The arrangements for the ball were exquisite and tasteful but Adrian couldn’t take his eyes off his mate. She looked simply stunning. The deep blue gown brought out the blue in her eyes and the gown hugged her curves and flared out from the hips to the floor forming a small train. Her hair was pulled back into an elegant loose bun with little braids that framed her features.
She held his arm as they walked, smiling at him as though he was the only man on this earth for her. Which he sort of was but that wasn’t the point. The point was that she was pretending. She was still mad at him but he wouldn’t have known by her smile.
The other couples stood next to each other on the dance floor socialising and picking drinks off trays from waiters that passed by. A low orchestra played in the background and he could see Janine and Arthur playing hosts at the head table.
Adrian inhaled and braced himself for the onslaught of questions to come. Gabrielle had been a social butterfly that drew conversations and had been the life of the party.
He wondered if Janine had already disseminated the information to the rest of the people at the party.
Ava’s cheeks hurt from smiling but she made sure to meet the inquiring gazes of all the guests at the party. Yes, she was mated to Adrian. And of course, they were happily mated. That was what she tried to convey with her smile and glance.
They reached the other couples.
While approaching she counted seven couples. They didn’t account for all the packs in the US but they were all the major ones. There were still primitive packs and smaller ones that were little more than settlements but those present were the big guns.
The ones that had a say in everything major that happened in the werewolf world there.
The Blue Moon Pack had Arthur and Janine as the Alpha pair, their current hosts.
The Crescent Moon Pack had Rachel and Morris as the Alpha pair, they were known for their extreme business success in the human world and for seamlessly blending in with them.
The Swift Wind Pack, which had Edward and Angeline as the Alpha pair, were known for having the most impenetrable and obscure location as their base and for their fierce and unbeatable fighting force. They didn’t try to conquer other territories despite their formidable fighting force. Only fools dared them.
The Silverwolf, Shadow, Darkshine Edge, and the Masked Prowlers pack were known for their industrial and commercial exploits.
Ava had memorized all their faces, names, financial capabilities and preferences thanks to Calvin coaching her with flashcards and their photos.
“Well well. What would you know, Janine was right, Adrian got mated to someone else.” A redhead with porcelain skin and a symmetrical bone structure said wearing a slightly mocking smile on her face. Rita. She was the Luna of the Silverwolf Pack.
“Best avoid her if you can.” Calvin had said while describing her.
“But why?”
“Oh, you’ll see.” He had said cryptically before moving to another topic.
Rita’s mate, Gilbert, grabbed her hand silently cautioning her then he looked at Adrian. “Congratulations on your mating, Adrian. Congratulations…”
“Ava. My name is Ava. Thank you.” Ava said.
“Congratulations Ava.” Gilbert smiled and Rita looked like she wanted to hit her mate. Ava could relate even though it was for different reasons. Very different.
Angeline, Alpha of the Swift Wind Pack regarded Ava almost contemplatively before speaking.
“We are all curious, Adrian. You can’t just bring in someone new and not expect us to ask questions. Why did you bring her instead of Gabrielle?” She asked. She was the only Alpha female present in the gathering. Ava wasn’t sure what they called her mate. Luna? Lune?
“This is my true mate, Ava.” Adrian said giving her a look of adoration that made her heart skip a beat. Many beats.
She smiled back at him hoping it didn’t look too fake.
“I’ll be damned. They are actually true mates. Oh, Gabrielle must have been so disheartened. Poor thing tried so hard to stay in everyone’s good graces.” Rita snickered.
It was official. Ava didn’t like the woman. The music changed and she turned to Adrian relieved. She actually knew the dance steps to this song. “Want to dance?” Ava asked him.
“Sure.” Adrian took her hand.
“Please excuse us.”
Ava heard Rita say something about ‘Young love’ as Adrian led her away to the dance floor.
His hands went to her waist and hers to his shoulders as he pulled her close to him and began the first step of a waltz.
“You are still mad at me.”
Ava looked up at him, her body automatically taking the steps, one of the pros of being a werewolf. Her sense of balance was impeccable. That was the only reason she didn’t stumble while looking at him. He was handsome.
Adrian had his long black hair pulled back in a low ponytail that seemed in contrast to his masculine features.
“No.”
He spun her and she went with it. Then he pulled her back to himself catching one of her hands.
Maintaining eye contact with Ava, he lifted her hand to drop a kiss on her inner palm.
Ava’s heart skipped a beat. He was doing it to convince the other Alpha couples that although the bride had changed, it didn’t matter, their bond was unshakable. That the pack wasn’t destabilized because of what had happened. Yet it didn’t seem to matter to her.
Adrian used her hand to pull her closer to him, the space between them nonexistent. His head dropped and he whispered so his breath brushed the shell of her ear. “Liar.”
Ava could feel every inch of him against her. His solid abs, his powerful muscular thighs, his steadying grip on her as they swayed to the music, the top of her head reaching his shoulders with her heels on.
The world could have crashed and burned and she would have no idea. It was like the other people in the hall had seized to exist.
“You hurt me. Made me feel like I wasn’t enough. I already feel so inadequate at this as it is. I’m not used to it. Feeling like I am not enough that is. I understand why you said it though that’s why I’m here dancing with you instead of half the way back to California. I care about the pack as well. I am their Luna. I will do my duty to them. But if you do something like that to me again, I will leave you.”
Ava pulled away from him, the world suddenly returning. Some of the other Alpha couples were also on the dance floor, spinning in tandem with their partners seemingly having the time of their lives, the others sat eating and discussing.
She smiled at Adrian brightly. “Want to raid the food platter?”