Retail Therapy

Addy

I close my eyes, attempting to soothe Mystic after her sudden takeover. ~You could have given me a heads up,~ I tell her.

She chuckles in response. ~I would have loved to see Diego tear that woman apart, but it’s up to the current Alpha to decide their fate. He was ready to kill her.~

I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Hey. I’ve got some spare clothes for you if you need them.”

I turn to accept the worn-out clothes from Myra, slipping on some shorts beneath the oversized shirt. I glance at Drake. “Could you look away for a moment?”

He shakes his head, pulling the car over to the side of the road. “Why are you so self-conscious about your body?”

I whisper back, “I’m not ready for you to see me.”

He sighs but obliges, turning his gaze away. Myra holds up a blanket, just in case he tries to sneak a peek. I quickly change into a bra and shirt, and she folds the blanket back into the bag she’d retrieved from the backseat. He looks at me, a frown and raised eyebrow on his face.

“That’s the best you could do after attacking me?” A smirk tugs at his lips.

“Sorry about that. Mystic took control before I could stop her. You weren’t hurt when she tackled you, were you?” I ask, scanning his side.

He shakes his head slowly. “No, just surprised. I didn’t see her coming, so it pissed me off when she tackled me mid-jump. It’s not typical for a Luna to attack an Alpha.”

I hang my head a bit. “I told her not to do that. She didn’t listen to me.”

He chuckles as he starts driving again. “I hate to say it, but maybe you could learn a thing or two from your wolf. She doesn’t seem to be afraid of much.”

I shoot him a glare. “I don’t like how aggressive she is. Why do you think she was dormant for all those years? I don’t want to be like that; she scares me sometimes.”

He shakes his head at my words. “I meant it as a compliment. If you weren’t so shy and learned from her dominance, you’d be a force to be reckoned with. We can work on it in the future. You need to break out of this shy shell you’ve locked yourself into.”

Myra chimes in, “I love how your wolf thinks. It makes you powerful, in a way. She’s part of you; if you adopt some of her traits, you’ll be a formidable Luna for the pack. That’s what he needs—a Luna who doesn’t hesitate to give orders when necessary. She can guide you to that if you let her.”

I roll my eyes at her. “That’s just it. I don’t know if I can handle her being so forceful. People already hate me; why would I want them to hate me more when I give them orders?”

Drake takes my hand. “They won’t hate you for giving orders. You’ll be the leader of this pack; they’ll look to you for guidance and orders when necessary. If anyone questions your ability, they’ll have to deal with me.”

Myra’s hand lands on my shoulder. “They’ll also have to answer to your best friend. You need to learn to stand up to anyone who questions you. Once you’re announced tomorrow, their perception of you will change.”

I give them a half-smile. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Macie has painted a target on my back, and there’s no telling what she’ll do now.”

A growl escapes both of them as Drake speaks. “After our meeting in a few hours, she’ll never dare to attack you again. I don’t know what my dad’s decision will be, but I know what I’ll suggest for her entire family.”

The shocked look on my face must give away my question because he smiles. “If it were up to me, I’d exile them from the pack. That way, she’d never bother us again.”

My face falls. “Her parents don’t deserve that because of her. How do you know they support her actions?”

Myra scoffs. “Please. Don’t you think they know everything with all the pack gossip? Her whole family lives in the packhouse, so they hear all the rumors. If they’ve talked to her but haven’t stopped her, they’re just as guilty. That’s how families should work; if you’re bullying someone, it needs to be addressed immediately.”

“I know, but I only saw it when I stayed with you on weekends. As you saw, my parents let me raise myself without much guidance. They hated my existence,” I say, a fresh tear sliding down my cheek.

Drake wipes the tear away as the car pulls into a mall parking spot. “You’ll never have to worry about them again. You’ll be showered with love in our house for the rest of our lives. There won’t be a day when you don’t feel loved by me, my sister, or any family member. We are your life just as you’ve become ours.”

He opens the door and gets out, walking around to open mine. He helps me out, and Myra follows us.

Myra places her hand on my shoulder. “Girl, I’m so excited that we can do this now. You can’t understand how much I hated not being able to do this with you. I wanted to buy you clothes all those times, so you didn’t look like a beggar at school. If he does what I think, you’ll have the biggest wardrobe when we leave here. You’ll only have to decide what to wear each day.”

