Maja laughed again and I smiled softly to myself. I was beginning to think that maybe this wouldn’t be that awful.
The car rolled up to the Auditorium, a large stone building covered in the moon phases, and came to a stop. Maja got out and opened the door for me but that’s as far as they went. I ascending the giant stone steps all on my own wobbly feet. At the top was a great stone door with a howling wolf on it. Behind the door, I could hear music. With my final deep breath, I shoved the doors open.
Inside was what I’d imagined: a bunch of my fellow wolves in formal attire. Some were dancing, some were sat on the outside rim, perched on fancy looking couches holding champagne flutes. Others were chatting amongst each other in a circle around the dance floor. Some were dancing like it was the Victorian era, barely touching and looking longingly at each other.
As people noticed my late arrival, several whispers spun up around me. I tried to tune into the voices behind me with my wolf hearing. The whispers became louder in the back of my head.
“Who is that?”
“My, my she’s stunning!”
” – Is that a Pietha original gown? How did she get her hands on it?”
“She’s stunning – “
The voices became a bit much. I tuned them back out, shoving them into the back of my mind as Maximus taught me. But I still heard the way their conversations stopped and their heads turned. I shrunk in on myself as I had done before. I quickly ran away from the entrance. I b-lined it to the drink table.
“A glass of white, please,” I said to the unassuming bartender.
“Which white?” the bartender asked, bored.
“Oh, uh – “
“Try the Sancerre,” a low voice rumbled from my right.
My blood chilled in my veins. I knew that voice. I’d felt it drip down my ears as a snarl. Stop dancing, pup
I gasped and whipped towards the source of the voice. My fears were amplified as I looked into a piercing set of dark gold eyes. The memories from my fight came crashing back into me. I slammed my eyes shut and tried to talk myself out of the swirl of anxiety building up inside me.
The man laughed. “First time a woman’s actually closed their eyes at the sight of me,” he drawled. “Usually they stare.”
I slowly opened my eyes and made eye-contact with Kairos Moonraiser. My heart was thrumming in my chest as his lips curled up into a smirk. “Hello, gorgeous,” he drawled. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Kairos. Son of High Alpha Moonraiser.”
I breezed right over the pretentious introduction and blinked at him twice. He didn’t recognize me? His hand was reaching for mine. I sizzle of electricity jolted from his fingertips to mine. I immediately panicked and yanked my hand away.
Kairos frowned at me. He looked confused. His eyes looked back up and met mine. “What – ” he started then his smile dropped.
My own pulse was so fast I felt like my chest was about to erupt. Slowly, his face worked it’s way into a snarl. A low growl escaped from his throat. He took his hand and balled it into a fist. He pierced me with his eyes before storming off away from the drink table. My heart skipped again and I let out a huff of a breath.
“So the Sancerre?” the bartender deadpanned.
So much for anonymity.
The bartender shoved a glass of wine towards me. I took it tentatively and looked back across the floor. People had stopped whispering and were outright staring at me. Some had horrified looks twisted across their faces. Others looked disgusted. I guess my altercation with Kairos outed my identity. I took a huge swig of my wine. It was slightly acidic as it trickled down my throat. I was never much of a drinker when I was in the human world. It never appealed to me to lose myself like that. But now, as I was glared at despite looking the best I’d ever looked, I wanted to be lost.
I took another swig. Everyone’s eyes had slowly moved away from me, leaving me to look at them. I noticed several people chatting in the far right corner of the room. A particular gold and white dress caught my attention. I followed it up to the person and immediately spotted Loren. She was talking to a much taller woman with the same pale skin as her. But this woman had swooping, long dark brown hair. It was curled and perfected into beautiful Hollywood waves. Her dress was a deep dark blue that accented her gold eyes. Her features were almost identical to Loren’s.
Her sister, I thought to myself.
Better go introduce yourself, my inner voice said. It wouldn’t hurt to have a few additional allies. For once, I agreed with my inner voice. I slunk around the outside of the room, avoiding any additional altercations. I walked up behind Loren and gently placed my hand on her shoulder. Loren whipped around. Her surprise turned into a genuine smile and she wrapped me in a hug.
“Zora!” she said. “You’re here. Oh Gods, you look amazing!”
I laughed lightly, feeling the heart creep up my cheeks. “Thanks. They really did me well,”
Loren smiled brightly. She grabbed the woman standing next to her and brought her forward. “This is my sissy, Alessia,” she said. “She’s the next High Alpha of Moonbeam.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, sticking out my hand. “I’m Zora Smith.”
Alessia hummed and gently shook my hand. “So, you’re the infamous Zora?” she raised an eyebrow. “Kairos really has it out for you.”
“Unfortunately,” I rubbed my arm. Alessia hummed again. She sipped the champagne in her hand. “So, are you hoping to find a mate tonight?”
I was grateful for the change in topic. I sighed and fiddled with my own wine glass. “Maybe,” I said. “I’m pretty new to this whole thing so I’m just trying to go with my instincts.”
“That’s the best way to do it!” Loren piped up.
“Agreed,” Alessia said. “That’s how I found my mate. Here he is now.”
I looked over my shoulder and my heart sunk to my toes. Petyr sauntered over from the bar. He had a smug smirk on his face until he saw me. Then his face fell. He wrapped his arm around Alessia’s waist and pressed a kiss to the side of her face. His lips were still set in a neutral line. His jaw ticked as he took in me and Loren.
“Mini Moonbeam,” he drawled looking at Loren. He turned towards me and nodded once. “Wolfless.”
“Petyr, be nice,” Alessia said with no threat in her tone. I felt my lips curl in disgust. I nodded back at him. Loren’s hand grabbed at my elbow.
“Did anyone walk you through the steps of the Mateball?” she said gently. I shook my head. Alessia took another sip of her champagne then addressed me.
“It’s simple really,” she said. She gestured to the ceiling above the dance floor. A giant window was radiating the night sky down onto the dance floor. People danced joyously under the moon as it edged closer and closer to being directly above the dance floor.
“At midnight, the lights will go dark as the full of the moonlight sets upon the dance floor,” Alessia continued. “The moonlight and your inner wolf will lead you to the one who is determined to be your fated mate. If you have one in the room, you’ll feel a tug in your chest towards them. If you have one in the world, you’ll feel a dull thrum in your body. Then, your heartbeats will set in time together and it’ll sound like there’s two drums in your head.”
I frowned. I felt like I’d had that sensation before. Loren squeezed my elbow, sensing how uncomfortable I was.
“It’ll be okay,” she said softly. “Apparently, your body will know what to do.”
“It’s true,” Petyr chimed in. I snapped my head towards him. It was the first time he’d addressed me in a way that wasn’t malicious. He tugged Alessia closer to him and looked deep in her eyes.
“I saw her across the dance floor,” he continued. “And I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, lit up by the moonlight in that silver dress.” Petyr nuzzled his face into the space between Alessia’s chin and chest. She laughed lightly and rested her head on top of his. She planted a light kiss to his cheek bone then drew back. She noticed I was looking at them and smiled lightly at me. “Even if your mate isn’t in the room, don’t lose hope,” she said. “My first year, Peytr wasn’t at school yet. I felt the dull thrum and I knew I had time to wait.”
I turned towards Loren. “Did you feel the thrum?” She smiled sadly at me and I felt her own sadness work it’s way through my bones. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
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