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Mia11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9CYSWjUPG
The pristine fountain reminded me of the one at the pack house as Kristen and I entered the crowded mall filled with every store a person could think of. To my left, there was a confectionary selling chocolates and next to it a boutique. To my right, was a long row of retailers that mixed between jewelers and luxurious suits and chic dresses.
Seriously, of all the malls we could've gone to, Kristen insisted on taking us to the most upper class one she could find.
Madness was eerily chill despite the massive influx of shoppers that swarmed around Kristen and I both. One would've thought they've spent enough Christmas shopping but it seems money means nothing to them. Well, I guess now it shouldn't mean much to me.
Especially since Peter gave us his American Express black card to use as we please for the pack's new year's celebration. As explained to me by Ma, when she burst into my room before I even had the chance to properly wake up, the event is referred to as the Silver Moon Blessing.
The point of it, outside of a typical New Year's celebration, is to gift someone a small but significant present. It's supposed to be a symbol of creating an everlasting bond with a person that means the most to you. Of course, for a pack event, it's followed by a massive night long celebration to bring in the New Year.
Ma practically cried as she explained the occasion to me and why it meant so much to her and to the wolves in general. But it was only her final words that struck a chord with me.
I'm just happy that this will be your first time celebrating with us.
A simple fact, but a heartbreaking reminder of the years of memories I'd missed. Which leads us to the present. Kristen and I navigating a packed mall to try to find a significantly small present that will represent my desire to create an everlasting bond with someone for the New Years.
"Find anything that calls to you yet?" Kristen jokes to me as we moved past a woman trying her hardest to sell at least one perfume bottle.
I glance at a wall of expensive jewelry but I decide to keep moving. Sure, I have an unlimited budget sitting in my purse begging to be used but there's no way I feel comfortable with putting Peter into debt over a small pair of earrings.
Would Peter even go into debt over that? Seriously, how much does that man even have? Better yet, how does he even make that much money?
"Earth to Mia." Kristen tugs at my jacket.
I do a double take as I refocus on the task at hand. "Oh. Yea - sorry."
Kristen let out a slow breath of slight annoyance. "These jokes don't come easy to me you know."
"My bad." I apologize.
She gave me a gentle pat on the back as we weaved out of a family's way. "It's okay, but we need to find something."
Shrugging, I ask her how she shops for this event. Suddenly, she averts her eyes, a look of grief plagues her for a moment before it vanishes.
"I..don't." She breathed. "Never felt the need to. Mateless remember."
"Ah. I mean do we have to give our presents to just our mates?" I question. "Can't we gift it to friends as well?"
Kristen suddenly stops walking and gasps dramatically like I slapped her. "Mia, it's tradition. One gift to one person." She presses each word with certainty as she continues walking.
"Got it." I sigh.
"Besides, I'm sure Merida doesn't plan to gift anyone else besides you." She adds it like it's obvious.
Which it is. To those words, I freeze up. Shit. I was supposed to be thinking of Merida this whole time. "This mate thing really slips me sometimes." I groan, placing the palms of my hands in my eyes.
That gets a chuckle out of Kristen, "Good thing I'm here." She pats me on the back once more as we move into the first store she found acceptable.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yc30BaByM
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Twisting the row of pearls around a group of my braided twists sends a gentle caress of electric shocks down my arm. Breathing in the scent of olive oil and floral crème with a surprising undying touch of vanilla that I've never noticed before, I finish the style; tucking the remaining length into the hair tie before letting the rest of it fall down the back.
"George, lift your side up a bit more." Dylan, the warrior wolf who trained me to fight alongside Kristen, expressed. "No, Fredrick. You can't place the tables there. It'll block the passageway."
Ever since I got home, Madness has been lingering close to the surface but leaving me enough room to keep control of us. The heightened sense of touch, smell, and hearing were all evidence of her constant excitement after seeing the gift I brought Merida. And a little extra.
Giggling to myself as I look down at the long gold and black cocktail dress, I wipe the excess of the hair oil on a black towel draped across the antique style chair. Over the last few months, I managed to add some modern touches to this otherwise outdated bedroom.
A revamp to the sheets was the first thing. Instead of the usual floral patterns, they were now layered with tan sheets and a gold comforter. Ma added a gold and brown quilt that she hand crocheted herself years ago along with a blue and white on that she'd made for Merida.
Another was an added light pink lamp that rested on the sleek wooden desk next to an unopened laptop. Sadly, between the helping deal with clinic matters and trying to figure out the whole 'I have powers linked to an ancient Orisha' thing, there was only so much I could do.
Thirty minutes and several mirror spins later, I bite down my nerves as the music begins to trickle in from the speakers outside. I push an excited Madness back a bit further to quell the heightened hearing just enough so that it doesn't give me a headache.
