Descending the stairs with a light spring in her step, Belle entered the grand dining hall clad in her usual comfortable attire of sweatpants and a loose tee. She passed by Alpha Conrad, Beta Ann, and Gamma Las as they marched purposefully toward the Alpha's office to tackle critical pack affairs. Offering them a respectful nod, she continued forward to find Luna Carolineseated regally in her usual spot, savoring her morning brew while scanning the daily news.
With Drake absent for the summer, the dynamic had shifted dramatically, and the two of them now shared almost every meal. The Alpha was swamped with duties without his son by his side, leaving them to enjoy a rare tranquility together.
Belle knew the Luna ached deeply for her missing child, but she would be a liar if she claimed she wasn't relieved beyond measure by his absence. Sadly, her freedom was ticking away; school resumed tomorrow, and with the return of classes would come the return of Drake, Alvin, and Marvin. She knew full well that once they stepped back into the residence, her daily torment would resume with a vengeance. Determined to seize this final day, she planned to indulge herself completely—reading by the pool, binge-watching her favorite shows, and devouring Helena's legendary cinnamon roll ice cream.
"Good morning, dear," Luna Carolineintoned warmly, lifting her gaze from the paper.
"Good morning, Luna," Belle responded, flashing a brilliant smile as she settled into her chair.
Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open, and the Beta Female and Gamma Female strutted in, taking their customary places at the table.
"Good morning, Luna, Belle," they chorused in perfect unison.
They joined them more frequently now, their visits driven by the emptiness of missing their own sons who were away at training. But for Belle, it was a completely different story—she was simply elated that the "devil and his minions" were far away. She would never voice it aloud, but this entire summer had been a divine blessing, a peaceful sanctuary gifted by the Goddess. The only regret weighing on her was that she had transformed and grown so much during this time, yet she had nothing outwardly to display when everyone returned.
"Belle, are you eager to commence classes tomorrow?" Gamma Lasinquired, her face soft with kindness.
Belle often pondered the mystery of how such gentle, wonderful women could have raised such cruel and vile boys. It was a puzzle that baffled her mind completely.
"Hmm, honestly, I am not really anticipating it," Belle confessed, looking at the Gamma woman. Then, a brilliant idea suddenly ignited in her mind. Maybe she could use this final day to really make a statement before everything went back to normal.
"Oh, and why is that?" Beta Annqueried, slathering a thick layer of jelly over her scone with relish.
"I suppose I was just so busy relishing my freedom that I completely lost track of time," Belle admitted, a shy blush creeping up her cheeks as she looked down at the table. "I realized too late that I am no longer the same rough boyish girl who arrived here five years ago. I really should have focused on revamping my wardrobe ages ago instead of leaving it until the very last moment."
Her voice trailed off into a gentle silence, leaving the room quiet as the others absorbed her words.
Finally, the Luna chuckled darkly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, thank the Goddess! I have been burning to dump those rags since your freshman year!"
"What?" Belle blurted, completely stunned by the revelation. It suddenly clicked—that cunning monster had manipulated them both, pitting them against each other in silence. She had foolishly believed the Luna had endorsed Drake's ridiculous rules all this time.
"Belle, I cherish you as my own," Luna Carolinedeclared, her voice warm but firm as she gestured sharply at Belle's attire. "But I have absolutely loathed your wardrobe. You are a breathtaking young woman, yet you cower behind these shapeless, baggy clothes."
"Why didn't you speak up sooner?" Belle demanded, her tone sharp with frustration. Her anger was not aimed at the Luna, but at herself for being so gullible and believing every word that arrogant fool spouted.
"I never wanted to impose my will or make you feel insecure while you were still growing," the Luna explained gently, opening her arms to pull Belle into a crushing embrace. "Your comfort meant more to me than forcing my taste upon you. Besides," she added, giving one final squeeze before releasing her, "I waited for you to come to me when you were ready to evolve."
"Well, consider this me begging for a total transformation!" Belle announced, flashing a brilliant, victorious smile at the three women. Her words ignited a frenzy, and they screamed with delight, clapping their hands in pure hysteria.
Belle knew instantly that Beta Ann and Gamma Las would invade the trip too. They were inseparable partners in crime, and their husbands' black cards certainly bore the scars of their passion.
"It is decided! We shop tomorrow!" the Luna proclaimed triumphantly. The other two immediately babbled over one another, drafting plans with frantic energy. Their excitement was contagious, until a sudden realization slammed into Belle.
"But Luna," she interjected, "school commences tomorrow."
"Nonsense, darling!" the Luna dismissed with a sharp wave of her hand. "You dominate AP classes with perfect scores. You can afford to skip one day. Trust me—I will authorize it just so I can finally spoil you properly."
"Exactly!" Gamma Lasroared in agreement. "You are a genius! Who else could have engineered our pack's entire security code? You will conquer any university you choose. Missing one day won't destroy your future. Remember to live, girl! You are only young once!"
"Fine, you have convinced me!" Belle yielded excitedly. "But I wield the final veto power! The clothes must suit my soul, not just your vision." She had to plant boundaries early, or they would steamroll her identity. She wanted to reveal herself, not become a stranger.
"So, what is the strategy?" she queried, turning to the Luna. "Which mall do we assault?" Her mind was already calculating how to avoid Drake. She had overheard the Alpha mention they would return late tonight.
"We are NOT wasting time on local trash," Luna Carolinestated with absolute authority. "We do this right. We journey to the City. It is a three-and-a-half-hour drive, so we depart at dawn to crush the traffic. We need the entire day to conquer the stores and return before the boys arrive."
"We shall feast there as well!" Beta Annexclaimed, already grabbing her phone. "I have scanned reviews of new restaurants. Three are wolf-owned, and one owner is from my old pack. I will command them to reserve us a table immediately."
"No," the Luna interrupted calmly, yet her eyes blazed with unspoken command. "Book us at Gray In-house."
Beta Ann did not dare argue. She simply nodded and turned away, but the look of reluctance on her face did not escape Belle's notice.
Why?
Before Belle could ponder it further, Gamma Las stepped in smoothly, trying to divert her attention. "While in the City, we must indulge in manicures and pedicures!" she gushed. "Doesn't that sound divine?"
Belle responded with a simple agreement, though her mind remained locked on the strange, tense exchange she had just witnessed.