CHAPTER FOUR: TIME TO LEAVE

Kayla’s POV

I stared with disgust at the monstrosity laid out in front of me. Well, to be fair, the dress was pretty, and it was the best I could get in such a short notice. It was a royal blue full-length gown with a boat neck and full sleeves. There was silver-colored embroidery below the neck and the rest of the gown was plain.

I had to admit that I would have appreciated the dress if it was anybody else wearing it. It was just that I hated the very thought of wearing a dress. Period.

Two days went by in a flurry of activities and now, it was the day of the Alpha Meet. From early morning, I was being poked and prodded by Stella, a pack member and my self-appointed beautician for the occasion.

Usually, she was timid in my presence, but once she took on her job as my makeup artist, it was as if her entire personality changed.

As she mercilessly attacked me with tweezers and wax strips under the name of beautifying me, I wondered how women went through such tortures regularly. I was a seasoned warrior, and even I winced at all the abuse. 

After that, she started doing my hair. I sat there with a frown on my face as she pulled my hair this way and that. Once she finished doing my hair, she took out her makeup kit.

I narrowed my eyes as she opened it and began placing everything on the counter. I didn’t even know the names of half of those things and I knew that if I let her, she would cake my face in layers of makeup and I would look like a real life Barbie doll.

I had enough of the bullshit and I snarled at her, refusing to let her treat my face as a canvas. She tried to talk me into it, but I was adamant in my decision. So, she conceded and agreed to putting on just lipstick and mascara. 

Once she was done, she stood back and observed her handiwork. After she examined me, she nodded in satisfaction before declaring that it was time for me to wear the dress.

I sighed as I stared at the dress with reluctance. Shaking my head in annoyance and cursing whoever decided that women had to wear gowns for the Alpha meet, I took the dress to the closet.

A myriad of emotions crossed through my mind and the foremost one was dread. As I held the dress in front of me, I tried to muster up the courage to wear it. I would have gone to a war with much more confidence than this… 

Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and just put it on, while trying not to mess my hair. 

Once I was done, I turned to the mirror with apprehension. I frowned as I saw that the gown hugged my body, showing off my figure.

My blue-grey eyes were looking more blue than grey. I was wearing cherry red lipstick. My golden hair, which I usually tied up in a messy ponytail, was done in a neat updo which brought the focus to my face. My neck was left bare, but I had diamond studs in my ears. All in all, I looked too girly and nothing like the real me…

I felt a pang of pain as the thought occurred to me that my mother would have loved to see me like this. Then I shook off the thought. That was another life that would never be… In this life, I was the Alpha of the Crescent moon pack and I neither had the time nor heart to be the girl in the mirror.

I glared at the mirror and felt satisfaction as it took off the girly edge from my appearance. There. That was more like it… 

I went back to the room where Stella was waiting for me impatiently. Once she saw me, she squealed in delight. 

“Wow!” she cried out enthusiastically. 

Then she came over to me to do the final adjustments. She arranged my hair and checked my dress before nodding in satisfaction. 

"Now you just have to wear the shoes," she chirped merrily.

I followed her gaze and my eyes widened as I saw the blue stilettos she had kept ready for me. 

"No way."

"But Alpha-"

"No! I am not going to wear them." I said with finality. My comfort was what mattered, and I was not going to torture my feet by wearing those spiky heels all day.

I went over to my closet and found my silver flats. That should do. I didn't care if it spoiled my look.

Stella looked down at my shoes with a frown but refrained from commenting. Good!

"Thank you, Stella. You did a good job," I complimented her.

"It was my pleasure. I am honored," she replied with a smile that made her eyes twinkle.

I nodded at her and mind linked Ethan.

'Is everyone ready?' I asked.

'Yes. We are waiting for you outside,' he replied.

'I am coming,' I replied.

With a nod at Stella, I left the room. I could feel the eyes of everyone on me as I walked, but I didn't let it affect me. I kept a stoic expression on my face and continued at a steady pace.

Once I went outside the pack house, I saw Ethan standing there along with Harry and Kevin, the guards he selected to join us. He was talking to them as I approached him, and I noticed that he looked dashing in his tuxedo. He had slicked his hair back to go with the tuxedo, and it made his features even more striking.

When he felt my presence, he turned towards me with a smile. The smile froze on his face when he took in my appearance. His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open dramatically as he stared at me.

"Wow…" he whispered. But with my wolf senses, I could hear it as loudly as if he had shouted the words out loud.

"What?" I snapped at him.

"You look gorgeous!" he replied while still staring at me with what seemed like surprise. 

I was not vain by any means, but his reaction made me feel as if it was the first time in my life that I was looking good. I felt irritated at the insinuation that I looked like an ugly duckling till day. 

"So I am ugly without makeup?" I asked with a blank face.

His face turned red at my question.

"No… You are always pretty… I just meant…," he stuttered, trying to explain.

"Relax! I got what you meant. Now let's go," I said, saving him from making a fool of himself.

He nodded at me with relief apparent in his expression. Then he gave me a charming smile and pointed towards the Limousine waiting for us. 

"Your chariot awaits, my lady!" he said.

I raised my brow at his antics before walking over to the car. As we started towards the Lunar Castle, the annoyance I felt at having to dress up faded away to be replaced by anticipation. Again, I had the feeling that I was going to face something very important soon. Why was I feeling like this? Well, let's find out…