Chapter Three

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Luci would probably wash my mouth out with wolfsbane if she knew I was criticizing the mate bond...

I chuckled at the thought, tuning my mind back to the present where Luci was ranting on about how hot she looked. 

"...And besides,I really have a good feeling about this Gathering.I don't know why...I mean,it might be the moon goddess trying to tell me something but I have this strong feeling that I may or may not meet my mate there... Either way, a girl Has to be prepared for whatever situation..."

A comfortable silence settled over us as we mulled over her words. Despite my reservations, I respected Luci's views on the mate bond and wished her nothing but happiness when she found her own mate. I knew she had been waiting a while, since we turned 18, for her other half and every year that she didn't burdened her soul and my own. 

"I know this is an out of the ordinary request but please make it happen this year...She needs this."

I whispered a silent prayer to the moon goddess for my best friend, hoping deep down that it would be granted.

"Anyway, You better be looking for something,Alexandra Pierce!"

She threatened,earning an eye roll from me. And the old Luci was back.

I groaned silently, rifling half heartedly through the selection.

"We have been to five stores already and I have seen nothing that I want,Lucretia Michaels,"

I muttered back,fighting for my sanity but she,as usual,had a comeback.

"The sixth time is the charm,Lex. Now start looking and fast because I just might have found the perfect dress for me,"

She declared,emerging from the changing room with the widest smile I have Ever seen on her and with good reason.

She looked Amazing.

The lace dress flattered her every curve and beautiful body, bringing out her eyes and her outstanding features. The emerald matched perfectly with her tan skin tone that was always the point of contention when we were out shopping.

"Wow.You look like an actual goddess,Luci,"

I complimented,admiring her every turn as she gazed down at the stunning dress.

"You think so? Because I absolutely adore it!"

She gushed, turning back to me with a beautiful smile. One so infectious, I couldn't help but return.

"Well, go on then. Buy it. But I am definitely getting a front row seat to Seb's reaction to how beautifully it flatters every single curve on your body because I know for a fact that many of our male guests will point it out,"

I grinned through my response,earning a shove in return and frown.

"Oh shut up,Lex. Sebastian doesn't control what I wear. Besides, this dress barely reveals anything! I can go sexier..."

She complained, moving to retreat to search when I held her hand, shaking my head vigorously. I couldn't have her taking the bait. It would mean NEVER leaving this damn mall.

"You're right. Seb's an uptight ass and if he has any issues with this dress then he's probably brain dead."

I relayed exactly what she wanted to hear, my heart rate relaxing once more whence I realised she had taken the bait. A wide smile graced her lips as she admired herself some more.

"Right?! I just know this dress is going to make me stand out. My Mate won't be able to miss me in the crowd if I have this on."

She mused, heading back to the closet room whilst brandishing a smug grin. I chuckled at her self confidence, letting loose a sigh of relief. The crisis had been averted. We would be leaving soon.

"Now look for a dress!"

"Fine,sheesh!"

I moved through the racks, browsing through aimlessly before pulling one random one from the racks.

I didn't care much for how I'd look.

My responsibility would be security and my outfit won't really matter if I was mainly patrolling the venue. My Father usually represented our family at the main event. Social anxiety was also a factor that contributed to my aversion for such events and my father had noted this way before I did and taken up the responsibilty.

No one knew of that little secret and I wasn't planning on telling them...

"Did you even pay attention when you were picking that horrid yellow disaster?"

Luce complained,gazing at my random choice with a frown before returning it to the rack and sifting through some more.

"You forget that I rarely attend this functions.Finding a dress is not my priority honestly,"

She rolled her eyes at that,clamping down on our usual arguments with regards to my absence to all the events she wanted to be at. I hated disappointing her but I had no choice in the matter really.

"Here, try this one on,"

She handed me a particularly nice dress, granting me her Alpha blood glare once I hesitated. I wouldn't scamper off like others at the pack. Just as she wasn't susceptible to my own threats,I wasn't particularly afraid of her own.

Maybe we're just too used to each other...

"Can I help you with anything?"

