What the hell did Eva want? Jaden stormed after Jared, his anger rollling off of him in waves. As he slowly began to calm down, he realized it was probably a good thing he had been interrupted, before he could do something stupid while the Werewolf Council was watching. He had been ready to take Della to his soundproof room and lock her away. But she might very well have woken up on the way there, something he couldn't risk. If only there was a way to make her come to him. Willingly.
He considered the possibilities. What if he offered to make her Queen? What if he tried to romance her? Take her out on dates? He was so used to women throwing themselves at him that he had never really considered any of those things.
It was obvious that Della knew of his reputation, he could feel the disapproval in her gaze every time she looked at him. She had been saving herself for her fated mate. As far as she knew, she still was.
Eva approached them, a smile on her face. "Hello, dear brother. I just wanted to ask you about something." The tone of her voice was off, she was up to something. He knew it.
"Ask away," he said, looking around him at all of the guests. There was something different about them this time, although he couldn't quite figure out what it was.
Before Eva could answer, a commotion near the door drew all of their attention from anything else. A large number of werewolves were clamoring to get in. He recognized them as lower ranking members of his pack.
He strode towards the door, his voice booming, "what is the meaning of this?"
He addressed the crowd, his Alpha aura radiating.
"We have invitations," said one of the werewolves, handing a piece of paper to the guard, who handed it to Jaden. Sure enough, it was an invitation, to this event, only the start time was a bit later than on the ones he remembered sending out. He realized someone had done this on purpose, and he was furious. But he couldn't dishonor the invitation, not with the council members watching. They wanted to see him treat everyone in the pack as equals.
Rolling his eyes, he told the guard to let them in. A hundred or more werewolves, dressed in everything from formal wear to jeans and flannels, swarmed in to the ballroom.
Then the chaos began. "Mate!" A voice rang out, followed by another,and another, and another.
The sound echoed off the high ceilings of the grand ballroom, where elegant chandeliers cast shimmering light over the polished floor. The atmosphere shifted from formal to frenzied in an instant, as the lower-ranking pack members found their fated mates among the elites.
Jaden watched as a flurry of activity erupted around him. The air was thick with laughter and shouts as wolves from all ranks mingled, forging connections that transcended their usual hierarchical boundaries. He could see the more refined members of his pack, who usually held themselves aloof, struggling to maintain their composure as the working-class wolves pulled them into the fray. He shook his head, when he found out who was responsible for this, they were going to regret it.
Della woke from her nap, and after freshening up in the bathroom, searching for her family. A wide grin spread across her face as she joined her brother, Eva, and her father. "Well what do we have here?" She mused, still tired but feeling better than she had earlier.
"Look at them go," Jared remarked, a bemused expression on his face as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "It's like a pack of puppies let loose in a treat store."
John chuckled beside him, his eyes darting over the chaotic scene. "I never thought I'd see the day when the upper crust would be caught dancing with the working class. It's a riot!"
Jaden stormed over to them, fury in his eyes. "You!" He pointed at Eva, who simply shrugged, her eyes challenging him to do something about it. "You think this is funny? This is a disaster waiting to happen." Jaden groaned. "This is out of control. The council is going to have a field day." To his surprise, he noticed that a couple of the council members had joined the revelry on the dance floor. "Maybe it won't be so bad, after all," he said thoughtfully.
He eyed Della, who ignored him completely, focused on the scene unfolding in the ballroom. Why was she so unreachable?
The floor was filled with swirling bodies, as couples twirled and spun, some stumbling over their own feet as they tripped in their excitement. The music pulsed through the room, and Jaden couldn't help but feel a flicker of jealousy as he watched the joy radiating from the dance floor. If only Della would agree to dance with him.
"Look at that one," Jared pointed, his voice barely audible over the music as he gestured toward a large male werewolf trying to court a female in a flowing gown. "He's got two left feet, and she's just laughing!"
Sure enough, the male was attempting to impress the female with an extravagant twirl but ended up nearly colliding with an elegant couple, one of which was a member of the Werewolf Council. Instead of retreating in embarrassment, he simply threw his head back and laughed, a booming sound that drew others into his orbit.
"They are so carefree," Eva said. "A refreshing change, if you ask me."
"Carefree, or reckless?" John quipped, grinning as he watched a few warriors from the Alpha King's pack try to breakdance, nearly knocking over a table in the process.
"Hey! No one said you could take my drink!" A female voice screeched as one of the lower-ranked males swiped her glass from her hand. In retaliation, she lunged at him, and suddenly they were engaged in a mock wrestling match, laughter erupting from their friends as they cheered them on.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Della laughed. "Let the lower ranks show the elites how to have a good time! Look at those three over there—are they dancing or wrestling? I can't tell!"
The three werewolves in question were tangled together, their movements a chaotic dance of limbs and laughter. One of them flung his arms wide, inadvertently sending another flying into a table, where a lavish spread of food was laid out. The crash sent plates flying, and the laughter only grew louder.
"Chaos, absolute chaos," Jaden muttered, but he couldn't help the grin that was creeping onto his face. The tension of the evening melted away as he watched the unexpected camaraderie blossom before him. Perhaps changes did need to be made, even if the events unfolding before him took that idea to the extreme.
