At the venue, everyone's gaze was pointed at the tall, dark haired, blue eyed woman who walked through the crowd towards the podium. The weight of authority she carried in her steps, and the aura of dominance wafting around her was enough indicator to point that an Alpha had just stepped inside.
Not just any Alpha...
Kaida mounted the podium, and gave her speech, captivating all the guests, no one dared to look away for a second, her radiance seemed to attract the gazes of both men and women.
After she finished, her steps were drowned by the standing ovation from the crowd.
But delivering the speech was just the begining of her night.
"Alpha Kaida, this is my son, Xander-"
"Your speech was amazing, my daughter here has always been a fan of literature-"
"How about we meet after this and discuss some more, no?"
Kaida forced a smile, at the pack of older shifters flocking at her sides, trying to set her up with their kids.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in finding a mate at the moment." She'd say to each one, but they wouldn't back down and instead start to lecture her on mating culture.
Thankfully, her mother, Penelope stepped in. "Kaida has just returned from her expedition, allow her some time to rest and spend time with the pack." She said, as she pulled Kaida from the center of their circle, clutching her by the arm.
"How dare you pull this sort of stunt?" Penelope whispered loudly, her voice not matching the peachy smile on her face.
"I got caught in traffic." She lied.
Penelope huffed, "You are turning eighteen in two weeks, can you at least start to act like the future Alpha of this pack?"
Kaida was about to say something, but swallowed her words when Penelope lead her to her father, who was in discussion with Beta Colt of the Brimstone pack.
Kaida hurled, when she saw two red haired people her age, twins, a male and female, watching her as she approached them.
"Looking beautiful as ever Kaida, it's good to see you back, unharmed." Beta Colt greeted as she joined their chat.
Rocco scoffed, "Getting hurt is for the weak, Kaida is much stronger than that." He looked at the red haired boy, "Don't you agree, Eric?" He asked, a menacing grin on his face.
Eric smiled calmly, "Of course, I sparred with her and learned that first hand. But, I've been training myself since then, I'm not counting on losing a second time to her."
Beta Colt laughed, "A little competition is good, is it not?"
The others laughed, at the humourless conversation, at least according to Kaida. She balled her fists and tried to find the nearest exit, parties like these bored her.
"So, I hear that Kaida will be turning eighteen soon, she'll get her wolf and start leading your pack." Beta Colt pointed out.
Rocco's expression darkened, "She'll officially start her training to be Alpha, she's still far too young and inexperienced to lead a pack. Especially not one so powerful."
Penelope seconded him, "Yes, what's most important now is her finding her mate."
Beta Colt smiled, this had been his true intention from the start. He dry coughed then said, "Our Ella here, is also turning eighteen soon, and the seer has said something about her being with a strong female Alpha. Who knows-"
Right in his sentence, Kaida cut him off. "The seer doesn't give that sort of foresight, she says it's tasteless. And besides, no one has seen her for the past two years since she went into isolation."
Penelope glared harshly at her to keep her mouth shut. Of course everyone knew Beta Colt was lying just to curry favor, so what was the need to call him out on it?
More than that, the twins, Eric and Ella were the children of Alpha Darius of Brimstone pack, one of the prominent packs in the eastern district.
It would be nothing but a beneficial match, if she got with one or even both of them. Even if it meant taking one as her concubine.
Rocco who looked bored, said, "Who even gives a damn what a Seer thinks? She hasn't made a single prediction in the last four years, who knows if she still has the ability?"
Kaida balled her fists, angry at the way he spoke about the seer, but she knew better than to say anymore and incur her father's wrath.
Especially out in public.
She pulled out her phone from her thigh strap and pretended to answer a call. "Please excuse me." She said, making a beeline for the exit.
Watching her leave, beta Colt couldn't help but remark, "She is very... willful." He forced a compliment. "I heard about her raids on those weed peddlers that crossed into our border, it's an impressive feat for someone so young."
Penelope laughed, "Yes, but as a woman I feel she has her priorities misplaced."
Colt agreed, "Someone like her needs a level headed person as a mate to keep her in line. After all, she has so much to inherit," he looked at Rocco when he spoke, "It would be a pity if everything you worked hard for was thrown away by a reckless woman high on power." After he said that he and the twins excused themselves.
Once they left, Rocco freed his scowl, "That loose tongued...Go find her!" He ordered his wife, "And make sure she doesn't embarrass the pack any further."
Penelope nodded, "Yes, Alpha." Then went outside to bring Kaida back inside. However by the time she reached the parking lot, all she could see was the back of Kaida's motorcycle speeding off into the distance!
"Kaida! Kaida!" She called out frantically, as her daughter had yet again disappeared from one of the most important parties of the year.
"Oh...just where on earth is she going?!" Penelope panicked, as Kaida's scent became less and less untraceable.
Kaida parked her motorcycle at the parking lot of a closed diner. She reached into her bra and pulled out the key to the front lock and jammed it in.
Looking here and there, she pushed the door open and went inside. She walked through the broken chairs and tables, past the bullet ridden walls, and the shards of broken glass, until she reached the storage room.
She could hear some chattering inside, which drew a reckless grin to her lips. She quickly packed her hair into a messy ponytail, then pushed the door open!
Leading her into a room of shifters around her age engaged in a game of cards with wads of cash stacked up together on the table.
Kaida deeply inhaled the scent in the air, the scent combined of alcohol, cigarettes, and...weed.
"Hey guys! Look who it is! Our hero is here!" One of the guys with a skull on his arm cried out, earning cheers from the rest.
Kaida took a mock bow and then snatched the cigarette out of the man's hand, and slipped it into her lips.
The rest cheered her on with loud excited voices, watching the real Kaida in action!