Ada's Mate

Ada

“May I have this dance?”

“It will be my pleasure, Daddy,” I smile softly as I turn around to face him. His salt-and-pepper beard is neatly trimmed as always. His warm dark brown eyes are smiling lovingly at me when I take his hand and he leads me to the dancefloor.

“Are you enjoying your birthday so far?” He asks as he steers me over the floor. I am more than aware of all the envious looks I am getting from every female guest. At fifty, my dad is still one of the most attractive men in the country. Add his status as a widower alpha and you have the perfect catch.

“You outdid yourself, Father,” I laugh happily as he twirls me twice before I am in his arms again.

“I wish your mother were here today,” he says nostalgia, and I detect his sadness. “She would’ve been so proud of the lady you’ve become.”

“I’m certain she would’ve been more impressed with what you’ve accomplished today,” I flatter him. “It’s not every man that can throw his daughter a surprise party and provide the perfect dress successfully.”

“Well,” he grins and nods his head sideways. “I had help and cannot take all the credit. Your aunt Margo did most of it.”

My aunt’s name sends shivers down my spine. I hate that woman, but I will never admit it to Father. She is my mother’s sister and she dropped everything to come and help him when Mother died ten years ago. I know I am supposed to be grateful to her but I am not. She is a cold-hearted b*tch and I loathe her and her dud for a son. Besides, I am certain Aunt Margo only did it to get in bed with Father. She always had a crush on him. Mother told me so and I have seen it with my own eyes. But Dad either does not notice or ignores it because he has never looked at another woman – including Margo the Maggot.

That is what my brothers and I call her. Margo the maggot. Because she came here to munch on Mother’s corpse. Trying to get rid of Mom’s memory and wiggle herself into our pack as Luna.

“I will make a note to thank her,” I reply politely. Aunt Margo might have done this to impress Father, but I must admit that she did a great job. The ballroom is a fairyland fit for a princess. One could easily be transported back to a time of princes, knights and princesses – if you ignore all the cell phones and other technology.

“But I picked out the dress,” he grins complacent.

“And it’s perfect,” I laugh heartedly and twirl for him when the song comes to an end. The soft golden fabric flows around me in a cloud of sparkle.

“Thank you, Father,” I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. “You are the best.”

“Excuse the interruption, Alpha,” Simon, Dad’s Beta, comes closer. “Silver Moon’s party arrived.”

“They’re late,” Dad frowns.

“They encountered rouges on their way here and got delayed,” Simon explains, and Dad’s mouth pulls into a thin white line.

“The rouges are becoming an embarrassment,” Dad mumbles and sighs before he turns my way.

“Excuse me, Ada,” he smiles. “Duty calls.”

“Don’t worry, Dad,” Tyler, my oldest brother, joins us. “It’s my turn to dance with the birthday girl.”

“Do I have to?” I tease him and he scoffs at me before he takes my hand.

“You look great, sis,” he compliments me as he steers me on the dancefloor. “And by the looks, the men cast your way, I’m not the only one that thinks so.”