The Alpha, The Rogue & The Beauty

She will go to the ball

Beth POV

I luxuriate in the warm water streaming over my body, running through all this new information in my mind, trying to make sense of it all. I am in shock. Werewolves exist! I’m half werewolf! My father is an Alpha Wolf! I have a mate! These thoughts just tumble through my head on repeat.

I finished my shower, wrapped myself and my hair in towels and entered Eva's bedroom to find a beautiful yellow strapless dress on the bed. I immediately picked it up and held it up against my body. Looking in Eva's full-length mirror, I admired the dress, unsure whether it would suit me let alone fit me.

Well, I had nothing else to wear, so I put the dress on. As I struggled to pull up the zip at the back of the dress, Eva entered the room.

"Let me get that" she said, promptly pulling up the zip. " There you go. Come and sit at the dresser and I will do your hair."

"Thank you." I smiled at her in the dresser mirror as I sat down.

She removes the towel from my head, rubbing my hair dry. Picking up her brush, she slowly brushes my hair, removing all the tangles. "You have lovely hair, Beth. I think we should leave it loose and let it frame your face. What do you think?" She asked me.

"Whatever you think is best, Mrs Baines." I replied, still feeling overwhelmed by the fact that she is doing all this for me, her maid’s daughter.

She rests her hands on my shoulders and looks at me in the mirror, "this isn't about what I want, it's about what you want!"

"It does look pretty down, I suppose." I said, smiling shyly.

"Now make up." She said, coming round me and opening a box on the dresser. "I think just a touch of blusher and pale red lipstick."

I turned towards her, and she brushed my cheeks with a soft brush, then applied lipstick onto my lips. "Have a look, see what you think."

I turned back to the mirror, and was amazed at the transformation. My normally pale face now had a splash of colour and my lips appeared fuller. Turning back to Mrs Baines, I felt tears welling in my eyes as I stammered out a thank you.

"Now, now. No tears or you will ruin all my hard work!" She joked.

I couldn't help but smile warmly back at her.

"Right, I think you are ready for the party, let's just hope your father has left." She said, leading the way out of the room and down the stairs.

Connor was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs, and I felt myself blush when he looked at me and gasped, "Beth, you look beautiful!" he exclaimed.

Mrs Baines patted her son on his shoulder, "has Alpha Leon left yet?" She asked him.

"Yes, he left about five minutes ago." Connor answered, his eyes remaining fixed on me.

"Good. I will leave you two alone for a moment. And Connor, don't mess up her hair or make-up!" Mrs Baines said as she walked down the hall towards the back door.

Connor held out his hand to me, which I gladly placed my hand in. As soon as my hand touched his, he pulled me towards him, wrapping his other arm around my waist. "Your beauty takes my breath away." He whispered.

I felt myself blush as I lowered my gaze in embarrassment. Connor kissed my forehead and held me close. " I would kiss you properly, but I don't think I would be able to stop with just a kiss. The last thing I want to do is make my mum angry because I have made a mess of your hair!" He confessed.

I couldn't help but giggle as I looked up into his eyes. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the desire in his face. "I don't think I would be able to stop either." I admitted.

His smile made me want to melt in his arms, and heat stir inside of me. Even without doing anything, we were both breathing heavily.

Suddenly, Connor removed his arm from my waist and stepped backwards, letting go of my hand, he offered me his arm, "shall we join the party, my lady?"

Sliding my arm into his, I replied, “lead the way, my lord!" And with that he led me outside.

Connor POV

When I saw Beth walking down the stairs, I was stunned by her beauty and elegance. I managed to restrain myself from rushing towards her, taking her in my arms and kissing her passionately, but now was not the time. I had my first shift coming up and the last thing Beth needed was me shifting in the middle of a make-out session.

After a short conversation, a quick embrace, and a chaste kiss on her forehead, I offered her my arm and escorted her to the party.

