The first Dance

Adelaide interrupted Brianna as she whispered, " Don't look now, but Prince Michael is coming towards us." Brianna stopped as when she had finished saying those words Prince Michael was right in her, towering over her.

" Prince Michael?" She spoke breathlessly.

" May I have this dance." Michael blurted as he spoke the words without a second thought as Brianna's eyes widened as Adelaide's jaw dropped to the floor as everyone around them looked at their interaction as Michael held his hand out.

Brianna did not understand if this was a game or could they have a chance with everyone seeing. Her eyes quickly scattered to those over her parents as they stared intently as his parents did the same. She felt her throat close up as she felt the weight of everyone gaping as her innate nature wanted to reject and be repulsed by his action as he spoke again as her gaze shifted back to him once again.

" Princess Brianna, may I please have this dance." Michael asked as a wave of calmness, and earnest washed over her as she no longer felt the pressure to uphold the expectation of anyone else but her wants and needs even if it would be for a moment.

" Yes." Brianna replied as she placed his hand as he placed another kiss upon it as it drew a smile from both. Michael led her as everyone cleared the path as Brianna followed once they reached the center they both looked at the conductor as they regained their composure as the soft symphonies and melodies echoed from the piano, violins, and other instruments that flowed through the hall. They both bowed as swayed side to side as they repeated before they carried the routine of a waltzing as Brianna placed her one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand as he placed one hand in hers and the other on her lower back.

" Have we met before?" Michael queried as he whispered into her ear as they swayed closely.

Brianna shook her head, not recalling a moment where they did. She would have remembered if they had met before. He was her beloved after all.

Michael smiled as he questioned, " Are you sure about that?"

"I would have recalled it if I had ever met the Prince of Wolves." Brianna retorted as she rolled her eyes as he tilted her chin as her eyes met his.

" I think you should look a little closer, my love." Michael alleged as his ocean blue eyes glistened as her memory faded back to the alpha wolf she had met by the river as she was compelled by the same blue eyes. They could not be the same, could they? " So do you remember?"

His voice snapped her out of the recollection as she shook her head again and refused, " No, I haven't I can assure you." As she said this not out of rejection but knowing very well her father or mother could probably hear their conversation even if the music reverberated she could not take the chance of her parents doing something rash that could end up hurting him.

" So is that how we are going to play it?"

" There is nothing worth playing. We are simply dancing, Prince Michael."

" I can tell you're lying."

" Really, how so? The last time I checked you were a werewolf, not a magician."

" It has nothing to do with magic just I know that you are, otherwise I would have to believe that vampires are absent minded and have faulty memory that can probably be attested to old age." Michael inclined as he looked at her.

" What about wolves? Aren't you two hundred years old and tend to be forgetful at times." Brianna said with firm resistance as she looked everywhere but his eyes.

" How do you know how old I am? I never told you." Michael noted as he quizzically perked his brow as Brianna bit her lip mentally slapping herself for a slip up.

" It was an estimation, you have lived far longer than I have and your parents are three times your age so I just guessed." Brianna babbled as that was the first plausible excuse she could come up with sounding realistic yet not so much as the words repeated in her mind as Michael found this bullshit entertaining.

"I never told anyone my age. It's interesting how you would just guess my age correctly." Michael said in false amazement.

" Well it's not that hard when you can see the wrinkles." Brianna joked as she stared out at the crowd smiling.

" And how would you know?" Michael contemplated.

" How would I know what, Prince Michael?" Brianna said in an innocent baby voice.

" How would you know if I had wrinkles if you didn't look at me?" Michael said.

Brianna chuckled softly, " I don't have to look at you to know you're old. I just do."

Michael made a tsk sound as he wanted her to look at him not anyone else with the little moment they had as he lowered his hand on her back and pulled her closer as Brianna's eye widened as her mouth fell agape as she turned her head towards him.

" Now you're looking." Michael smirked as Brianna's cheeks reddened. Damn her. Due to her witch-mortal side such bodily reactions were more pronounced. She couldn't tell if it was visible to him, but she felt it. Why would he do something so flirtatious in front of everyone including their own parents. Maybe it was all a joke to him.

" Won't this make your female jealous?" Bri asked as he spun her around.

" My female?" Michael pondered as Brianna nodded. Was he acting dumb? Did he not notice the redhead that clung to him as if she owned him?

" Yes your female, your she-wolf who stands by your side like a child." Brianna entailed. She could tell it

" You mean Aurora?" Michael said in a curious tone as they both looked at Aurora. Aurora was just Aurora to Michael. Nothing more than a member of his pack. Why would she bring her up?

" Yes, I recall the redhead names being that. She is very protective as if someone might snatch you away from her." Brianna informed as she looked into his eyes. He couldn't tell if she was curious or jealous. Rather than just play with her, just stated the basic truth. Regardless, who heard.

" She is not anything mine. Especially not my female. She is just a friend." Michael found a better word for a lack of term. Friend a word he found ill used to describe Aurora's connection to him. She was someone who always appeared.

