Second Chance Mate to the Shadowmoon Mafia Boss

Chapter 2: First Encounters

Vivian

“Hold still, Vivian, or your hem will be crooked." The seamstress pinched my calf muscle.

“Ouch!" I shook her off. “What's the big deal? This dress was tailor-made. Why does it need to be adjusted?"

“Because you picked out flats when I hemmed it for heels. You'll be tripping over yourself all night long while dancing unless I hem it."

I rolled my eyes and glanced at Marian. She sat across the room in a comfy chair. Her simple, satin, emerald green dress rumpled a little against the chair. The dress had one partial sleeve, off the shoulder. It was tightly fitted all the way to her knees where it flared out in a mermaid-style skirt with a slit up the side.

I knew Marian wasn't happy with her dress from the moment our father brought it home. It wasn't flashy enough for her, she said.

“Do you want to trade places?" I asked, winking at her.

Marian arched a dark eyebrow. “Dad wouldn't appreciate that." She sighed and leaned her head back.

I turned to the full-length mirror, studying my reflection. My own dress was a pale shade of green. The skirt was long and flowing with a layer of pale green tulle overtop and a beige, satin underlayer. The bodice was a tightly fitted corset with pale green ribbing and clear lace between, showing my skin underneath.

It had spaghetti straps and at the waist there were tulle flowers over my hips with matching ribbons that hung down, getting lost in the folds of the skirt.

It was the perfect Solstice Ball dress.

I ran my hands down the bodice, over my hips. There was no denying that the dress was perfect for me. It enhanced the delicate softness of my pale skin while contrasting heavily against my dark, wavy hair. The corset made my breasts pop over the squared neckline.

“Alright, I'm just about done," the seamstress said.

“Come here, Marian." I stepped off the fitting platform and held my arm out to her.

Reluctantly, she joined me in front of the mirror. I put my arm around her and stared at our reflection.

Save for her bright green eyes against my brown eyes, and a slight roundness to her face where mine had a few more angles, we looked exactly alike.

“Are you ready to make the boys drool tonight? Because we are going to be the most beautiful singles at this party." I winked at our reflection.

Marian giggled and rolled her eyes. “You look gorgeous, Vivian."

“Well, since we are twins, that means you look gorgeous, too."

She shrugged lightly and stepped away from the mirror. “You got a custom-made dress, Viv. Mine's off the rack."

“Yeah, but it isn't the dress that makes one beautiful, but the person inside." I ran my hands down my skirt again, the soft tulle delighting my fingers.

When I looked up, Marian had a deep crease in her brow.

“Come on. I bet Dad is already waiting for us." I grabbed my shawl and tossed Marian hers.

Her eyes lit up and I could tell she was a lot more excited about the Solstice Ball than she was letting on. Our father might have splurged on my dress but when it came to finding a mate, it wasn't the dress that mattered. I just wish Marian remembered that.

“There are my girls!"

“Hi, Dad."

He came down the hall and greeted us outside our hotel room door. The five-star, Regalia Towers, Baltimore branch, hosted the annual Solstice Ball for all the single shifters in the city limits to find their mates. My father's former position in Shadowmoon afforded him the luxury of putting us up in one of the finer rooms in the hotel.

“Vivian, you look stunning." He cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “Your mother would be so proud."

“Thanks, Daddy." I stepped back as he turned to Marian.

“You too, Marian, you look good." He turned back to me. “Tonight is very important, Vivian, you understand that, don't you?"

“I do."

“The Summers family name is on the line. I need you to conduct yourself properly. Some of the most important people from Shadowmoon and other organizations will be here."

I sighed and met my father's gaze. I had his eyes. I could see my own reflection staring back at me from his brown orbs. Although he was still strong and athletic, the corners of his eyes creased with new wrinkles and the lines around his mouth were more prominent.

“Dad, you don't even work for them anymore. You retired, why do you want to impress them?"

My father scoffed. He touched my cheek lightly. “Yes, I retired early to raise my lovely daughters." He held an arm out to Marian and held her against his side but he kept his eyes on me. “The Summers family name still holds a lot of weight with these shifters. They will only support us as long as we uphold that legacy."

Nodding, I glanced at Marian. She was watching my father with complete adoration and love. In her eyes, he could do nothing wrong.

If only she knew…

“I won't let you down, Daddy." I mustered a smile, hoping he wouldn't see how strained it was.

He pulled away from Marian and wrapped me in a warm embrace. “I know Viv. You never have before." He chucked my chin and gave me a twinkle-eyed smile. “I have something special for you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lovely string of pearls. There was a rose gold and jade flower pendant with smaller pearl beads at the center hanging from the necklace.

I gasped. “Dad, is that…"

“This was your mother's. I know she'd want you to wear it tonight." He walked behind me and draped the pearls around my neck, clasping them in place.

