And if I do, I will make sure to haunt Jordan for the rest of his life.
five
His Eyes
*FOREST*
The reflection in my mirror is pathetic. Like someone who plays dress-up. The party hasn’t even started yet, and I already know that I won’t belong. Tugging my tie off, I change it to a bolder color, gazing at my reflection again. Still pathetic. Bland, boring, awkward. It’s always been like that.
As an alpha’s son, I should have more vigor, more energy… more aggression. I should love to mingle and network, but I hate it. I don’t like going out; I am not good at small talk, and I suck at presenting myself to these overly confident alphas. I much prefer my training and spending time outside, but as an alpha, I just can’t be a recluse. My parents keep emphasizing, over and over again, that I need to change my ways if I ever want to take over the pack.
And I get it. Sure, their comments hurt sometimes, but Dad can’t just hand over the pack to a meek alpha. I just wish I would be able to live up to their expectations.
Be a little smarter than Iam. I never brought home the best grades, always just somehow passed and did okay.
Have a little more drive. As much as I am trying to, I just can’t seem to change my image. Everyone perceives me as reserved.
“It’s not going to get any better,” I mutter, eyeing my reflection begrudgingly. I look okay, I guess. A formal suit makes anyone look okay, butokaywon’t cut it.
I make it out of my suite and downstairs. In the corridor leading to the private dining room of the alpha family, I stumble into my mother.
“Forest!” She comes closer to me, checking me over. “Well,” she says, a smile curling her lips, while she tugs at my tie. “I guess dressing up has never been your forte.”
“You are not wrong,” I admit.
“Well, at least you tried,” she says, patting my arm. “Come, Lissa is already waiting.”
I nod, trotting after her into the dining room, where I spot my father with Melissa—or rather, Lissa—my ‘date’. She is the beta’s daughter, and we have always gotten along well. During important parties and events, she always accompanies me, to fend off any unnecessary advances from female shifters and to support me. I am awkward, and she is not.
Lissa raises her head when she spots me, showing me a happy smile. “Forest!” She is immediately on her feet, approaching me, and gives me a hug. “You look good.”
“Really?” I ask doubtfully.
“Don’t sugarcoat it, Lissa,” Dad chuckles. “I know my boy doesn’t dress up well.”
“Even if that’s true, I like that he tries,” she says before turning towards me. “I like the tie,” she whispers.
My eyes light up at that;shenoticed I tried something new.
Lissa is who I consider to be my only real friend. We both grew up as children of ranked members, and there were high expectations for both of us. Just, Lissa delivers them more than I do.
“Are you prepared?” Dad asks me. “This might seem a relaxed event, on the outside, but in fact it’s a place where alliances are made.”
I nod. “I made sure to know who will attend today.”
“Alpha Jordan from Black Moon pack will attend,” he continues his lecture. “He is important. His pack is big, and he has money. An alliance with him would do us good.” He frowns when he looks at me. I don’t know what he expects me to say or do, but as always, he looks equal parts disappointed and resigned.
“Lissa will be there with him. I don’t think we need to worry. With her, Forest might get to network a little,” Mom intervenes, as though I am not standing right there in the same room. “Lissa has met Alpha Jordan before,”—she turns to Lissa—“and I believe you got along quite well.”
“Yes,” Lissa says. “I met him at a gala a couple of months ago. Granted, I didn’t talk a lot with him, but it seems he is frustrated with his luna.”
“I have never seen or met her,” Dad says. “He always comes alone. Not a good view of the luna. She must be utterly useless.”
We don’t know that, I want to say, but keep my mouth shut. If I say something like that, Dad will call me out on being too sentimental or empathic. What do we care about a luna we don’t know? Useless or not, I find it strange when her alpha mate doesn’t take her along anywhere. Maybe she is sick, or something else happened that we don’t know about.
My parents don’t seem to notice my silence, but Lissa does, because she smiles at me. “Don’t worry, Forest. I am with you. I won’t embarrass you.”
“Don’t be silly,” Dad says before I can answer. “If anything, he relies on you too much. Without you, we wouldn’t have struck the last business deal, either.”
