The Pawn

1 – Ill Mannered

DESPITE the subdued light in the gardens, Riley can still see the woman standing near the bushes.

She has been watching the same woman since she caught sight of her. That was when she entered the hall where the festivity was in full swing.

She embodied the statement ‘fashionably late.’

Not only Riley was enticed by the woman’s champagne-colored bodycon long-sleeved gown but also her beautiful face. It was clear that she attended the event to be noticed.

Although the woman was not blessed with an ample amount of breasts but her small waist and flaring hips were enough to show off her curvy figure. Her face was almost void of makeup except for the red lipstick painted on her thin lips. It contrasted her pale skin and equally pale dress.

Her dark hair was in a tight bun atop her head. It gave way to the creamy skin of her neck.

In her feet was a pair of four-inched nude stilettos. It made her almost in the same height with Riley’s five feet seven inches.

“I’m leaving! I am in no mood to entertain these people, Father.”

These words were uttered in annoyance and it can be seen on the pretty face of the woman. Her chinky eyes went smaller than they already were. Her thin lips tightened as she listened to the person on the other line.

“Dammit!”

A smile appeared on Riley’s lips when the woman that she has been watching stomped her feet on the solid ground. She placed the slick phone back inside the purse.

She chuckled inwardly when the woman groaned and then muttered a couple of words in Chinese. Although she did not understand it, it was easy to say that they were explicit.

Riley looked down as she shook her head. She scratched the end of her left brow.

“It’s rude, you know.”

She straightened. Her head lifted.

The woman she was watching a while ago is looking back at her. She was unsmiling. Her red lips were in a straight line.

“You have been tailing me since I came. I never expect you to eavesdrop on a private conversation.”

“My bad.”

There was no use denying it. She has been busted from the very start, anyway. And she did not do it discreetly.

The woman rolled her eyes and huffed.

Riley stood frozen when the unknown woman marched in her direction. She swallowed in nervousness only to realize that the woman walked past her.

“Kids these days are ill-mannered.” She said under her breath. “My goodness, this child could be a future alpha.”

The retort that was about to exit her mouth went out the window when the sweet scent of the woman slapped Riley. Her wolf yelped in her head.

Without meaning to, Riley lifted her nose and sniffed. Her eyes were closing when they opened immediately at what the chinky woman said.

“Stop sniffing like a damn dog.”

A frown marred Riley’s face. She was surprised and insulted at the same time. When she turned to the woman, Riley only had the sight of the voluptuous woman’s retreating back.

Gently, she moved between the throng of guests as she tried to follow the woman. If she was not a werewolf, she would have lost her. It was fortunate that her scent was engrained into her brain.

Eyebrows puckered Riley stopped walking. She was standing beside a wall that had a large painting. It showed off an image of a burning village. The fire was so vivid that she could almost imagine the heat in her skin.

She lost her!

Riley released a disappointed sigh as she watched the busy guests of the gala.

“Stop following me, dammit.”

Startled, Riley glanced at the person standing two meters away from her. It was the woman she was looking for. She was hidden behind a huge pot of plant.

Although the woman was looking the other way, Riley knew that her attention was on her.

“But---”

“No buts.”

Disappointed, Riley watched her leave. With a deep sigh, she glanced at the painting behind her.

It was painted well. The fire seemed real.

“I knew that you don’t want to be here but you don’t have to look like a lost kid wanting to leave the place while the parents are busy kissing ass with their acquaintances.”

She rolled her eyes when she heard the familiar voice of her friend.

Kenzo’s grinning face greeted her. They embraced.

“How are you, Alpha Shebala?”

Riley made a face.

Just like her, Kenzo Takahashi was an alpha of their pack. They were both invited to this event.

It was a ball for the supernatural beings. The leaders of the packs and covens were invited to attend.

For most of the supernatural, it was a well-awaited event since it was being held every five years. It was an opportunity to expand the allies as well as to meet their mates and beloved.

This time, the host of the event was a vampire coven of the American continent. Despite the venue of the event, the invitation was extended to the other continents.

Kenzo was the alpha of an Asian pack. However, she and the Japanese alpha knew each other from way back. They went to the same university in college. Although they were studying different undergraduate courses, they met at the campus. Instead of going alpha on each other, they decided to become friends. They have been visiting each other’s territories since.

“Where’s your Luna?”

“Restroom.” The male alpha responded with a shrug. “She frequented that place these days.”

The man in front of her knew that she had not met her mate yet. He has been rubbing it on her.

He met his mate when he was seventeen. Back then, his mate was a year younger and his sister’s best friend. He had to wait for a year before he was able to tell her that they were meant to be together.

Meanwhile, at the age of twenty-six, Riley has not met her mate. Well, that was moments ago before she became an eavesdropper. The mere reason why she had been very attracted to her the moment her attention landed on the gray-eyed woman.

“What’s your poison, alphas?”

They both looked at the bartender. He was a vampire. His red eyes gave him away.

They both asked for champagne.

“How’s the parents, Riley?”

“They were good. Yours?”

“They wish me good luck.”

They shared a laugh.

Five years ago, Kenzo was sent by his parents to attend the gala since he was near instead of his parents flying from Japan. It was also a blessing that Riley accompanied her father in the same event.

The former alpha of the Hakken pack, Kenzo’s father, was not a very sociable person. He attended social gatherings but if he could avoid it, he would send his son who was a social butterfly.

“Can I have soda, please?” Kenzo asked the bartender.

Riley turned to her left when she felt a familiar presence on her side. She was greeted by Aiko’s bright smile.

“There was a long line.”

“And a lot of gossiping, I presumed?”

“Yeah. They were badmouthing a certain girl. I was not able to get the name before I went out of the cubicle.”

“My own gossip girl.” Kenzo proudly told his mate before pulling the petite woman closer.

“Hello, Alpha Riley.”

Aiko’s cheeks were rosy. The Asian woman was embarrassed by the show of affection from her mate.

“Hello, Luna. The travel was alright with you?”

“It was long, alright. Thanks for the upgrade.”

“You’re welcome.”

When Riley learned that Aiko would be accompanying Kenzo to the gala, she upgraded their plane ticket to business class. Knowing her friend, he might be a cool guy but he was an economy person. Not because he had no money to spend but because he wanted to live thriftily.

“You’ll be a spoiler godmother, Riley.”

“I tried to be. I’ll be the favored one.” She grinned at the male alpha.

That’s right. Aiko is pregnant with their first child.

Knowing the long flight, Riley chose to make it comfortable for the couple. Kenzo had no say in it when she sent the copy of their plane ticket. The upgraded copy hours before their flight.

She made it happen since she hacked the account of her friend. Kenzo knew that she can since she has been pranking him when they were still in college.

“When are you visiting my kingdom? My mom has been asking for their adopted daughter.”

Riley chuckled.

On the day that she stepped foot in Hakken Pack territory, the former Luna was all over her. They knew that Kenzo and her were just friends but they were thankful that their son found a good person who would influence their ‘bad’ son. Their other daughter was thankful that the attention went to Riley. Apparently, the former leaders of the Asian pack had been more protective of their other child than the next alpha.

“Maybe in a couple of months. I miss her homemade ramen, too.”

“And you are the only one who can ask her to cook it aside from Aiko.”

“Because we asked nicely.”

Riley laughed at Akiko’s statement.

Since the beginning, there has never a bad blood between Aiko and Riley. The young Luna has been assured that the two alphas were just friends. It also saddens the Luna that the female alpha has not found her mate yet.

“I hope you find your mate, man.”

She grabbed the flute and raised it between them. Riley looked at her friend in the eyes.

“I did.”