“Okay.” I smile at him “I can’t wait to meet everyone | haven’t yet.” | pull back speaking at a more standard level.”
You said there are a few really important people | haven’t had the pleasure.”
He smiles back and catches on to what I’m doing. We can’t look like we are just being secretive, no matter what the rumors are supposed to be. Out of the corner of my eye | see a few heads turn to blatantly look at us, others were
Straightening ties or smoothing out clothing. It appears that mates came to the ball tonight and some look absolutely pleasant and others look just as snobby and pretentious as the men they are with. I take a deep breath and have to mentally ready myself for this battle. I can either let them get to me and stress me out with their intimidation tactics or I can have fun and kill them with kindness and logic and common sense. I took a deep breath and decided the second one is going to be way more fun. |
| eat and enjoy the conversation between Xander and Luna Anne. Of course, just when I am losing myself in the conversation things have to change and bring me back to the reality of what is in front of me. The low hum of polite conversations start to become louder with excitement as the ball itself is getting ready to begin.
The Omegas clear our plates and Alpha Reggie stands and helps Luna Anne to her feet. Xander soon follows, mimicking the motion with me. The four of us walk out to the dance floor and a realization hits me. “Xander, I can’t dance, like at all.” 1 look at him with wide eyes, a little panicky.
“You know how to move, right?* | nod in agreement. “And you can follow movements, right.” Again | nod, not really sure where he’s going with this. “Then follow my lead, I got you.” I nod again, my heart is hammering in my chest. I’m not nervous to dance with him, really, but in front of all these people is nerve wracking. I’m not loving all the stupid rituals and pomp and circumstance that goes with being a part of the royal family. This is ridiculous.
We take our places and the orchestra starts to play. Xander begins to move the both of us effortlessly. I’m glad he knows what he is doing. I don’t take my eyes off of him and his soft supportive look helps me relax a bit and just go with it, but I don’t dare look around. If I made eye contact with anyone, especially the females | can practically feel staring daggers at me, I would probably do something stupid like trip us both. So my eyes stay fixed.
“I wish the warriors would let me have the Elite brand, just so | could mindlink you. It would be so much easier to have a conversation and for you to tell me all about some of these people and who to look out for.” I whisper low enough
for him to hear. “But, Warrior Osiston wants me to wait until next year at the earliest. It would just be helpful in situations like these.”
“I’ll talk to dad, you’re right it would be helpful, and who knows they may want you on missions sooner. The brand is a ceremony that takes time, that’s probably one of the reasons they want you to wait, so you get the full experience.”
“After all of this, I could care less about the ceremonies and rituals that go with it. It seems like the ceremonies and rituals are really just designed to showcase the important people in attendance, not really on the people going through it.”
“You’re not wrong…” Before he can finish what he was going to say red nails slide over the back of his shoulder and we both stop moving, but Xander doesn’t let go of me. Infact he pulls me a little closer.
