RUSH TO THE LORENT MEETING

I'm still in my gym attire, my wet school coat was on one arm, my bag sported an ugly hump courtesy of the plastic bag of wet clothing jammed with my school books.

As the shuttle from Gate City entered our pack town, I realized from the string of white Mercedes Benz that the Lorents were already here. And that they had left their cars lined up on the road in front of the pack house and their drivers and a few warriors strewn around the pavements, lawn, and porch.

"Can you drop me off before the pack house?" I pretty much begged the driver.

He looked at the long white traffic obstruction on the road ahead, and then at the Lorent men loitering around the property.

"Just this once." He said kindly, "Don't mind the men, they won't bite."

Did he think I was afraid of the Lorent men? He was right, but not in the way he thought... I just didn't want anyone of them to see me like this. I'm supposed to appear as Alpha's Kingsley daughter, not a miserable shipwreck survivor washed up to shore.

I'm not going to delude myself. After a hectic day in school, plus the smells from rain dampness from the morning, Home Ec room cooking lessons, a crowded train rice etc. I felt a little more than a passing wreck. I was a smelly one too.

I jumped off the bus, calling out my thanks, and ran behind the first tree. Then made my way flanking through the nearby trees to the back door of my house and dashed in.

Savy startled when I burst into the kitchen.

I startled to see Savy and not mum in the kitchen.

"Oh, it's you." We both say at the same time.

Savy was baking again. She was hungry. Savy's wolf liked baked treats?

"What happened to you?" Savy asked.

"Nothing!" I had to hurry, "Save me some!" I called before crashing up the stairs.

I dumped all the wet things into the laundry, put my coat to dry over a chair... Oh, that's right, my room... The window was fixed. The bed was kind of still torn up. And there wasn't a mattress. Plus my shampoo was still in Savy's bathroom.

I grabbed my fancy clothes and went to Savy's room where I had been camping since her first shift.

Showered quickly, dried off, put on the little Lorent dress. Oh it was so short. I tried sitting down in it. I could, but I would have to remember to keep my legs closed at all times.

Quickly, make up! Eyeliner, mascara, a bit of blush, nothing too much. The irony never failed to hit me, how it took extra effort to apply makeup so that it looked effortless.

I ran back to my room to put on the gold bracelet, and the ridiculous white shoes, and take the thank you card I made from my bag.

I couldn't really walk in the heels. I took them off and ran barefooted down the stairs and round back to the pack house back door. Oh, the cold patio floors and dirt and grass was nice! I actually quite liked the feeling of being barefooted. I stepped into the pack house kitchen, still barefooted.

"Oh!" Esther sounded surprised, "Can I help you?!" And then she realized it was me, "Sam?"

I grinned a bit sheepishly at her.

"What are you up to?" Esther asked me.

"Nothing," I said, "Can you mind link my dad that I'm coming up?"

I guess that assured her that I was really not up to anything, or at least anything that would get me in trouble with my dad. She nodded and I wiped my feet the best I could on the floor mat by the door and slid on the crazy white shoes at the kitchen door.

From the last time, I've learned that the Lorent warriors would be in the dining hall. And I was right. They were. I pretended I didn't notice them. I managed to walk in those impossible heels all the way through the dining hall and up the stairs without making a disgraceful scene of myself.

I checked my thank you card outside the door. I had to calm down, my heart was hammering by the time I got up to the office.

It's just a get up, just pretend.

I'm still me.

Wait, but I am still me. I know I looked different. I know Esther and the other two ladies in the kitchen had looked at me different. One of the kitchen helpers even bowed to me as I passed.

Although I ignored them, I knew the Lorent warriors in the dining hall looked at me differently too. Like they looked a little longer than before. Maybe they were wondering who I was. Maybe they were surprised to see a Lorent girl here, since they didn't bring one.

But I also felt different. I felt more... I don't know the word for it, more precious? Suddenly, all dressed up like this, I felt like one of those girls who should be cared for properly.

I breathed out. I'm just still me though.

I'm just going to pretend I'm in my sweat suit or something, except I needed to keep my legs closed when I sit down, and I needed to be careful I don't sprain my ankle when I'm standing up... I'm still me. I'm just going to sit and stand differently.

Breathe again. Still me. Okay.

I knocked the door twice, and pushed it open the way I always did when I was looking for my dad. Unlike Savy, I had never waited for permission to let myself in.

Everyone stopped and just froze. Except for dad who simply looked up at me and smiled, "Hello Sam! Did you just come back from school?"

I nodded, my excused prepared, "I wanted to thank Alpha James and Luna Edith for the clothes and stuff."

Dad smiled. Alpha James and Luna Edith were smiling too. I quickly made a quick bow and handed them the card I made, "Thank you for the gifts and your kind words." I said.

Which was pretty much what was written in the card too by the way. I meant to write something more personal but I didn't know how personal and after a lengthy internal debate that I would spare you from, I just filled the rest of the white spaces with roses.

Alpha James looked at the card, "It's very nice!"

Luna Edith smiled at it and nodded.

"Did you know, Luna Edith loves paintings of roses." Alpha James told me.

I shook my head, "It was just lucky, I only know how to draw roses."

"You drew this?" Alpha James asked with look of mild surprised, he turned to my dad, "you have such a talented princess."

My dad beamed with pride, "Every mountain maiden is a princess..."

Mum was smiling, hand on her heart.

Beta Lucas and Gammy Harry looked... They had a look that I've never seen before. I imagine it would have been a fitting look if, for example, they had found the lost ark.

Alpha James and Luna Edith rose. Dad and mum rose. And then everyone else were on their feet. Looks like I hadn't needed to worry about sitting down earlier.

"For your time and support, Alpha Kingsley, my Luna and I are thankful." Alpha James said.

"You're most welcome." Dad answered.

They shook hands and all of us proceeded down. I guess I had made it just in time for the end of the meeting.

After all that arduous preparation, to rush back home from school, finish my homework on the train, dressing up, and tracking through the pack house in my killer heels too!

I sighed. Oh the best laid plans of mice and men.