4. Midnight Mayhem

The remainder of the party passed in a blur, as I mostly kept to myself in a corner. Every now and then, I sensed Jacob's gaze upon me, likely because he was still harboring anger from our earlier encounter. Before I realized it, the moment arrived to head home, and I couldn't help but feel relieved that the day had come to an end. Tyler was hosting a party, and I had received an invitation and since I didn’t have anything else to do I decided to stop by. Turns out, Tyler knew about our not-so-human status because he and Jacob had practically grown up together. Oddly, during our chat, Tyler appeared to be more knowledgeable about werewolves than I did. However, it made sense given that he had grown up among them, surrounded by their world. My situation was unique. My dad had once been mated to Katherine and had Carla, but then he fell in love with my human mom. This was considered taboo at the time, especially since he already had a mate. Consequently, he chose to shield us from the world of werewolves, which is why I felt more connected to my human side. To some, my mom might have been viewed as a mistress, but I truly believed that my dad had a deep and genuine love for her. He went to great lengths to shield us from harm when news of him having a human mate and a half-blood child surfaced. He even defied his own tribe, issuing threats against anyone who dared to harm us. This led people to eventually overlook our existence. At last, I was all set to head to the party. For tonight's party, I chose a pair of high-waisted black leather pants that hugged my curves, giving off a rebellious vibe. On top, I opted for a tight-fitting, ripped, and distressed band t-shirt with a bold graphic that exuded attitude. To complete the outfit, I slipped into a pair of black combat boots with chunky soles, adding an extra dose of fierceness. I adorned myself with a few silver chains and studded accessories, embracing the punk-rock aesthetic. My makeup featured smoky eyeshadow, dark lipstick, and bold eyeliner, accentuating my daring look. With tousled hair and an air of confidence, I was ready to make a bold entrance. Tyler's house had all the hallmarks of a luxurious young bachelor pad, clearly belonging to someone with significant means. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the gleam of polished marble floors and an expansive, open-concept living area. The space was adorned with modern, minimalist furniture that exuded a sense of sophistication. Amid the lavish backdrop of Tyler's upscale bachelor pad, an unexpected and wild party had taken hold. The atmosphere had shifted from sophistication to chaos as werewolves, fueled by their primal instincts, engaged in intense and raucous fights. In one corner of the expansive living room, two towering werewolves grappled with each other, their snarls and roars filling the air. Broken furniture and shattered glass bore witness to their ferocious battle. A group of onlookers had gathered, cheering on the combatants with fervor. The room pulsed with energy as the fights continued, and the adrenaline-fueled participants showed no signs of slowing down. Tables were overturned, and decorative elements lay in disarray as the party had transformed into a scene of intense primal struggle. The juxtaposition of passionate couples and the debauchery of excessive drinking created a chaotic and unpredictable atmosphere. Suddenly, Tyler popped up with a big smile and asked, "Jenny, You came?" His happiness at my arrival was clear. I couldn't help but grin back and quip, "Well, I heard there was a 'mandatory fun' clause in the invite, so here I am!" Tyler chuckled, appreciating the humor. Tyler chuckled and replied, "Ah, you've cracked the code! Mandatory fun it is, then. Come let me introduce you to some friends." “Hey you guys this is jenny, she’s new so be nice,” Tyler says leading me to a group of unfamiliar faces. "Hey there, Jenny! I’m Dave" Dave said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Meet the crew. This is Sheila, our resident werewolf dance champion, and Tim, who's convinced he can beat her one day." Sheila waved with a confident smile, while Tim playfully rolled his eyes. Dave continued, "And here we have Max, our expert in all things obscure and inexplicable, and Susan, the undisputed queen of midnight snacks. Don't leave your fridge unattended around her!" Jenny chuckled at the playful introductions and extended a friendly greeting to each of them. "Nice to meet you all. I see I've stumbled upon the wild and wonderful world of Tyler's friends." Sheila chimed in, "Oh, you have no idea! Tyler's parties are legendary for a reason. Welcome to the chaos!" Sometime through the night, Sheila and Tim, amidst the playful banter, found themselves engaged in a friendly competition of words. It all began with Tim jokingly claiming, "Sheila, you know, they say I have two left feet, but tonight, I'm going to prove them wrong!" "Two left feet, Tim? More like two left paws! Let's see what you've got!" Sheila replied. Suddenly they launched into their dance-off, Tim attempting a comically exaggerated moonwalk, while Sheila does an impromptu moon transformation impression. Look at me, Sheila! I'm the 'Thriller' of the werewolf world!" says Tim. "Oh, Tim, more like the 'Bark-tastic Boogie'!" Sheila says. Right in the middle of all this craziness, someone basically crash-landed into me, and bam! I turned into a human wine fountain, red from head to toe. Talk about wearing the party, right? As I excused myself and made my way toward the bathroom to deal with the wine disaster, I couldn't help but notice a man stand in the corner, his silhouette defined by broad shoulders and a commanding presence. I quickly rushed to the bathroom, vigorously scrubbing the wine off my top. As I worked on the stubborn stain, I sensed the person slowly closing the distance, moving closer toward me. Alright, if this guy inches any closer, I'm going full-on Jackie Chan mode right here. I refuse to meet my end at a wild party courtesy of a tipsy dude. I've got a whole bucket list to tackle, and "Wine-Soaked Party Exit" isn't on it! I've got big plans ahead, and I'll be darned if my epitaph reads, "Died in a wine mishap." There are way cooler ways to go, folks! As I braced myself for action, my heart racing with a mix of determination and absurdity, the guy finally closed the gap between us, to my shock and disbelief, he revealed himself to be none other than Jacob. Before I could react, my fist was halfway to his face, but Jacob, with lightning reflexes, caught my hand just inches from impact. He looked into my eyes, his expression a curious mix of surprise and amusement. Jacob's lips curled into a cheesy smile, and he quipped, "Well, if this is how you greet all your old friends, I've been missing out on some epic reunions." "Well, Jacob," I retorted with a snarky tone, "I figured a good punch in the face was the secret ingredient to making reunions. But my attempt at humor quickly faded when I saw the blood soaking through his shirt. Panic surged as I added, unforgettable." Okay, jokes aside, that's a lot of blood. What on earth happened?"