" It's always just a friend." Brianna scoffed.

" I do not belong to her, nor does she to me. " Michael said determinedly as he continued, " If she were my female I would have the whole world know as I would show her."

" Like a trophy? Something to be proud of ?" Brianna said with disgust.

" No, as my equal. As my queen, she is my beloved, my very other half. The person who has the right to stand beside me as I have the right to stand beside her. Not through power but through our love and commitment towards one another." Michael clarified as his gaze pierced her.

" I guess then you have the right concept of husband and wife." Brianna said in an earnest voice as a smile formed across Michael's face revealed those cute indented dimples that she swore she never saw before.

" Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?" Michael pondered as watched for her reaction as she hit him with another starkey comment.

" Take it how it pleases you." Brianna said nonchalantly as she was actually teasing him. Hopefully he wouldn't get too offended, if he did he would have another point off besides being a wolf.

" You're feisty." Michael added as Brianna cocked her head,in confusion and utter disbelief. He had known her for less than ten minutes and was already criticizing her or so she believed. She was feisty at times, hell she could be a bit bitchy, but still they just met he didn't know her personally to be so casual about it.

" Feisty?" Brianna scoffed as he spinned her around as they took their posture. " How do you know I'm feisty just because I refused to please your ego." Michael grinned as he hit a nerve unintentionally.Although he didn't want to start off with her hating him. He could play along.

" I didn't mean to offend you, it was just a simple observation."

" An observation, so it's factual."

"Not unnecessarily just if you believe it to be so then it's different. You never heard the term ``you shouldn't be offended by something that isn't true, unless it is." Michael internally smiled as he wondered if she would be that easily emotional. Could she hide her true emotions? Or who she run off?

She laughed as she knew he wanted her to react. He wanted to see what type of person she was? What could tick her off? Brianna certainly surprised him with her next reaction as she squinted her eyes, " Well said Prince Michael playing those tricks, but you will have to try a bit harder next time."

Michael raised his brow as she figured out his game as the corner of his lips lifted. She was no little wolf. She was an alpha in her own right. Just like him.

" I guess, I just have to attempt to figure you out." Michael reflectived as Brianna nodded in agreement.

" You definitely do. I might surprise you." Brianna advised as they moved from side to side.

" And what exactly might I find out?" He whispered into her ear as Brianna tilted her head. Did she want him to find out who she truly was, not just the Princess of Vampires, but his mate. Would he care? Would he treat her any differently than his foe? Michael waited for a response as he examined her. She was cautious with her guard not only up towards him but even her cousin. He didn't expect her to be all giggle and smiles at first but with her own. Why? Why did she have the need to protect herself even with those she trusted?

Brianna broke his thought as she spoke, " You'll just have to see. But I can promise you I won't bite." She flashed her teeth without any fangs.

"No biting, huh?" He cocked his brow as he continued, " So all smiles and giggles?" He proposed as she fluttered her eyes confused by the hidden meaning but Brianna gave in.

" Yes, all smiles and giggles." Brianna repeated as she grinned ear to ear as her smile caused a smile of his own. As the music captivated their souls they longer talked instead they allowed themselves to immerse in each other's presence. Everything and everyone seemed to fade away. In this moment, where only lovers can explain their way, they gazed into each other's souls as the sensation of longing and desperation. They were dancing with the devil. Out of control, it was like heaven was right there right at the grasp of their hands, they were playing with enemy, and gambling with their souls as they held each other in the moment in time everything and anyone else disappeared as irrelevant pieces of nothing as the only two that were left residing within themselves.

As the room spinned and they turned around as Brianna was partnered with her cousin and Michael with Aurora as they drew them farther away.

" Be careful cousin, you're fraternizing with the wolves." Ethan began as she danced with a stoic face as she looked over his shoulder as they attempted to near one another as they missed by bare inches as she sighed.

" It's supposed to be a friendly celebration, cousin." Brianna made an effort to sound reassuring as she wanted him to shut up.

" Yes, but you are too friendly." Ethan pointed out as Brianna furrowed her brow. Her cousin was full of jesters and mockery that he himself only knew.

" What are you trying to say?" Brianna demanded as she danced with him. Her cousin always seemed to pick at her brain. He loved using mental warfare on people as sometime of cruel joke that he himself could understand.

" You know you are half-breed, so does everyone else. And I presume that it does not settle well with you, so instead of settling with one of us you'll settle for the beasties." Ethan specified as Brianna pushed him away as she stopped dancing as she stared him off until he shrugged his shoulders and turned around to dance with another woman. Brianna didn"t know what bothered her more about that statement. The fact he was testing her or that it was true. Her beloved was a wolf. Of course he didn't know that no one but two mates knew. The fact that she allowed the comment to get to her simply implied that he was right. She quickly shifted her gaze as she attempted to find Michael who stood out standing on the other side instead of on the dance floor where he stared back. The few minutes they had been in each other's arms they slipped through their hands. They had already missed each other's warmth. Brianna sighed as she crossed her arms. Thinking if they would have another chance. She could always just go ask him, but that would just give rise to the tension between clans. Michael himself was about to ask her again when a tall blonde man appeared next to her.

