Chapter Ten Author: Alicia S. Rivers Last Updated: 2024-09-27 07:12:20

I walked back to my bedroom with everything whirling in my brain. The she-wolves were staging a coup. My father was looking the other way to lure back my mother. Now there was a she-wolf that was doing something fishy. Knowing witchcraft is real, maybe there was something going on with that.

I walked back into my room to see Cas in tears. “What happened?” I rushed over to the bed.

“Nothing. I just don’t want you to leave.” I wiped her face and laughed.

“Why are you already worried about the end of summer when I just got here?” I collapsed next to her on the bed and listened to her sniffles.

“I know, it’s stupid.” But I could scent the slight tinge of fear in the room, and I knew something had been said.

“Who came here while I was gone?” I watched her tense, but she relaxed.

“No one.” She looked away and the fear disappeared, like she got control of her emotions.

“Talk to me. I can’t help unless I know.” I whispered to her as I wrapped my fingers through hers.

“You can’t help, anyway. You will be gone soon and we will just be here again, alone.” Her hand tightened on mine.

“Not alone. I will be speaking to the beta and gamma females and together we will get this pack in check before I leave.” This wasn’t going to continue if I could help it.

“Really?” I could hear the tiny flare of hope in her voice.

“Really. I already talked to my dad. This is all going to stop.” As an alpha, this power shift went against everything we stood for. The only ones with enough power to wield should be in the power structure. Everyone else was equal. That’s how the Moon Goddess intended it. That’s how it should be. “Now tell me what is going on with you.”

“I can’t,” she whispered back to me, and finally it all clicked.

“Who said what to you?”

“No one.” Fear leaked from her again, and she sat up. “Don’t push this, Amy. Please.” I watched my best friend, my soul sister, beg me not to push.

“Fine.” I relented. What else could I do? “Let’s get ready.” I pulled her up and over to the chair in front of my vanity. “No peeking.” Cas just shook her head and closed her eyes while I got to work.

I started with her hair. I used my blow dryer to finish drying it, then I curled it. Once it was curled, I twisted her hair up and pinned it into a loose updo with curls falling out.

Then I got to work with her makeup. Soft browns and golds accented her bright blue eyes. Her soft blonde hair was styled, and she looked stunning. I finished her with a soft pink lip and then stood back.

“You look gorgeous.” She went to turn, and I pulled her back to face me. “No peeking yet.” I poked her face, and she giggled. “Close your eyes again.”

“C’mon.” She huffed, and I shook my head, like she could see me.

“Nope. No looking.” I pulled her up and put her on the bed. “You can open your eyes while I get ready, if you promise not to look at the mirrors.”

“Fine.” Cas huffed and opened her eyes, and I laughed.

“I want you to get the full effect, but I doubt you want to sit with your eyes closed while I get ready.” I walked back over to the vanity and quickly dried and curled my own hair in soft beach waves. Then I did a dark, smokey eye and a red lip, then I was done.

“You look gorgeous. The dark hair and makeup really suit you.”

“I know.” I smiled back at her. “It’s time to close your eyes again.” I walked over to her and stood her up. I pulled her to my closet and rummaged around for the new bra and underwear I picked out and had cleaned once we got home from the mall. “Put these on. Then close your eyes and call for me when you’re ready.”

I closed the closet doors and waited while tapping my foot. I was about to just open the door when I heard a soft, “I’m ready.” I walked in and Cas was standing in her underwear, holding herself around her middle.

I pulled out her dress and told her to step into it, then I zipped her into it. Then I changed into my own dress and pulled her out of my closet. “One last thing and we are done.” I slipped the necklace on myself and the matching bracelets and earrings. Then I slipped the second set onto Cassie, and then I positioned us in front of my big mirrors. “There we are. Look.”

Cass opened her eyes and her hands flew to her face. “Amy, I can’t.”

“Sure you can, you are just borrowing it.” I winked as I gazed at the two of us. Her soft curves were held snugly in the golden dress, and the gold set with diamonds sparkled against her skin.

My dark hair shone brightly against the maroon dress that hugged my curves. The onyx set in silver really brought the look together.

We were stunning.

There was a knock on my door. “Time to go, baby.” My dad’s word jolted us back to the here and now.

This was going to be good.