Chapter 4

I woke up that morning with a smile on my face. For once I wasn't woken up early from the

screaming of Sabrina or my mother. Tonight, was one of the rare nights where I wasn't woken in a

panic by my reoccurring nightmare. I'm sure they let me sleep in as I had no choice but to attend

the Moon Ball. The thought of the Moon Ball chased my smile away and instantly made me feel as

though my world was already crashing down. I gripped the hem of my oversized t-shirt and tried to

take a few calming breaths, but nothing helped the knot of unease that had been settling in my

stomach. I couldn't place my finger on what was causing this absolute anxiety, but I knew it had to

do with this stupid ball.

I stayed in bed like this for a few more moments, gripping my t-shirt as if it could save me. I

squeezed my eyes shut and prayed that I could just sleep through the day, sleep through the ball. It

wouldn't have been such a big deal if it was only my pack that attended. I knew no one in my pack

could possibly be my mate, none of the unmated males had ever appealed to me before. The

problem with this ball was that every single pack in America would be attending. Out of all of those

unmated males, my mate had to be somewhere in the mix. My eyes shot open at that thought and I

grimaced at the ceiling.

Why would the Moon Goddess pair me with someone when she knew how I felt? Maybe I was the

exception, maybe I didn't have a mate. Even as I thought those words, I knew they wouldn't be true.

Every wolf has a mate, like it or not. I clung to the absurd thought that maybe, just maybe, my mate

didn't live in America and therefore I wouldn't meet them at the ball. This desperate thought was

what forced me out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen, where I could smell breakfast being

made.

I walked into the dining room in time to interrupt a conversation between my father and Derek.

Sabrina and Amber sat at the table with them, listening quietly, curiosity shining through on their

faces.

"So, every single pack is going to be here tonight?" Sabrina exclaimed breathlessly, her fingers

nervously twirling her curly blonde hair. Her blue eyes were wide and glanced at each of our faces.

"All of them, most of them have actually already arrived. Alpha Dan asked that they keep their

distance until tonight.” My father nodded, glancing at my mother who was currently bringing out

plates full of food. For the moment my attention was drawn to the smell of baked chicken, garlic

and potatoes. The savory smell ignited my stomach and I found myself tuning out the rest of my

family.

"What- what about the Blood Moon pack?" I heard Sabrina whisper, but at once the entire table was

silent. My father's face became unbearably pale as he looked into mine and Sabrina's eyes. My

mother froze in the doorway, the plates of food in her hands forgotten for the moment. The tension

and fear in the room felt like a thick fog that invaded our minds and clouded our thoughts.

The Blood Moon pack was talked about as if it were a scary rumor. I squared my shoulders and tried

to make my expression look indifferent, but my eyes held the same fear present on my family's

faces. There had never been a pack as strong as the Blood Moon pack in our entire history. Every

other pack tread very carefully when it comes to the Blood Moon pack, and not pissing off its Alpha.

"They're not real- are they?" Sabrina whispered, finally breaking the silence at the table. I couldn't

name a single person that had seen the Blood Moon pack or their Alpha in person. It seemed as if

the entire pack was some scary story, we told to pups to ensure their best behavior.

"Oh, they're real. And they're every bit as vicious as the rumors say." My father nodded gravely; his

eyes locked on my mother as they shared some unspoken words.

"But hardly anyone ever sees them, how do you know they're even real?" Derek asked, his voice

stronger than the rest of ours. Even Amber's expression seemed to drop as her face paled and her

eyes fluttered between me and Sabrina in pity.

"Plenty of wolves have met the Blood Moon Pack, and most of them were killed at his hands. Alpha

Dan has met Alpha Killian Desmond once.” My father spoke as a shudder made its way through his

body. I felt at a loss for words, I had never seen my father this scared before. If there was anything

or anyone to fear more than the Blood Moon pack it was their vicious Alpha.

"They're not coming tonight, a-are they? They never c-came b-before?” Sabrina stuttered, her gaze

locking on my own in a look of panic. While I met her eyes with a blank expression, I could feel my

blood run cold at the thought of being in the same area as the Blood Moon Pack. I remembered the

stories I was told in school and by friends, stories of the Blood Moon pack torturing rogues, humans

and other wolves. Some of the stories were too farfetched to be true, but until now I had always

assumed, they were nothing but a rumor. The Alpha couldn't possibly eat other wolves, right? He

doesn't kidnap unmated females to satiate his lust for blood, right? Every story I heard over the

years replayed in my head. As blood, carnage and other vile images flooded my head, I resisted the

urge to shudder in absolute fear.

