Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
Speaking of, | know | agreed to wear the fancy dress to the gala ball thing tonight. ls Luna Anne going to put me ina monkey skirt suit all day too”
| try to school the nauseous feeling | get thinking about being uncomfortable in my clothes as well as with all of these people today.
“| believe she is aware of your affinity for pants.”
He winks at me and leads me to an elevator.
We head up in a comfortable silence and reach Luna Anne’s floor quickly. | walk into the same suite we did the dress fittings in, and it actually looks more terrifying now. My eyes go wide. Not only is the dress | chose for tonight hanging from a tall rack, there are at least five more that she said “
were good contenders.’ Next to that was a rack with items in varying shades of white hanging from it. Pants, jackets, vests, blouses and to my irritation skirts with frilly bottoms.
The third rack had similar business attire, but in cool shades of greens, blues and purples. Rack four was on repeat with warm shades of yellow, orange, red and pinks.
“Close your mouth and stop looking so terrified, we have a job to do and the first impression is always the most important.”
Luna Anne pops out from behind one of the racks.
“Are all of these things necessary? It’s just one day of meetings and then a ball. Or did | miss something?”
| looked accusingly between her and Barty, knowing parts of what he told me were strategically left out so she could explain herself.
“You didn’t miss anything, but Luna Ava and | decided that if we told you everything all at once, you would refuse.
| nod my head agreeing with their assessment. “As Barty told you, Reggie and Osiston want you in several of the meetings today, and for good reason. You are smart and very good at tactical planning. Unfortunately there has been a development. First, you are not a show pony and | don’t want you to think that, but somehow word got to a few of the Elders that Xander’s date,”
She air quotes,
“Is attending meetings. So several have insisted that they get to bring their daughter’s to also learn the ropes of pack management.”
She rolls her eyes at the thought. “It has become a joke now, but there isn’t much that Reggie can do without explaining your ties to the family and opening Xander up to the piranhas trying to get a queen out of this whole situation.”
| rub my temples already feeling the star of a headache that comes from dealing with self important morons. –
“Don’t look like that, you will do great and it gives me an excuse to also attend, which | normally do not, since most females are not needed for such things. I’m actually kind of excited, but that also means you will be under a bigger spotlight than we anticipated.
She at least has the audacity to look a little ashamed of the situation | am in, but also far too excited about the prospect to dress me up. “I have several outfits picked out for you and as we get you dressed | will explain the day.”
| reluctantly nod my head in agreement.
“So the bottom line is you will be attending three meetings today. Albeit, the longest ones.”
Luna Anne grimaces at me in the vanity mirror while | am getting my hair done. It’s just a ponytail, but | guess a royal ponytail requires two types of hairbrushes, a comb, two different types of hairspray and special elastics to hold it in place, permanently.
| just smile and give a noncommittal sound, not wanting the hairdresser to have to start over. | have been primped and prepped for almost forty five minutes. | don’t want to have to sit here any longer than necessary. | have to admit, | look better than | thought | would. The make-up artist didn’t go overboard with the caked on make-up. She accentuated my gray-blue eyes with a smokey blend of grays and blacks, but it doesn’t look like some of the pictures I’ve seen where girls end up looking like they got punched. She did add lash extensions to the outsides of my eyes since my lashes are blonde. She said she wouldn’t have to use as much mascara that way and | tucked that little bit of info into my memory for later. She put a rosy pink color on my cheeks and finished off with a gloss that had a pink tint to it.
When they were both done, | just stared at myself fora minute. | still looked like me, but better, older, definitely more put together.
“You are beautiful Sweet Girl, now, let’s get you dressed. | think for the first meeting we should go in a warmer color, Start out strong and bright.”
My eyebrows raised at her. “
There is just as much strategy in what you wear as there is in planning an attack, especially with all of these people.”
She matches her eyebrow with my own. “You will change after each meeting too.”
“Why is that? I’m not trying to argue, this is what you do so | trust you no matter how ridiculous | think it is.”
| quickly defend my question. Female politics were a whole new world for me, and | am discovering far more ruthless than men with soldiers.
“First, depending on how many people come to these meetings now that we are introducing everyone’s kid and using it as training.”
She rolls her eyes. “You are going to get sweaty and uncomfortable, even in these outfits which are designed to not show any of that. It also gives us an excuse to step away from everyone and just take a break, otherwise you would get none and be grilled by these vultures all day.”
| nod in understanding, it’s all tactical strategy. | can work with it. 7 My first outfit is a bright maroon jumpsuit that is so soft and silky | could probably sleep in it. The pants were wide all the way down with a sharp crease down the front and the back.
There was a wide band of the same material going around the torso like a corset, leading up to just above my barely there cleavage where a band of material was threaded through the keyhole at the top of the bodice to create a halter look. The straps that went over my shoulders were wide and sturdy and comfortable. They wrapped around to attach to the bodice just under my arms, so all my bits were tastefully covered. Luna Anne has a thing for open back outfits on me, the straps from the halter are the only material on my back and the pants tastefully come up to my hips, so at least my butt won’t hang out, but it’s all skin beyond that. She finishes the outfit off with a pain of matching maroon wedges. | feel like | could exercise in this outfit, it’s amazing. | can’t help but turn and smile at her.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.