" I thought I was supposed to be your first dance." Ambrose appeared out of thin air as he whispered into Brianna's ear. She partly jumped as she turned around to see him with a small smile. She placed a hand on her chest as he threw his hands up. " I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's alright, I'm sorry, Ambrose. Prince Michael just suddenly asked and I couldn't reject him." Brianna explained the situation.As she had actually forgotten about the promise of giving him the first dance. She felt guilty all of a sudden as she hoped it didn't put him off.

" It is alright, my lady." Ambrose accepted the apology as he offered his hand. " Then, may I have this dance." Brianna mentally thanked his approach to the circumstances, as she put her hand in his as she grinned.

" I would love to." Brianna accepted as they moved to the center of the room. While on the sidelines Michael stared at their interaction holding his metal cup tightly until it left a dent. As he glared at the newbie blonde, he was definitely a threat. She would smile so effortlessly as there was less tension between them verses when she was with him. Why just because he was a vampire? Michael wasn't a big scary wolf, but a wolf he still was. He just wanted to rip her out of his arms and proclaim she was his. He wanted it more than anything but he wouldn't bring himself to. All night and days before he had contemplated what he would do when he would meet her.Yet he stood there jealous yet he still carried doubt in his mind about rejecting her.

" Give the poor cup a break." A voice spoke as he looked to see his good old friend Eli. Eli who had been distracted the entire night attempting to take care of his alpha when he just gave up.

Michael turned his head quickly to Eli and back to Brianna as he said, " Just releasing some stress."

" Stress,oh right you're the one who asked the Princess to dance with you. Smart. Not." Eli remarked as Michael gave him the side eye. When he had seen Michael walk right up to the Princess he felt part of his soul die, yet the Princess agreed so he just minded his own business.

" It's just formalities." Michael curtly informed as Eli rolled his eyes.

" Yeah so let me just go ask the Queen of Vampires for a dance, shall I?" Eli said sarcastically as he crossed his arms patting his chin as Michael wanted to hit him in the back of the head but instead of giving his best friend a concussion he just continued to gaze at the dancing couple. " But seriously man, what is bothering you?"

" Does she look happy?" Michael questioned as Eli perked his brow as he attempted to look in the same direction he was looking at and he only spotted Brianna and a tall blonde man.

" You mean the Princess?" Eli pondered as Michael nodded. Eli did not know why Michael was interested in the Princess, I mean she was beautiful but he couldn't just fall in love with her. Besides, Michael had his mate. " I mean yes, it's her birthday, Michael."

Michael's lips were set in a straight line. Silent. Pondering at what he could do to see her smile at him like that. Could they be happy with each other? Would everything be different if they were the same or even if they were human? What would be the difference then?

" I mean in general does she seem happy around her people?" Michael stressed.

Eli scrunched his nose as his eye twitched as he huffed , " I don't know Michael, I just met her tonight and you want me to do a psych evaluation. Like I'm already tired being around you much less focusing on the Princess."

Michael sighed as he did not receive an ouch of help nor clarification. He didn't think he would with any of his decisions. He would just have to figure it out. He guessed.

Eli broke his thoughts when he threw his arms over his shoulder as he leaned in, " Don't worry about her, tonight we enjoy the adventures of youth."

" You lightweight." Michael shared as he shook him off.

" I am not. Besides, I'm not even drunk." Eli defended himself as he stood straight.

"I wish I had brought Ace instead." Michael joked as Eli opened his mouth wide as he touched his chest. Ace was the last part to the trio. The last piece to the puzzle.He was a loud foul mouthed, overly confident, brooding tan-skinned,hazel eyes attracted attention of all females regardless of species, promiscuous of an ass who was their best friend. Currently he resided back at the wolf residence as he was recovering from a horrible flu.

" I am offended that you prefer that scoundrel over this angelic being that puts up with your bullshit." Eli said tartly as Michael finally broke his serious face.No, but seriously how dare he. After all he did for this man, yes his childhood best friend,the least he would want is gratitude.

" At least he would be frolicking around instead of talking nonsense." Michael smirked as he hit Eli's wolf pride as his chartreuse eyes glowed.

" Alright, alright. A challenge I see. Show me what you got." Eli said as he rubbed his hands together. Michael tilted his head pondering the million things he could tempt or hopeful Eli would follow through with as he thought of a perfect idea for his friend to begin finding another mate.

" Fine, you have to conceive any female here to kiss you." Michael added as Eli blood ran cold.

" You son of a….." Eli trailed off as Michael cocked his brow almost forgetting who he was offending. He placed his hands to his lips as he looked in deep thought.

Michael shrugged his shoulders as he took a sip of his drink as Eli squinted his eyes at him." I never said you had to. I guess you just are not up to the challenge." They had a stand still until Eli hanged his head.

" Just this once. I'll show you… Pain in my ass." Eli stated as he walked off.