Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Amelie
“Luna Amelie, please hold still. I’m almost done.” Sam has had me in this chair for the last hour.
“Sam, I have to pee.” I point to my baby bulge. “Pregnant and all, you know?” I’m glad Celest brought her glam squad for the banquet and ball, but I’m already so exhausted, and I’ve only gotten my hair and makeup done.
“Almost done, Luna.” With the last few flicks of her wrist, she stands back. “OK, go. I’ll help you in to your dress when you are done.”
I get up and go to the bathroom, and as soon as I’m out, Sam is waiting with my dress. Celest has already got hers on and is putting on her accessories. I groan, looking at the dress. I would be delighted to go in this fluffy bathrobe.
“I know you would rather nap, but we have a role to play tonight, and we need you.” Celest coos as she finishes putting the back of her earring on.
“Ugh! I know, but I’m already tired!” I plop down on the bed for a second.
“Luna, you will be the center of the banquet. I mean, everyone has heard how you channeled the goddess, and she already blessed you with your sons’ family marks. It’s amazing! Everyone wants to meet you.” Sam’s enthusiasm is anything but contagious to me. I didn’t want to be the center of attention, and now I’ve been thrown into the spotlight. It was not that I was shy or embarrassed; I just simply didn’t want to deal with the hassle. I know Sam is excited for me, so I put aside my feelings and smiled at her.
“Thank you for the pep talk Sam.” I begrudgingly get up off the bed to get dressed.
I decided to go with pack colors to show that I was now the Luna of the Druit Guard and, more importantly, Gideon’s mate. My dress is a forest green stain chiffon strapless mermaid style. I don’t know what I was thinking, going with something so fitted when I only wanted loose and flowing clothing recently. I guess I didn’t want all the extra fabric and looked more prominent than I am. At least my baby bulge will be on display. I am beyond the bump or belly stage. With twins, I was bulging, and these two were active all the time.
I drop my robe and step into the dress. Thank goodness it has some stretch. Sam zips me up, and I go to get the accessories I’ve made for the occasion. I wanted to bring some contrast, so I made platinum and ruby jewelry. Ruby to match Ulv’s eyes, it made Inari happy. The earrings have three small stones staggered between links of chain. The necklace matched tiny rubies between short lengths of chain. The wow piece was the hair stick. It is six inches in length. At the crown, I incrusted rubies all the way around, then I constructed a rose and a daisy out of platinum and placed two larger rubies in the center of each flower. I carefully pick up the hair stick by the flowers and start to put it in my updo when Sam comes over to help.
“It’s OK, Sam, I got it. I know right where I want it placed.” I lean my body away from her reach.
“Let me help. The tip looked sharp. I don’t want you to poke yourself.” She reaches for the hair stick.
“Look, it’s already in right where I want it. I promise it’s perfect.” She pulls back.
“Well, if you insist. It’s beautiful. The rubies look like they are glowing.” I giggle.
“It’s how rubies refract light. Some say it looks like they are alive.” I smile and walk over to put on my shoes. I would typically pair a dress like this with heels, but I’m not attempting them right now. I’m just thankful that I was able to find some great flat sandals covered in rhinestones. One of the straps is a little loose, but I won’t be walking around that much.
“Amelie, are you and Celeste ready?” Gideon bond-links me.
“Yes, we just fished.” There’s a knock on the door as soon as I respond.
“Come in.” Celeste is putting on her shoes as well. Father must have also linked with her.
Dad and Gideon walk in wearing tuxedos. I have to say this is the first time I actually get to see Gideon properly dressed up. Shirt buttoned all the way up, and his sleeves are not rolled up, wearing his tie and jacket. He looks so handsome and utterly uncomfortable at the same time. To be honest, the jacket looks like if he flexes wrong, the seams will burst. The look on his face says he feels like he’s being strangled. His movements look stiff, like there’s a poll up his back
I hold back my giggle as best I can, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. Gideon gives me a pleading look, but it does the opposite. I am helpless to my fit of laughter, and it becomes infectious to everyone. Dad and Celeste start laughing, and then even Gideon can’t help himself. I pull myself together, as does everyone else.
Gideon holds out his arm for me, “Are you ready, my storm?” Giving me his sexy grin. Not fair at all.
I take his arm and exhale. It’s going to be a long night. “Let’s set it on fire.” I give him a wink, and he gives me a chuckle back. As we walk down to the banquet hall, my tension grows.
