Alpha Hole

Ch. 24

Nearly an hour later, a knock on the door startled me. I hesitated, considering ignoring it, until I recognized Jenna's voice on the other side.

"Layla, can I come in?"

I sighed softly and got up, moving to open the door. Jenna stood there, her eyes widening as she took me in. Did I really look that bad?

She entered, her gaze flickering to where the red dress lay on the bed. "You look like you're about to face a firing squad," she remarked, her tone both teasing and sympathetic.

I chuckled nervously, trying to ease the tension building inside me. "More like a pack of wolves."

Jenna nodded knowingly. "Yeah, these gatherings can be a lot, especially when you're new to the pack. I get it."

I glanced at the dress on the bed, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of expectations. "I just wish I had more time to prepare. It's all happening so quickly."

She stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I get it, Layla. It's a crash course in werewolf culture. But you can do this. Just take a deep breath and keep your head up."

I sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, my gaze dropping to the floor. "And what if I mess everything up?"

"You won't," Jenna insisted, her tone firm. "And if any one gives you shit, just give 'em the look. You know the one—you gave it to Jaxson earlier."

A small grin tugged at my lips.

Jenna laughed softly, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Trust me, Layla, you'll have them eating out of your hand. Just be yourself. That's all you need to do."

I forced a smile, though inside, doubts and anxieties churned.

She grew serious, her gaze meeting mine in the mirror. "But first, we really do need to get you ready."

"Okay," I relented, realizing that in about an hour, I'd be standing in front of a few hundred strangers looking like I'd spent the night under a bridge.

Jenna was a miracle worker, and I was grateful for that. "Oh my gosh. Thank you," I said, looking in the mirror at her work.

I looked far more put-together than I felt. Somehow, she'd transformed me from the horrified eighteen-year-old into someone who could at least pass for a confident young woman.

As I absentmindedly rubbed at the angry mark on my neck, I recalled asking Jenna to cover it with some concealer earlier. She had adamantly refused, stating firmly, "Jaxson would lose his shit if I did that."

Part of me reveled in that thought—the primal part of me, my wolf.

And this—all of this. It was all her fault—she was the reason Jaxson had found us, the reason he'd marked me. And right now, I wasn't so sure I liked her very much.

She paced around in my mind wanting to be set free again, but we didn't have time and honestly I wasn't sure if she could be trusted.  I knew she couldn't be trusted around Jaxson.  And I wasn't so sure I could be trusted around him either. 

I had never met anyone who made me so angry and so turned on at the same time. 

Jenna was saying something I realized and snapped back to the present.  

"I've got to go get ready. Just remember the goddess chose you, and Jaxson is obviously crazy about you already," she said with a reassuring smile, as if trying to bolster my confidence before leaving.

Her last statement stunned me into silence. I didn't have time to formulate a proper response, to thank her for her help or even say goodbye, before she was out the door and gone.