CHAPTER 148: THE KISSING BOOTH: WHERE IS ALLISON?

Andria’s POV

Today was the D day of the most discussed event in Ashwood, ’the kissing booth’. The stage has been set, and we expect a huge turnout.

"Ari, are you ready?" Mel called out from behind the door.

"I’m ready, just making sure that I’m set to go," I answered her. I packed the ointment the witch had given me because I didn’t know what to expect that night, and I didn’t want the other wolves to see me as some uncontrollable wolf.

I did apply some on me already, but I still have to have it in my bag, regardless. I walked out of the room with my red satin dress and was met with Mel’s shocked face.

"What’s the matter?" I asked, adjusting my dress.

"You literally look like the event on that red, your lip is screaming ’Kiss me’. Gosh, you look gorgeous, Ari," she said, taking my hand and spinning me around.

"I just have to look my best today, thank you, " I said, clicking my teeth.

"If you look so good today, how do you intend to look on the prom night?" she asked, studying me.

"Stunning as well, gorgeously stunning," I drew the words slightly for emphasis. "You look stunning as well in your dress."

Mel was putting on a silver satin dress that accentuated her curves perfectly, making her look almost like a bride.

"Oh, thank you," she replied as a blush appeared on her face.

"Now let’s go, shall we?" I said, taking her hands in mine and moving out of the dormitory door. Mel, among all of them, was the first to have an actual discussion with me about the other day at the cafeteria.

Maybe because I haven’t been around the others often recently, but I have to meet Mel in my dormitory, so it’s hard to ignore.

Mel was the chief organizer of this event because she initiated it, and the student council merely supported it with the school’s funds.

"Ari, it’s been a while," Becca said, rushing to hug me immediately I got to the field. I was reluctant at first, but I finally hugged her.

"What happened, Ari? You just ghosted us two days ago," Michaela added.

I was silent for a while, hesitating to answer. "Liara was my very good friend, our friendship didn’t start as a friendship, as you all know, it began in the classroom after we had that little banter about the actual way to solve that equation and the correct answer to it.

Then, suddenly, we were supposed to be reading partners because she proposed that. But soon we found ourselves enjoying each other’s company.

I know that losing her to a bad mate does not justify my outburst, but I was deeply hurt that day, and what you all were saying wasn’t helping," I said, directing my gaze at Michaela.

"Allison is just a wolf like you who fell under the manipulation of both her ex-false mate and her false friends, too.

She thought she was fighting for them against the one whom she thought was the bad guy. But turns out she misunderstood everything until recently."

There was silence between us for a while before Becca spoke up. "I understand, it’s a hurtful experience losing your mate to another wolf in such a manner and losing your friends at the same time also."

"Where is Allison?" Michaela asked, her brows furrowed in worry.

"She probably is up to the stage with the other council members," I turned to Mel, "This is our cue to join them, the event will soon start."

"Make sure to get as many tickets as you like, so you can kiss as many hot wolves as you like," I said, winking at Michaela and Becca, and walked out with Mel onto the stage.

As soon as every student saw Mel ascend the booth stage, they started lining up at the ticket stand.

Mel took the microphone, crackling it to life, and she said, "Welcome to today’s fundraiser event, the kissing booth."

There was a burst of excitement in the air, some clapping and some cheering. Every student looked so happy to be here.

"I knew this would pull a crowd," Macy whispered against my ear.

"Yes, you said so, Jackson thought so too," I replied to her.

"We have a list of our volunteer kissers and we will be calling them out, one after the other. If you have bought your ticket, you will see your ticket number, which indicates when it’s your turn. If it’s your turn and you don’t want to kiss the volunteer up the stage, you can swap.

If you have kissed before, you can’t kiss again unless you buy more tickets. So, my fellow wolf students, are you ready for this ride?" Mel announced, and the whole field burst out in happy cheers.

I had no idea that Mel was such a good event host; she carried the crowd with so much grace. I wonder how this fundraiser would have gone this smoothly if she had taken her life that night.

"The first on the list of volunteers is the ever radiant Alicia," she called out, managing a chuckle at the end of the speech.

Alicia stepped out in her royal blue dress; she looked stunning. She stood in the booth and was blindfolded.

A muscular 5ft 8 wolf climbed up the stage and kissed her, and the crowd erupted in cheers. It wasn’t much, just a perk on the cheeks like he was scared of having an actual kiss. What a waste of a ticket.

"The next volunteer on the list is..."

Mel kept on calling volunteers after volunteers, and at a point, my eyes started searching for Allison.

My eyes caught sight of Jackson, and he wore an evil grin. My heart suddenly sank.

I whispered into Macy’s ear, "Allison is not here. Do you have an Idea where she could be?"

"Allison never showed any interest in this event, so that she could be anywhere," she replied dismissively.

That’s not normal, Allison had told me that she would come for the event, even just to watch.

"Don’t you think something is strange here?" I asked Macy. "I don’t see Liara, and I also don’t see Macy."

"Maybe you are overthinking. Nothing can go wrong with the two of them. Allison is a strong wolf who would dare to tamper with the Alpha successor’s sister and who would dare tamper with the princess?"

"You have a point, but I still find it strange. I will be right back," I said, walking off the stage and through the crowd.

There was still no sign of Allison. I decided to walk into the school building instead.

"Athena," I called to my wolf, "Help me find Allison with her scent."

My wolf had a keen sense of smell; she never forgets anyone’s scent once she has perceived it. I guess that’s the perks of being a scent wolf, a lunara-blooded wolf.

"Always at your service," Athena replied.

I walked through the empty hallway, and almost all the students were surprisingly in the field. Some were spectating the event, while a significant number were buying tickets.

I suddenly smelled her and followed her scent to one of the laboratories, where the door was shut. How could this be?

I hit the door with Athena and my vampire’s energy fusion, and it broke, allowing me entrance.

"Allison," I called her, still following her scent. I heard muffled sounds under one of the laboratory’s tables.

I looked down, and there was Allison bound in both hands and knees, with a gag to her mouth.

I tried to open the chain, but it didn’t budge; instead, I felt a sting on my hand. No wonder she couldn’t free herself; the chain was locked with a spell that, if she tried to free herself, her hands and knees would be burned.

A few minutes after I had just gotten in, the alpha successors stormed in. "Where is Allison?"

"She is beneath the table. Lift her from the table, but don’t dare to unbind her forcefully, she would lose her hands," I replied, Aven.

"Tell me the truth, Ari, did you do this to my sister?" Aven asked, anger overwhelming his stance.

"Do what?" I asked, a sudden sense of nostalgia hitting me. Could this be a set-up by Jackson, Tricia or Alexa with the intention of splitting me and my mates, or could it be...no, Lia can’t do this.

"This," he growled, his aura overwhelming me; he looked like he would snap me in two in the next few seconds.

"I can’t, I don’t have any grievances against Allison," I replied. "In fact, I have a solution for this. I’ll be right back," I said, dashing out of the room before he could stop me.

I was running to the only woman I knew could help me. It was an impulsive action I was embarking on, but I had to do it.

Aven has every right to think I would harm his sister, after all, she was my arch rival.

I found myself in the sickbay in minutes.