Ares:
The sun gave way to the beautiful moon rather quickly as I spent the remainder of my time before senhorita Harlyn’s celebration. To be honest, the last thing that I wanted to do was attend some kid’s coming-of-age gathering, but it was the courteous thing to do.
I hardly put any effort into my outfit as it was not something that was of enough importance to do so. Still, I at least bothered to put on a suit and jacket…well, technically, Zevi guilted me into putting on a jacket. Sometimes, I had forgotten that he was older than I. It was at moments such as this that he reminded me that while I was his Alpha, he still was my big brother.
No, we weren’t related by blood but we might as well have been. We were brought up, raised, and trained together as children, combined at the hip since I was able to walk on all fours. He took care of me when our parents were killed nearly two centuries ago and while I have been leading the pack for all of these many years, Zevi still looks after me.
So, of course, although, I am more powerful in more than ways than one, I always-or most of the time, at least, listen to my brother. He was wiser, after all.
I headed down the street of the town line, deciding that instead of taking some souped up vehicle that I would simply enjoy the chilled night air after the perimeter check. Nevermind the fact that the walk could potentially make me late to the party or just…not show up at all.
“Taking the long walk past the city’s border to the soiree,” Bain cackled in the back of my thoughts. “Do you really think that I do not see past your actions?” My Lycan counterpart said to me.
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” I replied to him as I headed down the street.
“You do realize that we not only share a soul…but a mind, right?”
With a laugh, I shook my head. “I have not forgotten. You would never let me, Bain,” countered me to my other half. I kept haphazardly down the street with my gaze to the moon and my hands in my pockets. “You make the mistake in assuming that I would ever hide my intentions from you.” I shrugged. “If I miss the party, I miss the party. Not like I do not have have a valid reason for my absence.”
Now it was Bain’s turn to laugh. “You have no reason…only an excuse, Ares.”
“Is one not synonymous with the other?”
We shared yet another chuckle before my lycan spoke again, “You do know that the little garota bonita will be sorely disappointed if we do not attend.”
Immediately, when Bain said this, my thoughts averted to one not specific to whom he was talking about but another. I knew to whom he was referring to, however.
“You think so?” I asked.
“I know so, and so do you.”
It was no secret that Harlyn Wade was attracted to me, and while it may seem boastful to admit this, arrogant assumption was the furthest from the truth. I could sense the heat of her lust…not only from her but her awakening wolf.
Her bud had been plucked long ago by another so she was experienced at her young age, but in all of her experience I knew that she was not prepared for me. And if I was being perfectly honest, I would not waste my time even if she was.
“Well, what do you expect I do about that, Bain?” I asked. “We both know that bedding the Alpha’s daughter would probably not be the best idea in the world, would it?”
“Face it, Ares,” Bain said. “We both are pent up and anxious. We could do for a little release. Alastair does not have to know.”
I was surprised at my lycan’s candor. “Bain, you are usually the one talking me out of potential bad situations. Do not tell me that the roles have suddenly become reversed.”
“Do not flatter yourself, Ares. One thing that we have never disagreed on was a pretty little piece of tail.”
He was right and I had to hide the smirk that fought to play across my lips when my counterpart said this.
“I know…why you are not interested in the Alpha’s pretty little filha.” I didn’t counter my beast, but even if I wanted to, he spoke before I could. “Pequena..humana.”
I would neither confirm or deny Bain’s assumption because we both knew the truth. The little human was intriguing to me…to both of us.
“On that pouca beleza, we will have to disagree, Ares.”
“No amount of common sense would have you disagree with me on my thoughts about that one, Baine.”
“Whether I agree with you or not, Ares, we both know that messing with that one could start something that we do not want to finish.”
I laughed. “You assume that we could finish it,” I said as I thought about the power behind Shadow Veil’s wolf pack alone.
Sure, I was powerful in my own right, and could no doubt put down the best of them but the one that I never thought to try was Alastair Wade. He was a wolf of high distinction with centuries more experience than I could ever have. I respected the Alpha highly.
