Can The Caged Bird Sing?

Chapter 8 Mate Gathering

---Evelyn's POV---

After a very long, dragging day I'm finally done with all of my chores. I had to change things up in my schedule to accommodate the pack members who needed clothes cleaned faster than normal for the mate gathering. So things are finally taken care of when the catering crew shows up.. luckily I don't ever have to do all the food for the events as well.. my father always pays a place to cater for everyone so I don't have to worry about dinner.. this actually gives me the time that I need to get ready for this event.

I go straight to my room and Sandy is already there waiting for me. She brought her make up case that has mirror, lights and beyond expectations for makeup.. I never even knew this many kind of make up even existed until I met her. Which is crazy for me to even think because she doesn't even look like she wears make up. But she is really fantastic when it comes to make up, I think she should be professional at getting girls ready for special events.

I feel like in a train wreck most the time but she can actually make me look pretty and it's like she can do magic because I know I wouldn't be able to replicate it.

She pats the bed besides her as I hop on over to her side because I'm actually excited about tonight.. nervous but still excited.

"Are you ready for this?" She asks me, I think noticing the pep in my step. I vigorously nods my head at her. "I'm excited.. I have a good feeling about tonight." I say to her with so much enthusiasm laced in every single word, putting a smile on her face.

"I bet it's going to be a great night for you!" She encourages me as I smile bigger than before so she adds. "I have the perfect dress picked out for you. It's a spring themed dress with it being that time of the year and warm enough since it's almost officially summer.. but since it's a dinner we need you to look a little more formal but not over doing it. So I'm going to put some shimmers and shades of brown on your eyes to make your big doe eyes pop out more since that obviously one of your best feature besides those high cheekbones and of course that bod. I'm going to leave you're hair down this time because the back of your dress doesn't cover much and I thought with your hair down that you might feel a little more covered.. but I am going to curl your hair too!" She explains to me just getting started on the hair first then to the make up then dress last.

It takes hours of talking and getting ready when she let's out a big breathe just staring at me for a longer than expected moment.

"Do I look alright?" I ask her just wondering why she is staring at me. I hope she didn't mess up I would hate to have to start over or even spend more time doing this.. Because the nerves have been hitting me tenfold.

My heart is racing, just putting a pressure into my stomach that I can't get rid of. These butterflies I always have heard about are running rampant inside of me and I don't know how to handle this.. I have never felt like this before.. it has to be because this is probably my last shot.

"No you look stunning.. you have always been beautiful but with your hair down and your make up done like this, it is just mesmerizing.. now let's get that dress on to put that cherry on top." She replies as she stands and pulls a teal dress, off of my bed. It looks like it would be a tight fitting but we will see once I get it on.

She also pulls out a set of bra and thong that match the dress perfectly. "I wanted to make sure you could wear something nice under it just in case you found your mate.. so I bought these to match for you since I know you don't have the cash.. and now it's a nice going away present."She says to me shyly as she hands me that clothing on the hangers.

I smile and nod stripping my clothes off of me and throwing it onto the floor. I put the bra and thong on before slipping the dress on, not trying to mess up any of my hair or make up. I get the dress all the way on as she quickly walks behind me helping me tie it in the lower back.. It's tight on the torso but right as it hits my hips it drapes and flows over my curves, accenting them until it gets to right above my mid thigh. It stops there so she is giving me some heels to borrow as well.

I start to panic and breathe heavily, not knowing what to do next because I'm so nervous that I don't know if I can do this.. but I can hear that people are already here and mingling downstairs so I need to get going.

My heart is about ready to completely beat out of my chest at this point. "I don't know if I can do this.. I'm so scared and nervous.. I don't know." I say starting to pace around the room until she stops right in front of me putting her hands to my biceps. "You will be amazing Evelyn.. remember this is going to be a good night for you either way.. ok?" She says to me as I smile and nod.

"Yes I'm going to make sure this is a good night.. thanks Dee I couldn't have ever looked even remotely this good without you. You're the absolute best." I say to her so honestly as she just shakes her head. "You don't know how beautiful you really are Evelyn. You're gorgeous and I just merely put things on you that accent that beauty.. doesn't mean it's not there on it's own already... you have always been beautiful and always will be.. now go out there and find your mate.. and good luck.. but have fun and you know where I'll be if you need me." She says to me as she hugs me tight and of course I hug her right back.

