"How long have you been standing there?" I rasped.
"Long enough to see you inhale that food like it personally offended you."
I flushed. "I was hungry."
"Clearly." He moved closer, leaning against the counter. "Six hours of training will do that."
"You left this for me?" I gestured to the plate.
"The high Alpha’s staff did. But I told them to make sure there was food available when you woke up." He tilted his head. "You didn’t eat after training. That’s dangerous when you’re building muscle and pushing your body this hard."
"I know." His dark eyes studied me. "How do you feel now?"
"Fine. Better than fine, actually. I shouldn’t feel this good after yesterday, should I?"
"No," he admitted. "But I’m not complaining. Neither should you."
I took another sip of water. Slower this time. I watched him past the rim. The question dancing on my tongue. A thousand actually, a thousand questions I wanted to ask the new beta who already seemed to have adapted to his role.
Why did he want to be beta?
Where did he get a mechanical wolf?
What was his favourite colour?
But instead I settled for something impersonal. "The Moonstone Masquerade," I said quietly. "What is it, exactly?"
Dmitri’s expression shifted. Careful. Measured. Like he had a limit for how many expressions, he could make.
"A formal event. High-ranking Lycans from across the territory attend. It is a celebration for he elected High Alpha. It’s political, mostly. Alliances are formed. Deals are made. Power is displayed."
"And Vladimir wants me there."
"Why?" Thıs text ıs hosted at noveⅼfire.net
He was quiet for a long moment.
"Because bringing you sends a message," he said finally. "That you’re under his protection. That you’re... significant to him and his cause."
"Significant," I repeated flatly. "I doubt even the great high Alpha could could managed that."
His eye twitched, that was the only micro change in his expression that i detected. "You threw a boulder yesterday."
I looked down at my hands. "Still couldn’t quite believe that had happened."
"You are a marked hybrid, your kind is known for untapped unfathomable power according to the seers. And you displayed that within a week of fundamental shifter training. According my research, it takes a two weeks at least." His words were matter of fact. .
But I could not help but smile. I could really do this.
"Thank you," I replied. "I needed that."
His expression remained distant, unreadable but bordering on pleasant.
"Everyone needs to hear that once in a while," he replied easily, turning around and beginning to leave.
I still had questions...
"Your metal wolf---" I blurted. "Where is it from?"
He turned around, if he was bothered that I was bothering him, he did not show it. "I built it,"
My eyes widened to saucers. "That’s amazing. I can’t even—I mean, I can barely work a coffee maker without almost burning down a kitchen, which I DID once, by the way, it wasn’t even my fault, the instructions were in another language and I thought I could just—"
I caught myself. Took a breath.
"Sorry. I ramble when I’m nervous. Or excited. Or both. Which is most of the time, honestly."
The corner of Dmitri’s mouth twitched. Almost imperceptibly.
Was that—did he almost SMILE?
"AKELA took eight years to build," he said, voice even. "Trial and error. A lot of both."
"Eight YEARS?" I leaned forward. "How does it even work? Is it magic? Technology? Both? Can it—does it think for itself or do you control it?"
"Hybrid design, a lot of both." He paused. "And yes, it has limited autonomous function. Pattern recognition. Threat assessment."
"That’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it. Well, I’ve never seen MOST things, to be fair."
I stopped again. Forced myself to breathe.
"Sorry. Again. The rambling thing."
"It’s fine," Dmitri said. And something in his tone made me think he actually meant it.
"Do you... do you ever let people ride it? Not that I’m asking to ride it. That would be presumptuous. But hypothetically—"
"Hypothetically," he cut in, that almost-smile flickering again, "if someone earned AKELA’s trust, yes."
"How does a mechanical wolf trust someone?"
"By recognizing patterns. Behavior. Intent." His dark eyes held mine. "AKELA is a very good judge of character."
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment. Then something occurred to me.
"The Masquerade," I said slowly. "There’s going to be dancing, isn’t there?"
Dmitri’s expression didn’t change, but something shifted in his eyes.
My stomach dropped. "Formal dancing. Like—waltzes and things?"
"Traditional Lycan dances, yes."
"Oh god." I pressed my palms against my eyes. "Oh GOD. I don’t know how to do that. I can barely walk in a straight line without tripping over air, and you want me to—in HEELS probably—in front of EVERYONE—"
"I’m going to fall. I’m going to fall directly on my face in front of the entire Lycan elite and Veronique is going to LAUGH and Vladimir is going to regret ever bringing me and—"
Dmitri’s expression was... was he AMUSED?
"It’s not funny," I said weakly.
"It’s a little funny."
"I’m serious. I did ballet ages ago, that is all got." . I gestured helplessly. "I’m going to humiliate him."
"The High Alpha will ensure you have proper instruction before the event."
"When? The Masquerade is in—how long?"
"TEN DAYS? That’s not enough time to—"
"I’ll inform him you’ll need a dance instructor."
I stared at Dmitri. Then at the large empty kitchen. Then back at him.
"Or," I said slowly, "you could teach me. Right now."
"You know how to dance, right? You’re his Beta. You’ll be at the Masquerade. You probably know all the steps."
"Please?" I clasped my hands together. "I’m a fast learner. You’ve seen me train. I pick things up quickly. Mostly. Sometimes. When I’m not falling on my face."
Dmitri looked at me for a long moment.
Then sighed. "One dance. That’s all."
"Yes! Thank you!" I bounced slightly. "Okay. What do I do?"