The festival filled all the streets of the town around the pack house with stalls, music and colored lighting everywhere. If you got sick of the food and mini games available then you could walk to the end of the main road where the bigger rides and attractions had been set up over several fields. In other words, the festival was HUGE. That wasn't even including the camping grounds that had been set up to accommodate the huge number of werewolves.
"I thought there were only meant to be eight packs at the festival. Including ours, the Royal pack and the six other packs that showed up today?" I questioned Derrick. "There has to be at least 4,000 people here, which is more than all the packs total numbers combined, not just the members that are here. If I'm not mistaken."
"You are right." Derrick confirmed. "Shortly after you left for the Shallow Waters pack, a decision was made to open up the festival to the local humans. I'm glad that they waited as long as they did before deciding to let everyone into the festival, because if they had made that decision months ago there would be more people here than we could accommodate."
I nodded my head in agreement as I side stepped to avoid the two pups that were racing each other to the candy apple stall just down the road.
I was particularly surprised to see a natural wolf pup of the Shallow Waters pack race after the two werewolf pups. I hadn't realized that the two packs had integrated so quickly. It makes me proud to watch the pack I grew up in adapt so easily.
"So which one of you kids am I going to be beating in the hammer challenge first?" Beverly teased as I let my confusion show on my face.
"What in the world is a hammer challenge?" I asked as Beverly face palmed and Saffron looked guilty for not explaining what would be at the festival sooner.
"It's a machine that measures your strength when you smack it with a hammer. It makes the weight go up the pole and the person who makes the weight go the highest wins." Derrick explains.
"Sorry to break it to you, but I'm so going to kick your ass at that game." I jabbed at Beverly as we began to talk smack with each other in a friendly fashion. We proceeded to head for the area that had the tall pole and people smacking a raised platform with an oversized hammer that looked heavy, but wasn't.
The distance between our starting point and our destination was approximately half of the main street of the town. It took us 45 minutes to make what would normally be a two minute walk. By the end of it I found out that kebabs taste great, I'm going to learn how to make candy apples, fishing games are fun and I can't shoot to save my life.
"So are you ready to lose again Eva?" Beverly teased as she flaunted the two teddy bears she'd won in previous games to annoy me.
"Sure I'm ready if what you actually mean is you're ready to have that smile wiped off your face." I replied back to her. "Why don't you go first, age before beauty after all."
"Hey, that's not fair. I'm younger than you Eva." Beverly looked like she'd actually been offended which gave me a deep sense of satisfaction.
"Will you two stop bickering so we can have some fun?" Derrick finally snapped at us.
"Sorry boss." Beverly said while snapping to an exaggerated salute in Derricks direction before heading to pay and pick up the hammer.
"Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you guys." Derrick muttered under his breath but both Beverly and I caught it.
"Because you love us." I say as I position myself between Saffron and Derrick, sliding an arm through each of theirs and turning to watch Beverly so she knew all the attention was on her.
"You're evil and don't play fair Eva." Beverly groaned before lifting the hammer up and slamming it down as hard as she could. The needle even went up to the 75% mark on the pole.
Derrick went next and of course being a werewolf managed to get to the 100% mark and won a teddy for Saffron, who was feeling very clammy from where my arm was still through hers. It almost felt like I was holding her up.
"You're turn." Derrick said to me as he traded the oversized hammer for his mate. It was obvious that Saffron was going to sit this one out. Although her lack of speech was worrying me as well.
"Is it possible to turn the difficulty up?" I asked the man who was running the game.
The man eyed up the lack of muscles that seemed to be displaying before bringing his gaze to meet mine. "I can turn the difficulty up if you like miss. But you can't ask for your money back if the needle doesn't move for you."
A surge of anger filled me as I answered as calmly as I could. "Then please turn it to the hardest possible setting and don't come crying to me when I break it."
The game operator just laughed at me before going to fiddle behind the mechanism for a couple of moments.
"Go on then little girl, lets see what you're made of." He taunts me as well.
Having had enough of everyone teasing me I raised the hammer up into the air and before putting all my strength behind the swing I deliberately let out some of my aura that I normally keep suppressed.
I swung the hammer down as hard as I could and was satisfied to feel the crunch of the hammer breaking under the force and the needle on the game going up so fast that it became stuck at the top.
Happy with my achievement, I looked around to realize that everyone within 200 meters of me was cowering in fear. Even I had to admit that I may have overdone it.
"Remind me to never truly get on your bad side Eva." Beverly managed to say as she straightened back up. Saffron just laughed at her best friends.
"Easy there Eva." Saffron said while still softly laughing. "I think you gave the poor game operator a heart attack."
I looked at the man with an apologetic look in my eyes. "I'm sorry about your hammer game. How can I make it up to you?"
