Sapphire’s Second Chance

Getting Darin’s support

“What have I done Star? How am I going to get Darin’s support for this?” Sapphire asked Starlight in her mind as she walked away from the King’s Beta.

“Well you’re not. You knew he didn’t like this last time we went through it and he won’t like this better today, but why do you need it?”

“Part of the plan Star, part of the plan. Step 2, get the training academy set up and get Darin to agree to it.”

“Well that will be tricky, best plan is for him not to remember agreeing it.”

“What do you mean?“

“Well you know what he’s like, pour enough wine down him and he’ll get in such a state that he won’t remember anything. All you need to do is take him like that over to the King’s Beta to agree and then remind him in the morning. It’ll be far too embarrassing for him to back down then.”

“ Do you really think it will work?“

“I have no idea, but one thing for certain is that he won’t support it if he’s sober.”

Sapphire knew Starlight was right, she had to find Darin and make sure he had such a heavy evening he couldn’t remember. He was standing at the bar with his Beta, she went to speak to them. “Hi Darin” she said. “My chosen mate” he smiled and pulled her close, she could see now that the smile didn’t reach his eyes or his heart.

It was odd seeing him again with all that had passed between them, the years of cruelty, neglect and hurt made her so angry it was hard to be civil to him. She wanted to change into her wolf and fight him, she wanted to shout at him, tell him all she thought of him. “Calm down” said Starlight in her mind “Do you want to lose before we’ve even begun?it’s too soon for that in this life.” Sapphire took a deep breath.“Ok, ok, I’ll try.”

She smiled at Darin, reached across him for the bottle of wine behind him and topped up his glass. “My chosen mate” she echoed, “let’s drink and celebrate!”

She gestured at the bartender for another bottle and watched Darin as he drank the first glass before leaning into him and topping it up. “Oh, I’ve just seen Alpha Davies from the Sky Mountains pack, I’ll just go and thank him for coming.” She smiled brightly as she said this, and went off with a glass in her hand.

So began the pattern of Sapphire’s evening. She discarded glasses that she was drinking, went to speak to the other Alphas and Betas present and then went back to Darin to top up the glass he was drinking and pour herself another which she soon discarded once away from him. She made sure she spoke to all the Alphas present, flattering them and gently flirting with them, mentioning to them all the fighting academy. They all looked at her curiously, wondering about this unusual Luna who seemed more interested in defending the Kingdom than celebrating her mating. Slowly but surely Darin became progressively rather drunk, slurring his words. “This could work to our advantage in more ways than one” said Sapphire. Before she could reply a voice murmured behind her.

“Impressive networking Sapphire, I have been watching you all evening, you seem most popular.” She spun round, Beta Thorensen was standing close to her studying her carefully as she replied. “It’s rare to have an opportunity to speak to so many people from different packs Beta Thorensen, it would be a shame to waste it. Both Darin and I are committed to peace in the Kingdom” she lied. Of course there was nothing further from the truth as far as Darin was concerned but she couldn’t reveal that now. “Really?” He replied with one eyebrow raised.

He was intrigued by this Luna, there was something unusual about her, not just her behaviour, it was rare for someone to be able to communicate so effectively and effortlessly with all the different packs given their competing egos and interests. Yet he had watched her go around the room and seen the smiles that had greeted her, and the attention she had been given. It was a shame she was just the Luna of a pack, in another life she could do much more he mused to himself.

“Are you still committed to a training academy?” he asked her.

She cast a glance at Darin swaying slightly still leaning against the bar nearby. It was now or never, and time to take a chance.

“Yes, very much so, so is Darin.” she drew closer to Darin to include him in the conversation. Darin looked in her direction in an unfocused way “Yes Sapphire?” He queried wondering vaguely what was going on.

Sapphire reached across to top up his wine glass. “I was just explaining to Beta Thorensen how supportive we were of a Western Kingdom elite training academy to train the best warriors of the Kingdom and how we would send our best warriors.” She smiled brightly as she spoke to both men, Darin seemed to have trouble focusing. She mentally gritted her teeth and continued “As we discussed, I would be willing to go too as part of the first cohort, to underline the strength of our support and our faith in the academy.”

Beta Thorensen beamed, now it made sense. So that was what the little minx was up to, she wanted to escape from her Luna duties to train as a warrior. Given her commitment to the cause, and given that he had a well developed sense of mischief he thought it might be fun to see what happened next. “Well of course with that kind of support we could set something up very soon” he said, moving away so as not to allow an opportunity of anything else to be said to upset her plan “I’ll be in touch. Goodnight Luna and Alpha.”

“Goodnight” they both echoed, Sapphire clearly, Darin incoherently. Sven Thorensen went away wondering how on earth he would explain to the King that they needed to start the training academy soon, but he felt that this was somehow important and he wondered what would happen when the Alpha sobered up.

“What are you up to mate?” Darin started to ask swaying dangerously on his feet. “Time for bed I think” she replied “most people have gone already, I’ll just say a few goodbyes and let’s go up”. Sapphire took her leave of the remaining Alphas and then caught the eye of Darin’s Beta, Jon, who wasn’t so drunk. “Jon, could you give me a hand helping Darin up to the room?” “Sure.” he said. Together they hauled Darin up the stairs to their chamber, the place where she had so many unhappy memories. Even the first night had been a disaster in that lifetime long ago, and it had only got worse.

Darin stumbled over the threshold and growled as he caught his knee. Jon helped Sapphire lower him onto the bed. “Will you be ok?” he asked.

“I’ll be fine” she said, “he’ll sober up soon enough” she smiled at Jon to allay his concerns. In truth Darin looked anything but fine, but that suited her well.

Jon left. “Now quick Saff” said Star, “Quick? What?” said Sapphire her mind still wondering what to do with Darin in that state. “Quick, find that awful bracelet and get rid of it forever, you fool.”

“Of course. You’re right, but not before I do this.” Sapphire violently ripped her beautiful red mating gown off herself, tearing it in two. “Don’t waste time” urged Starlight. “I’m not” she replied. “Do you remember where he got that bracelet from?”

Together, they looked carefully around the room through Sapphire’s eyes. Where was the bracelet?