As soon as we walked out of the back door, it felt like everyone was staring at us. Beth froze beside me, her breathing coming in gasps. I place my hand over her hand, which is now squeezing my arm tightly. I kissed her temple lightly, whispering in her ear, "it will be okay, I will not leave you and everyone is going to love you as much as I do. Well, almost as much.”

She giggles, nervously and then takes a deep calming breath, "I'll be fine," she replies, trying to smile.

I start walking again and Beth lets me guide her through the crowd of well-wishers. Scanning the crowd, I see David holding the arm of a squirming Crystal, so I guide Beth in their direction.

"Hi David, Crystal. Let me introduce you to my mate, Beth. You may have seen her around school. Beth, you probably know my sister, Crystal, and my best friend and beta, David." I said, introducing them to one another.

"Hi." Beth smiled, shyly.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Beth. Connor has been obsessing about you for months." David said, holding out his free hand to Beth. When she placed her hand in his, he raised it to his lips to kiss, but quickly released it when a growl escaped from my lips. David just smirked at me and winked at Beth, "Definitely, mates" he muttered.

"Whatever!" Crystal sneered, trying to shake her arm from David's grip. "Will you let me go?"

"Sorry, Crystal, no can do. Your mum charged me with making sure you behaved tonight", David replied.

"Grrrr!" Crystal growled.

"Connor!" My mum called, "it's time."

"We had best go, its nearly time for my first shift." I told them. Wrapping my arm around Beth's waist, I led her over to where my parents were waiting.

"First shift." Beth queries, concern edging her voice.

"It’s nothing to worry about." I told her, stroking her waist with my thumb. "We shift into our wolves for the first time at moonrise or sunset on our eighteenth birthday."

"Oh, so I get to see your wolf?"

"Yes. Then I will go on a pack run with other wolves in our pack to stretch the muscles of my new form." I replied, placing another kiss on her temple.

"Connor, at last!" My mother exclaims as we reach her. "You need to get ready. Beth, dear. Come with me. We need to get a safe distance away." She says, taking Beth's hand to pull her away.

Before she did, I took Beth's face in my hands and kissed her deeply. "I'll see you in a bit." I told her before releasing her and letting my mother pull her over to the marquee.

Striping off my jacket, I handed it to my father waiting next to me. I continue stripping down to my boxers. I glanced over at Beth, who seemed to be ogling my body. When she notices me looking at her, she blushes and hides her face in her hands. I couldn't help but smile at her.

My glee is short-lived though, as pain rakes down my spine, causing me to scream in anguish.

“Don't fight it son.”' My father tells me. “Just let your wolf out.”

Fur starts to sprout through my skin as my bones snap and reform, my body transforming into my wolf for the first time.

Before I know it, I am on all fours and howling at the moon. I feel free. I feel alive. I glance over to Beth and find her head buried in her hands as she sobs into my mother's chest.

I pad over to her and nuzzled my snout against her leg, a slight whine escaping my mouth. A hand dropped on my head, gently stroking it.

“Connor?”' Beth's soft voice sounded like heaven. “You are beautiful. Just like the wolf on the cake!”

I'm stunned. Looking down at my paws, I noticed the silver shine of my fur. Silver fur! My head twists round, searching for my dad. He is still standing where I left him, a huge grin on his face which was full of pride.

“Why don't we go on our pack run, stretch your legs?” Dad asked.

Beth dropped to her knees beside me, wrapping her arms around my neck and snuggling her cheek into mine. “Go for your run, I will be here waiting for you.” She told me, before standing back up again, her hand resting on my head and idly rubbing my ears.

I shift my snout and lick her hand. She withdrew her hand with a high-pitched shriek, “Yuk! Did you just lick my hand? Connor, that’s disgusting.” She cried.

I allowed my tongue to loll from my mouth in a wolfish grin before prancing away from her and over to my father, who was now in his wolf form. Howling once, my dad sprinted off into the woods, with me hot on his heels.