Discovering Me

Grooming

Over the next few weeks, our friendship grew. The guys have come to visit our pack a few times and we have even been to visit them as well. We’ve had so much fun at roller skating parties, movie premieres and my favorite is spending time on the islands of Lake Erie on Alpha Rashawn's family's yacht.

Today we are on our way to the Western Revier annual Summer Solstice celebration held at the end of summer before the next school year. Surprisingly, Alpha Rashawn and I have been talking to each other a lot on the phone and have become pretty close friends. He says his mother would like us to join her for some spa treatments before the party.

I love spending time with Luna Dianne. The time we spent together she told me the wildest stories about her friendship with my mom. It sounds like their friendship was a lot like how things are with my friends and I.

We pull into the pack territory and are escorted to the pack house where we are immediately directed to the pack spa on the third floor. We were informed that our luggage would be taken to our suite in the guest wing and would be sharing a room with two double beds on the fourth floor.

As soon as we walk into the spa, we are greeted with the warm embrace of Luna Dianne.

“Oh great you girls are right on time.” she exclaimed. “ Lexi, you're going to go to the first room over there for your dress fitting and you two ladies will be going to the third room to start with your pedicures. We will join you in just a moment.”

Tia and Janet began walking where they were directed but I stood confused. “I’m sorry Luna. What am I getting fitted for?” I ask.

“Your dress for tonight, of course,” she replied in a matter of fact tone.

“My dress? Oh Luna, you don’t need to fit me for a dress…” I began.

“I know. Lizzy told me. She said she had bought her a simple black dress. These dresses are in our pack colors. How about you just try them on and see if you like them?” She interrupted.

“Yes ma’am” I said as I walked into the room where I was directed.

I am in shock. These look like designer dresses. My dress was bought from the clearance section at Macy’s. There is no way my parents could afford to buy any of these for me. My mom is a pack nurse and my father is the head janitor for one of the pack warehouses. I can’t possibly even borrow one of these. What if I spill something on it?

“Well Sweetie. Which gown do you like the most? I think this one would look beautiful on you.” Luna says, pointing to the dress on the middle rack.

“Luna. I think they are all beautiful but I can’t possibly borrow one of these dresses. I don’t want anything to happen to them and my parents not be able to purchase it..” I pleaded.

“Well, I guess it's a good thing they’re already paid for it. Now go try this dress on. I want to see how it looks on you.” she commands.

“Yes ma’am.” I said as I went toward the makeshift fitting room and changed into the dress Luna Dianne instructed me to.

Walking out, I stepped on the platform and looked into the mirror. I am in love. This dress is gorgeous. It’s sky blue like the others but is a floor length A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline chiffon bottom that has pearls sewn in to shape flower designs throughout the bottom. It fits perfectly except for being way too long.

“Sarah, I think we will just have to hem up some and this dress will be perfect. Lexi, honey, how about trying on these heels with that dress?” Luna Dianne inquired. Handing me a pair of silver sandals.

I try on the sandals after Sarah pins up the dress to a good length. The sandals fit perfectly and, despite being a little higher than what I’m used to is comfortable.

“I think these will be perfect for this dress. I absolutely love everything Luna. Thank you for doing this for me. And thank you Miss Sarah for helping me.” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re welcome, my dear. You will look like a future Luna in this dress I designed.” Luna Dianne says, beaming with pride.

“Wait. You designed these dresses, Luna? You’re so talented. I love this dress but those two are very beautiful as well.” I was shocked.

“Yes, I made them all dear. It’s somewhat of a hobby now with all my pack duties, but once Rashawn takes over as Alpha, I plan to be at my shop down the road more often and I hope to be able to design more dresses for you.” She says, winking, “ Now let's get you in the room with the other ladies so you can start your spa treatment.” she says as he helps me out of my dress so I can put back on my clothes. “How do you plan on wearing our hair? I’m thinking of a braided updo and a headpiece so then you will really look like luna material.”

“Wait. What do you mean more dresses for me? I’m just a normal wolf. I don't get to go to all those fancy balls. Plus being a hybrid. I’m not anywhere up to becoming anyone's luna and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to afford these dresses.” I was surprised by her statement. Does she think I will be mated with her son? Or does she just think I should be a Luna? Even if I was mated to an alpha, they would probably reject me, right?

“Oh dear. Let’s just say I have a hunch and none of that means you can’t be mated to an Alpha. Look at me. As a matter of fact, I was telling your mother you should look into doing Lady Esmeralda's Luna Training course next year before you become of age, so you will be prepared. Goddess knows I wasn't when I took this role. Now how are you planning on wearing your hair?” She repeats her previous question.

“ I was thinking of having my hair straightened out.” I said, still confused on why she's having a hunch about me being a Luna. Ant what kind of training course is that? I'll have to look into it I guess.

“Oh, straightening will work. I’ll see you in a little bit, my dear. You can go ahead in the room with your friends.” Luna Dianne instructed.

