Makksi-

 

A gathering of the most influential and higher echelon members of werecat and werewolf society precedes the dinner of the night. The faint sound of glasses clinking and the roar of constant chatter melds into a cacophony of baseless static amidst the gaudy opulent walls of one of our larger ballrooms.

 

I attempt to tune it all out, as I’ll have none of it.

 

Just as I’m about to make way through the tall and ancient mahogany doors placed on the left side of the ballroom, to sneak off to my room; a pair of vibrant green eyes catch mine from across the room which is accompanied by raven black hair and the height and stocky build as befits most of the higher ranking werewolves. Lucca.

 

He’s staring at me unblinkingly with a small warm smile with a faint growing sense of ease. The attention from him is not unwelcome at the very least, as opposed to the countless others that attempt to introduce themselves and make senseless conversation.

 

I force myself to break eye contact with him and notice that the taller man standing next to him is the one that I have not wanted to see here the entire night. Kale.

 

Lucca nudges Kale, and within moments Kale looks over towards me. His ginger hair moves away from his eyes as he turns his head towards me, and suddenly his mood quickly transforms from mild curiousness to a hostile glower.

 

Just as I begin to turn to take my leave once more, a man steps in front of my exit. Yet another large man with piercing and commanding eyes who has a striking resemblance to Kale. He looks down at me with what seems as a cordial smile, clearly falsified, which the gesture is not lost on me; as he introduces himself.

 

“Greetings. I’m Henry Geisthund of SilverMoon, and you must be Makksi of Cilese.” I nod and attempt to sidestep this new encounter while mumbling, “Excuse me,” yet he makes a move to step in front of me once more.

 

“Have you met my son, Kaleb?” He speaks hopefully with a slight gesture in Kale’s direction.

 

“Unfortunately, yes,” I reply quickly without thinking. I haven’t formally. Although, I receive slight satisfaction from observing the slight twitch in the corner of this man’s eye.

 

“Well, I hope the two of you can get along and form a stronger bond between our two societies.” I feel the overwhelming need to roll my eyes at this Henry, but unfortunately, this isn’t the time to do so.

 

The man, Henry, gestures Kale and Lucca over. Even though there’s already a mixture of werecats and werewolves, and a few humans, within this ballroom; the two walking toward us leave me beginning to feel an even greater sense of urgency to depart from this room than I’ve already been feeling. Firstly, because of Kale’s increasing proximity; and secondly, due to Lucca’s growing presence as well, although both for entirely different reasons.

 

Sweet Holy Mother Felis please preserve me.

 

“Kaleb, you know Makksi,” Henry says as he gestures between the both of us. Kale only stares at me, his lips thin as he attempts to mask his growing distaste for the introduction; hostility emanating from his entire being.

 

“Hello, Maxy,” Kale says mockingly and with a devious smirk that I wish I could swiftly remove. Lucca nudges Kale in the side rather roughly, and I’m left thinking, ‘It’s Makksi. There’s an enunciation of the two K’s and slight pause between them, you complete oaf.’ Also, I find myself rather grateful for Lucca’s defense.

 

I give him a slight nod in a forced formal greeting, then avert my eyes in an attempt to seek out my exit once more, only to hear a scoff come from Kale’s general direction.

 

Upon looking back, Henry clears his throat and then proceeds to introduce me to Lucca, one of which I already have had an intimate introduction. “And this is Lucca. His twin- Thomias- couldn’t make it this evening.”

 

I glance at Lucca, and when I raise a brow, he returns a short warm smile before saying in a voice deeper and much more smooth than expected, “He lost a duel. He’s in the hospital currently.”

 

Maybe I should have attended ‘a duel’ myself and purposefully lost just so I would not have to attend this grand event.