Kenzie Hope
It was Thursday afternoon, I was set to leave to the Moon Rise pack Saturday. I would leave in two days and it was terrifying. Jordan had called our so-called grandfather and told him we would leave bright and early Saturday morning.
Kaden wanted to come with, but I told him no because he needed to stay here with the pack. It would've been okay if the Beta, Shane, was here, but he was helping out one of our allied packs. The Gamma, Evan, would have been the next best option, but the Gamma couple just found out that they were pregnant. Between all of that, there was no one to take care of the pack and he needed to stay, much to his protest.
Since deciding that he would stay here, things have been slightly awkward. He sat with me when everyone was around, but where we were alone, he wasn't as comfortable. He didn't hold me close at night, he stopped kissing my forehead. It was the little things that stopped. I knew everything would go back to normal once this was all figured out so I didn't worry about it.
I decided to keep Brady here at the Winters pack. It was the hard decision; he was my little brother and I wanted to be wherever he was to protect him. The major point that influenced that choice was that, by keeping him here, I was keeping him safe. I didn't know what was waiting for me at the Moon Rise pack, but here was safe. Brady would be safe here.
Lily, the Beta Female, was raised to be someone of power. Her father was a highly ranked warrior, so they knew she would be mated with a highly ranked male. They raised her in the Alpha Manor with the other children of powerful wolves. That being said, she knew how to act like a Queen and still fight like a badass. I didn't know how we didn't ask for her help earlier.
We were sitting in the living room of the Alpha Manor. All of the guys and Lily with a pregnant Faye. The girls had gotten really close while I was gone and I felt a little jealous until I realized I had no one but myself to blame; I was the one who left. Anyway, we were sitting there while Lily was talking about her childhood, the lessons she was taught.
She had decided that she would fix my physical appearance. She was born to be able to walk with a stack of books on her head and she would teach me to do that same. She said that everything a people needed to know about the leader was in the way she moved, walked. If she moved with elegance, and killed with grace, she will be loved.
I thought that was a little much, but went with it anyway.
After Lily fixed my elegance, she and Faye were going to change my entire wardrobe. Apparently old tradition packs also admired old tradition clothes- well, kind of. They were all into cloaks and capes with armored dresses and medieval gowns that have a modern twist. Most of the dresses honestly kind of looked like things that elf princesses would wear.
I was standing with my legs together, my arms flopping, I felt like a fish out of water. Lily was shifting my legs and body so that I could stand 'picture perfect'. Faye sat in the arm-chair in front of us and casually gave advice.
My left leg was placed slightly in front of my right, my back straighter than a pole. Lily pushed my shoulders back and my butt popped out of its straight line. She laughed before telling me to 'suck that shit back in'. She pushed my chin up to portray that I had confidence.
"This is how you stand," She commanded. I took in the stiffness of my body, not liking how horrible it felt. I must have had horrible posture. "Now, sit."
I listened to her and sat down on the couch next to Kaden. He looked at me and gave a tight-lipped smile. I grabbed his hand, squeezed it, before putting it back down. Lily immediately started adjusting me again.
She crossed my ankles before pounding into my head to always cross my ankles, not my legs. I was pushed to the back of the chair and my weight was balanced between my hips. "Back straight," Lily demanded, "ALWAYS back straight." Her hands reached out toward me for me to grab. I stood up straight like she told me and she adjusted me slightly.
"The glide," She started as she slid, "Feet a half-foot apart, weight on your back foot." I adjusted myself accordingly before she continued, "When you walk, your moving foot should brush the heel of the other, then your knees should cross. It needs to be smooth."
She demonstrated the walk she walk she so elegantly named 'the glide'. Her skirt lightly flowed behind her as she so gracefully moved about. She walked to the bookshelf and placed a book on her head. She glided over to me and placed the book on my head, which, of course, instantly dropped.
"Wow, that's a record," Harrison laughed. Dylan slapped him in the back of the head, which shut him right up.
Lily placed the small book back on my head and held it there for me while I walked. I tried to do it exactly how she did but I stumbled and my heels didn't quiet touch. I was trying my best, though, and everyone could see that.
"Lead more with your boobs," Lily advised, earning her a growl from Kaden. She laughed before adding, "Not enough to make it obvious though."
I did as she told me and Lily clapped softly, mumbling about how I was finally getting it. She continued watching me walk for a few more minutes until Lily added a few more books. I dropped the books a few times, but I kind of got the hang of it after a while.
"You are never in a hurry. Always take your time," Lily explained as I began to walk slower. "Better," She remarked.
