"Ally, darling, are you ready yet? The other packs will be here any moment now!" Cadence called through the door.
Alaric Winters, seventh son of Alpha Abram Winters, despised being called 'Ally.' Having grown up the runt of his 'brothers' with feminine facial features and a slender frame, Alaric had been hazed often about being 'girlish.' Only Cadence, his younger sister that he adored above everything else in his life, was allowed to use the pet name.
"Cool your jets, Cade," he called back. "I'm just adding a few finishing touches to my ensemble."
"Isn't this so exciting?" She squealed as Alaric fastened a blue rose pin inlaid with silver to the front of his blazer. "Everyone is going to attend this year, even the Sanguine Syndicate!"
"I thought they weren't invited to the annual Harvest Moon Ball anymore," Alaric commented as he inspected himself in the mirror. He looked almost a little too perfect. With a frown, he retrieved his liquid eyeliner from his makeup case and applied it expertly, adding just a hint of rebellion to his style. He smiled knowing it would drive his father crazy.
"Not since that major battle fifty years ago when they were driven out of the city," Cadence answered. "That's what makes this year so special!"
"I thought this year was special because it was your grand debut," Alaric remarked as he got to his feet and walked to the door. "It is the only reason I am attending, after all."
"Isn't it a great year to be a debutant?" Cadence chattered excitedly as she threw her arms around his waist the moment he emerged. "I hope I catch the Alpha's eye!"
"Which Alpha?" Alaric questioned. He didn't actually want to know the answer, just the thought of his baby sister dating, let alone marrying turned his stomach.
"Lou!" Cadence chirped readily. "The alpha of the Sanguine Syndicate! What other alpha is worth talking about? I mean seriously! There's never been an Alpha like Lou! She's single-handedly saved her pack-"
"SHE?!" Alaric choked in surprise. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected his boy-crazy little sister to be interested in a same gender relationship.
"Oh don't gawk like that, Ally, we're living in the twenty-first century and you're a cross dresser for crying out loud," Cadence scolded in an annoyed tone. "It's not that big of a deal."
"I cross dress for roles, not recreationally and you know it!" Alaric protested.
"You totally wear dresses recreationally!" Cadence countered. "I know because of all the modeling work you do! I KNOW they offer male model positions, yet you always turn up in a dress in every ad I've ever seen you in."
"First, typically it's a toga or a towel! Second, that's not the point!" Alaric colored at the mention of the advertisements. He had actually forgotten to tell his sister about it and was surprised she knew. He had done them out of country because he genuinely enjoyed the work but didn't want his father or his father's infamous reputation ruining his opportunities.
"Then what is the point?" Cadence questioned.
"It wasn't a month ago you were going on and on about some guy at school… Blake or something…" Alaric reminded her.
"Butch, Ally, his name is Butch," Cadence said with a role of her eyes. "And I am so over him."
"I have a garish letter from you proclaiming your unconditional love for the guy!" Alaric exclaimed.
"That was before I found out he wears size 13 shoes!" Cadence scoffed. "I could never be with a guy who wears size thirteen shoes. Could you just imagine?"
Alaric was too baffled with her logic to answer that question. He was also still trying to process his baby sister's new found interest in women.
"So now you prefer other females?" Alaric checked. "Don't get me wrong, you're my baby sister and I don't care who you decide to love, that's your business and I will threaten them within an inch of their life regardless. I'm just… surprised. You've never shown interest in other females before."
"I don't prefer 'other females,' as you put it," Cadence rolled her eyes again. "I prefer Lou!"
"Right," Alaric gave up understanding the workings of Cadence's overly complex teenage mind. He'd worry about the boy/girlfriend thing when it actually became a problem. For now, she seemed to be jumping between phases and crushes.
Taking a breath to compose himself, Alaric took his sister's arm and started guiding her down the hall towards the grandiose staircase that lead into the luxurious foyer of the Blue Crescent Pack House. He tried to ignore the seemingly judgmental stares of the portraits they passed, each more infuriating than the last.
The seventh and youngest son of his father Abram Winters, who had been the Seventh and youngest son of his father Alois Winters, Alaric had grown up subject to high expectations. A 'luck child,' they had called him. Ever single day, from the time Alaric wore diapers up until his seventh birthday, Abram had preached about his great destiny. The luck child would bring limitless power and fortune, or so the legends said. He was supposed to be the biggest, strongest, most powerful wolf in existence the way his father told it. Reality, it seemed, was a far cry from legend.
By the time he was six, Alaric was noticeably smaller than all of his peers. Even the shortest female in his class had been nearly a head taller than him. The rest of the year, his father had put him through all sorts of bizarre diets and routines, hoping to stimulate his growth, but to no avail. Alaric remained the smallest, lightest, and by far the most stubborn pup in the pack.
