Chapter 8- Party

Chapter 8- Party

                I unzip the garment bag and find a burgundy tank top, knee-length dress in my signature color. It is stunning. I pull my clothes off and change quickly into the gown without another thought. I already know my mate won’t be here tonight, so I don’t pay any extra attention to my looks. I allow my hair to fall like normal and clean up my makeup from the day. Mom paired my dress with flats instead of heels, and I am grateful as I step into them and do not have to concentrate on whether I will fall. I place my gift for Judith in my bag and head out of my room.

                I walk halfway down the stairs and instantly feel sick from the smell. “This way, Briar!” Judith calls me from the bottom of the steps and bounds towards me, leading me back upstairs, away from the smell. “How am I going to get through this?” I ask her. “Here, I bought these in town this morning.” She hands me a small box secured by shrink wrap. “What is it?” I ask, opening the box to see a group of small pills. “A local herbologist makes them, mainly for human wives with horrible-smelling husbands. I thought maybe they could work for you. The directions are on the back, along with the ingredients. She did say that it could hinder finding your mate while you have one in your system. They last about an hour or two before you must take another one.” She states while turning the box over and pointing out that message. “You aren’t trying to kill me or anything, right?” I ask her while picking up a pill. “You are my only friend. Why would I ever consider doing that?” She asks, slightly horrified. “It was a joke, Judith.” I giggle while taking one of the pills and swallowing it.

                Almost instantly, the smell diminishes, and I can breathe normally again. “Better?” She asks. “Much. Thank you. Before we go downstairs, I wanted to give you something.” I reach into my bag, pull out the small box, and hand it to her. “What is this for?” She asks as she holds it cautiously. “It is a belated happy birthday and a thank you for being there for me like you were. I have never allowed anyone, not even my parents, to see me that vulnerable.” “You didn’t need to get me a gift. I knew that you needed me.” “I wanted to get you this.” I smile at her and push it closer to her to open. “Oh wow.” Tears roll down her face as she clutches the bracelet. “I always wanted one of these. Thank you so much.” Her arms fly around me, and she squeezes me tightly in thanks. “Look closer,” I whisper as she pulls away.

                I chose a little wolf and a heart for her bracelet. “The wolf is always to remember who you are. You are strong and can do things that most of our town could never do, turning you into a wolf. The heart is to remind you to keep using the heart that you have. For that heart can get you very far in life very quickly.” “Thank you for this. I am unsure how an Omega heart could get me far, but I appreciate the thought.” “Well, there is one more thing I want you to consider. I went to the Doctor today, and she thinks everything changed for me because I have a strong mate. She thinks Alpha for sure, which there is no one here this strong, so he isn’t here. I was wondering if you want to try out a trial run, or even consider it at all if you are not afraid of me. Would you maybe want to consider being my right-hand lady?” “Me?” She gasps. “Yeah?” “But I am an Omega.” “I know that.” “I am not strong like a Beta or a Gamma. How could I be your right-hand lady?” She asks, confused. “I am strong, and I know that.” “Yes, you are. Even before you turned 18.” She agrees. “It is when I am weak that I need someone to be strong for me. I need someone with the heart to see what I am going through and be there for me. Exactly like you were last night. You even left me a letter detailing the day, so I didn’t panic. I don’t need physical strength at my side; I need mental strength and the strength of a wonderful heart. Don’t say no right away. Just consider it for me, please?” I beg. “I will consider it. Thank you. That is a real honor.” She wipes away her tears and hugs me again.

                I help her put on her bracelet, and then we go downstairs together. The party is in full swing when we get into the backyard. “Pills still good?” Judith asks over the noise of the band. “They are. Listen, everyone should be here today. Use this as an opportunity to find your mate.” I tell her.

                I stop and talk to nearly everyone for a few moments before making my way to the food table. “How is it going, darling?” Dad asks me. “Is the smell better outside?” Mom questions as well. “Everything seems to be good. Judith got me these pills.” I pull them out and hand them to them. “They help with the smell. It is mild now compared to when I originally tried to come downstairs and almost got sick. I couldn’t make it to the bottom of the staircase.” Mom finishes reading them over and hands them back. “That is so nice of her to do that for you and on her own without you asking.” “That’s who she is, Mom.” I smile back at her. “You made a good choice.” Mom insists. “Choice in what?” Dad asks as he turns around, eating a mini sandwich. “She is going to ask Judith to be her right-hand lady.” Mom whispers to Dad. “That is a fabulous idea. She has so much to offer you as a right-hand lady. Excellent choice, indeed. I approve of that.” He nods. “Have fun, dear,” Mom says before turning Dad around to clean the food off him that he dropped on himself.

