Page 40 of Traveler (Soulbound #1)
Aly
The excitement hum s in the air as I stand in front of my closet, rifling through clothes to find an outfit. Tonight is the night Viv has been talking about all week—a big group outing to the club and get this everyone is coming even Barrett was able to pull himself away from work tonight. The thought of spending the night dancing with my mates makes my heart race.
“Are You ready yet, or are You still in decision-making mode?” Viv calls from the bathroom, her voice slightly muffled.
“I’m getting there!” I respond, holding up two tops: a sparkly silver tank and a vibrant red off-the-shoulder number. “What do You think?”
“Definitely go with the red!” Xander interjects, poking his head out of the bathroom where he’s busy doing his makeup. His eyeliner is halfway done, and he’s looking fierce. “You’ll look amazing in it!”
“Alright, red it is!” I change quickly, slipping the top over my head and pairing it with my new black skinny jeans. Just then, Viv steps out of the bathroom, having tamed her blue hair into loose, voluminous waves.
“Red is definitely Your color” she says, her eyes sparkling. “Xander don't use the last of my eyeliner. I'm down to a nub left!”
“I'm not! I'm just adding a little more.” he replies, grinning as he finishes applying the last touches of eyeliner.
“I think we all better step our game up tonight,” I laugh, looking in the mirror. “What’s next? Glitter?”
“I am not. Wearing glitter” Viv grumbles.
“It’s a club night! We have to shine! I’ve got some shimmering body spray if You want it.” Xander cackles ambushing Viv with the spray before turning to me.
“Oh You are so lucky Kale would torture me slowly if I hurt You. Otherwise, I'd punch You.” Viv says sweetly before leaving to the bathroom
“She is terrifying.” Xander says, shivering. “So, want some?” he asks, shaking the bottle.
“Yes, please!” I spin in a circle as Xander sprays me down.
“Now you’re ready to dazzle!” he says proudly and a wink.
“Almost ready! Just need my jewelry,” I remark, glancing at my jewelry box. “Do You think I should wear hoop earrings?”
“And upstage the rest of us? yeah.” Xander chimes in, mirroring Viv’s approval.
As I pop the hoops in, I can see Xander preparing to put on a necklace. “Hang on, can You help me with this?” he asks, holding up a chain that looks a bit tangled.
“Sure!” I step over and help him in untangling the thin chain. “Gods what did You do to this thing?”
“Oh, you know. Probably got fucked thoroughly in it. That'll do it.” he replies with a wink.
“Ugh, gross.” Viv gags
Viv finishes her hair, with a swift motion, I slip on my black heels and do a quick twirl to show off the full look. “How do we feel about this? I look a mess, don't I?”
“Gods, you look fine!” Viv says, shaking her head.
Xander strikes a dramatic pose. “Can we just take a moment to appreciate how fabulous Il look tonight?”
We all laugh and hype him up before Viv pulls out her tablet, and we gather for a quick selfie, grinning widely.
“Okay, final touches! Let’s grab our bags,” I say as we gather our things.
“Are we all set?” Viv asks as she grabs her glittering clutch.
“No body glitter but You'll use a glitter clutch?”
“Body glitter is annoying and stays on me worse than my ex-boyfriend. And this-” she says, shaking the bag. “Is a fashion statement.”
“Ready as ever!” Xander responds, adjusting his outfit once more. “Just don’t leave me behind—I can’t miss out on the dance floor!”
“Trust me, you’ll be the star of the show,” I assure him as we head out toward the door.
As I make my way down the stairs, the anticipation builds inside me. I can hear the chatter of my friends mixed with bursts of laughter coming from the living room below. The guys already knew Xander’s boyfriend Kale, so they’ve been hanging out since we started getting ready. Kind of bullshit it only takes them 10 minutes to get dressed.
I take a deep breath, smoothing down my top before I reach the final step. The warm glow of the living room lights spills into the stairwell, and I pause for a brief moment at the bottom, gathering my confidence.
The laughter fades slightly as the group’s attention shifts toward me, their gazes instantly locking in.
“Whoa,” Jared is the first to speak up, his eyes wide with genuine surprise. “You look incredible!”
“Right?!” Viv cheers from behind me, practically bouncing with excitement.
Barrett’s expression is one of pure admiration, a playful grin creeping across his face. “You look stunning, little mate.”
I glance around the room, catching everyone’s approving smiles—their eyes lit up with excitement. Vin leans against the wall, a sparkle of approval in his gaze. “You look beautiful, Alyssa.”
“Jesus Christ.” Alex chips in, “Barrett You're on murder duty. I have my good shoes on, and I can’t ruin them.” he sticks his leg out showing off the shoes.