I touched the necklace, a strong wave of emotion coming over me. There were so few things left of my mother. We hardly had any pictures of her. I blinked back my tears and shook my head. If I got blubbery, my father would think I was too immature and not ready to handle the responsibility.

“Thank you." I nodded to him.

“You've earned it." He touched the small of my back.

The three of us headed to the elevator. Marian trailed behind me slightly and I stuck to my dad's side. He wouldn't have it any other way. He hooked his hand into my elbow. To the outward observer, it was a fatherly gesture.

When we got to the elevator, the doors opened and several young shifters came out. They laughed and teased each other, running down the hall. Clearly, they'd been enjoying the ball.

My father's fingers tightened ever so slightly on my arm, pulling me to a stop. He scoffed and shook his head.

“And try to avoid associating with hooligans like that." He pushed me into the elevator, his fingers still tight on my elbow.

He might have retired from active work in Shadowmoon, but Jackson Summers never lost the attitude. I'd grown up in his house. I remembered all the thugs hanging around and some of the top-level members of Shadowmoon checking in on my father while we were growing up.

Once I was a teenager, he had those thugs follow me around. He always said they were for protection, but Marian never got her own entourage.

I couldn't deny that my father's retirement plan with Shadowmoon let us live very comfortable, extravagant lives. But it came with a cost. And that cost was never having privacy and being tangled with some of the most powerful, most… unsavory shifters in the states.

The Regalia Tower ballroom was already filled with eager youths. A live band played upbeat music and the dancefloor was filled with people dancing, laughing, and trying to find their mates. I even saw some groping as I walked by some couples off to the side.

Servers walked around with trays of drinks and appetizers. It was the most lavish event of the season.

I looped my arm with Marian's and pulled her into the crowd as soon as I saw our father approaching some Shadowmoon higher-ups. I didn't recognize them but I recognized the Bloodmoon and Forestmoon branch tattoos on their arms.

“What are you doing?" Marian argued.

“This is supposed to be our night. I don't want to spend it talking to boring old businessmen. I want to dance. Don't you?"

Marian grinned and nodded. “That's why we're here isn't it?"

“Hey there."

A pair of young, athletic, nicely dressed males approached us. The taller of the two held his hand out to me.

“Care for a dance?"

My cheeks flushed and I nodded, taking his hand. I pulled him onto the dancefloor and looked back just in time to see Marian accepting a dance from the other guy.

I let my dance partner swoop me into his arms and lead me around the dancefloor. My wolf practically purred at the adoration and appreciation in his eyes but I knew he wasn't my mate. When the song ended, we parted ways, continuing the search for that fated life partner.

I met back up with Marian after a few more dances. She had a glass of champagne, her cheeks flushed.

“You're looking awfully… feverish." I stuck my tongue out at her and took her champagne, quenching my own thirst before handing it back.

“I'm having a lot of fun," she admitted.

“Good. Any potential mates lurking around?"

Marian shrugged. “There are a few noteworthy males around. I have one or two I want to get to know a little better." She gave me a cheeky grin and downed another gulp of champagne.

Suddenly, the entire ballroom got quiet. Even the band stopped playing mid-song.

A large entourage of male shifters entered the ballroom, all wearing tailored, black, silk suits. At the head of the group was a woman in a matching black suit. Beside her, a man I knew all too well by reputation. With long red hair and a surly scowl, there was no mistaking Finn Riker, the head of all Shadowmoon.

Finn's eyes darted around quickly and he nodded to his inner circle. They immediately dispersed into the crowd. It was so like a patriarch to show up and cause a scene.

“What is he doing here? I didn't think someone as high-ranking as Finn Riker would come to an event like this," I muttered to Marian as the music slowly picked up again.

“High ranking? Viv, he is the top of the food chain. And you know, the Shadowmoon Boss still needs a mate, too."

I rolled my eyes. “I doubt that's why he is here."

“I've got to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." Marian quickly hurried off before I could offer to go with her.

That was strange.

I stood alone by the back wall. Several other males came up and asked to dance but my wolf bristled at each one and I turned them down. I wondered what her problem was. We were here to find a mate. Either she knew they weren't the right one or she had someone else she was hoping would approach us.

“Where are you, Marian?" I whispered, rocking back on my heels. She'd been in the bathroom for a long time.

My heart fluttered slightly. Maybe she ran into her mate and they were getting to know each other. A smile tugged at my lips. I hoped that for my sister, more than anything. She needed a male in her life that would appreciate and adore her.

I scanned the ballroom and saw my father chatting up the woman that arrived with Finn. If he was still here, that meant I couldn't leave. He'd see my absence as a betrayal and a disappointment. I couldn't carry the weight of his disappointment around. He was counting on me…

My wolf bristled again but no one was around me or approaching me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and my heart thudded in my chest like a steady drumbeat. I felt eyes on me.

Quickly, I scanned the ballroom again until I found the source… Finn Riker was all the way across the room, standing by the door. His eyes fixed on me, a surly scowl shadowing his face.