*****Erika''s POV*****


    I downed the alcohol, drinking it like a camel.


    I wanted more, more of this stuff that would help me sleep.


    I wanted to forget and it would help me forget too.


    "Go easy on the drink, Rika" Pa tried to pry the ss off my fingers but I just tightened my grip instead.


    "Why? Why should I?" My words were beginning to get slurred, a sign I was on my way to being overwhelmed by this drink. And I had no regrets.


    "Because we don''t need you puking all over this floor and messing up the bed" Kat added.


    "Have I ever done that?" I grabbed the bottle and poured myself another ss.


    "Maybe she needs it, Pa. She does look like she needs it" Kat said, studying me as I threw my head back a little to gulp half of the drink I had poured for myself.


    "And us. She needs us more importantly." Pa supported, putting in her own quota.


    "Yes, I do need you girls and I am d you both came" I attempted to hug my two best friends, it was loose and awkward, but I didn''t care.


    "I think you''ve had enough" Kat tried to take the ss but I refused letting go. "How is your grip still strong even after you''re intoxicated?"


    I giggled. "Because I am stronger"


    "When was thest time we''ve been this drunk?" I asked them.


    "It''s been awhile." Kat agreed, already understanding what I meant.


    "I see your point now" Pa too agreed.


    "You need to be careful with the drink, Pa" Kat adviced.


    "Why?" She asked, gulping the remaining content in the ss.


    "You''ll be going back home. We can''t risk you driving home drunk"


    "I''m not going home, not today at least" She said.


    "You''re staying?" Kat looked at me to confirm what Pa had said. I nodded my confirmation.


    "Yes, I am"Pa responded.


    "For how long?" Kat probed further.


    "Until she feels better" She gestured towards me using her wine ss. "And you? Are you leaving today?"


    "Nope, I had no ns to. I only didn''t bring clothes because I have Rika''s wardrobe to raid" Kat confidently said.


    "I brought some clothes" Pa pointed towards her bag that was at the bedside table, where she had left it.


    My heart filled with gratitude at the sacrifices my friends were making to be here with me.


    They had left their daily activities and personal lives toe take care of me and to be by my side.


    They hade to be the shoulder I needed to lean on, and the hands to hold me forfort.


    They could have called me on the phone andforted me from their respective homes. But they had decided otherwise and that was leaving thefort of their homes to be here with me.


    I was very much grateful for them, I didn''t take their friendship for granted.


    I had another good childhood friend growing up aside Kat and Kat knew him.


    He was the Alpha of the second most prestigious pack - Thunderpaw.


    His own pack located on the West side of the country and we were closer to each other than the others. Losing his father early, responsibility set in and we could no longer make out time to meet up and y as we used to.


    He ascended at the early age of fifteen and from what I heard, he was doing a great job of ruling his pack and keeping the order. Maybe I would pay him a visit since I was back finally and for good. Also, it epi pay to have an alliance with him. Two of the biggest and strongest packsing together to withstand any obstacle.


    That just gave me an idea. A wicked one. "Guys, when I be the Alpha, I''d


    meet with the Alpha of Thunderpaw."


    "It''s been awhile. He used to be our


    childhood best friend until his father died and he had to take over"


    Obviously it was Kat that had spoken because she had been my friend from the scratch, together with our Alpha best friend.


    "He used to have a crush on you, I remember that clearly too" Kat teased.


    I giggled, clearly intoxicated by the drink. "Forget it Kat. We were just children


    then, I bet he might have found his mate by now"


    "And I also remember you telling me you thought he was cute"


    I groaned. "Remind me never to tell you anything anymore"


    "No matter how many times I reminded you, you would still tell me"


    "If I may ask, who is this person you are both talking about?" Pa inquired,


    looking from me to Kat.


    "He''s our childhood friend" Kat was the one to reply her.


    "Where is he now?" Pa asked.


    "He''s the Alpha of Thunderpaw pack" I replied.


    "Oh you mean, the Alpha of the second biggest pack?" Pa sounded a bit surprised. Though I wondered why.


    Kat and I nodded in confirmation.


    "That must be so nice, being able to have a friend you grew up with and know that whenever you go back to them, they will always be there to ept you without the judgmental look"


    "You didn''t have any friend while growing up?" Kat asked, I could detect the surpriseced in the question.


    And if I said anything, my voice would carry the same surprise. She never told me about this part of her life.


    "No. My parents, especially my dad


    stopped me. Said if I was to ever


    end up with someone from a respectable home like ours, I should not mingle with those from the low rank. You girls are like my first real friends!" She smiled at us both.


    I ced a hand over hers. "We''re going to be friends forever"


    "You both have got no choice" She pointed at us both.


    The door opened to reveal the maidsing in to pick up our trays.


    "Thank you!" The three of us chorused.


    The maids nodded and left the room. Soon, my phone rang, I reached for it and


    saw the caller ID, my heart began to beat loudly.


    Alex was the caller.