3. Friends & Family

Chapter three

Friends in fact, she loosens up and chats with them.

Afterwards, Freya returns to the pack house to get changed. She and Finn have quite the schedule ahead of them, especially considering they are only staying for a couple of days. Tonight, they are meeting my other two brothers, Liam and Marius, to go on a triple date with their mates. Freya already knows Annie and Celine, but she didn't have a lot of time to meet Marius and Liam. They also have a date set to meet with their friends who live in allied packs.

"It's a pity Freya can't hang out with us." Tori sighs while going through a few outfits, indecisive about what to wear for the winter solstice. I went shopping with my mom recently, and both of us have picked new dresses. None of us really needed it, but it's rare for both of us to have time for a daughter-mom outing. Mom is one of the most beautiful women I know. She is ageless, with long blonde hair and an elf-like face and figure. She went for a bodycon dress in black, which I—unfortunately—know my dad will love.

Meanwhile, I decided not to go for my signature color; black, and instead chose a dark red dress with a tight fit around my upper body and a long, flowy skirt. It's different from my usual rather tight dresses, but makes me look more elegant. I figure that as a future alpha I need to try different styles.

The chatting of the girls pulls me out of my thoughts. Marilou and Jazz have dropped by for some girl time.

"Freya is so amazing," Tori repeats.

"I knew you would like her." I chuckle.

"She is so interesting," Tori exclaims. "To imagine she is a hybrid. And such a cool one."

"She really is fascinating," Marilou says while stretching on Tori's bed. "The blue one is cute." She gestures at a glittery dress in Tori's hand.

"I can't come in blue," she says.

"Why's that?" Jazz wants to know.

"Because that's Marilou's color," Tori says. She is an incredibly cute-looking girl with big eyes and a round face. Anything suits her.

"But I…" Marilou looks flustered. "I don't have the money for a blue dress, and I can't always rely on the luna. I don't want to bother her, especially now that she is a mom."

"Annie really likes you," I reassure her. "She doesn't see you as a bother. She is my sister-in-law, so I know she sees you as a sister."

Tori tosses her dress towards Marilou. "Why don't you try it on?" She beams. "I bet it looks cute on you. This type of blue will go so well with your red hair."

"But I can't…" Marilou says. "That's too generous. I—"

"Of course you can," I say.

Jazz smiles brightly. "Tori is right. It's your color."

"Isn't it too tight?" Marilou asks. "It looks good on Tori because she has these perfect curves, and she is small, but I'm tall and lanky."

"Are you kidding?" Jazz chuckles. "Don't hide your body. Terry will be all over you. I mean, it's not like he can keep his hands to himself even when you are dressed in a hoodie and jeans."

Tori gags. "Please don't start talking about my brother's love life."

We all laugh. Tori's twin, Terry, has been dating Marilou for months now, and they are pretty serious. But, only when they are both eighteen will they know if they are fated mates. I know Marilou is anxious about it, although she doesn't show it, and Terry is nervous, too.

They truly like each other. I hope the Moon Goddess isn't so cruel as to rip them apart. But you never know her plan.

Jazz's words have done the deal, though, and Marilou grabs the dress. Her eyes light up when she sees it. "Thank you, Tori."

"Try it on," I encourage her, laughing when she scurries to the bathroom, suddenly looking really excited. Jazz follows her to help while I stay with Tori.

"What are you going to wear, Tori?" I ask.

"I don't know," she mutters. "I feel like it doesn't matter."

Her words confuse me. "Why are you saying that? You love dressing up, and girl, you are always killing it! I am actually counting on you for my hairstyle. I need some new ideas."

My words make Tori smile, but only momentarily so. "I don't know, Auri," she says. "I… I don't feel like it. I feel like I am not really an eye-catcher to anyone."

"But you are!" I say, sitting up straighter now. "You look fantastic in almost anything."

Tori stays silent while I get up and approach her, taking her face between my hands to make her look up at me. "What's wrong, Tori?"

