Surviving my mate

Chapter three: Flashback

"Mom!" I called out to my mom while trying to pick a dress.

"Yes sweetie?"

"Mom, can you help me, I don't know which one to pick for this." My father was holding a meeting today with the packs we were allies with. Just the alphas, betas and gammas were coming as well as their mates and children if there were any. It was a party my father threw every summer. This year was different though, because it was my first year I was allowed to attend since I was eleven now. I would be introduced to the other packs for the first time as well. They all knew my father had a child, but it was tradition for whatever reason that children were not introduced until they were at least eleven.Well, one pack had been an exception to that rule because my mother was their Lunas' best friend.

"This one sweetie. Your father and I are both wearing blue, so you can match us." My mom said, pointing to the blue velvet dress my grandfather had bought me last christmas. I smiled up at her and nodded. I grabbed the blue velvet mary janes my grandmother had given me that matched the dress. My mom smiled back at me as I showed her the shoes.

"Oh I know here baby." My mom slipped the smaller of her pearl necklaces from her neck and onto mine. I looked at her in fascination.

"Is this the one your mom gave you at your luna ceremony mom?" She nodded.

"It is angel. I don't think she would mind if you wore it though." She kissed the top of my head. "Get dressed sweetie. Your dad and I will be waiting for you outside ok." I nodded and she left me to get ready. After a few moments, I walked out of my room to see my mom and dad waiting for me. My mom was in a gorgeous navy blue dress with a matching shawl and heels that peaked out under her dress. Her curly auburn hair was pinned up with crystal pins that shimmered with every step she took. She looked so beautiful. My father was wearing a matching navy blue suit. He wore the watch my mother and I had gotten him for chrismas and his wedding band. His black hair was combed back neatly but small waves formed in it despite how hard he had tried to comb them out.

"There's my princess." My father said, smiling at me. I beamed up at him.

"Look dad, I match." He smiled and pulled me up into a tight hug.

"So you do princess." He put me back down on the ground and I laughed. "Are you ready my ladies?" He said, giving my mom a smile and me a wink.

"Yes." My mother said, positioning me between her and my father so they both could hold one of my hands. We took the elevator down and emerged by the recreation room. My father led us into the main dining hall that was now decorated in our pack colors of Navy blue and gold.

"Alpha Robert, Luna Jinelle!" An older man said, walking up to my parents. I felt shy all of a sudden. I looked around but saw no one remotely close to my age.

"Alpha Ewan, how nice of you to come." My father said, shaking the man's hand. He smiled and then looked at me.

"Is this your daughter?" He asked, looking puzzled. My father smiled and put a hand on my back.

"Yes, this is my daughter Kaydence. Kaydence dearest, this is Alpha Ewan of the Moon Mountain pack." I smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you young lady." He said, shaking my hand as well.

"Ewan you didn't bring Larson?" My father asked looking around the room. Ewan shook his head.

"No, my son and mate have stayed behind due to my son contracting the flu. He should be fine in a day or so, but I didn't want to risk it." My father nodded.

"Understandable. I wish him a swift recovery." Alpha Ewan nodded and left us to go talk to someone else.

"Dad, there are no kids here my age are there?" I asked, feeling a little depressed.

"Not true. Gamma Dirge has a son your age. Ah there they are, let's go say hello." My father and mother escorted me to where Gamma Dirge was standing with his mate Raina and a young boy in a Forrest green suit across the room where I hadn't been able to see them.

"Dirge." My father said, approaching them. Dirge turned and smiled at my father and mother.

"Alpha, Luna. Oh, even little Kaydence is here. I forgot you're eleven now." I smiled up at him and nodded. "You're the same age as my son here. Elstan meet Kaydence." The boy looked up at me and smiled all of a sudden.

He was a little taller than me with chocolate brown eyes and honey colored skin like his mother. His black hair was cut short and neatly brushed. I had seen him around school but never said hello. A lot of kids at our school were human and I tried to avoid the humans for obvious reasons.

"It's nice to meet you Kaydences." Elstan said, taking my hand in his and kissing the back of it. I felt my cheeks turn red as I blushed. Boys my age generally ignored me.

"Nice to meet you as well, Elstan." I said with a small curtsy like my mom had taught me. Dirge cleared his throat.

"Elstan, why don't you and Kaydence go enjoy the party, after all it is your first time as well as hers." His eyes lit up.

"Yes father. Kaydence?" He offered me his arm and I looked back at my parents. Both smiled and nodded in approval.

"I'd love to." I said, looping my arm through his. I let him lead me to the dance floor where some alphas and lunas from other packs were dancing. I silently sent a prayer of thanks to the moon goddess for my mother insisting I take ballroom dance lessons since I was seven. Elstan grasped one of my hands gently in his and placed his other hand on my waist. I was impressed he knew what to do.

"What do you think so far, princess?" He asked with a dazzling smile.

"There's a lot of people here, but I think it's wonderful. What about you?"

"Honestly, I think it's pretty cool." He said with another smile. "Besides, I'm dancing with a pretty girl can't be all that bad." I smiled and blushed again.

"I'm speechless." I said, looking away from him. I hear him chuckle but don't look at him.

"Can I find out more about you princess?"

"Depends on what you want to know." I said, looking back at him. "And why do you keep calling me princess?" Elstan's smile seemed to widen if that was even physically possible.

"Because you remind me of a princess with your beauty and grace. Not only that, you are the daughter of the Alpha and Luna, so it just makes sense." I smiled and shook my head.

"Kaydence or Kay is fine"

"Alright, Kay it is. Tell me something though."

"What?"

"What's your favorite flower?" I thought about it for a moment as he continued to twirl me around the dance floor.

"Summer lillies are my favorite. Their orange color makes me feel happy and warm."

"Is orange your favorite color?" I shook my head.

"No purple is." He smiled.

"Mine too. When I ask you to be my girlfriend I will ask you with a summer lilly." I laughed at him.

"What makes you think I would want to be your girlfriend?" He smiled mischievously.

"You will trust me." I just laughed at him as we continued to dance.

By the time the party was over and I was tucked safely in my bed, my feet were sore from dancing almost all night with Elstan. I couldn't lie the boy had my interest. I was too young for a boyfriend though, or so I thought. Maybe I wasn't. I knew some girls started dating at eleven. I would consider it because I really did like him. We liked a lot of the same things and agreed on a lot of things. Maybe if I was lucky, in seven years on my eighteenth birthday he would be my mate. I smiled to myself at that thought as I fell asleep.