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Liam: There were about 8-9 kids from the orphanage that came, and the 3 of us, Lissa, Demi, and myself, we had a dozen at our pool party.
CHASE: I am still hyped, but I hear splashing coming from the pool area, so I walk back to that area to see what was going on back there. I see Liam and his twin enjoying themselves with some of the Pack kids. “Hey Chase!” “Hi Liam.” “Want to come join us?” “I didn’t bring any swimming trunks with me on this trip, or I would, I need a distraction right now.” “We have extra trunks in the changing area, go find a pair that fits and come join us.” “Are you sure your friends want an adult hanging around?” “It’s ok, besides your fun.” “Thanks, I think?” “You like Nana, you have to be fun.” I laugh. Goddess, this kid. I go into the changing area and find a pair of trunks that fit and go join the kids’ pool party.
LILLY: After I get cleaned up, I find Stephen in the front room waiting for me. “Let’s head back to the marquee, I want to see Keska and Mackinzie to make sure that they are both ok, and that the trauma of seeing Amanda die like that didn’t do too much psychological damage.” I said. “Yes, Miss Lilly. Umm, I think that your admirer was very enamored with your performance this evening. I saw his face as we were leaving, he looked like a kid in a candy store, all bright eyes and smiles.” “Who was that?” “Alpha Camron’s man.” “Ahh, yes, Chase.” “Yes. I thought he was going to throw himself at you as we were leaving.” I chuckle at that. “Cinder likes playing with him.”
KESKA: It was amazing, it was almost as if someone hadn’t just died in such a violent way, the place was so clean. Unfortunately, the linen tablecloth didn’t survive the encounter, but I guess, all things considered, losing the tablecloth was better than losing the whole marquee. The DJ booth was set up where the buffet tables would have been, and the marquee was transformed with a dance floor put down in the middle, and the tables had been moved to surround it with a foot of space between where the floor starts, and the tables were. The DJ announces the first song. “Let’s start off with one for all the new mates.” and he plays a slow one. Trever takes my hand and pulls me onto the dance floor. “Trever, I don’t know how to dance.” I tell him. “Don’t worry, love, with this one you don’t have to, just let me hold you, and follow me.” He says. He pulls me in close to him and starts to sway to the music. I sway with him. “Mmm, see.” He says. I nod. I look over and see that Dutch has Mackie on the dance floor too. I can’t help but think what my new normal is going to be like, with Jessie gone, and more than likely the ball will be over tomorrow, and everybody will leave, well, except those that have mated in, that is. I don’t know what Trever and Dutch will do. I got used to sleeping, snuggled up to him, and I am not sure if I will be able to sleep without him next to me now. I do know that Mackie and I will be starting our jobs at the restaurant. I will have to check with father and find out if we can get our license. I am a little scared, I’m not going to lie. “Hey, beautiful, what’s wrong?” Trever whispers in my ear, it sends a shiver down my spine. “Are you going to leave tomorrow?” “No sweet stuff, Dutch and I are not going anywhere, I promise.” I wrap my arms around him tighter and relax into his arms. The song ends and then the DJ kicks it up a notch and starts to play more up-tempo stuff, stuff that I don’t really know, I’m old school, I like more of the 80’s stuff, I like Prince, Morris Day and the Time, 80’s rock, Sugarhill Gang’s Rappers Delight. I have no clue about what is popular now. I just stopped and shook my head at him. He nods, and we get off the dance floor.
LILLY: We get back to the marquee in the middle of the first dance, and I see my grand pup on the dance floor with the prince, and I see Mackie with Dutch. When the song changes, I watch as Kes shakes her head and starts to leave the floor. I link her. *“How are you?” “I’m good, Nana. She didn’t physically hurt me, but if it weren’t for the fact that I have Corla, the whole marquee could have burned down. How could she justify that?” “We will never know, dear, but she will never do anything like that again, let alone hurt you again.” “Thank you, Nana, I love you.” “Love you to pup, and how about Mackie? How is she doing?” “I don’t really know, I haven’t really had the chance to talk to her yet.” “Don’t worry, I will check in with her, you enjoy yourself.”* I see her nodding her head. I link Mackie. *“Mackie dear, how are you doing?” “I am good Nana, why?” “I just wanted to check in with you, to make sure you were ok, after what happened with Amanda.” “All good, Nana, all good.” “Good to hear, enjoy yourself, dear.” “Thank you, Nana.” “Welcome.”* I close the link. And go find a table to sit at and watch the dance.
CAMRON: I see Lilly sitting at a table with Stephen, so I head in that direction with my mate in tow behind me. “Hello, Miss Lilly, may we join you?” “Of course, Alpha Camron.” “Do you remember my mate, Courtney?” “Indeed, Luna Cortney, pleasure to meet you again.” “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Lilly.” “Where is your man, Chase?” “I don’t rightly know at the moment, but I do have to tell you, you made his night. He was so wanting to see you in action and tonight you delivered in spades. He was so ecstatic, he could hardly contain himself.” I tell her. She just laughs, “If he thought that was action, I would hate to see what he would think if I got into a real fight.” She says. I just nodded and chuckled. “Will you be leaving tomorrow?” She asked, “Yes, I believe we will. I have to make arrangements with Courtney’s brother on where to send her things, but with this whole Stone Claw issue and the possibility of a pending war, I think it best that we do head out tomorrow.” “Then stop by before you go, so Kes can nip you, and I will have the herb bundle ready for you.” She says. “What exactly does her 'nip' do? And what and how will I be immune?” I asked Lilly. Using finger quotes. “There are 3 things about Keska’s bite, 1 ice, she can turn someone into an ice statue, instant, Death. 2, she can leave someone a pile of ashes, instant, Death. 3 I believe that her bite carries a myotoxin, similar to that of a snake or spider bite, it breaks down the muscle tissue, and if not treated right away, a very slow, painful, and agonizing death. We just haven’t seen it manifest yet; the other two we have. And it may be that it may not be as bad as I think, but we don’t want to take chances with the people that she respects and cares about.” She says.