My Royal Mate

The Wolf-Ball.

Morgan’s POV:

I wasn’t wrong when I told you that Allison likes to play fashionista with me. Angeline changed my hairdo three times. My neck was hurting from repositioning my head over and over. I was as stiff as a broom stick, and we were only half done. Allison was more concerned about my appearance than she was about hers. I felt like she was treating me like a charity case, because she was dictating what Angeline had to do with me. I'm girly in my own style, but she is a whole other level. Model level I would say.

It was four-thirty p.m. and Angeline had not even started on our makeup. Allison and I still had to go back to the Pack House to change into our gowns. She did not want to change at the salon because she wanted Usher to be the first one to see her in her fancy black gown. Besides me, of course, because I wouldn't allow her to blindfold me. f**k no. If she didn't want me to spoil the surprise, then she should have left me to mind my own goddamn business.

The Gala was being held at the Willow Grove Venue. The biggest and most famous venue in our park. It could hold up to five hundred guests. That was the same venue where Allison and Usher held their wedding reception a few years ago. My dad was still alive back then, and I tried to convince him to dance with me. s**t! Another emotional memory.

Based on everything that Allison has told me, there will be three different open bars. Which is exactly what I need right now. The right wing of the building will have tables set up for the King and Queen along with the twenty-nine Alphas in our Kingdom and their respective mates. The Betas, Gammas, and Deltas had a different platform set up for them.

The left wing of the building will have an open dance floor. DJ Sapphire from Great Britain was invited to entertain the crowd. I’m sure he was going to create a unique atmosphere, and we would dance until our feet fell off. He has over six million followers on his Facegram; he is very well known. Some of his songs include 'Love Affair' and 'Kiss me til Morning'. They have been in the top ten category for the longest time. That is why they are also on my favorite playlist.

Luna Gloria and Allison employed over one hundred workers for this event. They even hired an international chef to impress the King and Queen. A source close to the Royals gave Luna Gloria some input on the foods they enjoy eating. They have a peculiar taste.

And for those who are not into hip-hop or pop music, Ann Chan, the famous Cello player, will be performing in the backyard's gazebo. The beautiful French-patterned paver patio has also been arranged with tables for other guests who want a more mellow ambiance. I can already imagine how beautifully all the lights will illuminate the path around the backyard. I’m sure it will be breathtaking.

“Well, what do you think?” Angeline asked me as she spun the chair around. I had been so distracted by my phone that I hadn't peeked at what she was doing with me. I trusted she was a professional, and also, because if Allison trusted her, then she must be awesome. Allison is very particular.

“Wait, is that me?” I chuckled. She had done a double-braided hairstyle with half my hair down. My hair was long and wavy, but she had enhanced the waves with a curling iron. She topped the braids with beautiful flower accessories that matched the color of my dress. It looked like a gorgeous flower tiara.

Now I was regretting not changing here, at the salon. I just had to make sure I didn't ruin it once I put on my gown. It would be a disaster.

“We have to get going!” exclaimed Allison. She made it seem like it was Angeline or me, the one who had caused the delay. When, in reality, it was her, all along. She was the one demanding so many changes that prolonged the stipulated time that Angeline had anticipated for both our hair and makeup.

We only had about an hour before the event got started. “We must be there by the time our King and Queen arrive,” she said worryingly.

That was exactly what I had been telling her all afternoon. Alex had requested me to be there before the King and Queen arrived. I didn't want to let him down.

“It will be your fault if we are not there. You know that, right?” I replied. She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand.

“Thank you so much, Angeline — you are the best!” Allison shouted, winking at Angeline before we walked out. More like before, she dragged me out of the place. Her hand squeezed my wrist with a strong grip.

Usher had told Allison that all the Alphas and their mates had arrived. Well, those who had found their mates. Alpha Alejandro from the Shallow Moon Pack, Alpha Wilfred from the Forest Moon Pack, and Alpha Marcus from the Little Creek Pack have not yet found their Goddess' given mates. They are waiting for them.

I was a bit skeptical about their arrival at our pack this morning. There was a slight possibility that one of them could turn out to be my mate. The chances were teeny tiny, but still. I was always that kind of gal who always thought of the worst scenarios. My brain was quick to manipulate fear in me.

As a matter of fact, anyone who wasn't mated inspired fear in me. Especially now that I have returned home with my family.

There were two other Alphas: Alpha Carl and Alpha Silvious, who had taken a chosen mate because they were in their early thirties and had not found their fated mates thus far.

“Dimples, you better stay away from the unmated Alphas. They will try to mate with you tonight,” Allison chuckled.

“I don’t think Ryan will allow that,” I answered. I had anticipated that Ryan would begrudge me.

“What is the deal with you and Ryan?” Allison inquired.

“You know, I have had a little crush on him for a while. Since I was sixteen, to be more exact, and now that I’m done with my studies, I have allowed myself to find some joy. However, Ryan wants to make things profoundly serious between us.” I sighed.

“He is very handsome,” I continued, “but I don’t want to mate with him just to have s*x, and I will not have s*x with him before marriage. I know I’m complicated,” I admitted.

I had a serious conversation with Ryan before he asked me to be his girlfriend. He knew I was in no rush. I said yes when he asked me to be his girlfriend, because maybe if he added a label to our relationship, he would know I had every intention of accepting him as my chosen mate. In the future, of course.

“Well, s*x is addicting. Once you try it for the first time, you won’t stop having it. Usher and I could barely keep our hands to ourselves after we marked each other. We did it in the shower, in his office. We did it in the back seat of his car —we also did it in the dining room.” She sounded proud of her antic confession.

“Stop, Allison! That is T.M.I— I don’t need to know all that private stuff." She laughed at my blubbed request. "Please remind me not to ever ride in his backseat,” I said with furrowed eyebrows. Now I will have those images in the back of my head every time I enter any of those places. Gross!

She laughed loudly.

“Okay, Morgan. I will stop talking about my kinky s*x life. Let’s hurry up because the guys will become a little nervous if we don't show up in the next thirty minutes.”

We zippered up each other’s dresses and added the final accessories. I felt like a princess in one of those fairy-tale stories my mom used to tell me. If it were up to me, I would have worn a simple dress. Allison insisted I wear a dress that exposed every curve in my body. The dress is very formal. The length had to be adjusted because of my height, but it still brushed the floor. I’m wearing a sleeveless tulle dress with an A-line silhouette, featuring delicate appliquéing lace. It really looked like a princess dress.

Olive-green was now one of my favorite colors.

I took one last glance in the mirror, and for the first time, I was glad Allison had persuaded me to get a new dress for the Gala. It boosted my spirits, making me feel like I was a real princess. Mom would be flashing the camera all over me if she was still here with me tonight. She always took a picture of me at every chance she got.

We took a couple of selfies before we left to go meet Usher, Alex, and Ryan. The limo had been waiting for us for a while, and we knew that if we didn't leave now, then the guys would be freaking out thinking something had happened to us. We would barely make it on time if we left now.