I woke up to the shining light leaking through the open parts of my curtains. I grip the duvet that is wrapped around my body and throw it away.

With too much effort on my part it falls to the floor. The brisk morning wind flows through my open window hitting my bare skin.

My tank top and shorts show no protection from the cold wind. Rubbing my eyes desperately, I sit up straight and blink.

I instantly grab my phone and check for messages.

I open them with sloppy fingers, my whole body is still half asleep. Gosh I really hate waking up this early, I mean it's 6am on a Saturday morning.

I place my phone back onto my bedside table without replying to the messages. I stretch out my tiresome limbs and swing my legs out of bed.

I pad my way straight to the bathroom for a much needed shower. I let the water run cold over myself.

The freezing water bites at my skin awaking every nerve and bone in my body. I lean into the water and turn the switch to hot.

The warm water bursts from the shower head allowing each goosebumps on my arm to retreat. I put my head under the water and close my eyes.

I quickly wash my hair then turn off the shower just in time to hear my moms voice at my bedroom door. I left my bathroom door open so it was fairly easy to hear.

"Honey! It's almost 7am, James is here!" She shouts in urgency, I sigh and grab a towel from the radiator. Safely wrapping it around myself I answer my mom.

"It's okay mom! He can come in!" I shout back grabbing another towel for my wet hair.

I hear the bathroom door open then close and James' scent hits me seconds after. I make my way out of the bathroom and find a grinning James laying on the bed.

My bedroom is a medium size with a bed, desk and a sofa that turns into a bed. Then I have three doors; one for my bathroom, one for my walk-in wardrobe and one for my bedroom door.

"Hey Lodi," he says sitting up from his previous position "shopping time!!"

I let out a long annoyed groan as I make my way into my walk-in closet to get dressed.

***

"James!" I laugh feeling my chest tightening from the amount of laughter.

I watch as he dances with someone dressed as Minnie Mouse in the middle of the mall. He finally finished and gives Minnie a big high five then runs over to me.

"That was so much fun!" He laughs patting my back preventing me from choking on my own saliva.

"You are such an idiot James!" I say slapping his over the head "Oh gosh, I think you have literally killed me."

He just laughs, picks up the bags then starts heading back to the car. I follow him still holding my ice cream cone, we ended up spending most of our time in the ice cream shop.

I got salted caramel and James got mint chocolate chip. I must admit the mall's salted caramel ice cream is to-die-for.

"Well that was a good shop, even if it took you like 4 hours to pick out a bloody dress!" James says throwing our bags into the boot of his car.

"Hey!" I say punching him playfully "I need the dress to be perfect, I'm not like all those other girls."

"Yes but did you have to take forever to pick one! You didn't even try on half of them. Just picked them up, looked for 20 minutes and put them back." He groans opening my door.

"Well I am sorry your majesty." I joke, poking my tongue out at him. I quickly get in before he shuts the door and gets in the drivers side.

"Well at least that's over." He says starting the engine, "oh I talked to Jesse."

I whip my head around to look at his sheepish blushing face and smirk. "And...?"

"Well she knows we are mates now, and she said she'd go to the ball with me!!" He says jumping up and down as much as he could without hitting his head.

"That's awesome James!! How come you aren't together mating?!" I say shaking his arm as he just starts turning beetroot red.

"She told me she wants to take today to tell people and decide what she wants to do about us." He says driving down the long road leading to the academy.

"Fair enough then." I say.

We drive in a comfortable silence with the soft beat of the radio in the background for the rest of our journey.

When we finally arrive at the academy, I see the wolves training hard and mothers taking care of their children in the play park.

My father stands talking to some of the top guards near the entrance doors.

I unbuckle myself and get out of the car, I grab my bags from the trunk at the same time as James.

I look back at him after noticing he had stopped, he was smiling down at his phone. I grin and let out a cough to get his attention.

He looks up at me with a mischievous and extremely happy smirk on his face.

"I have to go, Jesse wants me to meet up with her." He says giving me and hug, then after untangling ourselves from each other's bags he rushes off.

I turn around and head into the Academy, my father gives me a small wave while I walk in which I return.

I head straight for my bedroom as soon as I get through the large double doors. I make it safely to my room without bumping into anyone.

I drop the load of bags on the floor at the end of my bed then effortlessly fall onto my bed. The comfort makes me sigh in relief, I've been on my feet all day so it's nice to get off them.

I sit up and rest on my elbows, I look at my digital clock by my bed. It's 12:35pm already, the ball doesn't start until 6 so all in all I have 5 1/2 hours to get ready.

I need food.

