Chapter 44 - Monster's Ball (Part 1)

The Ball was underway. The ballroom had three large crystal chandeliers hanging from the glass ceiling. The light reflecting off them created a sparkly pattern on the polished wood floor. Rich blue fabrics draped from the walls and an array of wild flowers were arranged in ornate patterns across every surface. A string orchestra was playing soft ambient background music creating a romantic and warm atmosphere. The ballroom was packed with guests from all over Galas including alphas, betas and various other noble and esteemed guests. Many of them had brought their daughters, sisters and cousins to present to the King and Queen as possible match options for Kai. They were all dressed in their best and brightest eye-catching dresses to try and draw the attention from the prince and the other eligible bachelors who would also be in attendance. It felt like his mother had invited half the country with the number of people that were that. Kai couldn't help but feel like a prized pig at a county fair. He was standing to the side talking with Elias and one of their cousins, Caleb.

"Mother has really outdone herself this year," Elias laughed. "I think every woman in here is gunning for you. You better have your guard up."

"I still don't get how you've managed to get out of being set up like this." Kai moaned.

"Very simple little brother. Mother has given up on me, exactly as I had hoped" Elias patted him on the shoulder. "Thanks for being her new project in my place."

Kai had his hair slicked back and had some silver ornaments clipped in to them. His black fitted tailored suit fitted him like a glove. It had the crest of the royal pack emblazoned on the lapel in blue stitching and the cuffs of his suit jacket was lined with small blue crystals, like sapphires which matched his eyes and his cufflinks.

Elias had his hair slicked back as well and wore a similar matching suit but in a dark grey colour. They both looked impeccably handsome and were already drawing the attention of several of the ladies.

Kai was trying his best to look as unapproachable as possible. He was avoiding making eye contact with anyone, and anyone that did happen catch his eye he made death stares at them.

"You know...even if you aren't interested in any of the females here tonight, I wish you wouldn't look at them all like you're trying to murder them. It's making it difficult for me to find somebody to go home with tonight." Elias sighed.

"There are a few that have already caught my eye," Caleb added. Caleb was a cousin on Kai's step mother's side. At 18 he had never been to many of these public events, but now he was old enough to take a mate, Ophelia was inviting him out more. A blonde girl across the room had caught his attention. She was wearing a long pink floral dress and was giving him suggestive glances as she chatted with one of her friends. Caleb cocked his head at her and smiled as he appreciated what he saw. "I'm gonna have to go over there." As Caleb took a step towards her Kai held him back. "Leave me by myself and your dead," Kai threatened. He knew that stood alone the baying mob would descend on him in seconds.

"But why?! You won't be by yourself...Elias is..." Caleb stopped abruptly when he saw that Elias was already missing. Whilst they both had agreed to keep Kai company, Elias had already taken off at the first opportunity that he got and was chatting up one of the females across the room. *'Traitor!'* Caleb murmured under his breath. Elias hadn't even stuck around for ten minutes.

"Ah crap..." Caleb sighed. He knew Kai would carry out on his threats if he took off. "Remind me again, why I have to be stuck under you all night. Even if you have a girlfriend, it's not like she's here tonight. Just don't tell her."

Kai gave Caleb one of the same death stares that he was giving everybody else. "Okay, okay, fine!" Caleb sighed again then resigned himself to the situation.

As the Ball continued, there was a small commotion at the top of one of the stairs that led in to the ballroom. Kai looked up. No doubt Melody had arrived. She always tended to be fashionably late and he expected no less this time around. As the guards held the door open for her, Melody strode in. She had on a long silk royal blue dress that draped her every curve. Her long hair long was bone straight and it sashayed against her behind as she walked. There was a sharp intake of breath by some of the gathering males as they watched her descend the stairs.

Kai stopped breathing for a moment as he caught sight of the woman accompanying her. She held on to Melody's hand as they walked down the stairs. Her long light brown hair was mostly pinned up with a few tendrils falling loose at the front to frame her face. She had on a long silver beaded dress that draped round her cleavage and a long slit up to the top of her thigh that revealed a smooth long leg with every other step that she took. Kai nearly dropped his glass of wine on the floor as he gazed upon her.

"Adalyn?" Kai mouthed quietly to himself. She hadn't yet spotted him but he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"Wow, who's that?" Caleb asked out loud. Caleb wasn't the only one. It felt like every man in the room was taking in the vision of these two goddesses who were descending the stairs in to the main ballroom. A small gathering of males had collected at the bottom of the stairway, ready to receive them.

*'What is she doing here?'* Kai thought. She looked sensational. And to his annoyance he definitely wasn't the only one that thought that way. Both he and Pax wanted to tear over there to keep every man away, but he knew that doing so would make it clear to everyone that she was his. The emotional turmoil played out in his face. He had to get to her.

As Melody and Adalyn reached the bottom of the stairs a young male shifter with cropped hair approached both of them. He bowed to Melody and nodded as though he knew her. "Good evening Melody. You look amazing as usual."

Melody offered him a polite smile. "Thanks Rich."

Rich's eyes moved to Adalyn. "And your friend...?" He waited expectantly for Melody to announce her name.

"This is Adalyn..." Melody continued. She hadn't expected such a crowd at their arrival and she scanned the crowd in search of Kai, but she couldn't see him through all the bodies that had gathered.

"May I have a dance Adalyn?" Rich offered out his hand to her. Melody tried to make an excuse knowing that her brother would probably get annoyed, but Adalyn nodded and accepted his hand. "Sure," she agreed politely. One dance couldn't hurt. It was a Ball after all. Rich led her out in to the middle of the ballroom whilst the rest of the males that had gathered at the bottom of the stairs looked on enviously at Rich having the first dance with her. Rich pulled her in close and rested a hand gently on her hip and began dancing.

He spoke politely in to her ear as he led her around the ballroom. "I don't think I've seen you in these circles before. Are you newly debuted?" he asked.

Adalyn had heard the term before. Even though she clearly wasn't the daughter of a noble with her light brown hair, he had presumed she was from a wealthy family with how she looked and carried herself. Usually the daughter of a noble or esteemed family would debut their daughter at 18 to let them know that they were now available for a match. Being a common girl, this was not something that would have traditionally been done for her. She found the whole idea of it pretty silly, but she was content with playing the part tonight.

"Something like that" she responded. Whilst Rich was nice enough, she soon found herself ignoring everything that he was saying. As she danced around the room, she couldn't help but scan her surroundings to see if she could spot Kai. She couldn't see him, but she could feel that he was near. She could feel his eyes on her.

Adalyn continued to engage in idle chat with Rich and before she knew it the song ended.

The other males who sensed the end of the song approaching had started to gather nearby. Rich was keen for another dance and held on to her hip to stop her from walking away.

As the orchestra prepared to play another song, the familiar scent of peppermint and oak was suddenly at her back. Kai took her hand from his and he gently pulled her towards him. "My turn..." he whispered for her ears only.