After soaking in the tub for twenty minutes, I decided to get out. I wrapped myself in a towel and walked out into the room. I wasn’t surprised to find Paige waiting on the bed since I could smell her. Paige smiled asking, “Did I not tell you baths were amazing?” I snorted, “It wasn’t that I didn’t believe you … I’d taken a bath before.”
Paige rolled her eyes and handed me a thermos. Paige encouraged, “Drink up.” Without question I tilted it back and drank. I nearly gagged but managed not to. I handed it back to her grumbling, “That was disgusting.”
Paige sighed, “Yeah, I wish I could make it taste better, but you’ll be able to come to Avery’s wedding now.” I replied, “Thanks, Paige. I know you understand this means a lot to me. We promised not to miss the big moments… and I’m really happy I won’t miss this.”
Paige replied, “You didn’t miss Addison’s.” I snorted, “I mean… I did. I wasn’t there to celebrate like I should’ve been… seeing from a distance isn’t always the same. It wasn’t what we intended with the promise… so let’s go with that.”
I walked into my closet and threw on some leggings and a hoodie. I walked back out to say, “I guess we should go find our mates.” Paige smiled replying, “Our mates who are friends. You gotta love it.” I laughed and my friend looped arms with me.
I linked Freya, “Do your thing… where is Xander?” Freya snickered, “Mate is in his office.” It was so handy to have a wolf. I led Paige to their office and found several of Xander’s cousins there…. Well, several of the older ones. All of whom apparently wanted to meet people I knew because they wanted to find their mates.
If only they knew how many people that was. My network was different from theirs and had access to people they did not. I nearly fell over when Xander told me his mom and Elise were probably looking for me so we could plan my Luna Ceremony.
Then I was scared he wanted to put off our Mating Ceremony, but that wasn’t the case. Part of me I didn’t even realize was tense, released. Once we left them, I went in search of my mom. I knocked on the door of the room they were staying in.
My dad opened the door and I saw the surprise written all over his face that I was on the other side. I began to pick at mysleeves, “I umm… Good morning… I was looking for mom.” My dad held the door open, and I walked inside with Paige.
Paige reached out and squeezed my arm reassuringly. My dad said, “Your mom will be out of the bathroom any minute. She was just finishing drying her hair.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head and added, “Good Morning Ladybug and Paige.” I smiled at him.
My mom walked out and immediately asked, “Is everything ok? What’s wrong?” I frowned. They thought something was wrong? That was the only reason I could be here? Maybe this was a bad idea. I started picking at my sleeve again. Freya offered, “It’s not a bad idea.”
I explained, “Well… Xander wanted…. me to… plan things… umm and I thought… you would help… but if you don’t want to that’s fine. I’ll just…” My mom asked, “Plan what, Ladybug? Of course I’ll help.”
I whispered, “My Luna Ceremony and our Mating Ceremony. Elise and Haley are waiting for us.” My mom hugged me gently saying, “Of course I’ll help you, Ladybug, and I’m glad you asked.” I sighed in relief.
Paige said, “Well, let’s go find Mrs. Conners.” My mom laughed, “If you don’t call her Haley, she might go back to not liking you because you’re a Witch.” Paige winked, “She always liked me from the moment we met. Hell, I’d venture to say she loves me and my sass.”
I’m pretty sure that my friend was right. Haley immediately seemed to like Paige. There would be a part of Haley that instinctually liked her because of the good power that my friend held. I led the way and walked into the living room where Haley was waiting.
Elise squealed, “I’m so excited!” I smiled asking, “Is there even much to plan with the Luna Ceremony? You guys must have it down to a science.” Haley tilted her head admitting,“I have no fucking clue what that means.” Umm…that it was practically planned.
Haley waved, “If you mean we have a plan that we follow, we do. I thought we could look through Pinterest and find your dress. If you want, we simply include a part of the original Luna dress through magic. I had Elise’s magicked on the inside, same with Buttercup and Jane. The dress is all we really need, plus the date of the Luna Ceremony.”
Elise offered, “EJ would like the ceremony to be Monday.” My voice jumped three octaves as I shouted, “Monday?! THIS MONDAY? As in a few days from now?” Haley quickly said, “It can be any fucking day you want. All you would have to do was say, ‘Alexander, please’ and bat your eyelashes. Cassie, Angela, and I do that with all our boys, and it works every time. They never learn.”
I looked at Paige who was smirking. My mom offered, “How about Thursday? That gives you some more time to adjust to being one of the Luna’s of a large pack. It also gives us time to plan your mating ceremony. Since we already have that dress, that saves us some time.” I nodded my head.
Haley smiled saying, “So Thursday will be the Luna Ceremony.” It was not a question. She continued, “Let’s get your dress for it.” She turned her computer around and I began scrolling through dresses. I was torn between two dresses. Sierra joined us smiling quickly followed by Abigail.
One was white with a see through red wrap across the top. The second was a tightly fitted mermaid gown that was white on top and red on bottom. After going back and forth for a while, Freya urged, “Get the one you really want.”
I admitted to the group, “You know what? I really want the fitted one that’s white and red. Haley smiled, “Perfect.” She snapped her fingers, and the dress appeared in my hands. Haley nodded to a room off the kitchen urging, “Go try it on please.”
Elise snorted, “It will fit.” Haley laughed, “I know it will fucking fit. I just want to see it on her.” I laughed and went to change. I quickly put the dress on. I was surprised to find a full length mirror in the room. Freya snickered, “Fairies just don’t miss a trick.” I agreed, “No they really don’t.” I ran my hands down the front of my dress and smiled because it was incredible.
I walked out and did a full three sixty turn and heard someone choke. I turned and saw my dad wiping his eyes. Dad smiled telling me, “You look stunning, Ladybug. I won’t bother the planning session; I was just picking up some lunch.” He kissed the top of my head and walked away.
My mom called, “You do look beautiful, Mel.” Elise whistled, “Hot damn! The guys are going to have their hands full. We will have to tell Phil he’s on duty to make sure Alexander doesn’t kill anyone.” I frowned arguing, “Xander won’t kill anyone.”
Haley snorted, “At your Luna ceremony? No, he fucking won’t. Or he’d have to deal with his momma, and he doesn’t want that.” Everyone started laughing. I walked out to change back into my normal clothes. The dress was taken to be hung up.
Mrs. Blanch came out with lunch for us. Elise showed me the rest of the Luna Ceremony details which were all good. Luna Ceremonies were fairly straightforward. Haley said, “I’ll get you shoes for your wedding and Luna ceremonies. It’s my fucking thing.”
I smiled, admitting, “I’m more than happy to leave the shoes in your arena.” Haley sighed, “Sadly, I don’t have a fucking arena anywhere. I could talk to Bjourn and he would probably have an arena built with my name on it.”
Paige linked me, “She’s a gem and I love her.” I smiled explaining the saying to my future mother in law, “I meant I’ll leave it to your fashion shoe expertise.” Haley laughed, “This realm. No matter how hard I try, it comes up with reallyfucking crazy things to say. Anyway, do you have some idea of decorations for the mating ceremony?”
Paige snorted, “Melanie has a secret Pinterest board.” I gasped, “Paige!” Sierra offered, “She’s not lying. You do have a secret board with all your hopes and dreams.” Traitors! Freya snickered in my head. Paige laughed, “Come on, Mel. Show the Fairy/Hackura Princess who snaps and conjures things, who just so happens to be your mother in law. She can conjure and snap all the things you dreamed of and never thought you could have.”
