12 They Will Smile Again
When Caleb returned to the ballroom, he found the party was in full swing. Looking around the room, he was unsure what to do with himself. Thus, he made his way to the bar and looked out into the crowd for any sign of her.
The wolves of Summer had found themselves dancing, toasting with others, and eating happily, all around enjoying the party. Yet, they still steered themselves away from the wolves of Winter, just as they did them.
Most of them, anyway.
Galen found himself once more pushed onto the dance floor. He couldn’t recognize the song that blared around him, only that it seemed to elicit movements from his body he could never hope to make on his own. His hips moved back and forth and twisted in ways that he knew they shouldn’t be able to.
His suit was a mess, his jacket and tie long ago stolen or lost. His black shirt had lost at least two of its buttons. Of those that remained, one was already undone. The reason for Galen’s state of undress was currently using the top of his shirt to pull his face down to her level.
The Winter wolf named Bell smiled wickedly before letting him go and dancing enthusiastically in front of him.
He smiled down at her as she moved to the music, enchanting him more and more with each shake of her hips. He wondered if she was just a very friendly person or flirting with him. His experience with women was exclusive to training them for battle, so he honestly had no idea.
He remembered seeing her with a man that she was close with. They seemed to share something special. Laughing and making jokes together.
He suddenly wondered if he was doing something wrong by dancing with her so much.
“What are you thinking so hard about, Handsome?” Bell asked him as she caught his shirt in her hands once more and gave him that same wicked smile as before.
“I wondered where your boyfriend was,” Galen laughed, trying not to show his disappointment.
Bell scrunched her brows and stopped dancing; she tilted her head to the side in a clear display of confusion.
“What are you talking about?” she asked with a giggle.
“The man from yesterday,” he replied.
She gave no indication of understanding who he was referring to.
“The blonde man, he stood outside with you when we first arrived,” he replied again, blushing a little as he continued. “He was called away, but I heard you mention putting your hands on him.”
Bell stared at him for a moment, still confused, when suddenly her eyes widened before she burst into laughter.
“Oh, my Goddess! You’re such an adorable creature!” she laughed as she put her hands on either side of his face and shouted. “That’s not a man. That’s Ashleigh’s brother!”
***
Across the room, Luna Corrine and Alpha Wyatt climbed the grand staircase that overlooked the entire ballroom.
“Attention, attention, please,” Corrine smiled brightly at the guests, who continued to talk and laugh amongst themselves as she attempted to get their attention.
“Oh my, it seems they are a bit excited.” She smiled at Wyatt.
“Do you want me to get their attention for you?” He grinned, knowing the answer.
Corrine raised an eyebrow, and Wyatt laughed. She turned her attention back to the crowd before her, clearing her throat, and then with a brightness in her eyes, she called out once more.
“Attention!”
Her voice echoed across the hall, drawing the attention of every wolf that occupied the space. Then, finally, the music was lowered, and all eyes looked to the Luna of Winter. She smiled beautifully at the crowd below her.
“Thank you so much,” she began. “Alpha Wyatt and I are truly grateful to each of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to come and share this momentous occasion with us. Tonight is a night of celebration because this is the night that our only daughter becomes a woman in the eyes of the Goddess!”
Somewhere in the crowd, a cheer went up that was quickly repeated by every other person in the room.
Luna Corrine cheered and continued to share her words of praise and appreciation. Still, Galen found himself unable to concentrate as he noticed a figure moving in the crowd.
“Gotta go,” he whispered in Bell’s ear from behind, not noticing the way she reacted to him.
He slipped past her just as she reached out for him, watching him leave with a wicked grin on her face. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Galen followed Caleb out into the hallway, where his Alpha put back the entire glass in his hand in one quick drink.
“Caleb?” he called to him as he approached.
Caleb looked to his friend and gave a small smile.
“Are you alright?” Galen asked carefully, reaching a hand to Caleb’s shoulder.
“I can’t be in there right now,” Caleb answered, looking away.
Galen glanced back into the room where he could see that Alpha Wyatt had joined in the speech. There was laughter in the audience, but Galen could see eyes downcast. He recognized them immediately as members of his pack.
He returned to Caleb’s side and once more placed a hand on his shoulder.
“My Alpha, allow me to gather our people, and we can leave right now.”
“No, Galen. They are uncomfortable but not unhappy,” Caleb said. “You were right. They needed to be able to enjoy the party.”
Galen looked at him unconvinced.
“When the speeches have ended, and the music is playing, they will smile again,” Caleb reassured him.
“What about you?” Galen asked with honest concern.
“What about me?” Caleb smiled.
“Why do you remain in this hall if you have no reason to be here? Why stay when it seems to hurt you?”
“I don’t know,” Caleb answered honestly, smiling as he did so. “I guess I am waiting to see her. It’s stupid, really.”
“What do you mean?” Galen smiled.
“In the traditions of Winter, eighteen is when a wolf is truly grown. When the Goddess recognizes their strength and their inner power,” he replied with a soft smile spreading across his lips.
“I am waiting to see her. Now that the moon is shining brightly in the sky, she has finished her eighteenth year. I just want a glimpse of that woman. Even if she won’t be mine.”
“Won’t or can’t?” Galen asked with a raised brow.
“Does it matter?” Caleb laughed. “Why don’t you stop worrying about me and go enjoy yourself while you can, just like you have been.”
Galen felt the warmth that spread across his face.
“Saw that, did ya?” Galen asked sheepishly.
“I may have caught a glimpse or two.” Caleb smiled.
Galen blushed and looked away.
“There’s nothing wrong with having fun, Galen. That one seems to be quite interested in you.” Caleb laughed.
“I don’t know. I think she might just like to have fun in general.”
“Why not ask?”
“What? If she likes me?” Galen laughed.
“Yes,” Caleb replied, glancing back into the hall.
“I can’t do that. It would be awkward, not to mention she’s a Wint—Caleb?!”
Galen could not finish his thought as his Alpha pushed past him suddenly and ran back into the hall with haste.