xvi.

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" you have the kind of the smile, that would be cruel not to kiss "

____

             The woman staring back at me in the mirror was different, that much was for sure as I stare in a daze at the confidence in her stance, the effortless beauty and power emitting from her look and the way that she stood - tall and chin held up high with the slightest tilt in her head in wonderment.

And that person staring back was me.

I was the person in the mirror and I barely recognised myself.

Something was swirling deep within me today, a feeling that I could not quite shake no matter how I tried. I felt dangerous. With the way I looked for tonights feast it was no wonder as I admire the dress the seamstress had made for me for tonight.

Just like the induction ball, I was blown away at the details of the design. A pitch black gown that sparkled like midnight, twinkling golden stars embedded into the fabric on the top half of the dress before scattering downwards fine and sparely towards the bottom of the gown where it fell just short of the floor in an effort not to be dragged.

I twirl around in the mirror humming to myself in admiration, my hair having been left down in soft curls follows the movement but the crown atop of my head - another design far from the other one I had worn - was the biggest masterpiece of all.

This one was diamonds, crafted and bent in a shape that at the very front was a half moon horizontally placed and with a small wire holding it up, in the crevice of the moon was a star shaped in diamonds with the largest diamond placed in the centre.

With one more long stare at myself, I wonder once again what the feeling was that continued to swirl inside me. I just couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly it was, it was as if I were agitated, something was missing. I just hadn't had a clue as to what.

Shaking my head to knock out the thoughts and having no time for them, I twirl around to gather the last of the jewellery, lifting up the necklace and frowning slightly at the simplicity of the pendent. It wasn't as extravagant as the rest and yet...yet it was the most beautiful of it all and in every sense my kind of style.

The difference confuses me but nonetheless I spend way too long in an attempt to latch it around my neck, small noises of frustration escaping my mouth at every failed attempt. I was already late as is but this was the one piece of jewellery I wanted to wear, not that the rest weren't beautiful, it just seemed all a little...over the top.

Theres a knock on the door that startles me enough and I groan quietly as my hand shifts away from the hook just as I was about to get it in.

"Come in." I call out miffed, figuring someone had been sent to check in on me.

There's a sharp intake of breath from behind me that makes me twirl around, necklace still in hand, to look where Nolan stands eyes shamelessly looking all over me before settling his gaze straight into my eyes.

"Hi," I breathe out, flustered and feeling the heat on my cheeks.

"Wow." He awes, "you look- you look stunning."

"It's not too much is it?" I twist side to side watching the glitter of the dress twinkle against the lights with every movement. "Penny assured me it was something I needed to wear."

Nolan doesn't answer and when I glance back up he is transfixed for some reason on the crown atop of my head.

"Nolan?" My voice tilts into a question.

He snaps his eyes back to me clearing his throat. "You look absolutely incredible, my love."

"You don't look too bad yourself." I murmur shyly back, smiling just the same.

And it was true, he was in a pitch midnight suit, all black attire with even a black crown atop his head that makes him look all the more powerful with his already strong aura.

"I need help," I admit twirling back towards the mirror being able to see the way his eyes follow my every movement and I hold up the necklace to which he glances at briefly, "I cannot get this on for the life of me."

He doesn't say anything in reply but still makes his move forward, his hands brushing against mine as he grasps for the chain. His knuckles then caress the back of my neck as he drags the necklace backwards and pulls it together. It leaves a trail of sparks and goosebumps in its wake and I struggle not to gasp out at the foreign feeling that had never felt this strong.

"Do you like the necklace?" He asks quietly, hands trailing onto my shoulders until resting in its place.

We make quite the picture in the mirror, in fact, we make quite the pair with our outfits and the way we are positioned. We look regal, noble and well to put it bluntly we look like Royalty and I cannot take my eyes off the image in front of me.

There it was - there was that feeling of power flowing through my body like electricity awaiting to zap.

"I do." I finally answer, remembering the question.

"Good. I had hoped you liked my design."

