Rejection, Refuge, Revere

Chapter 3

Morning comes and I get ready. First is the communal breakfast as pack members from all over the country still arrive. Then is free time, which has me wandering the pack’s town, hiding in plain sight as I window shop around. I’m pleasant with people in passing, but avoid conversations if I can. Then communal lunch and it’s time to get ready for the ball.

All through the day Lou makes fun of me. Saying some version of ‘you want to meet your mate, but are avoiding any and all conversation.’ I get the irony, I do, but it’s damn hard. People are just… Too much and even though I can handle the snide comments and outright meanness towards me, I don’t want to.

Charlie and Thadius hang out in my room. They, of course, don’t need as much time to get ready, so they stay with me. Giving me the necessary reprieve from my thoughts and worries.

“We’re gonna head out, Amo. We’ll be back in a few to take you to the ball. If you need us you know where to find us.” Charlie yells, as I am blowdrying my hair.

“Okay. Thank you!” I yell back, as I finish drying my hair.

I style my hair to show it’s natural curls, putting it half up and half down, with pretty faux diamond pins throughout. I even put a fake butterfly pin to hold my hair back. It’s a beautiful silver butterfly adorned in crystal looking beads.

One of the older girls in daycare made it. We watch anywhere from 1 year to 12 year olds, the 13 year olds start training.

After I finish my hair, I move to my makeup, I don’t do much, just a little shimmer on my eyes and mascara. I don’t want to meet my mate, having them think I look like a completely different person.

After I am done, I put on a little shimmer body spray, nothing to overpower my natural scent, but to enhance it.

I step out into my bedroom and put on my dress and heels and look in the floor length mirror on the wall next to the hotel door.

The dress I found at the pack donation center was on sale and after some adjustments and additions I made it look better than I could have imagined.

It’s dark blue, almost matching my eyes, with silver lace accents, wrapping and flowing around me like the water in a river falling over a rock. The silver heels I stole from my mother, adding another 3 inches to my height, and accentuating the small slit in the side that goes up to just below my knee.

I pat my hand on my dress, trying to dry the clamminess in my palms.

Goddess I hate this part about the balls, the nervousness. The tension of the evening is shown in my shoulders.

We got this, girl. I have a good feeling about tonight. Go out these, show your bada*sary and have fun! Lou says cheerfully and I roll my eyes.

Bada*sary is not a word. I answer.

HA! It is now beyotch! She yells and I flinch. I smile through my nerves and nod once at my reflection.

“I got this.” I tell my reflection.

Yeah you do! Lou say and I huff an unbelievable laugh. With the new confidence from Lou I make my way to the door. I open it, just as Thad was raising his hand to knock.

He pauses and looks at me smiling.

“You look beautiful, Amona.” He says, then bends down to place a kiss on my cheek. He backs away and I shut my door.

“Thank you, Thadius. You look dashing as always, brother.” I say and take the arm he has offered me.

Charlie comes out of their room right as we pass it and whistles low.

“I will beat the sh*t out of anybody who even thinks about looking at you.” Charlie says and I laugh.

“Is it that bad, Charlie?” I ask and he shakes his head.

“Yes. It’s that bad, Amo.” He answered, now it’s my turn to shake my head.

“Come on, you two.” Thad says, tugging me toward the elevator, Charlie following on my other side.

When we enter there are others already crammed inside, we step in. I notice that we are over the maximum capacity of people and my nerves shoot higher than they were before. My nerves always ramp up at the most inopportune times.

“Calm down.” Charlie whispers from my side.

“Take a deep breath.” Thad says at the same time. I do. Breath in. One. Two. Three. Out. One Two. Three. I do it again and again and I watch the numbers go to the main floor.

*Ding* the door opens and I stumble out.

“Goddess Amona, are you okay?” Thad asks and I nod.

“Y. Yes.” I stutter, then take a deep breath.

“Yes. I’m okay.”

“Alright then. Let’s go dance.” Charlie chippers and takes my arm and tries to skipp. He always knows how to help me.

“Let’s go dance.” I respond and follow him, but don’t skip. I would, but not in these shoes, I’ll probably break an ankle.

We make our way towards outside and to a line of golf carts that will take us to the venue.

Once on the cart, my nerves calm even more with the wind chilling my overheated skin.

We pull around a cul-de-sac to a large cream building. The columns are painted gold and the windows are crystal clear, showing us the warm glow inside. People are looking at us, my nerves spike.

Breath in. One. two. Three. Out. One. Two. three.

We got this. Leo says and I gulp. We got this. I nod to myself and walk with Charlie and Thad up the stairs.

When we step through the doors I’m hit with the smell of champagne and hundreds of different scents. It’s overwhelming, but I focus on the surrounding hallway. To the right are stairs with a gold painted railing.

There are large doors on my left, most likely leading to the big ballroom, while down the hall there are two doors to the right, under the stairs. I see signs for them so I assume they are for the restrooms. At the very end is another door that is swinging. Serving room or kitchen maybe.

Thad leads me towards the large doors to my left and when we walk in people look at us. Most look away, but some gazes linger. Too much attention.

I look around the room. It has old artwork all around, tables to stand around, chairs placed throughout the room.

“Come on.” Charlie says and pulls me towards a table filled with champagne. He grabs one and hands it to me. I take a sip, the bubbles tickling my throat.

We move off to the side, people watching. We point out ridiculous dresses and guess which men are wearing toupes.

After a while of standing there, our game of who can find the funniest person, is interrupted. “Charlie! Thad! Amona!” We hear called through the danceroom. Turning, I see Thad in a bro hug with a man who looks familiar, but smells different. My wolf perks up, but doesn’t say anything.

He moves to Charlie and I am able to see the side of his face. Beta Hunter.

I haven’t seen him since he went to be trained. He has been training for the past 2 years to be the best leader he can. He was my only friend growing up, always so nice to me, even when I didn’t shift. He was goofy and made me feel like I could be myself.

He turns, sees me and smiles.

“Amona. You look nice.” He says, then reaches out to hug me. I smile and welcome his familiar embrace. As soon as our bodies touch I feel as though my entire body lights up.

Mate. Leo says and the happiness I feel at it being Hunter. My friend Hunter. The one who could always make me laugh, almost makes me explode.