The Lycan Queen

Chapter 7: Dress Fitting

    Over the past couple days things had started feeling slightly normal again. Rose found herself letting go of Abel a little more with each coming day. She was actually starting to become excited for the ceremony as well. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her, after her and her father’s beta David spoke. She did not know if Abel were alive or dead but what she did know was that she could not let it consume her.

            Rose awoke bright and early; she had promised her father that she would meet with her mother over breakfast to discuss the plans for the ceremony. Although, she would admit that it still felt odd to be having such a party, she did get butterflies thinking about it. She showered and dressed choosing to where a summer dress and strappy sandals, she headed down to the courtyard patio where breakfast would be served to the two.

            “Now I know this is rather untraditional,” her mother spoke as the omega poured them coffee, “but who I am I to question your father’s decision.” Rose sipped her coffee as her mother spoke, “This could be the dawning of a new era for female-lycans.” “I couldn’t agree more, Mother.” Rose replied with genuine hope. After all, as far as she was aware female-lycans had lived in the shadows of the male since the beginning of time. “Now where should we begin,” her mother exclaimed setting her cup aside. For the duration of breakfast, the two women looked over decorations and menu options. They discussed the guest list and agreed to schedule a dress fitting as well. If Rose were to have a coming-of-age ceremony, then why not go all out with it.

            After meeting with her mother, she headed to class it was her first day back since she had run off. She was determined to branch out amongst the pack. Since the fourth grade it had been her and Abel against the world, they kept everyone else closed off. She was not even sure if she knew any of the female-lycans her age names. She walked into class, taking her seat as if she had been there every day. Several girls looked at her, but not in an odd way. They were acknowledging her; her entire aura was different, and everyone could sense it. “You’re the Alpha’s daughter?” a girl next to her asked. “I am,” she replied with pride. “You should sit with us at lunch.” She could not help but smile, maybe it wasn’t too late to still have a good life.

            It turned out that the girl who spoke to her was Elaina, she had moved into the packhouse a month ago when she turned sixteen. Her mate was a warrior in training named Christopher. The two girls ate lunch, as well as walked home together. Rose felt the start of a new friendship as the pair talked and laughed while they walked. “So, this Friday I am going into town for a dress fitting at Madam Terriza’s,” Rose spoke. “Isn’t that the human woman who knows about lycans? She always does the outfits for the coming-of-age ceremonies and the outfits for when the new alpha and luna take over.” “The one and only.” “Why are you having a dress made? I haven’t heard of any Alpha coming of age ceremonies or taking over celebrations.” “You see, I’m actually preparing for my own coming of age ceremony.” “She-lycans don’t have ceremonies Rose.” “I know mine will be the first at the request of my father” “Wow, that’s so cool.” “Do you want to come with me? You can get fitted too. After all you’ll attend as my friend, won’t you?” “Absolutely! But there’s just one thing I have class Friday morning” “Good, then it’s settled meet me in the breakfast hall Friday morning. I’ll have my father approve for you to miss class.”

            The rest of the week was spent with the girls walking to and from school together. They would study, watch horror films in the theatre room or stay up eating junk food. Rose was not only finding peace but also discovering herself. By Friday, the duo had turned into a trio adding another female-lycan named Sara to the friendship.  When Friday finally came around the three girls climbed into Meridah’s Avalanche and headed into town.

            Madam Terriza was a world known elegant wear designer who owned s shop on the corner of town square in Rossdale. She tailored all the Lycans important events outfits. Not only were her designs and outfits absolutely amazing, but she was also one of the few humans who were much aware of the Lycan species and trusted. Madam Terriza herself was a witch, her and her sister Ruby had settled in Rossdale long ago. Ruby owned the bakery across from her and served some of the most delicious Strawberry tarts.  It was rumored that years ago Ruby had once helped a Lycan that had been banished from one of the neighboring packs, as to what reason the stories varied.

