Chapter 2

****Alyssa****

This is the happiest I’ve been in a while. OK, not happy, maybe content… way less sad… not crazy depressed…. Next year, I’ll be an official attendant at the ball. This year I am, as I’ve always been, a pretty fixture. I’ve done this meet-and-greet thing countless times in my life. This year, the difference is, that instead of standing beside my loving parents, I was standing beside my aunt and uncle. As the previous Alpha’s daughter and the new Alpha’s niece, I am required to stand here and greet the attendees as they enter the ball.

Tonight it’s harder. Though I slap a pretty smile on my face and hide away the pain. Everyone, and I mean everyone, makes a point to tell me how great my parents were, how much they would be missed, how they feel for me, etc, etc. That part of the meet-and-greet sucks. According to my uncle, I’ve been “ding in my shell”  since my parents’ deaths and it’s time I “rejoined the world” and this is apparently the perfect time to do it.

As much as I hate to admit it, this does feel refreshingly normal, and I do feel better interacting with my pack again and  “throwing my attention into the ball instead of dwelling in misery”  — as my uncle so kindly put it. 

I’d always dreamed of meeting my mate here like some fairytale scene, the kind I’ve witnessed countless times. That was something I had always looked forward to, but not so much now. In those fantasies, my parents were still alive.

This time next year, I’ll be 18, and if I haven't already found my mate, this would be one of the best places to find him. That’s why we host this thing. Werewolves, 18 and older, from packs all over the Kingdom, come to our pack for this ball with the hope of meeting their mates. Other packs have similar events, but ours has always been the biggest and most well-known. It’s an annual tradition, not only for us but for the whole werewolf community, and since it occurs on the first weekend of June each year, it coincides with high school graduation and college vacation perfectly. 

I’ve met the Alphas and Lunas of most packs countless times before, so a lot of the visitors here are familiar. I am, however, concerned about meeting the Alpha of the Eclipse Pack. Invitations are sent to every pack in the country, and he has, up until now, ignored every single one. This year, for the first time, he replied by saying that he would attend. I know this because I’d spent hours every year helping my mother with invitations and responses. I was always “her favorite helper.” 

Which worked out well for aunt Carin since she had to plan it this year. Not so well for me, given that I planned and organized this entire ball on my own while she took the credit. I can’t wait until her baby is born cause she’s been a high-strung wreck the last few months.

Supposedly, Alpha Enzi is a ruthless, hideous monster. He rules through fear and intimidation just as his dad did before him. People even say that when he killed his father to claim the title, he ate his heart. I don’t know if that’s true. As a high school student, I’ve seen first-hand how stories tend to grow and details are exaggerated with each retelling. Still, the idea of meeting such a man is weirdly exciting. 

Not that I want any drama here; messing up this weekend I worked so hard to plan would tick me off. Also, I don’t like when people get hurt, not at all, but the potential danger of his presence reanimated me somehow. I know it sounds bloody mental, but when you’ve felt dead inside for months you seize on anything that makes you feel better. Bring on the crazy.

I overheard my aunt crying to my uncle last week that by letting him in, “we’re opening the gates to invaders.” She’s petrified that what happened to my parents would happen to my uncle and then she’d be left alone, vulnerable and pregnant. No one would actually be stupid enough to start a war with us. My father built a strong pack with several strong alliances. What happened to them should never have happened and will never happen again, certainly not in an event where we are surrounded by allies, and when there are only two of them here. That would be the epitome of stupid.

“Smile, for Goddess’ sake, you are representing the pack!” my aunt Carin suddenly snaps at me. I didn’t realize my smile had slipped, but whatever. 

“Of course, I apologize,” I reply, thankfully she misses the sarcasm in my tone and accepts my plastered serene smile. Ever since my parents died and she got pregnant, she and my uncle have been weird around me. I get that my uncle lost his brother and is also sad, and I get that my aunt has wacky hormones, but sometimes they seem so … insensitive. Sometimes, it feels like they are hiding something from me, though, I’m not worried about it.  I was angry when my parents died, and I’ve been distant and volatile since then. Often grief gets the best of me, so I’d keep things from me too.

 “That’s him,” my aunt suddenly hisses in my ear. I snap my back straight and glance in his direction. He didn’t seem as ugly as I pictured him; in fact, he’s quite handsome. And younger than I expected. I also expected he’d be wearing all black or something more intense to represent his black pirate soul. Instead, he’s in dark gray slacks and a light pink shirt. Pink! It’s tight-fitting and hugs his toned upper body perfectly, while also making his smooth umber skin pop. Damn. He looks nice!

“Don’t stare, he'll think it’s a challenge. But don’t avoid him either, or he’ll think we’re weak,” Aunt Carin snaps, and I swallow back an audible groan just in time.

“Alpha Simon, Luna Carin,” the man’s rich voice is deep and hypnotic, and my body instantly hums to attention. Weird.

“Alpha Enzi, we’re glad you could make it this year. I assume you are looking for your mate? You need a Luna, hey?” my uncle jokes. 

“So my mother says,” he replies, with a smile that makes me swoon internally. Double damn. 

