Too Beautiful for the Alpha

Many strangers greet us as we make our way inside. Though I am familiar with the building from the gathering, it looks completely transformed. Sure, it was dressed up before, but everything is switched around now. There are fewer tables and instead more room for standing and chatting or whatever leaders do. As my eyes scan the area, I see most people standing with a drink, in groups of two to five people. And unlike the gathering, there are guards at the doors outside and inside. Coincidentally, I spot Theodore with one other guard towards the back, and I immediately make plans in my head to see him.

James places his hand lightly on my back, reeling me back to the current situation. Knowing that we'll have to welcome everyone, his movements towards the grouped people don't surprise me. I take a quick breath before we reach the first one, a set of three.

"Can we interrupt?" James says to the woman and two men, in a friendly way. His free hand gently touches the woman's shoulder as he speaks, causing her to swiftly spin around.

"Alpha Grant," she cheers, the other two facing us as well. "I was wondering when you'd get here. You always keep me waiting," she scolds in a motherly way. "You know I've been dying to meet her."

She turns to me as she says it, and I smile. Oddly enough, the woman gives me a loose hug and I glance up at James. "Rae, this is Renee. She was good friends with my mother," he explains, and I make sure to smile even more when she pulls away. "She is Alpha Alder's Luna."

The man standing next to her moves closer and reaches his hand out, so I shake it and assume he is Alpha Alder. It is difficult to tell who is an Alpha when in a crowd stuffed with them. "It's nice to meet you."

"We won't be Alpha and Luna for much longer, I'm afraid. Our son is taking over any day now, all he has to do is let him," she nudges her mate.

Alpha Alder says, "He's getting there."

"Anyway, when I saw that you were having an announcement party I nearly fainted. I've been waiting for this day, your mother and I both. Oh, she'd be so happy, James. And you," she switches back to me, "you even look a bit like her, so beautiful. Which pack did you come from, dear?"

"The Waters Pack," I say, thankful that's she's asking easy questions.

"And where did you two meet?"

"A gathering at the Waters Pack," James takes over. "I went to meet with Alpha Waters while a few pack members attended the event. We ran into each other."

She looks to me again, the sweet expression sticking to her face and never peeling off. "And he's good to you?"

"Yes, He is."

His hand returns to my back and my heart finally settles. "I hate to leave you, but we have to make our way around, greet everyone, you know."

"Of course, of course," she shoos us off, "it was lovely meeting you, Rae."

"It was nice to meet you too," I say back, my voice light and airy.

We make our way around the room, and I introduce myself to Alphas, Luna's, and Betas, and I wonder how James has so many allies. Maybe it is not so complicated, maybe it is simply because he is a good, smart Alpha who knows what he's doing. I haven't gotten the chance to see him in a action many times, so hopefully after this, when my announcement is official, and when I'll be helping around the pack, I'll get to.

They are quick to applaud him for fixing the rogue situation, and I wonder if I should

meet come off as confident and powerful, but none of them are rude. None of them point out my lack of Alpha Blood unlike I expect. It is hard to keep up with them, though. It's clear that these women are experienced when it comes to events such as this.

the shoulder. "Quite the announcement you

pregnant

that the girl is his Luna—James and Alpha York immerse themselves in a deep conversation. I keep glancing at the girl, excited to have found a Luna that can possibly relate to me. We're both likely the

belly again. "Hi," she says surprisingly and straight-to-the-point even though it is one word.

mates, creating our own conversation

given tonight so far, hers seems the most genuine. "I see you glancing at my belly," she says, relaxed. "I'm pregnant—just in

no. I know.

stare at it and nudge their mates. The men, not so mesmerized, but the woman are constantly asking to feel. So, are you wanting one for yourself or are you

I guess. I mean, I'm mostly

Honestly, it's pretty nice talking to someone who doesn't scold their mate for not giving them a baby yet after talking

at first it was a relief that no one noticed, but after a few stares and hints, I've been growing impatient. "No, I'm not Alpha Blood, I'm

not really asking, though. "Honestly, there's no

I feel so comfortable around her. At this point it can't be her age, it must be her personality. Something

he marked you,

to ask. The chance

of the crowd. First, he appears in the corner of my eye, then as a flash in the crowd. I carefully look from person to person, not seeing him anymore. A feeling rises inside of me, and I grab James' arm.

immediately.

He hasn't been

at the crowd again. "I thought I

"Are you sure?"

maybe I just got him

the people himself then says, "Excuse us," to Ava and Alpha York

see something?" I ask in a hushed tone, my voice

to talk with a

James walks up to Theodore and motions for him to follow us. We go

outside to scan the area. Rae believes she

off. My eyes follow him as he joins the crowd, motioning for nearby guards to follow

at James

and pay attention, but all I want is to find Ava again. Eventually, I give in and tell James that I'll be with her if he needs me, and he lets me

until fifteen minutes of brief conversation end that I find Ava sitting down at one of the few tables. She sees me walking over and says, "I couldn't stand for much longer. I needed