            They pulled up in front of the cobble stoned store, the three girls looked at it in awe. While every Lycan knew of Madam Terriza’s, this was their first time to actually visit it. The three followed Meridah in through the double paned door. “Meridah, dear how pleasant it is to see you again,” a voice called from behind a beaded curtain. A tall elderly woman, with her silver curls pinned up so neatly that there was not a stray to be seen stepped out of the curtains. She wore a purple business dress with an emerald, green belt, and emerald earrings. Her eyes stood out the most were her eyes, behind her horn-rimmed glasses were the softest lilac-colored eyes. “It seems like it was just yesterday your mother had brought you and your friends in here for your dress fitting.” Madam Terriza spoke while reminiscing of the past.

            It took six hours for Madam Terriza to get all three girls’ measurements as well as wheat specifically they wanted of their dresses. Rose requested a black ball gown that flushed into red to symbolize her pack. She wanted ruby studded earrings, a necklace with a ruby cut into the shape of the moon, and black, red bottom pumps. Elaina chose a simple black corset gown with a sapphire sash lace for the corset, sapphire earrings, and necklace, as well as sapphire blue pumps. Sara a classic evening gown, she wanted the fabric coral and paired with pearl earrings and necklace, to finish it off she requested simple white ballet flats. Meridah herself requested a luna straight gown with a silk shawl that represented her as the mother of the guest of honor.  They scheduled to meet back with Madam Terriza in two weeks to review the designs for the dress.

            The three girls walked out of the shop arm in arm laughing. The sweet aroma of the pastries across the street taunted their noses. “Mother, can we stop by the bakery for food.” “By order of your father no one from the pack is allowed to dine at Ruby’s.” “Why isn’t the owner Terriza’s sister.” “Yes, but while the Lycans have maintained a relationship with Madam Terriza, there was a falling out with Ruby before you were born.” “A falling out?” The three girls looked at Meridah puzzled but curious. “It is not for me to discuss, there’s a diner a few blocks down that we can eat at,” she spoke as she started to walk towards the direction she spoke of. The three girls followed her without anymore questioning. While Elaina and Sara were both daughters of pack warriors who were brought up on the dos and don’ts of how to act around the Luna, Rose simply did not want to cause an upstir in front of her friends. She decided that she would find out what Ruby had done to the pack on her own.

            The next couple days Rose would look through the pack’s records for any information on Ruby, but with the constant planning of the ceremony and hanging out with her newfound friends it quickly became a forgotten project. While she enjoyed planning for the ceremony for the most part, there were some traditions she found exhausting. One in particular was that all of the invitations were to be handwritten. Several nights she found herself having to wrap her hand due to it swelling from writing invitation after invitation. “How many invitations do you have left to do?” Sara asked one afternoon walking home from school. “Three-thousand five-hundred and ninety-seven,” Rose groaned. “I wonder how the Alpha to be do it,” Elaina spoke. “Do you want any help?” Sara asked as the approached the packhouse. “No, it’s something I have to do on my own per tradition,” Rose replied. “I’ll see ya’ll in the morning,” she said as she headed to her mother’s office.

            She found her mother waiting for her a fresh stack of parchment paper and ink. “I get that it is tradition for the Host/ Guest of Honor to write the invitations by hand, but does it really have to be done by quill?” “It is part of the tradition,” her mother spoke as she handed her the quill. Rose sat at the desk and began to write,

You have been cordially invited.

Please join the Blood Moon Pack in the first of its kind,

As Alpha Daniel and Luna Meridah

Celebrate their daughter Roselin

Coming – of – Age

While it is the first celebration, we certainly hope it will not be the last, help us begin a future of equality amongst Male and Female Lycans in the finding of their mate. The ceremony will take place on the full moon of the eleventh month of the year. At the stroke of midnight when the moon sits at its highest point, Roselin’s wolf will awaken and call out to her mate.

            Rose climbed into bed that night with her swollen hand throbbing “only Two-thousand, four-hundred and twenty-two to go,” she thought to herself as she drifted to sleep. She repeated the process for the next couple days she repeated the process finishing the evening before they were to meet with Madam Terriza for their final dress fitting. The final dress fitting was like receiving a mystery box, the three girls would try on their dresses with help blindfolded. They would not see the actual dress until it was time to put it on for the ceremony. It was considered bad luck to see your dress before the night of a coming-of-age ceremony. While traditionally the ceremony was held for the Alpha to be, due to it being the only time the packs would be brought together it was not unordinary for guest to also find their mates amongst each other.

