Social Suicide

After standing for hours for the little old seamstress Elena was wearing a Diamond white corseted ball gown that faded down to light gold sequence. She couldn’t help but gaze at herself in the mirrors while the stylist set her curls.

As the stylist Ann saw Elena gripping the simple string of pearls around her neck she tried to offer words of wisdom “You know, they say once you met your mate your worries fade away. It’s no secret in the pack that you are against this, but the moon goddess would not fate you to someone who did not understand and want your happiness. Try not to worry ma’am”

“That’s sweet of you Ann, it’s more words than my own mother has said to me in the last 6 months. She’s still mad I refused to participate in the planning for tonight’s event. She just wants me to be the perfect child. I don’t think she’ll ever be happy she only had one child, and that child was me.” Elena sighed.

“I’m sure she wants your happiness my lady. She’s just bound by duty to produce an heir for her alpha which you haven’t made easy for her, respectfully..” Ann wouldn’t look her in the eyes as she place the silver Diamond encrusted tiara on her head. She knew she’d only be met with Elena’s anger. She secured the tiara to her head with some elastics and bobby pins then began packing her supplies back into the bag she brought with her.

Elena stood to be escorted to the ball where surely the entire town was waiting for her to make her entrance. As she walked out of the room she gave Ann a sharp glare and said “You can drop the my lady, respectfully, bullshit. I know I’m not the leader any of you want. Everyone knows my dad only wants me to find my mate so he can transform him into the proper leader he feels the pack needs. Tonight has nothing to do with me, tonight’s true intentions are to find the heir my dad feels he was slighted out off.”

With those words Elena was off to face her destiny with the last shred of dignity she felt she had. Elena was walking down the stairs when Jesse entered the pack house wearing a similar ball gown to her own but in a slightly rose color. Elena smiled at her and said “I wish I didn’t have to do this.”

Jesse lifted her dress to make her way towards Elena, wrapping her in a hug to say “I know. But I bet this hall is filled with a swarm of hotties, and one is bound to be your mate. Once you meet him he’ll sweep you up into his arms and you’ll never have to live through things like this again” she motioned to the bruise forming around my neck from my fathers grasp this morning.

“I’m gonna run up to your room and grab some color corrector and concealer.” She said before making haste up the stairs then returning promptly with Anne.

“The alpha was very specific he wanted her to have a simple non-makeup look Jesse. He didn’t want her wearing a heavy foundation.” Anne said as she trailed behind her.

“Well do you think he’d want her walking around the ballroom to meet her mate with prominent bruises showing around her neck? That’s asking to start a fight.” Jesse said in defiance. She started using her fingers to blend the yellow color corrector around Elena’s neck motioning to Anne to give her Elena’s ivory shade of concealer with her other hand. Anne reluctantly obliged handing her the concealer before responding “If her parents are unhappy, it’s you that will be getting the lashing not me.” Before returning to grab her things from upstairs.

“She’s right you know” Elena started to say before Jesse cut her off. “Don’t worry about such things Elena. Your father can tie me to a silver pole and lash me with those silver chains of his if he wants to. I’m tough I can take it. I’ll just tell the entire world about how cruel he is to you. I’m sure the Moon Council would like to hear about some of the injustice towards women going on around here. He can test me if he wishes. I won’t have my bestie meeting her mate looking like her father leaves here in a silver collar all day.”

Elena didn’t know how to thank her friend for showing her so much compassion and kindness so she just said thank you in an almost nonexistent whisper when her mother walked up.

Kate narrowed her eyes at the two girls and said “What are you doing Jesse.”

“I’m only covering the bruises your husband gave her Luna. I didn’t want her new mate to see it and start a fight. You know how possessive men can be of their woman ma’am.” Jesse said not breaking her concentration from rubbing the concealer over the color corrector. Once she finished the job she turned to Luna Kate and said “See? No bruises and she still has a natural ‘no-makeup’ look.” She beamed with pride.

“Fast thinking Jess however don’t let her father or anyone else hear you referring to him as anything other than Alpha. Please entered the ballroom so Elena can make her entrance.” Kate said.

Jesse squeezed Elena’s shoulder, made a bow to Kate, and entered to ballroom. Elena stepped up to the door, letting Kate look over her dress and makeup one last time. Kate fluffed the back of her dress so the gown was fully spread across the floor turning to adjust the way Elena’s tits rested in the top of her corset making them appear more round and firm.

