Against the Black

Chapter 5

“Alpha!” An Omega called for me. I turned away from the training class I was helping with and saw him running toward me.

“What’s up?” I ask, concerned something might be wrong.

“Your mother is looking for you. She said something about a long drive and…” He trailed off, looking worried.

“And?” I ask him, waving my hand to get him to continue while keeping my tone light.

“Well, she said… She’ll take her title back by force if she has to if you’re late.” He spit it out in a rush. “Oh, and also that she’d win too because you’re a spoiled brat who never had to work for her title.” He winced and peaked at me like I was about to explode. I sat in stunned silence and then burst into laughter.

“She’s going to eat those words. Thank you for telling me. I’ll go see her now. She’s got her knickers in such a twist it’s cutting off circulation to her brain.” I placed my hand on his back, patting him lightly, and walked away. The color returned to the Omega’s face, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

“There you are!” my mom shouted from the door into the pack house. “I’ve had people looking all over for you. You’re gonna be late if you don’t leave soon.” I can almost feel her anxiety as I jog up the stairs to where she stands.

“Mom,” I grip her shoulders, “I have another half an hour before I need to leave. I’ll have plenty of time to drive there, check into my hotel room, and get ready before the party starts. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“But…” she protests, but I cut her off.

“No buts. I have plenty of time. However, I am glad you called for me because I wanted to talk to you about something.” Vera came walking down the stairs right on time, carrying a dress bag with her. She stops at the bottom of the stairs next to where we stand just inside the pack house doors.

“I know you were planning to run the pack while I’m gone, but I’ve talked with Valerie and she said she’s happy to handle it for the next couple of days while you go dancing.” Vera unzipped the dress bag, and I spun my mother to face the red and black dress. She gasped, and I saw her hands lift to cover her mouth. Then she turned to me.

“I can’t go to a mating ball. I found my mate years ago. We rejected each other, and it’s over.” Her face looks sad as she looks back at the dress with longing.

“Who says you can’t go to a mating ball? You have no mate, so you are allowed to go find one. Besides, the goddess may grant you a second chance. But you’ll never know if you don’t go find out.” I nudge her toward the dress and she hesitates for a minute more. “Besides, even if you don’t find a second chance mate, you could always find a one night mate.” I wink and slap her butt, causing her to yelp and jump closer to the dress to get away from me. She turns a fiery gaze on me.

“Where did you learn to be so unruly?” She huffed softly and then turned back to the dress and took it from Vera, holding it in the light to get a better look. “I guess I’ll go. I can’t let a dress like this go to waste.” She grins at me and then hugs me gently. “Thank you.” She whispers in my ear.

“You’re welcome. You deserve happiness just like the rest of us.” Valerie, my mom’s Beta, walks around the corner then and squeals.

“Is this the dress?” She leans over my mom’s shoulder to get a better look. “It’s stunning. You have good taste.” She looks at me and smiles approvingly. My mom turns and hugs her as well.

“Are you sure you’re ok with the pack?” She worriedly gnaws on her lip.

“Of course. It’s not like this is my first rodeo. Go have fun Lenore, you deserve it.”

“Go pack quickly. We’ll leave as soon as you’re done.” I tell her, nudging her toward the stairs. She lets out a little giggle and runs up the stairs like a teenager who was just told they can go to prom. I give Valerie a hug, then Babs, Lenny, Vera and I load our bags into the trunk of the car. MY mom comes down a little while later with her dress bag draped over one arm and her suitcase in the other.

“Where’s the pack car?” She asks, staring at the sports car.

“Why on earth would we take that?” I ask her as I take her suitcase from her and load it into the trunk. I slam the trunk and look her straight in the face. “This is the definition of a girls’ trip. We will not be taking some crusty dusty nondescript pack car to a royal ball. We will be arriving in style.” I run my hand across the trunk of my baby. It’s a 1976 Corvette Stingray with a soft top. The exterior is pure black, matching the Obsidian stone surrounding our pack lands, while the interior is a pearlescent white with aqua trim. The top had been lowered and I can see Babs, Vera, and Lenny sitting in the back giggling to each other as they wait for us.

“What if one of you finds a mate? We’re not all going to fit in your car on the way home.” She argues with her hands on her hips.

“You’re right. And if that happens, either their mates will have to drive them here, or I will send for a driver to come and pick them up and bring them back. Either way, we’re going in this and I will not hear another word otherwise.” I wave my hand dismissively with feigned arrogance, then I look her square in the eye. “Your Alpha commands it.” I raise an eyebrow and then grin widely when she rolls her eyes at me and opens the passenger door. I proceed to my side of the car and jump into the driver’s seat.

“Who’s ready to get laid?” I shout to my passengers. My mom buries her face in her hands while the girls in the back cheer.

“Where did I go wrong with you?” My mom asks, bewildered.

“Nowhere mom, I’m practically perfect in every way.” I bat my eyelashes at her and then peel out of the gravel driveway. We wind our way up the canyon and then down the other side to make our way out of our mountainous pack lands. The wind ran through my hair, whipping it gently behind me. I notice my mom has taken her hair out of its usual side braid and has let her hair run wild.

“That’s it Ms. Cox! Get crazy!” Babs shouts over the wind. Lenore raises her hands in the air and lets out a soft woop. We all giggle as she gives in and enjoys herself. We leave the Lake Roosevelt area in Washington and make our way across state lines to our destination, Chateau De Melusine, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Three hours later, we pull into the resort we’ll be staying at when not at the palace. Once we checked into our separate rooms, which my mom insisted on in case anyone found their mate, we all piled into my room to get ready.