"No need." He finally said once he'd recovered enough to communicate. "I've bought extra hammers because I though some werewolves might be able to break them. I suppose I owe you a prize now though."
My face lit up at the mention of a prize. The operator went straight to his top prizes and picked out the biggest one of all to give me. It was a stuffed wolf that was half as big as I was. I was so happy I was basically dancing for joy and basking in the scowl that Beverly gave me for my oversized prize.
I was pulled out of my personal celebration when Saffron spoke. "As you've now attracted the attention of half the people at this festival Eva, now might be a good time to drag Grace and Detsy away from their princess duties so they can kick our assess at these games as well."
My face lit up at the suggestion while Beverly adopted the look of a fan girl that was about to meet her hero's.
The trip to the area that was restricted to Alpha's and Royals was much faster than when we headed to the hammer game. This is mainly due to Beverly dragging the three of us along. She was not above grabbing us and pulling when she deemed we were moving too slowly.
We did stop for a few minutes when I saw John playing with a seven year old werewolf pup named Jamie and her six year old brother, Kyle. The parents of the pups were watching not to far away and I was curious as to how John had ended up with them.
As it turned out after chatting with the parents, a group of young werewolf pups went to visit the natural pups earlier in the day and most got along so well that the young werewolves asked their new natural wolf friends to come to the festival with them.
I thanked the parents for keeping an eye on John while he caused trouble with his new friends. Although I was honestly surprised that he was at the festival at all. I thought it would be to new and scary for him and it had made me very sad when I learnt that I couldn't have him with me incase my identity as the new princess got out and people swarmed me. John sure showed me though.
I would have stayed for longer but I had Beverly physically pulling me away from the parents in her desperation to meet Grace and Detsy. So after giving the stuffed wolf I won to the trio of delighted pups, I dragged my feet to slow us down as much as I could. Just to annoy Beverly of course. Although I must admit that inside I was just as impatient to get back to my mates as she was to meet them.
As we approached the Alpha and Royal resting area I suddenly bolted forward, leaving Beverly, Saffron and Derrick behind, before slipping past the guards at the door in a flash and disappearing inside. Internally laughing the entire time that Beverly will be fuming at being left in the dust.
Grace and Detsy were sitting down at a long table across from Alpha Adam as he had a drink in his hand and was complaining to my mates.
"I know that if I don't find my mate by the time I turn thirty, in four months time. Tom was decreed that I am allowed to make any girl I wish to be with Luna instead of the traditional method of the Luna must be mated to the Alpha. But I still don't understand why he keeps pushing me to meet all these girls, none have interested me so far and I really want to keep waiting for my mate."
"Father is just trying to look out for you." Grace replied to the half drunk Alpha. "He just wants to make sure that you have a strong bloodline to pass on the Alpha title to and ensure the future success of your pack."
"My little brother already has three strong, healthy children. Would it really be so bad if the title of Alpha went to them? They're still my niece's and nephews as well as being blood related." Alpha Adam countered.
"I understand." It was Detsy who spoke this time. "It wouldn't be a problem at all. It's just Tom being an overprotective father to children that aren't his."
"Amen to that." Alpha Adam said with a grin before raising his glass to take another sip and finally noticed me standing behind Detsy and Grace.
"You look as lovely in your human form as you do in wolf form Princess Eva." Alpha Adam greeted me with a knowing look in his eye before continuing. "A word of advice though, if you're trying to hide your identity, then the Alpha area isn't the best place to be. Every Alpha here will know you on sight because of your silver hair."
I tilted my head respectively in greeting at Alpha Adam. "Truer words have not been spoken this even my good Alpha. So with your blessing I'd like to steal my mates and follow your advice of getting out of this political drunken party." I nodded my head towards King Tom who was currently dancing on a table to Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.
"I like this one, make sure you treat her right." Alpha Adam said to Detsy and Grace who were simply sitting there with smug smiles before rising to their feet without a word.
"Do you mind if I come with you?" Alpha Adam asked hopefully. "It looks like fun out their and it's a circus in here."
The three of us laughed before Grace replied. "Of course you can come, as long as you can deal with a human fangirling over us Royals and promise not to wake up and break some poor girls heart by leaving them after a night of fun."
Alpha Adam sighed. "You drive a hard bargain that takes most of the fun out of the evening princess, but I agree to your terms." Alpha Adam even presented his hand so the two could shake on it.
"While I know you two are having fun." Detsy interrupted them. "If we're going to leave then we need to do it now before anyone realizes what were about to do."
With that I grab Detsy and Grace by the hand and head towards the entrance. The guards who saw me slip by them to get inside were about to give me an earful before they saw that I was literally dragging both princesses by their hands. After another moment's consideration they wisely decided to step back and let all of us pass.
