Where is Elpis?

Hemera's POV.

Music recommendation: Classical rendition of "Thank You Next."

"It will be rude to leave me hanging." His hand was still held out and he gave me one of those his weird smiles.

I looked at him and I remember what irked me the first time I saw him; those weird smiles he gives any time he knows he will have his way. I took his hand and he had an accomplished smile on his face. it wasn't funny to me. I don't know why he is happy.

"Smile my darling, we are in public." He whispered to me as we walked to the center of the room. We bowed to each other and the music started. We held each other as we moved to the music. It was fun, especially with his smile and all eyes on us.

"How does a maid learn how to dance?" he asked.

"Well, sometimes watching teaches better," I told him. There was silence.

"Thank you for bringing Karla." 

"There is nothing to thank me for. You asked and I delivered." He said like it was nothing.

How exactly did you do it?' I asked.

"Well, that is my secret to tell." He told me. I stayed quiet then. He didn't want to tell me. 

"And to answer your question, yes I did as you asked and it will happen tonight." he turned me around and we locked eyes.

I took some time to catch my breath, "But that wasn't the plan."

"Well, you didn't exactly give me a plan so free-styled. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone but what I can't get is what you want from this." He asked. He looked at me with curious eyes waiting for my answer.

"Whatever takes time to build also takes time to crumble," I told him. To be sincere I am just playing a hunch. I am not sure if this will work but I just want to try.

"Well darling, I wish you the best of luck." He smiled as he turned me to the next person. The dance is basically an exchange of partners. So, you just had to dance a little with your partner and turn them to the next person. It is an ancient dance.

 He smiled at me like he believed in me and the potential I had. I had no potential. I am just an unturned wolf who is trying he best to find her family and get whatever she needs to destroy a pack that has been built for over hundreds of years by the blood of others. I want to crush them, anyhow necessary.

Everyone I danced with kept on telling me how ravishing I looked. I noticed only a few knew me and those who didn't want to refer to me as the Luna of Blood Moon pack. I can't blame them. Elpis and I aren't married yet. It made me realize that in actual sense, I didn't deserve Elpis. I am just a maid that he chose. If only they knew.

The gentle wolf spun me to the next wolf and when I saw his face. My mood entirely changed. The wolf spun me to Crane of all the people I wanted to see. 

"Look more beautiful than you did at my brother's wedding. Have you come to steal another show?"

"Well, it is not my fault Lydia is no match for me," I said with a smirk. I just wanted this to be done as soon as possible. Looking at me brought bad memories.

"Hemera, what are you doing here?" 

"I was invited. I am the wife of the alpha of Blood Moon remember?" 

"Well, you both aren't married yet."

"He doesn't matter. We will be married soon." I spat out.

I turned the other way for the rest of the dance with him. Even though right now I wanted to yell at him like never before, I had to keep my cool. Elpis' reputation is on the line.

It was time for us to spin again and I was so happy that I would have to meet another person but as Crane would be Crane. He stopped me.

"What are you doing?" 

"What do you mean? we are dancing" 

Because of Crane's little game, the dance had to stop and everyone was staring at us. 

"Crane stop before I make you." I threatened him. 

He smirked and told me, "Then make me."

Something that was supposed to sound alluring and sexy in my ears sounded so disgusting and irritating now. It wasn't like it was the first time he said something like this to me but now it sounded so bad I wanted to throw up. how did this capture my heart?

"Let go, Crane," I said in a sterner voice this time. He ignored me. like what I was saying didn't matter. I got so angry that I used all the strength in me and stepped on his foot making him leap in pain. The heel I was wearing was very pointy so I am sure it dug into his skin. As he held his bleeding foot, he looked at me with so much anger. I just smiled and walked out. I took a drink and waited for the big news.

Soon after the dance, Lydia's father came up and announced that he would no longer be signing the treaty with Cresent Moon but instead, he would be signing it with Blood Moon. Exactly as I wanted. 

I knew that treaty would make Eliot more powerful and that is the only reason he married Lydia and we just took that away. I looked across the room and the look on Crane's face was priceless. It made me smile. Well, technically Elpis is all the work.

Speaking of which, where is Elpis?