Dinner
1071 Words
Catherine sucked in an aggravated breath as the woman behind her roughly snatched the pieces of her hair into a braid.
She had to admit the gown they had designed for her was beautiful. Made out of an iridescent and expensive pale blue silk that shimmered like moonstone when she walked, it clung gracefully to her thin frame, falling in billowing waves down to the floor. The top had thin, delicate straps that led to a v-neck bust that almost made it look like a wrap dress. The pale blue lit up her smooth, alabaster skin and made it stand out, and it made her celestite blue eyes pop out large in her face. She knew the choice of color was solely based on her eyes— leave it to the council to highlight what they deemed to be her most valuable feature.
The woman behind her was stoic, her bright red lips pulled into a taut, grim line as her long and shape fingers yanked their way through her long, pale hair. She seemed to be braiding the top half of Catherine’s hair into an intricate French braid, leaving the bottom half down to fall in graceful waves down her back.
“Almost done,” the woman told her. “Let me grab your jewelry. A gift was sent for you from your parents for tonight.”
Catherine stared in the mirror, stunned, as the woman turned and grabbed a black velvet necklace case off of the vanity behind her. She noticed the blue ribbon tied around it and whirled around, eyeing the box with teary eyes.
The woman opened the box, displaying the necklace to her, and the tears spilled over onto Catherine’s cheeks.
A delicate silver chain sat nestled in the box, and on the chain hung an ornament— a small silver wolf, her face upturned and howling, her mouth half open. A beautiful sapphire sat in place of the wolf’s eye. Her pack insignia.
She’d known the little design in front of her for her entire life. She’d stared at it painted on her childhood bedroom wall— hanging in her father’s office on a tapestry behind his desk. The small crest had been worn proudly by members of the Alpha family in her pack for centuries. Silver Moon— the crest reminded them all of the vision for their pack.
“Honor, grace, and mercy.” Catherine heard her father’s voice echoing in her ears, recalling when he’d explained the crest to her as a little girl. “It represents all we stand for, baby. Doing the honorable thing, walking with grace, and showing mercy where it is least deserved.”
Pride and emotion filled Catherine as she reached her fingers out and brushed them across the necklace. Her father knew she would need this— this reminder of who she was and where she came from. The reminder to not loose herself in this process.
The woman grasped the necklace from the box, and Catherine lifted her hair to let her secure it around her neck. It fell gracefully between her breasts, nestling against her chest like it had become attached to her own heart.
“There. You look perfect.” The woman beamed with pride as she stared at her work in the mirror.
“You may come in, gentleman. The lady is ready to be escorted to dinner.”
Catherine quickly fixed her face, putting on a strong front and lifting her chin. She wouldn’t allow anyone to see her weak.
Two large men filed in the door, and one of them caught Catherine’s eye immediately. She felt as if she’d seen him before, but she couldn’t be certain. He was tall— exuding a dangerous aura that made Catherine’s hair stand on end. He was well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and piercing green eyes that stood out against his dark brown hair.
Both men bowed to her, a show of respect. “Miss Conri,” the green eyed man said politely. “We are your escorts to dinner this evening. We should be on our way.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her wolf bristling, feeling the need to challenge the green eyed stranger. “You,” she pointed to him. “Where do you hail from?”
Something isn’t right here, her wolf edged. Tala usually took a backseat in Catherine’s mind, making herself known only when danger was near or she wanted something instinctual, and her voice instantly alerted Catherine. About him, Tala urged. Something isn’t right.
The man’s lips turned up into a half-smirk, and his green eyes glinted mischeviously as he stared at her as if she were prey. His next words made Catherine’s knees wobble under her.
“I am Christian Whitebane, my lady. Beta to Killian Black of Blood Moon.”
Killian Black. This man was the Beta to the most ruthless Alpha in existence.
Tala took over momentarily, and a guttural snarl ripped its way out of Catherine’s mouth, her canines protruding as her eyes flashed silver, her lips curling over her teeth in warning as she whirled around to the woman behind her.
“What is the meaning of this?” She snarled at the woman. She curled in on herself at the power in Catherine’s tone— Catherine was not a male of Alpha blood, so she didn’t have the ability of Alpha command, but the power in her voice would make weaker wolves shrink underneath it.
“It is customary for the Betas of the two top contenders in your claim to escort you to the first dinner,” the woman informed her, averting her eyes from Catherine. “A Beta is assigned as his Luna’s personal guard, and customarily—“
“Oh, f**k you and your customs,” Catherine snarled. “Let me speak to Luna Felicity. Now.”
The woman scurried off to call the Luna, and Catherine whirled back over to face Christian, his eyes amused and still smirking. Tala was still on the surface, and her eyes still silver.
“And you,” she growled. “You tell that Alpha of yours that if he wants to claim me, he’ll have to rip my throat out first.”
The Beta’s eyes flashed at the disrespect, and a small, dangerous chuckle escaped his lips.
“I’m sure he’d be happy to oblige, Miss Conri.”
- Writer
