C8. The Masquerade Invitation

Matthew's POV:

     "Are you girls ready?" I called up the stairs.

     April and Juliette have been up there all morning. I took today off from the station to deal with the funeral. Even though I hate funerals. My tux was fresh smelling since I took it to the local dry cleaners. I checked my watch that was on my dominant right hand. We're going to be late if they don't come down this instant.

      "It's bad luck to show up late to your loved one's funeral," I grumbled. Especially an alpha's funeral.

     Suddenly, I heard footsteps hit the top of the stairs. I looked up to see April coming down first. She was in a pencil skirt, vest, and a white blouse. She had a stack of cue cards she was stuffing into a purse. She looked down at me and gave me a teary smile. She looked over her shoulder, "JULIETTE!" Her voice shook the house. She hit the bottom stair and I wrapped an arm around her for a hug.

     "How are you little sister?" I asked softly and kissed her forehead. I wasn't sure if it sunk in yet for her. She just gave me a half smile.

     "I think its worse for Juliette," she explained. "She lost her sister and her father."

     "Don't worry. We'll get Josephine back. That girl is probably on her way home right now." I have to feed her some false hope. "And, Vee will be home soon with that rogue."

     "I think we should discuss Juliette's inheritence."

     "So soon? Shouldn't we wait for Josephine to come home first. It's only right she pass on her inheritence to her superior twin. I do agree with that. But, we can't do it without her precense here. In the mean time I can pick up the slack and take over Alpha duties. I've trained for it after all."

     "All I want you to do is find Josephine," she hissed through her teeth. "I can take over both roles of Alpha and Luna just as good as you can. Find that kid and bring her back here so Juliette can inherit her rightful place as this pack's future."

     "How do I look?" I heard Juliette ask us. We looked upstairs at her. Juliette was hesitant to walk down. She held her hand on her hips as she struck a pose for us. She was a laced black dress that stopped at her knees. It was short sleeved with a v-line and padding to shape her chest. She was dolled up in accessories, light make-up shadowing her eyes, and six inch heels to make her feel taller. "Well?" She asked as she looked at me directly.

     "Very adult of you," I complimented her. I wasn't sure what else to say. She had curled her hair this time and flicked it over her shoulder as she came down.

     "Mother what do you think?"

     "I don't see anything wrong with the way you look, beauty. Shall we get going?"

     I gave Juliette a hug before opening the door for the ladies. Outside was a limo waiting to take us to Rabidcrest Cemetary. The whole pack would be waiting for our arrival by now. The ride over was filled with silence. I opened the door for the ladies and we locked arms to walk towards the spot picked out. Alpha William's plot was next to our father's. Where we buried our Alphas. It was traditional to bury them together. There were chairs for the family lined up. There they were. The only family members I had left. Except for the two I escorted here.

     There was Della, Carole, and Edith. Della and Carole were silently looking over their shoulder at us. As for Edith... she sat with her eyes toward the ground. My mother was Della Rabidcrest. She owned the unique opal eye color that Edith and Josephine inherited. Della could be a good grandma. But, she tended to play favorites. And, Edith was her favorite. My daughter Edith was quite close to her compared to her cousins. There was almost a rivalry to earn Della's affections. Della was always cruel like that even when I was growing up. I'd often compete with April for her attention. Edith and Juliette reminded me more of sibilings then cousins because of that. I saw myself in them. I wanted my daughter to have my calm and laid back attitude... Unfortunately she takes after her grandmother.

     Della is my mother. Nicholas Rabidcrest passed away when my mother was still pregnant with April. He died at a young age. Because of her mate dying young, Della had to take on the roles of both Alpha and Luna to the Rabidcrest pack. She'd never remarry. It would be taboo for a luna to remarry and force another alpha onto the pack. Her duty now was to raise her children. And, Della named my sister and William as the next Alpha family when she was ready to retire. I could say our looks come very much from Della. She had our signature white hair. In age she lost some of her tall height and she hunches over now to stand. She's reduced to walking with a cane ever since the accident. Mother was dressed in the finest family jewles. She now lives in the nursing home with the elders of the pack. She's still well taken care of. Despite her slight limp she'd have when she walks... She still carried an alpha's aura.

