"She's new in the pack, let's give her some time to adjust. Please," Mason said in a low, gentle voice that spoke volumes of authority despite its tone.
Rhoda, the aggressive lady, gave me a quick glance before nodding reluctantly. Letting out a sigh, I made a mental note to remember I was no longer a Luna and that I wasn't in my pack anymore. I found it difficult to bow to anyone since I was used to people bowing to me and because of that, I ended up causing tension.
I sighed again. Glancing at Mason, I felt strangely grateful for his help.
"Thank you, Alpha," I mumbled as I strode past him, my grandmother now close behind me. I could feel her eyes boring into my head from behind.
Acknowledging my apology with a slow blink, he called to his Beta, Hans, a slightly tall man with tired eyes that bore a scar above them and fast legs that made him look like he was in a hurry.
"Hans, take her to the ballroom and make sure she has everything she needs for preparations," Mason said briskly, his eyes settling on something far away as he spoke.
Hans turned to face me, a perpetual frown on his face. More like he had an issue with me.
"Follow me. I'll show you where you'll be working," he said. With that, he led the way while my grandmother and I trudged behind in silence.
I couldn't help but admire the interiors of the park house; everything was either in spotless white or nude shades of brown, the ceiling hung high, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. Though I was now calmer, I sensed I'd made an enemy and that my grandmother wasn't happy with the turn of events.
After showing us our working space and telling us the rules, Hans left hurriedly.
"You've managed to cause a scene today. What were you thinking?" my grandmother said reproachingly. I bit my lips. I had nothing to say.
Looking around, she lowered her voice and spoke in a serious tone, "The lady you offended is almost as ruthless as Mason himself. She's a—" The sound of footsteps made her go silent.
It was Hans who had returned with a carton.
"I'd love to rest for a while. Could you help with selecting the Alpha's clothes?" Hans asked my grandmother.
"Of course," Grandmother Charlotte said. Following him, she turned back to look at me, her eyes staring at me like daggers, and then through the mind link I heard her say, "Behave yourself."
*****
The work came easy for me. As a once-upon-a-time Luna, it had been one of the few responsibilities I actually enjoyed.
Moving around, I made sure I took my time to choose colors that would match the theme of the ball. I mostly picked bright colors since the theme needed them.
Out of everyone helping out, I took a liking to Nicole, a college sophomore in her early twenties. Her shoulder-length hair was the color of chestnut, and so were her freckles.
"You seem to really enjoy this," Nicole said happily, her hands pinning materials together, a pin between her teeth.
"I don't seem; I actually do. It's one of the few things I like," I said dreamily, my thoughts drifting off to Silver Moon Park. I let out a little sigh.
"Well, your enthusiasm hasn't gone unnoticed. The Alpha has been staring at you, you know," Nicole teased, winking at me.
Through the corners of my eyes, I could see Mason, who was standing beside Rhoda, his hands folded together and his eyes unfortunately not on me.
What do you mean by unfortunately? I scolded myself. Can't you remember what Grandma Charlotte said?
Taking a closer look at the duo, I didn't miss the way Rhoda batted her long lashes at him, the top two buttons of her shirt unbuttoned. She stood at an angle where he could view her cleavage easily. The aim of the mission was futile since he didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he spoke to her while his eyes traveled around.
I had to hold back a laugh. So much for protecting him, I thought.
Scoffing, I turned to Nicole, who was now ripping apart a piece of material. "Who's the lady beside the Alpha?" I asked, jutting my chin towards Rhoda.
"That over there is Rhoda, one of the pack warriors. She's going to be Luna soon, or at least that's what she makes us think since she's Mason's fiancée," Nicole said in a voice laced with sarcasm.
"Is she always with him? No wonder she's so protective," I asked, willing to find out more.
"When there's an opportunity for that, yes. You're new here?" Nicole asked, her green eyes filled with curiosity.
"Yup, a few weeks here actually. What about you?" I asked, steering the conversation away from myself.
"I've lived here most of my life. I only left when I started college," she shrugged casually. It was then I decided I liked Nicole.
"Do you stay with your family here?" she asked again, her green eyes staring expectantly. She seemed like a very curious person. Normally, such curiosity irked me, but today it made me happy; she reminded me of a child.
"Don't move," Nicole whispered, her lips dancing with a smile as her dimples widened, eyes glinting with excitement.
"What's go—" I was about to say more when she placed her index finger on her lips. My eyes widened as I arched my brows.
"Sssh, the Alpha is coming towards us," Nicole said, looking back at her work as she nudged me in the ribs.
"Act normal!" she whispered.
Putting myself together, I bent over my work, making sure my hair fell over my face so he couldn't see me.
My throat tightened, and I blinked quickly. What was he coming for? If any more drama happened, it wasn't going to be my fault. At this point, I tried my best.