My Cinderella Luna: Tests and Temptations

Chapter 2: Showcase of Talent

It was dinner and it was a feast. The Alphas and Lunas enjoyed conversations about pack gossip and politics. The Betas and the Gammas were also present, chipping in tales and scandals. While Isbeth tried hard to single out Arcus and Dessa would chatter about a lot of things, which was irritating the young man. His lips twitching, eyes suddenly turning darker as the night wore off. Ari never said a word spontaneously, afraid to anger her sisters. Only when she was asked. 

“Alpha Orion, so, when will we see the skills of your daughters?” 

“Alpha Zeke, so we are moving to the real purpose of the occasion?” Alpha Orion asked, sounding business like. It was a tradition to have a show of skills among the next of kin.

Well, what are the skills of your daughters? We have a multipurpose gym that we could light up tonight instead of going out for a campfire. But if you would like to demonstrate outside, it would also be a pleasant avenue. Whichever, you prefer, Alpha Orion. 

“My daughter Ari’s best skill was riding horses. She would not be able to demonstrate her skills in the gym or in the field tonight.” Alpha Orion informed. 

“Arcus, how about you accompany Ari on horseback riding tomorrow morning?” It was Luna Daniela who requested Arcus. 

“Yes, Luna Daniela, it will be my pleasure to accompany Ari tomorrow morning.” 

“But maybe for tonight, Ari may show her other skills. Do you have another skill, little Ari? Archery, perhaps?” Selda asked with concern. Selda knew that archery was not Ari's best skill, she saw her not being able to hit targets and being a difficult student during archery lessons, while her daughters surpassed her expectations.   

“I will think of my skills to be presented, Luna Selda.” Ari simply replied, she didn’t straightforwardly tell them that she didn’t like archery, but she didn’t confirm that it was what she would demonstrate either. 

The multipurpose gym of the Eternal Moon Pack was huge. It might host at least five thousand audiences and was fully equipped with arsenals for practice and sports equipment. 

Although Ari was not good in archery, she was at least good in sword fighting. Her agility and fluid movements during their pack practice caused her best friend Blake to lose some of their matches which pleased her to no end. Her best friend was stronger and far more experienced being among the army families in their pack. And being able to press her wooden sword across his neck was among her most satisfying moments. 

Ari thought that her best friend Blake would enjoy exploring and testing the fighting tools in this gym. She wished Blake was with them. 

“So, who would be the first?” Alpha Zeke asked but he was already glaring at his son, Arcus.

"Do you want me to demonstrate, father? I won’t mind.” He smirked when Alpha Zeke proudly nodded. 

Arcus started towards the archery tools and asked the servants to prepare the targets. He picked the one at the very end of the set of bow and arrows with such familiarity. 

He then walked to the other end of the gym, eyes facing the opposite end where the targets were in place. The gym was big, the range was probably 80 yards or more, but Arcus looked confident. 

Dessa started squirming on her seat as they all watched Arcus draw the string of his bow which would swing the tip of his arrow to his target. He took a deep breath and without further ado, he released. The tip of the arrow pierced the small red circle in the middle of the target board. 

Everyone clapped their hands. While their Beta whistled. 

Arcus shot three more and all were on target. 

Arcus swiftly walked and sat beside Ari. Selda silently instructed Isbeth to take the show with a hard glare. 

“That is so very impressive, Arcus, but you know what, some girls can also do that.” Isbeth smirked.

“That’s my girl.” Alpha Orion said to his daughter in support. 

Isbeth got her set of bow and arrow and went in position at the end of the gym.

She looked calm as she put her arrow in her bow, lifted her arms and pulled the elastic rope of the bow to shoot. 

She released some deep breaths before she let go, she was right on target as well. Everyone was delighted to see Isbeth’s skills. Like Arcus, she shot three more arrows, she was not able to hit one target on the red circle, but the rest were perfect. 

When she dropped her hand after her last shot, eyes glimmered towards Arcus. 

“Dessa, it is your turn.” Selda blurted out when Alpha Orion was about to ask Ari of her skills to show. 

“Yes, mother.” 

Dessa obediently walked to the operators of the sound system to give her chosen song. An ethnic sound filled their ears, which also signaled Dessa to start her movements. Dessa was a very good dancer and a gymnast, her performance was very entertaining. Her slim waist and slim hips moved fluidly with the music. Her routine showcased her flexibility and disciplined coordination. When the music stopped, everyone clapped, while Beta Xander whistled proudly. 