They both laugh as we walk through the sliding glass doors. His hand never leaves mine as we walk around, and Myra piles outfit after outfit onto her arms. Her fashion sense is much better than mine since she’s been doing this for much longer. She pulls me into a dressing room when her arms are full, hanging clothes on hooks. I look at the massive collection in the room, not including what she has hanging on the outside door. Seeing how much this will cost him, my mind is a whirlwind. I tell myself we’ll get the minimum amount of clothes and the cheapest ones.

“Step out here so we can see everything as you put them on,” her voice floats over the door.

I sigh and put on the first item. We continue going through the collection that seems to grow every time I put a piece outside on a rack. I catch her adding four more to the hook as I hang one up.

“Myra, that’s enough. It’ll take us forever to go through all of these,” I say, raising my hand.

Drake holds up a top. “She’s right, sis. We have a meeting in two hours with Dad. Right now, we can get what she needs and come back on Sunday to complete the rest of her wardrobe.”

She huffs but nods. “It’ll take us several hours to fill her side of the closet. We need to find a party dress for tomorrow, so we’ll do that when we’re done here.”

After another thirty minutes of trying on shorts, tops, casual dresses, and pants, we move to the expensive dresses for the party. My eyes bug out at the price tags on the dresses hanging there, and I try to move over to the clearance rack. A hand wraps around my waist, pulling me against a hard chest.

“Where are you going?”

“To find a dress for the party. These are too expensive, so I was going to get one from that rack,” I say, pointing to the rack I was heading for.

He shakes his head. “You need to remember it’s not just her party; our announcement will be made. I want you to look the best money can buy.” He holds up a light purple dress, smiling.

“You would pick that color, huh? Alright, we’ll try it on,” Myra says, snatching it from him.

“I can’t help that purple is a color that will look amazing on her. What color are you looking at?” he asks, scanning the rest of the rack.

She picks a hot pink dress, making him wince. “He hates this color, but it’ll look good. I promise. Is there one that catches your eye?”

My eyes land on a red dress with diamonds on it. As I slowly take it off the rack, the price tag flips. I quickly try to put it back, but he takes it from me, looking it over.

“This is a stunning dress. You’d look like the Luna you’re going to become in this. Let’s try it on and see which one we like the best,” he says, handing it to Myra.

“Drake, that dress is too expensive. Did you see the price?” I ask, trying to take it back.

Myra spins around, her hand waving in the air, and heads for the dressing room. “We don’t bother with price tags. Hurry up, we’re short on time.”

He takes my hand in his, trailing behind Myra towards the dressing room. I try on the hot pink dress first. Myra squeals with delight, but he just shakes his head, pretending to gag. Next, I try on the purple dress he picked out. His smile lights up the room when I step out.

“We still have the red dress she liked. Worst case scenario, we buy them all and she can decide which one to wear to the party tomorrow,” Myra pushes me back into the dressing room, unzipping the next dress.

I slip into the red dress and Myra gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. The dress is adorned with diamonds that wrap around my waist and climb up towards the sweetheart neckline. The bottom flares out slightly, with diamonds scattered randomly across the fabric. Myra opens the door and I step out for him to see.

“That’s the one for the party,” he circles me slowly, taking in the dress. “This will show everyone exactly who you are. It’ll make a statement the moment you walk into the ballroom. The other dresses are nice, but this one outshines them all.”

I shake my head slowly. “This one is too much, Drake. I could buy a year’s worth of school lunches with what this costs.”

His hands rest on my waist and his eyes sparkle under the lights. “Like my sister said, money isn’t an issue for us. We’ll take all three dresses and the other clothes, but I want you in this one tomorrow. Myra, can you make sure she wears this dress?”

Myra grins. “We’ll give her the royal treatment. Hair, nails, toes, makeup—everything will be done before the party. We need to find shoes before we leave.”

They lead me to the shoe department, where I end up with twelve pairs of shoes for all the outfits and a pair of silver heels for the dress. Drake guides me to the lingerie department, making sure I have enough for the next few weeks. I notice him slipping some lingerie into the mix. My cheeks flush as she bags them. Adjusting to everything in the next few months is going to be a wild ride.

At The Packhouse

Drake carries most of the bags while a store employee takes the rest to the car. Myra hops into the back seat while he helps me into the front. The rustling of bags fills the car as they’re stowed in the back, and the dresses are hung up on hooks.

“The next thing we need to do is get her a car, brother. She’ll need one for when she wants to go places. I don’t mind driving her around, but there will be times when I can’t, and you can’t always drop everything to take her where she needs to go.” Myra taps away on her phone.

A slow smile spreads across his face and he nods. “We’ll sort that out this weekend. We only have an hour before the meeting. The one where Macie will be put in her place. She’ll either understand her position or she won’t like the outcome.”