“And yet here you stand thinking about ways to take his prized vassal from him.”
“Says the one who plots to bed his only begotten daughter.” I snidely quipped. Where my conversation with Bain granted me momentary pause, I continued forward. “I am intrigued by the little human. She is…different and I want to know more about her. When my thirst for knowledge has subsided, so will my interest in her.” I said. “Harlyn Wade, however, well…I am not interested in the least.”
“Oh come, even you have to admit that having a little filha like that one in your bedchamber would be a delight.”
“I will not deny that, Bain. I am quite sure that the little filha has a lot to offer where her skills in the sheets are concerned.”
“But?”
“Bain, I-”
“Having a little heart to heart?” someone asked from behind.
As soon as I heard his voice, I rolled my eyes and snickered. I should have known that he’d show up sooner or later.
“You could say that,” I answered my brother.
“Is that why you are taking your precious time making it to the Alpha’s daughter’s party?”
With a deep sigh, I turned around and faced my beta. “You know that I was doing perimeter checks on the town, Zev.”
“And I told you,” he stepped up to me. “That Shadow Veil is quite safe tonight. I’ve already taken care of that.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“And yet, here you are.” Zevi’s brow rose. “Do you not trust me anymore, irmãozinho?”
“I am not going to waste my breath answering that.”
“I know you won’t,” Zevi walked past me and down the street ahead of where I was standing. “Because you do trust me, and you are not walking the streets of Virginia to have a heart to heart with Bain,” he stopped and looked at me again. “You are trying to miss a party.”
I thought about lying to him but then decided that it just was not worth it. “So what? You know that parties are not my thing, Zevi.”
“Not anymore…” My beta approached me. “You’re looking for something else…aren’t you, irmãozinho?”
“And what could that be?” He obviously knew more than I did.
Instead of answering me, Zevi scoffed and kept walking. “Come on. We are already late, Ares. Besides, your I hear your current interest will be performing tonight.”
“Performing?” I muttered under my breath. I already knew who Zevi was talking about. “What will she be performing?” I asked.
“You show up on time and maybe you’ll find out.” he yelled back at me as he kept on heading down the darkened street and further away from me.
Suddenly, my feet moved forward and a smile of intrigue fell across my lips. A performance.
“Full of surprises, that one.” Bain said and he was right.
With a more haste in my step, I agreed. “That, she is.”
“In closing, this is a true honor to be given the opportunity to present my daughter, Harlyn Caris Wade as the official heir to the Shadow Veil Pack!”
Everyone turned to Harlyn Wade and bowed one knee, all howling in unison as Zevi and myself entered the bar.
“Looks like we arrived just in time for the festivities.” Zevi announced on our arrival.
“Looks like it,” I agreed. “Give a howl for the heir Shadow Veil.” I said and Zevi agreed. With Bain partially at the helm, we howled in unison, the power of our lycans echoing through the walls with the wolves.
Afterward, everyone went about their business enjoying the festivities. “I am going to mingle,” Zevi told me. “Shadow Veil has quite the selection of beautiful women.”
“Have at it, brother.”
Zevi grinned. “You know that was an open invitation…right?” Of course, I knew that he was trying to lure me but I was not interested in mingling with she-wolves, shifters and witches. Regardless of how beautiful they were.
“And you are well aware that my response was a polite decline, Zev.” I countered without hesitation. “I will be here when you return.”
He scoffed. “Somehow, I doubt that.” my brother replied and then suddenly was lost in the crowd. I wasn’t alone for long, however; as soon as Zevi disappeared, Alpha Wade appeared.
“You made it.”
We both greeted one another with a handshake. “The city’s borders were silent, so fortunately, I was done in time to attend the princess’s soiree.”
Alpha Wade laughed with a seeming casual amusement. “You do not have to sugar coat it, Alpha. I know that these type of gatherings are not your scene. You, no doubt, would rather be patrolling than attending some teenager’s coming-of-age birthday party.
I had forgotten well this Alpha knew me and admittedly it was amusing. “You should have known that you could not get anything past the old Alpha.” Bain cackled in the back of my mind.
