Before I even opened my eyes, I could instinctively tell Tiberius wasn't beside me, for my body ached for the heat usually rolling from his. Drowsily cracking open my left eye, then right, I rolled on my back and popped my neck, reveling in the stiffness relieved, then continuing to crack other joints in my body. When I was younger and I popped my neck, I had a fear that I would accidentally go to far and break my neck, but I did it anyway. I have a problem..

Groaning as I sat up, eying the lowly rising sun from behind the sheer white curtains, I noticed a note laying on the dark maple side table, a pure white rose balanced on top. Quickly swinging my legs over the mattress and picking up the note in one hand and rose in the other, I read the careful calligraphy of Tiberius' handwriting.

Dear Ellie,

I'm very sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up, but I had to finish the preparations for The Day of Black and make sure everything was running smoothly. I've already picked out a dress and shoes for you (with the help of Haley and the maids), which is in the closet. Come down and eat whenever you feel like it. I love you baby, and am sad that I couldn't watch your eyes open for the first time today, but I'll see you soon.

Your loving mate, Tiberius

P.S. A white rose is the symbol of innocence and youth, which is just two things I love about you. Your innocence? I want to be the one to take that away, even though you will always be my angel.Your youth? I want to spend every moment of it with you, and every second afterwards.

Grinning widely and blushing at his note, especially the ending, I lifted the rose to my nose, inhaling its thick and aromatic fragrance. He is so sweet, I thought to myself, before I stood from the bed and carefully set the note and rose back down on the table. Undeniably wanting to see the dress and shoes, I strode over to the closet, planning on ripping open the door and seeing for myself what I'd be wearing, when another note on the doorhandle caught my eye.

Dear Ellie,

So I see you're up. I know you want to see the outfit, but I want it to be a surprise. I'm sorry for teasing you baby, but please just go take a shower. See you soon.

Your loving mate, Tiberius

Sighing dramatically and throwing my head back, I sulked off towards the bathroom. I did need a shower, after all, and a surprise wouldn't be too bad. Closing the door behind me and turning on the vent, I turned the water on hot and stripped myself of the tall socks, sports bra, and boyshorts. Right before I stepped into the shower, I turned to look at my naked body. I used to think that Tiberius only liked me for my looks, and it didn't help that I thought of myself as a secretly self conscious, frail girl who nobody truly wanted to get to know.

Looking back now, I see how silly I was being. I wasn't frail, I was strong. Tiberius loves me for me, my quirks and oddities included. Now I was confident about my body, about the small scars on my leg from when I was little, about the small odd-shaped freckle over my left breast. I loved myself, thanks to him.

Scrubbing my hot skin with the body wash, lathering the Shampoo ad Body wash into my scalp and hair tips, I carefully shaved my legs and armpits for later today. Making sure all suds were down the drain, I turned the water off and wrapped a towel around my dripping body and stepped out, combing my hair through and wrapping it before changing into the clothes I had just changed out of since I had only put them on last night.

Applying moisturizer to my face and brushing my teeth, I went into the closet and picked out a simple, cute outfit. Laying it on the bed, I went to work with my hair, blow drying it into soft curls. Finally putting on the outfit I laid aside, I inspected myself in the mirror. Perfect.

Bouncing cheerily from the staircase, smiling happily at different pack members and maids hustling throughout the foyer and hallways, I saw Brenda with Fine China plates in her hands heading to the dining room.

"Brenda!" I called out, making her swivel around and catch my gaze. Her alert eyes quickly changed into happiness, then to worry. Jogging over to her, she started.

"Where were you?" she whisper yelled. "Alesha and I saw you running out the backdoor yesterday, then Alpha Connall went crazy! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" she said as she shifted the stack of plates to her right arm, using the left to cup my cheek as her eyes scanned over my body as if to look for any cuts or bruises.

Nodding and giggling slightly, I took her hand away and held it gently. "I'm okay Brenda, I promise. Tiberius and I just had a little fight and I needed some time alone, but we made up," I explained calmly, watching her sigh in relief.

