---- Ball: a formal social gathering for dancing. ----

Josh pulled over close to the entrance of the auditorium and got off quickly, opening the back door and offering me a hand to help me to step out.

I grabbed it and gave him a grateful smile. The heels and long dress was a complicated combination I was not used to. My knight in shining armor mirrored my smile and then shut the door behind me.

I smoothed the winkles on the skirt and looked up to see Max offering me his arm with a proud grin spreading on his face. He was way too happy about my dress.

I rolled my eyes and inter-weaved my arm with his. We faced gamma Josh and thanked him before we started heading to the building entrance.

Once we reached the door, I turned my head to see our gamma still there, waiting. I waived at him with my free hand and he vowed, finally moving towards the driver's seat. Today was a busy day for him, being the ball end everything. Nonetheless, he made time for us. He always did, especially on our birthdays.

I gripped Max's arm a little harder and he looked at me, with a questioning look.

"Let's make the best out of it." His face beamed with happiness, nodding to my words.

He pushed the door and we stepped into the hall, were we registered and received our corresponding dahlia flowers. Max put it in the handkerchief pocket of his jacket and then attached mine to my dress with a pin. His eyes met mine when we finished, making sure everything was going well with me and I curled my lips, feeling over protected.

"I'm saying this now, but I demand the first 20 dances." He said, serious, while intertwining our arms again.

I chortled and started to walk to the ball room. "You do realize 20 dances are next to the whole evening?"

"Precisely what I meant." He winked at me and I could not help but crack up.

Exactly on the moment we entered the room.

Silence took over the place, where music was not yet loud enough to cover the conversation noises. Heads all over the hall rotated to fix their gaze on our figures. Awesome. I blushed a little, but Max pulled me inside, with his head up and determined pose. No matter how you looked at it, he was born to be an Alpha.

Murmurs broke throughout the groups of people, reminding me I was not to feel small because of them. Not even wearing a dress. I squared my shoulders and straighten my posture, walking proudly next to my brother.

We stopped next to a table with refreshments and Max released me, looking around.

"I will fetch a couple of drinks. Lemonade is good?" I nodded to his question and he squeezed my arm briefly before leaving my side. "I will be right back."

I studied the room and the attendants, happy to see this year again it was a success. The place was decorated with orange, yellow and brown dried flowers and fruits. Candles, golden tableware and cream coloured table cloths where the final touches that gave the room a beautiful rustic atmosphere. Rather spooky than scary. 

Well, to begin with, this ball was officially named the Harvest Ball but with time, what is started as a way to mock the humans, had ended up with its current name: Halloween Ball.

The ball was a private event, held only for the young pack members. Every person from 16 to around 25 years old was invited to the event. Invited as when you receive an official letter to your place. As when you have to be in a guest list to enter.

Again, old traditions die hard in this pack.

Nonetheless, people usually started attending from the moment they turned 18 years old. Max and I ourselves had declined the two first invitations, wanting to avoid big gatherings as much as possible. This year, there was no excuses anymore.

Someone crashed into me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I rubbed my arm and checked who was the clumsy person that would bump into someone when it wasn't that crowded yet.

"I am sorry." I could not see his face, but I got to hear his faint apology before he squirmed behind the table and blended into the crowd.

I sighted and shrugged, still caressing my arm.

"Everything alright?" Max offered me the drink, searching for the guy with furrowed brows. A little growl reverberated from his chest, making the people around us uncomfortable.

"Yes, it was nothing." I hurriedly reassured him, accepting the drink and having a sip. "It is a charming party." Max nodded, still focused on a spot behind me. "We might as well have come the previous years too..."

Max's blinked and his gaze finally met my face, dumbfounded.

"Are you really alright, Rie?" he placed his free hand on my forehead and I slapped it away, giggling.

"Just shut up!"

He laughed with me and we chatted for a while, traipsing around the room.

By the time the music turned louder, we had been greeted by most of the attendants and had engaged in enough small talk for me to feel exhausted. The party was getting pretty crowded and, as expected, people gathered especially around us. I had the feeling I had shacked more hands than normal and that people stood too close. But again, the place was pretty packed, it was a social event and I was siblings with the future Alpha. A simple equation. 

Max glanced at me and took my empty glass, placing it on a nearby table.

"Excuse us, it is time for Riley and me to have our first dance." He flashed a perfect smile to our companions and offered me a hand to grab.