Beverly, Saffron and Derrick were waiting outside the Alpha and Royal section. The moment Beverly saw me I could see a jab at me forming on her mouth only to have it float away on the breeze as she saw who I was with.
"Beverly." I said in a mock formal tone. "It is my pleasure to introduce you to their highness's Princess Detsy and Princess Grace. As well as the esteemed Alpha Adam of the Bloodhound pack."
I knew that Beverly was excitable and I loved that she made the evening a friendly competition. However I was not prepared for when she squealed at a pitch that made my ears hurt, started to jump up and down on the spot like a mad woman and then proceeded to faint.
"I know we're awesome but seriously?" Detsy asked as she managed to recover from the bent over position most of us were in from laughing so hard.
"I've got this." Saffron said as she pulled a water bottle out of her handbag, unscrewed the lid and dumped the liquid on Beverly.
"It was Ronald who stole the cookies." Beverly screams incoherently as she suddenly came awake at the water's touch.
She looks around at us stunned before asking. "Why am I on the ground and why am I wet?" She seemed to genuinely not know in her dazed state.
"Because you passed out." Grace said while offering Beverly a hand to help the poor girl get on her feet. "I've only just met you but you must come to the werewolf palace when you're in the area. Eva's right when she said you're too fun to keep away."
It was only at this point that Beverly seemed to once again register who she was talking to. It was evident by how her hand started to shake.
Detsy just laughed before squeezing Beverly between Grace and herself in a hug. "You really should calm down Beverly. You're fine around Eva and she's a princess as well you know."
My mates released Beverly once she'd calmed down before coming over to sandwich me in between them instead. I must admit that I really enjoyed the closeness.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Beverly." Alpha Adam greeted Beverly as he took one of her hands and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. Causing Beverly to blush like crazy.
This also caused Grace to growl at Alpha Adam. "She is not your conquest for the night Adam." She informed him while dropping his title to show just how serious she was.
"You're no fun at all Grace. I barely ever take a partner and you seemed determined to get in my way when I finally decide I want to." Alpha Adam complained.
"I may be no fun." Grace replied. "But I'm looking out for my human friend that would end up in hospital after a night of fun with you." Grace stressed the word 'human'.
"My deepest apologies." Alpha Adam said to Beverly as his face filled with shame. "I honestly thought you were a werewolf."
This of course made Beverly smile as it was a massive compliment for her.
"You are forgiven." She informs Alpha Adam. "If it weren't for the fact that I would get hurt then I would gladly take you up on your offer of a full night of fun. But instead how about we settle for me kicking your ass at the mini games?"
"I'd be careful Alpha Adam." I advised him. "Unless it's a game of shear strength, this girl is nearly impossible to beat."
"It sounds like a challenge then." Alpha Adam said as he offered his arm in a gentlemanly manner to Beverly, which she accepted and led them over to a shooting game. I just knew that I wasn't going to lose to her twice at the same game so I didn't play.
"How are you feeling Saffron?" Detsy asked as she went over and inspected Saffron. Somehow the girl had gotten even more pale since the festival started.
"To be perfectly honest I feel horrible and I'm going to have to retire for the night soon." Saffron admitted. "If I did would you be willing to look after Beverly until it's time for you to retire Eva? She's been given a couch in one of the meeting rooms next to Alpha Leyton's study to sleep in for the night."
"Of course we'll look after her." Grace and I said in unison. "Although it appears Alpha Adam has already made another friend and it may be hard to drag them apart." Grace observed as Beverly easily beat Alpha Adam at shooting metal ducks with a small air rifle.
"Well we'll wish you a good night then." Derrick said before quickly hugging the three of us goodbye, followed by Saffron giving us a hug as well.
Saffron and Derrick had just turned towards the pack house and barley taken a step before a commotion broke out at the shooting gallery where Alpha Adam and Beverly were competing.
Neither of them were there anymore. Beverly was now following behind Alpha Adam who seemed to be moving through the crowd quickly and disrupting people as he followed a scent.
Alpha Adam came back to where our group was standing before he caught sight of something in the crowd.
All six of us clearly heard Alpha Adam say the word, "Mate." Immediately following where he was looking a saw a scared Maya looking directly back at Alpha Adam.
Author's Note:
High everyone. I don't normally do authors notes, but I thought I'd address the growing questions as to why I'm not updating as much recently.
The answer is quite simply that I've had a few panic attacks that have made work hard and writing nearly impossible. However this does not mean that I am going to stop writing, just that I will slow down until I'm better.
On a positive note I can confirm that 'Silver Touched Soul' has been completely planned all the way up to and including the ending. I only need to actually write it. This book should end up between 30 - 40 chapters and I can promise that the ending is spectacular.
If you have any other questions please feel free to ask me.
Kitty Chan