The Black Hills: Trials and Tribulations

Dinner and New Alliance

Matt POV

The alarm on my phone alerted me to wake up, at 5pm. We were scheduled for dinner at 7, as guests of the Alpha of Crystal Lake. I nuzzle Talia’s neck until she stirs.

“Mmm.” She moans as she stretches.

“Tone down those noises, doll, or I’m going to ravish you again.” I warn, playfully.

“Well as lovely as that sounds, I definitely don’t want to face the wrath of our Luna by showing up late to dinner.” She smirks at me.

“Oh, now, the Alpha and your cousin are late to dinner all the time for similar purposes.” I tease.

“Yes well, when she’s lighthearted and carefree, she’s my cousin, when she’s in b***h mode however, she’s the Luna, and we don’t piss off the Luna.” Talia responds. “Now help me out of this bed so I can get ready.” 

I sigh dramatically as I roll out of our bed, and take her hands, pulling Talia to her feet. Talia walks across the room, to the bathroom, closing the door and I hear the lock click into place and smirk as she takes no chances against me fulfilling my warning. 

I lie back on the bed as I hear the shower running, and thank the Goddess for bringing Talia to me. We had a rough start after the trauma she endured from her ex-fiancé, and for the longest time she wouldn’t let me near her, let alone touch her or make love to her. The scars that monster left upon her body have mangled her flesh, but she’s still perfect to me in every way. Sadly though, she still doesn’t feel comfortable in her own skin, but I have vowed to worship her body every chance I get until she no longer requires darkness for me to look upon her.

I hear the shower shut off, and a short while later Talia steps out of the bathroom, body wrapped up in a towel, as she uses a second towel to squeeze the excess moisture from her long brown locks of hair. Her bare shoulders are even sexy to me, scars and all. My eyes roam down her curves hidden by the towel, to her thick thighs peeking out from below. Her thighs are her most hated feature due to the chemical burns which melted her flesh, but to me they symbolize the strength and resiliency of the woman I love with every fiber of my being. 

“What are you looking at?” Talia asks me from the doorway of the bathroom. 

“Only the most beautiful woman alive.” I reply grinning at her, as she rolla her eyes, but I see the smile play at the corners of her mouth.

I hop up from the bed and grab her suitcases, setting them at the foot. Talia walks around past me stopping for a quick kiss and thank you, before she begins rummaging through the clothes she brought. She settles on a black, simple maxi-dress with black strappy sandals, before she sits down at the vanity and begins to blow dry and style her long waves to fall around her shoulders, concealing her scars as best as she can. 

As she skillfully applies her make-up, I quickly shower off before towel drying my hair. I toss a bit of hair gel to contain the wild man look a bit, before I exit the bathroom, with a towel around my waist. I toss my suitcase onto the bed and pull out a pair of navy blue slacks, black loafers and gray button-down, long-sleeve shirt. After donning my attire, I roll my sleeves up to mid-forearm, and catch my mates gaze upon me in the mirror. 

“Now what are you looking at?” I tease. 

“Only the most handsome man alive.” Talia smiles back at me, 

I cross the room, and turn Talia’s chair to face me as I kneel down in front of her. “You know this man loves you with his entire soul, right?” I ask her, my voice low.

Talia smiles at me and whispers, “Yes.”

I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my head in her lap, as she runs her fingers through my hair. 

A knock on our door followed by Jenni peeking in, interrupts our moment, “Oh good! You’re decent. And dressed! Come on you two, the Luna is on the verge of blowing a gasket.” Jenni laughs as she turns on her heel and disappears from view.

I look up at Talia who shrugs, as I shake my head. I stand to my feet, and hold my hands out to Talia who takes them as I pull her to her feet. Talia grabs a navy blue, sheer shawl which I help drape over her shoulders, then takes my arm as I escort her from our room to join the others. 

Talia POV

“We aren’t even late.” Matt says to Sarah, as he earns several warning glances from the others in the room.