“Well, I’m sure any woman here would be happy to have you,” my uncle, the suck-up, says.

“This is my Beta, Jayvon Mason,” he says. I miss the rest when he greets my aunt because my friend, Veronica, sends me a mind-link.

“Oh my Goddess, is that him? He’s actually totally hot.” I send a quick “yes, that’s him” in response and block the mind-link. If I don’t block out communications, she’ll relentlessly question me; plus, I’m sure she won’t be the only one of my friends looking for gossip. I’d rather not get distracted and have this monster of an Alpha rip my head off for disrespecting him. Though, honestly, he doesn't look like the ruthless murdering type. He has a sweet boyish look to him.

“And this must be Alpha Alyssa, Alpha Noah and Luna Mara’s daughter, correct?” Alpha Enzi refocuses my attention.

“Yes, Alpha. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I reply. No one has called me Alpha in a long time and somehow that makes me feel stronger than I have felt in a long while. Maybe he’s not so bad.

I blush furiously when he gently lifts my hand to his lips and places a lingering, soft kiss on the back of my hand. A sense of enormous well-being floods me at his touch, I feel lighter than I have in months and my blush deepens. I really need to get out more.

“Save me a dance tomorrow night,” he commands. 

“Of course,” I respond automatically and without thinking. I flick a look at my uncle, who looks perturbed. What’s wrong with me? I never agree to anything without thinking it through first. 

“Actually, Alyssa isn’t 18 yet, she isn’t permitted to attend the actual ball tomorrow,” my uncle cuts in, making me feel like a small child.

“That’s a shame,” Alpha Enzi says with a smile that lights up his face, and my heart, keeping my frown at bay.

~♥~♥~♥~

The rest of the evening is fairly dull. I spend the entire night greeting our guests, and it’s not until after 10 pm that I’m able to sneak off and find my friends. 

“Where are you, guys?” I send over the mind-link.

“Playground,” Veronica sends back. 

In the distance, I see the dark shapes of five bodies I know well coming into focus: Veronica, Jay, Nell, Rob, and Thomas — my best friends since forever. Veronica, Rob, and Thomas have all turned 18 since the last ball and will attend tomorrow night for the first time. 

“Spill,” demands Nell when she spots me approaching.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I say innocently, taking the swing that Jay just vacated for me. Except I do know what they are talking about. Alpha Enzi had been the talk of the pack for the whole of last week. He’s rich, single, an Alpha, unexpectedly hot, and an enigma. All of the above adjectives, despite his reputation, make him an attractive, eligible bachelor.

“What is Alpha Enzi Armett like?” Veronica sighs in frustration at my lack of adequate response.

“He was sweet to me,” I answer simply, kicking off my heels and stretching my stockinged toes in the dirt beneath my swing. Relief. 

“Veronica claims he kissed you,” Jay says. 

“Just my hand, and it wasn’t that exciting.” Except

it kind of was. I swear his lips sent goosebumps shooting up my arm. “He was only being polite or trying to annoy my uncle,” I roll my eyes for dramatic emphasis.

Jay walks up behind me and starts to gently push me on the swing. Of course I can swing myself, but it's something he’s always liked to do, and I like to swing, so it works out fine. 

“What about you guys? Did anyone meet their mate?” I ask.

“Yep, I did,” Rob says.

“Oh my Goddess! You didn’t lead with that!?” I dig my feet into the ground to stop swinging and glare accusingly around at each of my friends. 

“How could you not tell me that first? Instead, you guys were worried about some visiting Alpha. Rob, your mate is by far the most exciting news of the night. Tell me everything. Right now.”

“Her name is Claire; she’s gorgeous; she is training to be a doctor, and she’s 19,” Rob gives a quick summary. 

“Oh, a cougar,” I joke.

His face floods pink when I tease him about the non-existent age gap. Rob is the oldest in our group and is almost 19. His birthday is right before the school cut off on August 30th, and his parents held him back in kindergarten so he wouldn’t be the youngest kid in the class. Whereas I’m the opposite. My birthday is also right before the cutoff, on August 20th, making me one of the youngest in our class and the youngest in our friends’ group but not by much.

“I’m happy for you,” I say, leaping off my swing to climb on the playground equipment where he’s sitting and give him a hug.

“Where is she? Why couldn’t I meet her?” I ask, plopping my butt down next to him. 

“You just missed her. She’s with the Forest Run Pack. Their Alpha said they all had to be on the bus at 10 pm to go back to the hotel, or there would be consequences. Apparently, last year someone tested that rule and earned clean-up duty on the pig pens for a week when they got home,” Rob explains. He has a sweet little smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye when he talks about his mate. 

Aawww…..

She’s a lucky girl to get paired with him, Rob is a smart, good-natured guy. He has this way about him that makes you feel safe and calm like he can project his serene aura on you. Not that it’s any of my business or at all within my control, but I hope she is worthy of my friend. 

We fool around on the playground, chatting for another hour until my uncle texts to tell me it’s time to come home. 

