10. Preparation
Seff was *infuriated*. She didn’t want or like Kiran’s attention. She didn’t like that Allium craved it. She didn’t like Kiran’s smile of acknowledgment to her because it was placating—like he just wanted to get her out of the way so he could keep looking at Seff.
She didn’t mind being naked because that was their culture. But when Kiran looked at her, she felt *stripped*. Already violated. And there was nothing she could do about it. Baring her teeth as a warning didn’t seem to work, either.
Once all the Magnolia wolves were dressed in gaudy outfits, they were herded to the east building where guests stayed. It was huge with several large rooms for each family to occupy. They were each furnished with three beds. Wisteria and Rush claimed one while Allium and Seff used the other two. But they were not for sleeping until very late tonight.
First was the induction gala.
Each room was also equipped with two Beta “servants” happily employed to work for the Sun pack. Seff suspected good pay and benefits such as keeping Omegas satisfied in their heats if Kiran didn’t take them. More “fuck buddies.” Their job tonight was outfitting the Chosen with dresses.
Wisteria and Rush were given modest but still most likely very expensive. Allium and Seff had the choice of choosing from an entire rack of gowns designed to show off anyone’s attributes. Allium was thrilled and gasped when she pulled out a strapless green silk one that had her breasts spilling out. Seff wanted as little attention drawn to her as possible, but modesty was not in any wolf’s vocabulary. She settled on a blood-red piece with a neckline nearly to her navel and a double-slit that began at the top of her hip bones.
The bathrooms were exquisite, which was a strange word to use for a bathroom. Seff stood under the vertical shower head and let the hot water wash away the past twenty-four hours. Like all showers, they were meant to dissociate by thinking *too much*. So Seff let her mind go blank just for a bit before Allium yanked her out.
They dried off and shimmied into their dresses. Standing beside Allium in the mirror, the first thing she thought of was Hawthorn’s reaction. *Damn girl, you look hot.*
Allium was smiling her cheeks off. She still noticed Seff’s frown. She elbowed her gently. “Damn girl, you look hot.”
Seff smiled and shook off her sappy nostalgia. She looked Allium up and down and whistled. “Me? Look at you!”
Allium basked in the compliment, twirling in a circle with the train. “Green looks good on me, doesn’t it? Mom, Dad, how do I look?”
Wisteria and Rush were easygoing, kind wolves despite their innocent unwillingness to fully take Seff under their roof. They complimented both girls with genuine pride. The Betas went to work on their hair and makeup and finished just around five o’clock. The gala started at six at the Moon pack-owned hotel whose French ballrooms put even both packs’ villas to shame. Limos waited outside the gates on the opposite side of the main entrance where a gravel road led to the road that would weave for an hour to the hotel.
It was a short hour.
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