CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85 SING A SONG FOR YOU

Caroline’s POV

The karaoke bar was totally packed when we got there.

Jax told the guy at the door our names, and he took us to a table close to the stage.

A waiter came over right away.We ordered some drinks. There was this couple on stage, singing "Someone Like You" really badly, but everyone was singing along and cheering them on.

The place was buzzing. Everyone was laughing, singing, dancing, clapping, and whistling. It felt like the best party ever. It was a cozy place, with the lights turned down low, making everything look kind of gold, and the band that played with the singers was really good.

We had barely sat down when Ruby signed up to sing and started bugging everyone else to do the same.

When she asked me, I said I needed a minute to think about it.

"Nope, Caroline, no way out. You’re singing tonight!" she said.

"Okay, Ruby, but give me a minute to pick a song," I answered, taking another drink.

The night was going great. Everyone was having a lot of fun, and Jax was really sweet and flirty. All the girls had already sung, and so had the guys. Jax said he was waiting for me before he’d go up. Ruby was a surprise. She was awesome, with a great voice and totally confident on stage.

I was having a blast until I heard someone start singing. Suddenly all the women were shouting "hot," "boyfriend material," and "come sing at my house!"

The voice was amazing. It was smooth, a little rough, and perfectly on key.

It was singing,"No quiero separarme de ti / Ni siquiera un momento / No quiero perder el tiempo / Tu sabes que te quiero a morir / Que no soy de aspavientos / Y que me gusta lento"

I looked toward the stage, and there was Draven. He had this powerful way about him that made everyone look at him. What were the chances he’d be here? Did he see us?

I got my answer when he came off the stage in the middle of the song. His bright purple eyes locked on mine. He walked straight to our table,grabbed me around the waist, and started dancing with me while he kept singing.

Everyone around us cheered and yelled things like "lucky girl," "perfect couple," and "that’s a real alpha move!"

Draven led me in the dance, moving with a strong confidence that didn’t give me a chance to say no. His big hands were warm and secure on my back. I was stuck in his arms, totally lost in the moment. For a second, my mind went blank. The only thing that mattered was being held by my alpha. I put my arms around his neck as we swayed back and forth.

My heart was beating fast, and I was breathing hard. His voice was so smooth and wonderful.

"Mine," Rory whispered to me, and I agreed.

I closed my eyes, letting myself dream about a future with him. When the song ended, I thought the magic would be over, but Draven held me even tighter. He put his face close to my neck, "Let’s get out of here. Come with me, Carrie."

His voice made me shiver. For a second, I almost gave in, ready to go anywhere with him. But then I remembered Jax and our friends. I couldn’t just leave them. Jax didn’t deserve that.

I pulled away from Draven as hard as I could and said, "No! I can’t just leave."

I went back to the table, my heart still pounding. I barely noticed that Draven was right behind me. When I got to our seats, I was shocked to see Ryan, Luke, Nate, and Joesph.

What were the odds? What were the chances we’d run into each other at the same place in a big city like this? I never would have thought they liked karaoke.

Jax stood up and held out the chair for me to sit.

"Draven. Were you following us?" Jax asked, sounding amused, but I could tell he was getting ready to fight.

"Get over yourself, Jax. You’re not worth my time. But you’re trying to take what’s mine," Draven used his Alpha voice. The room seemed to shrink around it.

"I wouldn’t bet on that," Jax replied.

"And can you ladies tell us why you’re hanging out with these guys?" Joesph asked, crossing his arms and staring at Ava.

"Honey, I don’t owe you any explanations!" Ava said with a flirty smile.

"But you’ve got some explaining to do, Kyle." Luke said to Kyle in a serious tone.

"Sweetie, I went out with friends to have fun. I told you that," Kyle answered, giving Luke a playful smile.

"No, no, you said you were having dinner with your girls.Then I find you at a bar, laughing it up with Jax and his little group," Luke wasn’t happy, and he didn’t try to hide it.

"Well, Eleanor, you’re in the same boat as Kyle.Want to explain?" Nate saw his chance and jumped in.

"Oh Nate, stop right there. I went out with friends to have fun. There’s nothing wrong with that," Eleanor shut him down right away. "But I want to know how you guys ended up here. Start talking, because I know none of you like karaoke."

