Shadow Moon: Secrets

Preparations

Scarlett POV

                I couldn’t believe that just a few days ago the fiery red head in front of me was laid up in a hospital bed. There was no way with how easily she was bouncing around the room grabbing this item or that all while chattering away. “Scarlett, quit fidgeting you’re going to knock the curlers out!” She called before eventually moving back over to the vanity.

                “Relax Lily! They’re not going anywhere, I’m pretty sure you have them pinned into my skull itself!” I muttered.

                “You only get one introduction. Don’t make me call Aunt Lucille.” She countered with a hint of threat to her voice.

                I grumbled silently to myself. We had decided to use my bedroom to get ready because I had a large dressing area. Lily had said it would be necessary. I understood it though gazing around the neatly decorated room. I liked things to stay simple. My walls were a sky blue, just a shade darker than a pastel. On one side of the room near the bay windows was my queen-sized bed. A simple white four poster wooden frame and a deep navy comforter. The biggest luxury to it was the massive number of pillows. I could never get enough of them. Off to either side were matching white nightstands, and a small six chest dresser on the wall near it. We were positioned near the closet and bathroom at my large white vanity. Ranked members rooms were often like small studio apartments, minus the kitchen area. We all had large walk-in closets, a decent sized dressing area and an attached bathroom. Lily’s room was much smaller in comparison.

                Lily continued to poke and prod at me as she applied makeup. Every so often I would glance into the mirror watching what she was doing. She had just finished applying a generous blend of bronze eye shadows across my eye lids. I was surprised at how well it complimented my hazel green eyes. They seemed wider and brighter than normal. Next, she added a thin strip of eye liner ending in that perfect cat eye tail before finishing it off with a touch of mascara to my long eye lashes. I blinked rapidly for a moment after she was done before gazing into the mirror with a sense of awe.

                “I love it, Lily. Seriously. I was a little worried you’d go so over the top that it would kill me. But this, it’s perfect. Thank you. “I wasn’t one for makeup, and Lily tended to be the type to go to the extremes even for simple events. I held still while she finished off my look with a burgundy-colored lip stain, blotting when she instructed me to do so.

                “I keep telling you to trust me.” She laughed.

                “I’ll get there!” I joked back. Smiling wide at the finished makeup look. I looked older. Elegant even.

                Lily went to work releasing the curlers that I was sure dug into my skull. As she took her time with that there was a knock on the door that opened moments later. “Hello girls.” I heard my mother’s voice and could just barely see her from the corner of the mirror. “How’s everything going?”

                “It was a rough start Aunt Lucille!” Lily chirped tapping me in the shoulder. “You know how stubborn this one can be.” She finished with a laugh.

                “Hey now! I just know what I like.” I exclaimed.

                “Yes, and you’re never difficult of course.” Lucille commented taking a seat near the vanity. “I figured I’d come make sure you weren’t giving Lily here too much of a hard time.”

                I couldn’t help but smile. They knew me too well. “I’m behaving, mom. Promise.” I added smiling at how dolled up she was as well. She was wearing a deep royal blue dress; her blonde hair was styled in a curly up do.

                “Have you felt the pull yet?” Lily asked breaking the silence in the room.

                “What pull?” I asked in return.

                “The mate pull of course! I was certain you and Carter would end up mates as close as you two are. You aren’t, are you?” She asked with an accusing stare like I would keep something like that away from her.

                “I haven’t felt anything, and Deva hasn’t hinted at anything. She hasn’t even seemed very interested in finding our mate at all. You would be the first to know Lily!” I answered honestly. A little disappointed myself. I wasn’t like most girls, but I did hope to find my mate one day. The way Lucille and Harry loved each other was gross, but I couldn’t help but want it myself.

                “The goddess works in her own way, dear. You will discover your mate, as I did with my Harry, when she decides to reveal him to you.” My mother answered wisely. “In the mean-time, you just keep focusing on finishing school and preparing to take over as the next Gamma.” I could tell she wanted to say more but Lily didn’t know about the recent discoveries we’d made.

     I made a mental note to discuss with Carter and Alpha Nolan about letting her in on the secret. It made sense. She would be the pack doctor one day. She too would eventually need to know that I’m not like other wolves.

    Lily made an “Ah-ha!” sound and clicked her tongue getting my attention. I investigated the mirror again to see my blonde hair cascading in loose curls all around my face. She’d taken two strands from the front and pulled them back fastening them with a clip that had a jewel encrusted wolf at the back of my head. I smiled happy with the outcome. “It looks stunning Lily!” I smiled widely standing up and pulling her into a tight hug.

