The People's Alpha ✔

18: Soiree

As a convoy we headed back into dinner at the Alpha's residence. The bright flashing neon lights of the town cast a dome of light into the sky ahead of us, blocking out the stars.

The conference had dragged on. Adlai had continued to make his case for rogue reconciliation. The Zirconian officials had made some kind of dull droning speech, which I barely remembered, about new co-operation opportunities that rogue empowerement could bring, which was roundly booed as usual. Then they had presented a business case for the extension of the high-speed rail line over the border, to a little less booing. Then there had been some more fighting. Ryder had tabled a motion to ban The Alpha King's Omega Mate, which had been roundly laughed out.

Bodywork gleaming in the rapidly passing streetlamps, shimmering reflections flickering on the windscreen, floating along effortlessly in the usual way, the Moon Goddess looked and sounded like she was enjoying thumbing her nose at the land yachts that surrounded her. The lake stretched out on our right, glimmering with flecks of silver in the glow cast by the nearly-full moon.

Cameron's house was only a short drive away from the Renaissance Centre, and we arrived very shortly at the enormous porte-cochere of his not-so humble abode.

***

Brian tapped the pillar behind us. "Foam. Quite nice stuff, actually. But not in this context."

Brian, who had never been a huge fan of small talk, had spent the better part of an hour talking me through the numerous architectural sins of Alpha Cameron's house: the oversized front portico; the lawyer foyer; the foam pillars which served no purpose; the stylistically dissonant turrets with pointed-arch windows; the tacked-on stone fireplaces; the obscene use of prairie muntins on the oversized windows.

The only things which Brian seemed to approve of were the beautifully landscaped gardens and the general quality of the materials. I had no doubt that Cameron had moved heaven and earth for his dream house.

We were currently standing underneath a stair landing, looking at the other guests mingling around the grand room. All the grievances and disagreements of the day seemed to have been forgotten as the wine and conversation flowed.

"Oh my." In one of the shadowed edges of the stair landing, Brian had suddenly discovered another quirk of Cameron's house of horrors. "Look at the wallpaper. Just look."

I peeked and immediately regretted it. "Oh, that is... unfortunate."

Brian doubled over in hysterics. "Paw prints. Please kill me." I was also struggling to hold back laughter.

"Hang on. I need to get a photo of this." Brian fumbled for his phone. "This is pure gold. This is why Zirconians make fun of us."

I looked around at the other party guests. The two delegates from the Salmon Creek pack were engaged in conversation with Adlai. They seemed to be comfortable now. They seemed to be getting along quite well.

Alpha Cameron was standing next to them, entertaining some guests from somewhere in the Caribbean. He was far older than he looked in the posters. His hair was greying and there were liver spots.

Thurgood was nowhere to be seen. I guessed he was in one of the other rooms.

"I'm going out for some fresh air." I set my wine glass on the nearest table.

Brian "Go for it. I'll wait here."

***

I walked out onto the balcony at the back, past the large pool, past the throngs of people. Port Mirabel lay below, the panorama of its bright lights sprawled out in front of us, the stretching up into the mountains. The lights got thinner and thinner as they went upwards.