The Possessive Alpha
Chapter 85

ELLE POV

The pressure of tonight wraps around me like a straight jacket, and with each second, it’s like I am one of those poor Salem women when blocks are placed on their chests. Damon’s excitement is almost palpable, and it doesn’t help that everyone constantly comments or stares at my neck. Every time I walk by a pack member, they instinctively check to see if our unique mark sits there yet.

How stupid would we be to mark each other BEFORE the ball when visiting Alpha’s and Council Officers will be able to see it? I am seventeen, and Damon would be thrown in the Council’s prison and be forced to step down from being Alpha. Neither of us would be willing to live with ourselves if that happened.

New Moon is Damon’s birthright like my pack is mine, not to mention this is the only home I have known for the last five years. I don’t have any intention of seeing it destroyed, which is why it’s so f*****g annoying that no one else seems to have the same reservations.

“All done, Luna,” the hairdresser said, making me jump, so adrift in the storm of thoughts that I completely forgot the presence of the other people in my room—spinning me around for my first look in the mirror. Per my instructions, they kept my makeup simple and natural, accentuating my natural features. My hair is in loose curls that fall down my back, with tiny emerald jewels placed randomly throughout.

“It’s beautiful,” I say, with a graceful smile to the women who did our hair and makeup, “thank you, Allie and Janell. Are you ready to get dressed, Charity?” I ask her, sitting in the chair next to me and admiring her hair, which is similar to mine but has blue gems to match her dress.

“Hell yes,” she mutters, standing from her chair, “I am ready to get this night over with.” Walking into my closet, she grabs the garment bags containing our dresses. Handing me mine, we walk to separate areas of the room, quickly dressing and slipping our heels onto our feet. The women who had done our hair and makeup were already taking their things out of the room without another word to us.

“Wow, Charity,” I say, taking in the long navy blue gown that clings to her frame, a slit going up her thigh to reveal her slender but muscular thigh. “You’re stunning, and I have the perfect thing to go with it,” I say, smiling devilishly, walking to my dresser and opening it to get the little trinkets I had specially ordered for Theo and Charity. When the time came, I had meant to give them gifts for their Beta and Gamma ceremony, but now seemed too perfect an opportunity to miss.

Walking over to her, I hand her the small bag, “what is it?” she asks, taking the bag from me. Rolling my eyes, I look at her waiting for her to open it and find out. She pulls out a velvet-blue jewelry box with her initial embossed on the front. Opening it, she finds a silver bracelet with a raw sapphire in the center, a crescent moon hugging the left side. In the middle of the bracelet sits simple dangle earrings of the same design.

“Oh, Elle,” she says, taking in her gift, tears swelling in her eyes, trying not to let them spill over. “They’re beautiful, and it matches your ring. It’s perfect. Thank you, Alpha.”

“It’s engraved,” I said, taking the bag out of her hands so that she could remove the bracelet and inspect what it says. Gamma Charity-My protector and friend- Alpha Elle. The tears she had done an excellent job keeping inside start to spill over as she launches into my arms, gripping me in a tight hug.

A subtle knock on the door lets me know it’s Theo here to meet us and take us down to the ballroom. Cracking the door, he calls out,

“Are you guys ready?”

“Yes,” Charity says, “stop being a scaredy cat and get in here,” her tears finally dry while a devilish grin takes over her face.

“Yeah, Theo, come in here,” I say, picking up on her shenanigans and wanting to join in on the fun.

“Hell no,” he says, making no move to cross the threshold, “I’d rather not die at Damon’s hand. Which you both know will happen if he smells my scent in this room.”

“Theo,” I say, unwilling to give up just yet, “you’re my Beta; Damon wouldn’t kill you if you were in my room.”

“Maybe not,” he grunts, and I know no matter how much goading I do, he won’t budge. “But I have no desire to find out either way. Would you want Charity in his room?” His question caused an involuntary growl to slip past my lips as both chuckle at my possessiveness. “Thought so. Now hurry up and get out here. I guess there have been changes to the “Mate Find” before the party starts, and Luna Olivia requests our presence.”

“What could she need us for?” I ask, glancing at Charity as she shrugs, puts the new earrings in, and slips the bracelet onto her wrist. “None of us are eighteen.”

“I don’t know, but I don’t want to die at the hands of anyone with Ledger b***d tonight. If you hadn’t noticed, they’re all on edge today,” Theo huffs in a whine as he taps his foot impatiently.

“Are all Betas like that?” Charity asks in a low whisper, “or has he been hanging out with Andrew too much?”

“I can hear you,” Theo says in a monotone voice, causing us to giggle as we gather our small bags and Theo’s stuff before walking out the door.

“Wow,” Theo says, whistling softly, “you ladies look like a billion dollars. Men are going to be fighting to talk to you. Although, between Damon and Matt, I don’t think anyone will get very far. “

“Don’t you mean Hunter?” Charity suddenly asks, her mood shifting the way it does anytime Matt’s name is mentioned in a conversation. “We are still dating, you know?”

