Ella had hardly seen Azalea in the last day but she'd heard lots of what was going on and it had all been told her numerous times. Crest always had a Christmas Cocktail Party and it was a formal affair - apparently.
She had been waiting in the living room for Braxton but he'd been a meeting for a total of three hours and she was starting to run out of things to watch on the television, plus it was almost lunch time and for the first time since she'd been there, she was getting hungry.
Flipping off the television. She inched off the white couches and stood, glancing around for a sign of life. She wasn't usually the anti-social type but at Crest, with a bunch of people she didn't know, she was.
In the kitchen, poking around the fridge and cupboards, she found more than enough items to make a sandwich. In between her last final bites, she heard the muted voices of men. It made her heart jump, why? She was still trying to get used to the fact that seeing her mate made her excited.
She crammed the rest of the sandwich in her mouth and chewed as they appeared from the far hall, all six of them, all of which dispersed aside Aaron and Braxton.
“That was a long meeting.” Ella eyed them as they sat to the bar stools on the opposite side of the granite counters.
Braxton rubbed the back of his neck, “Wasn't nearly as long as the last few.”
“True enough.” Aaron tapped his fingers, “It's looking very Christmas-y in here.”
“I haven't even seen your mom, it's like it's decorated itself magically.”
“She's probably shopping.” Braxton said to her, “Which, isn't a bad idea. Do you have a dress for tonight, babe?”
Ella stared at him and started to smile, “Sure...”
“Like a real dress.” Aaron joked.
“You don't think I wear dresses?” She scolded the Beta.
He held up his hands with a smile. “Have mercy on my soul. I'm going to shower and I'll see you both tonight.” He took leave and left Ella and Braxton.
Braxton stood then, “Let's go then.”
“Go where?” Ella said in a slow voice.
“Shopping.” He suggested.
“Really?”
“Yep, plus you know you just want to ride in the Fastback.” He winked at her and she paused.
“You're old car? You think I want a ride in that?” She teased him.
“Get a coat, I'll show you what my old car can do.”
She giggled and followed him out of the kitchen as she disposed of her empty plate in the sink.
#
Ella stepped out of Braxton's mustang onto the sidewalk that was a tiny boutique strip mall. It was pretty and quaint, making her feel like she was on a date with him. She closed the door behind her and looked across to Braxton as he got out.
“Okay, I take it back, that car is actually fast.”
He leaned over the hood and smiled at her. “I told you,” he said, glancing down at the small but powerful vehicle, “It's so sexy too.”
“As sexy as me?” She bedevilled as he walked around the car to her side.
“No, not as sexy as you but definitely, a close second.” He kissed her cheek as his arm wrapped around her waist.
It felt so different, to let a boy make her have butterflies and get hot cheeks but he did all that without even trying and a part of her liked that a lot.
“Let's try this store first.” He led her to a storefront about half a block from where they'd parked and opened the door to let her in.
The chime of the bell greeted them in the tiny, chic and beautifully outfitted store.
Ella looked around her at the dresses. “You already have an outfit for tonight?”
“I do.” He glanced around. “This whole thing isn't new for me. My mother does it every year.”
She smiled at his edgy sarcasm as she watched him look over a near dress on a rack. “And you actually like shopping?”
“Might with you.” He laughed.
A middle-aged sales woman walked up, smiling. “Afternoon, are you need of any help?”
“Oh, probably.” Braxton said in a cultivated voice that made Ella's stomach clench in all the right places.
The modish lady smiled at them. “What are you looking for then?”
Ella glanced around. “Maybe something in a colour, mid-thigh length?”
“Low cut.” Braxton added with a cough.
Ella elbowed him and the woman only smiled, turning to find some items of interest for them. They wandered around the store while they waited for a dressing room to be ready, Ella finding a dress she liked.
Braxton stayed close to her, whispering playful things in her ear that made her blush and touching her gingerly on the waist or hip when the opportunity presented itself.
“I have some dresses ready for you.” The woman appeared behind a tall rack of clothes.
“Thank you.” Ella said as they were lead to the change rooms at the back. “That means you have to remove your hands from me, Braxton.”
“You mean, I can't help you change?”
“Whatever.” She brushed his hands from her waist with a giggle.
