THIRTEEN

There are three things I learned during my short stay here with the Balfours. One; werewolves are real. Two; if cuddling was an Olympic sport, Rheon would have won hands down. And three; nothing escapes a werewolf's ears. Nothing.

I paused in the kitchen doorway when I was met by Rieka, Seren, Clemmy, and Reyna's inquisitive stares. They all were trying extremely hard to keep straight faces but for some, it was proving to be a challenge. Clemmy had to cover her mouth after she nearly giggled, earning an elbow in the ribs from Seren.

"Morning," I greeted them suspiciously as I crossed the room towards the coffeepot.

"To you as well, dear." Rieka smiled warmly. Her eyes held a mischievous glint as she followed my movements.

"Slept well?" Reyna hid her grin by taking a sip from her mug.

"Surprisingly well for three hours." My brows furrowed at their odd behavior.

Seren sent me a lopsided smirk. "Of course, you did. Tell me, does my brother talk in his sleep? I'm always curious about that."

"No, actually. In fact, he sleeps like the dead -" My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I realized what I just confessed. The women burst out laughing around the kitchen island while I stood there as red as a tomato. Clemmy's hands covered her face, Rieka and Reyna held onto each other for support, and Seren for some reason seemed proud. "I swear, nothing happened. We were just talking..."

"Of course, nothing happened," she wiggled her brows, "Otherwise we would've heard it."

Rieka's eyes were watery of laughter as she patted my cheek tenderly. "We're pulling your tail, dear. The entire castle knows Rheon's too much of a gentleman to even think about such things."

Clemmy placed a mug of coffee in my hands, and I joined the ladies around the island. Edda's voice was a distant echo as she ordered her staff around to prepare breakfast.

"Rheon wasn't in his room when I woke up, though," I pointed out.

"He and the boys left for Glasgow half an hour ago, top-secret mission apparently," Reyna explained and ran her finger over the rim of her mug, "You know men; always travelling in packs."

Images of Rheon and the squad marching through the streets of Glasgow came to mind. I imagined an epic theme song playing in the background as they held a V-formation with Rheon at the front. Let's throw in some explosions as well and boom, I've just directed an action movie in my head.

Edda squeezed in between Rieka and me to place a plate of freshly baked croissants on the counter. Next came three servant girls with bowls of toppings in their hands. There were grated cheese, minced meat, bacon, beans in sauce, syrup, and strawberry jam. Clemmy and Seren made a grab for the bacon at the same time and was fighting over the bowl while Reyna casually helped herself to the jam.

"Eat up, dear," Rieka said and handed me a plate with a croissant, "We have a busy day ahead of us."

"What's happening?" I asked and reached for the grated cheese.

"We need to go shopping for Rheon's birthday ball," Clemmy explained with a mouthful of bacon, "All the packs of Scotland will be there, it's going to be so much fun."

I blinked. "Wait, when is his birthday?"

"Sunday," Seren said without looking up from her plate, "On the night of the full moon." Yes, that made perfect sense to host a werewolf ball during the night of the full moon. Noticing my sceptic expression, she added, "Don't worry, we don't lose control and go all bat shit crazy like in the movies. It's just more poetic to celebrate under a full moon."

Breakfast ended about ten minutes later. Each woman went their separate ways to get ready for the day of shopping ahead. Rieka told me not to bother bringing my purse along since she's paying for everyone.

"Call it a mother's treat," she told me with a warm smile.

The limousine awaited us once we left the castle. However, Craig wasn't there to drive it this time. I was sandwiched between Seren and Reyna as we headed for Glasgow. Rieka claimed to know the perfect place to shop for dresses. She knew the designer who may allow us to choose from her latest creations.

"Mum has friends in high places," Seren said as she scrolled through her social media posts, "I wouldn't be surprised if she knew Her Majesty the Queen as well."

It was the first time I saw Rieka smirk instead of smile. "Where else do you think I disappear off to once a month? Elizabeth and I are like this," she crossed her fingers, "Besties."

After an hour of driving, Glasgow's skyscrapers finally came into view. Seren asked the driver to open the limo's roof and made me stick my head out with her. The air was cool and crisp and the breeze coming from the front made blood rush to my cheeks.

We passed lush green parks and bustling squares, buildings of old and new, and statues and monuments until the vehicle parked in front of a large white building with floor-to-ceiling windows. The dresses on display were something out of this world. The closest I ever came to seeing such designs was in a magazine and now I'm about to try them on - my prom dress wasn't even that fancy.

With Rieka at the front, we marched through the shiny glass doors like a group of celebrities. My neck twisted left and right as I admired the store with its thick white carpets, white shelves, crystal chandeliers, and countless mannequins dressed in the most beautiful gowns and dresses I've ever laid eyes on.

