Claimed By The Alpha Twin

The Dress

Chapter 12: The Dress

Maya

I stepped out of the car slowly as Tom held the door open for me, the cool evening air brushing against my skin and carrying the faint scent of roses from inside the boutique. My wolf stirred uneasily, picking up the mingled scents of excitement, perfume, and anticipation from the building.

I stared at the large glass structure in front of me. Beautiful. Elegant. The kind of place where dreams were supposed to come true.

I pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside. The scent of fresh roses and warm linen wrapped around me like a comforting embrace. For a moment, I just stood there, watching.

Couples moved around the showroom, laughing softly, holding hands. Brides tried on veils, twirling in front of mirrors, while their partners watched with stars in their eyes.

Caleb was supposed to be here with me.

I had imagined walking through this very door with Caleb, hand in hand. I pictured him waiting for me, a warm smile on his face as I stepped out in the gown I had chosen. We would laugh, and he would tell me I looked stunning.

I shook my head, pushing the memory away. There was no time for that. I wasn't here to reminisce. I was here for one thing. To pick out a dress.

A woman behind the counter looked at me and lit up instantly. She was dressed head to toe in canary yellow, with perfectly styled hair and an exquisite smile.

"Luna Maya!" she chirped, rushing over to take my hands. "You're here already. Wonderful! I've selected a few dresses for your engagement that are perfectly made just for you, according to your fitting and taste! They're just at the back. Please come with me!"

I stiffened. "Please call me Maya."

She giggled and gave my hand a playful swat. "Oh, come on now, you'll be Luna in just a few days. What's the point of pretending otherwise?"

We turned the corner and entered a softly lit room with plush seats, champagne on a tray, and a standing mirror framed in gold.

I saw a familiar face immediately. And for the first time today, something in my chest eased.

Katherine.

Katherine sat with one leg crossed over the other, whispering about something to a lady beside her. Katherine said something that made the lady laugh cheerfully. Her soft eyes and long black hair. Her gown hugged her frame perfectly. She looked like she owned the room. Always composed and elegant.

Katherine had been my best friend since high school. She was more of a family to me than my own blood. She always had this quiet aura that made people respect her without demanding anything. Despite being shy, too quiet for most people to notice, whenever it came to me, she became an entirely different person. Suddenly fierce, wild, and violent. I still remembered the day she beat up a couple of boys single-handedly who were bullying me behind the field.

"Maya!"

I turned just in time to see a woman standing with a warm and beautiful smile on her face that made her eyes sparkle. Beside her, Katherine twisted around and beamed.

"There she is," she said brightly.

Katherine walked over and pulled me into a tight hug. Squeezing me like it had been years since she saw me and she was afraid I would disappear if she let go.

Despite everything, I smiled. But when it got tighter, I patted her back gently. "K-Katherine, you're squeezing me," I said softly.

Katherine pulled back immediately. "Oh, sorry. I'm just so excited." She tilted her head, scanning me from head to toe with narrowed eyes. "Why do you look like that? You look like you've been f****d all night. What happened?"

My face flushed. God, Katherine.

Of course she noticed. She always saw right through me. It was like she had a special sixth sense when it came to these things. She was too sharp for her own good. Nothing got past her.

"Katherine," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck, "can you maybe not say stuff like that? We're in public."

She scoffed. "Why not?" She studied me for a moment, then blinked. "Are you okay?"

I nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm just tired."

She sighed in relief and placed her palm on her temple. "Well, that's good. I thought someone did something to you. By the way, how's Caleb?"

Just hearing his name made my stomach twist, and my smile vanished.

"What happened?" she asked. "Maya, you're acting weird."

I sighed. "Let's not speak about Caleb for now, okay?"

"Why?" she inquired, obviously curious and unwilling to drop the topic.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Katherine interrupted, a slow smirk on her face. "Let me guess, he did something to hurt you again."

I nodded slowly. Katherine placed her hands on her temples and sighed. "What is it this time?"

I held Katherine's arm and guided her to one of the plush sofas, bracing her for what I was about to say.

"Promise not to make a scene, Katherine."

Katherine stared at me confused. "I can't promise anything when I don't even know what happened. Just go straight to the point, Maya."

I stared at her, my eyes locked with hers as I held her palms gently. "Just promise me. I'll only tell you after you promise."

Katherine sighed loudly, annoyed but curious. She knew I was serious. "Fine. I promise. Now will you tell me what's going on?"

I released her hands and relaxed against the sofa. My throat tightened, but I made myself say it.

"I caught Caleb in bed with another woman yesterday."

Katherine's entire body went still. Her gaze slowly met mine. Her eyes darkened.

"With Kate specifically," I added, chuckling bitterly.

Katherine stood up fiercely, with brute force that made me flinch even though I wasn't surprised.

"That son of a—!"

I quickly held her arm and dragged her back to the sofa. "Katherine, you promised," I whispered closely to her, eyes darting around. "Now's not the right place for that. Just breathe. Calm down."