"The Blood Moon pack will be attending the ball tonight.” My father nodded, his face pale and

shiny, as if there were a thin layer of sweat coating his scarred face.

"B-but, what do we do? W-we can't go!" Sabrina gasped.

"Of course, we'll have to go, we can't embarrass the pack.” Sierra muttered in my head.

"You both have to go. You're old enough to meet your mates, and we cannot pass up this

opportunity. You are the daughters of the Beta, you must attend. Avoid the Blood Moon Pack at all

costs tonight.” It was my mother’s turn to chime in, her voice hard and cold, but her eyes showed

the fear she felt for her two daughters. Even with my mother's disapproval of how I acted, I knew

they still cared about me in their own way. From the tone of my mother's voice, the topic of this

conversation was over.

The six of us ate in silence, the events for tonight running through mine and Sabrina's head with

lightning speed. Every now and again a glance of pity would be shot our way followed by the sound

of silverware on glass. At one point I locked eyes with Sabrina and saw a look of fear written on her

face. As I picked at my food, my hunger fully forgotten, I tried to stifle the absolute horror I felt. My

family was basically throwing me and Sabrina into a pit of rabid wolves. Would the rest of our pack

attend, or would they be too horrified to show their faces? No, they would all attend... They

wouldn't embarrass Alpha Dan by skipping the ball. My stomach churned and I was grateful when a

knock to the door cut through the nervous silence.

"I'll get it!" My mother chirped, but her tone sounded forced. We sat in silence as the front door

opened and closed and Hazel's smiling face came into view. At once she took in her surroundings

and the tense looks on each of our faces. Being the amazing best friend that she is, she saw fear

clearly in my eyes and took the opportunity to pull me away.

"Let's go up so I can get started on your makeup! I have so much work to do.” Hazel gave me a

playful smirk and sent a wink my way.

"Go ahead, have fun girls!" My mother called out as we made our way up the stairs, but again the

carefree tone was forced. I could hear the worry for me and Sabrina clear in her tone.

"Okay, so what the hell was all that?" Hazel asked dramatically, gesturing to my closed bedroom

door. She turned her back to me and proceeded to dump the contents of her makeup bag all over

my bed. I watched her sort through small tubes of lipstick, eyeliner, and eyeshadow while I took the

time to make sure my voice would come out clearly.

"The Blood Moon pack. They're coming to the ball tonight.” As I said the words, they came out clear

and even, but the fear still lingered in my body, causing goosebumps to spring up on my arms. I

watched as Hazel tensed, her back to me, and stayed that way for a few moments.

"They're coming?" Hazel turned to me, an incredulous look in her eyes. I watched as her hand flew

up and messed with a strand of her medium length black hair, something she did when she was

rarely nervous. She looked into my eyes for a few moments, trying to find some shred of humor or

laughter in my gaze, something that would tell her this was all a big joke. From the frown that fell

on her face, she didn't find what she was looking for.

"What- what are we going to do?" Hazel asked me, her own voice sounding unsure.

I took a few seconds, mulling over the chances of any of the unmated males or females possibly

finding a mate in the Blood Moon pack. As selfish as it sounded, I was only concerned for me, Hazel,

Brandon and Sabrina. The chances of any of us being one of their mates, was extremely slim. I let

this possibility flow throughout my body, chasing away some of the fear. I wouldn't let rumors of a

pack terrify me. I had never wanted to go to this ball to begin with, but there was no way I would go

reeking of fear. I took a few deep breaths and shoved my fear down so deep I felt comfortable it

wouldn't surface.

"We're going to the ball, and were going to ignore their pack at all costs.” I nodded, my face hard

and determined. My voice came out strong and clear, which seemed to relax Hazel in the slightest.

"Should we tell Brandon?" Hazel asked, the corner of her mouth pulling down.

"I don't think we should. It wouldn't change anything either way, and if anything, he'd try to act all

protective.” I rolled my eyes, but a small smirk came over my face. I watched as the tension left

Hazel's shoulders and her mouth pulled up into a small grin.

"Well, I'm not going to let that ruin tonight for me. I can feel it, Claire, I'm going to meet my mate

tonight!" Hazel exclaimed excitedly, her small smile widening on her slim face. I tried to match

Claire's enthusiasm with my own, but we both knew I was being forced to go to the ball.

Hazel sat me down on the edge of my bed while she worked on doing my makeup. I had no idea

what she was using, but I trusted Hazel. If Hazel wasn't the Delta's daughter, there was no doubt

that she would be a cosmetologist, or a fashion designer. We made small talk as she did my

makeup, and for the most part I played along with her enthusiasm. As usual though, Hazel could see

through my mask.

