Ray was struggling not to hit something.
“Dad–”
“That bastard! How dare he put you in this position!?”
Ray took a few deep breaths, and he appeared to calm down enough so that I could talk with him. “Dad, it’s fine. Even if he is doing this for the reasons that you think he is, I have the right to say no. And believe me, I will be saying no.”
He nodded reluctantly. “I know. I just don’t like that he thinks of you as a potential mate.”
“Dad, you know that I’m most likely going to have a mate someday. It can’t just be us forever.”
He chuckled weakly. “Don’t remind me.”
“What?” I asked with a smile. “You don’t want grandbabies?”
He snorted. “Of course I do. Years and years from now, when I’m old and gray.”
“You’ll never be old and gray.”
“Exactly,” he said, grinning.
An hour later, I was sitting in the room that I shared with Ilene. I was working her long thick blonde hair into a French braid, and she was talking excitedly about the dinner. For some strange reason, she was excited about the thought of meeting Roger and all of the other fussy werewolves that would most likely be in attendance.
Once I was done with her hair, I had her stand up so I could admire her dress. She hadn’t completely cooled off yet from our earlier fight, but she wasn’t glaring daggers at me every chance she got.
For the party, she was wearing a short, tight, silver dress with a strapless and low neckline. It had a fitted silhouette bodice that was accented with sequins through the entire dress. With it she paired silver shoes and bracelets. She was definitely trying to look older than she was, and it worried me just a little.
With her strong jaw, straight nose, full lips, and blue-gray eyes, I knew that someday she would have been an absolutely beautiful and powerful looking woman. But, as it was, she was stuck forever in the body of a fourteen year old girl. A small, not yet fully-developed, fourteen year old girl.
It was a little creepy, seeing her trying to act so mature and grown up. What possible reason could she have for wanting to look that way for a dinner party?
Someone knocked on the door, and Ray stuck his head in. He smiled, but I could tell that it was forced. “Well, don’t you two look beautiful?”
Ray and Quinten were both dressed in black jackets and slacks. Quinten’s hair was combed and he stood as straight and tall as possible. He looked great in a suit, even if he was obviously nervous.
“Alanna, Quinten is going to be your date for the night.”
He grinned at me. “You’re one lucky girl to have a date that’s as hot as me on your arm.”
I giggled.
“How do you know you’re hot?” Ilene asked, ruining the moment. I glared at her. She was tugging at her already low neckline. “You haven’t even seen yourself since you were a child.”
“Ilene–”
“It was just a question!” She snapped.
Quinten sighed. “Alanna, its fine. Ilene, you should know that having a sense of humor about everything in life, including yourself, makes it much easier to go through each day. If I couldn’t joke about myself, I’d be absolutely miserable.”
She sniffed and began plucking at the bottom of her tight-fitting skirt. Ray looked away, trying to be oblivious to his younger daughter’s actions. If I wasn’t still angry at her, I would have felt sorry for her, going into such an adult situation like this dinner party dressed like she was.
But she obviously didn’t mind.
The four of us drove to the dinner party together in Ray’s car. We were all in near total silence, other than the occasional advice from Ray.
“Dad? The other day, I thought Roger wasn’t that impressed by me. In fact, I got the impression that he disliked me for being friends with Quinten because he’s a human boy.”
“A blind human boy,” Quinten muttered angrily, drawing lines on the car’s backseat window. “Don’t forget that part.”
So much for being able to laugh about yourself…
I glanced at him and noticed Ray’s eyes flick up to meet Quinten’s in the mirror. “Well, I heard that Roger’s been asking around about you, discreetly of course, but he asked the wrong person, who told me.”
“Who was it that told you?” I asked, curious.
“Your cousin Jax.”
I smiled. “Will he be there?” If so, the dinner party was about to get a lot less horrible.
Ray nodded. “Yes, he will be. Your uncle Charles was a very important, well-liked man. Jax was always received very well by the others. He has a way of diffusing any tense situation, which comes in handy sometimes when meeting with dozens of other werewolves.”
“Did it ever occur to Roger that you would say no?” Quinten asked, trying not to grit his teeth in frustration.
I shrugged. “Probably not. I’m sure that he’s used to getting what he wants.”
“I don’t know why he wants you,” Ilene said, tugging at her bottom hemline again.
“Gee, thanks Ilene.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, glancing back at me.
“How did you mean it?” I asked, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. Was Ilene judging me?
“I just meant that he could have practically any werewolf he wanted, why choose someone so young and inexperienced? I mean, if he’d waited a couple of years to ask you, when you’ve proven yourself, I wouldn’t find it so strange. You’re talented, and as beautiful as mom was. It just doesn’t make sense right now,” she said.
She looked away, but I could hear the non-existent sarcasm in her voice. Did she think I was unattractive, or just unworthy?
Because I knew for a fact that I wasn’t anywhere near as beautiful as mom. I wasn’t ugly, but I wasn’t beautiful.
Ray nodded. “She’s right, Alanna. I’m a little worried about his reasons for asking.”