“Sure,” Theo grumbles, rolling his eyes, “if you can call what you two have a relationship, sure. You have Hunter.”

“What the-” Charity is about to ask, her temper rising as she menacingly steps towards Theo.

“Enough, you two,” I growl, throwing my Alpha energy into my words as both show their necks, stepping away from each other and mumbling their “Sorries.”

‘Is everything set up for tonight?’ I ask them through the link as I walk down the hallway to Luna Olivia’s office, not wanting to be overheard by any visitors or New Moon pack members.

‘Yes, Alpha.’ Theo nods, ‘everything is prepared exactly to your specifications.’

‘Good, we don’t need any surprises,’ I say as we near Olivia’s office, ‘other than this, of course.’ I hand him the bag I have been carrying before we round the corner and get thrown into the night’s events. Reaching inside, Theo pulls out a jewelry box similar to the one given to Charity, except his a nice honey brown matching his eyes. Inside sits a titanium bracelet with a slightly different design than the one given to my Gamma.

He has a plate with silver chains to secure it on the wrist. On each end of the plaque sits a natural amber gem with a crescent moon on the outer edge. The engraving on the inside is similar to Charity’s, only slightly different. It reads Beta Theo- My lieutenant and friend- Alpha Elle. Sitting in the middle of the box sits two silver cuff links with natural amber gemstones and a crescent moon outlining the side.

‘They’re gorgeous,’ Theo says, sounding choked up, giving me a polite nod, refusing to get his scent on me in fear of Damon’s wrath. ‘Now let’s get you inside that office, and this night started. I’ll be waiting to walk you down to the ballroom to watch the Mate Find ceremony with everyone else.’ Nodding in understanding, I open the door to Olivia’s office.

“Oh, girls,” Olivia says, getting up from behind her desk, dressed in an A-line, silver silk dress with puffed shoulder sleeves cinched at the sides. A very 1920’s style dress complete with a long pearl necklace, double wrapped around the neck, with a diamond pendant at one side. “You both look stunning. Men of all ranks will be lining up to dance with you two.”

“Thank you, Luna,” we say in unison, still confused about why we were called to Olivia’s office to discuss the Mate Find when we aren’t old enough to participate.

“I am guessing you are wondering why I called you here,” she says, looking between us, a stern expression on her face. “Well, as much as we tried to prevent it, rumors have started going around other packs about you both.”

“How?” I ask, confused about how or why anyone would leak our circumstances, especially with Charles placing an Alpha command on everyone to prevent this from happening.

“I don’t know,” Olivia sighs, but something in her demeanor tells me she knows exactly who it is. Glancing at Charity, I notice her scrutiny of Olivia, head tilted and eyes narrowed. “But let me assure you that Charles and I are working hard to find the culprit.”

“Okay,” I say, careful with my words, inspecting her body language for even the most subtle change. “So what does that mean in terms of tonight? Are we going to introduce me to the world?”

“No,” Olivia says sternly, “that’s a good way to get you kidnapped, either of you. Elle, you are a born Luna, and Charity, you are the first to survive a forced shift in a very long time. You are both powerful wolves who will be seen as a commodity to any pack. Every Alpha in the room will watch you tonight, looking for the slightest indication of your energies. I need you all to stick to Damon and the other boys as much as possible. Please? Can you promise me?”

“Theo’s Beta energy will be enough to cover my Gamma energy, won’t it?” Charity asks, and I know exactly why she is asking; she doesn’t want to be forced to stand next to Matt all night. “What if Matt finds his mate tonight? I am sure she wouldn’t want me hanging around them.”

“I suppose if Matt finds his mate,” Olivia says, but she doesn’t seem thrilled with this prospect, “Theo will work, but it really should be Matt as his energy will hide yours better.”

“Great,” Charity growls, her arms crossing her chest, obviously upset with the turn of events. “What do we do during the Mate Find?”

“You’ll stand with us, the Beta and Gamma families,” Olivia replies, walking towards the door, a subtle hint that she is done with this conversation. Opening the door, we find Theo leaning on the other side, with his new bracelet shining on his wrist and his cufflinks on. With me in the center, Charity and Theo flanking my sides as we walk down the main hall to the front door. Once on the front drive, we climb into one of the black SUVs waiting there with older mated Omegas as the chauffeur.

Within five minutes, the SUV pulled into the driveway behind all the other cars, not taking much longer to reach the front of the line. Getting out of the car, the three of us take a minute to stare at the intimidating brick building. Each of us knows that the second we walk into that room, everything about our lives will change forever.

‘Ready to go get your Alpha?’ Charity asks, trying to gauge where I am mentally in this situation.

‘As ready as I will ever be,’ I say, making the first move up the steps to the ballroom entrance trying my hardest to calm my pounding heart and sweaty palms.