Crap really hits the fan in the spring when our annual mating ball happens. It was originally designed for any wolves who are 18 or older, who are unmated, to try and find their mate if they are in the pack. We can’t find our mate until the first full moon following our 18th birthday so if your mate is older or younger you just have to wait to find out. About a decade ago or so, the school council decided that any of the highschoolers could attend the ball too. This basically took the place of our spring dance. I think it was a way for them to get out of having to host and chaperone a high school dance, but that’s just me. Elther way, it has become THE event of the year and come April, was all the girls could talk about.
I honestly could care less. I never had any friends to go to things like this with and I really didn’t like dressing up. I have my dad to thank for that Any time we had to dress up for some event he was required to take both Mateo and I.
He would have me dress a little closer to the queen of
England on a business trip than a young girl. The skirt suit felt like a straight jacket and was not comfortable in any form. So now when I hear “formal’ that is all I can think of.
Since I wanted nothing to do with naturally my best friend was obsessed. Sierra had drawings upon drawings of dresses she imagined for this dance. It didn’t even matter,
we couldn’t find our mates yet anyway. She did not like or care for my logic and ignored my lack of enthusiasm at the idea of dressing to impress.
One day at advanced training she threw me under the bus with Luna Ava, hoping to get an ally. color do you think would look best on Sky, Luna? * All the women had been casually taking about past mating balls and regalling us with their stories. The question was innocent enough, but it shocked me and I froze, allowing the female warrior I was sparring with to take me down.
At least the Alpha finally made these training session private. No one saw me take the distracted hit or could eavesdrop on this conversation.
“She could actually get away with several colors, I think. Blue in any shade would bring out her eyes and make her hair glow. But deep jewel tones would look amazing on her skin tone. What were you thinking?” Luna Ava throws over without bslowing her movements down. Like to conversation was a part of the sparring she was doing.
“I’m not sure, really. She refuses to dress shop with me and says she isn’t going to the dance, leaving me all alone with these crazy boys. And we have to go, this will be my only year here. I leave this summer to go back home and we can’t miss the “biggest event of the year.” She air quotes the overused tagline. Making a pathetic pouty face to go right along with it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose, adjusting the shoulder that took the brunt of the hit.
Luna Ava stops to look at me now. “Oh, sweetheart, you have to go. You will have so much fun, we have so many things planned. I normally wouldn’t push a freshman to go, but you can’t miss going with your best friend and who would keep the boys out of trouble?” Her pout matches Sierra’s. “Lets get something straight, No one keeps the boys out of trouble.” All the females on our end of the training arena laugh loudly. “And I don’t really see the point in prancing around in uncomfortable clothes and shoes like a slave for auction when I can’t even sense my mate, therefore getting nothing out of the torture.”
Luna Ava and the other females just laugh again, they know I’m not wrong, but at the same time, I’m wavering. They are right too, I can’t miss Sierra’s only dance here in the pack. Ugh, can’t believe I am considering this. I rub my temples with my fingertips.
“It’s not all bad and depending on the dress there are some remarkably comfortable undergarments that help you feel like you’re wearing regular clothes. How do you think I got through all the formal events with the Alpha? If you don’t want to buy a new dress, I’m sure I or any of the ladies here have several things you could look at and we can have them altered. We could always do a dress day at the packhouse, it would be so much fun!” She claps her hands and is getting far too excited. I can see the wheels turning.
