"What's going on here is that my promised Luna is claiming that she-wolf right there is her fated mate. We all know that's not possible." Dustin glared at Della. "I think someone else is involved but I can't talk about that."
"What do you mean promised Luna? There is no such thing in werewolf law. And yes, it is possible that these two are fated mates. It has happened before, and it is perfectly legal." Terrance glared furiously at Dustin, using his Alpha aura, which shut him up fast. He looked scared now, as he realized he had fucked up.
"I apologize," he said, "I will let it go."
"If I hear of any action taken against any pack because of this incident you will be removed, one way or another, from your Alpha position of your pack. This is your one warning. Tread carefully." Dustin nodded and slunk out of the room.
Della stared in awe at the Grand-Alpha. She had never seen such power, such raw energy. "Thank you," she told him sincerely.
"Yes, thank you," Sheila added, and Cori nodded, seeming to have lost her ability to speak. "He was just awful to me. I thought a Luna was to be cherished, not displayed like a trophy and treated like a slave." She shuddered, "I am so glad this happened. My life was about to become miserable." She smiled at Cori.
"Now it will be amazing!"
"I will be keeping a close eye on his pack," the Grand-Alpha said, "I don't know why or when it became acceptable to treat other werewolves like property. That is not our way. The Moon Goddess tells us to treat one another with respect and kindness, a very simple law that it is so complicated to enforce." He sighed. "All right, everyone, back to the party, and that is an order!"
The music started back up, the drinks started flowing, and soon everyone seemed to have forgotten about the spectacle. Relieved, Della found her seat again, grabbing another glass off of the tray as the server passed them. Cori and Sheila joined her, and Della could see how happy they were. Their faces both flushed, vibrant, their eyes locking, their hands clasped together.
"Sheila, Cori and I live in a human town, and there are reasons for that we need to talk about. But not here. Would it make you uncomfortable to move there with us? Or, Cori, wound you want to come back to Snow Moon? Or go to Sheila's pack?" Della wanted all of the cards on the table, to know how much she would need to reveal to her best friend's mate.
"I don't think I want to go back to where I was, not with him as the Alpha. I don't want to go back to my original pack, they used me like a pawn." Sheila smiled at Cori. "Do you like living among humans?"
"I do," Cori said. "We live on the beach and everyone there is so friendly. Well, the ones I talk to anyway. Our place is pretty secluded. A lot of privacy."
"Well, unless you want to do something else, I would like to join you," Sheila said. Della smiled, she had been hoping for this. Sherry was at the university most of the time, and Della kept to herself. Without Cori and her friends who came by on occasion, she would be alone with a pup most of the time. The thought terrified her.
"Incoming Asshole King, steadily approaching from behind you," Cori said, and Della rolled her eyes.
"Great," she said. "He gives me the creeps." She remembered Mila's warning from earlier. "My wolf doesn't like him either."
"Della!" Jaden Montgomery stepped up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She instinctively jerked away, nearly spilling her drink. "Your highness, you startled me. Can I help you?" The fake tone of her politeness was obvious, unless you were the world's most arrogant werewolf.
"I was just wondering if you would like to dance," he smiled, and she could see why others found him charming. He was attractive, his features refined and elegant, and his perfectly styled hair and clothes projected wealth and power. He reminded Della of a cartoon, the frat boy jock who everyone liked, not knowing he was secretly a big bully. She was intuitive enough to see through his facade.
"I am going to have to politely decline," Della said, "I seem to have twisted my ankle when I was dancing earlier."
A flash of anger lit up his eyes, gone almost before it could be seen. "I understand, that is unfortunate. Perhaps you would join me for a drink?" He smiled again, turning on the charm. "Some place a little more private?"
Della struggled to maintain her composure. This guy was not taking the hint. Was he clueless? Stubborn? Or just not used to someone who didn't grovel at his feet? "Perhaps another time," she said, her eyes flashing gold for a moment, Mila making her presence known.
"Okay, okay," he backed off, "I will see you later?" He turned and stomped off, and Della rolled her eyes. "He won't take no for an answer," she muttered.
That strange feeling came over her again, tickling at something in her mind, like a word on the tip of her tongue. She felt panic setting in, and quickly stood up and walked outside, saying something about getting some air, that she would be right back. The room felt like it had gotten smaller, like the walls were closing in, and the air felt heavy. She took a deep breath as she walked out into the moonlit night, feeling better.
She froze, as the wind shifted and a scent unlike any she had ever experienced filled her nose. She recognized that she was catching the scent of her mate- but how? Could her second chance mate be here?
She followed the scent around the building, just in time to see the door to a limosine close. The car started to pull away, and she watched it, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She knew she wouldn't catch up to it in time, and she couldn't risk hurting herself, she had a pup at home to think about.
Who was he? Her heart swelled with joy, knowing that he was out there somewhere. She thanked the Moon Goddess, trusting that when the time was right, their paths would cross.
Would he reject her too, or would he believe her? She reminded herself not to hope for too much. She had chosen Jax, and she always would. Always.