Chapter One

[P.O.V. Adriana Braxton]

Where has the time gone? One minute I'm doing my Luna duties. Next, I am helping Emily with baby Lenard. She had him a week after Vincent's death. His full name is Lenard Vincent Woods. He looks exactly like his Father, with the dirty blonde hair and even his blue eyes. That why I was helping her, and now I am running late to my dress fitting.

Zyston and I have decided we are going to throw a masquerade ball., well more my idea than his. So all the King's and Queen's and also their commander's and people. Can get to know who their allies are. It's also so we can talk to them about this huge war ahead of us. We're also going to be throwing the ball at Silver Moon Orchards. It's the perfect time of the year with green grass and beautiful pink and white blossoms on the trees.

Running into the dress boutique, Katrina and Jolene were waiting for me. Sitting in the dressing room with a bunch of dresses already lined up for us to try.

"Hey, guys, where Scarlet?" Asking the girls.

"She said she couldn't make it that she had the stomach bug," Jolene says

"Oh.." Sounding disappointed. I Invited Scarlet to come to try dresses on with us. We haven't really talked to each other in a while. With living our own adult lives, I really wanted to catch up with her.

"Don't worry, Adri. We can come back to get Scarlet a dress." Jolene tries to reassure me.

"Yeah, so quit with that disappointment vibe. Because we have some dresses to try on." Katrina says all perky.

"Your right! we have dresses that we need to try on!" Saying positively. With the girls agreeing with me, we start looking for dresses.

After shopping for our dresses, we went shopping for different things for the ball. From flowers, lighting, dishes, and everything that we could think of. Our day was busy from the time we got home and getting everything inside. We slouch down on the couch, taking a break. My feet were throbbing with my arm across my eyes and my feet resting on the arm of the couch. The guys just got home from doing somethings over at the packhouse.

"Holy shit! What did you do to buy the whole store?" Tyler asks amusingly with Joseph standing by him. Looking around the front room, there were bags everywhere, with all kinds of different store brands.

"No!.., Just things we need for this ball." Katrina reply's back. They all get into their own conversation. That when the most delicious smell hit my nostrils fresh forest rain and fresh-cut hay.

A man with black short hair and a small black beard, and green emerald eyes walks in. Wearing a white t-shirt showing off all his muscles. Dark blue ripped jeans showing off how tall he is. 'Damn! My mate looks good!'

"You look quite ravishing yourself," Zyston says through our mate bond mind-link.

Oh, how the smallest things he says makes me blush, for that is what I'm doing right now. "Really want to rip that dress off your body right now." That right there made me blush super red. Making my legs squeeze tight from the arousal forming, Zyston chuckles at my actions.

"Quit your complaining and help me put our mate's stuff away," Zyston says to Tyler and Joseph. Carrying some bags in his hand, he takes them to our bedroom. I have the best Mate ever.

After resting from that long shopping spree, Zyston had to leave to take care of some company business. Tyler and Joseph are in the front room watching TV. Simultaneously, the girls and I are making dinner, steak, and potatoes with some rolls. Getting a great evil idea grabbing both hands full of flour. Throwing it at Katrina and Jolene, their faces were priceless. I couldn't help but laugh really hard. I had to hold onto the counter from falling over.

"Oh, yeah!" Kat says, throwing flour at me, then Jolene does.

Chasing each other and throwing flour at each other. The kitchen was a mess even we were all a mess. Dodging Kat's attack, it landed right on Tyler and Joseph. The girls and I cracked up laughing so hard we were all but crying.

"This means war!" Tyler yells out.

"Boys vs. Girls," Joseph yells.

We all were throwing flour at each other, making a bigger mess in the kitchen. Getting a bowl and mixing some flour and water. Throwing little flour balls at each other.

[P.O.V. Zyston Woods]

Parking my truck in the driveway from getting back from the city, where my main corporation building is located. Had to take care of some deals that Vincent had made. Going into the kitchen to get some dinner, I only saw the weirdest thing when I walked in. All my high ranks were in there, throwing flour at each other. Flour being thrown my way, dodging it before it could hit me.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" Asking them all, they all stopped and looked at me. All of them looked like a bunch of kids getting their hand caught in the cookie jar.

"Hey babe, when did you get home?" Adriana asks innocently. She looks so cute being covered in flour.

"A few minutes ago." She walks up to me and kisses me. Placing her hand on my cheek and wiping wet flour all over my face.

"Are you serious?" Asking in a playful tone. "Oh, Little Light, you're in big trouble." Picking her up over my shoulder. She squeals and laughs, kicking her legs, telling me to put her down. Going out the kitchen back door walking to the swimming pool, tossing her into the pool.

"Are you kidding me!?" She yells after resurfacing.

I was laughing so hard I wasn't paying attention. When Katrina and Jolene push me into the pool, resurfacing, they were all laughing.

"Payback sucks, doesn't it!" Adriana yells.

"Oh, it does indeed." Agreeing with her. Tyler and Joseph tackle their mates into the pool. After they resurfaced, we all were splashing water at each other.

"When you all done acting like children! There a kitchen that needs to be cleaned." A woman yells, pulling all our attention.

She has shoulder-length curly brown hair and amber-colored eyes. 5,6 in height and light tan skin. She was carrying a baby car seat with her and a couple of shopping bags.

"We will clean it up here in a minute Em." Katrina reply's to Emily, Emily rolling her eyes playfully she goes into the house. Adriana wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.

"You look like you have had a preoccupied day today." Telling her.

"Yes, a really fun one, though." She says back with a smile.

"I'm glad." She presses her lips to mine with dominance. My lips fighting back, within a few seconds, she gives up, letting me take over. Our tongues dancing with each other. She pulls away with a breathless breath.

"Damn, I have missed kissing you." Telling her.

"You kissed me before you left for the office." She says with fact.

"I know it was too long for my liking." She giggles and kisses me again.

"Are you two done making out? We have a kitchen to clean." Katrina asks Adriana, pulls her lips away from mine.

"Be there in a minute," Adriana says to her. Kat rolls her eyes and goes into the house. "Have you read Vincent's letter yet?"

"No, not yet. I haven't even been able to get out of the safe yet." Sighing deeply.

She nods her head in understanding. Giving me one more kiss and telling me she loves me, and she goes into the house.

The fact is I really don't want to read the letter yet. Because the moment I do, it makes his death official and real. It's hard to accept knowing that someone that is like a father figure to me is dead. After father died, Katrina and I looked up to Vincent. Everything our Father never got to teach us, Vincent did. There were even times he would teach us in a really annoying brother way. Once Katrina and I were all grown up, he was still there for us.

I know Alpha's and future King's are supposed to be tough. But even the strongest person can suffer from a broken heart. It doesn't take much for me not show it to anyone. Everyone thinks my heart was made out of stone because I didn't cry at his funeral or anytime to do with it. The only one that knows how I truly feel is my gorgeous future Queen, Adriana. Even with her, I try my hardest not to show it or let her feel it through our bond.

Getting to Adriana and my bedroom, going into the bathroom, turning the shower on. Stripping off my wet suit and stepping into the shower to wash the day away.