Chapter. 3

 I am finally off and almost home. My feet are killing me. We got slammed at lunchtime and could barely keep up with everyone. When I finally reach my door, I am so happy that I almost didn't notice the paper stuck to it. I pull it off and on the front is the Alpha seal. Ugh, please don't be what I think this is. I am not that lucky. Every unmated pack member must be at the mating ball tomorrow night, no exceptions. Why me? I say as I enter my house and plop down on the couch. Then my phone starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and see that it is the diner. I answer, praying they don't need me to return for anything.

 "Hello."

 "Ivy, We are going to close the diner tomorrow. Everyone will be too excited about the ball. Two of the girls that work the afternoon, and you will all have to be there, so I am going to shut down tomorrow." 

 "Yes, sir," I tell him, then he hangs up. So I will lose money and have to go to a ball that will not benefit me at all. I think to myself as I lay back on the couch and feel my eyes start to shut. A small nap does sound good. 

 The dream starts back in my room and follows along just like before. When me and my brother are running into the trees, he is flung from my hand. This time I see the wolf, he looks back at me, and there is something strange about his eyes. They are purple. I have never seen a wolf with purple eyes. I am running in my dream, and when I hear a howl behind me, a banging wakes me from my dream. I hurry up off the couch and go to the door. My hair is a mess, and I have not had the time even to whip the sleep from my eyes when I open the door.  

 "Are you really sleeping this early in the day?" It is my best friend, but if looks could kill, she would be my dead best friend.

 "I was trying to, but some crazy person beating on my door woke me up," I tell her as I turn and make my way back through the house to the kitchen. I need something to drink and wake up. I look at the clock, and it's seven-thirty already. I don't know how I slept that long. It only felt like a few minutes.

 "Well, if I did not come to help you get ready for tomorrow, who else would?" Juliana asks as we both walk into the kitchen. 

 "I don't know why I have to go. They don't need me there. They need all the young and unmated there is a difference." I tell her, fixing me a glass of water. 

 "Well, it just so happens that there will be several older wolves there looking for their mates. You are only twenty-two. Stop acting like you are eighty already."  

 "Where exactly did several older wolves come from? Who all is going to be at this ball?" I ask cause I didn't hear much after several older wolves.

 "Turns out that several of the packs around us have all come together to look for mates. They are hosting the first joined Mate ball here. Some have already arrived, and more suppose to come in tomorrow before the ball." 

 "So I am not the only old person without a mate, huh," I say, laughing, but really I don't want to go. I need to leave this place and travel. Find out what happened to my parents and my brother. 

 "You are a Debby downer is what you are. How about you go and have a good time either way. I will be there to keep you company."

 "Wait, why will you be there? You already have a mate, and I don't see Shawn liking you hanging out at a mating ball." Juliana found her mate on her eighteenth birthday. She and Shawn had been close and even dated. They say they knew they were mates before they came of age. I agree because they are perfect for each other.

 "Shawn has to attend because he is the beta, and there are several Alpha's or Alphas to be that are attending. Chris said he felt better if he was there. The gamma Nick and his mate Nikki will be there too." 

 "Why would Alpha Chris have it here or agree if he didn't trust the others?" I ask her.

 "It is not that he doesn't trust them. Shawn says it's because when you have multiple Alphas together, it can be problematic." That makes sense since Alphas are dominant.

 "Now, can we go look at what you have to wear?" Juliana says as she makes her way out the kitchen and to my room.

 I sit on my bed with my head in my hands. Why does it have to be this complicated? I don't wear dresses. I have maybe three in total, and I probably wore them to the parties when I was younger. I can't even remember the last time I wore one.

 "It's a good thing I know you so well," Juliana says as she goes back out of the room. I throw myself back on the bed and take a deep breath. I can do this, it is just a ball, and I won't find my mate. I can continue with my plans when it's over. 

 "Ok, try this one on?" I look over to see her carrying in several dresses. 

 "Where the hell did those come from?" I ask her.

 "I told you I know you too well. So I had Shawn drop them off for me." She says, sticking her tongue out at me. She holds a dress-up that I can tell is too short by looking.

 "I am not wearing that. My ass will be showing." 

 "Yeah, I forget that you are taller than me, so kinda short on me is a peep show for you." She says, laughing at my luck. The next dress is black and long. It looks too long for Juliana. She is only five foot four, and I am five foot six. It doesn't seem like much, but that few inches are the difference in high waters or perfect. It has a strap just below the breast and in the center is a diamond accent. It is classic but sexy at the same time. Not that I want to look sexy, but the dress is gorgeous. I slip it on, and it fits my body perfectly. I didn't notice the slit on it when she was holding it. It goes almost to the waist but on one side. 

 "You have to wear that one, and I have the perfect shoes."

 "I can't wear heels. I will break my ankle or my neck." I tell her cause I can't do the heels.

 "They are not heels, I promise. I can bring them over tomorrow, or you could come to my house and get ready with me. You can do my hair." She tells me, giving me those puppy eyes. 

 "Fine, I will be there at three. The party starts at five, right?"

 "Yes, so you can't be late. I will take the dress back with me tonight, so all you have to do is bring yourself."

 "I think I can manage," I tell her as we head back down to the door. 

 "If you don't, I will send Chris after you." She says, giving me that shit-eating grin she has. I roll my eyes at her as I shut the door behind her. When she is gone, I head back to the kitchen to grab something to eat. My stomach starts to growl before I can even make it to the fridge. I pull out the stuff to make a sandwich. I need to go to bed early. I still want to get up for my run in the morning. I also need to shower. I smell like the grease from the diner.