adjective ~ caused by or showing the effects of drinking alcohol

"N-no Luna, you gotta-you gotta...like this."

I giggled as I watched Miley attempt the limbo. She bent her body so far back, I thought she was going to fold in half. She took one step and came crashing to the floor with a groan. Instinctively I went to see if she was okay, hunching over her body on the ground, but as soon as I reached her I burst into sporadic fits of laughter once again.

Miley rolled on her back, laughing and clutching her stomach. Maisie came running towards us too, helping me in hoisting her sister onto two feet. Miley belched as she stood, sending us into more fits of laughter.

"Ma-an, where's Molly Moo even at t-tonight?" I hiccupped over my words.

Miley, wait no, Maisie shrugged, patting me on the back. "I've not seen her, everyone here is just...a big sausage roll."

I frowned, my eyebrows furrowing as I looked to where she was pointing. "Sausage roll?"

"Mm, I love sausage rolls." She breathed. "Hey, your turn on limbo-o!"

She shoved me, causing me to stumble, the drink in my hand sloshing out of the cup. Wait, when did I have a cup? I thought I had a bottle? Weird.

I shrugged, downing the rest of the firey liquid before approaching the bamboo cane. Miley-Maisie was holding the cane, just below my hips. I was flexible, I was amazing at limbo and yoga, I beat Miley hands down any day, any time, I will win.

I inhaled deeply, shaking my hands as I prepared myself to bend. The twins cheered me on, my alcohol-induced mind confident with its choice. I stepped closer, slowly bending myself backwards. I felt my hair slip past my shoulders, losing sight of the pole as I stared up at the night sky. I bend backwards, taking gentle steps forwards as I held my weight.

I felt triumphant in my accomplishment as half my body passed below the pole. A movement from the corner of my eye caught my interest and I rolled my head to the side to see what was so shiny. In my excitement, I failed to remember I was currently bent in half and came crashing to the floor. I landed head first, my legs folding beneath me. I grunted but rolled onto my front, laughing as I embraced my good ol' friend grassy.

He tickled my skin as I looked around the booming voices to seek out the shiny object. I became distracted when a large pair of boots came into my vision and I tipped my head up to see the intruder.

PHOENIX

"Leo-o-o!" I heard Nova holler.

I turned from where I stood, an eyebrow raised with interest to observe what my little mate was doing. She was walking around, swaying in her movements as she clung to Miley's arm. They were both calling for her brother and his mate but to no avail.

"She is going to regret this in the morning." Charlie laughed.

I chuckled, watching as they gave up and stumbled into a heap by the fire. My heart skipped a beat when Nova's hand came a little too close, but she righted herself to sit straight. They began to blabber about how annoying her brother was and I tuned myself back out.

"She is." I mused. "Just like the dinosaurs."

"What dinosaurs?" Pollux interrupted, coming to stand beside me.

Charlie laughed, "You don't know the dinosaur story? It's hilarious."

Pollux turned an eye to be, waiting for an explanation. "Spill then."

"Okay, I will. But before I do, remember this is your sister and Luna here." I chided, eyeing Charlie who snickered at me. "When Nova had been here for a few weeks, I had to go visit the other Alpha's pack to help them with border issues. I ended up staying for quite a few weeks, so I arrange a nice get-together for when I came home. A dance of sorts, so all the wolves could have an excuse to get dressed up.

"I came in, and at the time, this is when our relationship was strained. She was emotional, hurt and confused as to why I didn't come forward and claim her, and then she went off drinking with molly." I frowned before turning to Sean. "Your sister is a bad influence."

He shrugged, sipping on his beer. "She is."

"Roll on a couple of hours, they're busting moves on the dance floor. I have never seen Nova so enthusiastic." Charlie laughed, continuing the story.

"Nova, dance?" Pollux scoffed.

"Oh she danced, and then they ended up outside, wandering the gardens. We found their clothes first, dumped in what I assumed was meant to be beside the fountain, but ended up inside it. We found them hiding in the bushes, giggling and shrieking. They had stripped to their underwear, talking about how it was a great idea to not ruin their dresses. When we came, they were on the ground." I chuckled, remembering her wide green eyes. "They saw myself and Sean coming towards them, trying to coax them to get dressed but they ended up speaking incoherently. I don't even know if they knew what they were saying."

"I believe it was, go away dinosaur fossils!" Sean laughed.

