The Legacy of Kilkenny (30 page)

 
“Where is her corsage?
 
Did you pick it up?
 
Huh?
 
Where is it?”
 
I walk back and forth, look on the table and then on the counter.
 
“Mom?
 
Where is her corsage?
 
I can’t find it.”

“Look in the fridge you dork.”
 
Allie says as she walks up behind me.
 
I didn’t even hear her when she came into the room.

“Oh, look how nice Oakley looks Abel.”
 
Mom said to me.
 
I hear her whisper “damn” ever so softly; my super duper wolf hearing let me hear my cougar mother admiring one of my friends.
 
It’s bad enough having to see Pru drool over him every day but my mom?
 
Ick
.

 
“I’m so glad he is chaperoning tonight.
 
I talked to Dolly the other day and she told me Oakley would be at the dance keeping an eye on everything.
 
Before you freak out, we trust you and Pru, but prom night can get crazy with everyone else so it has nothing to do with you two okay.”

Yeah,
woot
woot
.
 
How delightful.
 
I see Pru watch Oakley as he gets out of the car and it is written all over her face, she adores him.
 
Oak usually hides his admiration for Pru but he didn’t seem to take his eyes off of her.
 
I can’t really blame him though, she looks stunning.

All of us pile into the limo to ride around town, we can’t pass Sonic without stopping for a cherry limeade.
 
Mom and dad snuggled up in the back like teenagers, Allie and Oakley were talking about firearms and how she had been hanging out at the firing range with one of her girlfriends, Pru and I laughing nonstop over the fact prom is finally here.
 
I can’t help looking around trying to take mental pictures so I’ll never forget this moment, one I knew was limited and going to end soon.
 

I watch out the window as we pull onto our street, a few of the neighbors are outside and wave as we drive by.
 
In the driveway blocking my dad’s car is one black car owned by one vampire named Arien.
 
What the hell is he doing here?
 
I think to myself.
 
Breathe.

 
Allie starts rapidly clapping, “Oh
Yay
!
 
Arien’s
here!
 
He’s taking mom, dad, and me out to dinner tonight.
 
We’re going to that exclusive steak house that most people need a second mortgage to afford.”
 

Oakley, Pru, and I silently try to figure out what is going on.
 
Great, my perfect night just went up in flames when I realize that not only is some vampire hanging all over my sister but now he wants to hang out with my parents.
 

There is a slight change in
Arien’s
expression when he sees Oakley is with us.
 
  
We go through the formalities of introducing each other. I hear Arien whisper to Allie that we reeked of dog.
 
Anger seethed from every pore of my body.
 

Pru whispers to me, “Stop worrying, he is just doing it because he knows we can hear him.”

 
I notice the front door fly open and Bryon come bounding out.
 
He runs over high fiving everyone “Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about!”

“Hey, we need to get this show on the road, we have reservations.”
 
Oakley says as he crawls back into the Hummer.

“This is sweet, the General set us up!”
 
Bryon said rubbing his hands back and forth on the black leather seat of the car.
 
He knocks on the little privacy window and tells the driver to go to Pru’s house.

“We’re picking someone up?”
 
I ask.

Bryon grins at me.
 
“You didn’t think you’d be the only one with a pretty girl on your arm tonight did you?
 
I’ll be back out, but Dolly just sent me a text message that she wants to get some pictures of us all together before we drive off.
 
Don’t stress, it’ll take only a minute, our reservations are at 6:30.”

“Oh yeah, Pru I have a corsage for you, my mom said it is a wristlet or whatever it’s called.
 
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”
 
I feel like I’m stumbling all over myself trying to get it out of the box.
  
I take her hand, and fasten the rhinestone bracelet around her wrist.

“Abel, it’s beautiful.
 
You remembered about me loving red roses, it’s so pretty.”
 
She smiles at me.
 
“I love the black ribbons, it’s gorgeous.
 
Thank you.”
 
She leans over and kisses me.
 
My brain explodes with affection for her.
 
Only a quick kiss but her lips touch mine and for a brief moment there are no
Ariens
or
Oakleys
in the world.
 
From behind her back she pulls out a small box with a single red rose boutonniere and pins it to my lapel.

“Oh holy hell, who is that?”
 
I ask as Bryon comes out of the house with a stunning blonde girl.
 
Pru whispers to me that she is from the Dallas Pack and she rode up in the Hummer to go to prom.
 
“Why are you whispering?
 
They aren’t in the car yet.”
 
I ask.

“I don’t know.”
 
She laughs as she says it.
 
“Can you believe Bryon has been talking with her on
Facebook
and didn’t want to say anything until she was really here?
 
One thing for sure, she is gorgeous.”

 
“Hey Bryon, where are the reservations for?
 
You’ve been all secretive so what gives?”
 
I put my hand on his knee and squeeze.

“As it so happens, we’re going to the same place that Arien is taking your parents, it is The Hidden Cove.
 
The General pulled some strings and got us a table.
 
He is even picking up the tab.
 
