Chapter 3: Aurora

Great. So not only is this shindig required for me to attend, but it has now been changed into a ball. Could the goddess punish me any more than she already has? At least it's a masquerade ball. Hopefully, that'll give me some form of secrecy, at least until I've had my meeting with the Alpha. Then I can finally be on my way to start my new life.

"So the Alpha invited you personally to attend the ball?" My father asked with concern in his eyes.

"Not exactly," I shrug.

I don't see why my parents are making such a big deal. I've never met Alpha Grayson, and with a mask on my face to conceal my identity most of the night, I doubt he had something nefarious planned.

"Ah, here it is!" My mother cried, taking the steps two at a time as she came rushing out of the attack, holding something long that was stowed safely away, covered in plastic.

My mom's face was flush from how much time she'd spent in the attic. Our house didn't have the best ventilation, and for it being the beginning of summer, it was already pipping hot, especially up in the attack. She grabbed the glass of iced tea that dad had sat off to the side for her and chugged it down with one gulp, making a satisfying smack with her lips as she sat the glass back on the table.

"This dress will look gorgeous on you, dear," My mom stated as she began to unwrap the package she'd brought down with her, "It's what I was wearing the night I met your father." She smiled, a soft blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Uhh..." I pause, trying to think of the right words, "Are you sure I should wear that dress tonight, mom? I am attending a ball hosted by the former Alpha's son; what if Alpha Milo is in attendance."

"Oh, no need to worry about that, sweetheart. Let's see how the dress fits you first, and then I can make a few alterations before tonight."

I smile at my mother, not wanting to ruin her fun. I've never seen her this happy before. I know that she doesn't regret her decision in choosing my father, but I know she wishes our lives could have been different. I should have been the Beta's daughter. I would have grown up in the packhouse, and this wouldn't be the very first pack event I attended. My mother would have been able to dress me for multiple occasions. Our lives had been stolen from us when my mother rejected the Alpha and chose my father.

"Alright, Godrick, out you go." As she pushes my dad out of the kitchen, my mom states, "This is the largest room in the house, and I need all the space I can get. "Aurora, darling, why don't you hurry up and get out of those garments you call clothes while I run upstairs and grab my sewing kit."

"You know I love it when you get all bossy," My dad growls into my mom's ear as he pulls her into him, "We'll have the house to ourselves tonight." He purrs, nuzzling into my mom's neck."

"GROSS!" I shout. "I'm still here. And don't forget my wolf is coming in today. I have werewolf hearing now, you old perv."

"There's nothing wrong with showing a bit of affection, Aurora." My mom states, "But right now, Godrick, I need you out. I can't have you being all lovey-dovey and distracting me when I have a task at hand; why don't you run down to the market and pick out a mask for our daughter to wear at the ball tonight."

"Yes, Ma'am." My dad replies, clapping his heels and saluting her before walking out.

My mother takes off up the stairs into her bedroom, most likely to get her sewing kit, and I quickly shimmy out of my clothes. When Mom barked orders, Dad and I learned to act without hesitation. She was this house's Luna, and we respected her as such.

That one is new." My mother states pointing at the tattoo inked around my hip bone.

"Uhh... yeah, Jason did it last week," I respond, looking at my new ink

fondly.

Jason was a boy I'd met at the human village when I was forced to start attending school there. My parents had initially placed me in the pack school, but they quickly took me out after a week of cruel bullying from the other kids. Mom homeschooled me until grade nine, but my parents felt like I needed interaction with other people. They said it was essential to my development. Jason was the only friend I'd made at the high school, he was also the person I lost my virginity to, and we had casual sex now and then, but mom didn't need to know that. During his junior year, Jason dropped out of school and began his apprenticeship as a tattoo artist. Dropping out was the best decision; his work was exceptional, and he quickly had a large fan base.

"So what does this one say?" My mom asks as she helps me step into her old dress.

S

"Your past does not equal your future," I reply, watching as a tear threatens to spill from my mom's eye.

Jason doesn't know that I'm a werewolf, but he did know I had a hard time growing up and had been bullied previously. When he heard the quote in his favorite little cafe, he shared it with me, and it's stuck ever since. I needed some serious ink therapy last week, and I asked Jason to tattoo whatever he wanted on me, knowing his choice would be something I liked, and he gifted me with this, and then some great sex afterward, but again, not a story I wanted to share with mom.