“That was outstanding, Dessa!” Selda exclaimed, while others also greeted Dessa. Isbeth only mumbled 'that was an ok performance, Dessa,' while Ari was filled with joy for her sister’s performance. 

“Now, little star, it is your turn.” Alpha Orion encouraged Ari once the heat of greetings for Dessa subsided. Ari stood up nervously, she couldn’t show her skills in horseback riding but she was given not much of a choice. While she thought of her sword skills, she knew she might impress them, but it would never be enough to make her father proud. Thus, Arin decided to walk up to the music operator and told them her chosen music. 

Selda coverly smirked in her seat, Isbeth wondered about the skills she would show, and Dessa was secretly laughing knowing that Arinya was not a good dancer. 

“Oh god was she going to dance, father?” 

Isbeth sounded concerned. For some reason, she never wanted to experience second hand embarrassment through her sister, but at the same time, her eyes were glistening with excitement as she knew Ari would be doomed after her performance. The little twink could not dance. She would die of embarrassment for her, but she would laugh very hard as well. 

Arcus felt the tension among the Olympians and he felt a pang of sympathy for Arin. He was about to stand up and stop her, when a soft melodic sound filled the air. It was a sad song melody that they were all familiar with, Arcus stood and never seated as he waited for Arin to make a slow dance, or something. 

But instead of her small hips swaying to the tune as he thought she would do, the little one opened her mouth to sing. 

Arcus took a deep breath when he heard it. That high pitched, yet husky voice wonderfully passed his eardrums. Arcus’s heart beat rather faster, he swallowed her voice, her sweet melodic voice. Ari had a distinguished style in singing, she was not trying to impress them for sure, but she was not the type to be shy either. Ari simply sang from her heart. 

With a technique of a child belting out casually and feeling the lyrics of the song, Ari sang soulfully. She closed her eyes and imagined her mother’s face that was already starting to blur in her memories. Though images of her taking care of Ari were starting to fade away, she could still remember her mother’s songs. She remembered her soft and beautiful voice, every night she loved listening to it. And oh, she longed to hear it even just for one more time. 

The song was about a lost loved one. The longing in her voice was clearly there. 

Everyone looked at Ari open mouthed, this little star as her father called her was truly the star of the night. She was not  the best archer, was not the best dancer, probably was not the best singer in Reverse, though some of them probably doubted it, but her voice touched the deepest parts of their hearts. 

Daniela clumsily grabbed Alpha Zeke’s arm unintentionally tight, while her other hand reached her chest. She felt Ari’s pain as she sang, and Daniela remembered sweet, beautiful Willa, as she sang her heart out in some pack gatherings she had attended. Truly, Arinya was her daughter, she thought. 

The music ended and so was Ari’s special rendition. She stood unsure because she honestly expected clapping of hands or maybe whistling of Beta Xander, but even her father did not clap. He just stared lovingly at her, eyes misting, but he never dared them to fall. 

She then heard a slow clap at the back, it was Arcus. “You are one hell of a singer, Ari!” 

And everybody clapped for Ari, though three of her audiences were not truly sincere. Selda was fuming inside, while Isbeth was freaking out, Dessa was simply irritated at the little attention seeker. 

When Alpha Zeke and Alpha Orion called it a night, Arcus made sure to walk Ari in her room blatantly ignoring the two other sisters. He was too taken aback by Ari’s passion as she sang, and he didn’t want to spend his time exchanging fake pleasantries with the other two sisters. 

Arcus was fond of Ari like a little sister. She had a cut on her face alright but she acted as if it was not there at all. Never once he saw her touch her face consciously, or fix her dress to impress. It should be accounted for her being a kid, but Arus was blinded by everything else. Ari was pure innocence and softness, and kindness. If he would have a sister, he preferred someone like her. 

"Your song rendition was the highlight of my night, little one.” 

The little girl blushed once more. “I can sing you another song if you want.” Ari innocently offered despite her nerves. She knew she never wanted Arcus to leave her side so soon, thus, she was willing to sing him endless songs. 

Arcus felt his phone vibrate in his pocket but he ignored it. “Okay, little one, sing me another song.” 

Arin almost jumped of gladness as she led him inside her room. 

Isbeth was in full rage that night. All day, she was trying to catch Arcus’ attention, but it seemed at the end, he settled for that fake goodie goddie Ari. 

She knew that she had to do something. And so even though the night was not long anymore, she called Dessa.