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Christophe

When my cousinswent to get changed, I took that brief moment of time to grab myself a drink and go out for some air. It was silly of me to believe that I would’ve had the time to socialize and flirt with anyone, even if I hadn’t been in charge of chaperone duty. There were so many things I had to do, to the point where making it across the room and out the door was a miracle initself.

Idrankmy whiskey and stared out into the quiet darkness of the forest that surrounded our house. Part of me wanted to jump down from the balcony and run off into the forest to my secret spot, but of course I wasn’t going to do that. There was a time in my life when running might’ve made sense, but that time had passed long ago. I was a grown alpha, and alphas didn’trun.

An alpha facedtheir destiny with pride and strength, no matter what itwas.

And it wasn’tlike I disliked my course in life. No, I was thankful for the responsibilities and the privilege Ihad.

It was a quiet night,and the sky was clear and moonless, lit only by a million twinkling stars. It was gorgeous, romantic, the perfect setting for falling inlove.

That certainly wasn’tmy course in life. Not tonight. Probably not anynight.

Igroanedand made more of my whiskey disappear. I usually didn’t get this damn melancholic about things, especially not over something so silly. But here I was, moping. Moping anddrinking.

What would happenif I did run? If I just let everything go and left it allbehind?

Icould do it,just for a night. I could leave this place behind and pretend that I no longer had any responsibilities. I could live like my brothers, free to find my owndestiny.

Really,what was stoppingme?

All I hadto do was take theleap.

My heart hammeredin my chest as I set the glass down on the balcony railing. The dark edge of the forest was calling to me, filling me with a yearning as powerful as the draw of a full moon. I could feel my wolf inside me wanting to be released, struggling to be contained. It wanted to be free, but more than anything else, it wanted tomate.

Hounds of Hell,was that it? Did all this just amount to… beinghorny?

Isnorted.

If that were the case,I could quickly take care of it later tonight in mybedroom.

Behind me,the door suddenly opened and I was enveloped by the noise of theparty.

“Oh,shit. Christophe! I didn’t realize you were outhere.”

Iswung aroundto see Arthur standing in the doorway, a pretty girl in a glittering dress on his arm. She looked a little embarrassed; flushed cheeks, like she’d been caught doing somethingimproper.

“Arthur,”I said, with a little smile. “I’ll leave youtwo—”

Iheardthe pop of shattering glass on the ground below, and realized I’d just dispatched my only friend of thenight.

“Shit,”I muttered, and leaned over the balcony tolook.

Peering down,I saw where it’d broken and made a mental note to have one of the attendants clean itup.

“Sorry about that,”Arthur said. “Oh, this is, uh, Miss Melany Dewal of the Rose Claw Clan. Melany, my brother,Christophe.”

“Pleased to meet you, Christophe,”she said, shaking my hand. “I didn’t realize all of the Luna brothers were sohandsome.”

“Didn’tyou say you had a sister, Melany?” Arthur asked before sneaking me a wink. “ I’m sure Christophe could use some good conversation for theevening.”

“Ido,”she said, “but I can’t imagine her being by any kind of substantial dialogue. That is, unless Christophe enjoys keeping ten-year-oldsentertained.”

“I—”

At that moment,the door flew open again, and out poured Volk and Lukas Luna, mycousins.

“Christophe!”Volk said in his thick Lupanian accent. “Please, show. We ready! Show!Show!”