                Nava comes running up to me as I throw my plate away. “What happened last night? I just heard the news.” “What did you hear?” I ask to know what to confirm or deny. “That you hit Rebecca and then threatened to kill her.” She looks at me in shock. “Nothing else?” “No, what else happened?” She questions. “That girl insulted and attacked my daughter. My daughter did what she did out of self-defense. If Briar didn’t step in when she did last night, they would both be dead right now at my hand for lying to my face.” Dad sternly fills her in on the short version of the night. “I am sorry, Alpha; I did not know. That is not the story that is circulating.” She bows to my dad and excuses herself. “Guess it didn’t matter; they all think I am the bad guy anyway.” I sigh. “Not for long.” Dad angrily tosses his plate in the trash and walks to the stage.

                The music has stopped playing, and he has gotten everyone’s attention. “It has come to my attention that a story is circulating about last night. Let me be very clear about what happened. Rebecca came into the pack house last night and started verbally assaulting my daughter. When Briar tried to walk away, a comment that I would have killed Rebecca on the spot had I heard it firsthand was made. Instead of death, she earned a broken nose and a threat. When I asked what happened, she lied directly to my face, and they both did. I was going to order the execution of both of them on the spot. Briar stepped in and asked for a much different punishment: they were to become Omegas and work their way back up to their ranks, along with living and paying for themselves in the Omega Housing on the outskirts of town. They are not permitted to be anywhere near my daughter or fun functions. Just in case anyone thinks that Briar or I am lying, we have the incident on video. I should not hear such stories on my daughter’s birthday.” He steps off the stage and barges into the house, my mom following closely behind him.

                Nava appears at my side again. “I didn’t mean to set him off.” “Well, Nava, the pack needed to know what happened. Everyone is here, so why not tell them all at once?” I shrug. “Lying to his face is punishable by death?” Her comment has an edge that starts a fire to anger within me. “Not telling the truth when asked, yes. Especially when the comment concerned her calling me a worthless piece of wolf hide. Or telling me that I don’t deserve to find a mate.” “She wouldn’t say that. Not with Devin as her mate.” “Oh, believe me, she did, and he didn’t stop it.” I look around the party, trying to cool down my temper. “That is just her talking. That is who she has always been, and you know that. Don’t you think the punishment to be Omegas is a little harsh?” She asks condescendingly.

                I can feel the blood rush between my ears, and my face begins to get hot from anger when I turn to face her, looking deep into her eyes thoroughly. “One more comment, and I will go to their house and slaughter them both with my hands for everything said to me. Don’t you ever question my judgment ever again.” I hiss at her. She slowly backs away from me, and Judith notices before anyone else. “Briar, let’s go inside and get a drink, shall we?” She asks me as my eyes are still glued to Nava. When I have yet to respond, Judith does something courageous; she body blocks me from Nava with her body and looks me directly in the eyes. “Let’s get that drink.” Her voice is soft and caring and pulls me from my anger instantly. “Ok.” I nod. Walking past Nava, I stop and stand taller but don’t look in her direction. “My apologies for my temper. If you had cared in the slightest about me between last night and today, you would have noticed that turning 18 has changed me dramatically. Apparently, everything changing abruptly has to do with the strength of my mate. I am still learning to deal with it.” “I understand.” Is all she whispers as I walk past her and allow Judith to bring me into the house.

                Judith has a cool rag on my forehead and guides me to a quiet corner when Dad comes to find me. “Hey, you two. How is it going?” He asks. “She yelled at Nava; she is not happy with herself at the moment,” Judith answers. “Why did you yell at Nava?” He counters. “Apparently, I was too harsh with making them omegas.” I huff. “I was going to kill them; how is what you did harsh?” Dad asks, and I can only shrug for an answer. “Do you want cake?” He asks. “Yeah, let’s do that and then send everyone home. I don’t feel like dealing with the pack right now.” I push myself up off the chair and look at Judith. “I take it that your mate isn’t here either?” “Nope.” “Good, we get fresh meat from another pack. Hopefully, they aren’t idiots like the wolves here.” “That isn’t nice, Briar!” Dad calls out to me. “Maybe not, but it is true!” I call back as I walk outside and instantly reach for another pill to stop the smell of those around me.