3. The Strange Question
1682 Words
We pulled over beside the gate which was made of intricately crafted wrought iron, coated in shimmering gold. The twenty feet high gate was wide enough for five cars to pass through at once.
The Crest of the Alpha's noble house was emblazoned in the center of the gate, glinting under the setting sun. The surrounding fence, which was covered in blooming roses, was tall and imposing.
The gatekeepers stationed at the gate lifted their heads and looked in our direction when we pulled behind the gate. One of them began to walk slowly towards our car and I wound down.
The man assessed the car with furrowed brows before fixing his eyes on me.
"Do you have an invitation letter, miss?" he asked me with a stern expression.
"Y…yes," I said nervously under the scrutiny of the security gatekeeper's watchful gaze. "I have an invitation letter from the Alpha."
"Which of the Alphas," he further asked. I never knew Lunar Guardians had more than one Alpha.
I took out the invitation card and gave it to the guard. He read it and slowly lifted his eyes. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"What did you do to him?" he asked in a hushed tone, filled with sympathy. I was taken aback by his words and stammered in fear.
"What…do…you mean?"
"You may proceed," the security gatekeeper said, waving us through. As we began to drive into the estate, I noticed my boys hiding under my legs finally come out to express their joy. It was only then that I realised they must have heard what my mom had said earlier.
The question asked by the security gatekeeper kept hammering in my head as we drove along the long private road that led to Lunar Guardians' estate.
As we drove down the cobblestone driveway, the grandeur of the pack only intensified. It was as if I was entering another world, a world filled with luxury and extravagance.
The building itself was an architectural masterpiece; a towering fortress-like structure with grand columns and a red tiled roof. The main entrance was flanked by two towering stone gargoyles, who stared down at us with their stone eyes, as if assessing whether or not we were worthy of entering.
As I stepped out of my car, the sound of merrymakers filled my ears. Music flowed from the direction of a large hall where a party was in full swing, complete with twinkling lights and chandeliers.
We stood at the main entrance of the courtyard, not knowing where to go or who to talk to.
"Lily, can we go there?" Ryan asked, pointing in the direction of the large hall where a party was going on.
"Ryan no!," I said and ruffled his hair.
"Pleeease," Tyler seconded.
"No!!" I said with a loud voice to show them how serious I was.
A deep voice startled us from behind. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" the voice boomed, causing me to shudder with fear. I turned to face three daunting armed bodyguards. Their scary outlines and expensive suits made me feel incredibly small in my cheap dress.
I hesitantly handed over the invitation letter, only for the guards to exchange suspicious glances before returning it to me. One of the bodyguards' wristwatches beamed a red light and made a loud noise.
"Alpha Brady's new Luna is here," the bodyguard announced, looking pitifully at me and my boys.
Suddenly, a feminine voice came booming through the wristwatch. "Where is she?"
"Standing behind the stone gargoyles," the bodyguard replied, before trailing off and walking away. It was clear that someone was on their way to come and direct us. My heart began to beat erratically in my chest.
As I anxiously waited, a young she-wolf finally emerged and strolled towards me with a beaming smile on her face. She was extravagantly dressed. Three young she-wolves whom I presumed were her helpers walked behind her.
"Welcome," she greeted me with a smile and a hug, her cheerful tone lifting my spirits. The three girls greeted me with a bow.
"I'm Miranda, but everyone calls me Mira."
"Thank you, Mira," I replied, relieved to have someone who seemed friendly. "I'm Lily Brown."
"Please come with me, let me take you to your chamber," she gestured, already heading away, expecting me to fall in line. But when I turned to look at the girls that bent to pick up my luggage, my heart sank as I realised my boys had disappeared.
"Oh, my God!" I gasped, barely keeping my voice low.
"What is it?" Mira turned back to me, concern etched on her face.
"My boys!" I blurted out.
"Your what?" Mira asked, looking confused.
"My children," I clarified, already on the brink of tears. "I came with my pups!"
"You...mean you... have pups?"
"Yes," I responded and Mira's expression darkened.
"Are you kidding me?! Mated she-wolf can never be Luna of the Lunas!" She shook her head in disapproval. "Are you…"
"The Alpha invited me!" I protested, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. "He knew I had children!"
