|67| ~ A Night to Remember ~

Unedited.

Embry's POV.

Beretta Banks in media.

The music is low; the blood mixed with amethyst is being poured, and the tent is full of exquisitely dressed vampire guests enjoying themselves. There are more strangers than familiar faces that are present and they are all equally anxious to take a peek at me, or more importantly, have a chance to meet with me.

Embry, Cyrus she-wolf beloved, I still can't believe it, and apparently, neither can anyone else here.

I haven't missed any of the disapproving stares from the immortals, nor could my sensitive ears ignore some of the negative comments that I was able to detect about Cyrus and me.

The vampires believe that I'm some sort of wild animal that might pounce on one of them at any given moment and that a she-wolf is unfit to rule a vampire Kingdom. They also doubt the love that Cyrus feels for me, but honestly, I don't care what they think.

For the first time in my life, I could care less about what other people had to say about me. I'm for Cyrus and I know that Cyrus is for me.

He is all that matters, being officially bonded to Cyrus makes me feel ten times stronger than I ever felt. It feels like I can take over the world or maybe more like we can take on the world as long as we are together. Our bond is that strong. I can feel his power running through my veins as if it is my very own and after tonight that bond shall only grow stronger. So none of their opinions about our union matters and I know for a fact that Cyrus feels the same way.

Speaking of Cyrus, he told me that he had some very important business to attend to so he left me in the hands of Gutter Butter and Speck.

They have been standing by my side ever since. Gutter Butter has been acting as my personal toy soldier, guarding me like a hawk, following me around like a lost puppy, and refusing to allow anyone to come any more than 6 feet close to me.

Some of his most trusted men are also surrounding us and Aunt Katherine has not wandered too far away with Ghost Falls in her arms as she mingles with her friends. On the other hand, Speck has been doing what she does best. Being Speck!

The guests are mostly nobilities from the House of Ettore or high-ranking vampires and Speck has been having a field day introducing me to everybody that is supposed to be somebody, just to tell me that I'm supposed to be better than them.

She's doing it on purpose, using me to taunt them and my wolf is all for it. Meanwhile, I rather not entertain the two of their nonsense. I really did mean it when I said that I don't care how anyone else feels.

Plus, it has been such a headache with remembering all of the names of the immortals that Speck introduced me to. It's way too many of them.

For starters, I was introduced to the guests of honor the Worlds Royal Advisor Elijah Vlad and his surprisingly super sweet beloved by the name of Anastasia Vlad.

Our introduction was brief, I really wasn't able to converse with the two of them for too long and I could only thank the Moon Goddess herself that my wolf decided to behave during our entire exchange; because she most certainly didn't give Cyrus cousin a chance.

It all started, with a handful of brief introductions. There was Akoto Ettore, Roman Ettore, Romana Ettore, and finally Alaric Ettore. All of them disapprove of our union, but only one actually said it to our face and that happened to be Alaric Ettore.

He's Cyrus's third, fourth, or fifth cousin, and they look nothing alike. When Cyrus is unearthly beautiful, dark, and dangerous in every way. Alaric Ettore is heavenly and beautiful in his own right.

He has a charming smile, and pale white hair that looks like snow, and is the beholder of the most unusual brightest sky-blue eyes that I've ever encountered. He looks like an angel, but I'm well aware that looks can be more than deceiving.

Alaric may look like an angel but he is most certainly a devil, who attempted to provoke me every chance that he has gotten.

During our introduction, he started with some rude comments about Wilde wolves. Followed by him, overly dramatic sneezing every chance he got because he claimed to be allergic to dogs.

Hint: I was supposed to be the dog, even though he didn't say that directly to our face my wolf caught the drift. I tried my best to keep her at bay, refusing to show him that he could get under my skin but my wolf had her own plans.

Tonight is my wolf night so I have no control over her actions whatsoever and of course, she used that to her advantage, taking control of our body just to provoke him back by overly dramatic sneezing every chance she got because she claimed to be allergic to him.

Her actions must have gotten to Alaric because his monster presented himself, which caused Gutter Butter to intervene and kick him out of the ceremony, and then she had the audacity to call him childish, but in reality, her actions were just as equally childish as his.

I was so embarrassed and my wolf actions only proved the vampire's thoughts about us right, that we are unfit to rule and that's when the introduction stopped altogether. I can't bear to meet with anyone else. My father always said that a true Luna, well never bark at her people or step down to their level. She is to remain cool, calm, and collected at all times unless she has to defend her land.

My wolf knows that and so do I. Stepping down to his level might have won the battle against Alaric but we lost the war. We have proved ourselves to be no better than him. So, yes! I' am ashamed and pissed.

