*Danika*
“You hate ceremonies?” he asked me, one of his sloppy ears angling to the top of his head in astonishment.
“I do. I hate all the running around, organizing, anxiety, and tension that I have left something behind. I don’t like being anxious over anything.”
“But you are just going to help. It’s not like you would be the on all tensed up. That should be the Luna.”
I felt as though a bowl of fire was doused on my head, burning down every wall I supposed I had built around my emotions, leaving me bare to the world. But I didn’t show my inner turmoil. I remained strong, posing my muzzle at his face once more. “I don’t care if I’m not the one becoming the Luna. I precisely don’t like ceremonies. Are you going to tell me or not?” My tone came out harsher than I intended.
His dark bluish-green eyes bored into me as if trying to discern something. Then his countenance contorted as if he was giving me that smirk, thereafter looking out to the stream. “Well, there are a lot of things you can do to avoid participating. Firstly, you can feign being sick. You can escape every morning to work, and you can injure a part of your body to prevent going anywhere with them…”
I was grinning from ear to ear from every one of the ideas. Something tells me I would be going with every one of them to avoid this. Trusting Paisley, I know shopping the entire world of fabrics to look like the Queen of Katwe would be her number one priority. And there is no way I’m going to let her involve me in that madness. Not when it’s my mate in question. Oh, Alonso, you have no idea what is coming for you.
“Do you like my options or would you need deadly weapons?”
I raised my front paw and smacked it on his face, eliciting a snarl from him. “You are evil,” I told him.
“I know. It’s my signature,” he replied smugly.
I shook my head in excitement. This is going to be a whole new level of adventure for me. While at it, if there was any way I could stop this ceremony, Holy Gad knows I would. I have so many things that would restrain me from going ahead with these plans, barriers like Alonso, which I had to work hard to stop myself from falling for, even though the bond had a mind of its own. But this was for my own good, and if I can’t have my mate, then I shouldn’t help pass him like a sweet plate of pie to another woman to ravish, just for some stupid pack alliance!
“Are you sure you are okay, Danika?” Alfred asked, causing my head to snap to him from my reverie. I nodded, my furs blowing up from a giant wind that rode the atmosphere.
It was growing cold, so cold that it was starting to penetrate my thick furs. Despite wanting to stay by the river with Alfred, I knew we would need to head back home sooner. I placed my head on my paw on the ground, feeling Muse whimper in discomfort.
“Soon we would leave, baby, just a little while,” I soothed her, not wanting her rebellion which is starting to rub off on me, to show forth.
Alfred terrified me with his next statement. He said, “Is there something you would like to share with me, Danika? Don’t forget we are friends and maybe I can help you. I noticed you don’t talk much about your mate, Lance, and… My brother seems to be a little too possessive when it comes to you, more than he does with that bubble-headed balloon, Paisley.”
My stomach tightened as I slowly raised my head from my paws to scrutinize his observatory gaze. His mouth was open and spittle dripping from it, but his eyes looked like they could reach deep into my soul. I hope for sanity’s sake Alfred isn’t trying to get into my head.
I looked down instantly. The eyes are the gateway to a person’s mind and unless I look at him, he can’t get access to see what I am hiding within.
“Why would you ask that?” I started out slowly, “Alonso is merely worried just as you are about me. Remember when you asked me about my heat period?” I caught sight of a fish swimming in the river and locked my eyes on it, following its wriggly movement. Treading this path of discourse with Alfred is dangerous, but if it has to eliminate whatever is going on in his head, so be it. “He is worried too that perhaps with Lance not being around, I might want to, you know, be carried away by the presence of another man. He is just protecting me for his friend…”
“I see the way he looks at you,” he carried on, making me more nervous.
“You are overthinking things and seriously, it’s kind of repulsive that you will even think that. I never thought of all this. Lance is my mate and the love of my life-” Oh, Gad! When did I turn into this great actress?”… Nothing. Absolutely no one can make me derail in our promise of foreverness. So pull your head out of the water, Alfred. Your brother is doing exactly what every best friend does for their absent friend-protect their better halves.”
I hope I scored this one?
He didn’t say anything for a while. I almost thought my acting skill was a sham. However, his next words relieved me as well as put me in flight mode. “Well, I guess I was indeed overthinking. Don’t blame me. Maybe because I am beguiled by you, I now think every other man is too.”
Even though I was in my wolf form I couldn’t help the blush that stained my cheeks. It was definitely time to call it a day. I stood abruptly. “I think we should head back home. I will think over those options you gave me and choose from them. It’s almost evening, I need to see Mary and get something important from her,” I was rattling very fast and that was because I was suddenly uncomfortable.
“Oh, okay. Let me take you home and then I will go for my training. Go ahead and change or do you wish to go in this form?”
I shook my head and took off in the direction of my dress. When I came out, we made our way home quieter than we have ever been. I didn’t want to allow myself consider the possibility of Alfred falling for me. No!
“I will see you soon,” he linked me when we got to the mansion, still in his wolf form. I nodded and waved, watching him bound towards the gate, his black wolf as domineering as ever. When will I get to see the wolf of my mate? Maybe in another life.
I went to visit Mary once more and we chatted for a long time over so many things. She told me about another set of rumors flying that I was having an affair with Alfred, which is why we are always together. It enthused me just as it enraged me. Why won’t they keep me out of their mouths? And what was most aggravating was that I couldn’t confront them because they would definitely know Mary had told me and she would suffer the wrath of their contempt.
After we talked for a long time and I cruised the house, including going to Lance’s room to look around-somehow feeling closer to him, I left for the mansion to prepare for dinner. Mary accompanied me to the front door before going back to Lance’s quarters.
“I think this would fit!” Nadia produced a chignon fitted gown slit to the center and bearing a rose on it. From looking at it, I know it’s going to be slutty which is why I shook my head.
“Something else.”
“No, Ms. Danika. Mary came the other day and she gave me strict instructions to make sure you always look very hot.” I clenched my fist, knotting my lips tightly. I might have to kill Mary if she now connives with Nadia to turn me into a doll. I like my free gowns. They give me space to do whatever I wanted. I am a very curvy person and I didn’t want to gather the attention of anyone while walking, it’s so embarrassing.
“Fine, but only for today, and that’s because it is evening. I love my free gowns and jeans. Thanks.” I batted my lashes, eliciting baby giggles from her.
Just as I speculated, the gown was tight, my cleavage sampled to anyone that cared to look, and my hips accentuated due to how it stuck to me like a second skin. The slit made everything look like I was saying, “eat me.”
“Nadia, this is wrong! I don’t plan on seducing anyone.” I spread my hands out, eyeing myself in the mirror. My thighs were on display, my ass plumper.
She wasn’t listening, instead, she rambled on, and “This is how you should look, so everyone knows our Beta has the best mate. Everything is top-notch!” I blushed crimson. The other day after Mary dressed me up, I had escaped their verbal review but today I don’t think so. Alonso would take one look at me, and give me a run for it.
After forcing me to the chair and styling my hair, I was so certain Paisley would see me as the enemy, dressed up and locking like the Queen herself. As I left the room for the dining hall, my pulse was racing, wondering how the evening would turn out. I should have just stood my ground and worn my usual.
…