𝙴𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜𝚎𝚍

Chapter Fifteen

Luci twirled around in her light blue gown with a large smile plastered on her tired face.

"It's beautiful." She beamed. "What do you think Elizie?"

"In truth, my heart aches." I wanted to say, but instead I said, "I think you look absolutely stunning, Luci." I knew there was a very large chance she would meet her mate at the ball, and I was terrified that she actually would. That she would have left me behind, and I felt like absolute shit for thinking in such an unbecoming way.

I had been saved from the brink of death, marked and even guaranteed a mate by the Goddess herself. Yet I still selfishly wanted Luci not to find hers, not to leave me when I was about to leave her. A mate had been the one thing she had always longed for, and she had never asked for a single thing for herself, always giving to our siblings before taking.

She was like me, always giving. And like me, she needed to finally take something. Though, I selfishly wished it had been something else. Because I was just too much of a cowered to let her go.

"It's not quite enough." Miss Alma finally mumbled after silently inspecting the dress for a long while. "But it will be."

I watched the old woman fumble through one of the boxes she had the doormen bring in from her carriage as she muttered to herself. Then, after falling quiet she pulled fabric and other things out by the handfuls. With the assortment of things in her arms she quickly made her way back to Luci, lifting them one at a time to the dress while simultaneously pinning them in place.

It took little time, but once Miss Alma finished her alterations, we both were left aghast.

Luci's stunningly beautiful soft blue dress had been transformed into a magnificent Court worthy gown in mere seconds. Before, it was a sleeveless corseted gown with a heart shaped neckline. And the skirt wasn't too poofy yet filled her out quite nicely.

But after, fabric flowers of different shades of blue had been added around the neckline, and Miss Alma attached soft sheer draping around Luci's arms, leaving the shoulders bare. Then from the back of the corset, she attached more of the sheer fabric so that it would flow down her back giving her a delicate, icy train.

"Oh. . . Miss Alma." Luci exclaimed, her hazel eyes moist with joy. "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever worn."

"I am not done yet." She grinned, adding the final touch to the already mystifying ensemble.

Gently, Miss Alma placed a flower crown on Luci's head, weaving pieces of her light brown hair into it, then let the rest spill down her back in soft waves.

"Now I am done." she said proudly, a self-satisfied grin on her older face.

Luci looked like a. . . Luna. A bride of an Alpha. Elegant and kind, yet strong and firm. There was no way she had not been destined for more than the lowly pack we had all been trapped in, not when she looked like that.

"How are you not living in the Alpha King's pack city?" I said in awe, "Your dresses are worthy of adorning the Luna Queen herself."

"Thank you, child." She smiled, though the smile never reached her brown eyes. But just as I was going to try and lighten the mood, scared I had said something wrong, her eyes started twinkling again and she added, "Now it's your turn."

"I-I don't need all the extra touches," I nervously laughed, "I'll be just fine with a simple dress." It horrified me, thinking about how much more attention a stunning dress would bring me. Especially when I had already been guaranteed to have more than enough eyes on me that night.

The Goddess said my mate would be there, and in my mind, he would have had no issue scenting me out. Mates are extremely sensitive to such things, so there was no need to do anything to put myself out there. At least, that was what my social anxiety had been screaming at me.