03 An Awkward Encounter

<p>For a moment, everything was silent. Alaric was amused to see the equal parts shock and anger flashing acrossed his father's features. With a glance at his sister and her fixated stare, he surmised that the amazonian brute that had just barraled past the unfortunate waitor was none other than Alpha Lou herself.<br/> Curious, Alaric took the opportunity to look her over while her attention was fixated on the others. At somewhere near six and a half feet, give or take a few inches, Lou towered over all but the Alpha males, and even then she was slightly taller than a number of them. A striking set of amber eyes complimented her olive skin beautifully. Her raven hair was streaked with blue, cut short and unkempt, but in a stylish sort of way that one might see from someone in a j-pop boy band. She wore a stiff, Victorian era tuxedo that looked suspiciously similar to the suit worn by the vampiric gentleman standing beside her. Even through all the starchy layers of clothes Alaric could tell she had impressive muscle definition. If it weren't for her distinguished hips and noticeable bust line, he might've mistook her for a male idol at a glance.<br/> "Alpha Lou," Abram sneered once the shock had faded, "it has been too long."<br/> "And here I was thinking it hadn't been long enough," Lou replied in a cool, indifferent sort of way. Though she spoke casually, Alaric sensed her bloodlust increase in intensity.<br/> "Still making jokes I see," Abram growled. "Unfortunate, given this is an event that calls for decorum."<br/> "Who said it was a joke?" Lou questioned with a quirk of her brow. It was at this point that Marisa saw fit to intervene, cutting off the advance of her furious mate.<br/> "We welcome you to our pack house, Alpha," Marisa walked forward and offered a curtsy. "Did you not find the front door to your liking?"<br/> "Believe it or not, we had intended to avoid making a specticle of our arrival," the vampire piped up, which earned him a glare from Lou. He gave her a pointed look by way of response. "Alas, one often finds the course taken to avoid a specific outcome more often than not only leads to it."<br/> "Wise words," Marisa said with a smile. "I sense that you are one of Alpha Lou's betas. Forgive my manners, but I have not learned your names yet..."<br/> "Draven Vladimir Hamilton, at your service," Draven bowed. "My fellows are Maud Eustice Black and Azreal Montecuccoli."<br/> "A pleasure," Marisa nodded to the two figures lurking behind Lou. Alaric was surprised to note that the male, most likely Azreal, was half-elf and definately not a wolf either. Maud, on the other hand, was unmistakeably lycanthropic.<br/> "Forgive me, but I am still learning names as well," Lou drew attention back to herself with a soft cough. "I have met your husband and have a number of ways to address him if I manage to forget his name, but I am afraid I don't know the rest of you quite yet."<br/> "Oh, forgive my poor manners," Marisa said with a sheepish smile. "I am Marisa Alicia Rose Laughlin Winters, Luna of the Blue Crescent pack."<br/> "A pleasure to meet you, Luna Marisa," Lou stated, dawning a roguish grin that took Alaric's breath away. "You have a name that is just as beautiful as you are." <br/> "You flatter me, alpha Lou," Marisa giggled as Lou bowed, took her hand, and placed a kiss on the back of it. <br/> "Shamelessly," Lou replied with a wink before returning to a fully upright position. Behind them, Abram looked absolutely furious, which made Alaric appreciate the shameless flirting all the more. There was not a doubt in Alaric's mind that his mother was the best catch out there, and he could only think more of Lou for seeing that. <br/> "Alpha Lou, please," Marisa scolded, though her flushed expression and smile indicated she was thrilled with the attention, "I am a married woman!" <br/> "Alas, you make a tragic point," Lou heaved a sigh, then her eyes swept to Cadence who jumped as the intense amber gaze fell on her. "But it seems not all hope is lost! I see you have a younger sister that is quite radiant as well." <br/> "You are an audacious flirt!" Marisa giggled. "You are also far too kind! This is my daughter, Cadence Brio Forte Winters, who is making her debut this evening." <br/> "How fortunate for me," Lou shot Cadence a wink, and Alaric had to place a supporting hand on his sister's back to help her remain upright. "I will have to steal a dance before the evening ends then." <br/> "I would be delighted!" Cadence replied eagerly. She had completely forgotten about Basil who she still had in a tight hold.<br/> "I hope your date won't mind sharing you," Lou's eyes flitted from Cadence to Alaric. <br/> "Am I to put up with this outrage?!" Abram exclaimed with an abrupt shout. As quickly as they had found him, Lou's eyes turned from Alaric to his father. <br/> "You know, I completely forgot you were here," Lou stated through a menacing grin. "Must be that weird statue routine you and your sons got going on. Sorry about that." <br/> "Not only do you have the unmitigated gaul to flirt with both my WIFE and my only daughter in front of me, you are so bold as to insult me in my own home?!" Abram demanded. "You go too far!" <br/> Alaric rolled his eyes as Abram shot him a warning glare before returning his full attention back to Lou. No surprise, he didn't want the new alpha to notice his "failure" son. Alaric knew for a fact Abram didn't give a damn about the fact Lou had flirted with Marisa, as much he was upset Lou was ignoring his "dominance."