The Kitsune and The Werewolf

Getting Ready for the Big Event

Claire took no time running through the mall with my hand gripped tightly. The way she worked the corners swinging me around I felt like I was in a race. The first place she stopped was a dress store. She grabbed a few dresses and tossed them to me.

Inside the dressing room was the first time I got a break to tell her the information she had asked an hour before, “Claire, it’s not going to be a special occasion.” I slipped on the dress a little taken aback by the revealing nature. I owned mostly sweatshirts, and button ups, this plunging neckline and red color were definitely not me. Turning around I liked how it showed off my posterior, but this was not going to work for making Isaac less attracted to me.

“Of course it’s going to be special kiddo. This will be the night you’ll always remember.” She tossed another dress over the door as I slid her the red one.

“No, I mean, it’s going to just be at your bar, it’s nothing fancy.”

I heard claire slap her hand on the door, “So you mean to tell me my bar is going to host the first date of the Luna and Alpha?” I heard her start to tear up.

Before she started to get even more carried away I had to try to keep correcting her, “I’m not the Luna, this is just going to be a get to know you kind of deal. So please don’t over react.”

“Are you crazy? I’m going to cook all of Isaac’s favorites. Do you have anything you like to eat? Oh who am I kidding-”

Even I had to think this next dress was gorgeous. It was tight, sliming, and showed off just enough to keep boys interested. “This one is definitely a no.”

“Oh come out and let me see!” I saw her hands reach over the door and pull. I knew as soon as she saw this dress she’d make sure I wore it.

Opening the door reluctantly I stood with a slouching posture trying to make myself less appealing.

“Oh I like the black, the netting over it is a very pretty midnight blue. Oh Please please Amalia wear this one!”

“This is too much,” Turning around I saw how it only reached halfway to my knees, “and oddly enough it also isn’t enough.”

“Don’t be silly, with some silver heels this dress will pop. You’re wearing it!” She tossed me my clothes back and allowed me to get changed, but made sure she kept hold of the winner.

We picked out shoes much the same way the dress was picked, though this time Claire made sure she was right next to me picking the highest heels I could go before my ankles distorted too much.

Heading back to the car the afternoon sun was creeping down. I didn’t want to have to drive all the way home in this getup, but now it seemed like I would have no choice.

“So the first course is going to be a fig salad. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the boys keep their distance.” She dodged in and out of traffic quickly, making sure she gave herself plenty of time to cook this elaborate meal. “Of course I’ll make sure yeast rolls are there for you, Isaac loves his carbs so don’t worry if he smashes four before the main course. I’ll be making steak pie, Isaac’s favorite. He always eats it on his birthday, so it’ll be nice for him to have it another time throughout the year.”

I sat back listening to her plan my entire night feeling a little guilty that all of this was about to go to waste. There was little I could do to warn her, but maybe it was better that way. If she was also upset about me it would make distancing myself from the pack even easier.

“Don’t think for one moment I’m going to let Isaac show up dingy looking either. I’ll be sure to give him a call and he’ll wear something proper.” Winking to me as she shifted the car into park so finished, “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to not spoil the surprise.”

“Surprise?” I grabbed all the bags and turned to leave, but was ushered back into the bar.

“Of course, I’m going to help you get ready then I’ll start dinner.” She continued dragging me around through the kitchen to a set of stairs leading to an apartment above her bar. “Not many people come up here, so you’ll be able to be alone before your date.”

She sure did have everything planned, but in all her excitement she was far too eager to overlook my feelings. Though I got the feeling she was keeping me distracted so that I couldn’t back out. “Claire, you haven’t stopped moving since noon. Could we please take some time to stop?”

“Stop?” She winced back with her eyeliner after finishing the first eye, “Are you silly? This is the first time ever that Isaac has been on a date. I don’t think you understand how big of a night this is. Not just for you, but for him.”

“Wait,” Throwing my hands up I made her retreat again from my untouched eye, “How has he never had a date? There’s lots of women in the pack right? Surely one of them asked him.”

