“And that means there will be a lot of people fighting. I get that.”
“No, you don’t. Alphas fight to the death. It’s not just fighting. You playing your part will help keep lives from being lost.”
“More pressure. That’s exactly what I need,” Giselle said in exasperation, with all the power of teenage angst to back it up.
“Suck it up little wolf, and listen.” Richard might as well have smacked her in the face for all the gentleness of his words. “Yes, you save those lives. But beyond that, you prevent wars. The regional Alpha keeps all the packs in check. You’re a neutral party, so if you come to power, you can maintain that balance. But let’s say an Alpha from one pack that is warring with another pack becomes Regional Alpha. They then have the power to destroy the pack they were already at war with.”
She couldn’t believe in this day and age wolves would be so petty. “But they―”
“Yes. They would.” Richard cut her off before she could finish. “No doubt you’ve already heard that the Regional is responsible for keeping the peace. That’s a full-time job.”
Giselle sighed, knowing there was no way out, but silently prayed for some miracle to save her.
Richard blew out a calming breath. Whether he’d seen the panic in her eyes or felt a change of tactic was needed, he took a moment and sat down next to her before continuing with a noticeable change in tone. “It’s a lot to ask of you, but no more than you’ve already shown you’re capable of. Remember it was you who brought the Thrace and Hernandez packs to peace.”
Giselle nodded, unable to find the words to speak.
“I’m only asking for you to do your best tonight. Take this one day at a time. But know I have faith in you.”
“As do I.” Martina came in through the adjoining door, her hair wrapped up in a towel. “And we will be with you for the meeting. Richard and I both have made sure of that, as your Regent and enforcer. You only have to be alone for the reception, so they can get to know you.”
At least she had that. Hobnob for a couple of hours, and then she would get backup. That she could manage.
“Okay. What do you need me to do?” Giselle asked.
Her words sent a collective sigh of relief through the room. Richard turned to Martina, and as if a silent conversation passed between them, she took her leave.
“Representatives from all the Regional Alpha packs will be there. Remember the people I told you about?” Richard asked.
Giselle had written it all down but couldn’t remember where she’d put the paper. “Kinda.”
“Doesn’t matter. Let them introduce themselves. Makes them feel important. And along those lines, you should act impressed by them all.”
“So I’m sucking up, then?” Giselle asked.
“Tone it down a bit.” Amusement lit Richard’s eyes, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a slight chuckle hidden in his words. “General interest is all you need to show. If you are to take the position, you will be their equal, so do not set them too high above you at the start. But yes, you want them to like you, so make sure you acknowledge their importance.”
“Will my sisters get to come at all?” Giselle prayed the answer would be yes. They’d make her look good physically, but having them near also helped bolster her confidence, too.
“No.” The words came out with utter finality.
Damn. Giselle sighed, dropping her gaze to the small table as if interested in the grain of the wood. Until recently she’d survived on her own skills. Dealt with countless new families. Always having to play cute and sweet and hope for acceptance. How was this any different? Same play, just on a new stage. Once she realized that the people she’d be acting for held no more importance than in previous performances, she realized the strength she needed was already there. She could do this. And do it well. “Okay. What else?”
“Always make eye contact when speaking. Show them your own personal dominance, but speak with respect and interest.”
Giselle practiced with Richard, meeting his eyes as she asked, “And what should I talk to them about?”
Approval softened the sharpness of Richard’s gaze. “Very good. Ask them about their territory. What kind of issues they see affecting our kind. Business-like questions that show you have an interest in the politics of our people.”
Be the leader. Think like a leader. “What if they ask about me?” Giselle wondered, knowing that her own personal story was the reason her birthright was being called into question.
“You will be grateful for the Hernandez pack taking you in. You will talk of how you brought the two packs together. Always play up the wolf side of your life.”
“But if they ask?” It would come up. How could it not? How many wolves grew up as she had?
“Be brief, and don’t lie. A wolf can smell it, you know.”
More so than he probably understood. She laughed to herself. “Yes. I know.”
“Then keep that in mind when you speak.”
If she thought she’d hit her quota of nerves before, she was drowning in them now. Giselle’s eyes found the pot of sludge still sitting on the counter and resigned herself to getting another cup. If she was going to be on her best, she would need plenty of energy, and maybe a bit of sugar to put some pep in her step.
Martina returned to the room, dressed for the day, and snatched up her purse. “Coffee run?” she asked.
“Oh, thank the gods for you!” Giselle nearly tripped over her feet to hug her adoptive mother.
“Oh, you are desperate, aren’t you?” Martina laughed.
“I honestly don’t know how I’m going to pull it off.” She hesitated, knowing they were all counting on her. Even now she could see Martina’s apprehension. “But I will. I promise. Best behavior.”
“I know you will, dear.” Martina’s words were hopeful more than certain.
Giselle understood what was at stake. Pressure to perform had her stomach churning, but she would not let her family down over that. Martina had been so good to her – given her a home when no one else had. Despite her innate ability to cause trouble, Giselle would never do anything to directly harm her family.
