Chapter 169

Sarah POV

“I’m so glad I dressed up,” I said, looking around the lobby at people in long dresses and black tie. The girls were enjoying their shimmering dresses and formal black shoes with tiny heels, and Zane looked even more incredible than usual.

We weren’t even the only people there with personal security, and I spotted a lot of little earpieces with that twirled cord going down the backs of their necks. Danielle looked pretty stunning herself in a dark red floor-length and a high up-do.

“You look wonderful,” Zane murmured into my ear, making me work hard not to blush or simper. The girls had helped me pick out my outfit, of course, of a dark green, full-length silk dress and heels so high they’d cost a fortune to feel so comfortable.

My eyes were drawn up several times to the enormous chandelier three stories over our heads. Its many tiers were shaded in different hues of blue and violet, contrasting with the large black-and-white Sidney Pollack that hung on the wall nearby.

Zane nodded to a man I didn’t know, and he nodded back. “We can take our seats now.”

This involved walking up the sweeping staircase and then into our VIP box sectioned off by red curtains with gold fringe.

“They do casual concerts here sometimes,” Zane said. “But on opening nights like this, it’s expected for everyone to make an effort.

We took our seats with the girls in front of us playing with their little opera glasses. I had been to the concert hall before, but only once, and it was on one of those “casual” nights Zane mentioned. I certainly hadn’t sat in a box seat, but I had loved the music, a selection of light classical from Schubert and Haydn.

In preparation for the evening, I’d read through the synopsis of Madame Butterfly and knew that in the first act, the powerful Alpha Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Cavendish of the Cavendish Navy leases a home in the southern Cavendish Territory, which was considered quite exotic a century or two ago.

Actually, it was still considered quite exotic now, but more in a tourist-buy-this-souvenir way.

Alpha Benjamin’s house comes with all the amenities, including a full staff of human servants and a human wife, Butterfly. Unfortunately, while Butterfly believes she’s going to be the true wife of the alpha and take her place at his side when he returns home, Alpha Benjamin just thinks it’s all a charming arrangement to have a culturally fancy mistress while he’s visiting.

Frankly, I had gotten about that far in the story when I started to wonder why Zane thought this would be a good opera for us, but that all stopped when the lights dimmed, the curtain rose, and the music began. The whipping violins, the beautiful (and exotic-looking) set, it was almost overwhelming.

Soon, I was feeling sorrow for poor Butterfly, this innocent human girl who joyfully took on the role of Alpha Benjamin’s wife while he was running around singing about how one day he would take a “real” werewolf mate.

I was struck by the cruel beauty when Butterfly explained she had forsaken her human religion and now embraced the moon. She had even washed herself in the Luna Temple, much to her werewolf “husband’s” surprise and pleasure. By the time they went to make love in the garden, I was crying softly.

I was again glad of having done my research and reached into my little gold purse for a handkerchief so I wasn’t openly weeping when the lights went back on. Zane got us champagne and sodas while I took the girls to the VIP ladies room (much shorter line than for the others, thank the goddess), and then we let Grace tell us, a little less quietly these days, about her favorite parts so far.

“You sing better than Butterfly,” Chloe told her confidently.

“Alpha Zane,” a vaguely familiar voice said, and we turned to see Alpha Marin Grofts standing there in a sensational gown on her tall body and a beautiful beta male on her arm. She smiled at me. “And Miss Sarah Astor, what a pleasure to see you.”

“I didn’t know you would be here,” Zane said, sounding contrite, particularly considering she’d challenged him to a fight to the (near) death some months ago. He looked at me and said, “Alpha Marin is now in charge of the Phillip Consortium, which is one of the Cavendish Opera Association’s most generous donors.”

“Alpha Marin,” I said with a smile as I held out my hand for a firm handshake. It occurred to me that she would have a different last name now that she was no longer Pack Alpha of what had been Grofts Territory and was now a part of Western Cavendish. It really was confusing how the Pack Alpha bore the territory’s name, and I wondered if that were why wolves usually used alpha’s first names.

I decided now was not the time to find out about that, though, and just asked if she were enjoying the opera.

“Very much.” She frowned at me slightly. “Must be odd to watch this as a human woman.”

I shrugged. “We’re all the poorer for it if we let great art die because it doesn’t match our current social norms.”

“Well said.” She looked down. “And these are your daughters, Pack Alpha Zane. Chloe and Grace, right? I hear one of you is studying singing?”

Grace nodded.

“How charming. I’m a friend of Miss Carmen, and she’s been telling me you have real talent. Oh, and this is Malcomb Halidon, my friend and fellow opera lover.”

I said more about how lovely everything was and held out my hand for a slightly less firm shake. His eyes were kind, I noticed. And then the lights flickered, and someone started playing on a xylophone.

Not long after we got back in our seats, the curtain rose again, and I was instantly back into the story. Butterfly had a half-were son, of course, and although her family tried to marry her off to a human, she refused and said her marriage to Alpha Benjamin was strong, even though it had been three years since they were “wed.”

I was crying again by the time the second act ended and Butterfly and her son were hiding behind a screen for when Alpha Benjamin came “home.” I checked to make sure the girls weren’t upset, and while Chloe was obviously having a good time, Grace looked ecstatic.

I leaned over to Zane and murmured, “Looks like she’s found her passion.”

He nodded and kiss my cheek. My eyes darted around, but I don’t think anyone saw.

“Not sorry,” he said before standing up for intermission.