The Alpha's Mother-In-Law's Forbidden Love (The Cresta Chronicles)

Ravyn POV

After a busy morning, she circled around the ballroom at Faolan Castle. Grand, with vaulted ceilings, decorated with several crystal chandeliers that looked like waterfalls, and beautiful molded globes of light in sconces on the walls. One half of the ballroom was filled with tables and chairs, the other half occupied by a vast teak parquet dance floor. A bandstand and dais rose above the dance floor.

Ravyn studied the extensive guest list. Apart from the entire Silverpaw Pack, anyone who was everyone was coming to their ball.

1. Crestas, Evenhide Pack

2. Crestas/Sinsworths/Blackthorns, Crimsontail Shadows Pack

3. Wulfric Family, Oak Prowlers

4. Lynx Family, Nightclaw Howlers

5. Wolfbane Family, Wolfspeaker Pack

6. Santos Family, Brokenridge Pack

7. Mond Family, Wintertail Pack

8. Royal Mage Pascalline, Lugdunum Royal Court

9. Ambassador Hudora Windmail, Scapolite Dwarves

10. Krisren Family, High Elves

11. Prince Makhel and Fiancee Royal Mage Kulenza, Orc Kingdom of Nauru

12. Prince Narbeth Bronzewillow, Brighmere Grove Wood Elf Kingdom

13. Lord Eirik Frostbeard, Frostbeard Clan

14. Serpentfang Family, Serpentfang Pack

15. Volpe Family, Forsaken Pride Pack

16. Trinneer Family, Silverstreak Canines Pack

17. Chalice Family, Wildefell Witch Circle

18. Kruspodin Clan, Battlecona Wood Gnomes

19. Druid Grove of Tomorrow

The list went on and on. Hundreds of people would attend their bonding and celebration ball. Ravyn had never planned a party quite this large. '

Mali smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Bram is covering security. No one is going to disrupt your celebration. This is a huge leap forward in Silverpaw history. And the Alpha deserves an absolutely perfect ball."

Ravyn rolled her eyes. "After the last two celebrations in our neighboring packs, I'm not going to jinx this one."

Neighboring packs? She never thought she would think of Evenhide and Crimsontail as just allied packs. Family packs? 

Mali shivered, thinking about the Dark Goddess spoiling both parties. "Maybe the third time really is the charm."

The poor girl. She'd had such a shock with Jude's illness. 

"Your father seems much better," Ravyn soothed. 

Mali looked relieved. "He was ... different after we returned from that nightmare world. How could he not be?"

Ravyn circled the ballroom. She'd been here before for events, when Emer was Luna. The grandeur awed Jiro and Dane, who were heard to say to each other that their own homes needed a huge ballroom. It wasn't a priority for either with young families and the Shifter Federation to organize, but she thought that they might make it a priority now--this contact with humans signaled something bigger on the horizon. How could it not?

"I never appreciated this ballroom before," she said, admiring the ornate carvings, the gold leaf on the walls, and the painted silver paw prints everywhere. "It'll be perfect for the ball. The bonding ceremony will be here, yes?"

Mali pointed at the dais. "Eirika will stand there and do a repeat of the ceremony both of you did in Evenhide, only in front of our whole pack. You'll pledge submission as the submissive partner, even though we all know you rule my father's heart."

Ravyn chuckled and put her arm around Mali. "I'm blessed with two sassy daughters."

"Just two?" Mali shook her head. "Anneliese, Azandra, Garnet, Naomi, and Thessi ...none of those are shy and retiring."

Laughing, Ravyn surrendered. "Alright, I have lots of daughters who know their own minds and speak them on a regular basis."

"The Moon Goddess works in strange ways," Mali said with that very Jude-like earnestness. "She brought you and my father together after he'd given up on loving again."

Ravyn's eyes softened. "And I couldn't be happier that he gave up giving up."

Mali burst out laughing. "Poor Father. He never even had a chance, did he?" But she spoke the words with affection. "This is going to be the bonding of the year."

Ravyn gazed across the ballroom, taking it all in. "So, the ball is just around the corner. This magnificent space will be filled with Alphas, Lunas, and royalty from all the allied kingdoms. Makhel of Nauru is making the trip! I think this is his first visit to Silverpaw."