“You are right, senhor. In truth, if not for my beta I would not have been here.”
“Somehow, I sense that there are other motives that served as incentive for your presence, young Alpha.”
Again, the Alpha read me like a book and I would not even bother insulting his intelligence by lying to him.
“I did hear that there would be…a performance of sorts.”
“Of course you did.” He muttered.
I chuckled at his subtle change in demeanor. “I am intrigued to know what this performance will entail.”
“Of course you are.” He answered shortly once again. I could tell that he was impatiently bothered by my confessed interest.
I wasn’t upset by his visible frustration as I would have been as well if someone had such interest in what was mine. I smiled and continued with the conversation, nevertheless.
“I was not aware that a vassal could have a vested interest in anything outside of well…servitude.”
“Vassals…don’t,” the Alpha countered.
“And yet yours is free to…perform?”
“Well…if we are talking about a useful vassal, would it not be best for them to be adept in more things than just…simple…servitude?” Before I could answer, the alpha added. “Valene is one of a kind simply because I allow her freedom to pursue interests that will not only be pleasing to her, but will also inadvertently positively affect her role as human servant to my cause.”
“That’s a nicely veiled reason, I must admit.”
“Veiled?” he asked.
We both knew what I was talking about and so I did not verbalize in detail what I meant. “When will she be performing?” I asked.
“Soon,” he answered me. “I should continue…entertaining,” he said and walked off. “Oh, and uh, Ares…” I waited for him to speak. “The quicker you find a new interest the better off…everyone will be.” Soon after, the alpha disappeared into the crowd.
“My dad trying to intimidate you?”
They were coming left and right, hardly giving me a moment to process his veiled threat of caution before his daughter showed up.
I chuckled, looking down at her. Instead of answering her question, I subtly shifted the direction of the subject of her father. “I enjoy speaking with him,” I commented. “Your father never ceases to enlighten me.”
“I’m sure.” grinned Harlyn.
Her hazel eyes had darkened in hue and I knew why. She was of age now and…she was ready to take a ride that she never had before and she knew that I was the perfect choice. She also assumed to know that she could get what she wanted from me tonight.
I would not dampen her fiery young spirit and tell her that she was wrong, but instead I obliged her to an extent. For Bain’s sake.
“You are…officially of mature age.” I noted aloud.
“I am,” she immediately shifted her stance and moved in closer to me. “Certain things are no longer off limits to me.”
“Is that right?” I replied to her flirtatious response. The corner of her lip turned up mischievously. I moved in closer and whispered in her ear. “Why do I get the feeling that nothing was ever off limits to you, little Alpha?”
As I pulled away from her, a subtle moan followed me from her, her teeth biting down lustfully at bottom lip.
“We’ve only met, Alpha and…it seems you know me so well already.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” I countered.
“Well, then…to put your doubts to rest, how about you come to my little after party tonight. I’m sure I could remedy that.” She said, pulling at the lapel of my suit jacket. It was then that sudden silence took over the room.
“Now introducing our next performer!” A stocky balding man announced. “She is a treasure amongst the most talented, and a dear friend.” he said. “Valene!”
Silence followed as everyone seemed to know exactly who Valene was. I clapped loudly and barely a second later, everyone followed. I searched the room for Alpha Wade. He must have excused himself and it had to be of some importance. I searched around for the beta and he was not around either. Suddenly, I felt the urge to find them and make sure that everything was alright. Then she appeared on the stage and…even the silent went silent.
She walked onto the stage, a long skirt that exposed her sheer black pantyhose-covered thighs…thick thighs. Her shoulders were exposed and only a little of her stomach. I found myself finding it unfortunate that I could see more. Her usual shoulder length hair was stretched to a braid down her back, fully displaying her flawless features.
“She’s always been very pretty,” Harlyn’s voice echoed to me.
It was hard to pull away from my trance but eventually I did. “For a human,” I countered. “She certainly is.” It wasn’t until I finally snapped out of it that I realized, she had a large instrument in her hand. “A cellist?” I was surprised to say the least.
