In The Beginning, Chapter 50
It was still early, after Robert and Laura left, so Daniel and I were cuddled up on the couch, trying to find a movie to watch, when the front door flew open and in stormed Miranda.
“Up, up, up!” She sang to me as she moved into the living room.
“Why? What’s happening?” I asked her as Daniel grumpily sat up, he had been trying to convince me to watch his pick by sucking on my mark, as he fingers skilfully undid my pants, so I was a little disorientated and pink cheeked.
“I am taking you shopping, you need a dress for the Luna ceremony, and something for this evening.” Miranda said huffily, waiting for someone to argue with her.
“She doesn’t need a dress for this evening, it’s not a formal affair, but a dress for the Luna ceremony wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if you still want to have it on the spring equinox.” Daniel began telling Miranda off but switched to asking what I wanted halfway through.
“Do you really think we can get everything ready in time? It’s only a couple of months?” I asked unsure.
“If it is what you want, then I will make it happen.” Daniel promised, stroking my cheek affectionately.
“Guess I’m going to buy a dress then, can one of you call Maria while I’m changing? See if she can meet us here? Or we could pick her up on the way.” I asked as I pulled myself up off the couch, Daniel immediately hovered over me, but I scowled at him, and he let me move unaided.
I was almost finished getting ready, Daniel had insisted on bathing me when we woke up, so I only had to change my clothes, do something with my hair, and throw on a little makeup. I put my hair up in a bun, applied a little mascara and lipstick, and wore a decent pair of jeans, and a nice sweater, as I was pulling a pair of heels out of the box Daniel had packed them all in, I heard Maria calling through the house.
“How long does it take to get ready? You’re looking for a dress for the ceremony, that doesn’t mean you have to be dolled up like you’re going to it right now!” She teased, as I rushed down the stairs, heels in my hand.
“I couldn’t find my shoes; I haven’t had a chance to unpack yet.” I grouched as I joined everyone in the kitchen.
“Do not overexert yourself, do not argue, Bailey is on his way to join you, and as you will be in the city without me, he is bringing Kyle as backup. You will all return here in the same state you left, or every other shopping trip will be overseen by me, I don’t care about superstitions or surprises, or seeing the dress. Am I clear?” Daniel warned and I struggled not to smile, Maria and Miranda were sporting matching, scowls at his list, but both nodded, agreeing. He gave them a look, and both left the kitchen, before he wrapped his arms around me tightly. “Be careful, please? Don’t take any unnecessary risks, for me.” He whispered against my neck as he peppered my skin with kisses.
“I promise... but I’m only buying a dress, stop worrying.” I teased, but I felt his heartrate increase slightly. “I will be careful. What are you going to do today without me to worry about?” I breathed as he sucked on my mark gently.
“I’m... I’m going to- ahh...” I couldn’t help but smile, he was getting flustered as I started leaving my own trail of kisses and hickies on his neck. “Fuck...” He groaned as I sucked on his mark, a little harder than he had done to mine, his hand gripping the counter as I began licking the skin trapped between my teeth. “Fuck, Charlie.” He moaned, gripping my arms tighter as I rubbed my body against his erection, capturing his lips with mine.
“Be careful.” I teased with a smile, pulling back slightly, while his grip on my arms tightened, trying to keep me close. “Where are you going?” I asked, all innocent smiles, when his eyes opened, they were burning with desire, that gave me a little shiver.
“I umm... don’t remember, who cares? Let’s just go to bed.” He tried to pull me back towards the stairs, making me giggle at his silliness.
“I have to buy a dress.” I reminded him, smiling.
“Yeah, yeah.” He shook his head, like he could think clearly if he could shake loose of my spell. “Yeah, I need to go to the training grounds, see how the new warriors are settling in, they are being assessed today so we can break them up into groups based on abilities.” He explained as he rubbed my back, obviously distracted.
“I’ll be fine.” I whispered as he pulled me closer again, I could feel his apprehension. “I promise to listen to everything Bailey tells me to do, even if it is the opposite of what I want to do.” He huffed, like he didn’t quite believe me, but kissed me, and led me to the door. Miranda and Maria were both on their cell phones as Daniel led me past them. Bailey and Kyle were standing outside, each scanning a different direction, and it suddenly felt like overkill, I wasn’t the president, but that’s what they looked like, secret service, minus the suits. They were both in black slacks, and dark coats though. I turned to give Daniel a ‘really?’ look, but he just gave me a ‘they go, or you don’t’ look.