     Carole is my mate. I could say we have been childhood friends for most of my life. When we discovered we were mates we knew we weren't Alpha- material. Carole comes from an Omega family. We used to spend our highschool nights sneaking out to see each other. Carole has a black pixie-cut that shapes her face into a beautiful round shape. Her eyes were dark pools that never let me escape once I was trapped staring into them. Carole has dark umber colored skin. It reminds me of calla lilies. I'd call her my calla lily at night before we said our goodnights. Carole didn't want the burden of the Luna position... and so we settled with Beta. She lacked confidence. Something Della tried multiple times to help her with. But, my mate was shy. Edith is my only child and she takes after her mother. The only thing that seperated her from being her mother's twin was the opal eyes.

     I brought the girls together and sat down on the side with Edith. It would put her in the middle of her mom and me. Della would be on the other side. My sister would sit down next to Della and Juliette would sit on her other side. The pack surrounded us in a quiet silence. The funeral was manditory for the pack to attend. There was one chair left open for Jossie. Of course... she was still missing.

     "I will talk first my darlings," My mother whispered out to us. She stood and pulled April to her feet to stand beside her. "Where is Jossie?" She would ask softly. Della was away in the Lycan King's territory when it happened. "Did she not come for her own father's funeral?" Della asked. She looked disappointed in her own granddaughter.

     "Jossie ran away," April would tell her. "It's something we're dealing with."

     "I come back home this morning to find out our Alpha is dead, my granddaughter-the heir is missing, and I hear there was a rogue in the time of his death." I could hear my mother's judgmental voice raising. "If you don't get your house in order... I will be naming Edith as the next heir."

     "Grandma, no!" Juliette growled out. She stood up fast but I reached over and pulled her down next to me. "Matthew, let go."

     "Shush," I growled out under my voice.

     "How can she be the next heir if she's not even a wolf," Juliette growled out in anger. "That position is mine."

     "By birth right, its mine," my daughter growled towards her. Juliette gasped and looked at me instead of her cousin.

     "Your daughter is out of her mind," she hissed. "Silence her. Or she will never be my beta."

     "Stop," Della spoke up towards us. "We'll be discussing this later." She looked at April in slight anger and then her look fell on me. "I hear you let the rogue slip through your fingers. I'm very disappointed in you, Matthew."

     "I had him. And, he escaped where I had him tied up in. I can't help it happened. Should we talk about how April almost killed Josephine because we all thought she was the killer? She wouldn't even allow a fair trial."

     "There is no excuse for this behavior..." My mother trailed off as she looked utterly angry. "What are we doing to find Josephine?"

     "I sent out a missing person's report," I explained.

     "And what are we doing about the rogue?"

     "We sent out a hunter to track him down."

     My mother looked upset but she changed her expression to talk to the pack about William's death. Now that we had her mostly caught up... She could form a speach to give to comfort our pack. April would also speak out about her mate's death. They'd announce a new Alpha would be discussed before announced later this week.

     There are three candidates for the Alpha position. Josephine, Juliette, and Edith. The best candidate for the job would be Juliette. She already has my vote.

     When the last patch of dirt was on William's coffin, my family returned to April's home. We were given offerings from the pack. A lot of comfort food to eat. There wasn't much left for my family to talk about. But, mother had something to give April and wanted us all there to see. We went inside the newly remodeled kitchen and fixed ourselves something to eat from the offerings. We settled in the dinning room. My mother sitting at the head of the table and April on the oposite side. The girls sat on one side and I sat with Carole on the other.

     "We have recieved an invitation." It was the first thing my mother has spoken since we got back.

     "What's it say?" April would ask.