“Oh, I was being serious.”
“No, you're the judge.” She stopped at the back of the boutique and turned to him before stepping into the change room. “You're brain will get all muddled if I change in front of you.”
He smiled at her. “Fine, I'll wait here.”
“Good, dog.” She grinned, stepping into the change room but he caught the door before she could close it.
“Did you call me a dog?”
She couldn't help her snicker. “No, I would never say that.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and stepped into her personal space.
Ella inched on tip-toes, about to kiss him when he tensed, sniffing the air around her. “What? Do I smell?”
He did it again. “No. Nothing. Weird smell.”
“What?”
“It's probably that woman. Try on the dresses.” He stepped out and she never got her kiss, but it only saddened her a moment before she started in on her shopping fun.
By the sixth dress, she was almost over the trying on of dresses, but on the seventh, she'd won the battle.
She stared at herself in the tiny stand up mirror in the inside of the curtained change room.
“Daniella?”
“Will you ever call me just Ella?”
“Nope.” He answered back from the other side, “Are you going to come out?”
“No.” She smiled to herself.
“It's that bad?”
She laughed. “No, it's that good. You can't see it till tonight.”
“I'm in suspense already.” He joked, allowing her the pleasure of hiding the reveal till when she wanted it.
She slipped back out of the dress and back into her clothing before walking out with the dress folded in her arms.
Braxton waited for her in the near sofa chair. “So, you want that one? You're sure?”
“I do.” She told him as he stood, adjusting his leather jacket and walking just in front of her to the till. She put it on the counter and the woman went about chatting lightly while she packaged the dress into some very fancy packaging and tissue papers.
She tried very subtly to sniff the air around the woman to see if she could smell what Braxton could, but she had no luck.
Shifting away from the till, she felt an itch on the back of her neck bud where her skin suddenly felt tight and warm. Scratching it seemed to relieve it and once Braxton had paid for her dress, they left the store side by side.
Stepping out onto the street, the same feeling as in the store started again, making a slow creep down her spine. She didn't try to itch it this time though, not wanting to look like an idiot in front of him.
They walked to his mustang in silence and right before she reached for the door, she itched again.
“Why do you keep itching?”
Her attempt to elude the scratching hadn't worked on her hyper sensitive mate and it made her drop her arm in quick movement.
“I don't know, my neck is just itchy.”
He unlocked the vehicle and they got in, settling into their seats.
Braxton looked over to her as he started the car. “So, where to next?”
“It's Christmas Eve, what more is going to be open to go to?”
He leaned into her, smiling and before he could make a move, she did. Kissing him hard, she grabbed the collar of his cotton shirt and yanked him forward.
His sudden vociferous moan almost made her want to crawl over the seat and into his lap. She stopped herself though, their desirous lips separating.
He cleared his throat. “Well...”
She found herself staring at his mouth. “Thanks for the dress.” Then they fell to his pants.
“You're welcome.” His breathing had minimized. “We should get back.”
“Yeah.” She wasn't used to all the new feelings he created within in her and maybe that's why she was itchy and nervous.
Braxton shifted away and put the car in drive, clearing his throat to shake his wolf back. She'd heard it surfacing, it had wanted her, just how – Ella wasn't sure. Lifting her hand back to her neck, she itched again and caught his slight grimace, making her sit erect and uncomfortably in the seat for the rest of the drive.
#
Ella stepped out into the living room of Alpha House, catching a drink tray as it passed by in the dimly lit party area. The amount of wolves and chatting made the house appear less formidable than usual. She took a sip of the bubbly in the long flute she'd just acquired and was pleasantly surprised to not find herself gagging. In general, she wasn't a fan of anything fancy or expensive, but the champagne surprised her with it's smooth and subtle taste.
She stayed close to the hall she'd just came out of, knowing the darkness was hiding her from any attention. She'd yet to meet many members and it was beginning to make her nervous to do so.
Adjusting the strap on her dark sequined dress, she tried to take a few glances at the other women to see if she'd chosen an appropriate option for the party. Coming to the relieved cessation that she at least looked the part.
“Fake it till you make it, I guess.” She said to herself as she drank more of the champagne, still holding back in the shadows.
