After Ash finished her breakfast she tried to walk back up to her room, being stopped by her mother and her bothers mate.
"We are going out to get our hair and nails done" Abbigail beamed, linking her arm through Ash's as if to say you are coming weather you like it or not. The three ladies walked out to the car piling and taking off into town. They made their way to a little boutique in the center of town where three young ladies were awaiting them. They started with nails, Abbigail got a french manicure, her mother got red gels and Ash got black sparkle gels. She didn't want to overdue it too much as where she really was not used to anything other then a thing layer of polish that she would normally do on her self. Next they were on to hair. Her mother got an elegant updue, Abbigail had light beach waves and Ash, after much going back and forth on what to get, She got a half up half down style, curling down her back with tiny blue hair gems.
As the other girls fawned over Ash's' hair they walked to a little restaurant to have a small lunch, they didn't want to be over full for the ball. Ash just got a ham wrap. Ash the girls lightly chatted, Ash smelled something. She couldn't put her finger on it fully as to what it was though. She knew for sure the smell of fresh cut grass. There was something about the smell and it was driving her wolf insane. Her mother got up leaving a tip on the table, knocking Ash from her thoughts. What was that smell. Her mind was racing. They climbed back into the car being careful not to ruin their hair, and drover back to the pack house. By the time they got back, it was after 3 and there was so many people there. Between wolves and she wolves all getting ready in there own spaces.
Ash could feel her anxiety rise with the amount of people there. She really just want to go and hide. Her mother took her arm.
"We have to get make up done now." She said. Abbigail was in charge of that department, even though she never wore much herself she loved doing it on other people, that was her job here in the pack for special occasions. They walked passed her father and brother who were talking to Alpha of Pineridge Pack. They just gave them a nod as the girls made their way back into Ash's room. Her room had the best natural light, they decided that would be the best place to finish getting ready. Her mother went off to grab all the dresses while Abbigail went to grab any make up may need to use. Ash didn't think they needed much as they would be having masks on to cover most of their faces. She could feel the excitement in the air. Time was getting closer to the ball.
"What did you want done?" Abbigail asked her.
"Something simple, I don't need a lot I will have a mask anyways." She said with a smile. By the time Abbigail was done, she looked stunning. It was simple yet elegant.
"You would be amazed what the power of eyeliner and lashes can do" Abbigail giggled. As she was doing her own make up and then the Luna of the pack, Ash went to get into her dress and mask, and lastly to make the whole outfit the chain her father had given her the night before. Looking into her full length mirror in the bathroom she just stopped, not believing it was her she was looking at. She looked like herself, but not at the same time. Ash was stunned. She had no words.
Ash walked out of the bathroom, into the wide eyes of her mother and Abbigail, their jaws dropped. After seeing someone for so long barley wear any colour and almost always trying to hide their body. It was a shock to the two ladies.
"Do a spin." Abbigail said, and Ash did just that. Abbigail whistled. "If your mate is here girl, he wont be able to keep his paws off you!" She stated, making Ash blush.
"Listen, since it is just us girls here can I ask you a question?" Ash asked, both nodded. "how do you know when you have found your mate?"
"In my case, I always knew" Abbigail said. Her and her bother always had such a close relationship it would have been really weird if they weren't mates.
"I knew by scent, the scent drove me crazy. Sandalwood." Her mother said, showing the love she had for her father once again. "I scented him before I even seen him."
This made Ash think back to the restaurant. Could that smell have been her mate she thought. Her face blushing at the thought, could she have been so close to him earlier that day and not even known. Her heart fluttered.
"Did something happen?" Her mother asked.
"I scented something when we were at the restaurant, I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since." Ash said looking embarrassed. Her mother pulled her into a hug.
"Oh honey there is nothing to be embarrassed about, that could have totally been your mate. Hopefully he will be at the ball tonight and you will finally find him." Her mother beamed.
Ash couldn't imagine finding him, it has been so long. At the same time she hoped that what she had smelled. Only time will tell. The ladies finished up. The would meet everyone in the ball room, as it is a masquerade no one wanted to give away who they were to their mates before hand, surprises were always so nice. The ladies made it to the ballroom and Ash just stopped at the top of the stairs, everyone staring at her. Not to judge but in awe on who this beautiful she wolf was. It wasn't hard to tell for her with her hair. Ash put on a big smile and started walking down the stairs, before she passed out.
The smell hit her again, this time much stronger and also mixed with the smell of thunderstorms. Gryffin was going wild. It had to be her mate, it just had to be. Her heart pounded in her chest, looking around wildly, to see if she could find her mate on looks. This was going to be a long night. As the music started and everyone started to dance.