Deliciously Good

ZIRA - Day Before

"I just want to look perfect when I find my mate," yelled my best friend, Isabella, while throwing more clothes over the fitting room door. 

The poor clerk did her best to catch them before they hit the floor. I gave up helping her an hour ago. Now I was buried under Isabella’s rejection pile, too lazy to move. 

"Alright, dress number twenty-one," Isabella yelled as I sat up, dropping the clothes to the floor. I looked up in time to see Isabella walking out wearing the most beautiful red dress.  

"I want to look good. Like deliciously good," Isabella said, staring at herself in the mirror.  

She sighed, took off the dress, and threw it on the floor. She went back inside the fitting room, closing the door in frustration.  

"Hey, that one was hot. Your mate wouldn’t be able to keep their hands off you," I said, holding the red dress against my body.  

Then something caught my eye. A dress that only Isabella could pull off. 

"Hey, try this," I said, throwing the dress into her fitting room.  

Less than a minute later, she stumbled out of the room while smoothing the dress down. She didn’t say anything at first, just looked at herself in the mirror. The deep emerald off-the-shoulder, velvet short-sleeve bodycon dress fit her perfectly. The green shade contrasted nicely against her curly auburn hair that draped down to the middle of her back. I couldn’t help but gawk at her with my mouth open as she ran her hands up and down the material.  

"So," Isabella asked with a glint of mischief in her blue-grayish eyes and a wicked smile, "would you be able to keep your hands off of me?" 

I walked over to her as she turned to give me a full thirty-sixty view of the dress. 

"Hmph," I said, walking to sit back down and giving her one more look, pretending to think it over. "Well…," I started before she pummeled into me, grabbing my hands and trying to make me touch her.  

"See, I knew it. You can’t help but touch me," Isabella laughed before standing in front of the mirror. "This is the one," Isabella said with a satisfying nod. 

I was excited for her. The party tomorrow was all people were talking about. Alpha Jack and Luna Bella Thorne (Isabella hated that she was named after her mom) decided to throw a party for Isaiah to become the new Alpha since the first ceremony was interrupted by rogues. Though, Isabella feels like the party is an excuse for her mom to try to find them suitable mates.  

They just turned twenty, and they have yet to find their mates. Though it’s not for the lack of trying. I knew Isabella and Isaiah had been traveling to neighboring packs, even overseas, for spring break and met with packs there. Still, no luck.  

Alpha Jack wanted to hurry and release the reins over to Isaiah. For a while, he’s been talking about retiring and traveling the world now. Luna Bella convinced him to wait to see if their children would find their mates soon. However, time won, and Alpha Jack eventually stepped down for Isaiah to take over. On the other hand, Isabella is still at the mercy of her mom’s attempts to find her a mate.  

Since the Black Moon pack was small, the Alpha and Luna thought it would also be a great idea to invite the neighboring packs. This is common among the packs in this area since it could increase the chances of finding a mate. I would know. I just turned twenty-one a month ago and am still on the hunt. Even though the thought of someone claiming me and trying to domesticate me seems terrifying. I would still love to have someone to spend time with or travel with and have adventures. Here’s to wishful thinking. 

"Alright, let’s go. There’s so much I have to do, and we don’t have much time together," Isabella said, pulling me to the register. 

"Isa, it’s not like I’m leaving right after the party," I said, helping her bring her things to the register. "Besides, your father still hasn’t signed my papers to release me from the pack yet." 

I’ve been talking with my parents about leaving the pack after this party if I don’t find my mate. I figured sitting here and waiting wasn’t doing it for me. I knew more than anything I wanted two things in life: to become a great warrior and to have a family (no rush on the last part), just like my parents. 

I feel I’ve carried out the first one already, but I will never know if I stayed tucked away in the pack with my mom smoldering me. Besides, I’ve never been in a real battle, so I don’t know how good I am, and this pack rarely gets attacked. Lucky them. 

The second one requires me to find a mate. Someone destined to be my true love, the better whole, the perfect puzzle piece, and all that other mushy crap I’ve heard from people with their mates. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to find my mate. It just feels hopeless the longer I wait for him to find me. I would love to find a mate here and stay with this pack. I’ve grown so accustomed to the people and the area. I could convince him to come back if I find him out there. 

"No, no, no. I don’t want to talk about this now. It’s such a downer," Isabella suggested. 

"Fine, fine. Just hurry and pay. I am starving."  

"You’re always starving," Isabella laughed. "Just go and get something already. I’ll be done in a few." 

I looked at the food court, and my stomach started growling. While Isabella paid for the clothes, my nose led me to a dessert stand. I could smell the sugar, butter, and cinnamon—my weakness. I looked down and was disappointed that all the cinnamon rolls were gone. All that was left were donut holes and cake pops. 

"I think I took the last one," a silky, deep voice said behind me.  

I knew exactly who it was. Hunter Meade, the Beta of Black Moon. He was considered the pack’s bad boy, and, from his looks, he could get away with anything. He wore a tight navy-blue shirt that showed off his muscled arms, toned chest, and a nice six-pack. His blonde hair was slicked back, showing off his electric blue eyes that fit his perfectly chiseled face. 

"We can share it if you want," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.  

He put half of it in his mouth and indicated the other half. I hesitated before slowly walking up to him and trying to grab the other half with my hand. Hunter leaned back and shook his head. Then he grabbed my chin and traced his finger over my lips.  

How subtle, I thought. He is such a flirt. I leaned towards him and grabbed the other half of the cinnamon roll, keeping my eyes on his. 

Knowing Hunter, he would take this moment to casually put his hand somewhere it doesn’t belong. But, of course, I knew all about Hunter and his antics. 

"Mhmm." I pulled my half away and quickly devoured it as I watched him do the same. Hunter smiled, licking his lips, and I turned to walk away.  

"Damn, Zira. If I knew sweets made you make those kinds of sounds, I would’ve saved the rest of them," he said, walking behind me.  

I rolled my eyes at him. "Your flirtations don’t work on me, Hunter. It was all for the cinnamon roll." 

"That hurts, Zira. Truly," Hunter said, bringing his hand to his chest as if he was hurt. "But come on, not even a little for me," Hunter whispered.  

I could’ve said yes to boost his ego, but my eyes were only for one. The one I hoped would come and save me from Hunter’s advances. He was standing too close for comfort, so I turned around to push him away when I felt someone pull me back by my hand.