Mali wrinkled her nose. "He's been here once or twice before. He tends to visit Jiro and Garnet most often."

"Oh, yes. But he's never been to a grand ball here, has he?"

Mali thought back. "Well, of course we had pack feasts to welcome him."

Ravyn realized her mistake. Her stomach twisted. "Of course. Emer was a hostess of the highest order."

"But we didn't have the grand balls like we're planning now." Mali shook her head. "I can't believe we lost that old tradition! Shifters are nothing if not traditional. We love our shared rituals and celebrations."

Ravyn had wondered about that, too. "Maybe it's just the shifts in culture. Packs go through lots of upheaval."

Mali shook her head. "No excuse. I say bring back the grand balls with a vengeance. And when Bram does become Alpha, I'll see to it that he continue it, he and whoever his future Luna is."

They moved on to drawing up the seating chart, and Ravyn felt her stomach churn.

Her first ball as Silverpaw Luna. Moon Goddess, let it be a success.

* * * * *

Jude POV

Bram held up the list of replies to their invitation. "It's official, Alpha ..."

"You can call me 'Father.'"

Jude fussed over the dust on the conference table in the Great Hall. He wasn't going to have any Alphas or princes or ambassadors sneering at his housekeeping.

A ball seemed like a normal, pleasant affair compared to the last two months. Yet he felt his insides twist. His wolf, Arcturus, was on edge, maybe remembering that the last two celebrations in Evenhide and Crimsontail territory didn't go smoothly.

All the more reason to make this ball the hit of the year. So, no pressure.

Bram coughed. "Father, everyone on this list has agreed to come, except for Queen Ylavi ..."

"We didn't send her an invitation," Jude growled.

Bram smacked his hand on the smooth tabletop. "Of course. I don't know what i was thinking. Of course we wouldn't invite her."

Jude ruffled his soft ginger hair. "Don't make a habit of such sloppiness, son. It hardly becomes the best beta in the Shifter Federation."

Bram puffed up. "The best?"

"Absolutely. The council was impressed with the way you took charge in my absence, and in my account of your actions on Abandonnado Island. You've done well, Bram, my boy."

Blushing, Bram looked at his father with a worshipful gaze. "I'm just happy to have you home safely--and I can't wait to meet my little brother or sister."

Taken aback, Jude smiled softly. "Really?"

Bram straightened, looking prim. "You're the Alpha. What's good for you is good for the pack. And for our family."

"Moon Goddess, how did I ever get so lucky? I'm truly blessed."

In all his centuries of life, he never--

Centuries? 

What were these bizarre thoughts? He should ask Eirika. No point in alarming poor Bram further. These strange memories seemed part of another life. Maybe a previous ancestor. Maybe an echo of the Dark Goddess' nightmare realm.

Jude coughed. "You know ... I should talk to Wise Woman Eirika about the ceremony. Just to make sure that I haven't overlooked any omen from the Moon Goddess."

Bram nodded seriously. "Good idea, Father. We can't leave anything to chance. I'll meet with the merchants on your behalf."

"No, I always enjoy viewing their new products. Talking to Eirika can wait."

Bram's eyes swirled like a deep blue whirlpool. "Are you sure?"

"She isn't going anywhere, son. She's still trying to figure out who poisoned Harland."

Bram snarled, "I hope whoever did it dies a miserable death."

Jude and Bram proceeded to the courtyard where all the merchants awaited him and proudly showcased their wares. Immediately, Jude went to one of the wagons. "Oh, I see you're selling crystals ..."

"Yes. I was hoping to interest Luna Ravyn," the woman said cheerfully. "Hannelore Redclaw, at your service."

Jude's eyes widened, seeing a particular ruby. 

A memory stirred.

Doing a ritual in a cavern, with a black statue casting a dark shadow. 

He stepped back from the ruby. "Where did you find that?"

"It came from Crimsontail territory." Hannelore patted her feathered brown hair, taking his complete focus as avid interest. "I can let you have it as a bonding gift."

Jude stowed the ruby in his pouch. "Let me get Luna Ravyn. And don't tell her about the ruby. It's my bonding gift to her."

He vowed that he was going to keep that ruby in a secret and safe place. At least until he could figure out what was happening to him!