We seperate as I let out a deep breathe nodding before leaving my room and headed down the stairs to get to the party, before I get too scared and turn around.

People are running all around just talking, drinking and dancing alone with the occasional waitress serving snacks or drinks through the crowds.. Some mates have already found each other as I see couples running off hand in hand like there is no tomorrow, making me smile for them.

I feel a tinge of jealousy in my heart because that's what I want for myself but that doesn't mean I can't be happy for the people who have found their mates. That is a blessing and should be treated as such.

I slowly make my way out of the building and to the back porch open area. Everyone is talking and eating as they wander around the party looking so fantastic.

"Well I guess I lose my bet with the girls.. I bet that you couldn't actually look nice for once." I hear from Cassie right besides me. I look over at her as I roll my eyes. "Thanks for the 'compliment' Cassie.. you look nice too." I say to her because she honestly does look nice and she half-assed gave me a compliment, so I will send it right back at her.

"Good luck out there." She says wandering off around the table. "Thanks you too." I say quickly, as I make my way over to the drinks table. I need something to help calm me down in this already stressful for me event.

I throw the whole first drink back into my throat as I grab a second one. I just needed that extra liquid confidence boost for right now because my heart still won't calm down.

I feel like I'm being watched, as I glance up to see a gorgeous brunette man with short hair on the sides and a little longer on the top. He is sitting and watching me from afar.. A beautiful smirk graces his face as he continues to smile and stare over at me, so I smile back but throw my second drink back into my throat after that. I'm so nervous that I have to turn back around to grab another drink.

"Goddess.. dare I say you actually look sexy for once." Justin purrs into my ear from behind me making me roll my eyes and shake my head. "Is that suppose to be a compliment? Because it's not with the way you say it.. or maybe it's just annoying because it came from you." I spat back at him as I move away from him farther down the table grabbing a little snack for me to munch on because I'm a little hungry.

"I'm just saying you look.. okay.. better than normal." He says following me as I roll my eyes again and continue waking away from him around the table to the other side.

"Wow.. you know how to make a girl feel pretty.. just go look around for your little mate Justin and leave me alone." I wave him away from me as I continue walking away from him.. but Justin doesn't take the hint still following me around.

"Now why would I ever stop harassing you Lynn.. You're the only one I love to harass on a regular basis." He says to me as we hear from besides us.

"You would have to stop so she can have better company and have a chance to actually dance.. and if I'm lucky enough I could only hope I would be the lucky one to get that dance." The gorgeous man from across the way came up to me saying this right besides us, bowing then extending his hand to me.

He is not my mate but a sight for sore eyes to say the least. "An unbelievably gorgeous woman as yourself would probably prefer a dance over harassment anytime of day, am I right?" He asks me extending a hand closer to me.

I can't help the smile that plasters on my face at that thought. I vigorously nod my head, throwing my drink and snack away just so I can go with him.

"Who the hell are you?!" Justin asks sounding mad before I quickly reply. "It doesn't matter who he is because all you need to remember is that you had your chance with me and you rejected me.. you don't get another one so leave me alone."

I place my hand on top of the strangers open palm that he had extended to me now smirking my way. He pulls me behind him and to the open area that most are using for a dance floor.

He puts his hand to the small of my back and pulling me in as his hand still holds mine up. I put my hand on top of his shoulder comfortably to be able to get as close as I can to this gorgeous man. We sway back and forth in each other embrace. He smells like a cedar woodsy tone that's enthralling. With his thinned beard and blue eyes he just entices me completely without even trying.

"My name is Quinton, I'm the Beta from the Light Paw Pack.. what is your name beautiful?" He asks me in the smoothest tone as he leads me around the area without a care in the world just taking me away from the madness that is my life even if it's just for a moment.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Quinton, my name is Evelyn Majors, female alpha of the Full Moon Pack." I reply pretty quickly in a shy tone making him smile.