The Beast's Blind Serenity

Part 1 - Alpha Summit, Chapter 7 – Pre-Concert Jitters

Ila’s POV

My excitement was slowly building, as did my pre-concert jitters. Everything was starting to feel real. My first concert with an audience. Of course, I had minor performances for school, but those were for a grade. This… was my musical debut. To help calm the swirling emotions, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander away. The colorful melodies of the different pieces I have played in the past filter through my head while my fingers moved to the right imaginary piano keys in my lap.

“So? What do you think?” Maxwell’s voice breaks through.

“What do you mean?” I asked, turning my head towards his voice.

“Of the car, silly! I thought you would have at least noticed the seat felt different when you got in.” He sounded hurt. “Hannah got it for me as an anniversary present even though I wish she hadn’t spent the money, but I couldn’t turn down a beautiful car. She said I needed something fun.”

I ran my hand over the side of the seat. It was a creamy feeling of velvety soft leather… “Oh… It feels nice. What did she get you?” I ask with some excitement.

“An Ashton Martin. Big shot car for a big shot CEO, right?” He laughs.

I couldn’t help but laugh with him. Maxwell was so cheap and overcautious that it was hard to see him as a successful, ruthless businessman. But to no one’s surprise, he graduated at the top of his class in business school. Some say he is a better CEO than our uncle.

“Uncle would have been so proud of you.” I say, the thought warming my heart.

Maxwell places a hand on my knee. “He would have been proud of you too.”

We make a turn and slow down to a comfortable crawl, most likely in the parking lot of the packhouse's grand hall.

“I was told to go to the service entrance at the back of the ballroom. Apparently, Alpha Dean wants to have me make a grand entrance.” I said as Maxwell made another slight turn.

Maxwell lets out a low growl but doesn’t say anything until we come to a stop. Does Maxwell know about Alpha Dean’s advances towards me? I try to keep the dark thoughts away from what Alpha had said earlier in the day. Would he try to make a pass at me during the ball?

Maxwell touches my hand before clasping it firmly in his large palms. “As soon as you are done with your performance, I will come and fetch you. You haven’t walked around the grand hall in a while since the renovations for the Alpha Summit and they moved some things around for tonight’s dinner and dancing, so I need you to wait for me backstage with the event coordinator. I already spoken with her on the phone. There will be a lot of people tonight and I am worried you will get disoriented in an unfamiliar place.” His voice sounded worried, as if he was anticipating something happening.

I nod in understanding. “I will be fine.”

Maxwell pats my hand before he unbuckles our seatbelts. The car door opens, then closes on the opposite side before my door opens. He helps me out of the car and hands me my walking stick.

Even though darkness is always around me, I am overwhelmed by the unfamiliar bustling noises and smells filling my senses. There must be people still working backstage to finish up preparations. The different sounds that I am not familiar with mixed with the muffled conversations overlapping cause me to be hit with sensory overload. Even the smells are making it difficult to focus on each of them individually.

I grip Maxwell’s arm a little tighter, using him to ground myself while I take deep breaths. I wish Cerberus was here. The feel of his soft coat against my hand has always been a source of melatonin for me. Maxwell must sense my anxiety; he reaches up and caresses my hair in long soft strokes. Deep purrs filter through the noise and into my ear. His wolf, Milo, helps me relax.

“Ila!” a female voice calls out, making me turn in the direction of the clicking heels. “Hello Ila! Just in time! We have about 10 minutes before Elder Duncan’s opening speech about peace and harmony, blah blah blah. There are a couple of other minor speeches that basically explain the summit schedule. Then Alpha Dean will give a speech welcoming the packs, then he will announce you and the string quartet! How does that sound?”

She seems nice, so I nod in understanding.

“You must be Mr. Rizzuto. We spoke on the phone. My, you are just as handsome as your voice suggests. I am Maura.” There’s a recognizable flirty purr to the woman’s voice. I bite my bottom lip, feeling the sudden tension in my brother’s posture. The smell of the woman’s arousal permeates the air. My brother has always been a looker. He is handsome with his auburn hair and deep dark green eyes, but this woman has no chance.

Maxwell clears his throat. “Yes, My MATE thinks so too.” There’s a bite to his words. “You said you would stay with Ila until I come and fetch her. Does that still stand?” The all business, no pleasure tone in Maxwell’s voice is the same one he uses in the boardroom during meetings. He isn’t messing around with this woman one bit, and that makes me smile.

“Yes Mr. Rizzuto. I will personally see that she is taken care of,” Maura says, her flirty tone has evaporated into thin air.

“Good. I need a moment with my sister. Excuse us.”

Maura doesn’t say anything, but the sound of her heels told me she walked away in a hurry.

Strong arms embraced me in a hug with some pressure from my brother’s chin on the top of my head. We stand motionless for a few minutes while I take deep breaths to calm myself down. No words are needed to be said between us. Maxwell is my best friend and at this moment, I am glad he is close by.

“I should have brought you flowers.” He says, making me chuckle as we let go of each other. “I see that the string quartet has arrived. I will take you over to say hello.” I nod and Maxwell leads me to my fellow musicians. We talk for a few minutes, going over any minor details or changes in the set. We wish each other good luck when Maura taps my shoulder.

“Ila, it’s almost time.” Maura whispers to me. “Mr. Rizzuto, you may want to go find your table. I will stay with her.” My brother kisses my cheeks and wishes me good luck one more time before leaving me.

Maura gently slides her hand around my upper arm. “Damn, why are all the good sexy ones taken?” She whispers to herself, thinking I didn’t hear her. “I will guide you to the spot where you can wait in the wings.” She says while leading me to where she wants me to stand.

Suddenly, the air seems to be sucked out of the surrounding space, making my smile disappear. Maura’s words cutting into me like a knife. “Oh, Alpha Dean! I thought you were already on stage with the rest of the Elders and Alpha Summit Committee. Your speech is already on the podium.”

“Thank you, Ms. Maura. By the way, a gentleman was looking for you. He was saying something about an issue with the lighting.” Alpha Dean touches my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “I can look after our little songbird until the speeches begin.”

I don’t move when I feel Maura’s hand slide out from around my upper arm. No, No, No. Don’t go! I am internally screaming and begging for her to stay. If only she could hear my inner thoughts.

“Oh dear, thank you Alpha. I better go check. We are starting in just three minutes.” Maura says before scurrying off.

“Just enough time.” Alpha Dean says, but I know he isn’t referring to the lights. His words are directed at me. He leans into whisper, his warm breath saturated with the smell of alcohol. “Oh, my songbird. You wore that dress for me, right? You look absolutely delicious in it. I can’t keep my eyes off of you. It makes me want you more. My c**k is begging for a taste of what you have hidden underneath.” I can feel his hand caress the side of my dress. “Velvet… Very Sexy…”

“I, I… Alpha.” I stutter out, but I am not sure what I am saying. I try to step back, but he has a firm hand against my bare lower back.

Alpha Dean kisses my cheek with the tip of his coarse tongue touching my skin. The smell of alcohol lingers, making me sick; clearly, he is on his way to getting drunk. “Good luck with your performance. I know everyone will love you just as much as I do. Oh, and by the way, I want to show off our little pack’s songbird to the other alphas. You will be spending the evening with me.” He chuckles before stepping away. I am frozen in the space deepening into the darkness of my mind. The feel of his lips on my cheek and his hand on my skin are all I can think about. He is finally staking his claim. A claim I do not want. A claim I am terrified of.