The Dress

I don't get fathers new training... in fact I hate it. I now do my paperwork in the morning because at 1:00pm I subject myself to mental anguish that takes me out for the rest of the night.

"How is this helpful?" I think after Saturday night's torture.

"Its been a week and we hold out longer each time" my wolf tries to comfort me.

"We fail every day! How is that good?"

"Father said only alphas are immune to a command so failure is the only possible outcome. But we get better!"

"Whatever, I don't see it"

I collapse on my bed and pass out. I can't wait for tomorrow.

I get up Sunday morning and go to an early service. I'm excited to get to spend time with Samantha.

Samantha is Beta Carson's mate and the closest thing to a mom I've ever had. My mom passed when I was 6 trying to give birth to my baby brother. In a moment they were both gone leaving my Father and I alone. Thankfully Beta Carson and Samantha were there to support us. They are my family.

I run up to the door as quickly as I can. It's meant to be spring but winter is clinging on for dear life. I burst through the door and shiver. "Man I hate the cold" "suck it up its Sam time!" my wolf is excited too.

"Sam I'm here!" I yell making my way through the house.

"Lilly!... Get over here little one it's been way too long." She says as she wraps me in a hug. Samantha always smells amazing. Like a flowering meadow in early spring, crisp and beautiful. Mixed with fresh baked brownies and hot cocoa. I missed that smell.

"I'm making brunch come sit in the kitchen." She says steering me through the house.

Samantha's kitchen is huge. I mean like professional kitchen huge. She convinced Beta carson to combine the original kitchen with a downstairs bedroom making it massive and beautiful. One thing to note if you ever visit them do NOT touch anything in the kitchen. It is Samantha's space and she will bite your hand off... literally!

"So Sam what is the "appropriate attire" for this thing. Dad said I'm going but refuses to say anything else about it."

"Well....." she says flipping pancakes and checking the sizzling bacon. My mouth begins to water. "I think you'll have to wait and see because today little one we are going shopping!"

"Yaaaay!" I say in mock enthusiasm. I hate shopping and she knows it. Sam rolls her eyes and starts making plates.

"Hurry up boys or Lilly will eat it all!" Samantha yells.

I hear pounding feet getting louder and louder as Beta Carson and Dalton race through the house to the kitchen. Dalton slides in first in Socked feet he slips past Sam reaching over her shoulder grabbing a piece of bacon and throwing it into his mouth.

"Thanks Auntie Sam" he mumbles with his mouth full as he hugs her grabs a plate and slips onto a stool next to me.

Next comes Beta Carson still in pajamas obviously taking advantage of his Sunday off by sleeping in. He steps behind Sam and wraps his arms around her waist.

"Don't I get some bacon too?" he asks with a whine nuzzling into her neck.

"What no good morning kiss?" Sam says holding up a strip of bacon. Carson smiles, gives her a quick kiss and snatches the bacon out of her hand with his teeth. Carson then grabs a plate and leans against the counter by Sam.

If I didn't mention Sam is the most AMAZING cook ever and this morning is no exception. Their is a reason Dalton comes back home on Sundays.

"So" Sam says taking a bite from her plate and sitting on the stool on the other side of me. "Lilly and I are having a girls day. So, you boys are on your own."

"Leaving us out." Dalton says with a pout. "I thought we were friends Lil."

"Well Alt, if you want to go shopping I guess..." I begin

"Hay Carson isn't their a game on?" Dalton asks quickly.

"Yea.... I don't know what but I'm sure there is something." Beta Carson replies.

"You ladies have fun!" Dalton says and pushes his uncle out of the room.

"Love you babe! Have fun!" Carson yells as he is ushered down the hall.

Samantha and I look at each other and bust up laughing.

"Come on Lil let's go." Samantha says grabbing her keys and walking toward the front door.

"Bye!" we call to the boys as we make our way to the car.

"So will you at least tell me where we're going?" I ask as we rumble down the street.

"Shopping!" Sam says with a smile. I glare at her holding back a growl. I hate surprises almost as much as I hate shopping. Sam chuckles "oh, calm down you!" She says tapping my nose. Another thing I dislike but Sam has this ability to brighten my day no matter how foul my mood. I laugh.

"Fine don't tell me.... but we better do something fun too. I never get out of pack boundaries. I want to see more of our territory." Most of the pack stays close to the pack house within "pack boundaries" but our territory extends far beyond that. We have a few wolves that patrol these areas and a few smaller groupings around the territory to keep order.

"Don't worry little one we will have an amazing day!" Sam assures me.

Finally we pull up to our destination. I look up at the store sign in horror. I turn to Sam "please tell me you are stopping to use the restroom!" I say knowing that I can't be that lucky.

