Betrothed to the Alpha

Acorn grove was a relatively small town on the outskirt of Illinois. It was also really old. It had old stone buildings and manors that looked liked it had been standing for a thousand years. The people were nice and caring and everyone seemed to know everyone.. The general landscape was dotted by woods and tall grass. At night, the howling of a pack of wolves was quite common. For a stranger it might have been alarming, but the townfolk never minded. In fact there hadn’t been any report of even a wolf sighting. Something seemed to be brewing this fateful night. Nothing alarming apparently since almost every building in town was decorated with extra pomp and pageantry, the gigantic full moon adding a tasteful finish to the scene. There were people everywhere, children running around and hopping from stalls to trucks to stands indulging in sweets and confectionaries. It was a big day indeed; Two of the most important families in Acorn grove were about to be joined; The Sullivan’s oldest son and the Ryder’s oldest daughter were soon to be wed. The town was alive with light, happiness and gossip. Monica Ryder and Derrick Sullivan were both individually the most eligible spinster and bachelor in Town respectively. Derrick was the dream man for most girls in Acorn grove. He had brown silky hair, an unusual dark blue set of eyes, and his accentuated cheekbones gave him a brutish handsomeness that was a little difficult to explain. Monica was no slouch either. She had sharp facial features that would be the pride of any man. She had crazy brown eyes though that seemed like they could project daggers if she wanted. At the same time she managed to look as delicate as a rose petal in winter. Her family the Ryder’s were the most respected in town second only to the Sullivan’s. To everyone it was a match made In Heaven as no people could be as perfect as they were. But in all the gossip, no one had even entertained the thought of what these two important and aesthetically immaculate people thought of each other. Tonight, they would be a grand ball room like party in the town hall to commemorate their engagement and everyone looked their best. Everyone waited with bated breath for how much more perfect the two most perfect people in town could possibly look. At the head of the hall was the high table; A long rectangular table of wood and marble decorated with ribbons and the fanciest of table cloths. The table was sporting about twelve seats arranged to face the rest of the hall. On them sat the most important and prestigious family heads in town. At the centre of the table sat Thomas wood, the Mayor, and his deputy Michael Shire. To his right was Anthony Sullivan, the head of the Sullivan family, Nicholas Brisbane and Corvus Ryder, heads of their respective families To the mayor’s Left were the significantly aged Sanders sisters, Racheal, Abigail, and Anastasia. The Sanders family unusually were Matriarchal. There were some empty seats, even though the party seemed to have started a while. The mayor was very cheerful and a little drunk and the deputy seemed to be entertaining or curtailing his excesses. The Sanders sisters were calm and regal. They sat so intentionally that they seemed to be in a world different from the rest. Anthony Sullivan and Corvus Ryder seemed to be having a quiet conversation very sternly while Isaiah Brisbane looked on. Mr Brisbane didn’t like parties so much so that his perpetual polite smile he had on proved the fact rather than hid hit. The rest of the hall were dotted with smaller round tables of black glass and wooden chairs with intricate designs. They were all decorated with ribbons and nice table cloths. Most of the people had wooden dinner tables at home and could never consider having furniture of marble and obsidian. Still they felt at home without intimidation. Some were seated while others walked around with wine glasses balanced on their fingers while they chatted. From the crowd, A woman in a nice yellow gown with a distinct floral pattern and fancy gloves walked up to the table and whispered into Anthony Sullivan’s ear. He became indignated immediately and although he made considerable effort to keep his voice low, it was louder than the voice that gave him the message. “What do you mean you can’t find him? He was supposed to be here and hour ago.” “I had personally gone up to his room. His tuxedo was still there but he was nowhere to be found.” Mr Anthony grew even more indignant. “ Tell Oliver to take the boys , find him and bring him here this instant.” “yes Oliver should know where he is. The only problem now is that we can’t find Oliver either.” Mr Anthony Sullivan could have blown a fuse. A deer sat under a tree The canopy so dense that the bright full moon could not see the ground. It was very quiet except for the chirping of nocturnal animals. The deer turns it’s head sharply and rises to it’s feet. It’s scans its environment anxiously, quite alarmed but not sure why. It takes a couple of steps out of the canopy of trees. The split second it noticed the pair of blues eyes brighter than the moon’s shine a couple of trees behind his own was enough to decide for it to flee. It ran as fast as it’s legs could carry it . Sprinting and jumping over branches and misshapen trees. But the blue eyes kept following, at first in the trees. Jumping branch after branch in pursuit. Until it hit the ground. The moon reflecting brightly on it's clear silvery fur but not bright enough to hide the highlight of the bright blue eyes. It was huge. The wolf was about 5 foot high and 7 foot long and ran as fast as a silver brush stroke. It's almost impossible to quantify the fear animals could feel but the deer ran madly, zipping through bushes and zigzagging around trees. And then it stops either out of exhaustion or it had noticed it’s pursuer was no longer behind it. It lay down to catch it’s breath for a split second only for the silver blur and the blue eyes to be upon it . The last thing it probably saw was it’s giant teeth as its blood splashed and highlighted the silvery glow of the full moon “your father is going kill me.” “You’re being unnecessarily paranoid Oliver. I asked you to come with me did I not?” “Okay then, let me rephrase that: Your dad is going to kill you then he’s going to bite my face clean off” Derrick took the piece of cloth Oliver extended to him and used it to wipe the blood from his face and neck. “Stop being a wimp Ollie you’re turning twenty in a week, you should act like it” “Excuse me for trying to prevent myself from being torn to bits by a giant wolf grandpa” That got quite a chuckle out of Derrick. It’s the one of the things he loved about Oliver. He may had been a couple years younger than he was, but he knew how to make him laugh. Not many things or people could do that. “At least can we go down ? The whole town is waiting for you .” Derrick, still shirtless, effortlessly lifts the catch onto his shoulder and leads the way out of the woods letting it return to its noisy quiet sanctity.