The longer she stayed alone, the more time she had to think about what it all meant, were they all going to treat her as a Luna, was Braxton going to deem her into it that night like Azalea had wanted? It made her choke on her next sip, making her cough. She wasn't ready to be a Luna, sure she'd convinced herself to mate but in charge of so many others... Abigail came to mind. Wondering if her aunt had felt the same impending dread she was feeling in that moment.
“There you are.” His breath brushed against the delicate skin of her shoulder as his stance from behind grazed her slight form through the thin material of her outfit.
She angled her cheek, about to turn toward him but his hands on her waist stopped her.
“Why are you hiding back here?”
“I'm not.” She sipped her drink, trying to ignore a smoulder he'd stirred up within her. “Where have you been?”
“Quick meeting and then I got dressed.” He kissed her shoulder. “You look smoking hot, babe.”
She could feel the fabric of the suit he wore against any bare skin he was pressed near enough to. “You can only see my back.”
“Fine, I should say you smell smoking hot.”
“That's not--” She turned to face him, the champagne making her a tad tipsy. “a compliment--” She caught herself on him, looking him over in his black tux.
Handsome was too light of a word for Braxton Hall and he'd entranced and enchanted her into silence because of it.
She gulped. “You look...”
His leaned into her before she could finish speaking and discreetly laid a kiss on her mouth. It was far from heated and hurried like in his car, it left her wishing for more.
He lifted his head and took her empty flute. “We should stop hiding.”
She winced and squeaked out, “or we could stay.”
“They all want to meet you.”
“Everyone?” Ella breathed.
He took her hand and led her into the middle of the wolves, where she quickly became the centre of attention as members broke apart making room for them to walk.
“Do we have a neon sign on our forehead?”
Braxton smiled, “You mean, the alpha and luna sign? Yeah, it's pretty obvious. Smile, babe.”
Ella put on her best tight lipped smile for him. She was well aware how uncomfortable she appeared and awkward, the list of her ungainly traits began to show.
Hanging onto his elbow, she stayed close to his side as he stopped near the front of the fireplace, his mother turning toward him with a glass of wine.
“There you are!” She scolded him, taking an glance at Ella as well. “I expected you both half an hour ago.”
“I was in the meeting.” Braxton to his mother.
“And what's the decision?”
“They decided to proceed.”
“Excellent.” Azalea beamed.
“Proceed with what?” Ella hissed now, her heart beginning to pound.
Braxton looked to her, “My mother wanted a vote, it was last minute.”
“A vote for what?”
“For our announcement.” He got the words out in a grumble, he didn't look pleased but that's because Azalea had gotten her way. Ella glanced out to the many mingling and put the rest of what was going on together.
“Are you ready then?”
Braxton nodded to his mother and she wasted no time in clinking her wine glass with the tip of a near by utensil.
The room silenced and Azalea took a clearing breath before addressing the members of Crest.
“Good evening, and thank you all for joining us on this Christmas Eve. I know recently the hurdles we've been facing have been less than uplifting but tonight, I would like to take the opportunity, as your Luna, to bring you some news. Crest's board this evening voted toward the needed announcement of new lead.” She took a longing, motherly glance over to her son.
Ella couldn't help her sweaty palms, she'd wished they had given her warning about this but she supposed it didn't matter too much, they were mated, she would have been Luna either way it ended.
Braxton inhaled, also showing his nerves and unsettled emotions.
“I would like to formally introduce your new Alpha; who you all know well, my son – Braxton.” Azalea had walked over to him and he kissed his mothers cheek before she did it for him.
Ella stiffened, thinking about wether that was as far as the introductions were going or...
“And his mated Luna; an alpha blooded female herself...”
Ella blinked as the woman showed class and pride toward her breeding. The room had silenced but the sound of gasps and bewildered excitement flurried across the crowd.
“– Daniella Turner.” Azalea finished by walking to her and hugging Ella.
She paused before hugging the woman back. It was the most contact they'd had and Ella wanted out of it as soon as it begun.
Azalea stepped back as the members of Crest politely clapped, welcoming the announcement.
Braxton took the glass of fresh wine Azalea had offered him and eyed him into his next prompt.