"I think it's perfect, darling." My mom replies, "it's what I've been telling you since you were little."

"I know, mom. It just took me a minute to realize it."

We both sat in comfortable silence, lost in our thoughts, while mom poked and prodded me with needles and pins, making the adjustments necessary for the dress to fit me.

"Alright, now I need to stitch this together. Why don't you go upstairs and fix your hair and makeup. Try to do a more natural look." My mom states as she shows me out of the room, not giving me a chance to look at the alterations she's planned for the dress.

"Yes, ma'am," I state, mimicking my father's earlier goodbye.

I glance at myself in the mirror and notice that my makeup is streaking down my face, and my ponytail is askew. I looked like a mess. I padded over to the bathroom and ran myself a hot bath, adding my favorite vanilla-scented bath bomb and some lavender bubbles. I soak in hot water, letting all the stress from the day melt away. I close my eyes and let myself dream, just for a minute, about the ball tonight. I envision myself getting on with all the she-wolves present and dancing in the hands of the Alpha, talking to him like I am anyone but A Macafee. I can almost feel the laughter in my chest and the smile on my face before I open my eyes and gather my thoughts. I am Aurora Macafee; I am a tough bitch, I don't need the other pack members to like me, and besides, after tonight, I will be done with the blue moon pack.

My water turns cold too fast as I climb out of the tub and wrap a towel around myself. As I head towards my room, I ask my mom what undergarments I should wear with my dress.

"Strapless and maybe one of those thongs you're such a fan off. The dress will be tight, and you won't want panty lines." My mom calls up.

I groan as I walk to my room, shutting my door gently; my mom should never say the word thong. I do as she requests, though, and adorn my favorite lacy strapless push up that will make my breasts look fantastic and slip on my matching white thong. Then I take a seat at my vanity as I blow dry my hair, deciding how to style it. After my hair is thoroughly dried, I choose to go with styling it down with loose curls to frame my face. For my makeup, I decide on a smoky eyeshadow with a heavy coal-black liner that will enhance my eye color and finish my lips with a clear gloss. I open my jewelry box and get the pearl necklace and earring set my parents gifted me for my sixteenth birthday. I look in the mirror and smile, delighted with my look; I walk downstairs to meet my mom, who has finally finished the dress.

My mom squeals with delight when she sees me, "Yes, your look is perfect, darling; it's still you but more toned down. She smiles when she glances at the pearl set on my neck. The pearl necklace my parents had gifted me was double-stranded, the first strand was a choker, my favorite style, and the second sat perfectly at my cleavage. "You'll be the belle of the ball," my mom exclaimed as she helped me into her old dress that she's brought back to life.

The dress, which once had quarter puffed sleeves, was now strapless. The bodice was finished with a sweetheart neckline, the back dipping down low, stopping just above my hip, showing off my intricate back tattoo of yellow roses and milkweed, yet another symbolism of freedom. My mom had added a lace overlay to the dress's skirt, making it sparkle in the proper lighting. The dress was utterly transformed and fit my body like a glove. I felt like a princess.

"Mom," I whisper as I take in the full beauty of the dress, "You've truly outdone yourself."

My poor mother again has tears in her eyes, "You look like a vision, love." She whispers back quietly.

"Knock knock," my dad calls out. "Is it safe for me to come in?"

"Yes," I reply, turning away from the mirror my mom had sat up against the counter and toward the back door, waiting for my dad to appear.

"No way." My father states, jaw-dropping when he enters the room, "No way, that can be my little girl. The messy little pup, who refused to wear the bows her mother bought her and demanded to be allowed to roll around in the mud puddle outside."

"It's me, daddy." I smile up at him, swishing the skirt of my dress back and forth.

"Well, that boy will be a full tonight if he doesn't dance with you at least once." My father states as he hands me the box he's holding.

Opening it up, I found a small silver mask outlined with a green lining that perfectly matched my dress. The mask was big enough to just cover my eyes, but seeing as no one in the pack had seen me since I was young, it was enough to hide my identity.

I quickly adorn it and look at myself in the mirror; even I, who's seen my reflection every day, have difficulty recognizing the woman standing before her in the mirror.

Tonight I won't be Aurora Macafee; tonight, I will be just an average omega wolf in the pack; tonight, I can pretend the life I lead is different than the one I lived.