I know we're excited but it'll be hard to give Merida her gift if we end up with a throbbing headache. I explain to her. She tosses me a mental light blue. To let me know she understands but that she also wants to see Merida.
Rolling my eyes, I exit the room holding a gift bag filled with two presents into a gathering of well-dressed pack members. A sea of silver, gold, black accompanied a plethora of bright colors draped over each person as they swarm throughout the mansion with the backdrop of pop music. Peter and Ma must've invited the entirety of the pack here.
Usually, there are only new, single and unmated wolves that live in and around the main house. But the small heads of children weaving in between the crowd clued me in to the fact that there where families here. Hence, why the place was filled to the brim with new faces I've never seen before.
Two young girls around the age of nine or ten held hands as they strolled past giggling about which dessert they planned to snatch off the snack table outside. I stared at them longer then I intended to because it isn't everyday that I see wolf children. Wolf children? Surely, there had to be a better name for them. I make a mental note, alongside my endless stream of questions, to make sure to ask Ma about it later.
Speaking of Ma and questions, I turn to head down the stairs careful not to let my heels catch onto the front of the cocktail dress. While I mindfully make my descent down the stairs, a variety of different wolves' eyes wash over me in fascination. Sweeping the crowd, I look for the first familiar face I find. Ironically, I run into Dr. Scott, who looks more jovial than ever in a dark blue suit with an accompanying dark grey tie.
As he looks me over, a strange look of familiarity passes over him briefly but he masks it with a bright smile. "Mia, you look stunning."
"Thank you, Scott." I reply, returning his smile with my own. "I'm looking for Ma, have you seen her around?"
He glances back as a couple passing by greets him. "Yes, she should be towards the back." He said pointing down the hall. "I ran into her a few minutes ago, she was heading towards the storage room. Probably to grab more chairs for the firework show tonight."
Makes sense.
"Scott, it's been a while since I've seen you." The cheerful voice of an older woman in a ivy green dress interrupted.
"Gloria, yes. How are the grandkids?" Scott asked as he turned around embracing her in a light hug.
I turned away with a parting wave as I went in search of Ma. A moment later, I found her helping finish up a snack tray that another wolf picked up and left the kitchen with, likely to pass out to the guests or place on the tables outside.
Ma wore a stunning sparkling dark magenta dress that fluffed out towards the bottom. Her hair pulled tightly into a high bun. "Ma." I called out to her.
She turned towards me as I approached. With a few blinks, tears formed in her eyes as she smiled brightly. "Mia." She marveled. "You are so beautiful."
"You as well, you look amazing." I replied. As I pulled away, I held up the small gift bag. "Uh, Ma. I know you said that we needed gifts - a gift to exchange. So, I was wondering, when do we start exchanging?"
She looked at the bag with bright eyes. "Ah, we exchange them in private just before the fireworks. You'll have to find Mer- the person you want to exchange them with." Seriously, was it that obvious? "Then, you would go somewhere the both of you find suitable."
Nodding, "Got it. Do you need any help here?" But she gives my arm a gentle pat.
"Let the Luna handle the work. You just go have fun." She says cheerfully.
With that I make my way out the kitchen and down the hall once more, heading outside where I assume the pack is gathering for the fireworks. Before I can get to the exit, I turn to find Kristen up ahead, looking absolutely jaw dropping in a bright maroon skin tight dress. The outline of dozens of roses curl their way around the top before spreading out towards the bottom. Her black hair is done up in a simple bun with a decorative jade rose kanzashi.
Seeing her walk out the opened front doors, I change directions. Slipping through the crowd, I manage to make my way into her bedroom and place a small wrapped surprise on her bed. Coming out of the bedroom unnoticed, I do a small dance of victory as I head outside feeling lighter now that one gift was in its place. To hell with traditions.
As suspected, the pop music increased as I walked onto the open grounds. Merida told me that the space was about to undergo renovations soon, to be made into an extra training ground. But tonight, fighting was the last thing on everyone minds as the space was being used as to mingle, laugh and dance.
Children played with toys on the edges of the gathered group while the older wolves sat in rounded tables catching up with each other. The more youthful and active wolves danced in the middle the grounds with their mates, friends, and family as the rest stood around eating small treats and drinking champagne. Glancing around, I tried to look for Merida but my eyes only landed on Kristen as she stood by herself with a glass of champagne in hand.
"Kristen!" She looked over as I called out to her. Once I eventually got to her, she wrapped me in a soft hug, careful not to spill her drink.
She looked me up and down with a slight giggle. "Mia, you just missed Peter's celebration speech." And also, you know you didn't have to carry the gift with you." She joked.
"Shit. Really?" I whined, moments away from face palming myself.
"Well, it's fine. it was nothing new, we'll hear the exact same speech next year." She laughed. "Here let me grab you a glass."