The attendant asked,granting us a small welcoming smile and a respectful nod.She was a wolf as well and quite aware of who we were. It was one of the main reasons we had chosen this store. We tried to interact with our kind as much as possible and limit human interaction.

Must have noted the tension between us...

An Alpha blood and Beta blood causing a stir was like two mules clashing... Even if we wouldn't ever fight, the atmosphere usually made other wolves alert and worried.

"No.Not at all,thank you. She's just going to try on this dress,"

Luce stated,shoving the dress into my arms before pushing me into the changing room as well.

I was tempted to refuse.

I really was.

But that would mean staying longer and I really wanted out of this crowded mall. Also, disrespecting an Alpha's daughter was a big deal.

I glanced down at myself,admiring the fitting of the dress.

Hmm...Not bad. Not bad at all...

Luce's good eye was borderline unnatural.

"Oh my God! You look amazing,Lex! We are so gonna stop everyone in their tracks! Do you like it?"

Luce exclaimed,grabbing my hand excitedly to take a closer look as she spun me around.

"It's not bad...It's black so there's that,"

I replied with a shrug,not willing to show her how impressed I actually was by the dress. I would definitely never hear the last about it. Luce, however, seemed to catch onto it as she ranted on about shoes and jewelry...

Kill me now...

An hour later and after serious threatening,we made our way out of the mall with multiple shopping bags on each of our arms. I was used to her overshopping tendencies but that was not to say it didn't annoy me. 

"This milkshake is amazing! We should go back for some more!"

Luci began to turn towards the mall's food court when I grabbed her arm, giving her my most firm look.

''No. We are going home. You can ask one of the guards to come back for more if you want."

I began to drag her toward the car, ignoring her whining as I shoved the shopping bags into the backseat. 

"I need just one, Lex! I promise I'll be quick!"

Luci pleaded as she shoved her bags into the back seat as well, turning to me with her best puppy dog look that was slowly chipping away at my resolve. 

No, you need to be Firm, Alexandra. Or you'll be stuck in this damn place for the entire day. You still have a lot of duties to get done back home.

I was about to voice my thoughts when a foreign voice spoke up from somewhere behind us, instantly pushing me into alert mode as I pulled Luci close to me just to be safe. 

"You can have mine. My brother got it for me but I'm lactose intolerant."

The girl was human as far as I could tell and quite beautiful too. A cute blush was permanently etched onto her cheeks, her eyes not quite meeting ours as she outstretched the cup to Luci who was quick to grab it and take a sip much to my disappointment. She could be so damn trusting, sometimes!

"Thank you. For saving us yet another trip."

I responded, watching closely as she chuckled as she shook her head.

"No need to thank me. I know the struggle of navigating through that maze. And with how stunning you two are, I'm sure the boys in there were no help."

The girl stated, her words resonating with the two of us. She had hit the nail right on the head.

"Aaawwww, you're so sweet and right! Those human boys are so weird and immature. I mean, let the cuteness speak for you! Don't operate on peer pressure."

Luci rolled her eyes as she complained once more about the human boy's misbehaving. The girl frowned at her choice of words but chose to ignore it even as I glared at my best friend and signalled for her to stop talking.

"Well, thank you again..."

I responded, earning a simple nod from the girl who simply watched through a small, beautiful smile as we turned to leave.

"Natasha! What the hell are you doing?! Let's go!"

An angry voice stopped Luci and I in our tracks, both of us turning to the origin of the voice. The 20s looking boy waved towards our good samaritan angrily from within his run down pickup, his eyes flittering over to us as the girl we now knew as Natasha gave us a shy, embarassed nod before hurrying over to the car.

I couldn't help but take in the rude man who, despite being shielded by the car doors, seemed to be quite surprised to see us before annoyance overtook his features. They were quick to drive away with the boy seemingly shouting something at Natasha but that wasn't what truly peaked my interest.

"What an asshole. Natasha doesn't deserve that."

Luci muttered as she got into the car, seemingly not having picked up on what I had. I wasn't surprised, though. I had a better attunement to such things.

Now then, what the hell is that sweet human girl doing with that rogue wolf?

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