Now, my wolf and I are standing in the middle of the room rendered silent, watching the crowd of beautiful immortals mingle amongst one another, but more importantly, talking about our behavior. She has played a part in further taunting our name.

I turn the other way and continue to scan over the crowd and my eyes fall onto my furry little friend sitting on top of his table that my mate has ordered just for him.

He looks adorable snacking on his custom-made treats while wearing his identical doggy-styled tux that is almost identical to Cyrus's tuxedo and I'm almost certain that I have Speck to thank for that unless Cyrus is warming up to him which I highly doubt.

My mate is perfect even with his imperfection.

In other words, we still have a long way to go, especially when it concerns my furry little friend.

My eyes land on Ghost Falls and Aunt Katherine next.

The couple looks stunning together and seems not to be afraid of showing their affection for one another in public, despite the fact that they are two different species. They are the perfect blend.

Ghost Falls is looking rather jazzy in his Tuxedo and Lady Katherine is looking rather amazing while wearing what seems to be her finest gown yet. To be honest I didn't think either one of them could become even more beautiful than they already are.

Nyla is also here. She is dressed to impress and mingle with her species as well. After Cyrus and I officially tied the knot she damn near jumped on me before I could even make it back down the aisle while wishing me more than enough of Good Fortune that could last for a lifetime.

We were able to catch up for a bit before Speck finally pulled me away. I really do like Nyla and I know that she likes me as well but that still didn't prevent the judgment that I caught from her when my wolf acted out.

This brings me back to my wolf I can't believe her.

I'm so mad that I could scream!

"Then scream, Embry, and let it all out," taunts my wolf before closing off our communication gap.

Do you see what I mean? She's so childish.

"Says the girl who thinks that she is so mad! That she can scream!" Further taunts my wolf but before I can respond I catch a drift of the hunters that I met earlier in tonight's conversation, who are also chit-chatting about my wolf and me.

The both of them are pretended to be talking about anything other than me, but they can't fool my wolf hearing.

Oh, yes! The hunters. How could I possibly forget to mention that there are not one but two hunters by the name of Night Falls and Biggs present tonight?

And Yes! Her name is really Biggs and she really does know how to leave a big impression.

The hunters are from the mysterious rainforest of Brazil. Night Falls is Ghost Falls's grey-eyed and dirty blonde hair with over a million and one markings, overly charming daughter, who literally resembles him in every way. Watching her from afar, I have detected that she seems to be bright and that she is extremely attractive just like her dad.

Now her friend Biggs, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. She is an overly natural beauty with her glowing macchiato-colored skin, long and luscious dark as-coal waist-length hair, and oddly striking almond-shaped coffee-colored eyes, but she also happens to be the most standoffish person that I have ever encountered in my entire life.

Anyone with a pair of eyes can clearly see that she doesn't want to be here, nor does the vampire seem to want her here either, yet there she confidently stands in front of the tent entrance with her shoulders straight, head held high, and dauntless wandering eyes.

She's so dangerously interesting but also hauntingly frightening.

Before Alaric and my wolf altercation, I'd been trying my hardest not to stare at her but for the life of me, I couldn't help myself. Throughout the night, it was like my eyes always found their way back to her and they are doing it again now. It's so strange. I feel this strange pull towards her, just like how I felt when I first laid eyes on Claire and judging by the way that she keeps staring at me back.

She just has to feel it too. It's so weird.

"I feel it too," admits my wolf.

"Nobody asked you," I huff out.

"Now who's the one being childish?" Questions my wolf, before retrieving it to the back of my mind, and this time I choose not to argue back with her because I'm too focused on the mystery surrounding the mysterious Hunter, Biggs. Who is she?

"Beretta Banks," Speck whispers in my ear, finally breaking my trace and answering my question.

Beretta Banks? Now, why does that sound so familiar I question myself as my eyes briefly flicker over in Speck's direction.

"She's the lieutenant of the infamous Hunter's Hoax Gang," Speck answers as if she knows what I'm thinking. "And she also happens to be the daughter of the legendary hunter Banks,"  Speck adds in like it's no big deal when she and I both know that it is very much so a big deal.

My eyes instantly widen as I look back at Biggs, or should I say Beretta Banks in a new light.

Wow! So that is what Hunter Royalty looks like? I think to myself because that is what she particularly is. Hunter Royalty!

According to my dad, Beretta's father was well known in the Hunter world due to his connection with the legendary Maddox Hunter, who was the arch-enemy of all vampires and if my memory serves me correctly, I believe that the Hoax gang leader is actually the last living descendant of Maddox Hunter, which all means one big thing.

Berretta Banks in Big Trouble! Oh, my Goddess!