“You’ll see. A little caffeine and the fashion stylings of Taylor and Di, and I’ll be a shoe-in for Alpha. They’ll be begging me to take the position.” Giselle overplayed her hand in the hopes that her false confidence would bring a real smile to Martina’s face.
Nearly hitting the mark, her adoptive mother laughed. “Three shots of espresso?” She winked and left the hotel, purse in hand.
Giselle turned to see Richard still sitting at the table. More than anything, the old wolf looked tired.
“Any final advice before I begin the total makeover?” She didn’t need to see her sisters standing in the doorway behind her, just waiting to get their claws on her and turn her into the Alpha she was meant to be.
“I’d say be yourself, but we all know how that would end.” Richard winked.
“Did you just try to make a joke?” Giselle laughed.
“Time will tell.” He nodded. “Your entourage is waiting.”
Chapter 12
Night’s cool breeze gently kissed her face like a doting mother sending her child off to school for the first time. It blew through her loosely curled hair, whispering encouragement as Giselle stood outside of the hotel. She’d needed a few moments to clear her head before going inside to the reception hall where the wolves were waiting.
Above, a clear sky showed the moon nearly full, and she wished nothing more than to shed her skin and call her wolf forward to bask in the silvery light. How long had it been since she’d run free, allowing the breeze to ruffle her fur? How much longer would it be before she could do so alone? Here especially, on unfamiliar ground, she’d not be allowed the privilege, though it was the one thing that was sure to center her and calm the anxiety she was feeling.
“No pressure. None whatsoever. Just another day.” Giselle tried to relax, whispering the words like a mantra to stea
dy her nerves. She’d made the promise. She would do this. But though her mind was set, she could not control the way her heart raced at the thought of what was riding on this evening.
It’s do or die time. She started inside, walking as proudly as she could, head held high. Half the battle was acting, and she could do that, at least.
As she approached the doors to the reception hall, Derek, the butler from Vivian’s home, stopped her.
“I’ll announce your entry, miss.” Still as snooty as ever, his presence added to her concern for the evening. If he was here, did that mean Vivian had weaseled her way in? And if so, why hadn’t her adoptive mother or Richard been allowed in?
He opened the door and called out to the room, “Miss Giselle Silverman.”
Giselle cleared her throat. “Richards.”
Derek looked down his nose at her. “Are you not Orion Silverman’s daughter?”
The question caught her off guard for a moment. She was, yes, but her name had been Richards for as long as she could remember. “Yes.”
“Then you will be addressed by your father’s name, or reject his lineage.”
If she could slap the snark out of that man’s mouth, she would; but seeing that all eyes in the banquet hall were now looking at her, she pursed her lips and walked away. He’d be taught a lesson in manners once she became Alpha. That thought bolstered her confidence as she stepped into the room. She held her head high, as Richard had instructed.
Eyes watched her from all around – old souls with deceptively youthful faces. Wolves had longevity that often masked as immortality, she’d been told. Her pack was relatively new, but she knew some of these wolves had been around for centuries. Richard had done his best to brief her on politics as well as manners, but nothing could have prepared her for the sudden rush she felt entering the large ballroom.
Like the baseline of a song, waves of power throbbed within the room.
Giselle stopped short as the doors closed behind her, and she took a breath, allowing her heart to calm while attempting to recognize the people Richard had warned her about as well as hunting for an exit should she need it.
For the amount of people it held, the room seemed overly large. The Alphas had spread themselves all around, leaving wide gaps like invisible territorial boundaries that she’d have to cross if she wished to speak to them all.
Centrally located, a seating area had been set up for a feast. Giselle reminded herself that once they got to that part, she’d have back up again – Martina and Richard would be there. All she had to do was get through this initial reception.
She’d been so caught up in her own thoughts while staring at the place settings that she hadn’t noticed the person behind her.
“You look nervous, kid.”
Giselle nearly jumped at the sound of those words. Was her nervousness really showing that badly? Not even five minutes in and she was failing. She had to do better than this.
With a calming breath, she turned and greeted the woman who’d spoken to her, remembering she was supposed to be sucking up.
She’d expected to find an older lady with a business suit, perhaps brandishing a glass of chardonnay. Not in a million years had she expected an Alpha to be a young blonde woman with a pixie cut sporting red-tipped ends. Definitely not the business suit type, either. This Alpha wore her power in her presence, not her outfit, which was way more casual than any other in the room. If Giselle had known she could get away with a leather shrug over a long maxi dress, she’d have totally gone for it.
“My nerves are that obvious, huh?” Giselle asked, trying to keep her tone light and not give away the shear terror she felt inside. This woman was an Alpha, despite her look. She was someone Giselle was supposed to be fearless around. Head held high, and all that.
“We girls are so much better at reading body language than the men.” The woman smiled brightly, disarming Giselle with genuine good-natured ribbing. “But don’t let them know I said that.”
“I won’t.” Giselle’s guard went back up after the momentary lapse. Richard had warned her to be wary of all the Alphas, but he hadn’t told her to expect one so young-looking. Of course, age was ambiguous where wolves were concerned, but this Alpha not only had the youthful look, her style screamed it as well.
