My Weaknesses

Chapter 12

I don't have money to buy a dress since I haven't left the territory since they found me. The banquet is tomorrow night and I have nothing to wear. I feel extremely sheepish doing this.

After training, I go to Claire's room to ask her the dreaded question. I find her in her room reading a book. "Knock knock." I say as I step into her room. She looks up and smiles at me.

"Well if it isn't the beta's mate! I don't see much of you lately." She gets up and gives me a hug before I can stop her, and eventually I give in and hug her back.

"So when's the mating cermony?" She asks when she pulls away.

I shoot down her suggestive question immediately. "We will not be mating any time soon. I came here to ask you for a favor."

She gives me a quizzical look before pointing to the bed in an authoritative manner. I have no choice but to tell her everything.

I leave nothing out as I tell her what has happened between Luke and I up until this point. "Personally I don't think you're trying to get revenge, I think you're trying to grab his attention with a super sexy dress you think I would have lying around in my closet for some odd reason."

"I um. I just thought-"

"Hey. I don't have a dress, but we can definitely go shopping if you want. I'll be right back."

Ten minutes later we were leaving the pack house to go into town. I keep my head down in fear of recognition but when Claire asks me what's wrong, I tell her it's nothing to worry about.

After what seems like forever we finally buy a dress. It's a dark red sleeveless jersey dress with a v-neck and a slit that goes up mid-thigh. When I see myself in the mirror I'm taken aback about how stunning I look.

When I show it to Claire, her face lights up like a Christmas tree and she practically pushes me into the dressing room, her squeals audible enough to break your eardrums.

This is the first time I've felt like a girl in a while. When I'm at the register I can feel the heat rising to my face as I think of how Luke will look at me. He'll never take his eyes off me. It'll be good watching him go as crazy as he's made me the past few days.
------------------The Dinner-----------------
"Can you help me zip this up, Claire?" I yell from the other side of the locked bathroom door. I didn't want anybody but Claire seeing me until dinner.

She does my makeup with a few protests from me of course and soon I can't recognize the girl looking at me from the other side of the mirror. She beams proudly and can't stop.

Claire's phone vibrates startling us both. "She's right here." She says gesturing vaguely in my direction. "No, I will not put her on the phone when she's ready she'll be downstairs!" She turns off her phone and she's definitely not hiding her irritation.

"Who wa-"

"It doesn't matter." She cuts me off curtly, but then puts a small smile on her face. "Now let's see about jewelry."
~~~
As much as I like the way it hugs my curves I feel weird. It's a beautiful dress but maybe I'm trying to hard. I have to bite my tongue this evening, alpha told me there will be repercussions. Even now I have to bite my tongue to keep from licking my deep red lipstick coated lips.

I'm wobbling on my heels as I walk down the stairs. The hushed chit-chat of the intermingling packs is nice, though we're not a small pack, it's nice to have another pack on our side. The bottom of the stairs is approaching too fast and I strongly consider going back upstairs.

The party is in full swing, but something seems weird. The thought of Luke pushes its way to the forefront of my mind so I shrug it off. I walk into the banquet hall and I feel extremely overwhelmed by the amount of people.

"I never thought I'd see the day you'd wear a dress." Thomas says as he approaches me.

I automatically roll my eyes and retort, "Don't expect it to be a regular thing." It seems like all eyes are on me and I look down, fiddling with my hair.

"Stop that, you look beautiful."

I'm sure my face is pink as I awkwardly put my hand down. A group of omegas draw near, "Hey Karina, you look great." One of them says.

"Enjoy it now, but I promise all of you: you will never see me in a dress again." After they walk away laughing, Thomas pulls me towards the refreshments table. I still scan the crowd for Luke but I don't see him.

He tries to get me to talk but I'm only half-listening. "If you are looking for Luke, he's speaking to the other alphas."

That doesn't stop me from sweeping the crowd for the umpteenth time. I keep looking and a sense of familiarity washes over me. I feel home. I'm locking eyes with a pair of sea green eyes.

"Hey, I'll be right back." Thomas says into my ear, bringing me back to reality. He's gone by the time I break eye contact with those eyes.

I look to my home again but it's gone too, and I'm all alone.