Chapter 5 The Dress Shoppe

At the dress shop, I found myself actually having fun. I laughed at some of the silly styles Gabby kept pulling off the racks, and for the first time in a long while, I felt lighter. For a little while, I wasn't thinking about home or bruises or escape plans. I just felt like a normal teenage girl shopping with her best friend. "Hey, Syd, what about this one?" Gabby asked, holding up a pink satin gown with spaghetti straps and a soft A-line neckline. "I think it would look beautiful on you." It was simple, but it was gorgeous.

"Try is on, try it on!" Gabby said, looking Even more than I felt. I laughed at her. " Okay, okay okay, calm down. I'll try it on. "

"And you better come out so I can see it, " She said, pointing at me dramatically. " I will, " I promised, still smiling. I took the gown into the dressing room and slipped it on carefully. The fabric settled over me so smoothly, hugging my curves in a way that made it feel like and have been made just for me. When I stepped out, a whistle cut across the shop. I turned and, lo and behold, there is Lance Beck, the future beta of our pack and a notorious player. I ignored him and looked at Gabby instead. She was standing there with her job practically on the floor.

"Well? What do you think? Gabby? Gabby, Gabby! " I finally got her attention. She blinked, seem to collect herself, and then started gushing about how beautiful I looked and how this was definitely the gown for me. I didn't realize Lance had come up behind me until I thought his hand settle on my waist. I jerked away instantly. " What the hell do you think you're doing, Lance? Get your hands off me. What are you even want? " " He gave me that cocky smile of his. " I want to know if you'll be my chosen mate if we're not fated mates. " I stared at him. " Absolutely not. And how do you know you won't find your fated mate at the ball? " For a second, he just looked at me like I'd grown two heads. I guess he wasn't used to being turned down. And sure, he was good looking, tall, probably around 6'2, with broad shoulders, strong muscles, and household blonde hair that always looked just right. But none of that mattered. That was not what I needed in my life.

"I think you need to slow your roll there, Lance." I said. I mischievous grand spread across his face, make me wonder what exactly he was thinking, but before he could say anything else, Gabby and I walked away. The second we were out of earshot, we both burst into laughter over what had just happened. I went back into the dressing room, changed out of the gown, and slept back into my comfortable clothes. As Gabby and I started looking for the perfect dress for her, my thoughts drifted. For the first time in a long while, I found myself wondering what it would be like if I stayed. Could things be different once I turned 18? Maybe I could talk to Alpha Lucas and ask if I can move out of my parents house and into one of my own. I decided I would see what Gabby thought when we got coffee. That would mean telling her everything, what have been happening to me and my mother for the last 5 years. But if today had shown me anything, it was that I could trust her. And more than that, I realized how badly I needed my best friend back.

Now we were searching for the perfect gown for Gabby, and I kept thinking green would look amazing on her. With her fiery red hair, bright green eyes, and pale skin, it just felt right. She was only a little shorter than me, maybe 5'8 to my 5'10, so I had a good idea of what styles would suit her. I searched through rack after rack until I finally found it. " Gabby, check this one out, " I said, holding it up for her to see. It was an emerald green silk gown, strapless with a soft a-line neckline and a slit up the left side. " Go try it on, " I told her. Gabby disappeared into the dressing room, and when she stepped back out, I could have sworn I was looking at an angel. She was glowing. " How does it look, Syd?" She asked. I smiled at her. " Gab, you look stunning. " Her whole face lit up. " You really think so? "

"I really do, " I said. Then, at the same time, we both laughed and said, " we are going to be the most beautiful she-wolves at the ball. "