Heiress and Holiday

Lucy’s POV

“The one and the same…” I sighed as I gripped the steering wheel more tightly, watching as the helicopter swooped back around.

“Oh… a-am I supposed to bow or anything?” Suzy asked sheepishly, her eyes about to bug out of her head.

“Goddess, please no! I’m just “Lucy” right now; freshly graduated student of Yale.”

“Didn’t he who will not be named meet you there too? I had graduated last year with him, and he’d asked me out and everything.” Suzy shook her head as she clicked her nails against the dashboard, watching the SUV in front of us turn.

“Yah. We met in Political Science with Professor Hershel four years ago and had just kinda hit it off. But he never struck me as the cheating type.” He’d been my first too. I poured silently, swearing I’d try many more males before settling down, just to get rid of the feel of him on my body.

“All men cheat eventually.” Suzy huffed. “At least, the ones I tend to fall for.”

We were getting closer to my home, making me antsy since this weekend was my birthday. “So where do you live, Suzy? I’m sure I can get these shadows of mine to bring us there.” I offered her.

“I live in Ohio, so it might be longer than you’re willing to drive.” She winced a little. “Plus, since it’s a Halloween weekend, I’d much rather be here than at home.”

“Is your pack into Samhain as well?” We were having the festival here at home this year, the celebration that was usually held at a random pack brought back here in order to celebrate my twenty fifth birthday.

“Yes. Speaking of… my parents will be coming to the royal mansion Monday for your party! Goddess, and if told them I’d be far away and busy to let them allow me to come and visit douche-canoe.”

Her nicknames for Rowan were making me smile, her animated gestures with her hands lightening the mood in the truck. “Did they have a ticket for you?” I asked casually as I turned the truck down another street.

“No, they didn’t. I was pretty sure they were going to have me be a plus one for a friend of my brother’s who had just taken over a pack. Someone I did not want the pleasure of spending a few hours with.”

“I can understand the sentiment.” I nodded, thinking of all of the dignitaries I had met over the years. A lot of them trying their best to win me over with unwanted advances. “But how about you be my plus one? I just so happened to have an opening come up for the festivities; plus I heard that the seating for it will be the envy of the ball!”

Suzy grinned at me, her teeth white and pointed. “Goddess! That’s the best fucking thing ever! Let dipstick see us as a united front and missing out on the party of the century!” We both laughed again and started to. Hat about our lives and getting to know each other, quickly becoming fast friends. The vehicles finally pulled into the drive for the house, the ride going by quickly with all of the banter we had been doing.

“We’ll get you set up in one of the guest rooms, and I’ll have some clothing sent over for you. Once you’re ready, just ask one of the staff to bring you to my room to find a dress for the ball. We should have something that we can alter quickly.” I saw Uncle Axel coming out of the house with his arms crossed, his usual glean of mischief a stone cold stare of disappointment at the moment. “But it seems that I have to go and take care of some things first.” I sighed.

“Killer! I’ll see ya when you can escape whatever trouble you’re in.” One of the maids came over as we were getting out and I quickly told her what to do with Suzy; both of us waving as my Uncle finally came down to talk to me.

“Lucy Urcina Bells. How many times have I told you that you cannot just up and leave places you are supposed to be to go galavanting off to Goddess knows where?!” He fumed.

I sucked in my breath with the scolding, feeling slightly ashamed for escaping my guard detail before I caught the faintest hint of a smile from my Uncle. “Good one, Uncle A… I could have almost thought you had gone square on me.”

He grinned wisely at me then, pulling me into a hug. “My chick’s done gone and did me proud! Tell me; how did you avoid hector at the front gate there? He has a nose like a hawk!”

“I left my truck parked at a coffee shop the day before and rode out in the trash truck.” I smiled, watching him shake his head.

“But he only saw the driver in there!”

“In the truck, Uncle.” I shuddered a little as I remembered the smells I had to endure for forty minutes, and the greasy thing that had splatter against my hair.

“Damn.. I’m gonna have to remember that one!” He barked, taking out his phone to type a message on it. “Your mom and dad are in the office; it’s best if you head straight there. They’re still upset you didn’t tell them you graduated early.”

“I will. And tell everyone else I’m home too, and maybe we can all eat together tonight like old times!” I beamed, having him nod his head.

“The twins , John and Jason, will still be out training; but your aunt Jude and I plus the girls will come.” He confined, waving as I went jogging to the front door. “And happy almost birthday!” He called as the door to the mansion closed behind me.