     "The King is throwing a masquerade. All the packs in the surrounding area are invited to attend." My mother looked around at us. "It's for his birthday. His mother is hosting it as she wishes to find his mate... or a suitable bride." Her eyes fell on our daughters. "That means I want both of you to attend. And, the first one to catch his eye will settle our family debate."

     Juliette's eyes widened slightly. Of course now she would realize it was a win-win situation. She could get an alpha's positon or a queen's. It was in the best interest for both of them.

     But, what about Josephine?

     "What about Jossie?" Carole asked quickly. She must've sensed me thinking of her.

     "She's disqualified. She doesn't even have a wolf," my mother said as she chuckled to herself in thought. "We can't possibly allow her to compete. Not after running away from the pack."

     "That's very true, mother." April looked pleased to hear what our mother had to say. She eyed me down and smirked. "When my daughter comes home I will have an arranged marriage waiting for her to another Alpha."

     "To who?" Juliette giggled as she asked. "Who would willingly want to marry a wolf-less omega?"

     "I've already sent a letter to the Alpha of Deadbite. He doesn't have to know of Jossie's condition. Now all we have to do is get that girl home. A treaty with Deadbite will be benificial to our pack. Once one of you girls marry the King.... we will have Deepfur as an ally as well."

     "No one will want to marry her," Juliettte snorted out. "One look at her and they'll go running. They'll know she's decended from my father's bloodline. Who would willingly marry into that except for a mate, mother?" April seemed to bend her fork from her daugher's harsh words. She looked pissed as she stood up sharply.

     "GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

     April's voice boomed through the house. Juliette slammed her hands down on the table and got up. The two started to glare each other down.

     Earlier April said Juliette was taking this harder then her. But, I don't think Juliette cares an inch that she lost her father... and she could care less if her sister comes home. It was bad that the pack's rumors seemed to effect her most of all. She was a Cromwell as well. But, because she looked hardly anything like her father... she was never bullied. She was welcomed into this pack. She had to put up with being next to her sister. The most hated pup of the pack. Their hatred for her sister amplified in her.

     "You know I'm telling the truth," Juliette whispered. "Your shitty plan is going to spoil." She looked at her cousin before taking her plate and left the table. It seemed to start up a void of silence. The forks hit the plates only to rattle in my ear. It was annoying. It just reminded me how much of Juliette's words stung. Her sister was an outcast to this pack. Not even loved in this home... and here we are trying to bring her back.

     "I miss you at home," Carole would whisper into my ear. "I hope they find Jossie soon so you can come home," she mumbled. "It's been rather lonely. I know it hasn't been that long... but you have to start coming home at night. Just leave your phone off silent. The station will call if they've found her." She reached under the table and grabbed my knee. I smiled and leaned into her ear.

     "I'll come home tonight," I promised her. I was feeling better once she spoke. It was like the void had come to a close.

     "I think it would be a well idea to inform our neighbors we're searching for that rogue that killed your husband. The more eyes we have out looking for that thing- the quicker we will find it. And, what will we do if our own is discovered crossing territories unathorized? We would be under suspicion."

     "You're right mother," April would sigh out. "I'll send out a letter accepting the invitation to the masqurade for our heirs... and I will do something about making the surrounding packs aware of that rogue."

     "Get to it. I don't want that rogue-"

     'That rogue will remain a secret, Matthew. I want this delt with quietly. And, if I don't have results about where Jossie is by tomorrow night... Consider your daughter will not attend the masqurade. It would be hard to tell her she's not getting to see a ball because you can't find her cousin.'

     April's voice echoed through my head. Her eyes stared me down as she waited for me to register what she said. I smirked. A little twitch that would go unnoticed to the ones around us. But, her eyes flickered back to our mother as a sign she read it. Our tricks we played multiple times when we couldn't talk aloud. I understood her LOUD and CLEAR. I've got to find Jossie fast. I better call Vee and see if she's made any progress on tracking down that rogue.