Page 82 of Met Your Mate

Nervously, she lies a short flowy purple skirt on the bed with a tight cropped white long sleeve top. Beside the sleeves of the shirt, she has one solid purple scrunchie to accessorize. "What do you think?"

Casey jumps to answer right away. “I think it’s perfect. The skirt will be comfortable, and there's a chilly breeze this week, so the long sleeve is great. The scrunchie also matches well. You did so good, Freya."

None of us can contain our pride for our girl as she skips away to the bathroom with her outfit clutched to her chest.

She's going out with her friend for the day. Shopping and coffee are on their agenda. Maybe I can control my worry if it means it's encouraging her to make her own choices.

As much as I want to be there while she chooses her iced latte for the day, I'm proud that she's feeling comfortable to do it on her own.

That doesn't mean she won’t panic, but after her heat, our bond is strong enough for me to soothe her from afar.

She's got this. And if she doesn't, I'm just a phone call away.

"Remind me to remind her to bring her phone," Casey mumbles to Elliott.

I chuckle.

Yeah, with each other, we all got this.

Chapter Sixty-One

FREYA

"Who is this sexy bitch and what did she do with my bestie?!"

My god, even deaf in one ear, I could have heard Kate's squeal from across town. "Oh my god, shhhh!"

Hustling over to her where she sits clutching our coffees on the outdoor bench with our bags beside her, I look around and am surprised to see people smiling at us. Nobody's scowling or ready to reprimand the two omegas outside the salon for being too loud.

"Freya," she breathes, eyes wide. “Your hair is fucking fire."

I blush and run my fingers through the shorter strands. My hair, which used to be waist length and platinum, now has honey blonde highlights and just brushes the underside of my boobs.

"Thank you," I say. "Do you think the guys will like it?"

I was feeling so confident after ordering my iced white mocha with two pumps of hazelnut, and shopping with minimal anxiety, that when we passed the hair salon, I declared a change was needed.

Now I'm second guessing the spontaneous recklessness, even if it felt good to donate the hair that was chopped off.

"Are you kidding?" Kate screeches again. "They are going to love it. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure they are going to be drooling all over you and the new clothes you picked out."

She winks, and hands me my drink, flashing her sharp red nails at me she got done while I did my hair.

Peeking at my five bags of clothes, I feel giddiness rush through me remembering what I got. I've felt really good in skirts and tight tops. Dresses are a no go because they feel too much like what I wore in that basement.

It's too hot for jeans, so I haven't even tried them yet, but I like my sweatpants at home. With a tight top though. The only time I feel comfortable with a baggy shirt is when it's one of my mates'.

There’s something about drowning my small frame that brings me back to my time spent at the academy. Plus, now that I've filled out a bit, I enjoy showing off my healthy frame.

Kate has made it her goal to send me links to female empowerment posts on social media to help me realize that how I dress isn't always meant to be seductive. It can just be because I feel good in it. And I do.

"So, what do you think you're going to do about the pamphlets the OPS sent us?" I ask.

We've been hanging out for hours. We did the boy talk, which I was more than happy to get an update on her new alpha situation. Remy took her on another date the other night, and from what I've heard, they are doing really well. Not bonded yet, but her pack is moving forward.

I'm so happy for her, not all that thrilled to hear about her sex life with my brother, but I'm excited for them. They are finally getting the lives they deserve. Now, for the hard topic while we finish our lattes.

She sighs. "l probably will enroll for a few basic courses just so I can understand myself and my pack better. But no way am I going to a campus for it."

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