**Day of the Mate Ball**
“This is outrageous! I want to see my mate, NOW!” Damon screams in my face.
I smile at him as I wipe droplets of spit off my face. “I’m sorry, Alpha. She doesn’t want to see you before the ball. She wants her dress to be a surprise,” I lie.
“I haven’t seen my mate since Laura died, and I want to speak with her! Two weeks is too long!” He yells.
“She’s been very busy with the final preparations for the ball, Alpha. Don’t you like what we did with the pack hall and the beautiful canopies? I think the fairy lights will make everything look magical when night falls,” I say with an innocent smile.
“Yes, everything looks very nice,” Damon says, his teeth clenched. “However, very important people are attending this event, and I want to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”
“I can assure you, Alpha, that Luna Cassia has meticulously gone over every detail. To be honest, she’s been running us ragged,” I chuckle.
Before he can respond, I hear a window upstairs slide open. “Oh, Damon! Everything is going to be perfect,” I hear Cassia call out.
Damon steps back onto the lawn to look up at Cassia. “Cassia, I want to speak to you privately, please,” he growls out, the veins in his neck pulsating with anger.
“We can talk tonight! Now go and get ready. I’ve had the Omegas leave your mask and matching tie to my dress on your bed…”
“Mask? What do I need a mask for?” He yells.
“Darling, when you said that I could handle the arrangements, I told Laura weeks ago that I was making it a masquerade ball, didn’t she tell you?” She asks, innocently.
“No, she didn’t,” he says, clenching his jaw again.
“Oh dear, it must have slipped her mind. She was a very busy girl. But honey, everything is going to go perfectly, don’t you worry!”
“Fine. I will see you tonight,” he huffs and stomps away towards the pack house.
“Bye, darling! Tonight is going to be so much fun!” Cassia yells after him.
I go inside mom’s house and burst out laughing when I close the door. “Laying it on a bit thick there, Cass!” I yell out.
“I don’t know what you mean!” She feigns shock with her hand on her chest as she comes down the stairs.
“Please. I could feel the sarcasm dripping off of you,” Jess says as she pops her head out of the kitchen.
“No, unfortunately, that was spit,” I grimace and walk into the kitchen to wash my face.
“You sure do bring out the rage in that man, Athena,” Jess chuckles.
“What can I say? It’s a gift,” I grin, then wipe my face with a towel.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have aggravated him further,” Cassia says as she leans against the kitchen counter.
“We need him angry. He’s more likely to show his true colors that way,” Jess says, but Cassia looks worried as she chews her lower lip.
“Everything is going to be fine, Cass. I promise,” I say as I rub her arm reassuringly. “And rubbing Laura in his face was a stroke of genius,” I smirk.
She takes a deep breath and smiles. “You’re right. Okay, let’s get dressed before the boys get back so we can knock their socks off,” she giggles, grabbing mine and Jess’s hands and dragging us upstairs.
“You’re going to pull my arm out, Cass!” Jess squeals as we run behind Cass into her room.
“I picked the most gorgeous dresses for us,” Cass grins and walks over to a dress rack with three dress bags hanging on it.
“Cass, I can’t wear a dress if I’m going to be guarding you,” I say, exasperated. “I thought we went over this already.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous! I made sure that there’s no train or anything,” she smirks as she unzips one of the dress bags.
“There’s no point arguing with her,” Jess says, laughing at my grimace. “She’ll get what she wants.”
“Come on, Athena! You will look amazing in this!” she says as she pulls out a sleek, deep red dress with an extremely low V-neckline.
“Cass! There is no way I can wear that!” I shriek in horror.
“Of course you can! The color will look beautiful with your olive skin,” she grins, holding the dress up to me.
“I’m not worried about the color!”
“Just try it on! There are panties in the bathroom for you,” she says as she shoves me towards the bathroom.
I look at Jess pleadingly, but she just shrugs and goes to the dress rack, as Cass pushes me into the bathroom and hangs the dress up on the top of the shower and then closes the bathroom door.
“How in the hell am I supposed to protect anyone in this?” I mutter to myself as I stare at the dress.
‘*This will help you blend in, Athena. So, you’re going to rock this dress and do it with a smile*,’ Enyo says with a small chuckle.
I sigh as I undress and put on the silk lace panties that were on the counter, then slip the dress on. It feels like butter against my skin, and the deep red makes my skin look like it’s glowing. I turn around to look in the mirror and realize there are two slits that go to the tops of my thighs, and the neckline is almost at my naval.
“CASSIA!” I shriek.
She opens the door and gasps when I turn around. “Oh, Athena. You look beautiful!”
“There is no way in hell I can wear this dress!” I yell. “It’s showing everything!”
“Nonsense! It fits you perfectly. Your boobs look amazing!” She giggles.
“If I bend over, they’re going to fall out!”
“That’s what the tape is for,” she says nonchalantly and points to the counter.
I look between Cassia and the tape with a shocked look. “Nope. No way. I’m not doing it!” I say, completely dumbfounded.
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Cassia huffs and grabs the tape.
“Don’t. You. Dare!” I warn as I back away from her, covering my breasts with my hands.
“What on earth is going on in here?” I hear Ryna ask in the bedroom.
“Ryna! Come and talk some sense into Athena, please,” Cassia calls out.
