Chapter 16

**Elise**

-Mating Ball-

It’s 7:30 in the evening and I’m currently going over last minute details before the ball. Having already showered as well as last minute touch ups with my razor I had finally proceeded in getting dressed for the ball, not wanting to be late.

Shimming into my beautiful red mermaid style gown, I carefully attempt to zip up the back of the dress only to fail, my arms unable to reach the last of the zipper causing me to huff in defeat.

*‘Having trouble?’* snickers Elza.

*‘If you must know… Yes.. Yes I am’* I growl back at her, attempting again before finally giving up in defeat, wishing that my arms were more flexible when it came to zipping up things along the back of my body.

Giggling at my blight, do I move to contact Iris, needing an extra set of hands right about now instead of one. *Shame Ashton wasn’t here instead,* I muse. *He could have helped me.*

Shaking those thoughts away, I knew that having Ashton present would only cause me a distraction and prevent me from being able to attend the ball on time, not that I could of cared less as I had already found my fated mate but it was the fact of duty and honor to my pack as well as wanting to see the twins again that made me want to attend.

Just then there’s a sudden knock on my door, signaling to me that Iris had finally arrived. “Alpha?” calls Iris from the other side of the door.

“It’s open Iris, you may enter”

A split second later the door to the room opens, only to reveal Iris in a beautiful silk satin dress. A scoop neck neckline adorning the front of her dress while wearing it in the color silver, the dress stopping just about mid-thigh while wearing simple silver strappy heels. Her blond hair half up and half down giving her total sex appeal.

“Damn girl, you're going to make heads turn for sure tonight” I whistle, Iris doing a small spin for me only for me to see that the back of her dress was a low cut style leaving her without a bra for the evening.

“Thanks, but I already have my mate. A cute vixen by the name of Krista” chuckles Iris as she moves to approach me.

“Speaking of Krista, is she coming to the ball as well?” I ask, curious to know the answer to that.

“Of course she is. She specifically told me early this morning that she planned on sticking to me like glue so no other wolf could claim me” giggles Iris with a smile.

Smiling softly over at her do I move to turn my back towards her. “Can you help me? Please?” I ask. “I can’t seem to exactly reach it.”

Shaking her head in amusement does Iris move to help. “Girl, sometimes you're a lost cause” giggles Iris. “I pity the wolf who becomes your mate.”

At the mention of mates, my mind instantly thinks of Ashton and I blush. Thankful that my back was to Iris who carefully moved to zip me up. Remembering that Ashton had left early that morning before my Beta, Gamma, and Delta could officially meet him. Their new Luna of our Pack.

“Yeah…” I whisper, still slightly embarrassed.

“But either way, all done. All zipped up and ready to go” remarks Iris once she finished.

“Thanks Iris” I move to reply, moving back around once she is all finished.

“No problem. Anything else?”

“Nope. That was all I needed you for. Now I just have to finish up last minute details and I’ll be all set to go as well. See you downstairs?” I ask her.

“Of course. After all I’m dying to know who our new Luna is” giggles Iris, as we both move to hug one another before she moves to leave the room, leaving me to my own devices as I move to quickly finish up. Adding the last minute touches to my look before moving to leave the room as well.

-Ball Room-

When entering the ballroom, my eyes instantly move to those within attendance. My Beta, Gamma and Delta are already out on the dance floor mingling and having a fun time with their mates, my eyes now moving to look for Ashton, hoping he would be there already.

*Where is he?* I wonder, my body slowly moving to enter the room, soft music playing as people moved to dance.

*I hope he’s here and didn’t decide to ditch me,* I think, a part of me hoping that wasn’t the case and that he was just running behind.

Scanning the room, I completely fail to notice another set of eyes on me until the person in question finally decides to approach me. “Elise? Elise Hayes of the Dark Moon Pack? Is that you”

Hearing my name being called do I move to see who it was only to see that of Caden, Caden Frost. Standing at nearly 6’3 tall with a body toned and full of muscle along with a couple of tattoos. Icy blue eyes and light blond hair now gracing his features would instantly make one think that he was related to Cara. Even the last name Frost almost made it sound like he was a part of the Snow Moon Pack but unfortunately he wasn’t, no, Caden was actually the next Alpha in line for the Nightshade Pack.

Blinking, I slowly move to answer him back, momentarily distracted by his presence. “Oh Caden, how nice to see you again. How is the Nightshade pack doing these days?” I ask, curious as to how he and his pack was doing.

“My pack is well, considering the constant back to back lashing that I get from my father’s past mistakes” grumbles Caden, clearly annoyed by the heavy burden in which his father left them.

“Backlash? I’m afraid I don’t follow” I admit, not too diverse with the Nightshade Pack to know of their history or their struggles.

“Sorry, you see, when I was only 5 years old my mother had just given birth to my little sister Leila. And while it was supposed to be a joyous occasion for our pack, it turned out that it wasn’t because my father had gone off and pissed off an evil enchantress during his youth.” admits Caden.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. How’s Leila now?” I ask hoping nothing terrible had befallen the tiny wolf pup.

“Not sure if I’m being honest. She was taken from us that very same night. My family and my pack haven’t been the same since then. But what I do know is that she’ll be 18 soon which means hopefully, just hopefully she’ll get her wolf and come back home too where she belongs” remarks Caden, trying to remain hopeful as he did.

“I hope so too. And my condolences, I was not made aware that your sister had been taken from you, but I do wish you the best and hope that she returns to you as well” I say, hoping to offer him some kind of sympathy for what his father’s actions had caused him.

“Thanks. But I didn’t come here to worry you on this special day of all nights. I just wanted to say Hi and hope that one day we can maybe join up and have lunch. Talk alliances even.” admits Caden with a smile.

“Sure, that would be nice” I offer with a smile, each of us offering a couple more words between pack leaders before eventually parting ways.

*‘So, do you think he meant to tell you that? Or did he do it just to be weird?’* asks Elza, having seen and heard everything that had been said between both Caden and I.

*‘Elza be nice. It wasn’t his fault entirely. But mine as well’* I move to tell her, clearly not up to par on the other packs like I should be.

*‘Besides, I don’t think he meant to tell me all of that intentionally either, it just sort of happened while we spoke’* I add, my eyes now spotting Ares and Eros. The Alpha twins of the Mystic Shadow Pack.

*They're here and boy do they look yummy,* I silently muse, my eyes taking each of them in as I slowly move to approach them, the urge to talk to them overpowering everything else around me.