“It’s okay. I don’t bite,” she said with a slight chuckle. “Okay, bad joke. I know. But you looked like you needed a laugh.”
“Sorry. I’m being rude, aren’t I?” Giselle scrambled for something respectful to say. That was what was expected of her. Respect. Class. Importance... no... interest. “You are...?”
“Not going to bite your head off for taking a breath. Seriously. You look like you’re going to have a fit. Don’t be so stressed.” Her smile had turned to concern.
“Damn. And I was going for calm and collected. Failed again.” Giselle chose to go with the flow rather than try and save the moment with sarcasm.
“I’ll have to take off points for execution, but you still have a chance to impress me during the swimsuit competition.”
Giselle snorted with laughter and tried to cover it with a cough. “You are not what I expected.”
“Neither are you, but here we are.” The wolf laughed too. “The others might care if you’re trying to impress them. Don’t do that with me. Just be yourself, and we’ll get along great.”
That was exactly the thing Giselle needed to hear. And despite what Richard had told her about being careful, she felt that this wolf at least was being honest. She was different, and not just because of her youthful appearance. There was something else there below the surface, almost as if she were a kindred spirit. Giselle smiled genuinely and extended a hand. “You, I think, are the first Alpha I’m glad to meet.”
“We’re not all that bad. I’m Fallon, by the way.” She shook Giselle’s hand lightly and let go, quickly grabbing a glass from a tray as a waiter walked past. “Take a chug of this before anyone sees. It will help.” She offered the drink, and Giselle slugged it in one go.
“Thanks. I’m Giselle.”
“Oh, I think we all know who you are.” Fallon laughed and snatched the glass back from Giselle before anyone spotted it. “You’ve got quite the backstory, little werewolf.” She winked. “And I hear if the vote goes well, you’ll be bringing the leadership back to my home town.”
Giselle thought for a second. She’d never seen this woman in Vegas. Richard had shown her a few photos of the main Alphas. But Blondie was from the Olde Town Pack. “Wait... I thought you were from Boston?” Giselle asked, hoping she had not confused the Alpha with someone else.
“Looks like you’ve been given the quick summary on us.” Fallon giggled. “Yeah, I live in Boston now, but when I was human, I lived in Vegas.”
“What do you mean, was?” Giselle kicked herself for not paying better attention now to Richard’s talk. But he’d droned on for so long she’d hardly been able to keep her eyes open.
“I’m a turned wolf,” Fallon said with a flippant wave of her hand through her two-toned blonde and red hair.
“Showing how much of a noob I really am, aren’t I?” Giselle chuckled to hide her confusion. The term human transformation had been thrown at her once before but the reality of it left her dumbstruck.
If Fallon had any clue how utterly confused Giselle was, the blonde wolf was not letting on. If anything, she looked even more amused to be chatting with Giselle. “You’ve still got me beat. You grew up like this; I’m still working through the whole supernatural thing.”
Hearing that solidified the reason she’d felt at ease with Fallon right from the start. They were kindred spirits, in a way – both having grown up human and apart from all the wolfy politics. And that settled it. Fallon was definitely someone to make an ally of.
“I grew up human. For what that’s worth. And then right about the time I got boobs” – Giselle pointed to her chest – “I got the tail too.” She wiggled her hips for effect. “So I’m thinking we’re even
ly matched.”
True amusement sparkled in Fallon’s eyes. “Well, good, then we can be buddies.” She threw an arm around Giselle and led her away from the tables.
“I could use a few more of those.” One vote in her favor. At least, if she were reading Fallon’s offer of friendship the right way. Having the backing of the Olde Town pack was definitely a step in the right direction. And beyond that, Fallon was more than interesting. She had no need to pretend as Richard had instructed. Giselle leaned in and whispered, “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I have to know... How’d you get turned? Like a bite or something?”
“Or something.” Fallon’s face contorted in pain.
“That bad, eh? Sorry.” Just as she’d been feeling confident, Giselle had stuck her foot in her mouth. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“You’re fine.” Fallon reassured her. “See the hair? That’s no dye job. My best friend is a vampire. Her blood was the only reason I made it through the transition.”
Giselle’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “Wait... You’ve met a vampire?” She’d heard about them, but no one in her family admitted to knowing one. For all she’ known, there were no vampires in Vegas.
“Oh, you poor sheltered little thing,” Fallon laughed.
So much for her attempt at being cool. Her noob-ness flashed proudly like a neon sign above her head. “Yeah. Pretty much. But if it helps, I’m dating a witch.” That had to count for something, right? “Dating out of your species. Against family rules? Cool points for you then.” Fallon chuckled. “Yeah, my best friend is a vampire. But I knew her before she was turned. And then they – her vampy boyfriend and his group – tried to turn me.”
“What?” This wolf was turning out to be the most interesting person Giselle had ever met. Who the hell tells off a group of vampires and then turns wolf? No denying the Alpha in that lady. That was for sure. Instant respect earned there. “How did you survive?”
“I put my foot down.” Fallon stomped a foot for effect. “Told them I was under no circumstances going to let them turn me into a vampire. My best friend backed me up.”
Fearless Little Werewolf Page 8
