Chapter 2

"Come on! You have to tell me! I will die if you don't!" my friend Samantha says. She is quite dramatic and over-the-top, but I still love her. "I can't. You know that. I will be in serious trouble with the Moon Goddess if I do. I can't tell you anything that messes with your freewill." I say. She retorts, "I won't tell." I give her the "You're nuts" look and she says, "At least tell me where I have to go to find him." I said, "Just stop! I cannot tell you anything about that! Now, are you going to help me find a dress or are you going to be mad at me for something that is out of my control?" She sulked for just a couple more seconds and said, "What kind of friend lets her best friend go to a ball in a sundress?" I laugh and say, "A friend who is too consumed on where her mate is and if he will be at the ball tomorrow night." 

Our Luna, Luna Abby, is holding her annual ball for unmated wolves tomorrow night. She started this ball when I was six, and she has had it ever since. Her life's mission has been to unite the species of the world, including humans. She invites all the werewolf packs that we have alliances with, as well as all other were-species and other species that we have alliances with. That includes Lycans, Witches, and Dragons. There are more species, but we haven't gotten to form alliances with any of them, yet.

This is the thirteenth year for it, and I am not really looking forward to it. Since I probably don't have a mate, there really isn't a need for me to go. But Luna Abby wants me there. She says, "You never know. There may not be a wolf strong enough to handle your intensity, but maybe another species will. Now that hybrids are allowed, it's entirely possible." I just laughed at her. I have my doubts on that, but I will do what it takes to keep my Luna happy.

Samantha and I are at the mall, and I see a really pretty ball gown that my wolf, Saige, keeps telling me that I should buy. I am a bit perplexed by this, but I will try it on. I take the dress, and go to the fitting room. The dress is light grey, with long sleeves. It has a low enough neckline that it shows enough of my cleavage to be stylish, but not so much that it looks sleazy. I certainly do not want to look like a whore. It is form-fitting, so my curves show very well. It has a long slit on each side that stops just before my hips. When I look in the mirror, I'm surprised at how much it accents my grey eyes and my dark brown hair. I do like the way this one looks on me. I walk out of the fitting room, and Samantha says, "That is definitely the one. It is beautiful on you. I never thought of that color before, but it works for you!" I said, "I think I'm going to get it. Now I have to buy shoes for it. I don't have any shoes in this color." Then I had an idea. "Never mind. I don't need to." Samantha said, "You're going to do to that again? you take all the fun out of shopping. You just ruined my chance of going to every shoe store in this mall." I said, "Ugh! You know how much I hate shopping." She said, "Yes, but you love me more." I said, "Do I?" We laughed as we paid for our gowns and left.

When I got home, I put my dress in my closet and went to the sitting room, where our future Alpha, Nico, was sitting with Zeb, playing video games, while my grandpa is taking a catnap in his favorite chair. I look at him and I can't help but smile. He is my grandma's second chance mate. He is a retired Alpha from a pack in Louisiana. We go down there a couple times a year to visit his sons. One is Alpha of his old pack and the other is Beta of a neighboring pack. I love how The Moon Goddess put them where they can still see each other often. I love those two like brothers. They really are awesome. They both have beautiful families of their own. I push the longing for a family of my own aside, knowing full well that I don't have a mate. I kiss my grandpa on the cheek, very lightly so I don't wake him and go to the kitchen to see my grandma. 

I walk into the kitchen and find my grandma cooking dinner and making sugar cookies with Alpha and Luna's daughter Ashina. That girl is the little sister I never had but wanted more than anything. Judging by the way she treats me; the feeling is mutual. She is adorable with a sweet personality to go with it. She is also a badass warrior too. At only twelve years old, the girl can knock any of our warriors on their asses. Luna has been training her and Nico to fight since she was two years old, and it shows. They are both unbelievable fighters. 

I hug my grandma from behind and reach to grab a cookie that is cooling. I hesitate just before I get to it, and grandma says, "Go ahead. Have one." I grab the cookie and take a bite, "These are amazing. Thank you!" I say as I give her a peck on the cheek. Then I walk to Ashina and do the same with her, because I know she helped. Ashina smiles at me and says, "Did you get your dress?" I said, "Yeah. It's really pretty, but I almost wish I didn't have to go. It's depressing watching everyone else find their mates and not find mine." Grandma said, "You will find your mate. I just doubt he is our species. I don't think there is a wolf that could be paired with you. Luna has been making great strides in uniting the species." Ashina says, "I bet your mate is a dragon! Think about it; you've always been drawn to them. You are a dragon fanatic. You know everything there is to know about them from books. King Uther is coming down with his family and unmated dragons today. You should come with me to greet them. I have to do the whole "Alpha's daughter" duties with them, when they get here. I don't understand why I have to be so formal with them. They're practically family. I've known them since I was born! My parents have known them since my mom's Luna Ceremony!" I try not to chuckle during her rant, because I know she's serious, but she is waving her arms in the air and her face is adorable. I can't help the chuckle that comes out and she stops to glare at me. I raise my hands in submission and say, "I'm sorry, but you just look so cute when you get that mad. She smiles and says, "Well, it makes no sense at all." I can't help but laugh now.

Ashina hates that she is known as the Alpha's daughter. She has had a lot of trouble from other kids in our pack because of it. But she doesn't take it from them. She stands up for herself and her mom and dad back support her all the way through it. I love them so much for that. It would be so easy for them to take the word of the adults over their daughter's, but they don't, and Ashina doesn't abuse that. She and Nico learned the meaning of respect when they were very young.

I tell them, "Saige is acting crazy today too. She told me which dress to get." Grandma said, "Honey, maybe your mate will be there. I would hate to lose you so soon after you move back home, but you belong with your mate." I hugged her and said, "I don't know, Grandma. We'll just have to see. But I would love to see King Uther again. He's a really good man." 

I look at Ashina and say, "When you're ready to go to your place, I will go with you." Ashina smiled and said, "Chill out, Chloe. You'll be fine either way."

I wish that were true. I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life.