also done a fantastic job on covering my arm, because it looked like nothing ever existed there.

Essie had picked out my jewelry, giving me a simple diamond necklace with a thin silver chain; I had on a couple of bangles, matching the necklace. We had picked up a thin yellow belt, that was now tied around my waist and I had on a pair of silver high heels. This all had actually only taken about an hour to do, and the other hour was spent learning to walk in the heels properly. Which I skilled beautifully, in case you were wondering.

“The boys are dressed and on their way over.” Hazel informed me. I looked at her from the mirror. She had changed into her hunter uniform clad with form fitting jeans, a long sleeved black turtleneck with a black vest over it. Her hair was tied into a tight ponytail and she had on fingerless gloves. Dressed like a true Bounty Hunter.

I walked out of the bathroom just as the door opened and I looked over at all men frozen in place, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Who and what have you done to Nikolai?” Nate gasped and closed the door behind him. Hazel giggled like a little school girl and clapped her hands together.

“Everyone, meet Nichole.” She said and I waved at them. Nate snorted and shook his head.

“Damn Kolya, you clean up good.” He said and I narrowed my eyes, balling up my fist and punching him hard in the arm. He hissed and grabbed it, rubbing the spot. “But still as much of a man as ever.” He said through clenched teeth and Noel and Lysander chuckled at that. Essie walked out in her favorite oversized sweater and looked at everyone.

“We have to go. It’ll take about an hour to get there from here.” She informed us and we all headed out. I grabbed the black clutch from Hazel’s hand and tucked in our invitation. Noel and I hurried out to our limo and everyone one else went to the van we rented. I paused as I saw Lysander walk up to me and he smiled.

“I’d kiss you, but I don’t want to run your lipstick.” He said and then kissed me on the cheek. “Be safe. And if he tries to cop a feel, punch him in the dick.” He said with a serious tone and I chuckled, patting his cheek.

“Okay, I will make sure to do that.” I told him and he smiled.

“Ti amo così tanto.” He whispered and I felt my face heat up.

“Anch’io ti amo?” It came out as a question only because I had searched it on Google the night a couple nights ago and I had a strong feeling I said it wrong, but Lysander’s smile just grew wider and he kissed my nose. “You are perfect.” He said and then quickly hurried off to join the others. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as I climbed into the limo and Noel gave the driver the address.

Tonight, I was going to kill Victor and then start my happy life with Lysander.

Translations:

"Questa è una buona idea.”- That's a good idea.

“Ti amo così tanto.”-I love you so much.

“Anch’io ti amo?”-I love you more.

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