Chapter 34

The smell of lavender filled the air, and the hot soapy water caressed my body in a warm, loving embrace. I sighed peacefully and sunk deeper into the bath, allowing the water to seep over my body. It was so lovely to be back at home, even if it was only for a few hours. The sound of Lucas playing Big World Knockout on his games console could be heard from just across the hall. Baking and video games were his main interests. But I knew as time went on, those interests would fade as he eventually found out who he really was and who his family where.

Carefully, I sat up, the water sloshing around me as I grabbed a pink razor and a can of shaving foam from the end of the bath. I squirted a large dollop of the silky cream and applied it to under my arms before skilfully dragging the razor across my skin. Once I had finished my underarms, I lifted each leg out of the bath in turn and completed the process, leaving each leg feeling silky smooth. I fished around under the water for the bath sponge and grabbed it when my fingers connected with the spongy material. I rung out the water and applied some more lavender bubble bath to the sponge and gently massaged it in to create a foamy lather which I scrubbed my body with.

Last of all, I laid back and completely soaked my hair so that I could plop a blob of 2 in 1 shampoo on top that I massaged in with my fingers. Once again, I sank beneath the water and used my hands to wash out all the soap. Gasping for breath, I finally resurfaced and used a flannel to wipe my face. Finally feeling clean, I laid back in the bath and thought of Xavier.

My Xavier!

As time went on, I found it easier to be not by his side. I could not wait to see him at the ceremony and for this spell to be over. I was determined not to fail the pack. I eyed up the bathroom window, thinking of a plan to escape, but I thought better off it. I could not let the pack down.

And would Xavier even want to see me? Would he be disappointed if I ran away and came to find him?

Sighing in frustration, I pulled on the chain of the plug to allow the water to escape. A loud gurgling noise ensued, and I watched as the water rippled in circles as it was sucked down the drain. Carefully, I stood up and lifted one leg up over the bath and stepped down on to the bathmat before lifting the other leg out of the bath. I grabbed a fluffy towel from the hook off the wall and wrapped it around me. It was nice and warm as it had just come out of the dryer and it smelled of my Mum’s washing powder. I slid back the lock on the bathroom door and walked out into the hallway, letting the smell of lavender fill the hallway. I made my way into my bedroom and saw Hannah perched on the end of my bed, flicking through an old magazine.

I think it was the one that Cierra flicked through many months ago.

She looked up at me as I entered the room and raised an eyebrow.

“Feeling better? Oh, and your Mum bought us up cheese and ham sandwiches,” pointing to two plates laden with cheese and ham sandwiched between slabs of thick crusty bread and two cinnamon buns.

“Mmm, lovely!” I replied, eyeing up the food hungrily. “I’m feeling a little bit better. I’m more relaxed anyway. Turn around so I can chuck my clothes back on a sec,” I asked her.

Hannah dutifully obliged while I grabbed clean underwear out of the pile of clothes that Hannah had brought with her and quickly slipped them on under the towel. I removed the towel and slipped on my bra, my leggings and grey top once more before sitting down at my old dressing table.

“I’m ready. Now, do your worst!” I told Hannah who jumped up, looking excited.

“You are going to look so amazing! I’m thinking a high ponytail, curled to an inch of its life, smoky dark and silver eyes with lashings of eyeliner, flawless skin, and plummy coloured lips. It’s all about the eyes tonight!”

“Whatever you say. You're in charge, right!” I grinned, looking at Hannah in the mirror. “What clothes did you bring?”

“So, I’ve gone for a sexy look today! You need to wow the pack. So, you have wet look leather leggings, your black high heeled boots with the fur trims, I’ve also grabbed your black leather jacket, and I’ve teamed it with your sparkly silver top. I think you are going to look hot!”

“I’m going to look like a slut on a night out!” I groaned, covering my face with my hands in despair.

“No, you won’t! Not when I have finished with you, you won’t!” Hannah promised, gently squeezing my shoulders, and picking up my hairbrush.

I watched her in the mirror attacking my hair furiously, getting all the tangles out before whisking it up into a high ponytail and spraying my head with cold hairspray to keep everything in place. She pulled out a hairdryer from one of the many bags she had brought with her and got to work on drying the ponytail with the warm air.

“How much of my stuff did you bring?” I asked her, intrigued.

“Hmm, a fair bit. All of your makeup, all of your hair stuff, quite a bit of jewellery and your outfit. I just went mad in your closet!” she said, flashing a grin at me in the mirror. “Now, sit there and be quiet while I work my magic.”

*********

After a considerable number of hours had passed, Hannah finally took a step back from me and loudly sang “Tah dah!”

I looked back at my reflection in the mirror and gasped in shock. I hardly recognised the person staring back at me. Sultry black eyes surrounded by long luscious eyelashes framed by a slither of sliver stared back at me. My lips looked plumper and fuller, coloured in a deep burgundy lipstick, and my skin looked silky soft and flawless. Not an imperfection in sight.

“Oh, wow, Hannah. You have done a fantastic job!” I gasped in surprise.

Even to my standards, I looked hot!

Xavier won't be able to resist us! My wolf suddenly cried out.

