The Masked Wolf

Shopping

Ava’s point of view

I hopped into Gloria's passenger seat, grateful for the company. Gloria, like me, was an omega, but unlike me, she didn't have any debts to the pack, which meant she didn't face the same judgment.

"So, where are we heading for our shopping spree?" I asked as Gloria pulled away from the pack house.

"Well, considering you love the neutral pack lands, we can go there," she replied, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Sounds perfect. It's a place where I can truly be myself without fear of judgment. I must admit, I was initially skeptical about your recommendation, but it turns out you were absolutely right. I feel incredible when I'm there," I replied, reciprocating her smile.

The tranquil lands of the neutral pack have granted me a much-needed sense of comfort.

"Great! First things first, we'll find you a phone. You don't need anything fancy, just a cheap android to start with so you don't spend too much money. After that, we'll focus on getting you some new clothes that don't look worn out," Gloria said, excitement evident in her voice.

"Sounds like a great plan," I remarked, admiring the breathtaking scenery that surrounded us as we drove.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Having never owned a cellphone before, this was a completely new and thrilling experience for me.

We pulled into the electronic store, its exterior adorned with vibrant neon signs advertising various gadgets like tablets, computers, and, of course, phones.

"Here we are, time to get you your first phone," Gloria exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable. It seemed like she was even more excited than I was.

"Absolutely, let's go for it!" I exclaimed, eagerly swinging open the car door.

As I glanced down at my outfit, a slight pang of regret washed over me. I couldn't help but wish we had made a stop to shop for some new clothing before getting a phone.

As we stepped inside the store, a sudden collision caused me to stumble. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," Brenda, the Alpha's girlfriend, apologized before she looked up and saw me. Her expression turned disdainful. "Oh, never mind. Eww, it's just Ava," she sneered before walking past me out the door. So much for having no one cares who I was here.

"Well, that was incredibly rude," the man behind the counter commented, clearly taken aback by Brenda's words.

"It's alright, it doesn't bother me," I reassured him, forcing a smile despite the sting of Brenda's insult. I hated how some of my fellow pack members treated me.

"You're right, let's not let her ruin our day. We have a phone to find!" Gloria chimed in, her excitement undiminished.

"My name is Adam, and I'll be happy to assist you in finding the perfect phone, Miss," Adam, the friendly man behind the counter, introduced himself.

"Hello, Adam. I'm Ava. Well, I have a limited budget, so I'm looking for something affordable yet durable," I explained. Hoping Adam wouldn't judge me for my limited budget.

"And easy to use, since Ava's never had a phone before," Gloria chimed in, her voice filled with determination.

"Well, congratulations on getting a phone," Adam responded warmly. "We have these models available for $100, and I'll throw in any case you want. It's a sturdy phone that should last you a while. Plus, you won't have to pay the bill until next month. It may not be the most attractive phone, but with a cute case, it'll definitely look better. And it's reasonably priced."

As Adam explained, I examined the phone. It had a simple design and didn't seem particularly impressive to Adam to me it was amazing. However, one of the cases caught my eye — it was adorned with sparkly butterflies, effectively hiding the plain appearance of the phone.

"Okay, I'll go with that one. Can you assist me in setting it up?" I asked Adam, feeling a bit shy.

"Of course, I'll guide you through the setup process. Additionally, I'll need you to sign some paperwork, and once you pay for it, the phone is all yours and ready to use," Adam explained with a smile.

We completed the necessary paperwork, and I handed Adam the cash for the phone. Thankfully, I still had plenty of money left.

"Thank you so much, Adam," I expressed my gratitude with a genuine smile.

"I also added my number in case you need any help using the phone. The lock code is set as your birthday, but if you prefer something else, feel free to change it. No hard feelings if you decide to delete my number," Adam informed me, handing over my new phone and winking at me.

"Nope, she definitely needs friends. Thanks for your assistance, Adam. We need to head out for some shopping now," Gloria declared, taking hold of my arm and briskly leading me out of the store.

"Look at you, you've already got someone's phone number, you little vixen," Gloria teased playfully as we made our way to her car. Once we were inside, she reached out her hand, signaling for me to pass her the phone.

"Sure, here you go," I replied, handing her the phone.

"Alright, unlock it for me, please," Gloria requested, gesturing towards the screen. I quickly entered my code and unlocked the phone, handing it back to her.

Gloria took the phone and proceeded to add her number under the label "Best Friend Ever." She then added Bart's number and labeled it as "Coolest Boss Ever."

"Perfect," Gloria said with a satisfied smile. "I know a*****e that has a variety of different phone case styles. We're bound to find something that suits you there."

With a swift reverse, Gloria backed the car out of the parking space and onto the road, her excitement palpable as she prepared to embark on our shopping adventure.

Gloria took me to a trendy boutique called Fashion Cave, which she described as being on the lower price end but still cool.

Excitement filled the air as we entered the store, and I couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the vast selection of clothes. However, with Gloria's enthusiastic encouragement, I found the courage to try on an obscene amount of outfits.

To my surprise, I ended up finding several pieces that I loved, including some stylish new shoes. As we approached the cash register, the total came to three hundred and eight dollars.

"Cash or card?" the cashier asked, her friendly voice cutting through the air.

Nervously, I replied, "Cash," handing over the money, even though I still had some left. It felt strange to be spending so much on myself, but Gloria assured me it was worth it.

"Ava will be changing into her new clothing in the bathroom," Gloria informed the cashier, who simply nodded with a smile and handed me the bags containing my purchases.

Inside the bathroom, I quickly changed into a pink tank top, a black mini skirt, and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. As I admired my reflection, I carefully placed my old clothes and wallet into the bags, realizing I had no pockets.

Emerging from the bathroom, I sought Gloria's opinion on my new ensemble. She beamed with delight, exclaiming, "That looks amazing on you!" She then surprised me by presenting a beautiful baby blue purse she had purchased for me, along with two rhinestone masks to cover our eyes - one black and one silver.

"Thank you so much for the purse, Gloria. You're truly amazing," I expressed my gratitude, glancing at the masks. "Are we going to wear these to work?"

With a mischievous grin, Gloria shook her head. "Nope, we're going to have lunch and then we're going to party and dance instead of working at The Masked Wolf. Today, we're going to enjoy ourselves."

Anticipation swelled within me as I imagined the fun-filled day ahead, grateful for Gloria's friendship and her knack for turning any ordinary outing into an extraordinary adventure.