“Yes, ma’am.” I said, exiting the room to go meet up with my friends.

As I walked into the room, I saw Janet relaxed in a chair getting a facial already finished with her manicure and pedicure and Tia was just getting the finishing touches on her nail design. I’m directed to take a seat in the massage chair and put my feet in the bowl to begin my pedicure. I decided to just get a simple french tip design on both my feet and hands using the airbrush machine so it would be easier to get caught up with my friends.

“So, spill! What did the dress look like?” Tia asked.

” Of course you would be the nosey one."I giggled and replied jokingly,"But seriously. It is so beautiful. You’ll have to see. Luna Dianne designed it herself.”

“Oh, it must be nice. I can’t wait to see it.” Janet says before being hushed by the wax being torn off above her eyebrows.

An hour later, we are sitting in the salon. Janet was just getting her hair rinsed from the new highlights added to her already short hair. She’s just getting a trim and styling. Tia has long straight jet black hair that she usually wears up in a messy bun. She’s getting her hair styled in half up style with beach waves and some hair left out to frame her face. I usually wear my hair slick back in a low ponytail and just allow my hair to be a big afro puff. Today it’s being straightened with a loose curl at the end for volume. My curls stretched goes to my mid back.

Once done with hair, we are sent to makeup. Janet has the most beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes. She’s given a shadowy effect with the liner making the perfect catseye on her eyes, just enough highlighter to make her beautiful brown complexion look sun kissed by the gods, and a soft natural bronze lip color. She looks so beautiful.

So does Tia. Her makeup is a little more bold in color. She has a blended green eyeshadow that really makes her hazel eyes pop. The contour job done on her flawless ivory skin tone gives her a more dramatic look when added with the pink blush and is topped off with a light orange tint to her lips.

For me, I can’t see myself in the mirror yet, but it looks like they are using gold, red and brown tones to create a shadow for my eyes. I know they also used a highlighter and bronzer and a light pink on my cheeks and are now applying a deep maroon to my lips.

Before I can look in the mirror, Miss Sarah comes in telling us we need to hurry to change and we are ushered to our guest suite.

“Oh I hope I don’t mess up my makeup or smear anything on this dress.” I said nervously.

“Yes. I can’t wait to see this dress. Here I’ll help you get it out and get it on since my dress will be easy to get on.” Janet caringly says.

“Yes I can’t wait to see this dress. How does it feel to be Luna's favorite?” Tia said teasingly.

Laughing, I replied, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Do you think she’s trying to groom you for her son?” Janet asks, I can feel her concern. I myself had the same concern not too long ago.

“I don’t know." I answered honestly. "She made some odd statements. She said she even told my mom to enroll me in Lady Esmeralda's Luna Training because she had a ‘feeling’.” I explained. Hoping that’s not what she’s doing. Rashawn is a nice guy and would make a great mate. If he was my mate, I would be happy. I just don’t want to think too much about it. To think I could be mated with an Alpha, yea right. “Could you two imagine me being a Luna?” I asked my friends as I slid my feet into the sandals Luna Dianne sent for me to wear.

“With how you look right now, definitely.” Tia answers with a huge grin.

“Absolutely. Go look at yourself in the mirror.” Janet agreed.

I walked over to the full-length mirror to see what they were talking about. I haven’t even seen my makeup yet. I am left speechless.

“We look like a princess.” Sierra says, wagging her tail like an excited puppy in my head;

“We sure do. Can you believe Luna Dianne did this for us?” I asked her.

“She would be a nice mother-in-law. I hope Alpha Rashawn is our mate. It would be nice to have more dresses like this.”

“ Well, we have another year and a half to find out. He will be able to let us know on his birthday which is only a few weeks away.” I said, smiling in my head at my wolf. “What are these girls talking about?”

“Alright bet!” I heard Tia say as I ended my internal conversation with my wolf.

“I’m good at that if he plays hard to get and makes her come after him. I will do all your chores all next week and if he walks right up to her, snatching her into his arms and whisks her away just like in the movies, you’re doing all my chores for the week.” Janet says.

“ Okay, deal. Should I call my mom now and tell her you’re going to be doing my chores this week? Remember he’s going to be with my boo, Corey’s jerky big brother, also known as his butheaded Beta.” Tia says with a huge grin on her face.

“Wait, what in the world are you two talking about? Don’t expect me to be whisked away and I’m sure he will have to acknowledge me, so he’s not going to ignore me either. Plus, we’re friends and I mean look at how beautiful this dress his mom designed is. He’ll have to compliment her handiwork.” I say, attempting to diffuse the situation.

“Lexi, he clearly has feelings for you. He calls you every day.” Janet says with hopeful eyes.

“True, but that’s in private when his jerkface Beta isn’t around.” Tia rebuted.

“Yea well it’s time to find out what will happen and who will be doing who's chores,” Janet says as she hands us our clutches and we walk out the door.