The Fox in the Pack House

The Man in the Mirror

The run to the corner of school grounds was quick. We kept to the edge of the woods that surrounded the school, keeping out of the view of the school’s cameras. Uncle Tim, the packs Beta, Cristy’s’ dad has been yelling about the pack putting warriors on school grounds for years to keep us all in line. According to the alpha we were kids still young enough to have some freedom before our lives were all orders from the alpha that we couldn’t go against.

Lucky for me I’d never have that problem of taking orders. I like the idea of having some freedom. I also think Joey, the alpha hated how he had so many yes men around him. I could tell he liked to be challenged and push into debates. Growing up in the pack house I used to push his buttons all the time. I didn’t always agree with everything he said, or I’d ask him lots of questions. He seemed to enjoy our debates. It’s no fun when people just agree with you all the time and tell you it’s ok when your wrong, like no its not. He needed someone to keep him sharp. I hope he had that.

We jumped in the back of the waiting uber. Shaking off the few drops of rain we were hit with.

“Where to Miss. Snover?” this driver was prepared

“The Atlantic Strip please, Versace is the first stop.” Cristy said to the driver

“Wow Versace, cook, I was just thinking the mall. I didn’t know we were going this crazy.” Trying to hide the worry from my voice.

“Babe it’s my sisters’ big night, and you have worn the same three dresses for every event for the past 3 years. That stops today.”

“There is nothing wrong with those dresses! They are black and they go with anything. Plus, they don’t cause to many heads to turn.” She doesn’t understand that I stand out enough without wearing clothes that scream look at me.

“Well not this time. We are going to make some heads turn tonight” she said digging in her purse and pulling out a piece of plastic as we pull up to the shop and the driver opens the door.

“Plus, I have daddies credit card, todays on him, so let’s go.” She said stepping out of the car and making her way to the store.

I tip the driver thanking him for the ride and follow her in. This store is massive with everything from belts and handbags to dresses and bath robes. Cristy already has an attendant pulling five different dresses and shoes to match. Making her way to the fitting room.

I wonder the store a bit but keep going back to one dress on display. It’s the green jungle dress Jennifer Lopez wore on the runway. If I wanted to really turn heads this would be the way to do it. The shop manager saw me looking at the dress and started walking over to me. Great, she probably thinks I’m trying to steal it or something.

“Hello Miss. Fox. My name is Mary I’m the shop manager here, is there anything I can help you with.” Mary said with a smile that seemed genuine enough.

Being the gammas daughter and the only fox in the pack more people knew my name then I cared to admit.

“This dress just caught my eye. My best friend said we are supposed to turn heads tonight. I thought this dress would do it.” I figured I’d just say it straight.

She paused eyeing me and the dress up. I couldn’t tell if it was bad or good. It was starting to make me extremely uncomfortable. I was just about to tell her I’d look for something else when she clapped her hands together startling me.

“I got it!” she exclaimed “the green is to wrong of a color for you. With your olive skin tone and red hair, the light green would make you look like a clown. I have this same dress in the back but it’s in brown, cream and gold. It will make your red hair and green eyes stand out. I’m going to go grab it, meet me in fitting room two.” She rushed off to retrieve the dress

I made my way to the fitting rooms just in time to see Cristy stepping out in a pure cream silk floor length dress. It has these thin rose gold straps and a slit up the leg that allows you to see the rose gold heels she has paired this dress with. This dress is made for her.

“I don’t know how many dresses you have tried on but if you don’t by this one your stupid.” I told her.

“It is kind of awesome isn’t it.” She did a small turn in the mirror “yup sold! I’ll take it!” she yelled to no one in particular.

“One down and one to go. I’m going to try my dress on now just waiting for the manager to bring it over.”

“Speak of the devil” Cristy pointed as Mary made her way over to us.

“You ready?” Mary asked holding up the dress.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

The fitting room was exceptionally large, Mary and I fit in here quite easy with room to spare. She helped me into the dress and showed me were all the clips were in the dress if I wanted to tighten anything. She ran out of the room when she saw the black flats I had on my feet. I assume she didn’t like them because two minutes later she’s back and has a pair of brown strappy heels. They look like I could us the heel as a weapon if a fight breaks out.

“Flats are great if you are running or something, but it looks like you want to make a statement with that dress. Flats are not the way to do it. These are the way to go. I have higher heels, but I figured you like these better” Mary says helping me into the shoes.

“I saw her walk in there with heels. I want to see. Come out here already stop hiding”

“Ok cook I’m coming can you give me a second to learn how to walk in these dam things”

I take a few shaky steps and then walk out into the fitting area seeing myself in the mirror for the first time. Mary was right the neutral colors make my eyes and hair really stand out, but the dress takes the cake. The flowy movement of the dress make me look like I’m gliding not walking. I feel like J-lo in this dress that’s for sure. Cristy is jumping up and down looking at me in the dress.

“You think we will turn some heads cook?”

“I’m buying them now!” she yells as she makes a mad dash to the counter to pay.

I turn to take one look in the mirror again before I go and change and, in the reflection, I swear I see a man staring at me. I turn towards the window to see if I can get a better look, but he’s gone. Am I seeing things?  I hurry and get changed so we can head out. Mary takes my dress and packs it up for me, along with the shoes. Cristy makes her way back with her bags after paying the bill.

“Did we do a lot of damage?”

“Nope, after how much he spent on the beta party. He won’t even take a second look.” She looks towards the doors just as Mary came back with my dress and shoes. “Ubers here. Back to the pack house have some lunch before the party?”

“I’m in, maybe I can sneak a shower in before we get ready.” I said as we slide in the back of the uber and the driver takes our bags.

“Totally, I want one too, so we are on the same page.”

I still could not shake the fact that I saw someone looking at me through the window. I have strong senses, just like at school how I could feel Justin pushing his dominance on me, I could feel a strong emotion coming from the man in the window. I just was not sure what the strong emotion was and that’s the part that worried me.