Party Prep

I wake up to Sam grabbing my arms and dragging out of bed.

"Wake up sleepy head!" She yells.

I look at the clock "6AM oh heck no! Its sleeping time!" I say looking back at my bed.

"Nope! Spa day makeover!" She says.

"We don't have time for that!" I snap.

"We do if you'd get up!" She responds.

"Noooo!" I yell and dive back in bed.

"Fine then." Sam says and walks out. When she comes back in I am soaked with freezing water and fly out of bed. "Now that you're awake get dressed we need to get going."

Fully awake now I grab a quick shower and head down stairs. Sam and Beta Carson are eating as I enter the kitchen. I grab two waffles and begin to apply butter and syrup.

"Come on." Sam says grabbing my arm. I groan and grab some baccon spooning scrambled eggs onto a waffle as Sam drags me out the door.

"Don't get syrup all over my car." Sam says as I reluctantly as I slide into the passenger seat and bite into my improvised breakfast sandwich.

"Mmm hummm." I mumble.

We quickly drive to the nearest town where the spa resort is. Sam has the entire day planned. As soon as we enter we are led into a room where we shower and put on plush robes.

The morning and the beginning of the afternoon were spent being pampered. I needed this after months of intense training. I slept through my massage. I awoke with my body loose. I hadn't realized how tight I was until I finally relaxed.

A little after noon Sam came to get me as I am in a mud bath. Sounds gross, feels great.

"Shower and come on we have to get you ready for tonight." I dreaded coming but now I don't want to leave.

I drag myself to the shower and come out in my robe. "Where to now?" I ask.

Sam smiles and holds up her hand wiggling her fingers. Next thing I know I am in a chair with someone working on each hand. I see them glance at each other in shock when they see my hands. I hold in a laugh.

I cut my nails short, I mean extremely short. What? They get in the way. Callouses make my hands rough and I don't have the elegant long fingers that beautiful people have.

They pull out green shiny fake nails to fix the hack job I'd done on mine.

"Seriously!" I say to Sam. She just nods. Beta Carson was right it's best to go along with Sam. She always has her way. So I sit back and do my best to not scowl at the two working on me.

After that someone comes in to do my hair and makeup. She starts out but Sam butts in complaining that she is doing it wrong and takes over. Once finished Sam steps back admiring her work.

I reach up to scratch my nose but Sam swats my hand. "Don't touch!" She scolds.

"Seriously?" I ask.

"If you mess up my masterpiece I will bite your hand off." Sam smiles but I know she is serious.

I put on my dress and look at the finished work. Sam did good... tho I don't know how to use my hands with these claws on.

"Leave the nails alone it's just for tonight." Sam says as she enters the room and zips up the dress. "You look beautiful." She remarks with a sigh.

"Alright!" Beta Carson enters in a suit. "We need to get going. Long drive ahead."

"Time for the banquet." I think with a sigh.

Alpha Aaron's POV

(Friday night the day before the banquet)

I sit in my office waiting for Alpha Mason to arrive.

"This boy will be the death of me." I think.

I took him in nine years ago when I was only 19.

"Please say he's OK." I think.

"He's fine" my wolf tells me "and here"

I inhale catching his scent as a car door shuts. I get up from my seat and make my way to the front door. Alpha Mason enters.

"Evening Aaron." he says with a nod when he sees me.

"Mason." I respond "where..." I start.

"Ari!" The pup comes in for a hug. I wrap my arms around the boy and let out a soft growl.

"Why?" Is all I say to him. He knows I disdain superfluous words.

"I..." he begins stepping away and staring at his feet, Fear radiating from his small fraim.

"Brayden!" I command lightly. I never use a powerful command on anyone. Knowing how it feels I can't bring myself to it.

"I'm sorry Alpha." He says " I wasn't pickin' I fight I swear it! One came after me an' I thought I could take 'em till his buddies showed up!"

"The boarder?" I ask.

"I know I'm not allowed.... but I was on patrol. Protecting the pack!" Brayden says sticking out his small chest. Looking me in the eye.

"16..." I start but am cut off. Brayden is accustom to my short responses.