"Well that's good, but warn us next time! You almost gave Lilly, Alesha and I a heart attack with you missing like that!" she scolded lightly. I know maids shouldn't act this way towards an upper Pack Member, let alone a Luna, but I didn't mind; it was comforting honestly. I nodded."Okay, well I have to get back to work. I'll tell the other 2 that you're fine, but you need to tell Haley. She was just as worried as us, more actually."

Nodding my head and turning, asking Dean McNeeley if he had seen Haley, I headed towards one of the living rooms where he said he'd seen her last.

Hearing the TV on before I rounded the corner, I instantly knew what she was watching: Ridiculousness. Every time I've went over to her house, that show was always playing in the background, even if she'd already seen that episode a hundred times before. Giggling to myself, I walked in to see her leaning on the arm of the couch with her legs curled under her, her back to me. Padding on the balls of my feet over to her, breathing quietly, I cupped my hands around her eyes. Jumping, she started to squeal before I pulled her against the back of the couch.

"Guess who," I whispered in her ear, holding on as her squirming slowing to a stop. After a few seconds of stillness and silence, she suddenly burst from my grasp and stoop up on the couch cushions, looking down on me with a huge grin.

"ELLIE!" she yelled, leaping over the back and latching onto my chest, both legs wrapped around my waist and arms around my neck. Laughing and struggling to hold her up, I held back tightly.

Pulling her arms from around my neck, she leaned back enough to see my face before gripping it roughly and showering my head, cheeks, nose, and forehead with sisterly kisses. Laughing and moving my head around to stop the kisses, she finally stopped and slid off of me. These were the moments that I lived for in our friendship, where you are so overjoyed to see eachother that all social morals are tossed out the window.

"Where were you girl! I was worried sick!" she yelled, pulling me around to sit on the cushions right infront of her. Getting comfortable, I told her everything, from Eric to the game I played with the Wolf fighters to my feelings about Tiberius' brother, only quieting when another maid came and brought us biscuits with jelly and butter. Nodding and staying silent the entire time, Haley listened until I was finished.

"I'm sorry I didn't go to you instead of running. I just- I just needed some time to-" I started, but she quickly hushed me.

"I know, Ellie, I know. Everyone needs time to think things over, sometimes," she replied calmly. Reaching to take a biscuit, she suddenly she swore loudly and jumped up from the couch, sending a pillow flying.

"What?" I yelled, shocked at her sudden actions. Snapping her head towards me, her eyes widened.

"It's already 11:45! WE HAVE TO GET READY FOR THE PARTY!" she screamed, yanking me up by my hand.

"But- but my biscuit!" I cried as she pulled me from the room.

After Haley drug me up to my old room against my cries and pleads for the biscuit, she sat me down on the stool infront of the Vanity, heating up the curling iron and piling different beauty supplies on the face of the desk.

"Do we really have to use all of this?" I whined, sad that I couldn't even have my breakfast in peace. Shooting me a look that would drop a bear, I shut up and let her do what she wanted with my hair. Haley had always been a genie with an iron and brush, so I always let her fix me up, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

"Okay, I'm done with your hair!" she announced as I went to look at myself in the mirror before she slapped her hands over my eyes. "I'm done with your hair, not makeup! No looking until I'm completely done!" she scolded, sounding like my mother.

As I watched her whip out different makeup items, from Eyeliner to 'Matte Finish Powder', I internally groaned. Why I let her do these things, I have no clue. Oh right! Because I suck at it.

"Okay, now you need to put on your dress. Take off everything but your underwear and bra and close your eyes. No peaking!" I did as she said and shut my eyes tightly, not risking her wrath. Feeling her lift up my legs and set them back down, my hand found her shoulder and I held on as I felt cool, slick fabric slide up my body.

"Now you can open as I stand behind you to zip it up, but you need to take your bra off. Can't have you wearing a sports bra can we? But don't look at it yet!" she reminded me, and I carefully lifted the bra around my face and hair. Feeling her slip my arms into sleeves and zip up the back, she told me to close my eyes again as she got the shoes. I started to find myself getting more and more excited, hoping I looked okay.