He cleared his throat and the room ceased it's commotion for him. “With time, I hope I am able to become the alpha Crest is in need of. I know the upsetting news about my father and your alpha; Gale has been hard to swallow, so I thank you for your understanding and acceptance of me as your new Alpha. Please enjoy your evening and feel free to come talk to Daniella and I.”
The crowd clapped and erupted into their murmurs of conversations as Braxton took a sip of his wine and turned toward her.
“Did that sound weird?” he asked in an anxious voice.
Ella smiled at him, raising her hand to his shoulder. “No, it was great.”
“Really?” He mumbled, drinking more.
“Did you practice it a bit?”
“No.” He burst into a smile, “I made it all up just now.”
“Wow,” she breathed.
“Wow what?”
“You really are a born alpha.”
He tilted his head, “Why do you say that?”
“Because I thought my uncle was the only one capable of making up important speeches on the spot.”
He grunted. “That wasn't that important, Daniella.”
“Your alpha-take-over speech, yeah, that's not important at all.” She joked with him, her eyes turning away as a woman, man and their young child stood in front of them.
“Oh, good evening.” The woman greeted them and so started the introductions and what to Ella seemed like an endless line of Crest members wanting to meet her face to face.
As it began, she found it hard to accept the instant fame of being a Luna but the longer the talking and smiling went on, the more she reminded herself of Abigail and that brought her peace.
Without even realizing it, she'd learned things from her aunt and uncle that had prepped her to be with Braxton Hall.
Graciously, she accepted hugs and words of encouragement as the hours ticked by, sometimes seeking glances at her mate, who held a contented expression which coaxed her on. Her natural ability to be a Luna was impressing him it would seem, making his eyes hunt her every time they shared a look. Those looks, as time continued to pass, grew feverish and impatient.
The pride within in her came on strong and unexpected, another instinct of being a Luna, she wondering if he was feeling the same. Her eyes caught as many glances as she could at him and the more she got, the more her wolf became egged on.
She felt the itching on her neck returning from earlier, she had been standing in one place for far too long and even her legs had began to get stiff and ache.
Braxton stepped up to her as one of the greetings neared an end. “Excuse us, I think my Luna needs a break.” They smiled at him, letting him take her away.
Ella sighed, happy to be given the break, even if she'd been enjoying meeting everyone. Brushing her chic pony tail over her shoulder she exposed the bit of her skin that was irritated.
“Follow me.” He led her through the halls and to a set of double french doors to the cool outside.
The wind caught her bare skin and made her shiver. “Thanks.”
“I didn't expect them to be so curious of you.” He snuggled against her, biting into the softness of neck.
Her eyes fluttered to a close, willingly and accepting of his touch.
“You're a big hit, seems like they're happy to get rid of my mother.” He chuckled.
“That's not nice, Brax—” She went to itch again but he grabbed her wrist to stop her.
“You're making it worse.”
Her fingers twitched toward her need but before she could question him, he kissed her instead. Hard and unexpected, his mouth mating hers and making her crush her body against his. She felt him through his thin dress pants, but why he was so worked up, she didn't know.
“It's noticeable?”
He growled. “To me, and I'm starting to believe, every male in the house.”
“What?” She blinked.
“Very noticeable.” He put his palm to the nape of her neck before she could and it soothed her on contact.
“That's so weird--”
“Daniella?” He whispered in her ear.
“Yeah...” She felt like she was soaring against his touch and it made her uncomfortable to accept.
“Let's go for a run.”
“Now?” She didn't think he was serious and it made her smile, turning toward him.
He lowered his jaw, changing his impish look. “And by that I mean, I want you to run... from me.”
She stared at him. “What? Why?”
He kept his hold on her neck and stepped into her space, craning her neck to look up at him. “Because you're in a Luna heat and there's only one way to fix that situation.”
She gulped, “I'm in a what?”
“It's rare and something only alpha blooded Luna's get.”
“How do you know this?”
“I asked a few guys at the meeting tonight. I started to notice it when we went shopping earlier and I wanted to know what it was.”
She swallowed, his hand dropping off her.
“Anyway,” he said as he pulled apart the bow-tie on his neck, “I suggest you get yourself naked.”