We all laughed, my gaze drifting to my blonde beauty to find her and the twins scouting out a bamboo stick from the log pile. Amusedly, they began to play a game of limbo, giggling like school children. My heart ached with happiness, watching her let loose and enjoy her time with the twins. The three of them had gone through a lot, the whole pack saw that and as I looked at them all surrounding me, I could see how happy they were that they were enjoying themselves.

"They started screaming at me and Sean, calling us dinosaurs and to not eat them. But everything else was gibberish." Sean continued. "Molly had passed out, face first and Nova could barely hold herself up. We tried to calm her down, but she kept falling over. It was concerning at first, but so hilarious the next day."

My jaw clenched as the image of semi-nude Nova crept into my mind, my instinct at the time had wanted to shield her from the prying eyes. So I had scooped her up as quickly as I could and took her to her bedroom. I still remember her little babblings, how she flapped her arms like a bird. But I also remember the hurt in her eyes, as she poked my chest and whimpered about how lonely she felt. I understood those words, those were clearly spoken to my soul.

I had carried her to her room, her mouth speaking riddles of dinosaurs as she fell into slumber. I remember vowing myself to try harder, the little I could do with my restrictions... I hated that I hurt her, I would go back and change it if I could. But at the end of it, I had to do something. If I had announced and claimed her from the first instance, she would've been challenged and dead. I knew the moment I set my eyes on her, that she was my light in the dark. I wouldn't lose her over something as pathetic as the King's rules.

I am the rightful King. I could trample the very hierarchy where it stood.

Remembering those words, my chest puffed with pride. I turned myself back into the conversation, to find them all continuing a conversation about their mates. I took a drink of my whiskey, turning to eye Pollux over my glass. He had been watching me, rather intently. I raised an eyebrow at him, lowering the glass which cause his eyes to widen and dart away when he realised I caught him. Strange Lycan this one.

"Oh-oh, she is definitely not going to go that low." Charlie suddenly muttered.

I turned to see one of the twins collapse to the floor, the two and a half feet limbo pole proving victorious against their drunken states. I smiled as Nova rushed over to her, giggling as they hauled her to her feet. It was Miley, stumbling and rubbing her head with a laugh. Nova stepped up next, eyeing the beer in her cup before chugging it backwards.

"Have you noticed your mate tends to go for the beer when she has had too many spirits?" Charlie taunted.

I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders. "I think I'll just do some damage control."

I lowered my glass, carrying it in my palm as I made my way to my little mate. She was already bent, just about to clear the limbo line. My eyes sucked in every piece of her lithe body, contouring almost in half as she slid beneath the pole. Her body was so flexible, I loved getting her in all the positions possible.

I licked my lips, feeling a hunger develop at how good she looked in my clothes.

And out of them. Ares added.

I almost forgot he was there; relaxed and quiet tonight. He was content, but always ready to devour our mate.

Nova's eyes darted to my positioning and I watched with wide eyes as she began to fall backwards. I jumped out of my daydream when she hit the ground with a gentle thud. I was about to run to her with concern when she rolled over, a concentrated frown on her face. When her eyes landed on my hand holding my glass, they widened with triumph before falling onto my face.

"Phe-Phe!" She cheered.

My eyebrows furrowed at the degrading nickname, but the huge smile on her face was enough for me to forget it. She lay on her stomach, her knees bent and feet in the air, hands playing with the grass beneath her. She was so tiny I could just devour her.

"Nova, my love, how are you feeling?" I wondered.

She giggled, looking over her shoulder to the twins who were still attempting to do the limbo. "Great!"

I laughed at her awful impression of Tony the Tiger, lowering myself so I was crouching beside her. Her green eyes narrowed playfully, eyeing my legs and arms as I draped them across my knees. They darted to the rings on my fingers, the half-drunk whiskey glass clasped in my hands.

"You never told me what those rings mean." She pointed, glaring at my hand.

I chuckled, deciding to indulge her. I placed my glass on the ground, pulling the first ring from my right pointer finger. It was my family heirloom, a golden ring encrusted with the royal crest.

"This is the royal heirloom. Each blood of the King receives one when they become of age."

Her eyes watched me with child-like interest, wide and hiccupping as I spoke. I slid the fourth finger one next, a golden initial T.

"This one is self-explanatory." I chuckled and she nodded her head.

I moved onto my left hand, pulling the one from my thumb. It was solid black, the faintest red glow in certain lights.