"You asked what your father meant by "appropriate attire" well here you go!" Sam responds grinning ear to ear. She loves this kind of stuff.

I exit the car and slam the door. Walking to the doors I look back at Sam. "Did it have to be this fancy of a dress shop?"

"You're gonna love it... or I will at least." Sam says with a smile and pushes me through the doors.

A bubbly young lady pops up in front of us.

"So whose it for?" She asks. I groan as Sam pushes me forward again.

"We need a stunning dress for my young friend here." Sam says. The girl's face lights up.

"Ohhh, goodie a prom dress!" She squeaks as she claps furiously bouncing up and down. I never went to a prom and every moment here makes me glad I didn't.

"I'm 23 so no I'd say I'm a little past that" I say annoyed by her perkiness. Curse my young looks.

I am average height and average build maybe a little thick but its muscle. Not super attractive. I have loose brown curls that go halfway down my back. A single black ringlet traces the left side of my face. That dark curl makes my green eyes stand out from my slightly freckled face. A baby face. If you ask me I'm a little busty but I only wear t-shirts and flannels so it's not too much of a problem wardrobe wise....that is until today....

"We need a more formal gown for a banquet... but we can have a little fun with it" Sam says with a smirk.

Sam and the shop girl go around grabbing dress after dress for me to try.

Then we head to the dressing room. Each dress was hung up nicely on a rack outside.

"This one first" Sam insists handing me a green dress "it will match your eyes!"

I take the dress and trudge into the room. I shut the door behind me and undress. I step into the gown and pull it on.

"Oh heck no!" I yell as I look in the mirror. I step out at Sam's request.

"Well it does match your eyes" Sam says

"WHAT does that matter! NO ONE will be able to see past THESE!" I scream gesturing to my chest where the fabric barely covers pushing everything up over the brim.

Sam laughs. "Try this. It's a little more modest." She says handing me another dress. I snatch it and rush back into the dressing room.

This went on for a while. Each dress didn't cover my breast, didn't cover my butt, or had a slit so high the dress was pointless to cover me.

Sam was enjoying my embarrassment to no end but kept telling me how beautiful I was in each dress. Fed up with the whole process I come out of the dressing room with my t-shirt on fuming.

"Come on. Don't you have anything that doesn't put me on display that I look decent in?"

"One second" the shop girl says and rushes out.

I sit next to Sam "this is hopeless!" I say and put my head on her shoulder. "I hate shopping." I mumble muffled by my hand over my face.

"We'll find it soon little one" Sam says and gives me a quick hug.

The shop girl walks in with a triumphant look on her face. "I've got it!" She announces as she enters holding a white garment bag hiding the dress. "Go try it!" She says handing me the bag and steering me toward the room. I go with it enter the room and close the door.

Samantha's POV

This was all taking too long for Lilly's nerves. I know she hates shopping but she has to look perfect. This will be the first time she is presented as future Alpha of the Red Rivers pack to all of the North American Alphas. Alpha Mason trusted me with this so it has to be just right.

"I'm coming out." Lilly says after trying on yet another dress. "What do you think?" She asks nervously. All the frustration she had been building up gone. She must like this one and I don't blame her.

Lilly's POV

In the dressing room I unzip the bag and the mystery dress shimmers. It is grey with a hint of green so Sam will be happy. I quickly pull on the dress and look at myself.

The dress wasn't tight but it hugged my body loosening at my legs with a small slit up to my knee. The tops of my breast were exposed but not excessively. It was strapless and somewhat plain by some people's standards but I love it... I think... I don't know.... "ahhhhhh I hate dresses" I think

"You look hot now go show Sam so she can tell you how hot you look!"

"The one time you're supportive. Pft! I hate you!"

"No you don't. "

"No... I don't." I smile. I guess my wolf and I both like it.

"I'm coming out." I say and take a deep breath. I stand in front of Sam playing with my fingers. "What do you think?"

Sam pulls me over to the platform with a million mirrors so you can see every single angle.

"She looks beautiful." The shop girl says.

"That she does." Sam says holding back tears "could you give us some privacy please?"

"Sure thing." The girl backed out of the room.

Sam wraps me in a hug. "You look so beautiful my girl." She says now crying.

"Its not like it's a wedding dress." I say trying to defuse the emotionally charged atmosphere. But I know Sam can't have kids of her own so as much as I see her as a mother she sees me as a daughter. Sam steps away to look at me again.

"Well... if you find your mate at the banquet he will not be disappointed." She says with a wide smile and I turn five shades of red.

"Stop it!" I say and she laughs "it's not like father will let that happen anyway"

"Honey... he may not have a choice" Sam says looking me up and down one more time.

We buy the dress and head out. Sadly we didn't have time to explore much but I guess... gun to my head.... we had a pretty good day.