CRACKED BUT NOT BROKEN.

First Ball Part 2

Diamond and I are on the dance floor and the crowd has parted as we start to dance. Currently, there is a reggae song playing so we sway our hips to the beat. Multiple young men come to us and ask us if we would like to dance with them, but we deny them all. The Alpha has entered the stage by the second song and has announced that he has everyone's attention. "Tonight is a very special night, the night my son Rico takes over as Alpha." He goes on about Ricos birth and how he thought they would never have a pup. He also tells stories about Rico growing up. "Without further ado we would like to welcome to the stage your new Alpha Rico."

The crowd erupts in howls and applause as Rico takes the stage. He is sworn in by his father and does the ritual blood oath to be linked with the entire pack. Rico lifts his head to the sky and lets out a blood-curdling howl. "Now it is time for your new Alpha to pick a very lucky she wolf for his first dance as Alpha, would Salel please meet your Alpha in the middle of the dance floor." There are shocked gasp all over the room as I look around hoping there was another wolf named Salel.

Rico makes his way over to where I am standing and gently takes my hand and leads me towards the middle of the dance floor. I glance over at Diamond and see her eyes swirling from black to their normal color as she is fighting to keep her wolf in control. Forever Mine by the O'Jays stars blaring through the speakers as Rico and I sway to the music.

"You look really beautiful tonight, Salel,' Rico tells me as he inhales my scent from my neck. All eyes are on us watching the interaction as we dance to the music. "Thank you." "I wasn't lying when I said you would be my future baby mama, I get what I want and right now, it's you." My cheeks warm as he whispers in my ear. "I am waiting on my mate Rico, and we won’t know if you are my mate or not until I turn 18 in two months. "Well if we are not mates I will do everything in my power so that you won't find your mate, you are mine from the moment I laid eyes on you in class that day," he says as he pulls me into a bone crushing embrace. "Rico you are hurting me," I tell him struggling to get out of his embrace.

The song concludes, and I use this as my opportunity to escape. As I slip from his grasp, a flock of girls surrounds him wanting a chance to dance with the new Alpha. I walked over to the punch bowl and take this as the perfect opportunity to tell Diamond what I heard Alpha and Luna discussing when we were at the mall the other day. Diamond is pissed off by the time I am done recounting what I heard. I then tell her what Rico just said about me never finding my mate. " Salel, he has no control on destiny, and who knows, maybe you have already found him or her."

That puts me at ease with what Diamond has just said, and I am now able to loosen up a bit. There are Alphas and Lunas from all over at this ball. A young woman approaches Diamond and I and asks who made our dresses. " I am the one who designed the dresses and have just started my own business." I open my clutch and remove one of the business cards and hands it to the beautiful inquiring she wolf. "My daughters are turning 18 in 4 months and I would love for you to design them a couple different dresses for their coming of age party." "How much would something like what you are wearing cost," she asks me.

"I don't know everything was hand made so about tw..." "$2900 hundred give or take depending on material and sizes," Diamond cuts me off. "We are a luxury brand and only uses the finest of materials. "I see that and I can't wait to work with you in the near future, I will call you to give you a date for fittings and to pick out materials." The Luna turns to leave, and I am approached by about 10 other women all wanting me to design something for upcoming events. I am so grateful to have Diamond by my side because she really is a social butterfly, while I am more relaxed.

After a bit of talking to Lunas from other packs. My sister Joseline aka Star walks up to me and Diamond. "You think you are the sh!t just because a few low-class Lunas like your outfits." "You will still always be the same K!ller in my eyes." My eyes start to water as I see my mother and father walking up. "Beta Charles and Nicole," Diamond acknowledges my parents. "What's going on over here," my mother ask when she sees me on the verge of tears.

"Salel thinks she is a real designer, but she will never be good enough to design something like what you are wearing mom," Star says. "Well, just a little piece of information, Star, Salel did make this dress." Star looks shocked as my mother does a little twirl to show off the design. "Just because she proved she is innocent it does not mean I have to like the wh*re, Star yells. Before I can respond, my mom smacks Star so hard she falls to the ground. "Enough Joseline, I have spoiled you and allowed you to treat your sister like garbage." "You will apologize and treat her as a member of the family," my mother yells and straightens her dress.

Star gets up from the ground and runs out of the room, not bothering to apologize. My mother apologizes to Diamond and walks off to enjoy the ball. It is now 11:45 and the former Alpha says goodbye to the outside packs and tells our pack to get ready for the pack run. I am not able to shift yet, but I go outside to watch Rico shift for the first time. We are in the woods in our ancestral clearing and a feeling of calm washes over me as I enter under the canopy of trees. This is the first time I have ever been here, so the feeling is surreal.

We all stand in a circle around a very naked Rico. There is a circle drawn in the dirt where everyone shifts for the first time. I made sure to be in front since I was never allowed to attend in the past. The Alpha tells us to count down from 10 and Rico's shift begins. His bones are breaking and realigning and everyone in the crowd is pushing to get a view. I am shoved inside the circle where I fall on my knees and the unbelievable happens. My bones start to break and realign," The ancestors are forcing a shift," Freyga tells me. "Release control to me and I will make it as quick as possible." A howl leaves my lips or should I say muzzle, and I am now standing on all fours. There are shocked gasps and murmurs as I stand on all fours next to Rico.

He looks absolutely massive, but I notice I am looking down at him. He nudges me towards the ancient lake and I take a glimpse at myself. I am about 7 feet tall and the color of ice. My eyes have two hearts over them and what looks like a shield on my chest . I lift my muzzle and howl at the moon as I take off into the woods.