Just friends!

Lizette’s P.O.V.

“The mating ball will change your life for sure, Liz!”

My mom’s words were ringing in my mind when I went to the academy the next morning. However, my BFF, Liana grabbed my arm at the entrance.

“How are you feeling now, Liz? Sam told me about you and Stella.

I tried your number; it was switched off. Where were you?”

She slightly lowered her glasses and looked at me like her eyes did an x-ray of my face, I found it hard to lie.

“I went to see my mom. She gave me injection, so I am feeling fine now..”

As she was aware of my family issues, my short response satisfied her. Liana looked around and whispered in my ears.

“Did you smell your mate, Liz?”

A hard knot constricted my throat as the scenes of rejection tormented me again, I barely smiled and shook my head.

“No, not yet.”

“Hurray!”

Liana clapped and announced gleefully.

“Then we can go to the ball together.”

Liana was the daughter of the Pack’s Beta; her rank was like a savior for me. Even Stella stayed away when she was around. I sighed in relief and walked towards the locker room with my BFF.

Liana was chirping like a happy bird, overexcited by the fact that unmated wolves from every corner of the Kingdom were coming to attend the ball. That was when we met Brandon in the locker aisle.

His fresh look and a hot girl beside him crumbled my world around me, twisting my guts.

Whereas he smiled as usual and said,

“Hey, you two!”

Onyx howled and hid herself in the darkness of my mind, she was unable to face our ex-mate so soon.

Thankfully, Liana responded to him, eyeing that blonde beauty in red miniskirt head to toe.

“Hey, Brandon!

New girlfriend?”

Brandon leaned in and whispered something in Blondie’s ear, she flicked her hair and sashayed towards the library.

Then he turned towards us.

“Nope, she’s Madelyn Spencer from the Nightfall pack. She’s here to attend the ball.”

“A Spanish girl?”

Liana was amazed, “Cool! Will you attend the ball on Friday, Brandon?”

Brandon shuddered and replied with a query of his own.

“Not sure. Will you two go?”

His questioning gaze pierced my soul, demanding an answer. But I averted my face, just like he did yesterday.

Liana noticed my silence and replied,

“Of course!

I’ve just asked Liz, she said she didn’t find her mate either.

I wish you would come with us.”

Liana’s offer didn’t sit well with my heartbreak, tears pooled in my as I excused myself.

“Sorry, Liana. I need to use the bathroom.”

I didn’t wait for her response and rushed towards the girl’s bathroom. The cold-water splashes on my face knocked some sense in my head.

“Why are you getting jealous to see Madelyn with Brandon? You should behave normally.

Stop thinking about him now!”

Glaring at my reflection in the mirror, I scolded myself.

“He doesn’t want you, Lizette.

From now on, he’s just a friend, nothing else.”

…

“Lycan King is especially coming to attend this mating ball, Liz. Buy a pretty dress.”

My mom sent me money for the new outfit with this message and after the academy, Liana dragged me to the mall for shopping. Despite my disinterest, I just tagged along as she literally loaded me with dresses and pushed me into a trial room.

“We need to look the hottest, the most happening girls, Liz!”

I wore a blue dress half-heartedly and came out to see how Liana was doing. As expected, she was still arguing with the salesgirl about styling. She gasped as her gaze fell on me.

“OMG!

You look stunning whatever you wear, Liz!”

Her exaggeration about my ethereal beauty amused me, so I stepped back inside the trial room to try another dress in front of the mirror. Long brown hair, almond brown eyes, and an hourglass-like body, the Moon Goddess had created me a beautiful girl.

But what was the use of this gorgeous figure when my mate didn’t even flinch before rejecting me!

Suddenly, Liana’s voice startled me from the adjacent fitting room.

“What’s wrong with you and Brandon?”

Her solemn tone caught me off guard, but I lied to cover up.

“Nothing special!”

Luckily, Liana didn’t dwell on it, and passed on to another hot topic.

“Did you see that girl, Madelyn? She’s good-looking. I guess Brandon will accept her as our new Luna.”

Madelyn’s Alpha status, and the power of the Nightfall pack supported her notion. It was very likely that Brandon would choose a she-wolf like her.

I didn’t utter even a single word and walked out in an awkward, off-white mermaid-style dress. Liana was already out, wearing a green mini dress.

“This is perfect!

What about the look on your face? Is there any problem with its fitting, Liz?”

I showed her the exact fitting and sighed,

“You know that I have never worn these types of dresses. I’m just uncomfortable!”

Liana’s hand flew to cover her face and exclaimed,

“This outfit is a must. Leave the others and take this one with you. You can get anyone you want at the ball.”

“Except Brandon!”

I took a deep breath and punched her shoulder playfully.

“Stop overreacting!

It’s injurious to health.”

Liana didn’t stop at it and continued,

“And you’re a virgin, devoting yourself to your future mate.

That lucky guy will definitely cherish you for this!”

I brushed off her commentary and paid for the dress. Suddenly, Liana realized that she hadn’t exploded my world with her nonsense yet,

“Wear your pearl necklace with it, Liz. I have talked to my dad; he has arranged our five-minute meeting with Lycan King Vincent.

He is unmated, it’s your chance to impress him with your beauty!”