“I haven’t heard her play in…years,” Harlyn Wade said.
There was a tinge of resentment her voice, I noticed. Resentment that seemed to have culminated over the years of her young life. She was envious of the little human and the human was oblivious.
“How is she?” I asked.
“She’s always had…a gift, Valene,” Harlyn replied. “One that I cannot readily describe.”
“Is that right?”
She looked at me with a smirk. “You’ll see.” Young Harlyn Wade replied. Her gaze fell on the stage. “Just listen.”
I turned my gaze toward the stage and just in time as she spread her leg slightly, to position the large instrument between thighs. Something about her full appearance transformed as she lifted her bow. Then she began to play.
The classical music expected to be heard held a dark and bass-filled edge to it. As she played, I could feel the release of her passion and suddenly wondered if anyone else could feel what she was exuding from the stage. Sure, I have the ability of kinetic powers; my specialties ranging from telekinesis to empathic gifts and still I could not help feeling that I was not the only one experiencing her near erotic performance of just sitting there and passionately stroking the strings of her instrument as if…
“Reel it in, Ares. “ My lycan echoed in my ear. It was hard to control my body’s reaction to the pequinina.
“I am fine, Bain.” I said, although even I had my doubts. As I said this, my eyes caught the subtle sway of Harlyn Wade standing next to me. The Alpha’s daughter was lost in euphoric delight as she danced seductively against nothing but her own pleasure.
Everyone was seduced and controlled by the little human’s music. I had never seen anything like in my near two-hundred years of life on this earth. A human…hypnotizing the non.
It was as if Valene’s passion and euphoria of being behind that cello was a spell cast on everyone within the vicinity-both human and inhuman alike.
Pulling my gaze away from everyone else, I regarded the little human and it then that I saw her eyes fixated on me. She did not look away, but stayed steadily on me and I was too allured and completely intrigued to avert my gaze from her bold stare. The hue of her stare was dark and still shimmered with a burning umber-like gold. With every extreme cord she struck her eyes fluttered slightly, her fingers strumming the instrument and as the note reached its height, she completely closed her eyes and lost herself completely to the music.
Only too quickly was it suddenly over, and when it was a moment of silence followed. The crowd seemed to have to remember themselves before they erupted in the praise that the little human deserved.
It was like night day as I watched her stand, her original display of the obedient vassal returning. With her eyes lowered, she bowed and left the stage.
“She’s gotten better.” I heard Harlyn Wade say from beside me.
I returned my attention to the stage to see if I could find the little human but just as quickly as she was there, she had disappeared. “She certainly has a gift.” I complimented.
“She is a human of many talents.” Harlyn replied. She then grabbed my arm, pulling my attention to her once again. “I expect to see you tonight, Alpha.” she smiled and then winked before sauntering off.
After I watched her leave, I made way toward the section of the stage where there stood a small door off and to the side. I was nearly there when I was stopped.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Zevi cut in front of me with his brow raised.
“I want to personally thank the little human for her…magical performance,” I replied without hesitation. “Is that now a crime, brother?”
“It is when you have that look in your eye.” Zevi countered.
“No trust between brothers, how sad, Zev. You should know me better than that.” My beta scoffed, shaking his head. For the time being, I shifted the subject as while he had my only slightly taken off of the little human. “Have you seen the Alpha around?” I asked and began looking around, realizing that I had not seen him since before the little human’s performance.
“I have not.” Zevi replied. “Neither have I seen beta Slaughter nor delta Minken.”
“I have a bad feeling about that.” I confessed. “See if you can find them and report back to me whatever’s going on.”
“I will…”
“But?” I saw the hesitation in his eyes.
“Be careful with that human, Ares.” He frustratedly dropped his gaze. “I wish you weren’t so naturally drawn to the most dangerous treasures.” he said and then departed.
I felt for my brother’s concern; I’ve always been attracted to dangerous things-or at least in his eyes. To me, however, it only all boiled down to me liking what I like. “And as treasures go…I was beginning to think that I struck platinum.”