To my shock, tears glisten in her eyes. "Be honest," she whispers. "Am I shallow?"

I stare at her. "What?"

"I know I am na?ve sometimes, and I don't understand everything. And, sometimes, I say stupid things that might hurt someone. But am I shallow? Am I just a pretty girl with nothing going on behind my fa?ade?" she asks.

I furrow my brows. "Who said that?" I huff. I know this isn't something she came up with. Someone had to have told her that!

"It's true, isn't it?" she asks quietly.

"No, Tori! You are incredibly kind and generous. You have been my best friend ever since we were babies. You have been nothing but supportive of me and always had my back."

"But, I am not into training and sports," she says. "I don't like much of the things you others like."

"And?" I ask. "We share plenty of stuff, don't we? Just think about our movie nights. Marilou loves romance movies like you do, and Jazz likes to dress up and try new outfits with you. And I like that I can talk to you about anything, even about guys."

"Really?" she asks hopefully.

"Of course. I am so happy to have you as my friend," I say. "You are never jealous."

Tori giggles. "I am jealous sometimes," she admits. "Because you have legs to kill for and the perfect body."

"Well, I envy you for being so cute," I say. "Remember that one time I dressed up in a cute fairy dress for Halloween? It was a disaster."

Tori smiles, hugging me tightly. "Thanks, Auri."

"You don't want to tell me who said that?" I push carefully.

Tori shakes her head. "I… I am okay," she admits. "It's just important that my friends and family like me. That's all that matters."

I hear the door to the bathroom creak slightly, and soon, Marilou's and Jazz's laughter reaches us. Tori moves away from me, pretending like nothing happened and that she wasn't just crying. Marilou looks amazing in Tori's dress. While she isn't as curvy as Tori, it still hugs her body nicely, and it definitely is a change from what she normally wears. Terry will find it amazing.

"Look at that hot bitch," Jazz says, smacking Marilou's ass.

"Don't flirt with her, or your mate will get jealous," I tease.

Jazz grins. "Ari herself is such a flirt. She will survive me complimenting one of my besties."

Jazz met her mate, Aryanna, during her eighteenth birthday party, almost a year ago. Aryanna is Liam's beta and was instantly head over heels for our wild and brave Jazz, with her ebony skin and her witchcraft.

"Are you curious to meet your mate?" Marilou asks me. "I, for one, am terrified."

"I am not sure," I say. "I am looking forward to meeting him, but I am not stressing myself out over it. It's definitely no one from my pack, unless he isn't eighteen yet."

"I am glad you weren't mated to Terry," Marilou whispers.

"For real," I exclaim. "That would have been messed up. I doubt the Goddess would fuck us over like that."

"What if he isn't my mate?" Marilou asks.

"Maybe you could take each other as chosen mates, instead," Jazz says. "It's an option, too, and there is nothing shallow about it. Your fated mates would be set free then, and a new bond would form."

"We'll see," Marilou says, but doesn't sound too convinced.

"What about you, Tori?" Jazz asks.

Tori shrugs. "I haven't been thinking about it," she says.

Well, that's new. Ever since she and I have been interested in boys, she's talked about her future mate. Maybe something happened for her to change her mind… maybe she met a guy she likes. Dread settles in me for a moment. She didn't get rejected, did she? She turned eighteen recently, so maybe…

No, I shake my head.

She would have told us, wouldn't she, Maxima?

Probably. My wolf, the ever-so-graceful beast, paces around in my mind before resting her beautiful head on her paws. And if she hadn't told us, she would probably look more devastated had she been rejected.

It's probably something else, I say. Maybe she has a crush on someone, but he doesn't reciprocate.

She also could have had a one-night stand with someone, Maxima adds. She is not the type for that, so maybe it hurt her.

Good points, I think. I am not sure what happened with Tori, but I know I will keep an eye on her and make sure no one hurts her.