She had been unusually quiet the last couple of hours, letting us get on with what we needed to do. Maybe she had got used to not being able to be by Xavier’s side.

Or I just don’t want us to fail this miserable test and have us turned into a laughing stock for being weak and not being able to control ourselves, a voice mumbled grumpily.

Well, that told me!

I quickly dragged on my leather leggings and yanked them up above my hips. The shiny material made my legs look even slimmer than usual, and they showed off my hips perfectly. I slipped on my silver top and watched as the floaty fabric swung around my curves.

“Now, time for the finishing touch!” Hannah sang, walking towards me with a handful of silver jewellery.

Piece by piece, I slipped on the jewellery, marvelling at Hannah’s fashion taste. She had picked out silver bangles for my arms, and a long silver chain adorned with crosses and doves to wear around my neck and long silver earrings.

“Thank you so much for doing this!” I nearly cried, tears beginning to creep out of the corner of my eyes. “Can I see Xavier yet?”

“No, not just yet. You have about an hour to go. And don’t cry!! You will ruin my masterpiece!” Hannah beamed. “You will make a fantastic Luna!”

“Are you sure? How do you know?” I asked her nervously, fiddling with the crosses on my necklace.

“Because you're my friend and I’ll be with you every step of the way. Along with Beta Adam,” winked Hannah cheekily.

“Ha-ha, I knew it!” I exclaimed, trying not to laugh and cry at the same time. “I knew you two were together!”

“Yeah, well, we wanted to keep it hush-hush. You guys are the real deal. Now, let’s get you downstairs and ready to go!” Hannah squeaked whilst she was chucking all my belongings back into the cases.

“Um, no. I want to hear all about you two!” I replied, grinning wildly.

“Well, remember your date night? Adam and I kept each other company as you said. We talked, and he cooked me a meal in the kitchen, and then we watched a film in the lounge and talked some more. One thing led to another, and it got a bit out of hand. Adam made love to me on the floor of his office,” Hannah replied, blushing furiously. “He wants to see how we get on and take it slowly, but he has already said that even though we aren’t Fated Mates, he loves me and wants me for his own. He has even said that he wants to claim me. Now hurry up, and let's get a move on!”

Feeling happy for Hannah and grinning wildly, I bent down gingerly and picked up my shoes in one hand and a case in the other and followed Hannah downstairs to the kitchen. As we walked in, I noticed Nora, my brother's babysitter, sitting down on the sofa beside Lucas, reading him a book about dinosaurs.

“Lucas not coming to the ceremony?” I asked Mum, who was wearing a pink maxi dress and her hair down.

“No! I still don’t want him knowing yet. You look absolutely stunning by the way. Xavier is a lucky man!” she gushed happily, looking me up and down.

“Ahh, here she is. Our new queen!”

I spun around to see Dad enter the kitchen in one of his smartest tuxedos. For an older man, he looked very handsome.

“Look at you Dad!” I squealed. “You certainly scrub up well!”

“Why thank you. Today has finally come. The day I get to see my daughter take her place in the pack!” my Dad smiled, looking at me sadly. “I can’t believe how grown-up you look. My baby girl has gone forever.”

“I’ll always be your baby girl Dad!” I sniffed, walking over to him, and cuddling him as hard as I could.

I looked back at Hannah, who was watching us happily. “Aren’t you going to get ready?”

“Yes, once we get back to the packhouse. But, now it’s time to go. Say goodbye to your parents. You will see them later, I’m sure.”

I gave my parents one last cuddle and followed Hannah out towards the car. Quickly, we both clamoured in, and the car sprung to life noisily.

“Ready?” asked Hannah cheerily.

I nodded happily and pulled my seatbelt over me. The car reversed back out of the drive and swung out into the road. In a squeal of tyres and a cloud of smoke, the car sped off back towards the packhouse. The streets were empty at this time of the evening, so the journey didn’t take relatively too long. Once again, the black gates soon came into view, and the car glided in and up the drive. This time, the driveway and the carpark were full of cars. It looked like it did when I first came here for the garden party.

“Wow. How many cars?” I asked Hannah looking at her, shocked.

“Well, yeah everyone has come to see you!” she laughed,

Tapping on the window made us jump, and we turned our heads to see Beta Adam tapping impatiently on the window. Quickly I climbed out of the car only for Beta Adam to grab my hand and start pulling me towards the house.

“What are you doing?” I yelped.

Beta Adams grip was surprisingly firm.

“It’s nearly time. Come on. You need to take your place behind the stage,” he ordered, pulling me through the lobby and out into the garden.

“Stage? What stage?” I asked.

At the bottom of the garden was a large stage with an even larger screen. Colourful balloons lined the screen, and flowers lined the edge of the stage. In the middle of the stage was a large platform with three microphones and in front of the stage were rows upon rows of empty seats.

“Where is everyone?” I questioned in surprise.

“In the lounge, kitchen and dining room, waiting for you to get behind the stage,” explained Beta Adam. “It’s bad luck for anyone to see you apart from the leaders.”

We finally got to the stage, and Beta Adam pulled me up the wooden steps and towards the back of the stage. We slipped down some more steps and into a makeshift room behind.

“Now stay here, until I come and get you!” ordered Beta Adam.

And with that, he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving me all on my own.