"Go have fun," Rieka said and gestured for us to go ahead.

In a flash, Seren grabbed my left arm to drag me with her - but Clemmy seemed to have the same idea and had me by the right. The two sisters glowered at each other, and I could swear Seren even growled at Clemmy. However, before a fight could break loose, Reyna swept in and linked arms with me, saving me from the other two's clutches.

"They were like this with me when Alexander introduced me to his family the first time, too," she whispered, "Don't worry, it's just a phase." She left me at a rack of gowns to look through on my own and made a beeline for the mermaid dresses at the back.

Peering over the racks and shelves, I noticed they all had spread out to cover more ground. A tiny part of me was nervous to shop alone. I had no idea where to start let alone know what to look for. The closest I ever came to attending a ball was dancing with Madison while Cinderella played on the television behind us.

What would Rheon like? I don't even know what his favorite color is. His car is black, his room a combination of blue, white, and plaid, and he usually wears navy suits.

"These are some of my new designs." All heads turned to the owner of the store as she approached us with a clothing rack on wheels. "Rieka, darling, I have just the dress for you."

While everyone was admiring the emerald gown Rieka held against her figure, my eyes were glued on the dress hanging on the very end of the rack. It was made of vintage pink tulle with a layered skirt. The top was embroidered with petite diamond sequins along the neckline and a pair of dainty straps travelled over the shoulders to reveal an open back.

I had not realized I was holding the dress against myself until Reyna said behind me, "That's your dress."

"This is my dress," I confirmed with a broad smile.

"What are you waiting for then?" Clemmy gestured at the dressing rooms, "Go try it on!"

One of the employees followed me into a cubicle and helped me shimmy into the gown. After she tightened the straps at my lower back, I emerged from the curtains to look in the mirror.

"By the Goddess Three..." Seren gasped and eyed me up and down.

Clemmy's jaw nearly reached all the way to her chest. "You look like a freaking princess."

My cheeks were starting to hurt from all the smiling as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, "Trust me, I feel like one."

"Rheon will sure love it," Reyna said with a confident grin. Blood rose to my cheeks as I backed away from the mirror, earning another series of laughter from the women.

Once everyone has decided on a dress and a pair of heels to accompany it, we left the store to grab a late lunch at a nearby restaurant. Rheon's birthday ball was the topic on everyone's lips and even I had to admit, I was growing excited just imagining it; my first ball, a breathtaking gown, slow dancing under the full moon...

"We're going to turn some heads," Seren pointed out as she nursed a glass of red wine in her hand, "Especially Ash."

"I highly doubt it," I told her, "You'll win every single beauty contest in the world in that red dress."

Seren's dress fit her like a glove and complimented every curve and muscle. The burgundy color made her skin seem like porcelain, reminding me of Snow White. Clemmy decided on a silver dress that reached just above her ankles and, when she steps into the light, it shimmers. Reyna was dead set on what she was looking for and found it after ten minutes of browsing; a white mermaid dress with black, lacy patterns running from the top and stopped where the skirt fanned out at her knees. Last but not least, Rieka's gown had a golden top with a black skirt which she stated would go perfectly with the jewelry she had in mind.

"Goddess Three, these steak rolls are amazing," Seren breathed, her eyes fluttering.

"Who is this Goddess Three you keep referring to?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"It's a reference to The Morrighan, the ancient Celtic wolf goddess," Reyna explained, "She's the goddess of many things, actually, including magic, wisdom and war, but mainly of the three elements we werewolves associate with the most; life and death and shapeshifting."

"She is seen as a wild, liberated and independent goddess," Seren added proudly, "And she's called the Goddess Three because she's actually three goddesses in one."

The topic changed when Reyna mentioned she couldn't wait to see her pack again at the end of the week. It dawned on me I had no idea how many packs would be attending the ball, let alone their names. And wasn't Reyna supposed to be part of Rheon's pack?

"Technically, yes," she said, "But my mother birthed only daughters and I'm responsible for carrying on the Nightstar legacy. When my father decides to step down, it will be up to Alexander and me to lead the pack."

"The Nightstar pack is one of our closest allies," Rieka elaborated, "along with the Bloodrose and Crescent Moon packs."

I was left to my own thoughts when Clemmy started talking about what she had planned for her sixteenth birthday in a couple of months. My common sense told me it wasn't a coincidence Lucine waited ten years before she decided to see Rheon again. Like his father said that night in the study, he didn't have much time left.

The wheels in my head were running a thousand miles per hour until I finally pieced it together; Lucine was waiting until the ball. She wanted to make a spectacle of claiming Rheon for herself in front of every pack in Scotland.

There was only four days left to break the curse.