"You designed it?" I ask startled, spinning to face him before realising my mistake as I become a hairs width away from his face. "You made it?" I much more quietly say this time.

"Yes, it's for you." He responds, a gentle smile lifting up his face.

"It's beautiful." His eyes staring intently into mine and suddenly I am completely aware of the close proximity our bodies are. I lick my lips anxiously, watching the way his eyes flicker downwards and linger on the motion. "Thank you." I murmur.

His eyes bounce too and from my eyes and lips. I don't know if it's my imagination but he's gotten a lot more closer, lips a breaths away from mine. "I haven't seen you all day." He speaks so softly that if he weren't as close as he was I would not be able to hear him.

I hum before a smile creeps upon my face as I say, "what? did you miss me?"

"Whenever you're not near."

My smile widens.

Our noses are touching.

The knock at the door startles us both from the bubble we have created blurring us from all that is surrounding us, a scowl crosses Nolans face as he steps backwards and away from my space. I hate to admit that I miss the intimacy immediately but I take a deep breath and let it out whilst trying to compose myself.

"Yes?" Nolan scowls at the door.

Andrews head appears between the gap of the doorway and he looks both guilty and almost scared to have interrupted. "Sorry to interrupt but dinner is waiting to be served but they can't if you're both not there."

"You could of very well waited." He snaps at Andrew and my eyes widen slightly at the way Andrew flinches and his head presents downwards in a submissive stance.

"Nolan," I chide, placidly placing a hand on his bicep, "it's okay, Andrew. Thank you for letting us know and you can tell everyone that we will be down shortly."

"Of course, your majesty." His head still dipped down as he pulls himself out of the doorway and closes the door shut behind him.

I turn on my heel to Nolan frowning. "You didn't need to be rude, Nolan."

He presses his lips together in annoyance. "What he did was out of order."

"We are being bad hosts - late to our own gathering and all but starving them." I joke, trying to lighten up the mood a bit, "lets go before they start getting desperate like eating the flowers I spent so long decorating."

He snorts from behind me as I make my way towards the door but there is also a grumble that I electively choose to ignore.

Although it did sound quite like, "wrapped right around her finger."

____

I was still agitated.

The distraction of the party was of no use, if anything it made me even more agitated as I pranced around with Nolan, greeted everyone and mingled around the table with Nolan by my side more often than not.

It was a lovely turn out, everyone had seemed to enjoy their meals and had collectively decided that despite the situation that was hanging over all our heads, everybody was seemingly banding together to at least try enjoy the night before reality all washed over us once again in the morning.

It was just...it was just my heart wasn't in it tonight and I was trying to put up the front, to enjoy the beautiful night we had been granted with the moon now hanging over our heads and the fairy lights strung all around, it made a remarkable image to be amongst.

Apparently I had been convincing nobody.

"Are you okay, Cassie?"

It is Alpha Kaitlin that approaches me this time around, I had already had been asked the question by Sarah, Jack and Andrew - even a few of the other Luna's who had asked with concern written all across their faces.

I wasn't that much of an open book was I?

"I'm fine." I instantly reply, smiling with enough conviction that I hope the topic will be left alone.

"Lie."

"Wasn't lying."

"Werewolf." She smirks in explanation.

I huff. "I'm feeling a little sick is all."

Kaitlin merely raises an unimpressed eyebrow not at all convinced by that lie either.

"Alright, keep your secrets." She drones out, leaning against the railing of the gazebo I had taken refugee under for a moment. The drawl in her tone drags out a huff from me, my eyes darting back outwards to the the garden set up, I squint my eyes when I see a flash of blackness dart across the garden beds before it disappears.

Sorcerer Blaise's familiar, I somehow conclude, and that gets me even more intrigued to where the witch was currently hiding herself away from the gathering.

"-is it?"

My head snaps to Kaitlin when I catch the last of her sentence only just realising she was speaking to me. "I am sorry can you repeat that?"