Elliot smacks Alex on the back of the head “we are the luckiest guys in stonebrooke”
Kale, standing beside Xander, chuckles and nods. “No kidding! Someone’s going to need to keep the droves of fans away.”
I can’t help but laugh, feeling the warmth of their compliments wash over me. “Thanks, everyone! I was a bit nervous about it, but I just wanted to feel great tonight.”
“Stay close to one of us, little one.” Saul grumbles, his hands on his hips. “The last thing I need is to bail someone out of prison.”
“Oh, don't worry professor, I plan on dancing with each of You tonight.” I purr. Dragging my hand across his chest as I walk by
“Shit baby, you can't do that here. Or we will never leave.” Barrett says, rubbing his forehead.
“Sorry big guy, we would leave anyway. I need this.” I say as I take my leather jacket from Carion.
We all pile into various cars and head to town. We stop at a gas station for a moment to grab some snacks because someone. I won’t say who. Wink wink nudge nudge, Xander. outed me for not eating anything today.
As we arrive at the club, the pulsating beat of the music greets us before we even step inside. The entrance is flanked by large, vibrant neon lights that shimmer in a kaleidoscope of colors, casting reflections on the pavement. A line of people stretches out, but with our group in tow, we glide past the crowd and head straight inside. Perks of Bennett.
The moment we cross the doorway; I’m enveloped by the energy of the place. The overhead lights are dimmed, while colorful lights dance across the walls and floor. The bass throbs through my body. The air is thick with excitement, mingling with the scents of cologne, perfume, and an underlying hint of something less sweet if You catch my drift.
“Alright, let’s find a table!” Xander shouts over the music, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. “I’ll snag us a good spot!”
“I’ll help!” Viv calls, darting after him as they weave through the throng of dancing bodies, leaving the rest of us at the entrance.
The club is alive with movement. Groups of people laughing and chatting cluster around the bar, while others are already lost in their own rhythm on the dance floor. A massive disco ball hangs from the ceiling, sending lights cascading across the room like stars twinkling in a night sky.
As I take it all in, I notice booths lining the walls, upholstered in sleek black leather, each one offering a bit of privacy. The bar stretches along one side, illuminated by glowing shelves filled with an array of bottles. The bartenders are in constant motion, bouncing from customer-to-customer filling orders as they go. My brain hurts thinking about it. We can scratch bartender of the list of potential professions
“Got us a table!” Xander’s voice cuts through my thoughts as he returns, gesturing enthusiastically toward a spacious booth located near the VIP area. It’s perfect—close enough to the dance floor but also private enough we won't have to worry about too many eyes on us. Okay yes, I’m still a little weird about being married- er- mated to the dean.
“Thanks Xan.” I reply, as we make our way over. The table is adorned with glowing LED lights that change colors.
Once we settle in, Saul and Barrett head to the bar to order drinks, while the rest of us excitedly chat about the DJ, who Vivianne has decided will be her next conquest.
“Are You excited to dance?” Vin muses, his gaze wandering around the room as he takes in the scene.
“Definitely! I’ve been looking forward to this for too long,” I agree, my excitement bubbling over as I catch sight of the dance floor packed with people moving in sync with the music.
As Saul and Barrett return with a round of drinks, I can see everyone’s eyes lighting up. “We’ve got a mix of everything! Cocktails, beer, and some shots to kickstart the night,” Saul announces, setting the drinks on the table.
“If the ocean was beer and I was a duck, I’d swim to the bottom and drink my way up. But the ocean’s not beer and I’m not a duck so here’s to Tequila now let’s get fucked up!” Jared raises his glass high, and we all follow suit, clinking glasses together and laughing.
With the drinks in hand, I feel a tug on my arm and turn to find Viv and Xander waving me to the dance floor. The DJ shifts the music to something more upbeat, I turn back to the guys “What are we waiting for?” I call out, rising from my seat. “Let’s dance!”
we all make our way toward the dance floor,
As the music pulses through the club, I feel my body naturally moving to the rhythm alongside my friends. The dance floor is a sea of swaying bodies I can’t help but grin as I spot Jared shifting his hips to the beat.
I weave my way through the crowd and join him, letting the music take over. “You seriously have some moves!” I shout over the thumping bass, laughing as he spins me around playfully.
“Thanks! Just trying to keep up with You,” he replies with a grin. “So, how do You feel about all this? Having fun?”
“Absolutely! I’ve been looking forward to this forever. Classes and everything else has been a little overwhelming. I needed the break” I say, my laughter mixing with the music.
“Good! We definitely need to make this a regular thing,” he adds, giving me a playful nudge. “Now, let’s take this up a notch!” He pulls me into a twirl, and I laugh again.