I’ve tried it out a couple of months ago, and trust me, we’re going to starve! They only put a dot of food on your plate.
 
Let’s go through a drive through when we leave okay?”
 
Bryon and his date Shaynie sit back holding hands.
 

I am the only non-
were
in the car, I feel a little insignificant… but I’m safe.

We pull up to what looks like an old fashioned cottage.
 
The restaurant would be totally hidden had it not been painted white and have twinkle lights dotted in the landscape.
 
It is the kind of place described in fairy tales.
 
We drive past the valet parking area and can see that
Arien’s
car is there.
  
Excitement ripples through me, the mere thought of ripping his throat out brings a smile to my face. The driver drops us off at the door.
 
Some great big hunky body builder guy escorts us through two big ornately carved wooden doors.
  
We walk past a couple sitting in a secluded booth, she has her hand stretched out obviously admiring a new piece of jewelry.
 

“Oh, that’s so sweet.”
 
Pru gushes to herself.

I look out around the room, wondering if I’ll see my parents and the vamp.
  
The giant windows looking out over a man-made pond with a gazebo and water fountain make the place seem a little magical.
 
Originally we were going to be sitting outside but someone reserved the gazebo to propose.
 
Everyone stopped eating to watch us cross the room; I spot my parents obviously enjoying their dinner.
 
My mom waves to us discreetly catching the attention of Arien, he turns around and scowls at us; making me snigger.
 
Pru elbows my ribs.
 
“Sorry.”
 
I whisper in her ear.
 
“I can’t help myself.”

“Learn.
 
Quickly.”
 
She demands.

“You’re a buzz-kill sometimes.”
 

“Whatever.
 
Control yourself.”
 
She says through her pretend smile and clinched teeth.

I see a table set for six, the driver is eating with us since he made the four hour drive up from Texas and is driving us around like hired help.
 
The big hunky guy holds the chair out for Shaynie and I hold out Pru’s.
 
I catch a wink from my dad that just so happens to be at the table across from us.

Looking at the menu I realize that Bryon is right, any place that doesn’t put a price on the menu is out of my league.
 
Although we each take turns shooting Arien dirty looks, the dinner is really uneventful. Shaynie even got in on the fun of the “shoot Arien the stink eye” game we all took pleasure in playing.
 
The food came out by six different people; it looked like a well choreographed dance.
 
One thing for sure, a drive-through is in my near future.

Pru and Shaynie look like they are getting along, on the surface at least.
 
I feel a little tension oozing from Pru, I’ll have to talk to her alone and find out what’s going on. I hear Shaynie tell her that she is considering moving down here and transferring to our pack.
 
Her Alpha knew of her decision but she really wants to get Pru’s opinion since they are the same age.
 
I hear Pru tell her it would be great, but I didn’t see it on her face.
 
I took the opportunity to grab her and drag her to the dance floor.

“What was all of that about?” I ask.

She shakes her head no and said, “Oh Shaynie was telling me that she is thinking about joining our pack.
 
I guess she is highly skilled in woodwork and firearms.”
 
She clucks her tongue.
 
“I’m not exactly sure what the woodwork part has to do with anything but with Parker gone we don’t have a firearms specialist.
 
We have to keep up with our defenses or that makes us weak.
 
I told her it would be cool with me.”

“I heard you say that, but I didn’t see your eyes agree.
 
Did you have a dream?”
 
I ask as I try shuffling my feet around in my feeble attempt at dancing.

“No, nothing like that.
 
It’s just a girl being jealous.
 
I don’t know if you noticed, but she is beautiful.
 
Before you even say it, I know, but women are just like that.”
 
The
“Cha Cha Slide”
came on and Pru pulls me to the center of the dance floor.
 
“Oh, I love this song!
 
Just follow me and I’ll teach you how to do it.”

 
I’m over at the drink table grabbing something for Pru and Oakley walks over to me and says, “We have a situation.
 
Grab anyone you see meet me in the limo.”

I slip out the front door with the rest of our group.
 
I feel someone grab my hand, flinching I pull away.
 
I look up and see Mrs. Smith with some type of ink pad and hand stamp, before I can protest she tags my hand.
 
“Hold up guys, get your hand stamped or we can’t get back in.”
 
I yell out to everyone.
 
 
After we all climb back into the limo; the driver starts telling us about how he had been watching the 10:00 news and they were reporting about a wild wolf attack just outside Choctaw.
 
Two teenage boys had been out hunting when a huge wild wolf jumped out of the woods and tore out the throat of one of the boys, killing him.
 
The other one shot the wolf, but it got away.
 
The authorities are warning everyone to be on guard.
 
The reporters did interviews with a couple of the locals. They are on a hunt for wolves and have said they will shoot any they see.
 
The news reporter did warn them that wolves are endangered; they can be fined or go to prison.
 
The locals said that their livestock and kids matter more than a fine.
 
General Phelan has ordered all of us to stay out of the woods and no running at the farm until this passes.