Blue meets Brown: The mate's mark

Chapter 3

A few days later, and oh boy has it been busy.

My father wasn’t kidding about having back-to-back meetings. Most of them were with surrounding packs, taking notes about financial issues, attacks on packs by rogues. One of the packs mentioned newly transforming wolves going missing not long after their first shifts, which rang a few alarm bells.

You don’t get to meet your wolf until after the age of 21, hence why finding your mate is nearly impossible before then. When you’re nearing age, it’s like going through adult puberty. Heightened sense of smell, hearing, body aches etc. Then bam, at midnight on your birthday, you go into the woods and transform with the pack. It’s a whole ceremony, even more so for the daughter of an Alpha.

It's the day of the big meeting with Dragon Den’s Alpha. I thought I’d go out for a little bit with my bestie Charlie and treat myself to a spa day. The haircut and a new business outfit were well overdue anyway.

I called Charlie, who as always readily picked up.

“Girl, these meetings have taken up all your time, I’m feeling neglected”.

“I know, I know. I’m sorry, but how about a quick shopping trip and some lunch? I need to get a business outfit for the meeting with Dragon Den’s Alpha. Apparently, he is very important, and I want to make sure that I come across as serious in this line of business”.

“Mm, I don’t think him taking you seriously is what you have to worry about”.

“Wait, what? Have you met him? What is he like? What do you mean by that?”.

“Oh um… No, I don’t know him personally. But I know he is incredibly hot and heard he’s a bit of a player. Just watch yourself with him, OK? Let us meet at the mall in 15, OK?”.

I get the awful feeling that Charlie is holding something back. It’s unlike her to act so shady. I will have to investigate this hunch; it’s making me nervous.

I ran up the stairs to get ready. If Charlie is one thing, it’s punctual. She is nearly never late, and always 5 minutes early. I wish I was more like that; I leave everything until the last minute.

I throw on some comfy matching sweatpants and throw my hair up into a tight bun. I apply very light natural make-up, just enough to make me look presentable and grab my car keys. As I went to the door, I turn back and shouted at my dad’s beta that I am going shopping with Charlie.

A few years ago, I wouldn’t have been allowed out without an escort. My dad has been overprotective since the attack on the pack.

So, he put me through intensive warrior training, and not to toot my own horn, but I aced it. So not only am I being groomed to be the next Luna, but I’m also badass, that and the extra security.

I arrive 20 minutes later.

“5 minutes late as per usual. Let’s find you an outfit. You haven’t got long before the meeting.”

“Charlie, I have 6 hours. That’s plenty of time”.

“6 hours!? That’s not nearly enough time”.

We stop at the spa first, with a few glasses of bubbly and complementary light lunch, we get our hair washed and styled, nails done and a quick face mask. Feeling more like a woman, we set out on our mission to find a business outfit. Sure, I could have just worn something I have already, but something keeps telling me that I need to try to make an effort tonight.

Afterward, we stopped at multiple shops. Charlie and I couldn’t help ourselves; we decided to go full out and buy a new wardrobe entirely. It’s not often we can just be pals and go on shopping trips, so we are both savoring the moment.

“How about this?” Charlie says as she holds up a tight black dress.

“Um, I’m not sure whether that is entirely appropriate”.

Charlie is very open to wearing tight-fitting clothes and showing off her assets. However, I am more reserved. I’ll show some skin, but I keep it mostly under wraps.

“How about this?” I said, as I held up a dress that covers everything from neckline to toe.

“I mean, if you were attending a funeral, maybe. I know you like to look like a nun, but you have curves and an awesome rack on you, you need to expand your wardrobe. Let’s ask the shop assistant to help”.

A young woman comes over, smiling. “May I ask the occasion”, the young woman asks. I told her it is a business meeting, and that it was incredibly important. I let loose that my father had left me in charge, so I need to insert a sense of power and security.

The young girl seems to understand and walks me over to some racks in the back of the shop, where the pricey items are. In the corner, there is a black-colored pencil dress, mid-length, with green embroidery mesh shimmering from the waist to the neckline.

“OMG, yes! That is the dress. It is so elite. Try it on now!”

“Are you sure? It’s very formal”.

“It is a formal meeting, is it not?” Charlie says as she takes the dress from the shopping assistant and drags me over to the changing room.

I tried the dress on; it’s a perfect fit. It fits my curves in a seductive but official way. The neckline isn’t too low and shows off just the right amount of cleavage, but I won’t be able to wear a bra as it scrunches the top of the dress. The dress sits just above my knees, showing off my long legs.

The shop assistant comes in. “Wow, you look amazing. This dress, paired with these shoes and a belt, will make you look like an independent, powerful young woman, capable of leading a business”.

Wow, she’s really selling this dress. Someone give this girl a raise. I decided to take it. What’s the worst that can happen?

A few hours later, I sat at the desk, waiting for my important guest to arrive. My dad calls me ahead of time to go over the footnotes.

“Wow Madeleine, you scrub up well” I heard Isobel say sarcastically. My dad rolled his eyes and told Isobel to go down to the bar and wait for him. Obviously, he didn’t want her to interrupt the meeting. “Ignore her Maddy, you look very presentable. Now have you read the notes I left you and know your role in this meeting?”.

Of course, I did. I read them a million times! Just as I gave Dad an update on what happened with the other meetings, I got a mind link from Adam that the Alpha had arrived.

I sat there impatiently, something stirring inside of me and making me feel uncomfortable.

The door opened, and my eyes landed on the Alpha of Dragon’s Den. The scent that hit me was like a ton of bricks, the scent that was so familiar, yet so satisfyingly delicious sent me into a dizzy. The feeling of vulnerability was written all over my face, as if I sat there naked with nowhere to hide. That night came back to me like a tsunami, and I was rendered speechless…