It kind of hurt that they thought he was automatically up to something. Even though I’d been planning on telling him no ever since Ray had first mentioned it, part of me still wanted to believe that Roger had been interested in me because of who I was as a person, not because of some nasty ulterior motive.
The dinner party was being held at Roger’s mansion. It was a large Tudor made of old red brick. It had large, high windows, a beautiful garden, and a four-stall garage with expensive cars parked out in front for everyone to admire. There were lights and lanterns strung up around the trees, casting a warm soft glow over everything.
What surprised me the most was that Roger’s mansion was so close to our home. It was only about a ten minute drive from our woods.
Ray handed his keys off to a young man dressed in a black vest, who took the car away to be parked. Obviously Roger was sparing no expense when it came to impressing everyone. Apparently the huge mansion just wasn’t grand enough on its own.
Quinten offered me his arm, which I gratefully took, and together the two of us walked through the open double doors and into a beautiful foyer, which was completed with a grand double staircase. We followed groups of other people into the luxurious mansion.
The dining room was large and it was lit by candles along the walls. Old tapestries and paintings lined the walls, and long plush rugs adorned the floor. A long table was surrounded by almost forty cushioned chairs, most of which were already occupied by guests. Roger sat at the head of the table, and there were a few open chairs around him. He beckoned to Ray, and the four of us found our seats.
Not surprisingly, I was on Roger’s right, with Quinten by my side. Ray was on his left, and Ilene was beside him.
Roger barely looked at the others as they sat down, and I tried not to show how angry that made me.
A young werewolf walked into the dining room, and I found myself suddenly grinning wildly. He was twenty-one years old and just over six feet tall. His shaggy hair was blonde and curly, and his eyes were honey-colored. He had a broad nose and the s
trong jaw that came from the Moore side of the family. He was massive, with a muscular build and a deadly grace whenever he moved.
He always had a goofy look on his face, and he sometimes acted a little childish, but he was so much fun to be around that nobody really cared.
Jaxson Moore winked at me as he took his seat next to a fussy older werewolf. He was about halfway down the table, and I wished that he could have been a little closer to me. He was handsome, funny, charming, loyal, and polite. I’d always imagined myself finding a mate like him.
Just, you know, not gay. Jax wasn’t shy about his personal life, but he didn’t go around advertising it. I wondered how many of these people knew about it, or if they would mind. Since werewolves didn’t age after shifting for the first time, a lot of these werewolves had been around for a very long time. They grew up in a time period that wasn’t as understanding as society nowadays.
Does he feel as uncomfortable here as I do?
*****
Dinner started, and I found myself being constantly dragged into conversation with Roger. He was trying to get to know me better, and I tried not to let on that I knew about his plans. What was harder was trying not to cringe every time he let his hand brush mine under the table. This was Roger’s party, and it wouldn’t be smart for me to insult him with all of these important people here.
“Alanna, have you ever heard the werewolf’s creation story?”
I forced myself to look at him. I refused to admit that he’d finally managed to capture my attention. “No, I haven’t.”
“The wolf-god Fenrir, son of Loki, was a gigantic black wolf that yearned for companionship. He tired of seeing all others with a mate, and prayed to the God Zeus to help him find a mate of his own. His prayers were answered in the form of Niveus, a beautiful pure white she-wolf.
“For a few centuries, they were happy together, but Fenrir became jealous of the gods, with their ability to transform their shape any way they desired. Zeus had taken the shape of several animals over the years, and Fenrir desperately wanted that power for himself.
“Niveus eventually bore her mate’s children. A son, Chandranath, and a daughter, Kamalia. Zeus intervened in their birth, and gave them the powers that their parents did not posses. They were wolves with the ability to become human. The first werewolves.
“For a while, Fenrir was once again happy. But, his children, forced to live among humans on earth, were mistreated. Fenrir became furious that humans would have the audacity to threaten his children. You see, wolves were feared in those dark times, and many had been hunted and killed.
“Eventually, Chandranath and Kamalia were caught and slaughtered for their witchcraft. Zeus, seeing the pain he had caused Fenrir with his gift, brought them back to life, and reversed it. Instead of wolves with the power to become human, they were human with the ability to become wolves.
“They both went their separate ways, and found partners of their own. Their children, and their children’s children, would all go on to become werewolves.”
“But, werewolves today don’t turn unless they’re introduced to a vampire’s venom. How does the story deal with that?” I asked.
Roger smiled. “Nothing escapes you, does it? Well, after centuries of breeding with humans, the power of the werewolves’ blood had begun to wane. Men and woman were going their whole lives without changing.”
“Let me guess, Fenrir got angry again.”
Roger nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid the god’s often expect more than they should. He ordered Zeus to fix this problem at once, and Zeus was more than happy to agree. You see, over the centuries, Zeus had become quite fond of watching Fenrir’s descendants. They were a thing of amusement, and he missed the entertainment they gave him.
“So Zeus created their mortal enemy; undead humans that would have the strength of ten men. Their venom reawakened the power inside the werewolves’ blood. He intended for the two species to fight to the death for the remainder of time, and he delights in watching his two greatest creations destroy each other.”
“So, which side is winning?”
Roger shrugged. “Depends on who you talk to. Some say that we’re dead even in this war, others think werewolves are ahead by a little.”