I think as my stomach let's out a long wail of hunger. I giggle then get up and head straight to my favourite destination, the kitchen.

As soon as I enter the kitchen, the scent of my moms famous home made cinnamon buns intrude my nose.

I sit down on the island drooling over the fresh batch placed right in front of me. I place my hand on one just to be slapped on the hand.

"Melody," mom says appearing out of nowhere "they are for later when your father gets back."

"Please mom!" I beg feeling the need for the cinnamon buns grow as they sit in front of me, daring and delicious.

"Fine." She huffs putting one on a plate "just the one!"

"Thanks ma!" I say happily giving her a kiss on the cheek then race upstairs to my room once again.

Time to prepare for the ball...

***

My mirror must be a fake, there is no way the person standing in front of me is actually me. It looks like me but different and strange.

I feel like I'm trying to be someone I'm not, but this person is beautiful and gorgeous. She is someone guys would go for or even date!

Her brown hair is curled into magnificent waves down over her shoulders. A shining silver diadem is placed carefully on my head.

Her silver eyes stand out against the thick black mascara and eyeliner. Her lips and a natural pale pink, making them look plump and kissable.

My dress is stunning. It's a two piece, the top half is a pink and white blend and finished above her breasts, from there and over the shoulders it is see through with sequins placed methodically on it.

The bottom half is the same pick blend as the top half and it falls behind me slightly as I walk. The strap around my waist matched the sequins from the top half.

My should are silver high heels that make her tall and majestic.

That's me.

I think standing proudly in front of the tall large mirror. I give myself a nod before turning around and leaving the guest bedroom.

I meet James down the hallway, he is dressed up in a nest black tuxedo with his hair gelled back into a perfect placement.

"Well look who is looking gorgeous for once!" James says grabbing my hand and spinning me around.

"Uh says the guys who thinks any t-shirt and jeans counts as formal!" I say slapping his chest playfully before we start heading towards the ball hall on the other side of the academy.

It's usually used for dance classes but it's meant for formal balls or celebrations. My 18th birthday was held in the very same hall.

"Where is Jesse?" I say swinging my arms slightly as I watch James walking with his arms behind his back.

"I told her I'd meet up with her outside the ballroom door." He says giving me a beaming smile "I can't wait to see her!"

I let out a giggle and link arms with my best friend, we walk in complete sweet silence and the long corridors are quiet and lonesome.

We arrive at the ballroom doors in a matter of minutes, I see Jesse standing by the door waving frantically at James.

Her cherry red hair is pulled tightly up into a large bun, filled with purple flowers. Her emerald green eyes shone as she watched James approach.

Her dress is a deep violet purple that flows down to her ankles showing her black high heel shoes. I notice her eyes drift to my arm that is linked with James'.

I let go of James and give him a smile, he looks down at me with an even bigger smirk. "I'll see you later." I say and he nods before walking ahead of me slightly.

"Hey!" She says hugging James as soon as he reaches her, I give her a smile then walk straight past them into the ballroom.

It takes my breath away. The ballroom looks more elegant and amazing than it ever has before. There is a table to the side filled with the most fantastic looking drinks.

The ballroom floor is polished and sparkling as people dance to the music. The orchestra is playing the the side of the room, they have created an small audience around themselves.

On the roof there is hanging white clothes that remind me of snow and icicles. There are white lights on the tall ceiling making it look like stars.

I smile and walk further into the crowded room, I spot my parents in an instant. They are together talking to a big group of whom I think are other Alpha and Lunas.

My eyes scan the room further and I find Mikey in the middle of the ballroom slow dancing with Victoria. He notices me and gives me a cheeky wink before spinning his mate around once more.

"Melody!" I hear my little brother Joe shout from behind me, I turn and watch him run up to me with Tanner close behind. They are both wearing normal clothes, making me suspicious.

"Hey boys!" I say giving them both a hug, Joe is smiling like and idiot and Tanner is blushing. I raise an eyebrow at him but he looks away.

"We snuck down to see what it's like!" Joe whispers in my eyes excitedly, I let out a chuckle and look around the room.

"Tracy was asleep," Tanner adds "we snuck past her!"

"Oh right," I say shaking my head "well guess who is coming to get you instead!" I let out a laugh as the boys sleeping turn around.

"Hey mom." They say in unison and they sound like two puppies who've had their favourite bone taken off them.

"Come on you two rascals, back up to Tracy!" Mom says picking up Joe and holding onto Tanner's hand "Melody, go tell your father I'm putting them back to bed then enjoy yourself!"

I watch with a smile as my mom leads my baby brothers off to bed, where Tracy will most likely get told of for sleeping.

Uh oh.