As if Speck once again is inside my head she grabs my hand and tells me, "Don't look so troubled, Emgem. It's really no big deal. She's no threat to you, at this point no one is,"

That's one big fat lie and Speck knows it. Berretta Banks is a threat to every vampire in a ten-mile radius. She is that dangerous. I can't even believe that she's here in Cyru's Kingdom, alive. The hunters are like humans fighting superheroes. They were born to serve and protect the human race. They were born to rip out all human enemies and in this day in time, vampires are human's biggest enemies.

Cyrus is the king of most species' enemies.

"And don't believe the hype either. Their family is not these cool superheroes that kick vamp ass like your people believe that they are. They are selfish people. They only care about themselves, trust me,"

"Besides," finishes Speck. "From my understanding, you already met a member of the Banks family before. The Hunter Forrest right?"

Not even a second could pass before my eyes grow wider. Hold, on! Wait. "Forrest! As in Forrest that helped me escape from the burning cabin. How do you know about that?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Emgem that I know everything," says Speck with a smirk. "It's my job to know everything, especially when it concerns your well-being,"

In other words, Cyrus filled her in.

"And how do you know that he is a member of her family?" I just have to ask but this time Speck just hits me with one of her epic eye rolls before answering me.

"I'm starting to believe that you aren't the brightest apple in the Wilde Wolf bunch, Emgem. You still don't get it, do you?" Speck says, before flagging down a server to bring us two glasses full of champagne.

What is that supposed to mean I think to myself as the server hands me a glass. Before I could question her further, Speck holds her glass up in my direction and then offers a toast.

"I know everyone who is someone to know," says Speck as we toast, and then she knocks her drink back, "Forrest Banks is Berretta's Banks half brother,"

"You get it! Banks,"

I choke! Literally, choke causing a scene and all eyes are instantly placed back on me, including Berretta thanks to Speck.

Oh, my Goddess!

"Are you alright, darling?" Ask Lady Katherine from behind us.

"She's fine, she fines," Speck is the one to answer while gently tapping my back. "We're just having a little mating talk," she announces to the crowd. "And most of you know how that can be for the first time," she adds in with a wink, embarrassing me further, but luckily everyone just nods and politely smiles before continuing on with their conversations.

Meanwhile, I'm still choking from my brief moment of shock. Oh, my Goddess! How embarrassing!  I can only thank the Goddess that my mate isn't here to witness this horrific scene.

"There! There, now! It's alright, Emgem. It's just the mating jitters. You'll be fine," she continues on, making my wolf mentally growl at her without a scold from me.

After all, Speck is embarrassing her too. "It really is a small world," I say once I'm finally able to gain back control from my wolf and most importantly catch my breath.

"Very... Your mate really does wish that the world was much smaller. He can't stand the Hoax gang, especially their leader, and let's not forget to mention that King Luscious hates Beretta's family,"

"So why is she here?" my wolf, being the bold one decides to ask the question that we both are dying to know, which causes Speck to smile at her.

"Because Aunt Katherine insisted that Cyrus invites her and Night Falls," loudly answers Speck, gaining Beretta's and Night Falls's undivided attention. I silently watch Beretta turn to face Night Falls and then Night Falls turns to face Beretta. The two of them smirk at one another before Night Falls decides to walk over in our direction.

"Oh, my Goddess! She's coming over," I absentmindedly whisper to Speck before I find myself being politely pushed behind Gutter Butter.

Beretta's smirk grows wider as she watches her friend approach us from afar, "Get your panties out the bunch, bloodsucker. I'm not going to harm your precious she-wolf," her voice sounds like velvet and she looks ten times more beautiful than I said she was as she stands in front of me.

"I just wanted to be properly introduced to my sister-in-law. We are family after all," she extends her hand out for me to take and then smiles. Fake smile.

I can see a fake smile from a mile away. She's up to no good. I'm sure of it, but even still I make my way in front of Gutter Butter to introduce myself. "Hello, I'm Embry. It's such a pleasure to meet you," I take her hand in my own.

At this moment, I can feel all eyes travel in our direction and Gutter Butter is so tense behind me that if his body was made out of glass he would break.

"Touché, Embry. Touché, or should I say, Queen Embry," she says with a wider smile. A really big fake smile and I didn't miss the insult in her voice tone when she said, Queen Embry.  That's when I realized that Night Falls really isn't the type to hide her true emotions. Nor is she the type to tell a person how she feels either but if she doesn't like a person they would know I don't think that she likes me too much, but despite her personal feelings about me she still shakes my hand.

Why? "Yes, why?" Growls my wolf as she makes her presence known.

