A small string orchestra of violinists, cellists, and contrabassists, played their instruments beautifully; creating a rich, melodic sound celebrating Leonidas and Lucas's initiation into the pack. The soulful vibrations emitting from the orchestra encouraged Aurelia's upper body to sway, moving in sync to their rhythm. She closed her eyes to further enhance the way the orchestra's sounds reached her ears and touched her soul. The pure sounds of the violin comforted Aurelia as she reopened her eyes and took in the precious moments in front of her.
She glanced at her stepfather, Demetrius, with his stocky build, gray peppered hair, and warm brown eyes, as he twirled her laughing mother close to his chest, gently kissed her forehead, and rested his stubbled chin upon the top of her head as they slow danced together. Aurelia giggled at them as she watched gold and green lights dance across the Hall, playfully reflected from the jewel-encrusted vines that circled around every column of the ballroom.
There were over 20 banquet tables extended around the ballroom floor. Each adorned with either royal purple or sky blue, silk table runners and gold laced mats placed at each table setting. Their centerpieces were sparkling Crystal vases embellished outside with emeralds and amethysts, while the insides held freshly cut violets, white calla lilies, and baby's breath.
Aurelia was infatuated by the fresh floral scents in the air mixed with the aroma of fresh vanilla and sweet buttercream coming from the twin's 4-tiered banquet cake. Homer, the lead chef, had made a warm-spiced cake with a citrus buttercream frosting and had adorned the cake's first 2 layers with dark chocolate drizzles that formed a forest tree line. He placed a silver moon atop the cake which matched the twin silver wolves howling from the 2nd tier, and golden stars were placed carefully along the top two tiers of the cake.
Aurelia was sitting next to Adrian, with Beta Orion on Adrian's right and Gamma Nikolaos to her left at the head table. She nervously played with the hem of her dress as she bounced her foot in sync to the string instruments trying to think of something that would strike up an interesting conversation. She never allowed herself to get close to others, her fear of loss had prevented her from forming any solid friendships so that conversation topic would be a dead end. She sighed and silently scolded herself for not giving any thought to topics of conversation she could have with Adrian. The string orchestra's crescendo slowly gave way to the sounds of their diminuendo as they finished playing their current composition.
"Evie, open up and ask Adrian to dance with us!" her wolf enunciated the US as she had been waiting patiently to meet her mate, Adrian's wolf.
Aurelia rolled her eyes and giggled, placing a hand to her lips to try and diminish the sounds of her laughter.
"You have the most lovely, delightful laugh, Aurelia." Adrian whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her neck and sending shivers down her spine.
"Thank you, My King" she smiled breathlessly and shook her head correcting herself "Adrian."
He smiled and stood slowly, running his fingers from her shoulder down to the inside of her wrist, where he softly massaged; causing sparks to float along her skin from his touch. It was a good thing she was sitting down because her knees were instantly weak at his gesture.
She found herself being lifted tenderly from her seat by Adrian as he carried her bridal style to the dance floor. Her cheeks warmed as they flushed bright pink. She was immediately aware of how built Adrian's arms and chest were as she wrapped one arm around his back, and the other around his neck, while she was carried to the dance floor.
Adrian slowly set her down onto the ballroom floor. She gazed into his hypnotizing, water blue eyes and set her right hand in his. She wrapped her left hand around him, placing it at the bottom of his back. The other wolves on the dance floor lined up around Adrian and Aurelia as the string orchestra's next composition started to echo throughout the ballroom.
Adrian pulled Aurelia in closer to him as they began to dance. She could hear the "oooh's and awww's" coming from their audience as Adrian spun her gracefully around the dance floor. They moved intricately to the polished, classical melody vibrating throughout the Hall; their feet in perfect sync to the harmony of the music and their beating hearts. As the song progressed, Aurelia felt relaxed and allowed a satisfied sigh to escape her lips. She felt Adrian's chest rumble as he let a low, exotic growl break free from his from his mouth. Aurelia, oddly delighted by the sound, snuggled deeper into chest taking in his intoxicating spiced cinnamon and autumn musk scent. They were lost in the moment and neither of them realized when the music had stopped playing.
"Evie, let's ask if he would like to spend some time alone. I would love to finally meet his wolf. We could show him our Sanctuary!" Amerie eagerly asserted.
Aurelia nervously agreed to her wolf's request as she asked "Adrian, may I show you my Sanctuary? I would love for our wolves to meet each other as well."
Adrian's smile widened at her request and he quickly scooped her back into his arms as he replied "I confess that my wolf has been very restless in my mind this evening. He is very eager to meet his Moon-Fated."
Aurelia pointed him towards the back door of the Recreation Hall when she noticed his eyes turn that deep, almost black-blue "I mind-linked my pack members here, specifically Orion and Nikolaos, to inform them of our plans and..." Adrian stated, "they will make sure to let your mother and Alpha Demetrius know that you are safe and with me."
Aurelia nodded and smiled as she added "Can you please ask them to save a piece of cake for us? Homer really outdid himself and my mouth is watering just thinking about taking a bite of that delicately, delicious cake! I know if they don't we definitely won't get to try it."
He laughed in agreement and Aurelia felt at ease in his arms as he carried her out of the noisy Recreation Hall and into the night of the moonlit forest. Aurelia nervously bit her bottom lip in anticipation. Her senses were on overdrive so she tried to focus on the smell of her mate and of the wet night air mixing with the pine of the forest.
That seemed to steady her nerves as she breathed "Are you ready to meet my wolf, Amerie?"
Adrian whispered back sweetly, his lips brushing her ear "More than ever, My Moon."