Mira's eyes widened in shock. "Alpha Brady knew you had kids and still invited you?"
"Yes!" I confirmed, growing increasingly frustrated by the second.
"What did you do to him? I mean, what is your own crime?" Mira smirked.
"What?" I frowned.
Mira merely shrugged, but I didn't have time to dwell on the question for long.
"I need to find my pups," I declared, already starting to walk towards the party hall the boys had earlier sought my permission to go. Mira trailed behind me, while her helpers left with my luggage.
The hall's interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior; ornate golden decorations adorned the walls. Plush velvet curtains hung from the high ceilings, and the sparkling lights that illuminated the room reflected off the gold and silver accents, making everything seem almost otherworldly.
It seemed as though the party had concluded, and that the honored guests and some rich Alphas were the only individuals remaining seated at the elevated banquet table.
Standing at the entrance, looking around in wonder, I saw my kids in front of the elites, dancing one of the unique dance steps I taught them. The elites fixed their eyes on them, their conversation filled with laughter and snatches of whispers.
I noticed one of the Alphas was not looking at my boys. He was looking at me instead.
His gaze was so deep that it felt like he was staring into my soul. It was as if I was the entertainer.
The golden lights in the hall were only shining on his eyes, making them appear brighter and more radiating than all the elites at the banquet table. The light reflected off his piercing amber eyes, creating a mesmerising effect that made my heart skip a beat.
I became uneasy, yet at the same time, I was captivated by his handsomeness. I felt a small flutter in my chest. I slowly moved my eyes away from him and fixed them on my talented pups.
"He is Alpha Brady, I guess, " I said to Mira who stood beside me.
Alpha Brady is quite popular among the werewolf community, but many of us did not know what he looks like. On his social media page where announcements are posted, he used the Lunar Guardians' Rotunda as his profile picture. Only the Alphas and Alpha females who attend council meetings are very familiar with him.
"Who?" Mira asked looking behind us.
"The Alpha that is staring at me."
Mira turned her head and looked at the Alphas and hissed.
"He is Alpha Lunaris. The younger brother of Alpha Brady. He is the Alpha of Lunar Guardians and Alpha Brady is the Alpha of the Alphas! The president of all the werewolves!" Mira clarified, acknowledging Brady's high status and power.
"Do not be afraid of him. This is the way he stares at people he sees in the pack for the first time. He doesn't talk too much, he reads the expression on people's faces and acts on what he sees. But all the same, he's better than my brother.
"Who is your brother?" I asked but Mira did not answer me.
"Get the boys let's get out of here," she said instead.
I stepped forward and courageously walked towards the elites. My boys jumped down from the stage the moment they saw me walking towards them.
A round of applause erupted in the hall. The elite guests stared admiringly at them as they ran towards me.
"Lily, we are sorry," Tyler said, tilting his head, his hands on his tiny waist. I smiled, opened my arms for them and they quickly ran into them.
"Are they your kids?" One of the Alphas at the high table asked. I smiled proudly and nodded.
"Which pack are you from?" Another Alpha asked.
"Eclipse Pack," I responded with a slight bowing of my head.
"Are you going back tonight?" The Alpha further asked.
"No," I responded and turned to go but his next question halted me.
"Who invited you to Lunar Guardians?"
"Alpha Brady."
"Why?"
"He is offering me a position by his side, Alpha," I said with my head bowed. There was a long silence in the hall. I turned my head to continue walking, he let out a bombshell.
"How did you make it in his Revenge Book of Chronicles?" A strange question came again the third time. The Alphas laughed except Alpha Lunaris.
"I…I….What?…"
"He is joking," Alpha Lunaris said with a hushed tone and waved at me.
"Are you a dancer?" He asked.
"Yes," I responded.
"The boys took after you. I want to meet your pups again to show my appreciation for the entertainment. Send them to Opulent Palace tomorrow at 6 pm. I'd like to have dinner with them," he added.
"Alright," I nodded and we began to walk out of the hall.
"Where is Opulent palace?" I asked Mira.
"His dinning room. I'll show you around tomorrow."
- Writer
