Chapter 2 - The presentation

Mina POV

-

Her dress is too tight, her heels pinch her feet and the quick layer of make-up she’d slapped on before her mother demanded she came down, feels thick in the warm packhouse hall. 

Still, Mina smiles and greets the line of guests, thanking them for attending and moving them along before they try to talk pack politics. And all of them want to talk boring pack politics. Though she isn’t the Clear Blue Luna yet, she’ll soon have a lot of sway over the Kingdom and these wolves know it. The smarter leaders upon them already want to get a jump on alliance negotiations but Mina is having none of it. She wants to enjoy her night, to wake tomorrow happy, marked and a little hungover. 

Politely redirecting conversation is the one skill she is thankful that her mother beat into her. Figuratively, of course. Well, mostly. She uses it to its full ability now, and enjoys the grumpy faces she leaves behind.

“How you holding up?” Chloe slips in between Mina and the warrior protecting her for the evening.

“I feel like a prize deer on display just before a hunt.” She answers through a tight smile as the next wolf in line steps forward. Beta someone from some Lake pack or something. “You took your time getting here.”

“Sorry, had to go find Sam, make sure he’s not getting lost in his work again.”

“And where is my dear brother?”

“Getting lost in his work. Don’t worry though, he said he’ll meet you on stage.”

“He better do or mother will murder him. It’s his presentation too.”

“We all know it's about you though.” Chloe laughs at Mina’s grimace, then quickly dips her hand into a hidden pocket in her dress and pulls out a small bottle, pressing it into Mina’s hand between one guest and the next. “But he says this will make up for all the attention you have to endure.” She whispers and then grabs the next guest’s hand and welcomes him vigorously as Mina turns her back on the crowd to down the vodka. It burns her throat and settles warm in her belly, soothing the butterflies building there.

Goddess, she loves Chloe. If there wasn’t a crowd watching them, she’d kiss her.

The alcohol helps. A lot. Even after her friend leaves and heads into the crowd to make sure the guests are happy. Mina watches her travel through the room of strangers, then spots Owen across the hall and is fuelled further by the kiss he blows her way. It makes her smile come easier and her shoulders relax, and suddenly it isn’t half as hard talking to the guests. Especially when she sees a familiar face.

“Luna Evelyn!” Mina’s smile is real as she fights the urge to hug the older woman and instead offers a handshake. “It is lovely to see you. How was the Kingdom’s court?”

The woman politely hides a smile that tells of her knowing Mina wanted a hug. “Busy and tiring, but you’ll find that out for yourself next time.” Then she draws closer and lowers her voice. “I’ll expect you to have at least one handsome mate at your side by then.”

Mina flushes, and drops her gaze but not in time to miss the knowing smirks of Luna Evelyn’s two mates standing behind her. 

The older woman laughs and pulls her into a hug that squeezes her down to the bone. “Don't lose yourself in all the bravado of leadership, Sweet Williamina. I’ll expect a hug when you next visit me at Golden Spring. You’ll be coming soon to resecure our alliance, I’m sure.”

Mina groans. “That was slick.”

“Learned that one from your mother.” Evelyn winks, before looping her arms through her mates’ arms and moving on.

Mina watches them go, looking at the way Kade leads his mate through the crowd, ensuring no one gets in her way, while Aiden plants a quick adoring kiss on her cheek. Evelyn giggles like a teenager and Mina can’t help but feel a stirring of jealousy within her. 

She wants that. To find her mates and be so in love that even after years they can make her giddy with happiness.

She sighs and looks out the window as the last guests arrive. Twilight is drawing in, pulling a deep purple sky over the pack and letting the moon grow its shine. It isn’t too long to wait until midnight, then she’ll officially be 25 and her pheromones will finally be fully matured to find her fated mates. 

There’s a good chance her first mate is already in the room with her. 

More than good chance with her connection to Owen. 

Mina tries to find him in the crowd again, but the packhouse is full of wolves, dressed in stunning ball gowns and suits. Soft music plays overhead, only just heard over the continuous chatter, but she tries to pick out his voice, his scent, his presence, but it’s hidden. 