"This one, I won during a trade when I was a teenager. I had bet an infuriating man who did not know of my title, my time working. If he could beat me in battle he won a week of work from me for free, if he lost, I got gloating rights. I was sixteen, it was just a little fun. But then the man spoke words to me that I would never forget. He told me I would do great things, even as I had pinned him to the ground." I laughed.

She giggled. "I would've loved to meet young you, to see what you were like."

I smiled softly. "I was a lot more depressed but gentler in my approach."

She grinned before switching the subject to my final two. My middle finger was a black and gold band, a wolf engraved in the centre of it.

"It is just a wolf, although I often use it to sign official letters; using it as a stamp for wax." I chuckled before gesturing to the mystery ring on my pointer finger. "This once helps me walk in the daytime."

Her eyes widened, her body freezing with my words. I bit back the laugh that wanted to escape as her drunken mind tried to make sense of what I was saying. Her forehead creased, her nose twitching as she licked her lips with haste. She leaned into me, beckoning me with her finger. Still in a squatted position, I enticed her and leaned forwards.

She seemed to forget what she was going to say, the moment her face turned back to mine. Her eyes widened at our closeness and I breathed in the wonderful smell coming from her proximity. She laughed nervously, eyes falling to my lips so I wetted them just to entice her more. She swallowed sharply, and just when I thought I had her hooked, she spoke.

"You're a vampire?"

I leaned away laughing, shaking with amusement at how startled she had become. She frowned at me, realising it was a joke. She pulled herself into sitting, crossing her arms with a pout.

"I'm sorry, my love, you are just too adorable." I chuckled, shaking my head. "This ring was gifted to me by a witch. She claimed it would protect me, as long as I had hope."

Her eyes softened, and she eyed the ring with interest. I held my hand out for her to inspect it but she merely pulled herself to standing. She observed me and just as I was about to rise to my full height, she let out a battle cry before launching into me.

Her small body collided with mine, but thankfully I was well trained and kept my balance. She shifted onto my back as I stood, a small squeal escaping her lips. Her arms gripped my neck as her legs wrapped around my waist.

"You turn so child-like when you are drunk." I mused before bending down to pick my glass up.

My hand steadied her as she slipped slightly, but I righted myself with a laugh. "What would you like, my love?"

"I want you to carry me like this a-all night." She hiccuped.

"How so?" I wondered.

"Because I don't like being away from you." She kissed my neck, her eyelashes brushing my skin.

"You sure it's not because you are tired?" I wondered, teasingly, knowing it was way past midnight.

"Me?" She scoffed. "Nope! Maybe you are horsey! Go!"

I grumbled at being called a horse. Unfortunately for me, I had wandered my way back to the group and Charlie had overheard. He fell into spits of laughter, mocking me for my 'new identity'. He made Nova laugh though, and so I let it slide, for now, the whiskey mellowing my mood. Everyone had a good buzz, the alcohol calming our most self-deprecating thoughts. The vibes were joyous and content, something I hoped last into the day.

We continued to talk, my hand firmly resting on Nova's calf as my other held my glass. At one point her face fell into my neck and she peppered kisses along my skin. I felt my hairs stand on end, my neck prickling with goosebumps. I grumbled lowly and she sighed happily before stopping. A few minutes of her being in the position, I felt her legs begin to loosen their hold and I knew she had fallen asleep.

I placed my glass down, pulling her to my front. She snuggled into me, mumbling about the sun being too bright before she passed out in my arms. I chuckled, lifting her to kiss her face. I turned back to the pack, whistling lowly to catch their interest.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. I hope you had as good an evening as we had. Thank you for accepting Nova fully, as you Luna." I commented.

The wolves all bowed their heads respectively, even Pollux had bent at the shoulders. They muttered small words of appreciation before I bid them all goodnight.

"If you will excuse me, please enjoy the night." I nodded my head back.

Nova shifted in my arms, my louder tone disturbing her. I bent down to inhale her sweet scent again, loving the honey hits I got from her. She mumbled a protest about my horse-ness, her hand coming to smack at my face. I just chuckled, turning to walk her up the stairs.

At least I wasn't a dinosaur this time.

••••

Ahh hello Monday. I adored writing this chapter finally a Phoenix point of view

Question of the Day:
Give me your best joke. Cheesy or not, lemme see what you got

wc: 2803

Finding Luna © 2021 XDeafening_SilenceX on W a t t p a d