Shaking her head she held me still carefully tracing the outline of my eye, “He is old fashioned, the she-wolves are a little too aggressive with what they want. He turned a few of them down and after no one was even able to get close to him they just stopped trying.” Winking again at me she added, “I also might have had something to do with it.”

“You sure do seem to care about the pack.”

“Of course kiddo, our family and the Jaeger’s started it. We’ve all been close, but it’s the first time one of us has been fated to the other. We’ve all been excited waiting for it to happen. I mean it was bound to eventually. So we were all just patient.” She finished applying my makeup and moved on to my hair, my tight bun apparently wouldn’t do for tonight, “You know I was the designated pack mom after we lost our last Luna. So I kind of think of everyone as my own. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”

“When did your last Luna die?” I was fully aware that werewolves didn’t like to relive their past. They were more look forward since the enemy is always coming kind of people.

“Oh, well it was Isaac and Alex’s grandmother. It was a very long time go.”

“You mean their mother wasn’t Luna?”

“No no no.” Shaking her head she accidentally tugged on my hair a little too hard but settled down and concentrated on her work again, “Sorry, Their mother and father died before they were able to take over. Pretty much they were raised by me and their grandparents.”

“So that’s the pack history then? Pretty uneventful.” I shrugged expecting more danger and war, I was a bit relieved that it wasn’t as crazy as my father had experienced.

“Oh there’s plenty of events, but nothing you need to worry yourself over. We’re all in a much better place. Isaac really works hard to make sure everyone feels safe and happy.” Adding in a few last pins and a dash of hairspray she stepped back admiring her creation. “Now don’t you look gorgeous!”

Handing me a mirror she let me inspect her work. I looked a tab bit more grown up, and my eyes were ready to grab the attention of the first person to see me. my hair was in large curls draped down my back with the sides pinned up behind adding a little extra volume to my head. it was a nice look, I had to admit. “Thank you so much Claire, but I really don’t want you to take offense.”

“About what?”

“So I’m going to maybe just cover this up,” I snapped my fingers my illusion taking hold showing me back in my sweatshirt and jeans with a tight bun. “Don’t worry it’s still there, I’m just not comfortable right now.”

“How are you doing that?” She held me back at arms length turning me around admiring my illusion. “You did it before when you disappeared.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of a special ability kitsune have. We can create illusions to hide ourselves.”

“Interesting, well I hope you don’t hide yourself with Isaac, you really have nothing to worry about with him.”

I huff, she clearly didn’t notice that Isaac seems to be able to see through this power of mine, a feat which I am still surprised exists. Only kitsune are able to see through illusions. There’s no way he was any part fox, he was a full alpha wolf, if there was any taint in his blood it was only with a lesser wolf, not an entirely different species.

“Okay, well let’s go back downstairs, I’ve got dinner to make and you are going to pour drinks for everyone while I’m working.”

“I am?” I snapped my fingers, the illusion falling, “Do I look like someone who could serve drinks?”

“Kiddo, you’re going to put either whiskey or tequila in shot glasses and pass them out to anyone who pays.” She hushed me up and turned to go down the stairs continuing her instructions, “You’ll hide your pretty self in your illusion,” turning back she held up a hand, “As long as that’s okay with you?”

I nodd and she takes more steps downward.

“Don’t let anyone walk over you either. They pay first or they don’t get a drop! They’ll try and trick you, but I know you’re better than that.”

“Seems like you are quite literally throwing me to the wolves.” I laugh but she doesn’t find it funny.

“Be sure to stay on your toes. You’re going to be put through the ringer tonight, but if things get too heated just call me. I can check in on you every now and then.”

I opened the door to the kitchen noticing the last bits of sun starting to fade away through the slats in the windows. My trial was about to begin, but if I could get through it I’d be home before tomorrow morning. The first customers came through the door joking and punching each other and I took a big breath casting my illusion up to show me in as much clothing as possible. Okay, I thought, time to get to work.