She scoffed in disbelief, staring at me sharply. Her calm expression was completely gone, replaced with something dangerous. "Calm down? Did you just tell me to calm down? Are you actually being for real right now, Maya?"

I swallowed hard as she fired questions at me, my eyes widened in shock, but still, I tried to calm her down before she stormed out to find Caleb and Kate.

"Just let it go," I said.

Katherine closed her eyes and breathed in and out through her nose steadily, trying to remain composed, which was far too long gone now. She opened her eyes slowly and relaxed against the sofa.

"I still don't understand what you see in a man like that anyway."

"Sometimes I ask myself that too," I muttered.

It was no secret Katherine never liked Caleb. Not even in the beginning. She always said there was something off about him.

"I get it, he's cute, he's kinda handsome, he's wealthy, he comes from a powerful family, you guys grew up together." She stared up at the ceiling. "Apart from that, there's nothing really special about him." She moved her gaze quickly to me. "I know you feel like you owe Alpha Ian for everything he's done for you, that's why you keep clinging onto Caleb. But honestly Maya, you really don't. You literally saved his life anyway."

I stared at her as I spoke low, almost like a whisper. "I know."

"Exactly. So if you could just muster up the courage to tell him how much of a scoundrel his son is, you know he'll support you. He isn't forcing you to be with any of them. Or do you want me to do it for you?" she said cheerfully, like she hadn't just suggested a terrible idea.

"I know, and that's the reason he must never find out about anything," I said seriously. "Especially not from you, Katherine."

"Fine, fine. I won't."

"Good," I said. "I don't plan on marrying Caleb, but I can't tell anyone that now, not when I haven't found my mate. I'll make my decision clear during the engagement. After I find my mate."

"I've always known that Caleb doesn't deserve you. You're too sweet," she said sarcastically. "But you do have another option. I don't get why you won't go with that."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about Lucas, silly."

Immediately she mentioned the name, my breath caught in my throat, and a jolt ran down my spine. My hands instinctively pressed against the sofa. My thighs pressed together as memories from this morning came rushing back to me. She clearly noticed.

Why did I feel like this?

"I mean, he's way better than his brother. He's sensible, more mature, he's HOT, even better than Caleb. And most importantly, he's obviously in love with you."

My gaze moved to her sharply. "W-What did you just say?"

Katherine smirked, amused by my reaction. "I mean Lucas Grey is obviously in love with you. Everyone knows that."

"Katherine, you've finally lost it. You're crazy."

"Trust me, I do have a sixth sense for these things. I can easily tell when a person is in love. You're just too blind to see it." She chuckled. "I mean, do you see how he looks at you whenever you enter a room? How I wish someone would look at me like that." She clasped her hands and stared up like she was making a wish.

"Okay, stop, stop, stop," I said, waving my hands. "You really need to stop watching movies, Cat." I shook my head in disbelief. "Do you even realize what you're saying? Lucas Grey? In love with me?" I pointed at myself and laughed. "He can't even bear to stay in the same room with me. He doesn't look at me, nor talk to me, he literally can't stand me. And he's bent on making my life a living hell. He's a nightmare. He's hot and cold, you can't understand him. Today he's jovial, tomorrow he's depressed, the next hour he wants to be alone, the next he's sad. Lucas literally experiences mood swings worse than mine. Yeah, we used to be close, but that was when we were kids. We grew up and became strangers completely. I don't even know why."

"Now that I think about it, you're kinda right," Katherine said, placing a finger on her temple. "But maybe it's because of his brother. You know. Doesn't want to be third-wheeling in a love story that didn't even exist." She laughed mockingly. "Especially since he's under the impression that you love his brother." She reached for a glass of champagne and sipped it slowly, her eyes locked on me, clearly enjoying herself.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Trying to make you understand something is pointless. It's impossible." I chuckled.

Katherine giggled. "Let's just go try out the dresses."

---

I stepped behind the velvet curtain, and the saleslady handed me the first gown.

It was beautiful. Ivory silk, delicate lace, a train that flowed like water. I slipped it on and stared at myself in the mirror.

I looked beautiful. Unknowingly, a smile curved slowly across my lips.

But I felt nothing.

I stepped out, and Katherine gasped dramatically.

"Oh my God, Maya! That dress was made for you! You look like a goddess!"

I forced a smile. "You think so?"

"I know so!" She clapped her hands. "Turn around. Let me see the back."

I turned slowly, and Katherine let out another dramatic gasp.

"Okay, that's the one. You're done. We can go home now."

I laughed. "Katherine, I haven't even tried the others."

"Who cares about the others? That dress is perfection!"

"Let me try on the others," I chuckled.

Katherine sighed and folded her arms. "If you say so." She leaned against the sofa. "But whatever you put on will look good anyway." She giggled.

I shook my head as I smiled and went back in. I wore a different dress. A blue dress. The color was deep, rich, and beautiful. The fabric felt soft. The dress hugged me in all the right places, showing my curves, the shape of my hips, the swell of my breasts. It wasn't revealing, but it was stunning. Katherine was going to freak out the moment she saw me in this. I couldn't help but blush at the thought.