I nodded, thinking about all of that new information.
After dinner finished, waiters came in and took away the empty plates. Roger stood, and the talk instantly died down as everyone waited patiently for what he was going to say.
“Ladies and gentlemen, now that the dinner has finished, let us move to a much more fitting room for the remainder of the evening. Shall we?”
I grabbed Quinten’s hand before Roger could consider grabbing mine, and we followed the others into a large, open, brightly lit room. The floors were made of beautiful hard wood, dozens of candles lined the walls, and a giant glass chandelier hung in the center of the dome ceiling. I recognized at once what it was: a giant old fashioned ballroom.
A small stage in the corner of the room held several beautiful instruments, and men and women began playing slow peaceful music. Couples took to the dance floor, and for a minute, I watched them all. Ilene and I were by far the youngest werewolves in the room. Some of these other guests were almost a century old, and they’d had a taste of that immortality already.
Was that what I’d be like years from now? Graceful, deadly, beautiful?
I looked for Ray and found him over by Roger, trying to keep him busy. He motioned for me to take Quinten and leave.
I wasn’t eager to spend the rest of the night dancing with Roger. The thought of his hands on my body sent shivers down my spine. I reached over and tapped the back of Quinten’s hand twice. It was a signal that we’d worked out years ago, telling him to follow me closely.
I just hoped that the noise and people wouldn’t confuse him.
Chapter Six
Together, we made our way out to a nearby balcony. It overlooked the garden. The lanterns and strings of lights mixed with the pale light from the moon, creating something out of a fairytale. It was so beautiful; I just wished that Quinten could share this beautiful experience with me.
I leaned against the balcony edge, breathing in the crisp night air. Despite Roger’s obvious attention, the night wasn’t a total nightmare. This place was beautiful, and right now I was with my favorite person in the whole world.
Quinten’s hand on my shoulder broke me from my silent reverie. “Ray told me to dance with you for as long as possible. He doesn’t want to give Roger any chance to sneak in and sweep you off your feet. Willingly or not.”
I smiled and took Quinten’s outstretched hand. He pulled me close and placed his other hand at the small of my back. His hand quickly warmed the area, and I fought to keep from blushing. Surprisingly, Quinten was very graceful, and he knew the steps of the dance.
We danced out on the balcony beneath the moonlight, our bodies pressed tightly against one another. I leaned into Quinten as far as I could, and I rested my head on his shoulder. This, right here, was perfection. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.
“I hate to think that that creep gets to see how beautiful you look, and I can’t,” Quinten said, startling me.
“Quinten, I look the same as I do everyday. I’m just in some stupid dress.”
“I bet you still look beautiful…” He said, a strange expression coming over his face. “I wish I could see it.”
We finished the dance in silence, and when it was over, we ducked behind the French double doors that opened onto the balcony, hiding in the shadows. Together we sat there, neither of us saying a word. We didn’t have to; being with Quinten was both peaceful and reassuring.
I glanced up at him, and frowned. His entire body was tense. It was almost like he was waiting for something bad to happen. “Quinten, what’s wrong?”
He sighed. “Alanna, you remember how Ray and I talked in his study yesterday?”
“Yes,” I said. It had been bugging me for a while. I’d lain
awake all last night, trying to think about what they could have possibly been talking about.
“Well, we talked a lot about you and Roger,” he said, frowning. “Ray’s fairly certain that Roger’s going to ask you to be his mate, and Ray doesn’t want that to happen, ever. Anyways, he and I decided that the best way to keep that from happening was if you already had a…you know.”
I was speechless. Was Quinten talking about what I think he was talking about?
“Ray told me yesterday that he already thinks of me as a son, and that this would just make it more official.”
Was he trying to ask me to be his mate? The thought both thrilled and terrified me. He was my best friend, and there was nobody on this planet that I trusted more, except maybe Ray. What if we were mates? Would that feeling of trust grow into something else?
Was it already more than trust?
“Quinten–”
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Roger said, standing in a pool of light from the ballroom.
“Actually–” Quinten began.
“I’m sorry, but I make it a point to spend a little time with all of my honored guests,” he said, refusing to even look at Quinten. “I’d be delighted if you would join me for a dance in my ballroom.”
I didn’t like the way he put emphasis on the fact that he was rich and could afford to have his own ballroom. And I wanted to tell him no, with every fiber of my being, but Ray had warned me earlier. I could avoid him, but I couldn’t refuse him. Especially not when he was asking for something as simple as a dance.
I looked over at Quinten, whose face was the reddest I’d ever seen it. He looked crushed, and I reached out a hand to comfort him.
“It’ll be alright. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
His shoulders slumped, and I wished I could stay and make him feel better. Even if I didn’t have an answer for him, I wanted him to know how much he meant to me, and that I’d definitely be thinking about his almost proposal.
I followed Roger back into the ballroom, and he pulled me close. Instead of feeling sheltered and protected like I had while dancing with Quinten, I just felt repulsed. I noticed Ray and Jax out of the corner of my eye, watching with anger and helplessness.
Arena Wars Trilogy Page 6
