Alone

Chapter 2

                                                                                            William

    How Abigail, my business associate, was able to acquire an invitation to this ball I will never know. Everyone had thought me mad that I would do business with a woman, but not only was she a great investor and my best friend but she was also another were. She wasn’t of my same species, her kind shaped into big felines like pumas, tigers, and lions. She had found me a few weeks after I had landed on this land. Abigail had been hunting in the woods when she came upon me. I was alone and after explaining my situation she took me in. She was so much like Mira, so caring. She was able to help me deal with my lose. Abigail had been the one to come up with the idea to look for my mate in this way. Traveling the country to find women of a specific blood line. After decades of looking my hopes have begun to deplete. Except, Abigail won’t let me.

    I rush to get dressed as the ball was a quite a few miles up the road and it had already started. I was officially fashionably late. I scurry down the stairs startling Mrs. Beth, the housekeeper, on the way down. “My apologies Mrs. Beth. I hadn’t meant to startle you.” I don’t stop to hear her whispered reply as I finish the last few steps and run out the giant wooden doors. Outside my fastest carriage waited for me. I hopped in and in no time was headed down the cobbled path towards Miss Anna Elizabeth Moreau’s ball.

                                                                                                ~

    The first thing I noticed as the carriage pulled up to the estate was that it was not much of an estate. From what I could see of the front, it was much smaller than my own estate. Maybe they aren’t as well off as everyone had said they were, I thought. Not that it mattered. My company made enough money for my future family to live well off for many generations. I just would have thought that a Moreau would have something grander.

    The carriage comes to a halt at the steps of the estate. The door is opened by a footman and I step out. In just a few glimpses I notice that although it was smaller in size it was very much well taken care of and was made of expensive materials. The landscape leading up to the front entrance was other worldly. Even with the great storm this morning the lawn was pristine. The bushes trimmed into perfect spheres. The cobbled driveway led all the way to the main road. The building itself was a classic brick colonial mansion, with two-story pillars. Lights could be seen coming out of every window. With music and laughter wafting outside.

    As I stepped up the steps, I began to grow anxious. What if it isn’t her, I second guessed myself? What if I never find a mate? I can’t keep doing this. I begin to feel the crushing weight of all that is riding on whether this girl is the one. There have been so many that weren’t the one. So much time spent. Always alone.

    I shake myself back to the task at hand. As I raise my hand to knock on the door, the door is opened inward by a servant dressed in an immaculate white uniform. I step into the estate, first thing I notice is that all the walls are white, with highly polished oak floors. Someone must walk around hunched back, I smirk to myself. I hear a clearing of someone’s throat. I turn to the servant and he escorts me to the left of the house into a long ballroom. This estate was bigger than I had originally thought because 100s of people milled about. The room looked like it went on forever. And when you look up, what would have been the second floor, continued on to the ceiling. An intricate mural spread across the ceiling with clouds and cherubs flying across it. Chandeliers descend from above giving the ballroom plenty of light. I was wrong. The Moreau do know what grander was.

    As I step further into the room, I barely notice the sideways looks and the hushed whispers as I pass by groups of women. It’s not their fault, its my scent that attracts them. But unfortunately, none of them can be my mate. My mate has to be of royal blood. That is the only way there can be more of my kind.

    Just as I am looking around for the girl who could change everything the room grows quiet.  I turn towards the direction everyone is looking and walking into the room is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. And right away I can tell she is the one.

                                                                                               Anna

    I looked out into the masses of people that were invited to my coming out. People I have known for years and people that have traveled a long distance, all to try to gain my favor. I stepped out further into the crowd. Mothers pushing their sons towards me.

    “Miss Anna can I please request this dance.” Freddie, a longtime friend, asked. He had developed well into a man over the years, but all I saw him as was just a friend.

    “No please, if I could dance this ballad with you, miss.” A man I had never seen before requested. He was shorter than Freddie, and not nearly as attractive. He was already growing soft around the middle. And in a few years, most of his hair would be gone.

    I shudder inwardly as I continue to be assaulted with requests for the first dance and all other dances for the night.

    “May I request a dance on your dance card, Miss Anna?” I turn away from all the men scrambling to gain my attention. I look for the husky voice that stood out to me. That voice sounded so familiar, and yet I have never heard it before. Almost immediately I found the man to who the voice belongs to.

    “Oh my.” I uttered without thinking about it. The mystery man stood a few inches taller than all others. He stood so tall and confident. He had sandy brown hair tied back at the nape, that looked so soft. I wish I could touch it. His shoulders and arms were so defined. Something most aristocrat men did not have. Comparted to him, the others were quite short and didn’t have the definition this mystery man had. But what stood out were his eyes. Those beautiful hazel eyes, but something was missing. There was a sadness to his eyes. Even with a breathtaking smile on his face, it did not quite reach his eyes. Something I could greatly relate to. I realized I was staring and was starting to receive looks. “My apologize, your name escapes me.”

    “It is perfectly alright. My name is William Nowak.” William said. I don’t know anyone by that name, I thought. “Now that the pleasantries are over with, would it be too forward of me to ask for your first dance?” Without thinking about it, I placed my hand in his outstretched hand. As soon as I touched him a shock went up my arm. I looked at him to confirm he had felt it too. He only carried a stiff expression. As we made our way to the dance floor people stopped conversing and stared as we passed by. I am sure we are a sight to see.

    When the musicians saw us heading to the dance floor, they began a lovely ballad. William and I turned to face each other. Looking at him again took my breath away. He moved through the dance expertly and smoothly. He had me dancing more gracefully than I ever danced.

    I become distracted with his eyes, and I feel myself trip and accidently fall against him. Instantly, everything else falls away. The noise, the people. It was like we were the only ones here. I feel his arms go around me. I haven’t felt so protected, so loved in such a long time. I pull away, far enough to look up into his eyes. Even with my heeled slippers he stood over a head taller than myself. I feel something pull me to him. A fire in my belly and lower begins as we draw near. I try to stop myself, but his eyes are hypnotizing. I grew closer and closer, all the while he stares down at me. He looks at me with a fire in his eyes, as the space between us decreased. Just as our lips were about to touch, a gasp escapes the crowd around the dance floor. I am thrown back to reality. As I pull away, I look around. Everyone had stopped what they were doing. The music had slowly died down. Everyone was staring at us. I look back at William and noticed we were at a very inappropriate proximity. I push away from him, right as aunt Sisilia arrives next to us.

    “Anna Elizabeth, what do you think you are doing?” Aunt Sisilia whispered under her breath. “You are being indecent.”

    She begins to pull me away, but it was like something had me tethered to William. I can’t look away. His hand was still outstretched from where I had been a second ago. Something inside me swelled. It seemed as if he wasn’t ready to let me go either.

    “Perhaps later on you could honor me with another dance?” William asked. And without being able to reply auntie successfully pulls me away.

    “You need to dance with other gentlemen, and don’t make this indecency a habit.” Aunt Sisilia states. I look back, but William had already disappeared into the masses.