        “Stop you’ll mess up my hard work!” Lily yelled at me pushing me away before laughing. “Let’s get you into your dress, Aunt Lucille would you mind helping so this ogre doesn’t screw my work up further?” She made a weird face at me and laughed again.

            “I’m not an ogre!” I protested loudly.

        Lucille shook her head standing up and walking over to the closest door to grab the green dress we had bought the day of the attack. “Girls, stop the bickering. Lily why don’t you change as well while I get Princess Ogre here into her gown.” She commanded. I had always admired Lucille’s elegance. Even when she was bossing people around, she had this presence of dignity about her. It was almost regal.

            Lily bounced off into the closet to grab her gown. When she returned, my mother was finishing zipping the back of mine up. I turned my gaze to her and grinned. She looked just as stunning if not more so than I did. Lily was dressed in a black cocktail length dress. Showing off her lightly tanned legs, and shoes that had straps winding up her calves. The dress was fitted but flared out at her waist with a rhinestone encrusted belt. It had a very simple halter styled top. Her red hair was styled like mine, however her curls were much tighter and more ringlet in style. She had done her makeup more dramatically, with a deep smokey eye and false lashes. She finished her look off with a cherry red lip stick.

            “There. You girls are by far going to be the most beautiful at the ceremony.” Lucille gushed going from me to Lily and making us turn in circles. “You look absolutely exquisite.” Her excitement was infectious making us both beam with happiness.

“Alright I’ve taken enough of your time, Ladies. I should get down there to help Gabrielle and Mia finish any preparations for tonight’s ceremonies.” The ranked women were inseparable. It was as though they couldn’t get through one event without taking it entirely over and planning it themselves.

Carter POV

                “I hate suits. “I grumbled under my breath fighting to adjust whatever this weird half vest thing was my mother had insisted on getting me. She called it a cummerbund. Personally, I thought the thing was some ridiculously useless torture device. But I couldn’t let her know that.

                At least she’d kept it simple. My suit was black with a silver undershirt. I took the time to put some product in my hair controlling the waves, so they didn’t hide my blue eyes. Looking in the mirror after I’d finished fighting with that damn contraption as I pulled my suit jacket on. I cleaned up well if I could say so myself. Smirking at my own reflection before I slid my feet into my dress shoes.

                Riley came walking into my room wearing a crisp looking pale grey suit with a deep purple undershirt. “Damn man, you look sharp” I commented looking over his outfit. It complimented his dark skin well. “The ladies are going to love you!”

                “As if they don’t already. They’re all just waiting for me to make my move.” He spoke with a cocky grin on his face. “Seriously though, are you about ready man? Our dads sent me to come find you.”

                “Yeah, I’m all set.” I answered walking towards the door.

                “About time man, I think the ladies were ready before you.” Riley smirked.

                I shoved his shoulder slightly. “Screw you man. Let’s get down there!”

                We walked most of the way in silence. Our moms had done an amazing job decorating the back courtyard. There were streamers and twinkling lights in soft silver colors, the table clothes were all a deep charcoal. Tables were scatter about and it looked like the buffet tables were being finalized. We walked further to the stage at the opposite side of the open meadow, where we would join our parents. Pack members were filling into the area slowly, chatting with others as they entered. Most introduction ceremonies weren’t this big. It would typically be the ranked wolves and the newly 18-year old’s family and friends. However, Scarlett was the future gamma, and I, the future Alpha. Every wolf in the pack, as well as some from allied packs would likely attend tonight’s ceremony. It was a show of support for the future leaders and strengthened alliances.

                I walked up onto the stage gazing around. I didn’t see Scarlett yet, nor Lily, who I assumed would likely join her mother and Dr. Grace in the front row of seating. While the pack doctor was not ranked, she was highly revered in the pack and was always given a place to sit with the ranked members as their honored guest. She even had an option to live within the packhouse if they had chosen to. Our pack was different than others. Our ranked members had power, commanded respect, and were recognized. There were other titles that received similar treatment though, the head doctor and the head of our warriors being the two most prominent.

                Scarlett came racing up the stairs almost clumsily. Lily must have insisted she wear heels, I thought with a smile. She was taller than normal, and not nearly as graceful. She took her place standing between her parents. Harry and Lucille wrapping an arm each around her in a hug. We only had a few minutes left until the ceremony would begin. I gazed out at the crowd once more before taking my place next to my father, mother and my younger brother, Warren. In just a few minutes I would be announced formally as the future Alpha, and my intent to take over the pack’s leadership when my father stepped down.