Moonlight’s chosen

Chapter 3

My stomach flipped as I anticipated all the things he would say—or would he be angry because he couldn’t say what he wanted in front of Lisa? I threaded my fingers into hers, giving her a squeeze, then pulled her along. We reached the truck just as he leaned over and opened the door for us.

I slid into the middle seat, and Lisa slid in after me into the passenger seat. She neatly positioned the present in her lap as my father pulled out of the parking lot.

“Lacey,” my father started. “I wanted to give you a heads-up that we’ve invited many men from the other packs, as well as all the unmated men in our pack, to increase your chances of finding your fated mate—so I can begin training him in his Alpha duties immediately.”

“I already found my mate,” I started, but he cut me off.

“Child, do not lie to me. That boy is not your fated mate. That is not who the Moon Goddess matched you with, and you know it as well as I do.”

I shrank back a bit before pulling myself together.

“Maybe he isn’t,” I said, “but he will be my chosen mate. Start training him. He can do it—I know he can. And what makes you so sure I can’t be a good Alpha without a man?”

I had never been so brave as to speak back to him this way, and I could clearly see the shock on his face.

He cleared his throat. “I will start some training with the boy to see if he could be an acceptable Alpha. But you will first look for your fated mate and not intentionally go against the Moon Goddess.”

He compromised, filling my body with surprise.

I could deal with that. If I found my fated mate tonight, I would just reject them secretly and act like I never met them in the first place.

I let out an excited squeak as we pulled into the palace driveway. As soon as the car stopped, Lisa and I were out and heading toward the house to find my mother.

I found her in the kitchen, directing omegas who were preparing a feast. I reached across the counter, snatching a chocolate-covered strawberry off a tray and shoving it into my mouth just as my mother turned and caught me.

“Lacey, you stop that now,” she scolded lightly. “You can have plenty later.”

“Lisa, my sweet girls, are you ready for tonight?” she asked, coming over and looping one arm through each of ours.

“I definitely am,” Lisa said. “I came to help Lace get ready, as always,” she giggled.

My mom laughed softly with her.

We reached my room and stepped inside.

“Oh, my girls are all grown up,” my mother said fondly. “I swear it was just yesterday I was chasing you silly little pups all over this place, trying with all my might to get you to stop sliding down the stair banister.”

She giggled.

“I knew the first time your mother and I got you girls together, when you were just crawling around, that you’d be best friends for life—the sister I never could give you,” my mother whispered.

I fought the tears from falling. While my father blamed me, my mother blamed herself.

“She is the best sister I could ever ask for,” I exclaimed, looking at Lisa, who also had misty eyes.

“Yes, she is, dear,” my mom agreed. “And through your friendship, I gained a sister too. Speaking of which—where is your mom, dear?”

“She should be here any minute,” Lisa answered. “She just had to wait for Kyan to get home from school, then she’s coming to help you finish the last-minute preparations.”

“Alright,” my mom said. “I need to get back downstairs and prepare to greet her. But first, I have a small present for you.”

She turned to me with a smile. “Don’t worry—there are bigger ones tonight at the party.”

She handed me a box.

It was a plain white box with a silver bow on top. I gently lifted the lid to find several small items inside.

I pulled out a bag of herbs first.

“That’s to make the first shift more bearable,” my mother explained.

Next was a small bottle of perfume that smelled absolutely divine—a mix of sweet chocolate and citrus.

“It’s a custom blend that smells similar to your natural scent and will amplify it,” she said.

Finally, I pulled out a small box containing the most beautiful necklace and earring set. Emerald-green gemstones shimmered back at me—the prettiest set I had ever seen.

“This was your great-grandmother’s,” my mother said softly. “She was a very powerful wolf, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. She held magic and power that skipped generations.”

“She gave it to your grandmother, who gave it to me—and now it’s yours.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she stepped forward, moved my hair aside, and clasped the necklace around my neck.

“Beautiful,” she whispered, hugging me before heading downstairs to finish preparations and meet Lisa’s mom, Ellie.

Lisa stepped forward. “It’s gorgeous. I never could have imagined my gift would match so perfectly.”

She handed me the box she’d been holding.

I opened it to reveal the most beautiful black dress with emerald-green lace designs. It had a swooping neckline and was floor-length with a very high slit running up the side.

“Go put it on!” Lisa demanded excitedly.

I listened, stepping into the connecting bathroom and pulling the dress over my body. It fit every curve perfectly, showing plenty of cleavage. The slit sat high on my hip—I’d have to be careful how I bent, or I might show too much.

“It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed.

“Yes, it is—a beautiful dress for a beautiful girl,” Lisa said. “Now come sit so I can get you ready.”

She styled my hair into an updo, leaving loose curls framing my face and a few cascading down my back. Then she moved on to my makeup, keeping it light and natural, highlighting my features without changing them.

“Perfect,” she said. “Now go put the earrings on.”

When I returned, Lisa was already dressed in a dark red, floor-length gown with a high slit on her hip. Her hair was down in loose curls, her makeup soft and elegant.

“Well, that was fast,” I giggled.

“Had to hurry,” she laughed. “Can’t keep the guests waiting. It’s time, sweet girl.”

We exited my room and reached the staircase—

—and froze.

There were so many people below.

Definitely more than just our pack.