"I said," She repeats, "this isn't about the conversation we had earlier is it?"

"No," I instantly respond before frowning, "yes. Maybe. I don't know."

"Well that sure clears that up." Kaitlin sarcastically drawls.

We weren't that far off from the group but it was enough to give us a sense of privacy. A false one if anything, I had been around werewolves long enough now to know that this distance wasn't enough for anything to be really private.

"I am just having one of those days. You know, when the thoughts get too loud?"

Her eyes soften, a look of familiarity in the feeling. "Care to share these thoughts?"

"It's nothing really," I turn away once again, eyes drifting closed without thought as I take a soft breath, "have you ever had more questions than you do answers? Well, I have a lot of questions and no matter how hard I think it just isn't adding up."

"Cassie..." Kaitlin begins but whatever she has to say is cut off by someone bolting across the gazebo right by us.

I know who it is as soon as I see the dress.

"Erin!" I yell out startled, the girl turns like a deer caught in headlights and then all I feel is deep concern for the look of distraught and tears running down the young girls face.

I am already rushing over and I can hear more than see Kaitlin's footsteps behind me.

"Are you okay? What happened?" I hurriedly ask grasping the girls face gently. All I receive in return is a wobbly chin and a large sob, Erin all but falls into my arms and lets out a gut wrenching sob.

Instinctively I curl my arms around her and bring the teen in even closer, not being able to do anything but hold the young girl.

I had invited Erin to the function, figuring it would be a nice night outside instead of the usual four enclosed walls of the room. A change of pace for her and maybe a step back into the real world. I had specifically gone and helped her get ready for the night and had been keeping an eye on her as well, introducing her to people and she had been having a good time from what I could see.

Right before I had left to take a breather I had looked at her and had seen her smiling and laughing whilst hanging around with Josh and Jack.

What could have possibly made such a drastic turn?

"Erin, sweetheart." I gently say, "what happened?"

She is shaking now and I shoot Kaitlin a deep frown which she returns just as concerned.

"Alpha...alpha...."

"Alpha? Who?" I prode.

"Jared. I was- I went to go to the bathroom but he...he cornered me nearby."

"Erin..." I softly talk, "what did he do?"

"He grabbed me. Just started-" she cries a little more, "he started saying things."

"Things like?" I probe a little more.

"Traitor. Rat. He started saying how I- this was all planned. I was going to...to turn out just like my father." Her takes in a sniffling sob now gasping for air and I run my hands up and down her back despite the anger now taking course of my emotions. "And then he called me a good for nothing...no good..."

She mumbles the next bit that I only just hear and, well, it makes me stiffen up with anger now coursing through my body and the power that I had been feeling since long before becomes significantly more prominent rushing through me like waves in a hungry current.

"That is not acceptable." My voice comes out hard, Kaitlin's eyebrows raise upwards in shock and I merely look towards her. "Erin, sweetheart, I am going to deal with this right now. Are you alright to stay with Alpha Kaitlin for a bit whilst I do?"

She nods pulling back from my chest, swiping hastily at her eyes as she does so. I pull my hands up to caress her cheeks before pulling her head inwards to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "I will deal with this. I want you to know that nothing he said was true, okay?"

Erin whispers out a choked, "okay."

The fierce anger that courses through me is like no other as I stalk back towards the crowd, a few loitering about the area snap to attention when I stalk through. I draw the attention of just about everyone quite immediately which says something about just how angry I am that every werewolf can sense it, and they can, because they all take a step away.

I find Jared amongst a group of Alphas.

"Jared just the guy I was looking for," my voice comes out deadly calm as I announce this loud enough to gain the groups attention.

"Alpha Jared, ma'am." He corrects.

"No." I just as sweetly respond. "Those that get that title must first earn it."

"Excuse me." He recoils, a scowl instantly marring his features.

"I would excuse you but I have a few things I need to say first." I respond stepping closer and the others let me, wide eyed and seemingly not having a death wish when they step out of the way instantly.

