Chapter 1 - Pack Dance

• Emily's POV
• "Ple-e-e-a-se, Emily!"
• Mila, my best friend, begged over the link. "I really want to go!"
• "I'm not standing in your way, Mila. You are welcome to go and attend the pack dance," I linked back. "Go and have some fun with Jax."
• Jax was Mila's mate, and even though we got along just fine, I always felt like a third wheel, tangling long.
• "But you know it wouldn't be the same if you weren't there!" Mila sulked, her voice quivering. "And you owe me one!"
• I sighed, I knew she would draw the "you owe me one card" sooner rather than later to force me to go.
• The only reason I owed her was that I needed to copy her homework when my shift ended late. I was exhausted that night and had even skipped dinner.
• I pinched the top of my nose, shaking my head—this friend of mine! She knew exactly how to manipulate me into saying yes!
• Mila and I have been friends since kindergarten, but we only became best friends recently. She was the only friend I had left after my birthday.
• I internally sighed as tears welled up in my eyes.
• I had lost all of my friends and the respect of the pack in one night.
• "It's just a pack dance, not a prom," I muttered, the words tasting like bitter ash. "They held it every month."
• Even as the words left my mouth, the word "they" felt like a sharp sting. A constant, painful reminder that I was no longer part of the pack.
• "It's not just any pack dance, Emily," she said adamantly. "Don't you know who’s back?"
• "Who?" I asked, folding my arms around my waist. Did I miss the pack memo?
• "Alexander is back," she said.
• I froze in my seat, hearing the name.
• Alex, Alpha Cole’s son, I had a huge crush on him for as long as I could remember, as did every other unmated she-wolf.
• He never seemed to notice me, and he always had the most beautiful or popular she-wolves on his arm.
• It broke my heart, but I believe that one day he will eventually notice me and see me for me.
• I sighed as I remembered the day Alex left for Alpha training—that was two years ago.
• I felt miserable and cried myself to sleep. I was even heartbroken when I found out that he wasn't allowed to visit the pack during the holidays.
• "When did he return?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my throat.
• "This morning," she answered, and she caught my gaze in the mirror. "This is his welcome-back party, Em."
• My stomach felt as if someone had turned it upside down. It’s been two years. By this time, Alex must have found his mate.
• But look at me, I still didn’t have a wolf.
• "Mila, I think I should take a rain check on the pack dance." I slowly said.
• Mila narrowed her eyes.
• "Aren't you curious about what he looks like now?" She asked, confused. "We haven't seen him in a while! He must look different from all his intensive training at Alpha Camp."
• "Yes, but..."
• "Besides," Mila cut me off. "Alpha Cole has arranged the welcome-back party in hopes that Alexander will find his fated mate. He is due to become Alpha soon, and without his mate, he can't claim the Alpha title."
• I kept quiet.
• I wasn't Luna material. I was barely a warrior, and I knew Alex needed a beautiful and strong Luna to rule at his side. The likelihood of me fitting into those criteria was slim.
• "Come on!" Mila said, excitedly. "You really can’t miss this chance!"
• "Fine," I replied sourly. "But I'm not staying out late. I have training in the morning!"
• "Deal!" Mila squealed out of joy over the link. "I'll see you in a bit!"
• "Whatever!" I said, closing the link and plopping down on my bed.
• It wasn't that I didn't want to go to the pack dance—I love dancing—it was just that I felt kind of strange, as if something was about to happen.
• I knew it couldn't be my wolf; I didn't have one, and my parents, including Alpha Cole, believed that I was just a late bloomer.
• I, on the other hand, believed that I was punished by the goddess and would not get one.
• I sighed, closing my eyes.
• I wish I had shifted on my birthday. I wish I had a wolf like the rest of the pack members.
• I could just imagine how beautiful she would be—big and strong, and her fur silver under the full moon. She would have a no-nonsense attitude and wouldn't submit to anyone, including Alphas.
• But that was just a dream, not my reality.
• My mind drifted off to all the possibilities of having a wolf.
• Maybe then the pack wouldn't see me as more than just a misfit or a liability.
• Maybe then I could claim my rank as Beta.
• Maybe then I could have the courage to tell Alex how I felt.
• ***
• A knock sounded at my door, and my eyes flew open. I didn’t remember falling back to sleep.
• I turned my gaze disoriented toward the alarm clock on my desk.
• 7 p.m.
• My eyes widened. I'm late!
• "Emily?" Mila's worried voice came from the door. "Are you in there?"
• "Yeah," I growled, rubbing my eyes and rushing for the door.
• Mila knitted her eyebrows together, and her gaze silently moved over me.
• "Why are you not dressed and ready?" She shrieked, disappointed.
• "Sorry," I muttered. "I fell asleep."
• Mila rolled her eyes at me and sighed.
• "Come on," she said, dragging me back into the room. "We had better get you ready.
• We only have a few minutes before we'll need to leave, or else we'll be late!"
• Mila's eyes glazed over—probably linking Jax to telling him I was late—again.
• I took a deep breath, grabbed my towel, and rushed toward the bathroom.
• Ten minutes later, I was back in my room, my heart already pounding with dread. Mila stomped in, and thrusted a skimpy red dress into my hands.
• "Get dressed," she ordered, her voice showing no argument.
• "There is no way I am wearing that!" I protested.
• The dress would cling to my body like a second skin, revealing far too much.
• Mila rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You want to look good for Alex, don't you?"
• A blush crept up my cheeks.
• "Stop it, it’s not like he actually cared about me." I muttered, my voice barely audible.
• She grinned. "Wanna bet? You're wearing this dress, whether you like it or not."
• With a sigh, I gave in. Half an hour later, I was fully dressed in the red dress that Mila had picked for me.
• Mila's eyes widened in approval.
• "Perfect," she commented, grabbing my hand. "Now let's go!"
• I put on a smile. Her infectious enthusiasm was almost enough to make me forget my discomfort.
• At that moment, I had no idea that what occurs at the dance party would lead me into such a chaotic and lustful predicament.
• ****