I take a step back in my mind as my wolf watches  Night look in the direction of her friend, clearly silently communicating before she continues on, "Sooooooo, Queen Embry the vampire-loving she-wolf. Now, that we are properly introduced I'm dying to know one thing,"

"Night," barks out her dad, as she officially gains his attention.

"What?" She barks back, without sparing him a single glance. That's when Speck and Gutter's Butter takes a step forward, but my wolf holds up our hand telling them to stand down, and that simple action causes Night to smile.

Seconds later, she takes a step back and then looks over every single vampire in this room's facial expression. "I'm only going to ask her what every other soul wants to ask her in this room," she says loud and clear, and if she didn't have everyone else's attention during this event before she most certainly does now.

"And what must that be," my wolf growls out, once again not liking her voice tone and all I can do is mentally plead with her.

"Oh, I have many questions little wolf," she answers with an even wider smile.

"Night!" This time, Aunt Katherine and Ghost warn her in unison as they make their way over toward us.

"But let's start with the most want-to-be-known one," she ignores them both. "How does it feel to be a traitor to your own kind, Queen Embry?" she mocks. "How does it feel to be a traitor to your own flesh and blood, Queen Embry?  How does it feel to be a," she goes to say but before she finishes my wolf has her hands around the hunter's neck.

"Watch your mouth," barks my wolf with glowing golden eyes, holding her close. "Before I close it permanently,"

"You ain't going to do shit," hisses Night falls while somehow escaping our hold, flicks us her middle finger, and then disappears before our very eyes.

"Oh, my Goddess! She's fast. Where did she go?" I ask my wolf.

"Don't worry we're on it," steps in Gutter Butter while two stalky-looking vampires go chasing after her. "Keep an eye on the other one," he orders another guard as he stands closer to me.

"She's already gone," hisses one of Gutter Butter's toy soldiers.

"Of course she is! It was a distraction," growls Ghost Falls as he and Aunt Katherine finally reaches us. "Don't worry about chasing them I'll go after them,"

"I'll go to," says Aunt Katherine before her soft hand comes in contact with the side of my cheek. Almost instantly I'm calmed and can feel her soft nature literally soothing my wolf.

"How did you do that?" I blink before asking her.

"Love is the answer," she simply responds before Ghost and she disappears.

"I warned Lady Katherine about allowing that girl to come," huffs out Speck before she continues to conversant with the vampire standing behind her like nothing ever happened.

In fact, they all go back to conversing like nothing ever happened and most of them are once again looking at me like I'm some sort of wild beast.

I can't take it anymore. I can't take their stares and quiet conversation... It's draining me and making my wolf become further on edge.

What a night!

"Excuse me," I whisper in Speck's ear, excusing myself before jetting out of the room.

"Are you okay?" Ask Speck for the thousandth tone as my wolf and I stare up at the gloriously glowing and glistening Hilal.

"We're fine," huffs out my wolf, without sparing her a single glance. "Now please go back inside so we can perform our earthly right.

It's almost midnight, which means it's time for the new moon. My wolf and I were hoping to experience this extraordinary event with our mate but he's still nowhere to be found. Apparently, our mating night isn't as important to him as it is to us. We're not that important to him.

"But Emgem,"

"I said leave us,"  my wolf snaps at her with glowing golden eyes and it's nothing that I could do about it.  Nor, do I want to. Tonight is secret for us wolves and my wolf won't allow Speck to intervene with our ritual and neither will I.

"Very well," she says finally retrieving but both of us are aware that we are still being watched.

Of course, we are!

"Cyrus and his got damn safety precautions," growls my wolf. "If he truly cared he would be here,"

"None of that matters," I soothe her. "We shall deal with that tomorrow. Right now it's about you, me, and our Goddess. Don't allow no one to take our inner peace, not even our mate,"

"Your right," she says before giving me partial control to do my part and that's when I can feel her wolf soul within me, intertwining with my human soul as we officially become one.

One mind.

One body.

One soul.

We are one.

The beast within me is roaring alive in the frosted forest around us. I can feel the fire roaring within me as I lift my head to count the dazzling stars that shimmers above the snow-covered trees.

At last, the midnight sun has arrived its time, timeless and our mind begins to wander to a time away.

"That's it, Sunshine," Cyrus breathes into my hair while slipping his arms around our waist and making our hearts drop.

"You came," cry's out my wolf as we sink into his heart-taming embrace.

"Of course, sunshine. I wouldn't miss it for the world. The both of you are my life," he breathes in, taking our breath away. "Besides I love the chase,"

Suddenly my wolf steps away before looking at him in haunting liquid gold eyes, "Good little monster, come chase," she says before she shifts and then takes off running.

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