“We should go back to the party, since we already know that Emma is safe. It is not ethical to leave our guests marooned.” Alpha Peter said, after some time. They had taken sitting positions for a while, waiting for the arrival of the human and her companions, but to no avail. This must have upsetted the guests, especially the alphas-reason why his beta had just communicated with him that the guests were getting uncomfortable with the absence of the host and celebrant.
“That’s right. Let’s head to the hall.” Melvina stated, seeing reasons with her mate. The guests had been left without their presence for so long, and the beta couldn’t keep them engaged with drinks for so long.
She stood up from the sofa, inviting the others to do the same with a sharp sweep of her eyes around the room where one or two had sat waiting for the redhead. Her eyes finally ended her tour, resting on her son. She knew he didn’t want to go, with the sluggishness and reluctance evident in his rising from the chair he had been sitting on-the last person to stand in fact. But he had to. He was the celebrant.
Together, they all left the room, Alpha Peter leading the way. When they got to the passageway that led to the big hall, Aiden was sure that he had felt the presence of a witch around, a witch that wasn’t the little witch in front of him. No, this one emitted a weird aura. Whomever she was, she was invisible, and strong.
Had she heard all their discussions? He thought, aware when Freya slipped past his mind’s defenses.
“What is the problem?” she asked. “Did you feel the strange presence too?” she queried and he replied in affirmative.
“Yodah thinks the same too.” she said, and he shifted his gaze to Yodah. The fledgling was warily darting his eyes across and along the hallways, his nose going up subtly to sniff out the strange presence. He was thinking of following it, but for alerting the werewolves.
“We will think about that later.” Aiden muttered telepathically to Yodah who nodded his head, hoping that it would spoil the party which he thought was quite great. Who knows? He could find a meal around.
“Don’t dare think about that!” Freya issued a strong rebuke along their mind path, and Yodah shrugged.
“Chill best, I’m not doing that, well, unless I am approached.” he snickered, boasting about his handsomeness. Freya scoffed. Handsomeness her foot. She thought, a bit reserved when they finally stepped into the hall, and again garnered the attention of the werewolves.
Where would her mother be? What would she be up to now? Would the attack still be happening? She thought, and shook her head. She didn’t want it to happen. She just wanted to enjoy the party, and perhaps make new friends. Since they were supernaturals like her, it would be less weird and awful. She already had her eyes on the werewolf girl whom she was sure was older than her, and the witch. The witch? No. For some reason, she felt suspicious of the young girl whom she was sure was the same age as her. And what about the other werewolf? He had left through the other side of the hallway, when they had immediately come out of the room.
“So, would you tell us what you are doing with vampires?” one of the Alphas asked Alpha Peter, and he sighed, fondling his well trimmed beards with his thumb and index finger.
“We will talk about that after the party. Today is my son’s coronation, and that is what it would be. Let’s move on with the feast. We can discuss later.” he stated, and the alpha wolves nodded, excluding his brother. The latter wasn’t happy with the turn of events. But he consoled himself with the fact that the others were on the way. There was no way his nephew would be crowned Alpha.
**
Midway into the party, after the introductions and announcements, a dance was proclaimed in which Derek had to choose one of the beautiful ladies in the room and dance away some time with, before the others were involved in the dance fest-an event which preceded the coronation hour.
Derek, not in the mood to dance with any girl apart from Emma, stayed glued to the spot even when the cheers had stopped and all eyes were turned to him.
“What are you waiting for, bro…just go ahead with it. It’s just formalities. Emma is coming after all. Pick Claire, if you feel so uneasy. At least you have been with her for a while. She is itching for it too.” Anthony whispered into his ears, hitting him lightly on his shoulders, before pushing him forward into a circle that had been formed by the gathering.
His face, a stoic indifference to the cheers and shouts going on around him, Derek stalked to where Claire was standing in the company of her mother and Ava’s mother. He huffed, taking in a deep breath, before opening his mouth and sealing a sad fate of fluttering around the dance circle with a sad heart.
“Can I have this dance, milady?” he asked, and Claire, her smile more brilliant than the rays of the sun during its peak, nodded frantically, before placing her tiny smooth hand on his. She would have been a beautiful match for him, considering her angelic face and prowess, but she wasn’t his mate. He didn’t do non-mates.
Taking in another deep breath, he led her to the center of the circle, and they began to waltz around the dance floor. It was smooth and lively, a bit okay until she spoke.
“I’m glad you picked me to be your Luna. I will never fail you.” she said, and he scoffed.
“Claire, I am sure you know who my Luna is. Stop playing this game of yours. I suggest you search out your own mate. He might be closeby.” he replied as gently as he could, seeing that they were still the object of attention.
“Seriously, you will pick a human over me? I’m sure your father won’t agree with that, once I let him know about that dubious Emma. And you shouldn’t worry about my mate, I will reject him when he comes around. I want you Derek.” Claire whispered, a bold smile on her pink lush lips, offended the next minute, when she heard Derek’s scoff for the second time.
“You think I’m joking?” She asked, raising her right eyebrows in query.
“Of course not, Claire. But you see, my father already knows about that.” Derek said, smiling wistfully in satisfaction as he watched shock, then anger cloud Claire’s face.