A New Perspective

Part 3

That's not her...just the dress. Also...happy Holidays or happy December 25th to those who don't celebrate anything. I hope you all have had a wonderful day 😁

I huffed as I tried to wash off the same stain for the third time. I'd had it coming, seeing as I left the pan just sitting in the sink for that extra day. I should have just washed it when I first made the stupid food.

Just as I was about to go in for a fourth time, there was a soft knock at the door. My head tilted to the side in confusion. I wasn't expecting anyone. It was the weekend and no one came over on weekends...ever. Something important has to be happening.

I made my way to the door while wiping my wet hands on my sweatpants. There was no reason to get all dressed up on my days off. With a glance through the peephole, I opened the door with a slightly forced smile. My mother was standing there in a fancy dress and I was confused. "Why are you all dressed up?"

"I'll explain as we get to your closet." She said while pushing her way inside. A small frown came to my face as I closed the door. She could have at least waited for me to open the door myself. I quickly locked the door and walked to my room where I could hear her rifling through my closet.

She was searching through all of my hangers like her life depended on it. "Alright, now that you're destroying my closet...can you explain what is going on?" I asked while crossing my arms. I was still a little bit sour about what happened a week ago and I hadn't spoken to them since.

She held up a shimmering black dress that had a slit up the side and nodded. "This will look good on you Ran." My eyes bulged as I looked at it. That was a dress that my mom had gifted me when I turned 21, and I hadn't worn it a single day in my life. It just wasn't my style. I much preferred a pair of jeans and a shirt over anything else.

"Are you kidding me? That thing will show all of my rolls. And you still haven't explained why I have to wear it in the first place." She put it out on my bed before returning to my closet to search for shoes, I presumed.

"You are beautiful just the way you are baby. And besides," She poked her head out of the closet with a soft smile. "Black is slimming." And then she was back in the closet. It made me blush slightly at the complimenting words. I had almost forgotten how hard it was to hold a grudge with mom. She was just so nice that it was nearly impossible. Dad was a different story.

"Yeah well...I still don't know what I'm getting dressed for." She came out with a pair of black ballet flats and I let out a mental sigh of relief. At least she remembered that I hated heels.

After she placed them on the floor, next to the dress, she stood straight and turned to look at me. Her face held a seriousness that I hadn't expected. "We are having a very important guest visit us in less than an hour. You're familiar with the Slade pack, yes?" I nodded.

"Yeah. They aren't too far from here right?" She nodded while rummaging through my scarce jewelry and makeup boxes. I didn't really have a use for them since I rarely went out.

"Mhm. Well their alpha, Zane Slade; his beta, and a few others of their pack are coming to visit for a week. We're having dinner with them in," She looked at her watch. "55 minutes now." My eyes widened as panic began to set in. An alpha is coming here?! That immediately had me on edge.

"Why do I have to be there?" I asked with gathering panic. I didn't do public settings. I could barely go to the monthly feast with my own pack, going to a dinner with some alpha that I didn't know was going to make my whole situation ten times worse.

"Because Randi, your father is the beta and we're supposed to go there to be by his side. The others are bringing their families too." That made me feel a smidgen better.

"So the al-Zane is going to bring his mate too right?" She shook her head.

"Zane doesn't have a mate sweetie. You should have known that." And there goes the panic again.

I grabbed her arm as she tried to walk past me and to the bathroom. She paused to look at me. "Mom, I don't think this is a good idea. He-he's an alpha; an unmated alpha at that. And I'm an omega. Won't that cause...I don't know, problems?" She shook her head at me.

"Of course not. Zane has promised to be on his best behavior and alpha Maximus has given his word that he would protect you." That made me relax a bit. Having the pack alpha protect me made me not care too much about another alpha being there.

Now that only left me with the problem of the dress. I huffed out a breath as I looked at it. "Did you have to pick a dress that was so...revealing? Everyone's gonna be able to see my thunder thighs in that." I whined while walking over and fingering the slit in the dress.

"It is not too revealing Ran. I just know that you will look beautiful in it. Just do it for me. Please." She said while hugging me from behind. I sighed, but I couldn't fight the small smile that appeared on my face.

"Fine, I'll do it for you. Just don't expect me to do it again." I said while grabbing the dress and heading to the bathroom to put it on. Hopefully I wouldn't end up regretting my decision.