Chapter Two

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"Why are we going shopping again?"

I asked,munching on my cornflakes as Luce flipped the bacon onto her plate.

"Because you've been putting it off for too long! The event is tomorrow, for goddess' sake!"

Luce complained as she agressively took a bite of her set out breakfast. It was easy to see she was frustrated with the excuses I had been dishing out the entire week. It was true that we had been busy setting up everything for the meeting but I also wanted nothing to do with her idea. Of all the activities that Lucretia enjoyed, shopping made me want to jump off a bridge and that was saying something considering how girly she was.

It was probably evil to do that to her but I would rather get my nails and hair done a million times than endure a shopping trip with one of the most indecisive people I had ever met. The thought itself sent a shiver down my spine.

"But why can't I just use the evening gowns I have? I mean, it makes absolutely no sense to spend money on an outfit I'll wear once when I have options in my closet that I have never even deigned worthy to touch my skin. Come on, we can make a fun activity out of it. Almost as if we're shopping but with a limited selection. Besides, we'll be making a brief appearance at the Alpha's meeting and I already have an idea of what I'll wear to the formal dinner. It's never that serious."

It was hard to convince the Queen of shopping-till-you-drop-dead to stay away from the fancy stores and massive malls in the human world. Which was why I had offered a compromise in the form of an indoor shopping event. The idea of it still made my stomach recoil but it was the only option I had to sate the beast before me. My act was one of selflessness. I was sparing myself the torture whilst also protecting her credit cards from the inevitable maxing out that always came to pass during one of her intense shopping sprees.

"Alpha Reed and Luna Camilla really need to stop giving her all this freedom. She'll make them bankrupt at this rate."

It was an impossible outcome considering the wealth of the Alpha and Luna's resources and investments but it simply good parenting.

"Have I taught you nothing, Lex?"

Luci finally found her tongue, the beginning of her statement and the fire in her eyes alerting me to one simple fact. I had fucked up. I had failed in my mission and was now resigned to my cruel fate.

Shit. Well, at least I tried...

"You can't wear one of your old dresses to such an important event! Are you insane? Nice try with the misdirection but we are going to the Mall right now and you are going to behave. Are we clear, Alexandra?"

Despite the sweet smile on her lips, her eyes spelt the wrath that would fall upon me should I fight her. She really did lose her marbles when it came to shopping. Choosing to not fight her so as to dissipate the intense aura around her that was affecting the Omegas present, I nodded in acquisence, thereby sealing my fate.

"Crystal clear, Lucretia."

The Alpha energy was quick to disappear once I gave into her threats which seemed to leave the Omegas relieved. It was an inevitable reaction to those who were not of Alpha blood to be acutely aware of such a powerful presence that Luci had inherited from her parents. It was rare for her to lose her shit like that but when it did, her bubbly personality shifted into a scary side of her that had made many who were stupid enough to underestimate her scamper with their tails between their legs.

I loved it when she let that side of herself through. For some reason, which many found peculiar, she didn't intimidate me at all. On the contrary, I enjoyed watching the realization on people's faces when they realised she was no push over.

I just hate it when she turns it on me because I almost always have to do what she wants...

"Nina, please tell Seb and Evan that we're out shopping when they return."

I relayed the information to the kindly woman who had just entered our home and was currently overseeing the cleaning of my place. My Father and I would be hosting some Alphas in our home which meant the place had to be absolutely perfect which was Nina's specialty.

"Understood, Alexandra. Have fun and be safe, okay?"

Lucretia and I nodded as we planted quick kisses on her cheek before exiting the house and making a beeline for my matte black Nissan GTR, my pride and joy. I loved my car more than anything mainly because I bought it with my own savings. While Luci blew her allowance on clothes, I did the same with cars and bikes. It was my guilty pleasure and I was unapologetic even when Evan and Sebastian made fun of my obsessive behavior that they likened to Luci's love for shopping.

I refuse to believe and accept that its the same thing...

We were soon on our way, using the sanctioned and guarded roads to exit the pack that was well shielded by tree cover and ancient magic to keep it under the radar from nosy humans. It was rare to hear anything about a human stumbling upon packland but it was not uncommon. The human's memories were usually erased by a Mage after the Alpha of the pack put in a request to the Elder Alphas for the same.

We had never had to worry about such a complication, though, because our pack was quite deep in the forest and a thirty minute drive from the nearest human town.

Yet another reason why going shopping is so tedious...A whole thirty minute drive to buy a bunch of dresses and shoes...

The Mall came into view soon enough and Luci's excited squeals were enough to make me chuckle as I parked the car. She could be so goddamned cute when she wanted to be. It was the only reason I gave into her whims. 

I was not an overly emotional person. I had never been capable to become the poster child for all things girly like Lucretia. It had made me feel like the odd one out on many occasions when I was younger but the older I grew, the more I embraced that side of me.

I eventually came to the conclusion that only three things mattered to me; My Friends, My Pack and My Family. I may not be able to express my emotions like others but I knew deep down that I loved those three with all of me. And I knew they knew that...

We were store hopping soon enough, each of us clad as normally as we possibly could to take attention from our inhuman beauty that always seemed to pull in unneccessary attention despite our efforts.

Heck, at least we tried...

I dragged myself behind my ever chirpy best friend and sister as she ploughed through different evening gown options. 

"This is beautiful!I'm going to try it out and you are going to find something for yourself too by the time I come out!"

She declared as she entered the changing room of our fifth store with a nice emerald green number that was beautiful indeed.

"Why do you need another evening dress? I mean,you've got so many already and it's not like they'll run out anytime soon."

I intoned,going through the dresses halfheartedly, not really interested.

"You know the drill, Lex. You can Never have too many evening dresses. You should probably note that down somewhere. It'll come in handy when you meet your mate."

She explained from within the dressing room, her words making me roll my eyes.

Yet another side to Luci that we didn't align on. The very idea of mates. Whereas she was a serious romantic, of course, I firmly believed the entire premise was ridiculous. I understood the need for companionship but I could not, for the life of me, understand why I, as a strong female werewolf, had to submit to my mate when I met him. The whole culture of being my mate's homemaker, barefoot and pregnant whilst he possessed me body and soul was unsettling for me. And let's not get started on the whole 'soulmate' premise where losing your mate meant becoming weak. It was a loophole that put all werewolves in a horrible situation that could be utilized by our enemies. 

Again, ridiculous...

At the risk of sounding borderline disrespectful, I genuinely believed The Moon goddess had dropped the ball on that one.

There shouldn't be caveats to loving someone. Only pure affection for this person without the fear of losing yourself entirely when you lose them.

Deep down, I had no idea how much would change in just a few days...How much my view on the entire topic would shift...

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