The Queen of Fire

Chapter 8

ADELAIDE

I settled into pack life easily over the next three weeks. Work is fun, the people I work with are kind and helpful and we all get along really well. I've been experimenting with so many different recipes and there's been lots of good reviews flooding in about my food. I am content and happy. I spend a lot of time with Serena, Ellie and Abigail. We become fast friends and they help Ellie and I explore the land. Nova loves running through the forest and around the mountain trails. We are both happier than we have ever been.

Zeke and Ellie share a bedroom on one of the higher floors and she has a job working in the childcare. She's always been great with kids and Zeke made sure to get her a position somewhere she would love. She helps out with anything Zeke may need in terms of pack business too. They seem perfect for each other, the moon godless definitely got that match right. Zeke is funny, kind and extroverted and I already know he would do absolutely anything for Ellie to make her happy.

I notice that I have started to put on weight and I actually feel healthy for the first time in my life. My boobs and butt have gotten larger and my body looks more toned and muscular. Zeke has been taking us through some basic training, mainly running and a little bit of fighting and self-defence. I have picked it up a lot faster than Ellie, it feels natural to me. My hair is shinier and my skin looks clear and bright. When I look in the mirror now, my eyes don't have that dull lifeless look, they are bright and shiny and alive.

Ellie and I are catching up for coffee. We sit on one of the window seats in the living area and catch up on all the things we've missed out on. I am filling her in on my bedroom talking about how it's so big and that I'm so happy I get a private shower that's actually warm. Serena comes running up to us. "Guess what!" She squeals and sits down next to us. She looks like she's got ants in her pants, she can barely sit still. "What?" I raise my eyebrows at her. "We're having a party!" She claps her hands together. "What for?" I ask. "For the summer solstice, silly!" she looks at me as if I should know what she is talking about "What's that?" I question her. She hits me on the shoulder and laughs. "Have you been living under a rock?" I don't answer. Serena rolls her eyes and starts to gush about the solstice party. "Every year on the longest day of the summer season we throw a huge party. This year we have a few new pack members, including you two obviously, so we are also going to do your pack initiation! You'll finally be able to mindlink us! Isn't that exciting?" Serena and Ellie start to gossip about the party details and i sit quietly and listen. "Addy, what's wrong?" Ellie stops and asks me. "I just don't have anything to wear to a party." I look down at my jeans and plain top. I know Ellie has been showered with new clothes and gifts from Zeke. I haven't been that lucky. I was allowed to use the pack money to buy some casual items, but I didn't want to over spend and look silly. "OMG" Serena squeals. "You know what this means?", she looks at Ellie excitedly. "Shopping spree!" they both start to giggle and excitedly plan a day out to look for dresses. My friends energy towards this event rubs off on me and I am really excited to be able to join the pack officially.

I still haven't met Alpha Kyle. Ellie says that Zeke, Oliver and Kyle have all been really busy lately as they have a lot of new warriors coming through the ranks and its taking up their time. Zeke has apologized on behalf of Alpha Kyle thousands of times. I want to make a good impression and figure that I will definitely meet him at the soltice party as he will have to be a part of the pack initiation process. I feel a tug to need to impress him, which is odd considering I don't even know him. Ellie talks to Zeke about getting a car to drive us to the mall in the town closest to us. He organizes a couple of guards and we are out the door within the hour and heading towards the mall. I think about the money I have available to spend. We all get a wage for whatever job we have in the pack and I have saved a little bit that i am willing to put towards my dress.

We go from shop to shop and the girls buy makeup and jewllery. I am more reserved about where I want to spend my money. I wouldn't even know what to do with makeup anyway, I've never used it before. When Serena pulls us into a dress shop I almost drop dead at the site of the gowns in here. They are stunning, there are racks and racks of bright colorful dresses of all different shapes and styles. The girls start to pull different dresses of the rack to try. Serena shoves me into a change room with an armful of gowns. We laugh and do a fashion show for one another as we try on all kinds of gowns. Ellie finds a beautiful deep green velvet gown that compliments her read hair and Selena finds a floor length pink dress that makes her look like a Barbie doll. I try on a few but nothing feels right. I am in the changeroom admiring a gold simple gown, but I just know it's not the one for me.

I can hear Serena talking to someone outside and suddenly she pokes her head into the changeroom. She pulls me out into the store and introduces me to a woman. "Addy, this is Maria, she's the owner. We have shopped here for years and I thought she could help you find the perfect gown". Maria looks me up and down and smiles telling us she has the perfect dress in mind. She comes back moments later with a garment bag. "This is a one of a kind dress, I haven't released it yet to the public but I think it will be perfect for you". She smiles and hands over the bag.

Back in the changeroom I unzip the garment back and gasp. The bodice of the gown is covered in red gemstones and the skirt is made from layers of organza that flow out from the waist. I gently pull it on and zip it up. It hugs my boobs and waist perfectly, I feel like this gown was made just for me. The dress catches the light and shimmers, the colour making my eyes pop. The strapless style plunges slightly, showing just enough cleavage. The skirt has a slit all the way to my thigh, showing off my long legs. I step out into the store and the girls start clapping and whooping. "You look like a princess" Ellie says.

"No" says Serena, "She looks like a Queen".

I smile widely and give them all a twirl. I look in the large mirror and the gown shimmers around me, it shines and catches the light perfectly. "Is this too much to wear though?" I question the girls. "I'm only an omega?".

"Who cares, you look amazing! Plus, everyone goes all out for this event, it's the biggest party the pack ever has!" Serena encourages me. "How much is this?" Serena questions Maria. I already know in my heart that the gown will be too expensive for me. When Maria tells us the price I immedately go back into the change room to take the dress off and return it to her. It saddens me that I can't wear the dress but I know I definitely can't afford it.

The girls help me find a simple black spaghetti strap gown that is within my price range. I regrettably leave the store, stealing one last glance at the gown on our way out.