All at once, his father's favor had completely vanished. No longer was he praised for his grand destiny, nor was he told stories about the wonderful things he would do. In fact, no longer was Alaric considered the Alpha's son.
Too young to understand what was going on or why, Alaric had been confused and heartbroken when he was pulled out of his private school and put into a public school where everybody seemed to hate him. He had been completely crushed by the fact his father, who had been his hero at the time, never wanted to see him and only ever spoke to him to criticize him. Alaric had been devastated when, all of a sudden, all his older brothers--who he'd thought were the coolest ever--started hazing him relentlessly and even went so far as to beat him. It got so bad that his mother had enrolled him in an elite private school in an entirely different country to protect him from the increasingly violent bullying.
"Are you ok?" Cadence asked. "You're hand is shaking pretty bad."
"I'm wonderful," Alaric lied. "I can't think of anyplace I would rather be."
"You don't have to be so sarcastic," Cadence sighed. "I know, you'd probably prefer to be back in England or wherever drafting up blueprints and performing in random plays. Trust me, I get it, this place isn't the easiest place to be. I wish I could pack up and leave too."
"Is there a point to this speech of yours?" Alaric questioned out the side of his mouth as they descended the stairs and the rest of the family came into view. As always, his older brothers, though different ages, all looked like near-perfect carbon copies of his father. Identical platinum hair styled in identical haircuts, identical frosty blue eyes framed by identically straight blond eyelashes, identical suits, identical shoes and posture… it reminded Alaric of a line of dominoes just waiting to be toppled. He was amused to see that not a single one of them had a date, and his mother was standing apart from them flanked by two guards.
"It means a lot to me that you came," Cadence replied softly. He could feel her tense as their father glared up at them. Abram clearly wasn't pleased to see him.
"I thought you said they knew I was coming," Alaric hissed through his forced smile as he gaged the shocked reactions of his mother and brothers.
"I may or may not have told you a small fib," Cadence admitted as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Alaric wasn't given a chance to remain cross with her for long.
"What is he doing here?" Abram demanded in a booming voice. Alaric rolled his eyes. It was completely typical of his father to act as though he wasn't even in the room.
"He is my escort," Cadence replied coldly. Abram's face blanched, but with a glance at his wife, he fixed his eyes ahead of himself and pretended he could no longer see the two of them. One of his many pathetic efforts to retain some kind of face. Unfortunately, the brothers weren't about to let the subject drop.
"Shouldn't a father be responsible for escorting his daughter for her debut?" Basil, Alaric's oldest and most insufferable brother, sneered.
"As far as I am concerned, I don't have a true father," Cadence replied boldly. "For that matter, I only have one worthwhile brother."
She flounced past them, towing Alaric along as she went. Abram's face went red and he moved as though to grab her, but froze under the stony glare of their mother. Marisa Laughlin Winters, Luna of the Blue Crescent pack and sister to Alpha Julian Laughlin of the Goldmane pack, was not a woman to be trifled with. She and Abram had experienced a rocky relationship ever since Marisa had become pregnant with Alaric, and there had never been a fight between the Alpha couple that Marisa hadn't won. Not in the 23 years Alaric had been alive at least.
"You get back here and say that to my face!" Basil, lacking the wisdom that came with experience, snarled and lunged for Cadence as she passed.
"You will not touch me!" Cadence snarled back, snatching his hand mid swing and twisting it behind his back. "I don't give a shit if dad named you 'heir.' Unlike Alaric and I, you only possess the blood of one alpha, you illegitimate bastard! The only reason I don't kill you right now is because I don't want to ruin my dress with your filthy blood!"
As she spoke, Cadence continued twisting Basil's arm until he was forced into a submissive posture. Alaric watched Abram's face turn an ugly, even angrier shade of red as his veins bulged in his neck, but he said nothing. Though it was common knowledge, Alpha Abram liked to sweep the fact that his first six children were born out of wedlock before he had married his mate under the rug. Technically, only Alaric and Cadence had any real claim of the pack, but Alaric wasn't interested in the position. He was quite content remaining a lone wolf.
As Basil struggled in vain against Cadence's hold, the other five brothers averted their gaze submissively, wisely holding their tongues though clearly just as angry. Marisa, however watched her daughter with pride.
"Submit!" Cadence commanded, exerting her inherited alpha aura to drive her point home. With a whimper Basil went limp and dropped to his knees.
Cadence wasn't given a chance to relish her victory. Out of nowhere, a side door flew open, the sound of breaking glass crashed against the marble floors, and an intense bloodlust filled the air. Every eye turned towards the ominous figure standing over an understandably terrified waitor in the doorway.