When I stepped out, I saw the lady, Katherine on her phone, and some others talking and laughing.

The sales lady was the first to notice me. She looked up and froze and gasped. "Oh my God! Luna Maya, you look so beautiful."

All eyes turned on me.

Katherine's smile spread slowly. Her phone dropped from her hand, her mouth slightly open. Her grin stretched from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

"What do you think?" I stood there, trying not to blush under their stares.

"You look so hot!" she boomed. "Oh my gosh," she said excitedly as she stood up and rushed towards me and moved around me. "You look like a pile of swans. Like the moon goddess reincarnated into you." She pointed upward and her eyes moved up and back to me like she was saying a prayer. "You're the epitome of beauty itself, Maya! You're perfection." She held my shoulders and shook me excitedly. "I'm so lucky, I get to hang out with the woman of everyone's dreams." She shook me. "You look like a princess!" She giggled.

I smiled, my chest tightened a little and I couldn't help but blush. I could feel my cheeks burn from her comments. "Stop it, Cat. You're exaggerating."

She blinked at me.

"I'm serious, Maya. You look gorrr-geous," she said as she used her hands to break the words while elongating it. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Thanks," I said warmly.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then I heard footsteps and voices approaching. I turned to see Caleb. And walking beside him was Kate.

And my blood ran cold.

Caleb walked in. And Kate was clinging to his arm. They were talking, laughing about something until they saw me. Both of them stopped. Caleb's face turned ghostly pale, all the color draining from his cheeks.

Katherine's smile vanished. Her eyes narrowed. Her fists clenched.

"Oh, hell no," she muttered under her breath.

I grabbed her arm and yanked her back to me, keeping her in place, and gave her a disapproving look before she relaxed.

For a moment, I froze, completely taken aback by the people in front of me. For a few seconds, no one spoke. They just blinked, eyes dragging from my face to the rest of me. Caleb's eyes softened and warmed for a moment, then a small smirk tugged his lips briefly. Almost proud.

I frowned, confused. Why are they looking at me like that? And then it hit me.

My face flamed as I remembered what I was wearing—a tight, elegant blue dress that clung to my body. I instinctively tugged at the hem, heat rushing up my neck.

"Maya…" his voice low as he kept staring at me up to down like taking in every detail. Kate held his arm back tightly when she looked up at him staring at me.

I didn't answer, my eyes dropped to Caleb's hand. He was holding a dress.

I shook my head slowly, disbelief curdling into disgust.

"You're becoming more shameless every day, Caleb," I said. "How dare you."

Caleb flinched. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, then he took a hesitant step towards me. His hands reached out, as if to take mine. Before he could touch me, Katherine stepped in between us and batted his hands away like it was offensive.

"Don't," she snapped.

But of course, before he could say anything, Kate jumped in first.

"Maya!" She said enthusiastically, a fake smile across her face that didn't reach her eyes, just enough to make me nauseous. "We were just picking out a dress for you," she said casually, holding it up like it was a peace offering. "I came along cause he was anxious about last night, and didn't really know what you'd like. Are you really going to be dramatic again?"

Caleb turned to her quickly, eyes flashing. "Kate, no. Just… stop, okay? Not now."

I let out a low, humorless chuckle and ran a hand through my hair. They really thought this was something they could walk their way out of.

Caleb approached me again, tone gentler. "Can we talk about this privately, Maya. Please." He gestured around the boutique, at the circle of onlookers whispering and pulling out their phones ready for drama. "This isn't the place."

I stepped forward, and without warning, I slapped him.

Everyone gasped, and Kate recoiled. Katherine's mouth fell open and she looked stunned and proud.

Caleb staggered back a step, a red mark blooming across his cheek.

I stared at him, breathing hard.

"That is for laying your hands on me," I said, my voice cracking.

"You b***h—" Kate shouted and her hand headed straight for my face.

I didn't even have time to flinch, but she never reached me.

Katherine's hand shot out like lightning, landing on Kate's face with a force and sound that made everyone freeze. Her expression was calm and almost bored. But her hand landed violently.

"Don't even think about it, bitch." Katherine warned.

Everyone always underestimated Katherine. With her soft and kind eyes, small body, shy expression and always jovial. People forget she had incredible strength and could literally break their bones. Right now, there was no softness in her eyes or across her face.

Katherine pulled me back turning me towards her. "Let's just leave Maya. They're not worth it. I'll make the payment, you wait for me in the car with Tom." She moved her gaze back to them sharply. "If I stay here for a single moment, don't blame me for whatever happens next."

My throat tightened, and I knew she was damn serious. And she's right, I don't want a scene and I don't want to be here either. Staring at them makes my blood boil.

I nodded and walked past Caleb without taking another glance at him. I reached for the door and left. Tom rushed towards me and opened the car door for me. I slid in allowing my body to relax against the cool leather as I closed my eyes. I waited for Katherine.

Not too long, she came into the car, placed her palm on mine softly, and Tom drove off.