The Stavros arrived at Crescent Pack at 5:30 p.m. The grand ball hall of Crescent Pack was large and nicely decorated. Crystal bright chandeliers hung from the ceiling, reflecting off the polished black marble floors. White roses, gold plates with linens in a triangle form, sat on every table. A live orchestra played from a raised platform at the far end of the room, and the music was soft in the air.
Conversations overlapped, glasses clinked, and laughter rose from different corners of the room.
As soon as Vessara stepped into the hall with her family, her jaw dropped open without her fully noticing. She had never seen anything like this in her life. The parties in Silvermoon Pack were smaller affairs, held in the pack's banquet hall with paper decorations and food from the local caterer. This was different. This was wealth. Real wealth. The kind that came from generations of alpha blood, land holdings, and business deals she would never fully understand. It was no news that Crescent Pack was one of the richest packs in the realm.
Her eyes moved across the room, taking everything in at once: the lighting, the tables arranged in perfect rows, and the people. Powerful Alphas and elite members of the realm stood in small groups, dressed in tailored suits. Their partners wore elegant gowns, each outfit trying to outshine the next.
She felt Thea's hand grip her forearm.
"Close your mouth, you look like a fish," Thea whispered.
Vessara closed her mouth immediately. "This is…a lot." She murmured
"It's better you get your act right and don't act like a dummy tonight," Thea added.
Vessara nodded. She did not take offense at Thea's words. As usual, Thea was trying to be cruel. Thea was always direct like this; her sharp words were always meant to wound and embarrass her. And she was used to it. But tonight, she wasn't going to let anything ruin it. Not even Thea.
A week ago, when her father had told her about the party, she had been sure something would go wrong, like her father might change his mind because he did that often when he promised her a thing. She was used to him canceling their plans without warning.
But this time he didn't. And now she was here.
Vessara smoothed her hands over her sky-blue dinner gown. The fabric was silk, hugging her body without being uncomfortable and showing off her curves. Her chestnut hair had been styled neatly by a professional that her stepmother had hired for the occasion, falling over her shoulders in soft waves with small pearl pins to adorn it. Her makeup was subtle, making her look more beautiful than she had ever imagined. While she had stood in front of the mirror, she had smiled brightly, wishing every day would be like that.
Thea let her forearm go. "And don't get carried away, people here are not easily impressed." She said, adjusting her own dress.
"I won't," Vessara replied.
Alpha Leander spotted Alpha Marcus across the hall. He stood near the center of the room, surrounded by a few other well-wishers. He was a large man with broad shoulders and a nice shape despite his age. His dark hair was streaked with gray at the temples. He wore a black suit with a deep red tie, and he laughed at something one of his guests said, his head tilted back and his teeth showing.
Leander walked toward him. Thalia followed with Thea beside her. Vessara walked behind them.
"Leander," Marcus called out, his face breaking into a brighter smile.
"Happy birthday, Marcus," Leander said, extending his hand.
Marcus took Leander's hand and shook it firmly. "Thank you. I am glad you could make the trip."
"I would not have missed it for anything in the world. Sixty years is worth celebrating." Leander replied.
Marcus nodded and then looked at the women behind Leander. His gaze moved from Thalia to Thea to Vessara. Leander stepped aside slightly and gestured to his family.
"This is my family. My wife, Thalia."
Thalia stepped forward and offered her hand. Marcus took it and kissed her knuckles. "A pleasure as always."
"And my daughters," Leander continued. He put a hand on Thea's shoulder first. "This is Thea, my second child." Then he pointed at Vessara. "And this is Vessara. My first child."
Vessara felt a warmth spread through her chest. Her father rarely referred to her as his first child. Usually, he didn't always say that. He introduced her by name without the qualifier. But here, in front of Alpha Marcus, he had called her his first child. It was a small thing that meant something to her.
Marcus looked at Vessara for a moment longer than he had looked at Thea. He tilted his head slightly. "You have beautiful daughters, Leander. This one especially." He gestured toward Vessara. "She is very beautiful."
Vessara felt her cheeks warm. She smiled and dipped her head in a small bow. "Thank you, sir."
Thea fumed with envy but quickly masked her expression.
"Leander, you know I have four sons. Maybe I should introduce her to one of them. I would be lucky to have her in my family." Marcus chuckled.
"We would be honored." Thalia forced a laugh.
"All of them are handsome. All of them are capable." Marcus added.
Leander laughed. "They won't survive her. She's too much trouble."
Marcus laughed louder. "Then I'll make sure they're warned." He clapped Leander on the shoulder. "We will talk later. There is business to discuss. But for now, enjoy the party. Eat. Drink. The bar is fully stocked."
Leander nodded and stepped back. They moved away from Marcus to make room for the next set of guests waiting to greet him.
For the next few hours, Leander introduced his family to one person after another. There was Alpha Declan from Shadow Pack, a lean man with a nervous habit of adjusting his cufflinks. He asked Vessara whether she was attending university, and he seemed genuinely interested. There was Luna Rosa from Dawn Pack, a woman with silver hair and sharp green eyes who complimented Vessara's dress and asked where she had bought it. Vessara had to admit that her stepmother had chosen it. Rosa commented that it was good taste. There was Beta Corin from Stone River Pack, a man who smelled of cigars and spoke too loudly about his hunting trophies. He did not look at them once. He spoke only to Leander about land disputes and border patrols and something about a rogue incident three months ago that no one else in the room seemed to remember.
Throughout the introductions, Vessara did her best to smile and nod when expected. Her ankles began to ache. Her heels were new, but the straps dug into the tops of her feet. Each step made her more aware of the strain on her ankles. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, seeking relief.
The program began at eight o'clock. The eldest son of Alpha Marcus took the stage, welcoming everyone. He spoke of his father's leadership, his years of service and achievement, and people clapped at the right moments.
Alpha Marcus was invited to the stage. He gave a speech thanking his pack members, his family, and his guests. He told a story about his father, the previous alpha, and how he had built Crescent Pack from a small territory into one of the most respected packs in the region. He spoke about growth, unity, and loyalty within the packs. He made a few jokes, and the crowd laughed and applauded as he ended his speech. Then a video montage played on a large screen at the front of the hall, showing photographs of Marcus from childhood to the present day.
After the video, there was a toast. Servers moved through the crowd with trays of champagne glasses.
Marcus raised his glass. "To family. To Crescent Pack. To sixty more years."
The crowd echoed in unison. "To sixty more years."