Shopping

After a good stretch, I attempted to shield my face from the morning sun with the blanket. Following a few minutes of stretching, I finally got out of bed. As I looked around, I noticed I was alone, as Vulvan usually wakes up before me, whereas I typically sleep in late.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I stepped out of the room, unsure of where I was headed. One thing was certain—I had woken up late, as I couldn’t make sense of the noise coming from downstairs. I cluelessly made my way down the stairs and was met with the sight of Vulvan and a loud, obnoxious girl relentlessly poking Dax, whose face clearly showed his frustration.

The moment her eyes locked with mine, she bolted toward me and wrapped me in a tight hug. My body stiffened in surprise as Vulvan and Dax's eyes shifted to me. Their stares felt heavy, adding to the confusion swirling in my head. Who was this girl? And why did she act like she knew me?

I shot Vulvan a desperate look, silently pleading for help, but he only smirked in amusement. Her arms tightened around me, squeezing the air from my lungs.

At last, she released me, her fingers immediately tangling in my hair. "Wow, you're a redhead! So cute!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I forced a smile, unsure how to respond.

"I'm Mika, Vulvan's niece," she beamed. "I've heard so much about you. I’ve been dying to meet you. You're even more beautiful in person."

Her words caught me off guard, and I couldn't tell if the heat rising to my face was from shyness or confusion.

"Let that poor girl breathe, Mika," a familiar voice chimed in, calm yet commanding.

I spun around, my eyes lighting up as I saw her.

"Queen Luna!" I cried out, my heart swelling with joy as I rushed into her embrace.

She gently patted my hair, her touch as comforting as ever. "How are you, child?"

"I'm fine. I missed you so much," I replied, my voice trembling with emotion.

And I truly did. Her presence always felt like a shield, especially during those dark moments when Vulvan slipped into his paranoid state.

"We wanted to wake you for breakfast, but Vulvan claimed you'd had a long day and felt sick, so you needed rest. I hope he’s not giving you a hard time," Queen Luna said, her eyes filled with concern.

I shot Vulvan a sharp look, hoping for an explanation. He leaned back, that infuriating smirk never leaving his face. My hands itched to wipe it off, but I clenched my fists instead. What was so funny?

An awkward silence settled over the room, thick and heavy.

Mika’s gaze flicked to my crumpled outfit, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Tired, huh?" she quipped, clearly enjoying the situation.

Suddenly, awareness crashed over me. My eyes drifted downward, and horror filled me as I realized I was wearing nothing but Vulvan's shirt, which barely reached my knees. How could I have walked out like this without checking myself?

I dared to glance at Vulvan, only to catch him staring with that same smug smirk. My face burned with embarrassment, and I quickly lowered my gaze to the floor, unable to meet anyone's eyes.

"Hey, now that I'm here, we'll have some girl time—starting with shopping. Don't worry, I'm sure you're already tired of my grumpy cousin," Mika said, breaking the awkward tension in the room.

Vulvan rolled his eyes and tossed me a credit card before stepping closer. I froze in place, feeling everyone's eyes on us. I shot him a what's wrong with you look, silently begging him to stop being so touchy, but he ignored it.

"Dax will take you wherever you're going. Be good," he said in a firm tone, his eyes lingering on me a little too long before turning away.

Mika, who had been watching the whole scene, blushed and bit her lip, clearly enjoying the awkward tension between us.

Queen Luna simply smiled and announced she'd be in her room before following Vulvan out, leaving me standing there, flustered and confused.

I was left with Mika and an angry-looking Dax, who seemed utterly irritated by her. Though I couldn’t hear their conversation, the mischievous grin on Mika’s face said it all.

Mika, being her bubbly self, barely gave me time to think. She chatted endlessly throughout the ride, her energy filling the car. From her wild adventures to her endless stories about her exes, she never ran out of things to say. I simply listened, occasionally nodding along.

Eventually, the car slowed to a stop in front of a massive shopping mall. I couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed as I stared at the grand entrance.

Mika's face lit up with excitement as she eagerly dragged me inside, leaving Dax behind without a second thought. I couldn't help but giggle at her playful energy.

The store was massive, with endless rows of clothing, each section dedicated to different styles and trends. We picked out a variety of outfits, trying on each one in the dressing room, laughing and twirling in front of the mirror until we finally settled on a few favourites.

As I wandered through a section filled with elegant dresses, one caught my eye. It was a deep wine-coloured gown, beaded at the bust, with a thigh-high slit that shimmered with glistening stones. It looked like something straight out of a prom night fantasy. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

I picked it up and slipped into it. Standing in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but admire how perfectly the dress hugged my body, accentuating every curve.

"OMG! You look stunning in that! Vulvan's gonna lose his mind when he sees you in this," Mika squealed with excitement.

"I think you should get it for the upcoming ball," she added with a grin.

I frowned, confusion washing over me. "Ball? What ball?" I asked, turning to her.

"Vulvan didn't tell you?" Mika raised a brow. "Well, there's a massive ball every four years to celebrate the newly titled Alphas as they carry on the pack's legacy. It's always a grand event. I’m surprised Vulvan didn’t mention it. But hey, now that I'm here, there's no need to worry. Take this dress — you're definitely going to slay. Trust me, my taste is always on point," she said with a bright smile before going back to browsing through the racks.

My heart sank as doubt crept in. Did he not want me there? I stood there, holding the dress, feeling torn between taking it or leaving it.

I sighed, forcing the ache in my chest to fade as I turned toward the mirror. The dress hugged my figure perfectly, almost as if it was made for me.

"I shouldn’t care," I whispered to myself, but the reflection staring back at me told a different story.