She stood in the entryway of the ballroom, her royal blue gown pooled at her feet. Her Nordic blue eyes frantically scanned the familiar faces about the room. Face of the people she not only worked with, but of those she had also grown up with. The ballroom had been elegantly decorated to match the colors associated with the traditional Full Moon Festival: Royal Blue and stark white. A light tune of stringed instruments filtered through the air, giving the ballroom a cheerful demeanor. Servers were walking throughout the crowd, offering glasses to the guests who were in attendance.
Her brother Sam waved at her from where he stood with their friends near the exit way that led to the pavilion built near the lakeside. Taking a deep breath, she started through the crowd, greeting those who greeted her. Upon reaching her friends, Sam offered her a hug and a glass. "You look stunning." He said softly. But before she could comment back, Miranda joined them, and the conversation changed. Before long, they were also joined by Renee and her brother Brayden, Lucas, Ronnie, Erik, and Matthew.
Somewhere during the conversation, Miranda looked up and light up like a light bulb. "Alpha Nathanson is here, and boy does he look good." Taking a look over her shoulder, she could see him standing by the entrance talking to an older couple. He donned a black tuxedo with black lapels as well as a black vest and undershirt. His usually unkempt black hair had been combed back and he had shaved the normal stubble he had on his chiseled jaw. Miranda had been right; he did look good.
He must have had sensed someone watching him because his gaze started sweeping around the room. Before they could land on her, she turned back to her friends and let herself refocus on the conversation. She and Miranda were talking about the last few days of their senior year of high school and how it had been utterly stressful when it came to exams when Miranda twisted to talk about Alpha Nathanson. She commented on how she thought he would be a great climb, if you caught her drift.
It caused Grace to choke on her drink and cough. She coughed so hard; her friends started laughing. "Are you okay?" Sam asked. Nodding, she handed him the glass. "I think I need some air." Moving out the exit door, she walked down the walkway to the pavilion which had been light with twinkling white lights and lit candles. Taking a deep breath, she could smell the scents of pine and wet earth. These were the scents of the forest that were all too familiar to her. Scents she had grown up with. Taking them in, she tried to calm her wolf who was nervous.
She did not know why, but her wolf was anxiously pacing back and forth in her mind, snarling and snapping. What could have upset her so terribly? She knew exactly what it was. She wanted to be let out. she wanted to run, only to stop when she was thoroughly exhausted. But now, was not the time. So, instead, she took int he scents and the sounds of the night around her. Eventually, her wolf calmed, retreating to the back of her mind. It was only then that she realized that she was no longer going to be alone. Someone else was with her.
"It seems I am not the only one in need of the consolation the night gives." A man's voice said. But it was not just any man. It was Alpha Nathanson. He must have felt the need to escape the crowd of people within the ballroom. Keeping her eyes up on the moon in the sky, she smiled softly. "I find it soothing. Like...all the chaos around me disappears for the briefest time and it is just me." He chuckled. "Exactly."
They both stood in silence for a few moments before he moved to join her at the railing. "I apologize if I took the peace away from you. I find it overwhelming in there." She really smiled this time. "On the contrary, I find the company pleasing." His eyes searched the trees, obviously looking for any sign of a threat before fully relaxing. They were both quiet, simply enjoying each other's company. Before long, they both moved though, looking at each other. When her eyes met his, however, she found herself hit with a jolt of electricity.
Her skin broke out in goosebumps, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. In her mind, her wolf howled with joy. He tensed, his canines showing from beneath his lips when a deep growl rumbled within his chest. His green eyes brightened slightly, no longer showing flecks of gold. "Mate."