"Damn. You look hot. Jayden won't be able to take his eyes off you when he sees you in this" Katie gushed.

"You think so?" I asked unsure.

"If I was a guy, I'd totally hook up with you" she gave me a playful wink.

"I don't know. Don't you think it's a bit revealing?" I asked looking at my reflection.

"I'm not doing this again. You've found a fault with every dress you've tried on and this is like the tenth dress you've tried on"

"I know, but-"

"But nothing, you look gorgeous, the dress is gorgeous. You need to get rid of all those negative thoughts running through your mind and remember that you are beautiful"

"I do look hot, don't I?" I laughed and checked myself out in the mirror.

I was wearing a long beautiful dress. It was a red dress with thin straps, a plunging v neckline and a thigh slit. The dress was perfect and it made me feel beautiful.

"That's my girl! Now go get changed so that we can leave this place already" she said shoving me in the changing room.

I changed back to my plain shirt and jeans, with my dress hanging from my hand. As soon as I walked out the changing room, Katie grabbed my arm and dragged me to the checkout.

I gave the cashier Jayden's credit card and she gave me a weird look.

"Jayden King? Did you steal this?" she asked looking at me skeptically.

"What? Of course not!" I answered her question.

"I'll need to verify this with him" she said picking up the phone.

"Are you kidding me right now!?" I asked in disbelief.

"Look here you little bitch, I'm really hungry so it would be much appreciated if you would just let us pay for the dress so that we can be on our merry way" Katie snapped. The girl completely ignored Katie and put the phone to her ear.

I pulled out my phone right away and dialed Jayden's number. Even now after weeks of me being back in the North pack, he was still giving me my space. I never really talked to him unless I had to and this situation qualified as one of those 'must talk to him' situation.

He answered almost immediately. I explained the situation to him and he asked me to past the phone over to the girl that was giving me a hard time. I did what I was told.

Whatever he was saying to her could not have been good. From time to time her eyes would widen in fear and she would gulp nervously. After she hung up the phone, the manager appeared and the girl was fired.

All I wanted was to pay for my dress. I wasn't expecting him to get her fired, but he was Jayden King and Jayden King always got what he wanted.

I paid for my dress and left the store. I felt bad that she lost her job. The guilt was weighing me down, but at the same time she was very disrespectful.

"I'm starving" Katie announced as soon as we got outside.

"You're always hungry" I laughed.

"What can I say? I'm eating for two" she shrugged.

Katie was four months pregnant. When I felt better enough to communicate with people, I went to see her. She was a crying mess. She was so happy to see me that it made me feel bad for leaving when I did.

All the pack members welcomed me back with open arms, despite their Luna leaving them when I should have been here for them. It was weird how much these people cared for me, and I just left them so easily.

But then I remember why I left in the first place. They had sided with that bitch. Although I should probably hate them, I couldn't. She had brainwashed them with her lies, which is a good thing she was thrown out of the pack.

At the time I was hurting and sad. I wanted to get away. But how could I leave them all behind? I was expected to protect them. I was supposed to be here for them.

I felt guilty and ashamed of myself, but they stilled welcomed me back with open arms. I didn't deserve them.

Katie and I grabbed some food and went back to the pack house. I was staying at the pack house again because I didn't want to stay all by myself in that big empty house. I preferred to be surrounded by people.

I went straight to my room as soon as we were back. On my bed was a bouquet of flowers. A goofy smile spread across my lips as soon as I saw it.

Jayden has been trying hard to gain my trust and forgiveness, every day he would send me a bouquet of flowers and sometimes chocolate. It was sweet and thoughtful.

I took up the bouquet and smelled the roses. I couldn't wipe the goofy smile off my face even if I tried. Over these past weeks, he has proven time and time again that he has changed. I knew that I didn't want to be apart from him anymore.

He was my mate. He did hurt me, but that was in the past. I couldn't keep holding what happened in the past over his head for the rest of our lives. I wanted him more than anything and if these romantic gestures were anything to go by, I'd say he wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

Tonight was the North pack's annual ball. Tonight was the night that I'd allow him to claim me as his.

I was so nervous about tonight, but I knew that this was what I wanted. I wasn't afraid of rushing into anything. After all, he was my mate. He was the only person that I would fully give myself to. After months of being apart, I wanted nothing more than to finally complete the mating process.

Taking in a deep breath, I calmed down my nerves. I was a nervous wreck. I knew that I wanted this, but at the same time I was scared. Scared that I wouldn't be as good in bed as all the other girls he'd been with.

I was inexperienced. He has been with girls that knew their way around the bedroom.

What if I don't make the cut?

What if I do something wrong?

I was now filling my head with all my doubts and negative thoughts. This wasn't the time to be thinking like this. I have to remember that I was enough.

With that thought, I got ready for tonight.

...

Everyone had someone with them, while I was standing off to the side by myself. I was afraid to go inside the ballroom. I knew that as soon as I reached the top of the stairs they would announce my arrival.

I would have to walk down the stairs all by myself. Mustering up all the courage I had, I began my descent. They announced my name while I descended down the stairs with my head hung low.

I could hear all the whispers and murmurs as I slowly made my way to the bottom of the stairs. When I was about to step down the last step a hand appeared before me.

I followed the hand to its owner and saw none other than Jayden. He had a smile on his face as he waited for me to take his hand.

"I got you" he whispered and I clasp my hand in his with a grateful smile.

"You look beautiful" he complimented and I blushed.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself" I replied and he smirked.

We walked around for a few minutes with him introducing me to everyone we met. Everyone wanted to talk to him, so I gave him space to discuss whatever it was that they needed to discuss with him. I grabbed two glasses of champagne for myself and downed them.

I needed all the courage I could get for what I was about to do after we left this party. I wasn't planning on getting drunk.

I stood off to the side by myself while everyone else laughed and talked. I haven't seen Katie all night and I didn't really know anyone that was here. I felt really out of place so I wrapped my arms around myself and watched everyone else having fun.

"May I have this dance?" Jayden appeared out of nowhere and asked politely holding out his hand, and I immediately agreed.

He led me over to the dance floor and we danced to the slow song that was playing.

"You know, if I knew you were wearing this dress, I wouldn't have let you come" he groaned.

"Why?"

"Because everyone is staring at you, and I'm the only person that should see you in a dress like this" he grumbled.

"Is that so?" I teased.

He pulled me closer and buried his face in my neck. I rested my head on his chest and we stayed like that for some time just swaying to the music. We were in our own little world just enjoying each other's company.

I felt at peace being in his arms. I never wanted him to let go.

"I forgive you" I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

🥺