HERS

18. Public Appearances

Danica wondered into the kitchen after staying in bed longer than usual since school was out as this was an important event that the school had been cancelled with the anticipation of the future Alpha, everyone rushing by hurrying on, the pack house was filled with workers and the council sat in the kitchen table eating. Danica did a double take hoping her eyes weren't fooling her around. Nope, the elder council sat at her table eating and chatting as if it were a normal thing.

In the kitchen the cooks were actually working and cooking something but all of them were too busy to give her any attention to her needs of stuffing herself.

"Danica there you are, Honey." Her mother approached her guiding her towards the stairs. "The ceremony is to start soon, please go shower and change into something more appropriate." Her mother gently ushered her up the stairs.

Danica with little fuss showered and changed into something 'appropriate' as her mother had put it. Dressed up in casual faded denim skinny jeans and a navy blue blouse paired off with a pair of white flats, she reappeared downstairs as the final finishing touches were being added to everything.

The entire pack was attending, inside the house they had removed the walls and it now was one big room. People had started to come one by one chatting amongst themselves.

"Miss Anderson," one of the maids called. "Mrs Anderson clearly instructed that I make sure you are dressed appropriately and I shall do exactly that." The maid Danica had gotten use to over the past years explained as she ushered her upstairs back into her bedroom and sent her behind the room divider to get changed.

"Madison, I do not see the point of getting all dolled up." Danica complained taking her top off.

"It is your brother's ceremony and you shall fully participate, and that is final." Her tone clearly left no room for arguments. "Put this on." Madison handed her a black halter-neck knee length dress, it was simple but fit the bill.

"Where did you get this?" Danica asked taking a good look at the dress before she put it on, the sleeves and top half was all lace where the skirt was satin.

"Ms. Danica how many times do I have to tell you to be prepared for the unexpected?" Madison repeated the same line she had always told Danica as a child. She sat the teen on the stool before she curled her hair and added a swipe of mascara and eyeliner. Madison handed her lipstick. "Put some on." She ordered as she pulled out the shoe box.

"I don't want to." Danica pouted giving her puppy dog eyes; Danica disliked lipstick with a passion.

"I don't care," Madison said without turning around holding her ground, only to give in once she saw those puppy dog eyes. "Fine, here put these lip tints on."

Danica gladly took the lip tint tossing the lipstick back on the dresser not understanding why she even had lipstick in her possession when she disliked the product.

"It’s time for the shoes." Madison announced, handing her a pair of black Jimmy Choo stilettos. "And not buts this time, you are to wear these."

Danica eyed the shoes suspiciously, "Who chose all this?"

"Your mother did."

"Doesn't she have great sense?" Danica's words laced with sarcasm as she put the Jimmy Choo's on wobbling on the spot trying to get her balance. "Maddie, do I have to wear these?" She pouted.

"Give them here, try these." Madison handed her another pair of black stilettos.

Danica recognised them instantly from the trade mark red soles; in her hands were Louboutin red sole black stilettos. "Are you kidding me?" She asked Maddie lifting the heels higher. "I didn't give you the puppy eye look just so I could have the death trap exchanged for half a grand death traps!"

"Oh hush!" Maddie snapped. "Put them on, it's not like you're going to be doing anything much, knowing from experience at most you're going to drag a chair to the snacks table and begin to feast one everything and anything. Then get semi drunk."

Danica looked at the woman gawping; she was in fact pretty spot on. Closing her mouth she put on her half a grand death trap and let Madison help her down the stairs and into the room, where Maddie left her side leaving her to fend for herself.

The room buzzed from excitement as the pack members chattered amongst themselves about the upcoming ceremony, the first in many years. The last one occurred during the reformation of pack after the fatal attack, this happened while Danica was a child so she hadn't attended any ceremony as such, but from the pack meetings she had been attending she had gotten the gist of what was suppose to occur. The ceremony was a formal event explaining the men, women and children dressing in their best gears. The men of the pack dressed in formal tux and the females of the pack in formal evening gowns.

Danica stood closely by the front of the crowd; she looked around trying to spot the familiar faces she knew that would be there. She knew Bruce, James and Jason but spotted none. The pack stood facing the front where the Current Alpha and wife stood with Chris and his mate.

"Danica," her father called out signalling her to stand with them. Danica obeyed with all eyes trained on her, she walked over to her father the short distance felt forever long and never ending. Miserably trying not to trip over the heels, she tripped causing her to go flying and hit face first into the corner of the table but instead strong steady arms extended steadying her; a blush begrudgingly rose to her cheeks tinting them with a rosy colour.

"T-t-the-," She stuttered to get out a decent thank you without looking into her savours eye, but as she met them, everything froze as their eyes locked only starring back at her was Mason with a smirk on his face, looking at her, into her soul, she roughly pulled away remembering the incident that occurred not so long ago that were still fresh in her mind and heart. The rough pull on her half, caused her to stumble further until caught by another who wrapped his arms around her body in ease without the worry of the Alpha and future Alphas' wrath. She met Bruce's smug expression which caused her to frown as he kept his arms secured around her, keeping her in place next to him as he helped her to her family for which she was thankful for deep down though on the exterior she was scowling at the smug looking man who helped her, the crowed looked at them in awe waiting for something to happen anticipating their next move.

