Mischievous Games

Chapter 8-The gallery

Maia's POV

My whole day had been insane. Running back and forth with last minute decorations.

The catering business I had hired was already setting up tables in the second room next to the entrance. Ofcourse there wouldnt be meals, but nibbles here and there for the guests... as well as drinks.

One couldnt expect them to spend large sums of money if they didnt feel the ambiance and loved the art.

The light blue purple and pink lighting looked magical in every room. A little green lighting too just to give them an air of other worldliness. 

The over all gallery was 5 rooms and 2 large halls that connected in an 'L' shape held art as well as sculptures.

All throughout the hall there were carefully placed fairy lights that faded into different shades of pinks and purples.

 The streamers were carefully hung at different angles of the rooms but they all came to the center under each chandelier, giving the visual illusion of the rooms being larger than what they were.

Just then the bartenders came in, each walking into a different room. Waiting to tend to each guests in each room was sure to get them all heavipy tipped. One of the blonde bartenders walked over to me shyly.

"Hi, I'm Erica! I was just hoping you wouldnt mind if I could hop into room by room before the actual show starts?" She half squealed at the end.

I giggled, I had been planning on giving them all a group tour to each room and giving them a chance to enjoy some food as well as the catering company employees.

"Yes, you actually beat me to the punch! Anyone thats working tonight is getting a private tour with me an hour before the show. So give me about 20 mins and I'll have some food laid out so you guys can enjoy the show too." I almost whispered the end due to her child like squeals of excitement.

"Oh my god thank you so much! This means so much to me!" She managed to say in all her excitement.

I just smiled, it was nothing new. I'd always done this to all the people that worked the night of the show, how else were they gonna be able to relate to the people coming in later today if they hadnt seen what was going on? It always helps the show run smoother when everyone is just as excited about it.

So now I had just under two hours before my gallery was open for tonights big event. 

2 hours before i get to see if he comes...

I closed my eyes tightly. 

No time to think about a handsome stranger i met only last night when im in the middle of my biggest yearly payout. I scolded myself.

I still couldnt believe I was functioning with only a few hours of sleep the night before. Good thing I had done more than half the work between the last few days. Or else id be in huge trouble!

I smiled inwardly, now all i needed was to sneak upstairs to my loft so i could shower quickly before the show started.

A gallerist had to look her best, especially with all the high rollers coming in tonight.

As the hour passed by, Maia began by taking each employee on a personal tour and allowed them to place their bids as well.

Noting to give them further detail on the artists whose pieces were on display. The more they knew the better opinions they could provide when it came to the open show.

Every year her function was gradually getting bigger and bigger. Shed started with only the front end hall and 3 rooms being filled to the brims with art. 

Now luckily, shed been able to expand quite a bit into all rooms of the bottom floor. Hopefully one day shed have to move into a bigger location!

She smiled at the end of the tour, allowing for all the servers and bartenders to head back to their locations excitedly.

Since they'd start prepping all of their stations for the huge crowd tonight, Maia snuck into the 5th room and opened the back door that led to the stairs of her loft.

Shed raced up and into her loft shaking out of her clothes as she went into her rest room.

Taking notice of her tired facial features in the mirror, shed decided to boost herself like ahe always did.

She closed her eyes lightly. Mostly humming to herself to help relax, suddenly she felt it starting to work. Slowly shed felt her body start to warm up, sending little goosebumps up her spine and down her arms. Her breathing began to even out, her strength starting to return to her slowly.

Maia always loved this feeling, shed always felt as if the sun was hugging her entire body. She opened her eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of her brown skin glowing and her eyes shinning ice blue. Seeing herself that way always brought her such peace, she looked like an angel.

No shower could ever compare to that feeling of renewed and refreshing she felt after that.

But today a shower was a necessity!

She jumped in the shower quickly scrubbing her hair with her avocado shampoo once her hair was wet enough for it to be able to lather. 

Her body scrub was amazing, the coconut coffee scrub would be enough for her skin to keep its glowing appearance during the entire night.

After finishing her exfoliating shower, it was off to her bed where her dress for tonight was already laid out.

Nothing too flashy, just a promenade maxi dress in a wine color. No heels tonight, just some flat golden sandals whose straps looked like linked golden leaves.

To match, shed wear her golden leaves headpiece that looked like a leaf crown pointed towards the middle as her curls were set loose all along her back.

Shed look like the queen of the wilderness, she mused.

Lastly a simple gold bracelet and small diamond stud earings.

Spraying some body mist over her body and hair, making sure to get behind the ears and down the neck (in case of hugs) and on the insides of her wrists.

She was ready!

She walked back downstairs, walking quick enough so that her black cat wouldnt run after her downstairs.

She walked into her gallery downstairs, dimming the main lights so that the mood would be perfect.

She walked into every room doing the same while checking if anything was out of place. Each bartender would flash a thumbs up as she walked by, their eagerness plain on their face.

She walked into the halls and dimmed their lights lastly, time to open the doors.

....

Daniel's POV

"Good thing we brought cash!" Matt said excitedly as he kissed Leslie's cheek.

The end of the line was already rounding the side of the building. Tonight wasnt going to be the small get together Daniel had hoped for.

His heart was racing rapidly, his mate was just a few feet away from him now. All he had to do was find a miracle spot where to park.

God heard his prayer.

Valet service. 

He slowly drove his SUV up to the line for valet parking just as Xander opened his door.

"We'll see what we can do about getting in without having to wait so long Alpha." He said with a wink. Alina jumping after on his heels.