"Listen and listen real closely when I say this- you are no Alpha. Not when you treat a sixteen year old girl like a criminal. Not when you corner them, not when you assault-"

"Assault?" He sputters, "who do you think you are to-"

"I am not done!" I snap, cutting him effectively off. He snaps his mouth closed. "How dare you make that girl, any girl for that matter, feel violated, afraid and so utterly distressed on my own damn land. Who the hell do you think you are? Cornering a young girl like that and calling her a whore!"

Theres a round of audible gasps that surround and it is only then do I realise the audience we now have.

"What on earth is going on here?" Nolan appears through the crowd, eyes flickering to mine, seeing the anger fired up inside me that he simply turns to Jared and raises an eyebrow. "Well? Speak for yourself."

"She just came out of nowhere and started accusing me of assault and-"

"No." My voice despite the calm of it somehow pierces through his words like a sharp knife and stops every other word escaping. "Tell the truth." I bite out with such force and command that even the intensity startles me.

Then something remarkable happens. Jared looks like he is in a severe amount of pain as his head dips into a submissive stance forcibly and then he starts talking.

He starts talking and all I can do is shake my head, take a step back in pure disgust and displeasure at the words that fall out of his mouth. I turn on my heel, glad to see both Andrew and Jack standing behind with equal measures of impassive expressions but the anger is clear by the tensity of their stance.

As soon as I turn to them they stand to attention.

"It is on your order, your majesty." Andrew bows in my direction.

I turn my head to look at Nolan thinking he is about to give the orders but instead he is looking towards me and it is then...it is then I come to the sudden realisation. Flashes upon flashes of memories, past situations where this had occurred.

Your majesty.

Your majesty they had called me in every single one of the situations I can think back to. I remember. I had always thought they had been speaking to Nolan who had been beside me at the time but I recall them answering to my orders, replying to me directly when I had spoken.

"Your majesty?"

This time there is no doubt.

Andrew is talking to me. When I look up and around I realise all the Alpha's and Luna's are standing to attention, awaiting for possible orders and direction. From me. They are all waiting for orders from me.

I take a glance to Nolan whose eyebrows are furrowed, intensely staring at me and waiting just as well for the orders to be given. There is a look of pure guilt etched on his face that makes me swallow heavily in a final acceptance of what is happening.

How could I have been so oblivious?

Staring directly into Nolans eyes I finally speak.

"I want him gone."

With the open-ended order given out I swiftly turn on my heels and stalk away, back to the direction of where I had left Erin with Kaitlin. Right now, she was my main priority and every thought at this given moment could very well wait.

Just another excuse to put off the inevitable that was coming to a fastening approach in my mind. 

_____

Sorcerer Blaise sat off by herself in the gardens, amongst the shrubs and trees where a small opening allowed a chair to be placed. Facing forward is a small pond, the smallest of waterfalls trickling down and creating a soft rhythmic sound.

Quietly I trail down the path towards her, not wanting to disturb exactly but neither wanting her to be all alone even with all my own thoughts swirling in my head wanting precisely that.

I had placed Erin to bed, settled her down for the night before slipping out through one of the other exits of the castle. I knew it was just delaying conversations needing to be had. The thing was I needed a selfish moment to just be able to breathe.

Away from everyone and everything.

"You mind?" I softly ask, head nodding towards the free space beside her.

She sat ethereal as ever, the black dress flowing down her legs where the on the shoulder cape trailed behind the seating blowing gently in the wind. Sorcerer Blaise merely offers a raised eyebrow that I take as a confirmation and sit. She seemed to be reading now that I could properly see, a thick brown leathered book sat in her lap halfway folded, and for a moment I watch fascinated as she flips a page over and the inscription of words slowly appear in black ink rather than them being already printed.

"Why are you here?" Sorcerer Blaise snidely remarks.

For some reason the rudeness of the tone doesn't quite bother me, instead it almost amuses me in a way. "It's peaceful out here." I instead respond.

"It was." She retorts.

There

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