Thistle couldn't help but check to make sure her makeup was done right one last time. It looked good, a touch sloppy, but good. To be fair she hadn't had much time to work on it after Archer had left her as a ruined mess in the office. He honestly seemed proud of it. Each time he caught her checking her makeup that stupid smirk appeared on his face. She hated and loved it all at once.
She turned off the phone camera she had used to check and tried to relax. The dance floor of Carnal was crowded with tables to host the gathering. The bar had become a buffet and drinks were flowing. It very much felt more like a family meetup than some formal event. Compared to most people, she was overdressed. But she didn't worry about that as everyone just seemed happy to be there. Like a proper family.
Archer himself seemed to be in full apology mode before he had wandered about to do the rounds. He had made her a plate of the best food and brought her a whole bottle of good wine. He had also been super affectionate, not caring that the eyes of the entire pack were on them. It was so sweet but unnecessary. She had forgiven him back in the office. But he didn't need to know that, yet.
Melody unceremoniously threw herself into her seat to the left of Thistle. Dramatic sigh included. Thistle hadn't spotted the snow leopard all day. Apparently, she was handling the sex dungeons refurbishment so it was understandable. Lots of details in those rooms. She looked exhausted though. And her outfit of skinny jeans and a black crop top lacked the Melody dazzle for big occasions. So, Thistle didn't say anything when Melody laid her head in her lap. Instead, she just ran her hand through Melody's freshly dyed silver hair.
"Your fingers are magical." Melody mumbled, snuggling against Thistle's lap.
Thistle just rolled her eyes and kept running her hands. "Glad to see you're able to be sweet. How are you holding up?"
Melody opened her eyes a smidge to look up at Thistle. "Your boyfriend knew how hard this all would be. I know it. It's why he finally put me in charge, right before all this."
Thistle looked over at Archer in his gray suit in deep conversation with a couple pack mates. She knew that he did unsavory things but this felt under his pay grade.
"Or it was better for you to take over when closed." She offered.
"Nah, he's evil. Please tell me you cut off his balls earlier."
"What?" Thistle asked her head snapping to the now smiling snow leopard.
"Heard you tore into him in front of everyone. Was wondering if you took trophies."
"No, I didn't. And I didn't yell at him in front of everyone. Why are people even gossiping about it? It was nothing."
"Because it's fun to gossip. But seriously tell me you only fucked after you were done yelling at him at least."
Thistle was doing her best to try and burn holes in the snow leopards face with her glare. No results yet.
"I...no..." She was struggling to find the right words, frustration building. "Yes, I did. Fuck! To think I was about to ask you out tonight."
She shoved hands over her mouth but the cat was out of the bag. Melody bolted up, suddenly full of energy. Her blue eyes were staring right into Thistle's.
"You're going to ask me out? Melody had lost her teasing tone. Seriousness was in her voice which was rare for the snow leopard. A touch soft too, vulnerable maybe?
There was no putting this back in the bag. Thistle gathered her courage before speaking. What little there was. She had talked these thoughts over with Archer countless times. Or she talked at him as he smiled and nodded. It was time to tell Melody now.
"Um, yea. Me and Archer are good with being poly. And we've been kind of flirting for months now, you and me. So was figuring we could skip the awkward first dates and be a, well, a couple. Because well I like you a lot. Your fun and caring. I really want to see if it could work. And I'm rambling so bad."
She didn't see the snow leopard move, it was that fast. The first notion she had was when she felt her tail wrapped her legs, and lips on hers. The kiss was far too brief but Melody's face splitting grin was a pleasant replacement.
"Well now the whole pack is going to be gossiping about this." Thistle mumbled her face burning.
"Let them. I just got a hot girlfriend and didn't even have to wine and dine her. That is gossip worthy."
"Shh." The two fell into a fit of giggles before a new voice interrupted them.
"I would ask if I didn't have to start this thing." Archer voice said, snapping them back. Thistle jumped in her seat see to Archer looming over them.
"Tell me later?" He asked leaning down to give a quick peck on her cheek.
"Yea, love you." He was busy she got it. He didn't need to know about them dating right now. Or that Melody's tail was wrapped around her leg. Or that she was holding her hand. What a feeling it was to have such incredible people in her life.
"Love you too." He left, getting up on the newly constructed stage. The room immediately went quite. The alpha was about to speak and they knew that. Hopefully they would never treat her like this. Because despite his flaws he was in his element up there. Confident and sexy. She could never be like that.
"Evening my pack, my friends, my family." He said clear and crisp no mic needed to carry his voice across the room. "I can see the strength of our pack In all of you. And by the looks of it a few of you are working to grow our pack further."
A laugh crossed the room and she could see a few faces hiding at the attention drawn on them. One lady at a table nearby couldn't hide, her stomach huge and her partner looking rather proud. She had to wonder if she would be among their ranks next time, carrying the future of the pack. No, it was just an idea. Perhaps in a year or two but not for a lack of trying.
Archer was speaking again but something else stole Thistle's attention. Melody's tail had crept up her leg and was heading under her skirt. And it didn't seem like it had an intention to stop there. It climbed up and up, until. Electricity shot through Thistle as it brushed against her pussy. Still sensitive from earlier. Only by luck did she keep a gasp in.
She turned as slow as possible to face Melody, not wanting to make a scene. All the while that fucking incredible tail kept rubbing away. She mouthed stop at the snow leopard but Melody just feigned ignorance. She knew exactly what she was doing and how incredible it felt.
Thistle loved and hated the control that Melody had with her tail. It was always surprising her what she could so with it. It rubbed against the thin lace of Thistle's underwear. Pushing to hit even more pleasure spots, making her pussy ache. It felt like bliss and hell all at once. The snow leopard knew the game she was playing. That she wouldn't be getting Thistle alone for hours and that this wouldn't be enough to get her off. Each rub was a cruel tease of unfillable promises.
So, Thistle tried her best to resist. Focus on Archer, not that she registered a word he said. Her own racing heart silencing the world as the tail explored and teased. So, a new strategy. Keep a straight face. Give nothing away. Don't give Melody the satisfaction and perhaps she would grow bored.
And sure, enough the tail withdrew and sound returned to the world. "...So, with that I'm naming Thistle pack Luna." She heard Archer saying, turning to see him looking at her with nothing but love. The cruelty of Melody's teasing had far succeeded what Thistle had expected.
There were sounds of approval, claps and light cheers, and she rose up. Her legs were barely able to support her. She could see so many faces in the room, so many strangers. Was she expected to speak? No. She decided on a small wave and a smile and promptly sat back down. She would never be a crowd person and Melody had undermined her limited abilities.