Myra leans forward between the seats. “Ohh! I can’t miss this meltdown. The look on her face and her reaction will be the perfect end to a wonderful day.”

Drake sighs. “I think it would be better if you didn’t.”

She whips her head towards him. “Excuse me? There’s no way I’m missing this. I need to be there to support my best friend. You’ll be too busy trying to control your anger; she’ll need someone by her side. Your anger might scare her out of the room.”

He lets out a low growl that makes me inch away. Myra’s hand touches my arm as his head snaps towards me. His face twists into a scowl but it disappears as soon as his hand touches mine.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, bro. You lost your temper and scared her. What do you think will happen in that meeting?” Myra’s hand rubs my arm soothingly.

He lets out a long sigh. “Fine. I see your point. Addy, please don’t shy away because of my anger. You know I could never hurt you; my wolf wouldn’t allow it, and neither would I.”

I look out the window so he can’t see the tear forming in my eye. “I know, but you have to remember what the last twelve years of my life have been like—people yelling at me, scorning my existence, among other things. That doesn’t just go away in a day, or even a few hours. It’ll take time for me to adjust to everything new around me. I’ve been neglected for so long; my mind thinks it’s unappreciated.”

He stops the car so abruptly that I swear the seatbelt is going to snap my head off. His body is across the middle console, pinning me to the seat. “We need to change that mindset. I understand it might take time, but you’ll never be discarded like trash again. It’s in my DNA to protect you and give your heart anything it desires.”

His words hit me hard as he looks at me with tender eyes. “I know that. Mystic has been talking to me since her shift about things when they happen. She’s reassured me that you or Diego could never lay a hand on me. As I said, it’ll take time for me not to shy away from a harsh tone or sudden movement. I might flinch if you raise your hand too quickly, thinking a strike is coming.”

‘Pull yourself together, girl. We’ll be announced as his mate and Luna in less than twenty-four hours. People need to see you as a strong force, not this weak shell,’ she rolls her eyes at me.

Myra’s hand lands on my shoulder. “You know, we should try something that might help. Let your wolf guide your emotions; she could control how you handle things.”

She jumps up in my head, coming forward. ‘I’d love to do that. No one would mess with the new badass you could become.’

I laugh at her and Myra. “You want me to get taken down again at school on Monday? People aren’t going to take me seriously.”

Her tail slams down, causing my hands to fly up to cradle my throbbing head. ‘You’re a fool. They’d be scared of you and wouldn’t dare cross you or me.’

I clutch my head. “How about this? We’ll try it this weekend to see if it makes a difference. If it doesn’t work out, we won’t do it.”

Myra chuckles softly. “She gave you a headache, huh?”

“You have no idea; I never knew her tail could echo through my head like that.” I rub my still-throbbing temple.

They laugh together. “They can get an attitude when something is important enough to make a point. I can’t tell you how many times Diego has given me a headache by throwing a tantrum.”

“Jewel has done the same to me at times. If it’s bad enough, I have to lie down just to get her to stop,” Myra smiles.

Time flies by so quickly that I don’t even realize we’re at the packhouse. I look around at all the people going about their day. Taking a deep breath, he opens my door and helps me out.

“I can’t do this.” I try to climb back into the car, but his hand clamps down on my wrist, keeping me in place.

He leans down, his voice gentle in my ear. “Yes, you can. It’s no different from all the other times you came home with Myra; no one here knows anything different. We’ll take these items into the house and to my room.”

I turn to look at him. “Can I please stay in her room for the night? I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

Mystic slams her tail down again and I wince. ‘Hell no. Grab some bags and go to our room. This will be the first time we can spend the night with our mate. Do you think I’ll let you stay in another room away from him? If you fall asleep, I’ll sneak into his room and you’ll wake up in his arms. Don’t test me on this.’

I growl at her, his eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “She’s not going to let that happen, is she?”

I roll my eyes. “No. She warned me that she’d make sure we ended up in your room at night once I fell asleep.”

He chuckles. “Diego was going crazy when you said that. He said he’d tie you to the bed if he had to.”

I sigh, exasperated with the two insistent wolves who won’t let me move at my own speed. I grab the bags and we all start unloading from her car. We ascend the steps, unnoticed by passersby who assume we’ve been on a shopping spree for ourselves. As we navigate the hallways, my palms start to sweat the closer we get to his room, the bag handles threatening to slip from my grasp. Myra is busy talking about her party, but I’m not really listening. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. Mystic rolls her eyes at me, warning that she won’t help me if I stress myself out. As we pass Myra’s room, my anxiety spikes, causing my hands to tremble as I clutch the bags.

