Her Second Chance.

Chapter 2/ My coming out...

    Back at the pack house, things are full swing. I run past them as they are setting up for the party. The pack house is three stories, and the main floor is where the main kitchen is, also the meeting rooms and the ballroom where we host parties.

    The second floor is for the Beta and his family and the Gamma and his family. The third floor is all the for the Alpha’s family. Our Family lives in a house right next to the pack house because as the Delta warrior my father has to be close to the Alpha too. I run up to our house and go inside.

    “Oh, thank the goddess. Graci! Where have you been?” Mom shrieks.

    “Mom I was doing my homework at the coffee shop in town, like I always do.” I reply. “Calm down.”

    “Not today! Not today, you don’t do your homework in town. Today you come straight home and prepare for your night.” Mom yells throwing her hands up dramatically.

    “Please calm down mom. I’m sorry I didn’t come straight home. But I have some news.”

    “It will have to wait sweety.” My mom cuts in. “you have 30 minutes to be ready to head to the pack house.”

    She turns me toward the hall, and I head to my room to put on the gorgeous white long sleeved lace maxi dress that is laid out on my bed. It’s non-stretch, crochet lace elegantly graces the fitted bodice, with a v-neckline and sheer long sleeves. An open back and banded, fitted waist sit above a full-length skirt. The dress was tailored just for me and it will be gone tonight after I turn. It’s a coming out dress.

    They are always white as a sign of purity, it’s your first shift. As I slip on the dress and look in the mirror. “Wow I look stunning.” I think to myself admiring the beautiful girl I see in the mirror. I go to the bathroom and curl the ends of my hair and put on some mascara and lip gloss.

    I pinch my cheeks and put a pearl butterfly hair comb on each side and walk back to my room. Looking in the mirror one last time and I head to the living room. Just in time to see my dad walk in and say it’s time to go. My parents look at me and stop. With tears in their eyes, they both tell me how beautiful I look and how proud they are to be my parents.

    We walk over to the pack house and everyone stops as we pass. I hear hushed whisper. “wow she looks gorgeous” someone says. another says, “man I wish she was my mate. Dayam!!” another says, “look at her, she looks like an angel.”

    I was so overwhelmed with listening to what people were saying about me that I almost walked right into Alpha Ronan. Ronan Doxon is the Alpha to our pack, the Red Rock Pack, the third largest pack in the U.S. He stands 6’2”, has super deep dark blue eyes, dark tanned skin, and jet-black hair.

    “My apologies Alpha” I say with a curtsy. I don’t know why I did that. I roll my eyes at myself internally and Lola starts to laugh at me.

    “No harm done.” Alpha Ronan says with a deep laugh. “Wow! You look absolutely stunning tonight!” He says looking at my dress. I spin out of instinct to show him how beautiful the dress is. “Your mate is one lucky man.” Ronan says with a wink.  

    “Thank you” I say blushing.

    I really want to impress the Alpha. It’s always best to have him on my side. After the Alpha excuses himself, I go and find my friends.

    I start to smell the tree bark and honeysuckles again and I know Kieran is here. I find my friends and Kieran all dancing and talking together in the ballroom of the pack house. Kieran looks so carefree and gorgeous. I wish he knew. If he did, I’d let him take me here and now. I walk over and all my friends stop and stare at me. Jasper speaks first.

    “Wow Graci, you look… amazing!”

    “OH, my goddess you are perfect” Livi says.

     “Yeah” Kevin and Lillian say at the same time agreeing with Livi.

    “Wow I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life.” Kieran says.

    “Really?” I ask blushing.

    “I would never lie to you.” He says with a sly smile.

    I’m sure everyone could see the red in my face. I couldn’t stop smiling. We all stand around, dancing as group, and talking for a while.  

    “You wanna dance?” I look over to see Kieran holding out his hand. I take his hand nodding. He spins me out on the dance floor.

    “Are you having a good night so far?” He asks.

    “Yes. Just a little nervous.”

    Kieran’s hand is on the small of my bare back and is sending the sparks spreading through my body. It feels so good I wish he could feel this. Mom told me once that if one mate was underage the sparks for the one who knows are light pinpricks but will be strong like a current when we both know.

    I lay my head on Kieran shoulder and just let him spin me all around the dance floor. When the song ends, I look up to see his full lips smiling down at me. His eyes were so beautiful. I was losing myself in them. I was just about to lean up and kiss him when Ronan ask for the next dance. I broke eye contact with my unknowing mate and spun away with Ronan.

    “How’s your party been?” Alpha Ronan asks.

    “It’s been wonderful so far. But I am nervous about tonight.” 

    “No need to be worried, it will all be ok.” He tells me with a handsome smile.

    The song is about to end, and we are next to the stage. When the song ends, he holds on to my hand and leads me onto the stage. He clears his throat to get every one’s attention.  

    “Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. I hope everyone is enjoying Gracilyn’s 18th birthday party. I know I have. I got to dance with this beauty.” He says winking at me, everyone chuckled, and I blush.

    Lola perks up and says “It’s almost time. Are you ready?” “Ready as I’ll ever be.” I tell her. A young omega hands Ronan and I champagne flutes. Other omegas are doing the same on the dance floor.

    “Well now we toast to Gracilyn on her birthday. After the toast Gracilyn, her parents Ben and Jovi, Beta Grayson, and myself will head into the woods for her first shift. Cheers to Gracilyn.” Ronan booms.

    “Cheers” everyone echoes.

    We all drink down our champagne and after applause erupts. As Ronan leads me from the stage to the back door of the pack house the music begins to play again and everyone goes back to what they were doing previously.

    I start to feel a little light-headed, must be the champagne. We walk out the back door and an omega brings my mom the dress I picked out to wear after I shift back. We walk out into the forest, out toward the training grounds.

    I know this path very well, at age 13 they make us start doing nightly trainings. Build our skills before we attain our wolf. As we get closer, I start to get more and more light-headed. Lola chimes in “I don’t feel so well. Something is wrong with me.” I was about to ask what she meant when we stopped walking.

    “Alright Gracilyn the floor is all yours.” Alpha Ronan says pointing to the open training arena. I walk over the ring.  

    I walk into the training ring. “Alright Lola are you ready?” I ask her. “Graci something is wrong. I’m too weak.” She says back barely loud enough for me to hear her. “Should we not do this?” I ask her. She doesn’t have time to respond before Ronan commands that I shift.

    “Sometimes if I command the change it comes faster.” He reassures my parents. That’s when I felt my first bone of many break.