When Eleanor asked for answers, Nate looked deflated and started to stutter, but couldn’t say anything.

We looked at Joesph, who stayed quiet, and Ryan was scratching his head, like he was trying to come up with an excuse.

"Luke, can you explain this? How did you guys find us? Don’t tell me it was a coincidence. Come on, tell us!" Kyle demanded from her mate.

"Ah, Kyle, you’re my girl. You don’t think you can just go out without me knowing where you are, right?!" Luke answered, trying not to say how they found us.

Kyle narrowed her eyes at him.

"Not going to talk?" Ruby asked, staring at Ryan. "Okay then girls, how about we go somewhere else? Maybe Wesley’s place?"

"That sounds great, Ruby! We can hang out there," Wesley said, kissing Ruby’s hand.

"Oh come on, Ruby, stop it. It was Luke’s fault. He tracked Kyle’s phone!" Ryan confessed quickly. He was like a desperate puppy following Ruby around, willing to do anything she wanted.

"Damn it, Ryan, you have a big mouth!" Luke said, annoyed.

"You tracked my phone, Luke? Seriously? Again? After you promised you wouldn’t?" Kyle was furious.

"Kyle, it was an emergency. I’m not usually jealous, but you guys were giving those guys too much attention. I’m just protective. And Alpha Draven was losing it over Caroline, I felt bad for him," Luke tried to explain.

"Oh, really? And I was the only one freaking out? We were all going crazy," Draven said, crouching down next to my chair. His purple eyes looked right at me, intense and begging. "Carrie, just the thought of you not coming back drives me nuts. Please, we have to talk."

"You’re out of line, Draven. You mess with us and then follow us everywhere? I don’t like it! We have the right to go out, have fun, and have friends," I snapped.

"Okay, here’s what we’ll do. We’ve already had a nice dinner with these beautiful women, and we’re having fun here. Why don’t you join us and have some fun too? I think you need it. We’re all adults, people who know how to act, right?" Dominic suggested, like there wasn’t a wolf fight about to start. "Ladies, do you agree?"

"Well, I guess we can put up with these guys for a little while," Eleanor said for all of us. "But Nate, you’re going to have to apologize a lot."

"And you too, Luke. You’re sleeping on the couch for a few days," Kyle said, making everyone laugh and making the mood a little better.

Draven and his friends sat down. The rest of the night was okay. The guys teased each other while we gave more attention to Jax and his friends, which made the others even more annoyed.

The girls and I ended up going on stage and singing "Dangerous Woman," teasing all those men who went to the front.

By the end of the night, we’d all had a good time, and were tired, happy, and a little drunk. When we finally decided to leave, the guys were even being nice to each other. Before things could get ruined, Eleanor said quickly, "Gentlemen, you made our night great! Thanks! But we have to go, girls. I already called our cab."

"No way, you’re coming home with us!" Nate said right away.

"Not going to happen. They came out with us, so we’re taking them home," Paul argued.

"All of you, quiet!" Eleanor said loudly and firmly. She was a natural leader!

"The night was really fun. But my friends and I are going home in a taxi. We’re independent she-wolves. And neither a boyfriend nor a mate," she said, looking at Nate and Luke, "will take away our freedom to go where we want. And you girls are all sleeping over at my and Carrie’s place."

"Wow, you’re even hotter when you’re in charge, you know that?" Dominic said, flirting with Eleanor, and we all started laughing.

Our taxi came. We said goodbye to the guys and went home, laughing at the surprised looks on the faces of those ten handsome men who couldn’t believe they were being turned down by a group of women they thought they owned.

We all went back to our apartment to talk about the night and think about how to get back at those alphas and betas for tracking us. It would be a girls’ night sleepover, like Ruby said.

Later that night, as I got into bed, with Eleanor and the girls talking in the living room, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Draven had looked at me, how his arms had felt around me, and how well our bodies had fit together when we danced. I couldn’t deny my connection with him, but there were so many problems between us.

"You really liked him," Rory whispered in my head. "It doesn’t matter what happens with Ella or anyone else."

I sighed, putting my face in my pillow. Rory was right, but that didn’t make it any easier.