"It's fashion time!" Faye squealed. Harrison groaned at her words, but stood up anyway. The rest of everyone followed in suite.
"I think all of us going would be a little much. How about the girls and Kaden?" Lily suggested. The boys shouted in glee and I laughed at them.
Soon enough we were all piled into Kaden's car with me in the front seat and the girls in the back. The radio was on low, but Kaden's fingers drummed on the steering wheel as he hummed along. His face was blank other than his fiery green eyes. Those green eyes that told me all I needed to know, told me that he didn't want me to go.
When we arrived in pack mall, I was surprised by how empty it was. It was a considerably large mall, considering that it resided in a considerably large pack, and there were only a few stragglers lounging about. Kaden pulled into the parking lot and I went to get out before Lily cut me off.
"No, No," She scolded me, "You don't get to open your own doors anymore." At her words, I scoffed. There was no way that would work. Shouldn't a strong leader be able to open her own doors?
Kaden got out and strutted over to my side to open the door for me. He gave me an empty glance as he walked around the car, making my heart pang at the lack of emotion. Once the door was opened, I went to get out before getting cut off again.
"Keep your ankles and knees together and scoot yourself to the edge of the seat. Angle your knees towards the outside," Lily instructed, "With one hand on the seat and the other in front of you, push yourself out of the car as you put one leg out. Make sure your knees stay together as you take your other foot out."
I did as she said and got out of the car all fancy-like. She yelled at me to stand up straight and my spine snapped into place. Kaden stopped beside me and offered his arm to me, reminding me that I was never to walk alone because it was seen as embarrassing.
We walked into the mall, Kaden guiding us to the store that was specialized in weird, random requests. Apparently two days ago, when we found out Moon Rise was traditional, Kaden had called the pack designer and had her draw up some ideas. It was extremely considerate of him considering he didn't want me to go in the first place.
The first thing I saw was Anna, the woman who had helped Lily and I the day we got sworn into our pack positions. Her almost white hair was thrown up into a messy bun that you could tell started out tight but fell throughout the day. She had her glasses perched up on the edge of her nose. When she saw us, she smiled brightly and we all gave her the same energy back.
"Hi, dear." She rushed over to us and gave the girls a hug. She reached for my hand and pulled me away from Kaden, toward a rack of outfits. Kaden didn't enjoy me being ripped away from him, but he let it go, following close behind.
"I think we should start with her arrival outfit first, something extravagant that they can't tear their eyes away from," Lily advised. Anna nodded at Lily's suggestion and moved towards the right hand side of the rack.
Dresses and gowns lined two large racks, the colors and possibilities endless. They were organized meticulously, in style and then in color. She pulled out a green satin mermaid dress. It had a long train and transparent lace sleeves. The elegance of it was undeniable, but Lily declined it saying that it wasn't traditional enough.
The next dress Lily approved for my first day. It was a royal blue satin dress. It had a A-line neckline with off the shoulder one inch sleeves. The slight ruffles under the waist line flowed elegantly to the ground, pooling at my feet and creating a sweep length train. There was a slit in the side that went up to a few inches below the waist line, giving it a modern twist.
Lily threw me into the dressing room and shoved the dress into my arms. I tried the dress on and I was in love. The dark blue contrasted perfectly against my pale skin, my long hair flowing down my bare shoulders. It was an elegant dress, possibly too elegant, I was an ex-Omega after all.
I walked out of the changing room exactly how Lily had shown me, trying to look as princesses as possible. The girls beamed brightly at me, excited to see me in the dress. Kaden, however, looked impossibly handsome with his darkened eyes. I blushed as I could feel his lust through our bond.
Lily bent down at my feet and placed a few pairs of heels in front of me. The girls carefully considered each heel option before choosing a faux suede, pointed toe, lace up, three-inch heels. I slid them on and carefully laced them up, trying my best not to fall flat on my face. Kaden held me up and I tied them.
"Perfect!" Faye squealed, a little too loud for my werewolf hearing. I winced and she instantly apologized.
"It is perfect though, dear," Anna complimented with a sunshine smile. I blushed and turned away, their compliments making me shy.
"Beautiful," Kaden whispered in my ear before kissing where my hairline meets my ear. I wrapped my arm around him, needing to be closer to my mate before I leave. He wrapped me up in his arms as I melted into his body.
"That's enough lovebirds!" Lily shouted, "We have at least a hundred more dresses to go through!"
Kaden let me go as I groaned and was shoved back into a dressing room with yet another dress.