Today was the day Rylan dreaded, the day of the ball. Over the last two days Rylan had remembered how much he missed human appliances and the taste of human foods. Despite his love of cooked foods, Rylan still went out to hunt down animals to eat to appease his wolf, but it truly didn't beat the taste of human food. He had especially taken a liking to sweets especially. The Queen teased him about that a lot before he revealed he never got the chance to eat anything like ice cream or chocolate since he was 8. She sobered up quickly and apologized profusely as Rylan shrugged and waved it off claiming it was alright.
While Rylan wasn't acquainted to the new territory, he still trained his body both fur and skin. He took long runs, alternating in both skin and fur and he also explored the land trying to get a feel on the new terrain and temperature. It was a pain being in such high heat but as always, he pushed through and got used to it. Adaptation seemed to be a specialty of his.
The raven head snapped out of his thoughts as someone knocked on his door. He muttered a 'come in' as he got out of bed to stretch with overdramatic loud groans. He got up and grinned when he saw Raiza, the Queen, coming in with a small soft smile reserved for those closest to her.
He was pleased to note that he and the Queen had gotten closer, and she held him in high regards. Raiza also had seemed to take a liking to him and even though he hadn't stayed long they were as close as siblings, they just clicked. She sometimes joined him on his many runs and invited him to accompany her during mealtimes as they conversed about various topics.
"Why hello your majesty. What have I done to be honored with your very presence." Raiza simply rolled her eyes and gave him a mock scowl, but the ends of her lips twitched upwards giving away her true emotions behind her mask.
"Well Rylan, if you must know the ball is in less than an hour and I had been alerted by Mia that you haven't yet dressed up. So, I took it upon myself to help you get ready."
Rylan sighed, "Do as you wish Raiza."
And so Raiza pulled out the box he had set under his bed containing the suit he was supposed to wear. He had no idea how to put it on which was why he avoided doing it in the first place, as to avoid damaging the expensive fabrics.
"Undress"
Rylan raised an eyebrow then smirked as he took off his shirt over his head. "My, my, how scandalous of you Raiza. But if you wanted me naked you could've just said the word."
Raiza raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Rylan dear, I'm afraid I have no interest with you. My heart yearns for my soul-mate and it does not beat for the opposite sex." She placed a hand on her heart as she faked sincerity in her voice.
Rylan groaned and stuck a hand to his chest as he fell backwards onto his bed. "You wound me my fair lady, and here I was thinking about what we could've been, what we could've had." He trailed off wistfully.
Raiza chuckled softly as she took out the contents of the box as Rylan stood naked in nothing but his boxers.
She handed him black trousers that were loose on his long legs and were high waisted. She then gave him a black loose blouse that she told him to tuck in and unbuttoned the first few to showcase his chest. He simply shrugged when Raiza asked for his opinion. What did he know about fashion? He's been living in the wild with no need for clothes as he stayed in his fur most of the time so he couldn't really argue with the wolf that came to be as close as a family member.
She then gave him a matching black blazer that was left unbuttoned and hung off his shoulders, and she finished the look off by giving him a matching gold set of earrings and a necklace.
Raiza whistled lowly as she examined him. Rylan gave her a charming smile as he dramatically did a 360 to showcase his outfit, twirling around with as much grace as he could muster together.
"I must say I did a pretty good job on dressing you up. Ah- Before I forget come here and let me fix your hair." She tsk'd. "Always a bird's nest with you, your lucky it makes you look so endearing."
Raiza had insisted on giving him a haircut yesterday and who was he to refuse? He knew he was a good-looking guy, but his hair was a tangled wild mess and grew to be just below the shoulders. She asked Rylan for preferences and he had just stated he didn't want it too short. Taking that into account Raiza gave him what was apparently called a mullet with bangs. He had to admit Raiza was skilled with the scissors.
Rylan really did wonder why she didn't make a business out of fashion and haircut.
He was snapped out of reminiscing about yesterday when Raiza spoke with a serious tone in her voice.
"Rylan promise me that just this night, you won't go around picking fights or killing anyone. This gathering is already a sensitive thing with the vampires coming as well." Rylan sighed and just shrugged before nodding. Raiza raised her brow up for a verbal answer though.
"Fineeee", Rylan whined. "I pinky promise to not kill, antagonize, or fight anyone tonight...unless they try to provoke with me first" Raiza groaned and scoffed looking exasperated. "And I suppose this is the best I'm getting out of you?" Rylan shrugged.
"Suppose so, wolf's pride and all."
"Just- try not to kill anyone if you fight them yeah?"
Rylan gave her a simple nod as he mentally prepared himself for the shitshow that he somehow knew was going to happen.
"Now Rylan, as the humans say, 'let's get this show on the road".
__________
As they walked down the corridors to the ballroom, (taking longer than expected as Rylan begged and pleaded with Raiza to take him to the kitchens to get his hands on some fresh dessert being made for the ball and god Rylan was in love with the tiramisu), Raiza briefed him on who would be there. Apparently a fairly new uprising pack founded by an Alpha that went by Black would make their appearance here. A debut Rylan told himself. He supposed this was his official debut as well.