"I know you said I need to be 16 to join the guard but I wanted to help." He says reconnecting his eyes to his feet. I pull him into a hug with a sigh.

"Go to bed, Brayden." I say releasing him.

"But I'm not tired now!" He exclaims bouncing. He is such a kid sometimes. I let a growl reverberate in my chest. "I'm going." he says defeated. He turns and runs up the stairs.

I look at Alpha Mason and gesture toward my office. He follows my lead and we enter the office closing the door behind us.

"You have an Alpha pup." Mason states and I nod watching him sit in the seat opposite me. "Yours?" He asks no doubt commenting on my lack of mate.

"No." I say

(9 years ago)

I find the small village decimated by rouges. Homes burning, bodies coating the ground.

I heard about the small pack north of mine but never imagined it being this bad. "I'm too late." I think.

"Wait I smell Alpha blood." My wolf says.

Just then a small pup jumps out of the pile of rubble beside me. He tries to speed past but I catch him and pick him up.

"Let go of me!" He screams "My father will kill you!" His voice comes out in a squeak. "He's the Alpha!"

I kneel down allowing his feet to reconnect with the ground but not loosening my grip on the boy. I link the wariors with me. "The Alpha?" I ask. I get one word in response "Dead."

I loosen the grip on the boy slightly looking him in the face.

"Your father is gone." I say

"NO!" He screams punching my chest. "I don't believe you!" Tears streaming down his small face he looked at the disaster around him and goes limp. I hug him close to my chest and he grips my shirt sobbing.

I pick him up again. This time he doesn't resist as heaving sobs shake his little body.

"What's your name little guy?" I ask trying to be comforting which is not my strong suit.

"B... Bray... Brayden..." he stammers through a stream of tears.

Present

"His pack was destroyed by rouges." I say to Mason. He raises an eyebrow at me and I know what hes thinking.

"And taking in another Alpha's offspring doesn't concern you?" Mason asks.

I've been asked that question many times over the years and its getting old. Having him around could present problems for my pups whenever I have them but that is in the future and he'll be long gone by the time that happens.

"It's fine. I have a plan." I say.

Mason seems unconvinced but does not challenge me. "Your pack." He says and we move on.

"What did you learn from the rouges?" I ask. Alpha Mason's eyes widen for a split second. He catches himself but I noticed.

"What makes you think I didn't kill them on the spot... rouges in my territory after all." Mason says with a smirk.

"Your to smart for that." I say "My father always called you a friend. Tho I'm not sure that was his choice." Mason chuckles at my statement. "But I've known you all my life and you wouldn't act so rashly."

"Your right." He says... "your father didn't like me." These were not the answers I was looking for but I'm intrigued none the less. I nod to Mason urging him to go on.

"When you were still a pup a sickness broke out in your pack. Our numbers have always been close and it pushed my pack ahead of yours in the rankings."

"I bet Father loved that." I say sarcastically.

"You knew him best." Alpha Mason says with a chuckle. "He hated it when he had to inform me of my new position. I've never envied your father so I made a deal. Your father keeps his title. We become friends. It was a treaty of sorts. It ensured we never had a war between us. We support each other. Eventually I believe he saw me as a true friend and I tried to be one. Your father was a hard man, but you know that. I was probably the closest thing he had to a friend."

I knew it was true. Alpha Mason was around alot when I was young. He was everything I wished my father was.

"Well Alpha if you don't mind I'd like to go to bed." Mason says breaking me from my thoughts as he rose from his chair and turned to leave.

"My question." I say standing as he reaches the door. He turns to face me.

"Calm down boy." I flinch at the word boy. From anyone else it would be disrespectful but he's called me that for years. "They're after me not you." He turns to leave and I link a guard to escort the Alpha to his room.

"Sleep well Mason." I say

"You too Aaron." He responds as he closes the door.

I sink back into my chair and wait for the Alpha to enter his room before heading to my home. "I hate this banquet." I think dredding the day to come.

"One night and they're gone... you'll survive." my wolf responds.

I roll my eyes at my wolf and throw myself onto my bed. I look at the clock and realize I need to be up in 3 hours to prep for this thing... this is going to be a long day.