“Not yet! It’s rude to keep people waiting.” Sarah snaps back.

“Yeah? How about the first family dinner back home, you know, the one where you met your mate’s parents for the first time.” Jenni teases her sister. 

Sarah opens her mouth to retaliate but Travis swoops in just in time, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. By the time he’s released her, she has fully forgotten anything she had to say and instead takes the lead out of the penthouse. Travis turns quick to scold Jenni and Matt, “You all know the Luna is crabby when she’s pregnant. I won’t be around all the time to save your assess from getting scorched.” He warns before he joins his mate. The rest of us collectively chuckle as we follow behind. 

After descending the elevators, Travis and Sarah lead us to The Crystal Lounge where wait very briefly before the maître d' appears, “Ah guests of Monsieur Cross, I am Francois, please follow me.” 

Crystal Lounge looks just as you would expect it to, elegant and stunning, with crystal everywhere. My hand grips Matt’s arm harder as we wind through the dining room, until we reach a secluded section with a long ornate rectangular table. 

“Alpha, if you’d please take your seat here.” Francois motioned to the end seat at the table, while pulling out the chair to the immediate left for Sarah. From there everyone takes their customary seats, with the Beta and Beta-Female to the Alpha’s right, the Gamma and the Gamma-Female to the left of the Luna. Jaden sits next to Serena, while I take my seat beside Jenni, as Matt pull’s out my chair for me, before he settles in to my right. 

The waiter appears, “Good evening, my name is Daniel and I will be your waiter this evening. Would you like water while you wait for the rest of your party to arrive?” 

“Please.” Sarah simply replies politely, her Luna aura is elegant and on full display. 

Daniel bows before returning with a water pitcher, and begins filling the larger crystal glasses. He provides us with menus to look over before he bows again and disappears from view.

A few minutes pass before Francois returns with our hosts for the night. Travis and Sarah stand as Alpha Cross nears, and the rest of us follow suit.

Alpha Tyler Cross is breathtakingly unnerving, as he stands as tall as Travis, with dark hair, stormy gray eyes and the form of a body builder. He walks directly to Travis, extending his hand, before the two Alpha’s shake, while the rest of his company fills in the remaining seats at the table. 

“It’s good to see you again, Alpha Thyges.” Says the Alpha of Crystal Lake.

“You as well, and just Travis, please.” My Alpha replies.

Alpha Cross moves to stand at the head of the table, “Good evening everyone,” the Alpha of Crystal Lake addresses the rest of us,” I am Alpha Tyler Cross, but you may call me Tyler, this lovely lady beside me is my mate , Eva, the future Luna of Crystal Lake.” We all say our greetings. “This is Beta Austin and his mate Lily,” Tyler says while indicating to a blonde haired, blue eyed, tattooed, mountain of a man and the petite but muscular female with short brown hair beside him,”and Gamma Derik and his mate Ivy.” Derik is shorter than than Tyler and Austin but built like a brick house, his mate is a tiny, brown skinned female with pixie cut black hair. Each and everyone of them are flawlessly gorgeous, and I feel self-conscious within this gathering.

Travis introduces each one of us before the waiter returns filling their glasses with water and offering menus. Dinner goes smoothly, with polite small talk throughout. Ivy is bubbly and outgoing, while Lily seems to be a real kick-ass sort but very charming. Eva is more reserved and polite, and I wonder if she too is feeling just as uncomfortable as I. All-in-all, our group appears to mesh well with those of Crystal Lake.

Once desserts are served, Alpha Tyler speaks directly to Travis, “Alpha, I do have a concern that I would like to run by you, perhaps gain your insight.” 

Travis responds. “I think it’s the least I can do, considering your generosity towards me and my pack.”

“We have a sound proof conference room here in the resort, if you and your pack members would accompany me.” Tyler invites us. 

“I think that’s very reasonable, as soon as I finish this delicious cheesecake.” Sarah replies, as the group laughs over my cousin’s smooth transition of breaking the seriousness of the moment.