Then, she sees a flash of red and a loud laugh that drags her attention to the far wall where Jade is charming a group of wolves. She is gorgeous; green dress flowing over perfect curves and cut to accentuate her strong warrior build. There’s a magnetism to her that Mina can only imitate, a natural leadership that speaks to a strong future for her pack.  

That’s why Alastor is at her side, his hand loose at her waist. They’ll be great leaders together, and bring Clear Blue a strong alliance that’ll keep the pack at the top of the Kingdom in terms of strength. It’s a great match. It really is. Both attractive, both warriors, both leaders; Jade a future Luna and Alastor in line for Clear Blue Beta before the match was made.

It’s good it has worked out and that they are getting along, but Mina can’t help but stare at that hand. It doesn’t seem comfy enough to look natural, but she also can’t deny it’s a possessive touch. Her lips purse as Alastor’s hand moves down over her hip, but frowns when it drops away entirely. 

It’s only when she looks up that she realises he is watching her, a furrow to his brow that she feels mirrors her own. They watch each other for a long moment, but too soon a flash of red steps between their line of sight as Jade steals his attention again. 

Mina needs another drink. 

She waits until her bodyguard is speaking to another warrior and slips away from her spot at the hall entrance, ducking through the crowd and heading to the bar. A line of full champagne flutes await her, bubbling their promise to ease her nerves, but before she can grab one, a hand catches hers.

“Shouldn’t you wait until after the presentation to start celebrating, Princess?”

Mina takes a breath before she’s ready to face him. “Shouldn’t you be keeping your mate company?”

“Mate-to-be.” Alastor corrects.

“That’s the one.” She peers over his shoulder. “She’s currently being mobbed by men desperate to take your position.”

His eyes never leave her. “She’ll be fine.” 

Mina doesn’t know what to say to that, so she doesn't say anything. Again, the pair are locked in, looking at each other as if waiting for the other to say something, but she doesn’t know what. Had there always been this awkwardness between them? She hasn’t hesitated before in telling him to go away, or flicking off his hand when he was teasing her, but now she doesn’t want to do either of those things. She quite likes the warm touch around her wrist.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” Owen slips an arm around her waist, pulling her into his side, far enough away that Alastor’s hand drops free. “You bothering my mate, brother?”

It takes a heartbeat for Alastor to answer, but it’s long enough that Mina feels a string of tension winding in her chest, wondering what he is going to say.

“Not at all. Just keeping our Luna clear minded for the presentation. Wouldn’t want her choosing the wrong mate now, would we?” He meets Owen’s gaze, but gives him a winning smile that adds a playful tone that doesn’t quite land right.

Owen laughs it off, but his hand tightens at Mina’s side. She didn’t like it, and quickly unwinds from his touch, feeling the sting of hurt in his expression as she does.

“It’s just for now, until we’re officially announced. My mother said we had to keep our distance until then so no one can claim the bond is false.”

He nods, but there’s a droop to his head, and she has to fight the wrinkle that tries to scrunch her nose up at the sight. Alastor doesn’t manage the same courtesy, but does slap his brother on the back. Hard enough to make him stumble forward a step.

“Don’t be like that, Owen. If you’re fated mates, you’ll be able to hold her hand as much as you like after tonight.”

“When.” Owen crooks an eyebrow. “You mean when we’re mates.”

“Didn’t I say that?” Alastor turns so only Mina can see him and gives her a wink. “Good luck tonight, Princess.”

Then he saunters off, probably to ward off the many suitors trying to steal his promised mate. She peers over at Jade, seeing the group around her has grown in Alastor’s absence. Even Chloe has joined the gaggle of wolves soaking in Jade’s every word.

“Is it me, or is he being more of an asshole today?” Owen steps behind her, sending a wave of prickly heat down her back.

She turns to face him and straightens. “Alastor is always an asshole, I wouldn’t think too much about it.”

Owen huffs an agreement and hands her a drink, content to stand beside her while they wait for her mother to announce the start of the presentation. Though he seems to listen to her advice, Mina can’t get the older Hayre brother off her mind. She keeps replaying their two conversations from today, both strange, both piquing her interest, but she can’t figure out why. 

Once more, she finds herself looking for him in the crowd. The one time she does, his eyes find hers immediately and a curl of panic begins to settle in her belly.