“Yes.” I looked up at him, but I couldn’t remember his name. “I’m sorry, you feel familiar, but I cannot place you.”
“Samuel, now the Alpha of the Crescent Ridge Pack.”
“Alpha.” I widened my eyes and bowed my head.
“We would play kings and knights when my parents came for meetings. This was years ago.” The memory untucked something latched onto the back of my mind, where I tried to keep my thoughts blurry. “You wouldn’t let me play with your dragons, though.” He laughed. The memory surfaced, and it into something real and fucking painful.
I clutched at my stomach and cursed myself for wincing. “Sam,” I breathed, pushing forward looking up at him. “I-I forgot.”
“I thought you were dead.” He lowered his voice and looked around. “Where have you been?”
“Black- er- Blood forest,” I started to explain, Sam’s face darkened. “They saved me,” I said innocently.
“Simone,” he said again. “What happened? After the challenge, we heard everyone was dead once your father wouldn’t back down after he lost that Alpha, Alpha Raymond.” He swallowed past his obvious confusion. “That he slaughtered the pack within his right.” His voice was strained, and I was glad to see how little he thought of that ‘right.’ “And no one was left.”
My eyes widened even more. “There was no challenge?” I asked, pushing away my anger at finally hearing the truth of what was circulated. The lies told after my pack’s complete demise.
“You were young,” he said.
“So were you,” I countered, clenching my fists. “They came during a ceremony.” I closed my eyes, not having to fake the sadness that crept into my voice. “There was no challenge... I saw my friends, my pack, slaughtered before I found my parents in their own blood in my father’s office.” My voice broke. “They attacked the innocent. There was no challenge,” I repeated and met his eyes.
That was all the truth I needed to say. He saw me here after being told I was dead. I hoped he was smart enough to believe what I said, even if it was from the eyes of a grieving child.
“They offered me a place to stay.” I plastered on the smile of a victim.
His brows tugged together as I hoped he processed this new information. “I’m sorry, Simone,” he finally said. “Come with me; there will always be a place for you-” he stopped abruptly and looked over my shoulder.
Alpha Raymond stood there looking red in the face. “Alpha Samuel,” he said.
“Alpha Raymond,” Sam responded with a curt nod. “I was just catching up with Simone; she told me you saved her from Blood Moon.”
“I, we, did,” Alpha Raymond said, gaping at me.
“I was just surprised we haven’t seen her around,” Sam went on, and I mentally urged him to stop.
“She had a few things to work through,” Alpha Raymond said slowly. “Her health wasn’t great. She is just not feeling up to these things.”
I looked between them both with a vacant smile. “I’ve been attending parties at Blood River,” I said airily. “But this, this is almost too much.” I sighed.
“Ezra will take you back soon,” Alpha Raymond promised, almost sounding like a loving father. I brought up the mental image of ripping his heart from his chest to calm myself enough to smile at him.
“Thank you, Alpha. I might get a bite to eat before that.” I looked down. “I-if that’s okay?” I asked.
“Yes, Simone.” I dared a peek up, and his smile was tight but wide. “I’ll make arrangements for your departure,” He said and glanced at Sam before going to Ezra.
I nodded slightly at Sam in something resembling a bow. The Alpha was lingering too close for me to say anything of importance. “Nice to see you again, Alpha Samuel,” I said.
“Simone.” He nodded but looked pained.
I lingered by the food table for a little, forcing down a few bites after filling a plate. I had to always be doing something; standing without a purpose wouldn’t serve mine. I felt eyes on me with every movement, and eventually, the ones most curious slowly made their way toward me.
I introduced myself or re-introduced myself to some Alpha and Betas, always keeping an eye on where the family was. I recognized some of those who came up, and I met some of their sons I probably should have remembered. But I wasn’t willing to go back digging through that fuzzy well of memories. Not in public. But if I was being honest with myself, I wasn’t sure if I could do that alone either.
I could see the confusion on everyone’s faces, even those that I was sure I had never met. Whispers spread in the wake of those I spoke with. I just hoped Alpha Raymond and Luna Addison were too distracted to notice.
Dominick and Hunter started to edge closer, and my last polite, brief conversations ended as if they sensed the change in my demeanor. I smiled briefly at the brothers and edged near them, shifting on my feet as if I needed them for protection, even though my body recoiled with every step toward them.
Once I neared as close as I dared to them, people stopped coming up, but I felt the room shift. I heard it in the inflection of the buzz of conversations. And it lit up my blood.
Once Hunter and Dominick turned their attention to two unassuming girls, I dared a glance around the room and noticed most eyes on me.
I stiffened and eyed Ezra snaking through the crowd wordlessly, but the people seemed to part for him. I wondered again if he was some kind of warlock. He radiated a silent sort of power, unlike ranked wolves.
He gently grabbed my elbow and lowered his mouth to my ear. “I fear time is running out, he said, “The Alpha and Luna are by the main entrance to the right.” I nodded and let him gently lead me out.
I raised my head and gave everyone I talked to brief smiles and nods, letting them see my face. See the proof that it was me. The only heir of a pack these people had a long-standing alliance with.
Sam waved at me, and I paused. “Dominick and Hunter are close behind,” Ezra whispered.
I nodded slightly. “Just one moment.”
“Simone.” Sam’s voice was low, and he glanced at Ezra, who mercifully took a step back. “If you need help, I’m here. Contact me.” He grabbed my hand and thrust something into it. I held my hand in his for a moment longer in case anyone was looking.
I picked out a soft, resigned smile. “Thank you, but there is no need,” I said a bit louder than necessary. I took my hand from him and saw that Ezra had pulled Hunter and Dominick into a conversation far enough away.
“But Sam?” I asked, leaning forward. “Do one thing for me?”
“Anything,” he promised, his face held nothing but sincere concern and resolution.
I dropped my mask, if only a little. Something flickered through me and radiated from me. A bright, icy, ancient power that felt like velvet and steel and stars.
“Tell the others,” I commanded, and the power of those words rippled through the room.