Alpha Black
Chapter 25 - Ballgowns and Suits

Nathaniel Forrest

I forced a smile and shook another hand of a pack member, rumour had spread throughout the pack, rumour of my mate and the crowd this evening was bigger than ever. Everyone wants a glimpse at their new Luna.

The sea of suits and dresses was all but a blur as my mind was back at my parent’s house, my thoughts with Alice and I couldn’t help but worry if Angel was going to be enough to get her out the door and here.

“Chin up,” Jamie said with a smile, giving me a slap on the back.

I raised an eyebrow at him, “don’t you have some girl to be flirting with?” I mocked.

Jamie grinned guiltily, “I’ve been too busy doing your job to have time for that, and I feel like that isn’t going to change any time soon,” he retorted.

I snickered, but my gaze snapped to the front door, my mother had walked in, accompanied by my father. They were closely followed my Kyle and Angle, then Steph and Jenny, a hushed murmur washed over the pack as they walked into the ballroom.

“Brother,” Patricia said, making me and Jamie jump.

“Shi- dammit Patricia, how do you do that?” Jamie said, one hand on his heart and the other clutching my arm.

She gave a giggle, before her face became serious again, “She’s ready when you are.”

I nodded and Jamie and Patricia ushered the last of the stragglers into the ballroom, giving me enough time to take several calming breaths of fresh air.

It was time for our moment, after all first impressions last.

I walked up to the open large ballroom doors, the crowd had fallen into complete silence and concentrated on calming my own anxious heart beat, as I tried to swallow the lump that form in my throat, that if she didn’t come?

I smelt her before anything else, it was like stepping into a field in spring. I was drowning in the smell of flowers, the comfort of books and paper. I closed my eyes for a second and I inhaled her scent, letting the smell fill my lungs completely. I opened my eyes again and looked up at Jamie, waiting.

He nodded and I lifted my left arm, Alice’s right hand entwining with mine. All eyes were locked on us, I looked at her. She was perfect, ’Remind me to thank Angel personally,’ I mused to Jamie, who I’m sure was grinning at the other end of the ballroom.

The thin straps on her dress, exposed her collarbones and shoulder’s shamelessly, my mark shimmering like starlight on her neck and her hair styled and hanging loosely down the opposite site of her head.

The dress was like staring at the night sky – with ombres of deep blues and blacks, swirling together to form a flawlessly flattering silhouette that cinched in around her waist and then fell into hundreds of layers of weightless fabric. The dramatic neckline fell well past her breasts nearly touching her naval and a simple knotted silver change filled the V shape. Somehow, the fabric seemed to be embedded with hundreds of thousands of little diamonds and strips of silver, which made her sparkle and glimmer in the ambiance of subtle lighting.

“Are you ready?” I whispered.

She met my gaze for a moment and nodded, I gave her hand a squeeze.

I barely held the will to tear my eyes off her beauty as we walked towards the front of the ballroom, everyone’s gaze following us as we did so. I reluctantly released her and turned to face the sea of smiling face.

“Ladies, gentlemen and honoured guests, it is my pleasure to announce that after a decade I would like to introduce you to my beloved mate, and your Luna, Alice,” I gestured to my beautiful mate who down donned a flush across her cheeks.

The silence was then broken from the pack and a deafening applause broke out, cheers, hoots and whistling encoded throughout the hall. Let the ceremony and celebrations begin.

* * * * * * * * * *

She glowed, not literally, but almost. After the taking the pack pledge and my blessing, her connection was complete, her sweet voice echoed in my head and I was once again, completely memorised by her.

Despite the other events and several new pack members joining, she was without doubt the star of everyone’s attention. Everyone seemed to want to meet her, to talk to her, to shake her hand. I couldn’t help but let a smile split from ear to ear as I watched her mingling throughout the ball room, she was perfect.

“I concede,” coughed out my grandfather as he approached me.

I raised an eyebrow at Jamie and turned to look at him, “concede what?”

“She’s good. She’s attractive, strong, smart, you got a good one,” he said nodded at Alice and downing half his glass of wine. “Reminds me of your grandmother to be honest,” he sighed.

I looked back at Jamie, wondering what the fuck was going on, “thank you Nathaniel,” I nodded at him, and took a mouthful of my own drink, “but I know you’re only saying that because within the two weeks we’re marked, mated and now she’s officially Luna. Even Grandma held out on you longer than that.”

I walked away leaving him in the dust and re-joined my mate, coiling my arm around her waist, “you’re beautiful,” I whispered into her ear, as I kissed her on the cheek.

“Alpha, the Luna is truly a wonderful soul, I’m so happy you’ve finally found each other,” the elderly lady who had been talking to Alice said, bowing her head in respect.

“Thankyou,” I smiled, “I don’t know what I’d do without her now,” I said, and a warmth filled my body as Alice looked at my lovingly.