Lifting my feet into the strappy heels, I heard her stand back up. "Open," she whispered, and I did as she said.

My reflection blew me away. At first I didn't think it was me, but as I lifted my hand to run down the dress, my reflection did the same.

What stood before me was a beautiful girl with half up- half down curls framing her face, leading to an elegant black and white ballgown dress with a black belt cinched around the middle, showing off my slim waist. It ended mid shin in the front and trailed a foot behind me where I stood, showing the black 3 inch strappy high heels reflecting the light. Stepping closer to the mirror, I saw my eye makeup done beautifully, making my dark blue eyes pop. To finish it off, she added silver dangly earrings and a thin silver necklace with a wolf paw hanging from the bottom, which looked a lot like..

I gasped, and spun around to Haley who had a nostalgic smile on her face.

"I found the bracelet around your wrist when you first came here. I didn't want Alpha Connall to take it, thinking it was a gift from some boy, so I hid it. I meant to give it back to you earlier, but just figured to wait for a special occasion. I still have the rest of the bracelet and charms, but your first one was the most important, and plus it looks good with that dress," she explained, laughing lightly at the end.

Shaking my head and running over to give her a hug, I struggled not to let the tears fall.

"Hey! Don't cry now! Do you know how long it took to do that makeup?" she teased. Laughing thickly, I pulled back and glanced at the clock. 1:50.

"What time are people going to start getting here?" I asked.

"2 o'clock, so we need to get you downstairs," she said, beginning to push me to the door.

"Wait! But what about you?" I asked, motioning to her sweatpants and T-shirted covered body, messy bun at the top of her head.

Shaking her head, she explained. "Betas and their mates don't come out for another hour and a half. Don't ask me why, though. It's just a tradition," she shrugged. Holding her arm out to mine, we hooked them together and started out of the door.

"Alpha Connall is going to be downstairs when we go since I just mink linked him that we're done. Ready?" she asked, giving me a supportive smile. Nodding, I grinned back. "Ready."

"Ladies and gentlemen, maids and fighters, may I introduce to you.." Haley shouted from the bottom of the staircase, getting everyone's attention as I hid just around the corner of the hallway upstairs. "Luna Burns!"

Rounding the corner and sliding my right hand across the rail before turning and gliding down the stairway, I looked down and saw different pack members dressed nicely, smiling and clapping, some even whistling-friendly of course. Then my eye caught Tiberius, who had a huge grin on his face, his eyes alight with happiness and awe. Blushing at the attention, I reached the bottom and was immediately attacked with compliments, hugs, and kind words from my people, my Wolves.

Tiberius then showed up infront of me, holding my gaze as he held both of my hands.

"You look stunning, baby. Absolutely beautiful," he whispered as the crowd around us slowly dispersed. Blushing again, and noticed the casual tux he was wearing, matching the colors of my dress perfectly.

"You picked out an amazing dress, Ti. I love it," I said honestly. This was the the most magnificent dress I had ever worn, the second best on the day of The Running.

"The dress has nothing to do with it, love," he mumbled, bending his head to come closer to mine, just inches away.

"Yeah?" I teased lightly, impatient for his touch. "Yeah," he whispered, and finally connected his lips to mine. Fireworks shot from my stomach and heart, overriding my thought process and making me long for more. His scorching skin, burning mine pleasurably, reluctantly pulled away, leaving me breathless. Smirking, he ran his thumb across my bottom lip.

"I think you got your lipstick smeared a little, baby," he chuckled as he licked his thumb and rubbed it under my lip before I could pull away. Giggling at his silly behavior, I turned my head and wiped the spit away as Dean McNeeley and Charlie Brattin came into the Foyer.

After greeting eachother receiving kind compliments from them both, they directed their words towards Tiberius, who tucked me under his arm gently.

"Alpha, five different packs are coming today, including my pack and Charlie's, and the backyard is fully ready for the party later," Dean said. Nodding, Tiberius thanked them both. Just then the doorbell rang, it's monotone chime echoing throughout the halls. Giving me an encouraging smile, Tiberius opened the door.

Here we go.