"Claire?" Hazel asked, her tone sounding lighthearted as she did my make-up.

"Hm?" I questioned, doing my best not to move my eyes in any particular direction. I could feel

Hazel gently applying eyeshadow, and knowing her, it would be the perfect shade to draw out the

blue in my eyes.

"Why are you so against having a mate?" Hazel asked, causing another wave of knots to settle in my

stomach. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to say the same answer as always, the lie.

"I told y-" I started, but Hazel cut me off with a pointed look.

"I know that's what you say, but I don't think that's the entire story.” Hazel frowned, shaking her

head as she wiped something from my face.

"You can tell her..." Sierra's voice rang out in my mind.

"I can't relive that again.” I replied to Sierra, my thoughts coming out rushed.

"You'll never heal from this if you don't try Claire.” Sierra sighed and I could feel her grow sad.

"Sometimes people don't heal. Sometimes we stay broken.” My thoughts whispered back at her.

Hazel's words sent me tumbling back through time, back to when things were much easier. I was

shot into last summer, the smell of sunblock and fresh running water raced through my head. I

could practically feel the sun's rays on my pale skin and the warmth that spread over my body. The

sand beneath my toes was soft and the breeze cooled the heat the sun had brought to my skin. I

could hear my name being called, that voice that I had grown so used to, the voice that woke me up

like a bucket of ice water. All at once the images came rushing forward. Those eyes that reminded

me of moss under the oak tree we would all hang out at. The chipped front tooth that had

happened so many years ago. The sly smile that would form on those full lips. The smell of

something coppery bursting through the air, as if a dam had been broken. And finally, pain. So

much pain.

"Claire? Hello? Earth to Claire?" A familiar voice called me from my downward spiral. I felt my head

jerk up in her direction. Hazel muttered a curse as my fast movement caused eyeliner to run down

the side of my cheek.

"Sorry." I mumbled, bringing my fingers up to slowly trace over my lips, the memory still lingering

on the tip of my tongue. After a few shaky breaths, I gathered those memories and shoved them as

far away as I could. I didn't care that I was simply smothering them, I didn't care that I wouldn't face

them head on. I wasn't ready for that. I had been so broken, so destroyed, that I didn't think I would

survive. Derek had helped me of course, but even he could see I would never be alright again. If I let

those memories rise to the surface, they'd consume me, and drag me back into nothingness.

"You're lucky I'm almost done. Then we have to do your hair!" Hazel exclaimed excitedly, while I

groaned. I wasn't sure how long I had been sitting in the same spot, but I already wanted to flop

back into the safe nest that is my bed.

After what felt like hours, which it could have been for all I knew, Hazel finally stepped away and

looked me over. She had spent most of the time curling my extremely long hair. I was surprised to

find that my hair actually stayed curled, typically the curls would simply fall out within the first five

minutes. I looked in the vanity mirror and almost gasped.

My extremely long, chocolate brown hair, was curled in large ringlets and flowed down my back in a

sea of molten chocolate. She took two long strands from the front of my head and twisted them

around the sides of my head, and pinned them back. The hairstyle was simple, but beautiful. I let my

eyes wander over my facial features. My eyes had always been too large for my liking, but with the

eye makeup she did, my eyes no longer looked like the washed out blue I was used to. My eyes

resembled the clear sky, they looked lighter than I had ever remembered them. My full lips were

bare, but had some shine from a lip gloss she had applied.

"Now, time for the grand finale!" Hazel exclaimed, beaming so hard I could see all of her teeth.

When I gave her a look of complete confusion, she rolled her eyes and shoved my dress in my

hands. I mouthed the word “oh’ and sheepishly made my way into the bathroom to change.

Even with the huge knot in my stomach, I had to admit that Hazel did an amazing job. I looked like

some kind of model, and that's not a word I would ever use to describe myself. I slipped on my ball

gown and looked myself up and down. For once I was thankful for my small waist and larger

bottom, as it made the dress highlight those curves. My breasts had never been what I would call

large, but they were definitely bigger than the rest of the women in my family. The low cut of the

off-shoulder dress I wore showed the smallest amount of cleavage. I couldn't help but beam at my

reflection. Hazel did the perfect job of highlighting my natural body whilst still remaining elegant

and beautiful.

I stepped from the bathroom and did a dramatic twirl, much to Hazel's benefit, as she excitedly

looked me over.

"That absolutely settles it. I'm amazing." Hazel shrugged, giving me an excited smile. It seemed as if,

for the time being, all thoughts about the Blood Moon pack had been