The Ball

"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE LINDA'S GRAND-DAUGHTER," Mia mumbled, "I didn't even know she had any kids in the first place...she very private."

Harlow couldn't agree more; Mia didn't know her nan to be very sociable, especially since her husband had died. Maybe her nan and she weren't so different after all. Both hated socialising, yet both were sort of forced into dealing with it.

If she could escape the world, she would. But how could you escape something so big? It's easy; you just can't. Especially the world.

"Yeah...She is." Harlow agreed, not knowing what else she could say to her. She closed her locker and turned towards Mia, who stood in front of her, next to her locker, bored. Her back and her head leaned against the blue lockers, her arms across her chest.

She has been so nice all day, showing her around the school and keeping her company during lunch, the most intimate part of the school. Especially if you were new, it was already hard enough you didn't know your way around. Still, it becomes even worse when you are thrown in the lion's den of angry, hormonal teenagers who weren't the most welcoming people—especially werewolves.

Werewolves were on a different level; you mattered based on your rank and nothing else. The higher rank status, the better, especially if you were from a family of alphas and betas, you would be practically worshipped in these school ground or anywhere on that matter. 

On the other hand, she was on the low-rank side, especially since her father had gone and left her and her mom at just the age of eight. She didn't understand why At first, but now, it was obvious he was a selfish coward, nothing but a speck of waste in this cruel world. Her mom never talks about him, and Harlow didn't mind it one bit; she actually preferred it that way; it was easier not having him in their lives, even if that meant pretending he doesn't exist.  She never wanted to be one of those kids who constantly wonder about he dad and what life would be if he were in it.

No matter what school anyone went to, it was always divided into three parts.

1) The 'Populars'- They don't even try, and yet somehow, they have everyone wanting to around them and worship them like idiots.

2) The 'Thrivers'- They grow and fit in where they want- when they want.

3) The 'Nobodies'- Whether they're there or not doesn't matter, no one notices them, and no one cares.

That's what she always was, a nobody, and she will always be. Even though she had lived her whole life in Blood moon, nobody really noticed her, and now that she has moved here to the Crescent-pack, somehow she knew she still would be a nobody. 

But surprisingly, Mia was there to give her a helping hand, something she's never had before. She always struggled in the social department, and somehow people here seemed to have their life together, which seemed intimidating more than before. 

Why couldn't she be more like them? Easy and free, free from the consecrated of her social anxiety. Her brain wasn't as she wanted it to be, for in this world, there were so many others, and there's this little voice saying she just wasn't good enough to be here. Harlow even wondered sometimes if they could actually see the real her, the child who wants to be with those who loved her the way her family does, to be in a crowd of friends rather than in a crowd.

Perhaps they were all the same, just some of them show it a bit more. Her mom says it's just social anxiety, but there are days where it feels like a pain she couldn't conquer. She didn't want to go back to tomorrow because there's no chance of change, no hope of catching a smile from some other soul who feels the same way as she does.  

Whether it was an accident or just pure coincidence, they had the majority of class together, her and Mia. 

Which she was fine with. It was a spark of something new, different from her last friend.  It was far better for her to be put with someone she was starting to like than those students who just gave her the cold shoulder all day. And, she still didn't understand what their problem was. Okay, she, yes, was the new kid but at least gave her a break. This wasn't easy for her. Just as much as they didn't want her here, she didn't want to be here either.

"Oh my god! I totally forgot about this." Mia said, ripping the leaflet off the wall and scanned it.

Harlow eyed the leaflet suspiciously, confused. "What?"

"Um, like The MOST important event of the year!"

Her confusion never left her, but it was somehow more induced. "Yeah, I'm not following."

"You're so lucky you joined at this time!" She gleamed, "The crescent pack holds a ball every year." She explained. "It's always amazing!" She gleamed.

"Usually, our Alpha holds it for unmated wolves," She explains further, but all Harlow could think about is the anxiety it would cause her. Finding her would be a dream come true, she'd always imagined, but...dreams are just dreams. They don't always come true. "That's how I met Ryan."

Ryan was her mate. Harlow had met him in the cafeteria during lunch. He was sweet, adorable and just someone who Mia deserved as a mate. From what Mia had told her, they had met each other just after she turned sixteen, the age where most wolves shift for their very first time. It was quite sweet actually how they behaved around each other that it made her cringe.

"I'm not going," She cried, giving her the most persistent look she could muster. "Maybe, when I find my mate, I could change my mind."

"Duh, that literally defeats the purpose of this ball." She threw her hands in the air, "It's especially held for you." She points, gesturing her hands hectically.  

Alpha of the Crescent-Pack seemed to have the best intentions when it came to its members. Harlow couldn't help but admire that. Her last Alpha didn't even care to hold these things; his main priority was how he could squeeze everyone in his pack dry of their assets. She remembers her mom always having to pay an extraordinary amount of money, bills and somehow, even if she overworked herself to the brim. They never had enough money left to spend for themselves.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing they were back. At least she didn't have to worry about the rent.

Harlow couldn't help but hold the laughter in; it was like the universe was playing a big joke on her. As if she would ever go to something like that. "Yeah, not my thing." She shook her head in distaste, having her hand in dismissal.

"I would rather stay home and watch a movie than go to this...dance."

"Ball." She corrected, as a matter of factly.

Harlow rolled her eyes, "Whatever, it's not my thing."

If anyone back at her old pack would even see her at a ball, they would surely burst into hysterical fits of laughter. Harlow Gage at a ball, even saying in her mind sounded insane. Everyone knew she was not that type of person, mostly because she had severe anxiety most of the time, and if she were to go to these sort of places, she would pass out in sheer fright.

It was hard for her to even come to school, never mind a ball where it's just as cramped. 'No, thank you.' She was good staying in playing scrabble with her nan.

She laughed, "You're joking, right...right?" She asked, but when she saw that Harlow was far from amused, the smile plastered on her face began to turn upside down. When Mia took in her straight face, "Um, well, this is slightly awkward since pack members are obligated to show up. No matter the rank."

"Oh, joy," she mumbles sarcastically. Hating the day with a passion already, and she hasn't even been yet. Even after she goes, she would continue to hate that day until the day she died.

Goddammit.

"Oh, come on, it will be amazing. It always is." She says, nudging her with her elbow slightly. The action was almost teasing and light. "You'll see. Most of them are always unforgettable."

"Unforgettable, huh." She says.

Mia nods her head instantly. "Trust me." Trust... that word held so many meanings, a powerful one which she didn't rely on it too much because by trusting people, it always led you to a path of heartbreak. She learned that the hard way. "And just think, there is a small possibility you could meet your mate."

She gritted her teeth in annoyance at the bitter memory- no, she promised herself she wasn't going to think about her dad—the only man who never stayed.

Her eyes lowered slightly at the mention of mates. If only, maybe things in her life would be easier. "Yeah, maybe." But the disappointment inside her couldn't help feel it stirring in her already broken heart.

'Maybe' Although she knew she wasn't going to, the way her life was going, she didn't think so. She was literally eighteen and still hasn't met her mate. She'd given up on the idea. Whoever he was, he was either dead or... something, she didn't know, but she couldn't express the sheer frustration she felt inside.