I could see girls around looking longingly to that hand, and I held back a chuckle, taking it. Max grabbed gently my hip with his free hand and guided me to the area where we could join other dancing couples.

It took just a couple of songs for the dance floor to get cramped too, so we decided to have another drink and a rest, approaching the tables.

I had not arrived yet when a girl tripped in front of me. I reacted just in time to grab her and saving her from falling face down on the floor. She trembled a little from the shock, but soon went steady on her feet and looked up directly to my eyes.

"Thank you very much." Her white teeth framed by a charming smile.

"No problem," I answered, returning her smile and releasing my grip, "be careful with the heels."

I winked at her and we snickered in mutual understanding. She did a short curtsy and continued her way. I took the hand my brother was offering me, with a smug grin playing on his face and I rolled my eyes, not getting into his game.

We reached the sitting area and Max helped me into an empty chair, leaving to grab some refreshments.

I closed my eyes and thanked the goddess for the break. My feet needed it. A sigh escaped my lips and I felt a presence next to me. I popped my eyes open to find a couple of blue eyes very close to my face. I jumped on my seat and pushed the person in front of me away.

"Noah!" My heart was about to leap out of my chest. "What are you doing here?"

Noah roared with laughter, sending a nostalgic feeling though my body. I didn't see him since last summer, when he came for a while during his university break.

He sat in the chair next to mine with a wide smile painted on his face, the dimple on his chin magnifying his attractiveness.

"I was just curious." He answered, running his gaze all over me. "And am not completely disappointed."

"Disappointed?" I arched my brow and crossed my arms, waiting for an explanation.

"Well," he came closer again, sniffing my neck and sitting right back again, shaking his head "looks like we are not mates. The rest is perfect. Also, happy birthday."

"Thank you but, are you crazy?" I rolled my eyes, not being able to hold back a chuckle. "You came all the way from the university just for that?"

He was now scanning the dance hall, his arm now resting lazily on the back of my chair.

"From the looks of it I am not the only crazy one..." his eyes met mine, sparkling in amusement. "Do you really think all of those people bumping into you or suddenly falling in your arms was just a coincidence?"

My jaw dropped and I creased my brows, not wanting to believe what he was implying. Before I could say anything else, he jumped to his feet and opened his arms into a welcoming hug.

"Noah! What are you doing here?" Max lifted both hands, occupied with drinks and hugged the future Beta.

"I was just curious..." Noah winked at me, sniffing my brother's neck. I rolled my eyes, laughing at Max's confused face. Some things really didn't change.

I snatched the drink from Max's hand while he talked with Noah about university. Max and I would be having distance education, for Noah had to start working more and more with father as the future alpha and I was grounded for life inside the pack limits.

Max didn't mind much not going, so he was pretty happy to hear everything from a second person. On the other hand, I was rather annoyed, so I preferred not hearing anything that would make me want to go even more.

Thinking positively, both Max and Kenneth were here too. About Ken going to university or not, that was a problem of the future. Being an omega was a hurdle to overcome, but I would support him whatever he would decide to do.

I felt a gaze on my neck that pulled me out of my thoughts and made me spinn on my feet. I was scanning the crowd when I saw a figure in the shadow of a big decorating sculpture. It was leaning in a very... familiar pose. I squinted, in an unfruitful effort to confirm my doubts.

Could it be Ken? He hadn't said anything about coming. How dared he!

I made a gesture to capture Max's and Noah's attention and told them to wait without taking my eyes off the figure.

I started to make my way through the crowd, now recognizing how people were approaching me to catch a sniff or a concealed touch. I rolled my eyes. Last thing I needed in the moment was a mate, my hands were full with other problems.

When I finally made it to the place where the figure had been standing, the spot was empty. I checked the surrounding area a little longer, but as expected, there was no one. 

I hated not being able to sniff the lingering scents, though I was not sure if in this situation would have been helpful.

I drank the rest of the drink in a gulp and crossed my arms on my chest, miffed. If it was Kenneth, he was going to have a few words from me.

A/N

Hello again!! I promised this weekend I would upload the ball chapter and here you have!! 

Anyone giving Noah a second opportunity? Looks like years have helped to smoothen out their relationship! Hehehe!

I have the next chapter more or less planned so I will try to update a little more often during the next weeks! =)

Comments and votes are again always welcome!

Love, Koe