“Mom, Maria, I expect Charlie home by six to get ready for this evening, whose dress code is casual.” He pointedly said to his mother, who just scoffed. The he pulled out his wallet and handed me his credit card. “Have fun, buy whatever you want, and don’t think about the prices too much.” He smirked, kissing me passionately, until I was a little breathless and lightheaded, Miranda had already left the house, and was arguing with Bailey, when Maria hooked my arm with hers and dragged me out with her. “Love you, have fun.” He called after me, laughing and shaking his head.
“Love you too! Have fun training!” I smiled as I was shoved towards a huge seven-seater SUV I hadn’t seen before. Miranda was in the front with Bailey driving, Kyle was in the centre rear seat, and there were two seats in the middle for Maria and me.
A little over an hour later and the men had barely spoken a word, Bailey even less than Kyle who kept getting strong armed into giving his opinion on what dress I should get by Maria, but we were finally at the boutique. Bailey dropped Kyle off, who went inside to check the place out while he parked at the rear of the building. We had only just unbuckled our belts when I spotted Kyle opening a door to the building and gave Bailey a nod. In seconds he was at my door.
“You stay beside me until we are inside.” He ordered and took my arm to help me out of the high vehicle. I glanced around at Maria and Miranda, but they had fallen in behind us, each glancing around them as we walked. The moment we were inside the boys melted into the shadows, as a painfully chic woman approached us, she wore a body-hugging black dress, with black stilettoes, and stockings. Her thick auburn hair was twisted in a simple chignon, and she wore minimal makeup, with a bright red lip-stain.
“Good afternoon, this is my store, and I will be helping you find the perfect dress, my name is Kalinda.” She smiled, broadly.
“Hi, I’m Charlie, and I’m not sure what kind of dress I want, I just know I don’t want a lot of bling.” I mumbled nervously. Kalinda nodded kindly and began leading me towards a private room.
“Why don’t I pull a few options and you can narrow down what you are looking for?” She offered, and I felt a little more relaxed.
“We want something that ties into nature, simple, elegant, in white or silver.” Miranda stated bluntly.
“Of course, Luna, is this for a wedding, or something else?” Kalinda asked, but Maria interjected before Miranda could answer.
“Miranda is no longer Luna; the dress is for Charlie’s Luna ceremony.” She explained as she put a protective arm around my shoulders.
“So, you must be Daniel’s mate, how wonderful.” Kalinda smiled brightly at me.
“Yes, I am, but how do you know...?” I began asking, but it died on my tongue as I looked closer at her.
“I am an old friend of the pack, my cousin is their seer, I only have fae heritage, but my family has been living in the city for generations. The Summers have always been kind to those in the community who wish to stay on their territory.” She explained before she disappeared, only to return with a portable rack full of dresses. She led me into a private changing area, while a young girl offered Maria and Miranda refreshments. A whirlwind of tulle later, and I knew what I didn’t want, but hadn’t found anything I loved, after the eighth dress Miranda flatly discarded, I was beginning to run out of energy.
“What about the new shipment?” The girl, whose name I still hadn’t caught, asked Kalinda as she poured Miranda her fourth glass of champagne.
“What about it?” Kalinda asked her, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“There’s that dress, from the new designer we’ve started carrying.” The girl hinted, and after a moment, Kalinda’s face lit up in excitement. She rushed off, returning after a few minutes, I had removed the last dress with the girl’s help, her name was Lucy. Kalinda walked in with a simple silver sheath dress, with thin straps, I baulked slightly, as it was very low cut. Seeing my face, she looked at the dress confused, then turned the hanger around, the sheath was just the lining it would appear, as before me was a beautiful intricate lace, that was made entirely out of tiny daisies. Each petal’s point, linked to another daisy, and the designer had used a thin thread to create a small silver circle at the centre of each daisy, where there would traditionally be yellow. It had no other adornments, just thousands of tiny daisies, my eyes lit up with excitement as the women helped me into the delicate material, adding clips where needed to be taken in. I burst into happy tears when I saw myself in the mirror, it was perfect. The small train flowed behind me beautifully as I made my way back to Maria and Miranda, neither spoke as I stood on the pedestal before them and the wall of mirrors.
“Oh, Charlie, it’s perfect.” Maria cooed, as tears continued to flow down my face, I couldn’t wait for Daniel to see me in it. Miranda opened her mouth to say something, when she was interrupted by a voice I didn’t recognise.
“Aww, too bad you’ll never get a chance to wear it for your precious Alpha.” The voice sneered, my head shot to the direction of the voice, but I saw Bailey and Kyle trapped. A thick black, smoke like substance was coiled around their arms, legs and necks, pinning them against the wall, and like he had appeared from the shadows, a man stepped closer, his eyes black and lifeless, his skin impossibly white, like he had no pores. His hair was like white whisps of smoke, as it fell in odd coils to his shoulders.
“Who are you?” I asked defiantly, as he moved closer.
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