Rolling out of bed Ravenna stretched her muscles and took a deep breath. Today is the day her older brother David returned from touring surrounding packs searching for his mate. Hearing that he did find his mate, the anticipation overwhelmed her even more at the thought of a new sister. Deciding to head downstairs to help prepare for his party, she grabbed a simple pair of skinny jeans and a black tank top. Taking a quick shower, she dressed and styled her hair in a ponytail leaving her bedroom. Walking downstairs into the kitchen, she saw her mother and Serena chopping up fruits and vegetables for the Meet the Future Queen Ball they had planned for later that evening. It was their way to introduce David's new mate Rosemarie to the pack and surrounding packs.
"Hey guys, is David home yet?" She excitedly asked as she jumped on the stool next to her sister.
"Not yet he should be home in around six hours." Her mother replied. "Have you girls picked out your dresses for this evening?"
"Not yet, we will be headed to the mall in a few," Serena replied.
"Please pick something nice, this is a formal affair and every Alpha and Alphas son will be there. You could find your mates tonight." Queen Marian said looking at her daughters sternly.
Ravenna rolled her eyes at her brother's party being turned into second-hand speed dating and just nodded to her mother. Turning to Serena she asked, "how's Kimberly?"
"She's terrified, heartbroken, and barely slept. The good news is her mother will be picking her up today to take her back home, family support and plenty of therapy is the only way she will ever learn to deal with what she saw, but she will never be the same.
"I'm glad you were with her; you are way more capable than me to deal with that situation," Ravenna said about Serena's Pediatric Psychiatry Master's degree she finished a few months before. "Have you decided if you want to go to College for your Doctorate? You totally should do it; with Rogues and other issues we face such you will always be in demand," she pointed out.
"One day I suppose, for now, I'd like to go a year without college on my brain. Take a breather and live life a little," she explained with a dreamy look in her eye.
Ravenna nodded at her sister, she always admired the fact Serena knows what she wants, and has the motivation and the determination to reach those goals. Going to college wasn't a high priority on Ravenna's list, she enjoyed fighting and decided to focus more on that.
"All set girls thank you for your help!" Her mother stated breaking her train of thought, "shouldn't you be heading to the dress shop?"
The girls nodded waved goodbye to their mother and headed to the garage. Jumping into Serena's Mercedes Benz GLS, Serena climbed into the driver seat, started the car up, and began driving to Alaria. The drive was peaceful as they listened to music lost in their thoughts.
Finally, Serena turned to Ravenna and broke the silence between them. "I have a feeling Mom going to be disappointed tonight," she stated bluntly.
"Why do you think that?" Ravenna cocked her eyebrow and looked at her sister with confusion and concern.
"Think about it, we have been in every Alpha meeting, met every Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and all their kids. Yet we still haven't found our mate," Serena deadpanned, "We more than likely won't find them tonight."
"Hmm. Good point"
"Think we were forgotten by the Moon Goddess?" Serena asked with sadness evident in her green eyes.
Thinking for a second Ravenna shrugged her shoulders, "who knows, I'm honestly not that upset about it. I enjoy my life as it is now; I don't need a clingy Alpha telling me what I can or can't do."
"Point taken," Serena agreed.
"It will happen one day; I'm just not going to go hunting for him like he's some sort of long-lost buried treasure."
Serena nodded and went back to her train of thought. They both sat in silence until they finally pulled up to the closest mall in human territory. Making a few small pit stops in other stores; they bought a couple of outfits, shoes, and a new black leather jacket for Ravenna. As they shopped, something felt off to them, constant looks of hate and fear were flooded in their direction from a few of the human shoppers.
"Is it me or are we the center of attention?" Serena asked uncomfortable from the stares and dirty looks they were getting.
"They keep staring at us I'll give them a reason to fear me," Ravenna muttered under her breath as she went through a clothing rack.
"Let's not beat up the humans, let's go to the store get our dresses, and go home," Serena stated as she grabbed Raven's hand and led her through the mall to the dress shop.
Once they got to the dress shop, they began to ignore the looks and focus on finding the perfect dress. Serena picked out a strapless turquoise mermaid gown with sequined flowers along the bodice and midsection; she paired it with silver strappy heels and a silver clutch. Raven picked a red spaghetti strapped dress with a slit up the left leg; she paired her dress with black stilettos and a black choker. Deciding they had all they needed they went to go pay for the items. Setting their dresses and accessories on the counter the cashier turned and looked at Serena's gown.
"I love this dress!" The cashier gushed as she scanned the dress and put it in a dress bag. Looking up at Serena and Raven her smile dropped and she finished ringing up the dresses and accessories, saying nothing else to the girls except the total.
"Have a nice day," Serena said sarcastically to the cashier as she just rolled her eyes and turned back around. "Ok what the hell is going on? Did you beat the wrong person up in the tavern or something?" She exclaimed giving a frustrated sigh and mean glare at her sister.
"I beat a lot of people up. That is always a possibility...." Ravenna shrugged her shoulders not caring.
"Let's just go home I made us hair appointments too," Serena said heading towards the exit.
Finally making their way through the staring crowd to the exit Serena took a deep breath," that was weird." She stated as she unlocked the back and laid their dresses flat. "Let's head back to Jaime's shop so we can get our makeup and hair done."
The drive back was just as quiet, yet, filled with tension. Serena spent the drive trying to figure out why the humans are staring at them with hate and fear, while Ravenna was trying to figure out if she did indeed beat up the wrong person, who it was, and how she would tell her father she did. Finally, they got to the salon and were immediately taken back to the chairs by Jaime and her makeup artist Thomas. As they frantically got to work Serena selected to wear her blonde hair in a curly updo with small sparkly clips throughout. Her makeup was light with a little eye shadow and rose color lipstick. Ravenna chose to leave her black locks down curled into waves. Her makeup was set up much darker with a black smoky eye with cattail liner and bright red lipstick.
Thanking and tipping the duo, they headed back to the castle and went back to the castle to get dressed. Time was running out with David arriving in less than an hour and his party started in an hour and a half. Once they were both dressed, they went downstairs to find their parents, finally finding them waiting at the door. Smiling approvingly at their outfits Queen Marian, turned towards the driveway where her son slowly steps out of the car holding the hand of a shy redhead. Running up to the group, David gives everyone a hug, kiss, and shakes his dad's hand.
"Let me introduce my mate; this is Rosemarie. Rose this is King Alistair, Queen Marian, Princesses Serena, and Princess Ravenna."
Bowing to his family she stands up and gives them all a handshake until she gets to Queen Marian, holding out her hand to her future mother-in-law, she waited awkwardly for a hand to meet hers. "Nonsense! You are my third daughter I will take nothing less than a hug!" She smiled and grabbed the poor nervous girl and hugged her tightly.
"Mom you are suffocating his mate; it would be awkward having a Meet the Future Queen with no future Queen." Ravenna sarcastically said while smirking at her brother.
Pulling away from the hug, Marian looked at Ravenna and rolled her eyes. "Hush, you will understand one day, now get in there and see if you will find your mate!"
The group laughed and turned around to walk back into the castle and the ball room to greet the guests.