The Masquerade Ball Part 1

*NOT EDITED*

As I was staring at her retreating figure, I kept thinking that I couldn't let her win this fight. There is no way she is going to keep walking all over me and wedging her big ass between me and Axel. We had enough problems of our own, and she didn't have to keep butting in.

"Jade!" I called out, catching up to her.

"Yes, Calista?" she responded, uninterested, turning to face me.

And with all my might, I raised my hand and I slapped her across her face, probably giving her whiplash in the process. A couple strands of her hair covered her face, but I could see the traces of tears well up in her eyes.

"Stop screwing with me, Jade. I am done being nice."

I was half-expecting her to lunge at me and hurt me back. However, to my surprise, she mumbled a quick sorry before she ran out of the house. I didn't know if I am supposed to be waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it doesn't seem like her to get slapped and not retaliate. But, at least for right now, she got what she deserved.

I was not in the mood to confront Axel about what had just transpired between the two of them. And, we were already in a fight. All we do is fight. It is so freaking exhausting.

"Nice hit," I heard Mason's voice ring behind me. I turned around to see him and saw that he was smirking at me. Oh, no wonder she didn't retaliate, Mason was watching. She would have gotten in a lot of trouble with her brother, the Beta, and the Alpha of the pack for hurting the potential Luna.

"Whatever, she got what she deserved," I voiced my thoughts.

"You could have handled this situation way differently. You know," he replied, following me upstairs towards my room.

"I don't regret slapping her. Like I said, she got what was coming to her. I am fed up with all her incessant bullshit. You better not be taking her side," I warned.

"No, no. See I was thinking something along the lines of poisoning her lunch, or putting snakes in her bed, or stuffing shaving cream and hair dye in her shampoo. But, sure, a slap works too," he nudged me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Was that sweet Mason talking? I glanced up at his face, and saw that he had the biggest smile, and he was almost going to burst into laughter. He was only messing with me.

"Ha. Ha. Mason. Very funny," I sarcastically retorted.

"I know I am absolutely hilarious. You are so lucky that we are friends," he winked.

"Yeah, whatever. Do you mind going outside? I need to change into my pajamas and sleep. I am tired, and I don't want to talk to anybody."

"Okay, are you sure you don't want to talk. You might feel better if you vent a little."

"Just get out of the room, Mason." I was being very impatient. But I just wanted to be alone.

After changing and sitting in bed for a little while, I hear a knock on the door.

"Hey, I brought some movies if you want to watch them with me," Mason voiced through the door.

I got out of the bed and opened the door a smidge. "I don't want to watch anything, please go away."

"Come on, Cali. I am just tryna cheer you up. Trust me, and I mean this in the best way, you look like somebody vacuumed the life out of you," he informed me.

"Yeah, well, you don't have a right to cheer me up!"

"What?"

"You promised me that you won't tell Axel that I left Blood Venom Territory and tried to escape. But, here we are, and Axel is throwing that in my face. I am just so sick of everyone here. I want to go home."

"Shit, Calista. Axel was the one who sent me to edge of the territory to get you back. He thought you might try to leave, so he sent me. He was not in the best place that day, and you guys had been in a fight. So, he asked me to keep an eye out. I promise that I didn't bring it up after it happened, but he knew about it before it did."

"What? Are you serious right now?" For the second time today I was completely flabbergasted. I couldn't fathom what Mason was saying.

"I need to go talk to him. I kinda feel bad. Maybe I should apologize or something," I ranted quickly, running my hands through my hair. I opened the door a little wider and made myself ready to head to Axel's office or his room. I wasn't quite sure where he was. And, I didn't want us to go to bed in a fight when I knew I could fix a part of it now. I was still upset at the other things that had transpired, but I was also at fault.

"I think it is great that you want to talk to Axel right now, Cal. But he isn't here," Mason informed me.

"Oh, then where is he?" I asked.

"I don't think you understood me right. He isn't in Blood Venom at all. He said he had important business to attend to away from pack grounds, which is very weird because I don't know what that business is exactly. And he usually tells me. I don't know why he left, but I don't think it is a good idea. I wish he would have postponed whatever he had to do until after the ball. I mean there will be about three thousand people here. He should be here to make sure that nothing bad happens. He left me in charge, but I don't know how I feel about that." Axel left per my request. Great! The one time I didn't want Axel to listen to me, he does.

"Do you know when he is coming back?" I asked. I can't believe that I pushed him away again.

"The Trials are happening a day after the ball. He is going to be here for that. Don't worry."