<br/> For one thing, Abram and Marisa had only been a "couple" for the first seven or eight months of their marriage, and even that was questionable. Furthermore, if he had cared, he would have intervened before Lou had kissed her hand. Cadence, was a slightly different story, but even then Abram was cautious about meddling in her affairs. <br/> "Based on the look of things, I haven't gone far enough!" Lou argued. "Luna Marisa, when was the last time your husband so much as asked you to dance?" <br/> "Do not answer that!" Abram ordered. They were drawing a crowd. A few curious onlookers were gathering at the door leading into the ballroom. <br/> "Not since our wedding night," Marisa replied, completely ignoring him. "But I am not complaining. He is not much of a dancer." <br/> "Lou, you will leave!" Abram snarled. "I will not suffer this kind of upset in my house! If you are not gone in sixty seconds I will tear your throat out!" <br/> "Is that a challenge?" Lou's bared her terrifyingly pearly teeth in the most frightening smile Alaric had ever witnessed. To his surprise, he found himself sporting a most unexpected boner, and was profoundly grateful that nobody was paying enough attention to him to notice.<br/> "That is quite enough!" <br/> Every head turned as Alpha Josiah Armstrong, often called Alpha Armstrong by his enemies and Old Man Joe by everyone else, stormed through the door. Alpha Abram immediately fell into a submissive stance and dropped his gaze. Alpha Lou remained upright and defiant, but relaxed her stance and intensity. <br/> "A pleasure to see you again, uncle Josiah," Marisa curtsied. <br/> Alaric had completely forgotten the fact his mother was related to the crotchety old geezer. He was Marisa's mother's brother. Another reason Marisa wasn't to be messed with. Her alpha blood was from as pure as possible a bloodline one could possess without being inbred. <br/> "A pleasure," Abram parroted his wife through gritted teeth. <br/> "Always a pleasure, Marisa dear," Old Joe nodded politely to his niece, then turned his stony gaze to Lou and Abram. "This is a peaceful gathering. You will not disrupt it with your petty squabbles." <br/> "She is being completely disrespectful!" Abram protested and jabbed a finger in her direction. "This mongrel bullied the waiting staff, propositioned my wife, and then my daughter as well!" <br/> In that moment Alaric could view Abram as little more than a petty child. As Abram tattled to the powerful alpha, Lou shook her head, then folded her arms, but made no attempt to stop him, talk over him, or even contradict him. <br/> "Shut the fuck up you ball-less man-whore," Joe snapped. "If I wanted your excuses, I would have asked for them. Own up to your mistakes and go about your business." <br/> "I haven't done anything wrong!" Abram cried. "It's that tomboy bitch who's the problem! She's nothing but a nuisance and should be put down! I mean, look at the mess she's made of my foyer!" <br/> Alaric glanced around at his 'immaculate surroundings. Some one had already cleaned up the broken glass, and nothing else was so much as out of place. Joe appeared to be even less convinced. <br/> "You call this a mess?" Joe snorted condescendingly. "Boy, as I recall you were caught fooling around with a dozen or so chamber maids in various locations your debut ball."<br/> "That doesn't excuse her conduct with Marisa!" Abram pressed. <br/> He was silenced when Joe smacked the wall on either side of his head, pinning him against it as they found themselves nose to nose. It was eery watching his brothers make way around them in almost perfect unison. If he didn't despise them so utterly, he would've almost tempted to suggest they make a routine of it. <br/> "If you truly cared about Marisa, you wouldn't have taken mistresses, and you wouldn't flaunt the fruits of your unfaithfulness," Joe snarled. <br/> Seeming to come out of a trance, Cadence released Basil who took his position back in line with his brothers. A few of them had the decency to look ashamed. <br/> "Like it or not, Lou is one of the thirteen Alphas and you WILL show her the appropriate respect. Do you understand?" Joe continued with a growl. Abram had the good sense to keep his mouth shut. Satisfied, Joe returned his attention back to Lou. "Young lady, please refrain from antagonizing the others." <br/> "I will agree out of respect for you," Lou stated, Staring Joe in the eye, "but I will NOT apologize for who I am, and I will not let them push me around." <br/> Alaric decided this was a woman that he wouldn't mind marrying. It was too badshe seemed to prefer the companionship of other women.<br/> "Good girl," Joe nodded with approval. "Now, enough drama. Let's do what we came here to do and enjoy the festivities! Tomorrow the work begins." </p>