He smiled as he looked at her, her blond hair hastily combed backwards by her fingers.

The anticipation was killing me, Luke was the only one who seemed to mirror it. Of course it was for other reasons, but his excitement was contagious.

His nose was glued to the window, mouth open in surprise as he took in all the people waiting to go inside.

He'd dressed in one of Matt's black suits, trying to his best to look like a revered artist.

There was a knock on my window, one of the valet guys was already ripping off a ticket for me.

"Welcome to Phoenix nights, it'll be 30 for valet service tonight." He looked at me expectantly.

I took out my wallet and handed him a $50, "you can keep the change if you take extra care of my truck." I smiled back.

His bored expression brightened up at my offer.

"With my life sir." He said as he opened my door for me.

Luke and Matt stepped out as well. Matt holding onto Leslie's hand as she carefully scooted out.

Her blue dress matching Matts tie.

They laced their hands together as they waited for us.

Alpha, Luke is on the list of VIPs for the evening with a plus 4. Xander mindlinked me.

My heart dropped, she forgot about me.

You're on the list by the name of Daniel the cute guy he teased.

...

Leslie's POV

The place was amazing on the inside.

Leslie's eyes opened wide in amazement. The place looked breathtakingly beautiful.

This was the perfect date night for us, Matt had been working so hard for the past couple of months that we'd been mostly pack leaders rather than Mates.

She turned to look at her mate, his messy hair was lazily pulled back into a shaggy pony tail that now had strands coming out at all ends.

He looked really cute tonight, his silver dress shirt stretching at his biceps.

Id basically had to threaten him to wear something semi classy. 

His arguement had been that no wolf should wear something as tight as dress pants.

All shed have to say to make him reconsider was that she'd mindlink Daniel for his opinion. 

His mouth had then turned into a defeated pout as hed snatched the dresspants from his closet and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Wolves. 

You cant wear baggy clothes to everything.

She led him inside the room even further, walking towards some of the tables that had some delicious looking food on it.

Her stomach growled.

Matt giggled behind her, already knowing what his mate's intentions were.

There were so many different types of foods that Leslie wanted to kiss her future Luna. 

There were puerto rican empanadas, tostones, mozzarella sticks, roasted beef squares, even some pineapple chicken kabobs that were giving Leslie the eye.

She quickly grabbed a plate and pointed to what shed like placed on it from a server that just smiled.

Matts eyes had caught onto the sweets at the other end of the table, but hed patiently wait for his mate to over serve herself with food. In the end theyd always exchange bits of foods from each others plates.

He smiled at her, devotion clear in his eyes.

She looked at her plate, it was definitely about to over flow, but the servers didn't seem to mind at all. 

There were so many containers behind them that she was sure her Luna was going to have an excess amount of food left.

Matt suddenly disappeared. 

Leslie turned around to look for him, maybe hed seen something delicious and decided to go get it.

Babe. She. Got. Fried. Cheesecakes. Daniel better marry her tonight. He mindlinked her.

She couldnt suppress her giggles. 

.....

Alina's POV

Alina was surprised that the place was so big, shed thought that art galleries were small and boring. But this place was bussing with people and music.

If she wasnt so aware of where they were, shed have started dancing with Xander in the middle on the gathering.

Xander had insisted on dressing formal for their night and now she was mentally praising his instincts.

He'd gone in that suit she loved, the one that hugged his curves and played well with his eyes.

He was so good looking. The day shed found out he was her mate shed been instantly nervous he would reject her. He was too good looking for her, she feared.

Her troubles had disintegrated immediately. 

He had walked over and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer as he hugged her tightly.

Mine. He growled into her neck, into the spot where his mark now rested.

She shivered, it had been over 5 years and she would always not believe she was his mate.

His blue eyes turned to look at her worriedly, "are you cold?" He asked as he leaned into her.

"No, just remembering something." She offered with a smile.

He leaned into her further in an embrace, "i wonder what kind of memories can cause you to shiver.." he trailed off, a smile evident in his voice.

She pulled back, afraid to lose control with her mate in front of so many people.

He let out a soft chuckle, "maybe later we can make a new memory to shiver to."

She knew she was as red as an apple.

"Tease." She spat out while lightly slapping his shoulder.

Theyd only walked in a few minutes ago and Leslie was already serving herself food she laughed.

Xander started to walk further into the gallery, towards what looked to be a hall, pulling her with him.

Daniel had asked them all to split up and look for their Luna. 

She squeezed his hand as she followed him, not wanting the waves of art viewers to seperate them.

Even the air smelled wonderful here. Like freshly picked flowers and honey. Our Luna really went all the way with her exhibition today.

She seems very on top of everything, she mindlinked Xander.

Yes, i like her already. He mindlinked back.

Alina tried to get on her tippy toes as she walked in order to get a better look for her Luna.

"What are you doing?" Xander laughed as he looked over his shoulder.

Alina scowled, "not everyone can be 6'0 Xander. Us short people need a boost." 

He laughed again, shaking his head.

I dont think i can recognize her if i see her. She mindlinked him.

It was true, theyd seen her in a dark club for all of 30 minutes.

I might, he mindlinked, we followed her outside when she was searching for her friend.

Thats true, she wondered why he wasnt following her scent.

Maybe he wanted to give Daniel and Fernin the chance to find their mate.

It would be hard for them, having to hide who they were since she was human....well if only for a few days.

They walked into another room, this one had some sculptures in it.

She sighed, there was no sign of her anywhere.

....