She pulled a glass of champagne off a platter that was passing by us and passed it to me. Thanking her, I took a sip letting the bubbles and small alcohol content ease my nerves.
"There are so many people here." I state.
"Yea, this is just about the whole pack give or take."
Kristen and I spend the hour talking about various things. From who's who in the werewolf world, to which people had a new accomplishment recently. For a while, Kristen talked about the year Peter invited the local politicians who wanted to appeal to a more "diverse" group of voters. Apparently, there might be a shift in the world in the next few years when it comes to supernatural and human relations, but for right now, much of it is local.
Kristen looks down at her phone, "There's about fifteen minutes left until the fireworks go off."
"Shoot, you're right. I need to go find her."
Looking around, I scan the crowd. Just about all of the wolves managed to make their way outside over the hour, while some couples began parting. Likely to exchange their gifts with their partners. Stepping out into the crowd, I search, determined to find Merida before this is all over.
I made a promise to her and I was going to show her I'm sticking to it. However, for the only white haired werewolf in this entire pack, she's certainly a tough wolf to find.
"Oh Kristen," I call out to her. "You might want to check your room before the fireworks goes off."
She gives me a confusing look but I only smile and wave goodbye as I head back into the pack house to find Merida. A few pack members who volunteered to look, stop to ask me if there's something I need or something they could assist me with but I only tell that I'm fine and to go enjoy the fireworks. Closing my eyes and breathing deep, I release Madness, knowing that she's been lingering there since the beginning.
My wolf wastes no time tracking down the scent of her other half. With a smile on my face and a pep in my step, I make my way to Merida's room.
Opening the door, I see Merida looking down at a small box in her hand. The door like window to her small patio is open revealing the crowd beneath. She's wearing a white and blue striped dress that hugs her body well. Her white hair is wavy this time making her blue eyes pop. She up, already knowing it's me.
"Mia." Her eyes scan my body, taking their time to analyze each part of myself. Unlike before, tingles lick across my flesh making me a tad bit more aware of myself. With the liquid courage I gained over the hour, I do a slow spin letting her get the full view of me.
It brings out a gentle laughter that sends Madness into a dance. For a moment, I have to hold her back or else, she might pull us into Merida's bed. Which is not what I'm here for, nor what I'm even ready for.
Maybe.
Damn, was that champagne stronger than I thought?
"You're ... omorfi." A blush creeps onto my cheeks. I didn't what she'd said, but the grecian accent tells me that it was something she could only say in her native tongue. A compliment that sent me floating towards her in a moment.
"Thank you. And you look ... spectacular."
Her free hand caresses my cheek and Madness wastes no time gently angling us into the touch. "We have ten minutes." Merida tells me.
"We can do a lot in ten minutes." Madness whispers, lost to the sensation of her mate. I try to reign her back a bit but the alcohol is making the act unnecessarily difficult.
She must've caught onto the internal struggle, well, I hope she did, because she softly pulls back but not before laying a light kiss on the side of my neck. When she pulls back, Melody is at the forefront for a moment, her eyes lingering as Madness comes closer. The two wolves share a moment with each other before Melody speaks, making Merida's voice lower and slightly rougher. "Let them have this moment, love."
Madness obeys and quickly withdrawals, giving me the steering wheel. "I see you have a gift for me." I beamed.
"And I see you have one for me as well." She responded holding up her hand with the box in it.
"I've never done this before." I admitted as I held up my bag.
Merida chuckled as she placed her hand carefully over mine. "Follow my lead."
With a swift exchange, she traded gifts. I gulped nervously as she opened her while I did the same with mine. At the same time, we both revealed our gifts.
She held up the glittering silver seashell necklace and read the words in her rarely heard grecian accent.
"μαζί σου για πάντα." She smiled gracefully. With you, forever.
As she did, I held up a diamond studded bracelet. Gasping, I pondered how much it could've cost her.
"Merida, this is- " Wonderful. Gorgeous. Expensive.
"It was my mothers." She whispered. "She gave it to me to me but I was too young to wear it. I kept by my side to give me strength. But now I want you to have it."
"I don't know what to say." It's the truth. "Thank you."
"Thank you." She repeated.
I jumped into her arms and hugged her as the first firework broke into the night sky.
"Let's go watch the fireworks." Merida said. And as I followed her out into the patio, my mind couldn't help but wonder if Kristen had gotten to her room yet. Looking out into the crowd, I didn't see her stunning maroon dress.
Smiling to myself, I could only image her reaction when she opened up my own gift to her. A sterling silver necklace with the crescent moon and a wolf howling in the middle with a personalized message etched in Japanese across the side, a similar look to Merida's but with a whole new meaning.
"Dentō wa kaerareru."
Traditions can be changed. So what's the harm in making new ones?
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBvGOeM1qU
