Chapter 16 Be my date
Lira
“Lucy. I want to look really pretty. So, whatever you’re doing to glam me up, please make sure it makes me look pretty.”
My request was simple. And she nodded in understanding and got to work.
Since everyone kept saying I was ugly and that I should try to look nice, I was going to show them that I wasn’t an ugly duckling. I was going to look more than nice.
The room smelled faintly of hairspray and perfume as Lucy worked her magic. My vanity table was a battlefield, brushes, lipsticks, and curling irons scattered like weapons of transformation. She hummed under her breath while she painted my face, and I just sat there, frozen in anticipation, afraid that one wrong move would ruin the masterpiece she was creating.
After what felt like two hours, I was standing in front of the mirror in my room, and Lucy helped me tie the corset at the back of the dress. She had instructed me to keep my eyes closed as she worked the dress. I was so nervous and excited at the same time.
I had never worn makeup before now. Ever. I never took care of myself because I was scorned anyway. And it didn’t matter if you were pretty. You were useless as long as you couldn’t shift. And I couldn’t.
But tonight, that wouldn’t matter. Because at least I had a wolf. And if looking presentable was that important, I was going to show up and show out.
“Too tight?” Lucy asked as she dragged the rope one last time.
I took in a breath and let one out. It was a bit forced, but not too bad that my breathing would be impeded later.
“It’s just right.”
She tied the knot and I felt her warmth move away from me. “You can open your eyes now.”
She sounded excited, and that increased my anticipation. I slowly opened my eyes, and I couldn’t believe what I was staring at.
I was beautiful. No, absolutely gorgeous.
The corset accentuated my curves as it snatched my waist. My hands absentmindedly caressed the dress as I admired my reflection in the mirror. The fabric shimmered faintly when the light caught it, simple yet commanding. The dress was maxi, yet it still managed to show off the shape of my legs every time I moved. My hair was pulled into soft curls that framed my face, and my lips red, glossy, daring, didn’t even look like mine.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t see the rejected girl who couldn’t shift. I saw a woman.
“Thank you!” I breathed when I finally found my voice and my eyes met Lucy’s through the mirror. She grinned like a proud artist admiring her creation.
“Go knock them dead,” she said, winking.
It was time to leave for the ball, so I grabbed my things and rushed downstairs, trying not to trip in my heels.
“Ma’am.” The driver bowed as he opened the door for me. I gave him a smile and got in.
As soon as I did, the smile on my lips died.
I remembered that I had to spend the whole night with Rowan, and it sort of soured my mood.
“Well, would you look at that. The ugly duckling sure does clean up nice.”
He whistled, but I ignored his backhanded compliment.
“Tonight is an important night for the pack. The least you could do is be mature.” I said to him, a fake smile plastered on my face.
His expression turned grave immediately, and he moved to grab my neck, but I stopped his hand immediately.
“And that includes not doing anything rash, and not disrespecting me, either in private or in public.” I dropped his hand and turned away from him. “I hope you can manage that for one night.”
“You fucking twat.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s not nice.”
“Just because you look pretty doesn’t mean you can talk to me anyhow.”
“That’s the exact reason why I can talk to you however I like. Because I’m pretty, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
I don’t know where the confidence came from. Maybe it was the makeup, or the dress, or the way they made me feel. I had no idea, but I was loving it.
“I’m going to make sure you regret talking to me like this later,” he fumed and turned his body the other way.
I simply spared him a glance and turned to the other side as well. At least he agreed with me. That way, I was going to have a fairly good night.
The car sped through the main road, trees and streetlights blurring into gold streaks. My heart beat in a nervous rhythm, half from excitement, half from dread. Tonight wasn’t just another pack gathering, it was the ball, and every elite wolf within a fifty-mile radius would be there.
When we finally arrived, I was shocked at the sight before me.
This was what being an elite felt like.
The decorations were elaborate, chandeliers dripping with crystals, silver drapes flowing from the ceiling, and tables lined with gold-trimmed glassware. The scent of perfume and expensive liquor filled the air. The food looked insanely good, too, trays of roasted meats, cheese, and fruit.
And the people. Oh, the people.
They were dressed so fine and sophisticated it was almost unreal. Women in satin gowns that sparkled like starlight, men in crisp tuxedos, all laughing softly and sipping champagne like perfection was something you could wear.
“Stop gawking and move along,” Rowan said from behind me as he slipped his arm around my waist.
What the heck was he doing?
I had to resist the urge to sink my elbow into his stomach. But then, I had to practice what I preached.
“I thought you said you were going to be with Alicia. Why are you still here with me?” I asked through my teeth as I tried to keep the smile on my face. I just got here and I was already tired of the pretense. And irritated because of the annoying thing beside me.
“Alicia isn’t here yet. Plus, it’ll be a waste to not enjoy you looking this pretty. I seriously didn’t know you had it in you.”
He pulled me closer to him, and call me feral but I wanted to bite him.
“You’re my date, aren’t you? So be my date.”
His breath brushed my ear, and I fought the urge to shiver from disgust, not delight.
“Hey! Rowan!”
One red-headed man with freckles spread all over his cheeks came up to us. Rowan released his hold on my waist and gave him a bro hug. I silently thanked the moon goddess for small mercies.
It was already awkward standing there, but my escape didn’t happen, because his attention turned to me.
“Who’s the chick? She’s hot!”
Well, that was the plan, but I was beginning to regret it a bit. The eyes that were on me were too much for comfort. I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment.
Chick? I’m a lady!
“This is my date, Lira,” Rowan replied and grabbed my waist again. Why was he being so touchy tonight? Was this his way of punishing me?
“Lira, meet Anton.”
I smiled, the smile sweet but very fake. “Hi, Anton, nice to meet you.”
He took my hand that was stretched out and turned it over to place a kiss on the back of my palm. My whole body squirmed and I questioned the normalcy of the higher society.
Rowan’s expression shifted slightly, just enough for me to catch the faint tightening of his jaw. So, he didn’t like sharing attention, even if it was fake.
“Come, there’s someone else I want you to meet,” Rowan muttered and dragged me with him.
“Since when do you want me to meet people you know? What the fuck are you playing at? You better don’t do anything to humiliate me, or I swear, I’ll make you regret it.”
“Shut up and just come with me. I don’t give a fuck about you, but introducing my date to people is a normal thing to do.”
“Who is this person?”
“It’s not like you’d know if I told you.”
“I don’t think I want to meet this person, Rowan. Let me go.”
But he didn’t listen. He completely ignored me and kept walking, his grip on my waist firm but not gentle.
My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, echoing through the vast ballroom. The music, the laughter, the clinking of glasses it all blurred as anxiety crawled up my spine. Then we got to the person, and my heart dropped instantly.
I thought I was going to have a decent night.
Clearly, I was mistaken.
“Hello, Lira. We meet again.”
I swallowed hard, forcing my lips into a tight smile while every nerve in my body screamed at me to run.
Of all people… why him?