"Let them have their fun," John said, his tone that of a father giving advice. "This is what it means to be part of a pack. It's not just about rank; it's about connection. Look at how they're all bonding."
Eva punched Jared in the arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "See? I told you this would be a night to remember! Who knew that inviting the lower ranks would turn into such a spectacle?"
"Only you could think this was a good idea," Jaden replied, shaking his head but unable to suppress a laugh. "But I'll admit, it's entertaining."
He forced a serious look back on to this face, glaring at Eva, who stuck her tongue out at him. At that he stomped off, in search of Lucas. He might need help if this got out of hand. His damn sister, she had been a troublemaker since they were pups.
As the laughter swelled and the music pulsed, Della, Jared, John, and Eva shared a moment of levity, their laughter ringing out above the chaos. The night was alive, a whirlwind of joy and revelry that blurred the lines of status, if only for a little while.
"Let's get in there!" Eva declared suddenly, her eyes alight with mischief. "I want to dance!"
Della glanced at her brother, who was already moving toward the dance floor, Eva pulling him along. With a deep breath, she followed, ready to join the madness, even if just for a moment.
As they plunged into the crowd, lost among the laughter and wild energy, Della finally let go of the worries that had plagued her all night. In this moment, surrounded by chaos and camaraderie, she could feel that maybe, just maybe, this night was exactly what they all needed.
"Come on, Della! Show us your moves!" Eva called, her laughter ringing like bells as she spun around, her dress swirling with her.
Della grinned, letting the rhythm guide her. She swayed to the beat. She spotted Cori and Sheila, lost in each others' eyes, oblivious to the danger until they were knocked over by a couple of burly werewolves who quickly helped them back to their feet, apologizing profusely.
As the evening wore on, Jared found himself in a dance off with a couple of the younger wolves, each trying to outdo the other with ridiculous dance moves. "Is that your idea of a spin?" Jared teased, executing a clumsy spin that sent everyone into fits of laughter.
"No, no! Let me show you how it's done!" one of the younger werewolves shouted, launching into an exaggerated series of flails that looked more like a fish out of water than a dance.
The sight was ridiculous, and Della found herself doubled over in laughter, the atmosphere so light that it felt like they were floating. This was the best party ever!
A large male from the working class spun a high-ranking female around, their laughter echoing above the music. "Who knew the elites could let loose like this?" Eva mused, a sense of pride swelling in her chest. It was heartwarming to see the distance between ranks dissolve, even if just for a night.
"Look at that!" Jared pointed, his eyes bright with mirth as he gestured toward a pair who had just joined the dance floor. "They're practically a whirlwind! They'll be spinning into the next dimension at this rate!"
Just then, a particularly boisterous werewolf stumbled, knocking into a table laden with snacks. Chips and dip went flying, and in a split second, laughter erupted as everyone rushed to help clean up the mess, their spirits undampened.
Jaden, standing with Lucas across the room, caught sight of Eva, who was dancing with wild abandon. He couldn't help but feel grateful for her audacity in inviting the lower ranks. What could have been a stuffy event had transformed into a celebration of unity and camaraderie that he had never anticipated. The Werewolf Council would be impressed.
"Can you believe this?" John shouted over the music, a wide smile plastered on his face. "This is the best night ever!"
"Not even the Alpha King can make us stop having fun!" Jared added, his voice laced with excitement as he joined a group of wolves led by his sister, who had decided to attempt a conga line.
Suddenly, Jaden felt a tug on his arm, and he turned to see Eva pulling him toward the center of the dance floor. "You're dancing with me!" she declared, her eyes sparkling with mischief. He couldn't help but laugh as she began to lead him into a series of exaggerated dance moves that had everyone around them cheering.
As they danced, Jaden found himself fully immersed in the moment, the worries of his position as Alpha King fading into the background.
Eventually, the night wound down, the energy ebbing as laughter turned into soft chatter and the sound of shoes shuffling on the floor. Della, Jared, John, and Eva found a spot on the sidelines, leaning against a wall as they caught their breath, their eyes sparkling with shared joy. Jaden joined them, along with Lucas. He sidled over to Della, intending to ask her if she would like to join him for dinner some time, but his plan was thwarted once again.
"Great party!" Grand-Alpha Terrance told Jaden, shaking his hand.
"Well, my parties are legendary," he replied, "although this one was a bit more legendary than usual."
"What a disaster," Jared said, chuckling as he gestured to the remnants of the party, the floor littered with cups and crumpled napkins.
"More like a glorious disaster!" John corrected, his grin wide. "I don't think I've ever seen the ranks mingle like that. It was beautiful."
Eva's laughter rang out, bright and joyous. "And to think, it all started with our brilliant plan! Who knew chaos could bring everyone together?"
Grand-Alpha Terrance shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. "Maybe chaos is exactly what we need sometimes." He held up his glass, examining the contents. "And a little bit of good old werewolf moonshine." He winked at Jared, who was, for once, speechless.
"Can we go home now?" Della yawned. "I'm so tired, and I miss….. my bed." She had almost said Jax, in front of everyone! Sadness crept in to her eyes, as she wondered how she was going to keep her son a secret.
Della didn't notice the car tailing them as they left, all the way back to her home. The Alpha King was determined, and he always got what he wanted. Always.