Once he let go Danica stomped away, only to trip, to be caught by her father just in time. "Geez Danica, are you walking around with a death wish or something?"

Danica chuckled darkly at how spot on her dad was. "Or something, I'm walking on a death wish." She told him pointing to her feet, which made him shake his head in disagreement muttering under his breath about women and how he would never understand their logic. "Neither do I, dad, neither do I." Mutter after hearing him.

Mason hovered near the Anderson getting as close as he can without coming off suspicious. Danica noticed the slow movement towards them though he was being extremely discreet unnoticeable as he inched closer. Danica stood further away showing him she was onto him, Danica now stood pressed against the walls the furthest she could get away, behind her mother, though it was childish if she thought about it at seventeen going on eighteen and hiding behind her mother. Danica almost laughed out loud at the thought, but stifled it though it had earned her a glare from her mother during her father's speech.

"...I stand here, in front of you after two decades and a half of being Alpha of the Blue Moon, the first time I stood here taking my place as Alpha was during a dark difficult hardship everyone was going through. The memories of that day still remain fresh forever engraved in my memory, but let's not dwell on the past as we stand here today to celebrate. Serving as the Alpha of the Blue Moon pack has been an honour, and I like to think I have done my job and fulfilled my duty, but it is now that I step down as my son had become a man found his mate and should be able to step into my own shoes but to grow them in his own way for the next alpha to take and to learn from and grow." The current alpha spoke to the pack in a clear voice though his tone was filled with unspoken emotion and pride and joy. "From here on today, I Edward Anderson current Alpha of Blue Moon pack step down, giving my son Christopher Edward Anderson his place and now rightful duty along his side shall stand the Luna of this pack Avery Belle Roberts." Edward holding his wife and mate, Christine's hand took a step back, showing he was stepping down from his position, with a nod of his head Christopher stepped forward with his mate Avery holding tightly onto his hand, as she looking into the mass of faces looking back at them. "I present to you the New Alpha and Luna."

The crowd erupted in to a cheer but was quickly hushed when the head of the elder council came up taking a spot in front of Chris where the Oath was going to take place. Everyone sobered up their cheer, looking at their new Alpha and the head of the elder council. Their eyes filled with excitement and joy as they anticipated for the Alpha to take his vows and oath.

"I see you have a small security problem, even though this place is crawling with extra security, Alpha." The words were spoken echoing their minds just as Chris opened his mouth though they weren't his words these were in fact spoken telepathically communicating through the packs mind link, everyone had heard it including the humans, and they fell to a silence.

Amongst the silent crowd no one spoke out, the rustling came from the back of the back door, in union the pack turned wide eye watching carefully. In came the werewolf, in size massive the wolf could take down most of the pack on his own if he wanted. He strolled in with all eyes glued to him, Danica's went wide with shock to see the wolf from the clearing here, same greyish black fur piercing blue eyes almost hypnotic. A small gasp left her mouth as she starred wide eyed as he strut into the room, couldn't give a damn about having his throat ripped out on the spot.

He knew as he waltzed in that they wouldn't dare touch him, which was true but only to answer the mystery of how he was possible to speak into their minds a connection only kept between a pack, each pack had it no one could invade their thoughts. The crowd cleared a pathway for him as he came into the room, stopping in the centre of the room. His head high, his electric hypnotic blue eyes piercing in every individual that dared to look him in the eye. The elders gasped in surprise seeing his eyes, he knew they had a hint of who he was. Several expressions crossed Edward's facial feature neither lasting long, until it settle with shock.

"How'd you get in?" Chris growled stepping forward threateningly, pushing Avery behind his body defensively.

Danica watched him take a small step back shifting into his human form, a gasp went through the room, and a hush murmur erupted from the unspoken crowd. A fine looking young man stood in finely pressed tux, dressed for the occasion. The Anderson starred wide eye, in awe at the man in front of them.

"As I said before, you have a security issue." He shrugged looking at a pissed of Chris. He looked around the room, Danica followed his gaze to find them landing on Bruce who nodded and bowed his head in respect, several others did the same gesture then his gaze landed on Mason to Danica's surprise that he too nodded and bowed his head and exited the room.

Danica's eyes widened in surprise; he was their Alpha.

"As you can see," He added gesturing towards his men.

Chris glared at him furious, his eyes flashing between black and normal his featured disorientated between his wolf form and human. Danica could tell Chris was getting pissed off with the passing second. His wolf threatening to rip out of his skin that barely contained him.

"I believe you have what is mine." He announced not taking his eyes off the Anderson and the Head of the Elder council who stood next to them. His eyes drifted through the family landing on Danica. "I want that back, and will have that back, my rightful place as Alpha of the Blue Moon pack." His hostility was showing right through.