"Yeah, I am not worried at all," I lie. "I think I am going to sleep now, and I will see you tomorrow alright?"

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I think I looked good. The dress I chose to wear was a beautiful reddish-burgundy ball gown. It had the most beautiful embroidery that I had ever seen and it flowed all the way down to past my toes. Luckily, I will be wearing heels, which will account for the extra length. As for my hair and makeup, they were done perfectly, thanks to Erin. Although, there was one piece of hair that escaped the updo and kept falling across my face, slightly blocking my eyesight. I tried grabbing it and tucking it back, but it was no use. At least, it looked a little cute.

"Thanks for getting ready with me and helping me with all this," I said motioning to my face area.

"No problem! I am so glad we did this. I had so much fun. I got so excited when you texted me, I though you completely forgot that I existed," she released a small laugh.

"Oh no, but my life has been way more dramatic than it should be. Anyway, you look so beautiful," I gushed at her.

"Girl, I look like crap compared to you. Seriously, you look like a goddess!" she complemented.

"Thanks, Erin," I smiled at her. "Some of our guests have already arrived, so we should probably go downstairs and head outside towards the ballroom area."

"Oh my God, we look so banging!" she squealed, as we made our way out of the room. I just laughed. I expected myself to feel way more nervous tonight, but the man I wanted to impress wasn't here.

"I think I am going to find my mate tonight. I can feel it," Erin whispered, linking her arm in mine.

"I hope you do! I remember being so excited to find my mate not too long ago," I said.

"OMG! Cali, you found your mate already?"

Shit, I can't believe I let that slip. But, I think it is okay if she knows. We are friends after all, and she will most likely be there for the Lunar Trials.

"My mate is Alpha Axel," I whispered in her ear, not wanting the other people filing into the dance floor to hear.

"Holy crap! Why didn't you mention that you are the Luna?"

"I'm sorry, but we are keeping it on the down low until the Lunar Trials in a couple of days."

"Are you worried about them?"

"Honestly, yeah, but I—Oh my God, that is a lot of people," I said, surprised by everything going on in front of me. It was unbelievable how lively everything was. The orchestra was playing music, and people were already dancing. Some were sitting down at the tables we had laid out. I was so proud of how beautiful everything looked.

"Do you mind if I go and mingle with some people? I want to see if I can find my mate tonight," Erin asked. She was so hopeful, and I hoped that she would find him and that it would be a good experience for her.

"Sure, I need to go and talk to Mason and see if there are any last-minute things that need to be done."

"Wish me luck," I heard Erin say as she left my side.

Good luck, Erin. I hope you have better luck at the mate game than I did.

I decided to head towards the gate entrance where people were walking in, and where their names were being checked off the list and introduced. Even though Mason was wearing a silver and black mask, I was able to recognize him. Beelining towards him, I tapped his shoulder. He turned around quickly and smiled when he recognized that it was me.

"Hey, Mase. Guess who I am!"

"I'm guessing you are the only girl here who calls me Mase and not Beta or Mason," he joked, "You look amazing, Calista," he complemented.

"Thanks, and you look nervous," I joked.

"I'm trying not to be, but you know how this is. I am waiting for her, and I am just worried that she didn't come."

"Don't be worried. It will be great. You look smokin', and I am sure that she will be so excited to meet you. Relax okay!" I tried making him feel better, but I can see that he ardently wanted tonight to work.

He was about to say something, when a girl grabbed my attention, "Excuse me, do you know where the restroom is?"

"Yeah, follow me, I can take you there," I patted Mason's back for support and started walking away. I smiled at the girl, as she saw me struggle to walk with the ballgown that I was wearing. It wasn't my fault that I never wore anything like that before.

"Name?" I heard Mason's faint voice ask.

"Victoria Mitchell," she said.

"Um, I, um," I heard Mason say. He cleared his throat a couple of times. Okay that's weird. I glanced back at them and saw the two of them stare intensely at each other. Is that her? Has he finally found her? I saw Mason reach out for her mask as he slowly unveiled her face. His hands remained rested on her cheeks for a little while. He finally regained his composure after noticing the line behind her was getting pretty long. Glancing around frantically, Mason handed the clipboard he was holding to another guard at the gate. "Take care of this, will you?" he commanded him, then grabbed the girl's hand, and said "Come with me."

He found her! That was faster than I thought, feeling the most accomplished since getting to Blood Venom.

"Mason!" I called out to him. When our eyes locked, he mouthed to me, "That's her!"