“Please stop fondling me mother.” Elena said taking a step away from Kate.

“Elena you are such a vision in that gown tonight..” Kate said staring at Elena with pride.

Elena shot a glare at her mother trying to ignore the words coming out of her mouth.

“I don’t need your flattery mother.” Elena’s words were cold and meaningless. She couldn’t understand why her mother was making her do this. She was supposed to love her, take her side, want for her what she wanted for herself and she didn’t want this. Then again what did she expect from a woman that never gave her more than five minutes of attention.

Kate smack Elena swiftly across the face making Elena’s tiara slip loose. “Regardless of wether you want to be mated now or not it’s going to happen. It has nothing to do with me so you won’t disrespect me. I’m doing my job as Luna to uphold tradition and bring my pack happiness. Everyone has waited for this day since you were a babe and you will be nice to our pack members as they try to court you. Not only are you finding your mate tonight, one of our men is finding his mate as well. It’s not just about you.”

Kates words were like daggers in Elena’s heart but she nodded in agreement. She couldn’t fault a man she’s never met for wanting to find his mate and she knew in her heart she needed to give him a chance to show what kind of man he’d be. She just prayed to the goddess she wouldn’t be mated at all, and if she was she prayed the man wouldn’t be anything like the men she encountered everyday.

“Now, Your father has invited the Alphas from neighboring packs tonight. You are not to acknowledge them or speak to them besides pleasantries. Your father only invited them to try and build an alliance to strengthen the pack. They have come to avoid war, NOT for you.” And with that said Kate repositioned the tiara on Elena’s ember colored head then motioned for her to step into the ballroom.

The double doors open to a scene from a fairytale. Crystal lights trickled from the ceiling in delicate clusters, the tables were covered in elegant white cloth with snow color frosted tableware laying upon them. Small bouquets of white roses and baby breath in blue crystal settings laid in the middle of every table. Down the center of the ballroom leading to the table Elena was to share with her mate on stage was a white carpet with silver stitching. It was the event of the century. Mozart started playing as Elena started to make her way down the carpet, as she walked men bowed to her presence. When she sat at her formal table she felt a magnetic pull growing inside her. It was clear her mate was here, but who was it? Shortly the music shifted to one of Beethoven symphonies and the main course was served, lobster and asparagus. She hated lobster. Picking at the asparagus on her plate she waited for the night to really begin.

After the main course was collected from every table they brought around chocolate cake to everyone but Elena. She guessed her father had told them to skip her. He never let her eat junk food. Goddess forbid he had a fat daughter. Once everyone had finished their cake men began making their way to her table, excited to see if she was their mate. Man, after man, after man would come up to her to test the seeds of love. She danced with most of them and even grew to fancy a few of them but after what seemed like hours of pleasantries Elena had not met her mate. Anxiety started to well up inside of her. No one in the crescent pack had ever been mated outside of the pack but she was quickly closing in on the last man she shared a pack with and she knew from looking at him, that he was not her mate. She quickly excused herself and ran to the restroom where she collided with Jesse. With a sigh of relief she offered her hand “I’m sorry I knocked you over I didn’t see you. I’m freaking out I think I’m going to hyperventilate!” She sputter out the words before fanning herself frantically.

“Calm down, there’s plenty of hot guys here someone is bound to be your mate!” Jesse said trying to be optimistic.

“No it’s not that, all of these men are absolute dreamboats, the thing is I’ve talked to all of them, and my wolf has not identified a single one of them as my mate..” Elena tried to contain herself but her fathers furry would surely follow if the moon goddess fated her to someone outside of the pack.

“Relax girl I know what you are thinking, and you know that can’t happen. No one has ever been fated outside of the pack. Try to calm yourself and really listen to the wolf inside you. She will show the way you need only follow. Make another lap and if you still haven’t found your mate come find me. I’ll distract your mother so you can pack a bag and leave, okay?” Jesse touched her arm to show sincerity then was off back to the ballroom.

Elena went to make one last lap around the dance floor then she’d find Jesse again. She hoped she’d be mateless, then she’d be free to live life as she wished. Unfortunately for her the moon goddess had other plans, she was in the middle of the dance floor when she felt the pull of her mate again. This time all consuming. Her wolf screamed in her head “MATE!” at the sight of him she stopped dead in her tracks, frozen in fear. How could this be happening? To her of all Wolves? She wanted to turn, run and hide but she knew there was no where to escape to. He would find he no matter where she went.