After dancing with Jared for a bit, I move to find Vin, who’s grooving a little way away, a smile on his face. I step in close, swaying along to the beat beside him. “Mind if I join You?”
“Not at all! Come here,” he replies, grabbing my hands and pulling me into a spin. “You’re looking amazing tonight, by the way. I'm glad we were all able to come.”
“Flattery and dancing—now You’re speaking my language!” I tease, and we share a laugh as we move together. “And yeah, it’s been a little rough with Barrett and Saul working so much. They needed the break too.”
“What the rest of us aren't good enough?” he jokes, then adds with a smile, “we miss them too You know. We all love each other in our own ways.”
“I know, and thank You for that. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be if You all hated each other.”
Feeling the rhythm pulling us in, I let go and get lost in the moment with Vin. After a few songs, I spot Alex bouncing nearby and break away to join him.
“Hey, superstar!” I exclaim, throwing my arms up in the air. "You ready to show off those dance moves I’ve heard so much about?"
“Always! I’ve saved my best routines just for this night,” he laughs, shifting his feet playfully. “You look amazing pretty girl, thank You for being ours.” he adds spinning me to face the dance floor while he moves our hips in rhythm
“I feel like I should thank You guys for being okay with sharing me so much.” I challenge, and he grins, “Eh the guys are alright, I suppose it's fine I share.” he says rolling his eyes in mock exasperation before launching into a fun little routine that I try to mimic. The two of us end up laughing more than actually dancing.
After our dance-off, I catch the eye of Saul, who’s standing around the edge of the crowd watching like he always does. I make my way to him. “Come dance with me. And before You say no we can ask Barrett to keep an eye on everyone for You.” I ask, looking over to find Barrett
“I am watching everyone, little mate. Four eyes are just better than 2.” Barrett's velvet voice says in my ear. I spin around to look at him and pout.
“I want a chance to dance with You all.” Saul chuckles before pulling me to the floor with him.
“And dance You shall little one we just need to make sure everyone is safe and someone is watching the drinks on the table.” leaning in closer as he dances. “How are You feeling? Enjoying the night?”
“I’m loving it! Thank You for coming. I've missed You,” I reply, leaning my head against his chest...
He grins and leans in closer. “I missed You too. We are trying to get things organized and things that used to be our responsibility sorted so we can be home more often. Not being home is hard”
“Aw, stop it!” I smack his chest lightly. “You’re making me blush.” we dance for a little while longer before I grab a drink and move to find my big guy.
Moving around the dance floor, standing in a corner next to our booth. I join him and twirl, my laughter merging with the rhythm. “Ohhh big guy! It's Your turn.”
“Ohhh Aly! You need some water.” he jokes, bumping his shoulder against mine, and handing me a glass. “I'm glad You're having fun baby, but one thing. I don't dance. I love You and normally I would never tell You no. But I hate dancing.”
“Ugh, party pooper” I say, turning to look for my next victim. “Where is Carion?”
“He's running to get Viv another drink. I'll let him know you demand a dance when he gets back. Go dance with Elliot.” he chuckles, and I can’t help but nod in agreement.
With a warm hug, I move on to find Elliot, who is dancing with Xander and Kale. “Hey pretty boy, You, me, dance” I shout, based on the confused look on his face I'm guessing the music drowned some of that out. I grab his hands and pull him to me.
Elliot beams back at me, “that makes so much more sense than what I thought You said.”
“What did You think I said?” I ask laughing when he shakes his head violently with wide eyes. “The nerdy look really works on You” I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder as I spin in a circle.
He laughs, pretending to look horrified. “Damn. I was going for a sexy biker man.”
Playing along I looked him up and down. “Oh, well I suppose You could pull that off too.” we dance some more laughing and smiling. Gods I needed this. “Hey, when we get home will You let the guys know I just want some time with the just two of us?” I ask, when he nods, I move to find Carion.
Finally, I find him standing next to the Barrett leaning against the booth. Gods he’s hot. His button up hugs his arms in the right places. His sleeves are rolled up to show his tattoos and his mating mark. “Hey! How’s it going over here?” I ask, moving closer.
“I heard You are demanding dances with all of us,” he says, spinning me around. “So, let’s go Firefly.”
“Yes!” I reply Fist pumping the air and dragging him to the center of the floor.
After a few more rounds of drinks and a couple more dances we decide to head home. The guys help lift a very drunk Xander into the car and Barrett runs back into the club to grab a paper bag, so Xander doesn't puke all over the back seat.
“You’re hot” Xander slurs to Kale the grump laughs and sets Xander’s head down on his lap
Poor guy didn't make it two minutes before he puked.