Right before I enter my room, I catch a glimpse of Alpha Enzi at the other end of the hall, and when I smile at him, he smiles back. I know it’s stupid, but I’d been lost in my grief for so long that that one small smile jolted a little thrill through my soul and made me feel just a little more alive. 

**** Alpha Enzi ****

When Jayvon and I enter this meet-and-greet thing, I’m shocked at the crowd. I knew there would be a lot of people here, but still, this is nuts. My eyes slowly scan the room, instinctively checking the exits and identifying the strongest warriors in the room. There are several Alphas here, some I’ve met before but not all. My father wasn’t big on social gatherings. Social slaughterings yes, gatherings no.

Sensing, rather than seeing, everyone’s curious, cautious eyes on me, I tune out the excited chattering of hundreds of young adults in the large open room. I smell the arousal and hormones pouring thick off the young wolves surrounding me. Then, I catch another scent, something soft and enticing. Champagne and Cherry blossoms. It’s difficult to pinpoint where it’s coming from, but it has me on edge.

Out of polite necessity, Jayvon and I make our way to the reception line so we can shake hands with the Alpha that we just met literally a couple of hours ago. It’s a stupid tradition in my opinion, but everyone is doing it, and it would be frowned upon if I didn’t partake. 

While we wait, I glance around looking for the source of the scent, no one seems to be seeking me and that can only mean one of two things: she hasn’t sensed me yet, or her wolf spirit doesn’t recognize her mate because she is not 18 yet. As we get closer to Simon and his Luna, I realize the scent is coming from the young woman next to his Luna, who I’m guessing is his niece. 

Frack.

That makes her Alpha Noah and Luna Mara’s only child. She’s an exotic beauty, a true Goddess in human form. This did not make me happy. She’s 17, and I’ll have to leave this desirable creature here unguarded for Goddess knows how long. She probably already has a boyfriend, and that thought aggravates my wolf to the point I have a brief internal struggle to keep him contained — he’s desperate to rip free and claim her right now. I can’t allow that, he’d frighten her and she’s too young.

When I finally reach her, she doesn’t react to me at all, except for blushing like an innocent schoolgirl when I kiss her hand, but I don’t spot the recognition in her eyes that should come when you find your mate. She radiates an invisible aura of strength I’ve not felt before, but I don't feel her wolf at all. When her initial blush fades, she greets me with the same practiced friendliness that she’s been offering everyone else here. Ouch. 

Once we move on from her, I can’t get her off my mind. Rumor has it she’s wolfless like her mother.  My mate’s wolflessness doesn’t bother me, though. Luna Mara was brilliant, fearless, and lethal when necessary. Besides, I’m strong and my pack is stronger, no one would dare to attack my Luna. It’s a struggle not to react to her, not to declare her mine right here and now. But something tells me to hold off. I have excellent instincts and suddenly, somehow, my wolf and I just know that something isn’t right.

Once we’re far enough from the group, I have a private conversation with Jayvon via mind-link to make sure it stays private.

“Alyssa’s my mate,” I say without preamble.

“Congratulations. What are you going to do about it?” Jayvon asks. 

“She’s 17. I should leave her here without telling her I’m her mate, but I can’t do that either. I need information. You know the rumors about her parents, so you know she might not be safe here. Ask around.” Jayvon has a particular talent for getting information out of people; it helps that he is attractive and oozes a natural, friendly charm. 

The rest of the night, I operate at a level of anxiety I’ve never felt before. I want her, I don’t want her, my wolf definitely wants her, but we can’t have her. I’ve no idea how to handle this new complication in my life. When she flashes me a smile in the hall before I enter my room, that’s when I learned I’ll do anything for her. 

Frack!

This trip has become quite a bloody ordeal. I pinch the bridge of my nose and blow out a sigh in frustration. The information that Jayvon has turned up already is conflicting, to say the least. I’m not entirely sure how to handle it. 

“Keep looking, see what you can charm out of people.”

“Of course, man,” Jayvon responds.

I avoided her tonight as much as possible. I’d also rather avoid the ball tomorrow, but since that’s why I came here, and no one can know yet that I have found my mate, I have no option but to go. Not that she’ll be there anyway.

~♥~♥~♥~

Despite the fact that I know my Goddess of a mate isn’t here, I can't help but search the crowd, hoping to see her. Throughout the day and the night, countless young ladies kept throwing themselves at me, everyone wants to snag an Alpha. They all want to be a Luna, a position that invariably brings money and power; they don’t really want me. 

“Alpha,” Jayvon calls me to attention. Then he updates me via mind-link to keep it private. It’s mostly rumored, but the bottom line is that whoever killed her parents may be after her, and she was supposed to take over the pack after her parents' deaths. So why didn’t she? If Simon is mistreating her…

When he’s done, I have more questions than answers. Catching sight of Simon and his Luna holding court, I head their way. I’ve made up my mind about what I need to do. He won’t like it, but too bad.

“Simon, I have a proposal I’d like to discuss with you in the morning. A business arrangement that I think will benefit the both of us.”

Simon looks stunned but nonetheless agrees.

Jayvon pats my back; he can feel my desperation to finish this deal quickly and bring her home. I appreciate that he knows me so well. 

*****

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