            Time seemed to be on crack, the day of the ceremony was approaching fast. The girls’ dresses had been completed and picked up by Meridah, stored away in her closet until the day of the ceremony. Classes were out for the next two weeks, due to coming of the full moon. Full moons were always a celebration in the pack, it was a night that the Lycans felt the closest to the Goddess. The fact that the full moon fell on the even of Rose’s birthday made it all the more special. All the planning and arrangements had been made; she could relax for the next two weeks. Which she fully intended to take advantage of. The three girls planned movie nights, and sleep overs to take place over the next couple weeks. All three were aware that while their friendship had just begun the night of the ceremony, they could each find their mate and be called to leave to their new pack.

            Alpha Daniel sat in his office listening to the three girls’ laughter echo through the hallway as they ran by headed to the theatre room. He sighed as read over the letter he had received this morning. It had become routine to receive a letter from the Elders, especially with the ceremony approaching. However, the Alpha found the one he held in his hands this evening to be quite troublesome. Locking his office door so not to be disturbed he sat at is desk to read the letter once more:

Alpha Daniel,

        We hope this letter finds you well. While we are pleased with the progress that you have made with the preparations of the ceremony. We are extremely please to hear of how Roselin has grown as a young She-Lycan. While both of those are exceptionally wonderful news, nether of these are our reasoning behind this letter this evening.  The Goddess has showed us many visions, many of which we are not to discuss at this time. She continues to show visions of Roselin and her true mate leading us through dark times. It is with this that it is our firmest beliefs that Abel is still alive. With Abel having already reached of age several moons ago, we are quite positive that he is aware that Roselin is his mate. With that being said, it has been proven since the dawn of time that a Lycan can not be without his mate unless he has rejected her, and she has accepted that rejection. It is of our belief that Abel is being kept against his will. It is of most urgency and of our best advice that security is doubled the night of the ceremony. While it is unlikely for anyone to know of their true identity it is not impossible.

                                                                   The Elders of The Lycan

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, something he often did when he was frustrated or stressed. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed him, pulling him in a thousand directions. He had just gotten his daughter fully back, although he was relieved that Abel was still alive, he did not want to lose her again. Then there lay the more serious matter at hand. If Abel was being held captive, the question of the matter was by who. He could have easily been captured by hunters if he had taken off, but it did not make sense for hunters to keep him alive all this time. Worry began to take over. There was also a strong chance that if who ever had him knew of the prophecy, then they could be after Rose as well. Daniel stood up to head to upstairs mind-linking David and Billy to meet him in his office first thing in the morning.

            While Daniel stressed over his daughter’s safety, Rose and her friends sat in the theater eating popcorn and watching the new horror film “Trail of Blood”. Rose sat on the couch feeling her eyes getting heavy, it seemed the more she struggled to stay awake the sleepier she got. It did not take long before she lost the battle and drifted to sleep. Her dreams quickly taking over. She found herself walking down a dimly lit hall, it looked to be an old prison or hospital. She could hear the sound of water dripping in the distance. She heard a scream echo coming from just above her, she rushed up the stairs to her right. She topped the stairs just in time to see a reddish, brown wolf clamp down on the neck of a young woman. “Noooo,” a familiar voice yelled out. She turned to see Abel with tears in his eyes, he began to run but the wolf attacked him. She watched as he yelled out in pain as he struggled to escape. She wanted to help him, but it was like she was glued to where she was standing. She tried to call out to him but couldn’t. The wolf clamped down on his leg and began dragging him down the stairs she had just came up. “Rose, Rose wake up.” She jerked awake to fine Elaina shaking her. She gasped the tears already running down her cheeks. She saw Sara sitting wide eyed and afraid beside Elaina. “You were crying and calling for Abel,” Elaina spoke. “Was he a friend of yours? The wolf that ran away from the pack, the one they held a funeral for.” Rose opened her mouth but could only get out a sob. She nodded her head vigorously burying her face in Elaina’s shoulder. “Did this mean Abel was still alive,” she thought as she cried clinging to her friend