12. The Gala

All Magnolia wolves were trained in ballroom dancing for this exact moment. Sweeping, turning steps, twirling under arms, arching their spines—and switching partners.
Kiran’s hand encompassing hers, the other at her waist, they traversed the song, not a step out of place. But his body was closer than it was supposed to be, and his eyes were still trying to devour her. “You move beautifully,” he praised, tone indicating he expected her to compliment him back.
“Thank you,” was all Seff could manage. He had approached her minutes ago and she was slammed by the mixed feelings of revulsion and cowardice and…intrigue. He was too beautiful for even her to deny.
But then the Luna saved her for another minute or so. Selene really was a goddess—in front of her, it was Seff who wanted to stare and know more, even if against her better judgement she knew how cold and uncaring Selene could be.
Kiran’s expression of displeasure was there and gone in a blink. “This dress…would look lovely on my bedroom floor. Perhaps—”
It was time to switch partners. Seff was supposed to twirl into another Omega’s arms, but when Kiran spun her, it was into Selene’s that caught and righted her. The Luna’s deep blue eyes were long and slender, heavy-lidded with what Seff recognized as lust, as want, as well as satisfaction that Kiran was shoved aside. The goddess’s black hair was woven with silver strings, making her seemed pulled straight out of the night sky. “That is the worst pick-up line I have ever heard you use, Kiran.”
Selene spun Seff more gently, smoother, as if gliding on a night zephyr. They danced to the music in a world that narrowed to the two of them. Selene’s fingers were slim and decked with silver rings, and when she lifted her arm to spun Seff underneath, she scented the Luna’s glands in her wrists.
And struck familiarity.
Seff mentally shook her head. Of course, she was familiar with her scent. She’d seen her three times in her life up close, including last night. But this time… No, it was nothing deeper than that, thought in Seff’s heart it felt as though it did.
“Are you alright, Seff?” Selene asked quietly, almost as if the Luna had a care to offer.
“I’m fine. It’s time to switch.”
Kiran sabotaged the line to grab Seff again, choosing to yank her chest to his, lifting her feet onto of his so he could guide by himself. Selene’s scent was dashed away and replaced with the fresh whiff of the Alpha’s.
And struck familiarity.
What was wrong with her?! Why did it seem as if the two Alphas’ scents were some long-long memories that were resurfaced?
She endured the spinning until the next switch, surprised to be turned into Allium’s arms. Her friend was not happy, either. She pulled Seff in close and then far in dance, but her face was not lovely with joy but with jealousy. “Why are they obsessed with you?” she hissed. No doubt they heard; both Omegas caught them in their peripherals, ignoring their partners in favor of following Seff’s every twirl.
“I don’t know,” she tried to say quietly enough to avoid their hypersensitive hearing. “I don’t want it. I’m sorry.”
“You’d better be.”
Seff’s eyes widened, shot to her core by Allium’s dark words. “Alli, wait—”
But her friend shoved her to her next partner—Selene again. This time, Kiran wouldn’t stand for it.
The shredding of flesh ripped over the sound of the music as Kiran Shifted into his wolf form, snarling. The packs spooked and pressed back as far away as possible. An angry Alpha was extremely dangerous. Especially when something he thought to be his property was being threatened.
Selene didn’t shift, but pushed Seff behind her—but kept an iron grip around her wrist, as if she didn’t want Seff to escape. Kiran’s chops were quivering over his inch-long fangs, a sliver of drool forming, gold-furred hackles raised and ears flat. It wouldn’t take much for him to bite Selene in half and shred her body to strips. But she was utterly unfazed. “Kiran, what are you doing?”
“She. Is my. Omega,” he emphasized, his growl deep within his chest cavity rumbling through the marble floor. “Let her go.”
Seff only just remembered that each Chosen wore their gold or blue ribbon around their necks. Selene looked back at Seff—even that movement was graceful—to find gold shimmering there. It felt like a brand on her skin. But Selene seemed surprised. “Ah. I hadn’t even noticed.”
She released Seff’s arm and Seff fled toward Allium at the edge of the crowd. But she moved to hide behind her parents, and it was Wisteria that caught Seff before she fell over. The older wolf collected her in her arms as if she suddenly wanted to protect her from the Alphas.
Selene noticed that. So did Kiran. After several painful seconds, he Shifted back to his human form when he deemed it safe that Selene would not attack to defend Seff. His Betas came rushing forward with a robe. He pulled it tight with a violent tug. “Party’s over!” he roared.
Everyone knew their cues. Parents kissed and hugged their offspring goodbye, tears in their eyes, before being ushered out of Moonset’s doors without ceremony. They had to find their way back to the College by themselves. The Chosen Omegas of the Moon pack huddled near it to wait for their Luna to guide them out; the same with the Sun’s new Omegas. Allium separated herself from Seff by holding hands with another female friend of theirs, gaze hostile as Seff fell in place with her group.
The Alphas seemed to exchange a silent conversation that consisted of a staring contest and curled lips. Then they broke off in different directions to their Chosen. “Let’s go,” they snapped.
And that was the end of the gala.