Drake pauses at his door, setting his bags down before opening it. “Take it easy, will you? Everything will be fine. Let’s get you settled in the room before we head to the meeting. Relax, take some deep breaths, so I don’t have to scoop you off the floor.”

The door swings open and my mouth goes dry. His room is decorated in typical male fashion. The walls are a rich brown wood, and everything is tidy and clean. My gaze lands on his furniture, adorned with hunting items. Each piece is made of brown wood, intricately carved. His bedposts feature wolves running through the forest, howling at the moon, or frolicking in the water. The other furniture has similar carvings, but on a larger scale. My fingers trace over a wolf that’s running through a creek.

“This is amazing. Who did these carvings?” I ask, my fingers slowly tracing the carved water.

His voice, muffled from the closet, answers, “I did. It’s a skill passed down through the males in my father’s family. Carving wood helps us focus and teaches patience, especially when working with sharp tools.”

As I turn to respond, Macie saunters into the room in a tight outfit. Her eyes land on me before shifting to the closet where Drake is hanging up clothes.

“What the hell is this? Why is she in your room, and why are there women’s clothes in your closet?” She strides over, pulling a tag towards her. “This isn’t my size.”

Drake looks up, growling at her. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from us, or were my words not clear enough?”

Her eyes shift from him to me. “How did you heal so quickly? This morning you still had marks from yesterday’s incident.”

Drake steps out from the closet, positioning himself between us. “That’s none of your business. I told you to stay away, yet here you are.”

Her eyes narrow on me before widening as she bursts into laughter. “Oh, this is priceless. You’ve taken pity on the ~reject~ and moved her away from her abusive parents. Why don’t you let your sister take her down the hall so we can have some fun before this meeting, if you’re still planning on having it.”

I step back at the low growl emanating from his chest. “Macie, I’m giving you one last chance to get out of my room and leave us alone. What’s happening between us is none of your business; I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Her lip quivers before her demeanor changes. “What’s happened to you? One minute we’re fine, the next you’re insulting me and making me look bad.”

Myra smirks. “That’s because you are. People see you for what you truly are, and how fake you’ve become. Have you lost your followers, or are they just doing things out of fear or promises?”

She screams, lunging at Myra, but Drake grabs her waist, pulling her back and pushing her towards the door with a menacing growl.

“How dare you try to attack my sister. Have you lost your mind? Do you understand the consequences?” His arms are up on the door frame, blocking her from reentering.

She stomps her foot, trying to move him. “She insulted me, the future Luna. She should be punished for verbal abuse.”

I roll my eyes at this clueless girl who doesn’t understand what’s happening. Myra grins, walking towards the door and getting in Macie’s face. “You will never be Luna. My brother has told you that time and time again, as have my parents. You’re as stupid as they say; you never listen and have this fantasy about ruling the pack. Only a female born with Alpha or Beta blood can rule this pack with him. You don’t have that in your lineage, so take your promiscuous self and go back to your room.” She glances at the clock. “Oh, and you only have thirty minutes to meet with the Alpha and Drake about your fate.” She leans in, sniffing before pinching her nose. “I’d suggest taking a shower before your meeting to wash off that sex smell. Since my brother wasn’t here to satisfy you, I see you found another willing male.”

Macie’s face turns red with anger. “How dare you talk to me like that. Drake, how can you stand there and let her?”

He shrugs, turning around and walking back to his couch. “I smell it on you too. This isn’t the first time either; you’re sleeping around with other males trying to trap me into thinking I’m the only one. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Did you ever wonder why I sometimes rejected you? That’s why. Do you think I want to sleep with you after another male? That’s disgusting, and it shows how you really feel about me. I’m just a pawn to you until you get the title and power you think you deserve. Real mates are loyal to each other, not sleeping around with anyone who will lie down on a bed.”

She’s shaking now, pointing a finger at him. “You’re no saint either. What will your future mate think when they hear about all the women you’ve been with?”

He jumps off the couch, storming towards her. “I suggest you shut your mouth before I shut it for you. See you at the meeting.”

He slams the door in her face as she pounds on it from the outside. I can tell his wolf is close to the surface as his eyes flicker. I walk over, placing my hand on his arm, and he takes a deep, shuddering breath.

“I’m sorry, she gets under my skin sometimes. Let’s talk for a bit before the meeting,” he says, leading me back to the couch.

We all sit down as he takes a deep breath, letting it out.

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