I should be used to these formal events, but I’m not. Unlike other Alpha families who drag their children to any event to try and mate them off, our family doesn’t. I guess after what happened with Aunt Marylin, dad and grandpa didn’t want to risk it. Then add on Celeste being poisoned and losing all those pups because they hide the three of us away as much as possible. I didn’t even know dad and Logan mentored Gideon all those years. I don’t feel like I was sheltered, more like hidden away obliviously. When we did attend formal events, we always stayed close to dad and Celeste and didn’t interact with anyone. Now that I think about it, we must have looked like snobs to other families. I guess it makes sense the responses I get now that I’m interacting with other Alpha families as a Luna. They are formal, not friendly I can’t wait for the actual Aruna Banquet tomorrow night at Amaris Packhouse. This Hotel is lovely, but I’m not looking forward to what we are about to walk into; we are only feet away from the door now.
Gideon stops and looks down at me, “Are you ready?”
“Do I have a choice?” I rub my belly. The boys must feel my anxiety. They haven’t stopped moving the whole way down.
“Hey, look at me?” I look up at my handsome mate and gaze deep into his bright green eyes. “I’m right here. We are going to get through this and end this, I promise.” He kisses the top of my head, but it doesn’t stop this dreadful feeling I have.
Dad and Celeste are announced, and they enter. We wait about two minutes, and we are announced and enter as well. As soon as I step into the banquet hall, I feel all eyes are on me. Yep, here’s the freak which the goddess spoke through and already had the family marks of her unborn twin Alphas. She’s also the one who completed the rejection ritual and found a second mate. I despise being thrown in the spotlight, but the goddess just keeps putting me on center stage. I feel like a sideshow attraction more than a Luna. This is my role tonight. I would be the main topic of conversation. Dad and Gideon wanted to use my presence to force the conversation and get the New Moon Alliance members to talk or try and recruit our planted spies.
The wolves here that are family or from the Durit Guard don’t bother to turn my way because they are also watching. That small fact makes me feel a bit better, but my unease will not subside that quickly. As we walk to our table, I trip over my dress as the loose sandal strap has caught on it.
Gideon quickly catches me. “You OK there?”
“Yeah, this damn sandal got caught. Let’s get to the table. I’ll try to fix it.” In the middle of the hall, Gideon bends down and untangles my dress hem and sandal. He stands back up, and I know I am beat red. Sometimes he makes me feel like I am the only person in the world that matters. “Thank you.”
He kisses the top of my head, and we continue making our way to our table. We make small talk with the others at our table. I can tell from time to time Gideon is checking in with his team. Dinner is served, and it is lovely, but I can’t finish it. I am still on edge and only have a few bites here and there. Once dinner ends, the quartet starts up a waltz signaling the floor is now open for dancing.
Gideon stands and holds out his hand to me. “Shall we?”
As much as I don’t want to move because I’m just uncomfortable, I want to be as close to Gideon as I can. I feel safer. I took his hand, and he led me to the dance floor. No words are shared between us, just closing any distance between us. As we are dancing, my sandal strap trips me again. Gideon catches me again.
“This sandel!” I sigh. “I’ll go up to the room and change shoes.”
“I’ll take you.” Gideon takes care of my sandal again.
“No, you need to stay here. I can go.” I know we were so close to finishing this up and getting the information we needed.
“I’ll send to guards with you. It’s not safe to walk around alone.” Gideon mind-links two members of our pack. We walk over to the door, and I see Celeste emerge from the crowd.
“What’s wrong, dear?” She takes my hand.
“It’s nothing serious my sandal strap keeps coming loose and catching the hem of my dress and tripping me. I’m going to go change my shoes.” I squeeze her hand, and she gives a relieved smile.
“I’ll go with you.” She gives Gideon a wink.
“Thank you, Luna, that would make me feel much better.” Gideon gives her a reassuring nod as two she-wolves walks toward us. “This is Alyssa and Margo. Please escort the two Lunas to their room to change shoes.”
“Yes, Alpha Gideon.” They both give a slight bow.
Celeste takes my arm as we walk down the hall to the elevator bank. We are giggling and chatting away as we are standing there waiting for one of the doors to open, we hear the ding of the elevator car behind us, and the doors open. I turn around to get on when I’m stopped in my tracks by a face I didn’t expect to see here of all places.
Two other wolves jump out of the elevator and inject something into my two guards. I’m frozen in place. Pure panic has taken over me, and I can’t even breathe or think. Celeste is grabbed from my side before she can even react, and she fights her attacker but is quickly subdued and injected as well.
A silver bracelet was secured on my wrist, and before I could fully grasp what was happening, I was being dragged away. My abductor turns and gives me a lopsided evil grin.
“I said you would fall into my trap.”