“Braxton, can't we do this later?”
“Alpha Luna's apparently can get into intense heats and it's getting worse, Daniella. I'm not dealing with potential males trying to challenge me to mate you.”
“That's gross!” She exclaimed.
“Instinct does weird things to male wolves. Get undressed, babe.”
Her cheeks heated, “I'm not getting undressed.”
“I will undress you, Daniella.”
“And I will slap you!” She warned.
He'd undone half the buttons on his shirt before he paused. “You'll slap me?”
“Oh.” She locked her fiery eyes on him. “I'll slap you.”
He smirked. “You better run, my luna.”
She saw the challenge and excitement in his eyes, which was the arrogant alpha side of her mate she didn't exactly appreciate. “Braxton, no.”
His growl in the back of his throat intensified the situation and her wolf perked with interest. It made Ella feel less in control. Her wolf wanted whatever it was that Braxton's wolf wanted.
She swore under her breath. “Stay here.”
She stepped away from him, itching her neck and walking into the shadows. She hadn't disappeared from view though, with his uncanny ability to hear and smell she was sure he had her pegged right down to her steps in the frosted lawn. She removed her heels, thinking; did going to play with her mate seem more fun than returning to the party? The answer was an all round yes.
Trying not to giggle or get nervous, the instinct to run surprised her by trying to propel her forward out of her new dress. She reached for the zipper on the side and snagged it down in a hurry.
Braxton wasn't far behind when she peered over her shoulder to bear witness to his smooth muscled chest, which she had begun to enjoy.
She folded her clothes over the edge of the decking and walked into the shadows, where she could feel Braxton stalking her into the woods.
A ping of fear made her wince and she halted her step but when he'd stepped up behind her, as naked as her, she smiled.
“This is weird...”
He pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Where's your sense of adventure?”
“Is that what you call standing naked in the forrest?” She smiled and right as she felt him about to grab her around the waist, she jumped forward into all four furry paws. The force of her shift caused branches and small trees to snap as she hit the thickly brushed floor. It took him moments to follow in pursuit and it took her a blink of an eye to take off away from him.
There was an odd thrill to run away from Braxton, not look back, but knowing if he'd catch her. Eventually, her stride would shorten, her muscles weaken and her lungs give up, but not her mates. Braxton would win but she would have fun in the meantime.
She dodged and weaved, making her escape fast and swift as she dove head first into a meadow of fresh snow.
Snow... She realized she must have climbed elevation. Her run broke to a trot as she looked around her to the glistening white, the moon light catching it at all angles. She'd never seen anything so beautiful, except maybe Braxton and their one-day pups – she shook her head at her thoughts.
Then he collided with her, making her tumble and roll across the smooth blanket, causing flurries and ice to poof into the air around them.
I got you. He pinned her beneath him, his wolf breath crystallizing in front of her. She took the time to study him in the moonlight, his coat umber ash and grey speckles. He was a strong, dominant alpha wolf that made her fill with excitement.
Rumbling out a growl, he continued to hold his weight on her.
What now? She asked through the echoing link of their wolf minds.
He eased on her, his breathing stopping, they both knew what was next and they didn't need a verbal explanation for their instincts to take over the moment.
I thought you would have made this more difficult. Braxton flipped her on her stomach, letting up only briefly but giving her enough time to test him. She ran from between his legs at the opportunity.
Daniella! He roared after her, playfully crashing behind her into the woods again.
She howled, running as fast as she could and not looking back. Under trees, over fallen logs, she scaled the side of a mountain till her lungs made her gasp for air. She stopped on the ledge of a rocky face, her claws breaking up the newly formed ice beneath her.
She heard his heavy steps and it filled her with pride, she'd let him have her this time, take her, do whatever he wanted.
Still on the edge of the rock, she awaited his attack.
Come on, Brax.
And then it came, hard and powerful, knocking her off the pedestal rock and onto the sliding rock face to the bottom of the hillside.
Braxton... She whimpered from the residual pain caused by the jabbing rocks that had impaled her sides. Her senses went haywire as she went to stand, the vile smell from the wolf that had made her tumble was not that of her mate. She swung around to the face the apposing threat but he was already there, staring at her, ready to pounce and then he did.