The pack Alpha had never been seen before by anyone other than Raiza herself and the werewolf representative, both have been sworn to secrecy and could give away nothing. So, this would be their official debut as Alpha. Rylan was happy to note he wouldn't have the spotlight solely on him as he sucked on the spoon, he used to eat the delicious Italian dessert.
She had also told him the Vampire's Queen and her heir were attending as well as a few of their most trusted people and a select few covens and their leaders.
Rylan was curious about the vampires but put the subject to rest when Raiza explained the packs attending were basically all of the ones in the state and a few out-of-state. She then rambled off into something about how she was sick of how Alpha George, an alpha in the western part of their state, and how he kept complaining to her over how annoying the bugs in his pack were and how irritating it was that she was somehow supposed to make them disappear.
"That's one pathetic Alpha, how come no one has challenged him for the title?" Rylan muttered as Raiza rambled on and on about her duties as Alpha Queen.
"I know!" Raiza growled out in exasperation as she forced herself to calm down, her wolf teetering on the edge of coming out to make an appearance. "I have no idea why, which is why I'm planning on doing a surprise visit. George's Pack is awfully quiet, and I haven't seen a pack member of his that wasn't fearful of him. It's ridiculous, it's like they're about to piss themselves whenever he's near, yes you should fear your Alpha I suppose, but they should also look at him with respect but what all I've seen is pure fear and hatred in their eyes." She ranted with a slight edge of tiredness to her voice.
Rylan grasped her knuckles in his hands and rubbed his thumb over them to sooth her as he gave her a soft reassuring smile.
As they reached the ball room, they heard the faint noise of loud chatter that got louder as they grew closer, and the host announcing the arrivals. Raiza had practically begged him to do a grand entrance with her, always one for dramatics Rylan agreed although hesitantly. Rylan couldn't deny that despite the anxiousness and nervousness biting away at his gut, he felt a slight adrenaline rush at the excitement he hadn't felt in so long.
A loud voice on the speakers drew his attention away from his thoughts as he tried his best to keep his wolf on a leash while his dangerous aura was contained and wrapped tightly around him. He would try and lay low for Raiza's sake. It was also fun to surprise a few wolves when he unleashed it
"Alpha Queen Raiza of the Werewolves and...", his voice turned into a hushed whisper as Rylan gazed at the door trying to calm his heart as he wondered what was happening behind the doors at the same time. His voice was hesitant as he continued. "...and Rylan Matsumoto of the lost Matsumoto pack."
Rylan's breath hitched as he heard a collective silence hush the chatter in the room probably begging and waiting to see the face of the lost ex-heir. Raiza gave him a kind reassuring smile before steeling her face with a polite mask as Rylan did the same. The doors swung open to reveal a balcony and stairs. Eyes were on him the minute he stepped out and took Raiza's arm in the way a sibling would do to dispel any rumors of them dating. He truly didn't want to deal with any more rumors.
As he descended down the stairs Rylan looked at the decorations in the room, it was decorated in various shades of blues that complimented the white pristine walls and tiles of the manor beautifully. But then as he was walking down the last few steps, he caught scent of something and almost stumbled as he inhaled it. The scent was like warmth. It reminded him of warm sunny days and had a light floral scent to it. It was like home.
His wolf also seemed affected by the scent and was curious as to where it came from, and they both almost gave into hunting the source down before Rylan remembered the promise, he made Raiza. He just couldn't shake the feeling of that scent being important though. His wolf was no exception. They stood their ground against the urge and let Raiza lead them through the crowd, tossing polite smiles and words every now and then. Suddenly Raiza stopped and started speeding somewhere dragging Rylan along. Rylan gripped her arm and pulled her back to question her and was slightly startled with the image of her eyes glowing slightly as her wolf neared the surface. She was close to shifting.
"What's wrong?" He whispered while looking warily around the room.
"Nothing- It's- I found my mate Rylan, I smell them. So either let me go or follow me" she said growing agitated. His wolf bristled at her slight annoyance directed towards them, but Rylan simply hushed his beast as he continued to talk to Raiza.
"Fine, but you must remember you are Queen and running around like a headless chicken will not gain any respect."
Raiza nodded with a slightly red face, ashamed of her actions, and continued heading towards where the drinks were being served, and Rylan took note that most of the vampires were over there-
He stopped and pulled at Raiza again. "Is your mate a vampire?" Rylan hissed out with small panic in his tone. It has never been heard of before. Vampires didn't have soulmates, and unlike wolves they chose who they could love and spend eternity with. They used to but when a powerful vampire angered the Moon, she took away the privilege of soulmates for them, a warning that she could do much more, but she was a merciful being,
Raiza ignored him as Rylan was panicking on the inside, worrying over the she wolf, and made eye contact with a beautiful woman. Her hair was a sleek silky black and her dark brown eyes popped against her pale skin. The woman was startled but quickly composed herself in the face of the Alpha Queen.
"Mate"
Only, Raiza wasn't the one who spoke it.