“Ryna! Come and save me from this madwoman!” I yell out as I get cornered in the bathroom.
Ryna walks into the bathroom to see what we’re talking about and stops in his tracks when he sees Cassia stalking me with boob tape, and he bursts out laughing.
“Oh, great help you are!” I yell.
“I’m sorry,” he continues to laugh, with tears forming in his eyes. “But never in my life did I ever picture this when I came up here,” he laughs harder, pointing between Cassia and me.
“What’s so funny?” Jess asks, coming in behind Ryna. Jess starts laughing as well when I shriek as Cassia tries to pry my hands away from my breasts and I lift my leg to try and keep her away from me. “I told you, Athena, just give in. She will win,” she says between laughs.
“This is so bloody humiliating!” I yell as I drop my hands for Cassia to apply the tape. “I am a warrior! I don’t wear things like this!” I cringe as Cassia puts tape on my boobs.
“You may be a warrior, but you’re also a woman, Athena! There’s nothing wrong with showing off what you have,” Cassia says, and I snort at her.
A few minutes later, Cassia finally steps back to admire her handiwork.
“Have you finished fondling me yet?” I ask, embarrassed.
“All done!” She says with a triumphant smile.
I look down to make sure you can’t see any of the tape and notice my leg sticking out through the slit. “Well, I’m glad I decided to bloody shave in the shower before,” I say with an exasperated sigh.
“You look beautiful, Athena,” Jess says with a smile. Then she grabs my arm and pulls me back into the bedroom. “Now, sit your ass down so I can do your hair and makeup.”
I groan loudly but do as I’m told, losing the will to fight them.
#
Two hours later, we’re finally ready to head over to the pack hall. I stand between Cassia and Jess as Mom takes photos and gushes over how beautiful we all look. “I can’t believe my baby girl has grown up,” Mom sobs.
“Oh, Mom! Come on, no crying. You’ll make your mascara run,” I say as I walk over and hug her tightly. “You look beautiful too,” I say, and she pulls away and gives me a little twirl.
“Do you like it?” She asks. “Luna picked my dress out, too.” She smiles.
“It’s absolutely stunning, Mom,” I smile back, my heart aching slightly. She looks so happy at this moment.
I hear someone knock on the front door, and Uncle Alex yells out that he’ll answer it.
“Oh! That will be Tony!” Cassia says excitedly.
“Why’s Tony here?” I ask. “He’s supposed to be with Harry and Leah.”
“Okay, so, don’t be mad…” Cassia says.
“Oh, Goddess… What have you done?”
“I asked him to escort you tonight,” she says before biting her bottom lip.
I throw my head back and sigh. “Goddess, please give me the strength to not kill my Luna,” I mutter and look back at Cassia with a glare.
“What’s wrong with Tony? He’s handsome, and I think he has a little crush on you,” Cassia says quietly, trying to smile innocently.
“He also acts like a twelve-year-old most of the time,” I whisper-yell back.
“But have you seen those big puppy eyes when he sees you drop a warrior on his ass?” Jess coos, fanning her face, joining in on teasing me.
“I’m going to kill you both,” I say, about to chase them, when Uncle Alex calls out from downstairs.
“Let’s get moving, ladies! Or the guests will get there before we do!”
“Don’t think for a second that this is going to save either of you,” I growl at Jess and Cassia. “We WILL continue this later,” I say as I walk out of the room, hearing them snort with laughter as I walk up the hall.
I start walking down the stairs slowly, trying not to trip in the heels Cassia made me wear when I hear a low whistle. I look up to see Tony standing at the bottom of the stairs in a black suit with a red tie that matches my dress.
“Wow,” he whispers as he looks me up and down. My cheeks redden, and I try to cover myself, causing me to miss a step and trip, missing the last couple of stairs. Thankfully Tony catches me before I face plant and brings me to his chest. “Are you okay, Athena?” He asks.
“I’m so sorry, these damn heels,” I say, flustered, and step back out of his arms.
“Well, at least you know the tape works,” Enyo howls with laughter, causing my cheeks to brighten further.
“Don’t make me block you out,” I growl at her.
“Athena, you forgot your mask!” Cassia says as she comes down the stairs. I groan, hoping that she had forgotten about it. She turns me around and lifts part of my curled hair up while Jess positions the mask and ties it, then Cassia drops my hair again. “Beautiful,” she says, patting my shoulder.
“You can say that again,” Tony mutters under his breath.
“What was that, Tony?” Uncle Alex asks, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“Nothing, Gamma,” Tony says quickly, looking everywhere but at me.
Uncle Alex chuckles and holds his arm out for Mom. She takes it, and they leave for the pack hall.
“Ryna! Gino! Hurry up! We’re going to be late!” Jess calls out to them.
“Where’s Jason?” I ask her.
“Right here,” Jason says from the open front door, his face lighting up when he sees Jess.
Ryna and Gino finally come downstairs, gushing over each other’s masks, and straightening each other’s bow ties.
“Well, don’t you two look fantastic,” I say to my two best friends, my heart swelling with the love I have for them.
“You look stunning, Athena,” Ryna says, and they both kiss me on the cheek. “As do you two ladies,” he says with a smile to Jess and Cassia.
“Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Tony asks, offering his arm to me.
“Let’s do it,” I say, giving him a small smile, and take his arm.