I swallowed in the pregnant pause that filled the air, “Please, allow me to steal the Luna away for a minute, we have some guests to talk to,” I smiled and led her towards her friends who were awkwardly huddled in the corner of the room.

“Alice!” Jenny squealed and she threw her arms around Alice as we approached. Steph and Angel following behind in suit, the four embraced each other lovingly and showered her with complements.

“Beta,” I nodded, giving Kyle a firm handshake, “how are things?” I asked.

“Good, thank you for inviting us, they were over the moon after your call,” he smiled.

I nodded, and turned around to look at the four of them who were fussing over Alive, tears of joy had filled her eyes as she held Angel’s hand and clung to her friends. “I would do anything to make sure she’s happy, it looks like it was the right choice too.”

Kyle gave an awkward smile and shuffled his feet, “what is it Beta Stone?” I asked raising an eyebrow at his discomfort.

He swallowed and looked up at me, “truthful, I have an altera motive to escorting my wife and her friends,” he said grimly. “Whispers of the war growing the South have changed tone,” he stated eyeing my cautiously.

“I’ve noticed, and new whispers are immerging.”

“So, you know?” he said, almost shocked.

“I like to think I know all of the things that are going on in my pack Beta Stone, but I do apricate your warning,” I said, tilting my glass at him.

“There is more,” he added, making me stop mid-drink.

“What?” I asked, now more intrigued.

“What I tell you, I tell you in the utmost confidentiality and trust, I would like to think of your as a brother-in-law, as Alice is just as close as family to me and Angel.”

“Go on,” I urged.

He swallowed and looked at his wife as she laughed, “our Alpha is sick.”

“How sick?”

“Fatally, this means that Alpha Tom will be succeeding the position soon,” he warned.

“Oh?” I said, raising an eyebrow to the thought of my mate’s ex lover, “I’m sure he’s a charming fellow.”

“Quite, and quite the opposite at the same time. He is still infatuated with your mate, I will do all that I can to keep his head on straight, but if these rumours that come from the South grow stronger, he will likely side with them in the chance of getting Alice back.”

I chuckled darkly, “you’re walking a fine like, Kyle.”

“I know,” he sighed, running his hand through his hair and looking at me, it was clear from this stare he hadn’t been sleeping well. “I swore to protect the best interest of my pack and it’s members, to my Alpha. I haven’t sworn anything to Tom yet, but I will assuming he goes unchallenged taking the position. I know going to war with you will kill us all, and that is not a risk I am willing to take.”

I nodded, “I understand, I apricate your honesty,” his words swirling around in my head like a fire.

’Nathaniel?’ my mate’s voice said, snapping me out of the thoughts that swirled around in my head. ’Are you okay?’’

I smiled at her, she looked at me, the smile gone from her face and concern filled her eyes. ‘Perfect, now that I have you by my side, my dear,’ I replied.

“Thank you, Kyle,” I said turning to shake his hand firmly. “I look forward to when you and Angel come to visit again, you’re always welcome,” I said assuring him.

I walked up behind Alice and wrapped my arms around her, “how are you faring, my little mate?” I asked.

“I’m doing wonderfully,” she replied, staring up at me with a genuine smile.

“Thank you for inviting us Alpha Black,” Steph said bowing her head slightly, Jenny and Angel following in suit.

“It was a pleasure, just to see the light you put in Alice’s eyes,” I said, my words making the four of them giggle – most likely an effect of the open bar, I did know these women had a tendency to drink a lot.

“But I believe it is time for the Luna and myself to turn in for the night. Please, drink and eat for a long as you want, tonight is a momentous celebration for the Moon Pack,” I said raising my glass and finishing the last of the scotch in it.

They cheered and raised their own glasses to their lips, drinking away. “Come, my love,” I whispered and quickly escorted Alice out a side door in the ball room before anyone could notice.

“But I’m not tired yet,” she objected furrowing her brow.

“I don’t plan on sleeping any time soon,” I growled, and I pushed her against the wall, passionately planting my lips on hers.

Her rigidity softened and she melted into my arms and my kiss, I pulled my lips of her and trailed them down her jaw and neck, nibbling the mark I’d left on her. My lips tingled ten-fold with every kiss I planted on her and I smelt the arousal coming from between her legs.

I let one of my hands trace the curves of her body, but the material of her dress was unkind to the touch, with my skin and nails catching on every diamond and seam, another growl ripping from my chest. I lifted her and opened yet another secret corridor of the pack house, carrying her over my shoulder.

“Wait, what are you doing?” she asked breathlessly, “where are we going?”

“To our room in the Pack house,” I huffed, as skipped every step on the secret stairs and jogged down the hallway, popping out into the main corridor that was, thankfully, empty. I walked briskly down the corridor and opened the door to the master suite, slamming it closed behind me and tossing Alice onto the giant King-sized bed that say neatly made in the middle of the room.

I turned and bolted the door, undoing the tie that restricted my breathing, rolling up my sleeves and knelt down next to the bed, between Alice’s leg…