Settling In
1402 Words
Ivy POV
The first floor was offices, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a rec room complete with a TV, movie theater seats, pool table, and various games.
The Beta and Gamma quarters, which were off limits, were located on the second floor. Ivy had no clue what that even meant.
Drax had previously mentioned, the Alpha and Luna’s room is to the left on the third floor, and she and Jake’s room is to the right. Each room had its own bathroom, which the Alpha seemed to be quite proud of.
“Here is your room.” Alpha smiled as he opened the door. “If you need anything, please tell Luna or Mrs. Carter what you need, and they can get you whatever it is.”
Ivy entered the room. It was huge! A giant bed with purple blankets and a canopy. Dark wooden furniture, complete with side tables, dresser, desk, and vanity. They had stocked the vanity with all kinds of makeup and hair accessories.
Ivy opened the door to her right. The closet was bigger than her old room, and there was even a padded stool in the middle. Surprisingly, the closet was already full.
“These can’t all be from my one box?” She asked.
“No darling, I shopped for you.” Luna Drea walked into the room. “We’re head of this pack, so we need to be sure to always look nice and put together.”
“Thank you, Luna.” Ivy smiled as she stepped out of the closet, making a mental note to look through what they supplied her with.
The bathroom was on the opposite side of the room. Another giant room, with a standing shower and a tub. It, too, was full of products that Ivy had never seen before.
“The room is beautiful, thank you very much.” She smiled, but avoided eye contact.
“You’re most welcome!” Alpha James beamed, pleased.
“Take some time to settle in, clean up, and change for dinner.” Luna smiled. “Be downstairs in the dining hall for six,” Luna said as they made their way out into the hall.
Ivy looked around her room. Her bag and box were on the floor near her desk, unopened. She took the box of her clothes into the closet to unpack.
She walked around inside the closet, running her hands over the soft fabrics. These clothes were not her style. Ivy considered her style to be more “hippy” with a lot of neutral colors and a plain aesthetic.
After showering, wrapped in a towel with wet hair, Ivy paced in the closet, trying to figure out what would be appropriate for dinner. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” Ivy shuddered as she asked. If it were the Alpha or Luna again, they wouldn’t be happy with her manners.
“Um, hi... uh...” She heard a female voice on the other side of the door, sounded younger.
Ivy waited for the girl to continue, but when she didn’t, “Hello?” Ivy called out again.
“I’m sorry, my name is Cece... My parents wanted me to introduce myself.”
Ivy cracked the door open just enough so they could see each other, and so no one else could see her in her towel.
“Hello.” Ivy smiled at the timid girl on the other side of the door. She was the same age as Ivy, about the same height, with shoulder-length red hair and freckles. She had big golden eyes, lined with amber-colored lashes.
“Hi!” She jumped a bit startled. “Sorry to bother you, my dad is the Beta, and he thought I should come say hi.” Cece was nervous, which made Ivy feel more comfortable.
Ivy smiled at her and opened the door a bit wider, standing behind it to block her toweled body.
“Come in, no need to be sorry!”
Cece smiled and entered Ivy’s room.
“Oh! You’re in a towel.” She giggled.
“Yeah, I have no idea what to wear to this dinner tonight... I’m Ivy, by the way.” Ivy held her hand out to shake. Cece looked at her a bit confused but shook her hand anyway.
“I know it’s your first one, but they’re not a big deal. It’s just the ranked wolves and their families. They probably just want you to meet everyone.” Cece shrugged, entering Ivy’s giant closet. “Let’s see.”
Ivy watched Cece shuffle through all the clothes hanging, pulling out options and tossing them on the bench in the middle.
“I like more of a simple look...” Ivy tried to point out.
Cece didn’t appear to hear her, but she then held up a short fitted black dress and a purple cardigan to go over it.
“There, and maybe some black flats...” She said, looking through the multiple shelves of shoes.
“This will work, thank you!” Ivy felt relieved. She may have just met her new best friend.
“No problem!” Cece shrugged, putting down a simple pair of black leather shoes. “I’ll stand right outside the door so you can get dressed, and we can chat.” She stepped right on the other side of the closet door.
Ivy began getting dressed.
“Once you’re done, I’ll help with your hair and makeup if you want.” Cece offered, and Ivy nodded happily.
Realizing she couldn’t hear a nod, “Yes! Thank you!”
“So what grade are you going into? How old are you?” Cece asked.
“I’m 15, and I don’t know... we didn’t have grades where I’m from.” The Fae had school, but it wasn’t traditional like she’d read about. They learned about nature, magic, history, and literature.
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot you’re not from another pack,” Cece said, sounding surprised. “Oh well, we’re the same age. We’ll probably be in the same grade! Jake, too!”
“I’ve heard about Jake, but haven’t met him yet. Is he nice?” Ivy asked as she stepped out of the closet, all dressed.
“Oh, he’s great. He can come across as snobby, but he's a puppy!” Ivy giggled at the irony of calling a young werewolf a puppy.
Cece sat Ivy down at the vanity and started brushing her wet hair.
“So, how do you like it here so far?” She asked.
Ivy shrugged.
“I'm unsure, I haven’t been here for a few hours. The Alpha and Luna seem nice.”
Cece smiled and nodded.
“They’re super nice! I’m so glad they’re getting the daughter they always wanted!”
Cece continued as she did Ivy’s hair and makeup. The Luna and Alpha wanted to keep having pups after Jake, but it just never happened. That’s why this situation worked out well for them.
“There we go, all set to make your debut!”
Ivy looked in the mirror. Her normally wavy platinum blonde hair lies around her shoulders with soft curls at the ends. Just a soft dusting of blush on her cheeks, and some mascara lined her light green eyes.
“Wow, you did great! Thanks again, you saved me!” Ivy was so grateful. She’d probably still be pacing the closet right now if it wasn’t for Cece.
“Don’t mention it!” Cece smiled. “I’m so glad to have a female friend in the pack house now! It’s just me and Jake. The Gammas don’t have pups. Plus, you have cool-colored eyes. I’ve never seen another wolf with green eyes!”
Still confused, Ivy had to ask, “Can you please explain the whole Beta Gamma thing to me? I did read about our people, but I guess I missed that part. “ Ivy was honestly embarrassed, but better in front of Cece than her new parents.
“Oh, no biggie. Beta is second in command to Alpha, Gamma is third. The Gammas usually run the training for the guards.”
Ivy nodded and smiled at Cece, “Thank you again!”
“You’ll get used to it all, promise.” She reassured Ivy. “Now, let’s head to dinner before we get in trouble.”
- Writer
