Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter Seven: Under the Stars

I woke up right as the sun touched the horizon. Feeling it sink beneath its cover of darkness, my eyes flashed open. Immediately, I could feel the moon rising as it waxed towards fullness. I pushed the diary that lay next to me onto the other pillow and got to my feet. As I stretched my limbs, I tuned my ears in to the rest of the pack house.

People were moving about, and I could hear their excitement and chatter. Jason's scent still hung in the air of my bedroom, and so did the unmistakable tension. Determined to ignore it, I pushed the curtain aside and peeked out the windows, the sunlight no longer filtering over the tall trees. Outside, people in white chased each other in the large backyard, laughing and playing in the twilight. I looked among the crowd to see if I could find him.

I wonder if he's still pissed. I searched through the gathering, finding Maria easily. She was twirling a younger girl around and around, both barefoot and in white dresses with long sleeves. I smiled, watching the two. 

Suddenly I had a feeling of being watched and shifted my gaze. Jason stood off to one side in only white cotton pants, looking just as he had in my dreams. He smirked and waved his hand before nodding his head towards the crowd.

Come down.

I nodded, stepping away from the windows and into the closet. It was obvious the dress code was anything white. I found a white lace dress that scooped across the neck and was hemmed at the knee. It would work. I pulled the men's shirt off and found myself inhaling its scent of woods and musk as it rose over my head. I placed it on the bed to put on at sunrise again. I slipped into the dress and retreated into the bathroom. I combed my hair behind my ears, the blonde locks wild with volume from sleep. I quickly yanked it up into a bun at the back of my head, checked my skin tone for any flaws, and then I headed for the door. When I pushed it open, both of my guards were waiting. Despite the festivities, they weren't wearing white.

I guess they don't get to join in.

I smiled as politely as possible and then followed the sounds of people. When I could hear footfalls behind me, I glanced over my shoulder to see the redheaded guard, Thomas, following at a comfortable distance. Sighing, I fell into my old habit of pretending to be invisible like I did at home, gliding down the stairs and imagining I didn't have a shadow. I made it through the main living space without garnering interest, and I followed the breeze that floated in from outside. So far so good. I found my way through the den and onto the back patio.

"There's the Mezdor girl," came the sound of Vraal's voice. I paused from about to step off the terrace, feeling cold. It was neither a friendly nor hostile tone, and that worried me. I stopped and turned to find the Wolf monarchs standing at the stone banister, wine glasses in their hands. Victoria wore a floor-length white gown covered in beading with a circlet around her dark hair and a moonstone necklace that covered her entire chest. Vraal had dressed in a white suit, sans the tie.

I quickly humbled myself to their dominance, dipping in a curtsy and bowing my head. "King and Queen Alpha," I answered.

"Rise. There will be none of that," Victoria scolded and I quickly straightened myself. "We aren't vampires here, Serenity. Rank is shown with respect. And to show respect, one must simply convey they submit. To bow is to mock the dominant in intimate settings of smaller gatherings."

"Yes, Queen Alpha," I answered.

Vraal chuckled. "She was raised by Dead Men, Victoria. How do we expect her to know just how different Pack life is?"

"I would think a Wolf should know it in her very blood and bones," Victoria scoffed, turning away.

I waited until they no longer acknowledged my presence before stepping off the stone patio and onto the cold grass. I shivered, but not because I was cold. It felt wonderful. I sighed and tipped my head back, letting the smell of the woods seep into my pores. This definitely wasn't home, and suddenly I didn't really care.