The Big Day

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

I look at my alarm clock and curse silently. Why can't I ever sleep in. I rush to get ready in my usual plain t-shirt and blue jeans with my converse sneakers I got for my last birthday before my family died. I run out of my shack towards the pack house. I have to be quick today. I don't have as many cleaning duties as usual because I have to prepare the feast for the Alpha's ceremony today. As I reach the pack house I see Lacy and her group of friends. Lacy has blonde curly hair and is super thin. She always wears short skirts and heels and revealing shirts. Today her group consists of Maya, a tall girl with red hair that reaches her butt, Lauren, who has raven black hair that's spikey and short, and Rebecca, a shy girl who tries not to let the others be as mean to me. Before I make it to the door Lacy sees me.

"Look who it is, the pack bitch!" she says, curling her overly glossed lips into a sinister smile. "Why don't you stop and chat for a sec, huh? Wouldn't that be nice? Too bad you're supposed to be working. You should've started hours ago! Girls, shouldn't we teach her a lesson?" she looks at the other girls as she laughs cruelly. She saunters over to me a shoves me into the wall. Maya and Lauren laugh and walk closer. Lacy then grabs my hair at my scalp and pulls my head back.

"Maya why don't you see if you can fix her pig nose?" Lacy says with a smirk as she digs her nails into my head.

"Oh absolutely! Plus I'll do it free of charge since you can't afford plastic surgery!" Maya says gleefully. She then walks in front of me and gets ready to swing. I don't move because every time in the past it's only gotten worse when I fought back.

"Come on you guys." Rebecca says quietly. "If the feast isn't done on time Beta Adam will be very angry." Lacy glares in her direction.

"Do you pity the pack bitch? Do you wanna take her place?" she says.

"Do you want me to show her what happens when she doesn't wanna listen to you, Lace?" chimes Lauren. She walks over to stand in front of Rebecca, glaring at her until she looks at the ground.

"No, why don't we show her. Go ahead Maya."

As soon as the words leave Lacy's mouth, Maya slams her fist into my face. I stagger but Lacy pulls my hair harder to keep me in place. She nods her approval, so Maya proceeds to punch me in the stomach. I immediately can't breath. Lauren and Lacy begin to laugh harder and harder as Maya keeps throwing punch after punch.

"That's ENOUGH!" a loud voice booms. The girls turn around and Lacy releases her hold on me. I stumble forward and fall to my knees.

"Wow, trying to win his affections before he even sits on the throne, tsk tsk." Lacy says with a pout. "Too bad he will never want you." she whispers as she walks to Xavier and throws her arms around his neck. When she tries to kiss him thouvh he flinches and looks at her in disgust.

"Get your hands off me and get out of my sight. Now." his voice is calm and low, but there's a hidden warning beneath the calm.

Lacy looks shocked for a second before huffing, "Fine, whatever. Let's go girls." Maya and Lauren go to follow her, but Rebecca stays back. "Let's go, Rebecca. Now." there's icy venom in Lacy's voice. But Rebecca doesn't move to her, instead she kneels to help me to my feet.

"No. I am sick of seeing you do whatever you want to people. I'm not your slave or your bitch. You are NOT my master." She says with a defiant look in her eyes.

Lacy turns red in the face before turning and storming off with the others. I look up at Rebecca, confused.

"Why are you helping me? She'll go after you next." I say weakly.

"No, she won't. The next time I see anyone lay a hand on you I will either kick them out of the pack, or rip them to shreds." I look at Xavier, startled because he had been so quiet I thought he had left. He moves to my other side and he and Rebecca help me stand.

"Let's go help you get cleaned up, and then I'll help you with the feast." Rebecca smiles warmly at me. All I can muster is a small smile and nod.

After I finished getting cleaned up, Rebecca and I go to the kitchen where Xavier is sitting and waiting.

"Good thing you're a werewolf," he says, "otherwise you'd still look like that later when I sit on my throne for the first time." he has a gleam in his eye and I can tell he's trying to make a joke, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to speak to him or not. After I don't respond he awkwardly looks around and slaps the counter.

"Well okay, I guess I will leave you to it." he says as he walks out. I stare after his muscular body, thinking about how his dark hair always looks perfectly spiked in the front, and how his beautiful grey eyes used to give me a rapid heart beat. Too bad I haven't been able to look at his face in almost 3 years.

"Earth to Haley!" I suddenly notice Rebeccas been trying to get my attention. "Are you going to keep making googly eyes or are you gonna help me cook?" she gives me a big smile that reaches her eyes.

"Oh, sorry." I mumble.

"I know I should've stood up for you sooner. I should have told Lacy to stop years ago. I should have tried harder to be your friend. I'm so sorry. Could you ever forgive me?" she blurts out with tears springing to her eyes. I look at her in shock.

"You want to be my friend?"

"Of course I do! Please can we?" I look at her for a moment. She has a pleading look in her golden eyes and looks so worried that I will tell her no.

"If you're sure... then I guess we can be friends." I finally say.

"Yay!" she squeals as she pulls me into a hug. "Okay then! Let's make the best feast ever, best friend!" I smile at my crazy new friend as she starts grabbing pots and pans and throwing food into them.

Maybe having a friend will help keep me sane until I can get away.

Once we've finished the cooking we place everything on the huge table in the dining hall. Beta Adam comes in to speak to us.

"Rebecca you should go get ready for the ceremony. I've been told to ask you if you could help Haley find something to wear as well. All pack members are to attend." he looks at me with disgust then turns and leaves.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Rebecca exclaims. "It"ll be like dress up, I'll help with your make up if you want."

"Absolutely, thank you." I keep my eyes trained on the ground.

"How come you never look up?" she says curiously.

"Beta Adam gave me an order to never make eye contact." I quietly answer. Rebecca gasps amd covers her mouth.

"How are you supposed to find your mate? That's just cruel!" I shrug my shoulders and we start making our way to her bedroom in the pack house. Rebecca lost her mother when she was very young, and her father died in the same attack as my family.

When we get to her room, I'm in awe by the art on her walls.

"Do you paint these?" I ask.

"Oh, well some of them are mine but most of them were my mothers." she says sadly.

"They're very beautiful."

"Thank you." She walks to her closet and starts rummaging through. "Here try this on." She hands me a gorgeous red dress. It has off the shoulder straps and fits me perfectly. It flows to the floor and twirls when I dance around.

"I love it, thank you so much!" I say teary eyed.

"Let's do a smokey eye with deep red lipstick for your make up, what do you think?" Rebecca grabs her make up bag and sits beside me and starts expertly applying it to my face. When she's finished I look at my face and can barely recognize myself. I no longer have circles under my eyes and look amazing.

"You look hot." she giggles. "I bet everyone will be giving you a second look tonight!"

"Maybe but once they realize it's me they'll be ashamed of themselves." Rebecca looks sad, and moves to get herself ready. When she's ready we leave for the dining hall for the feast. Everyone is dressed in their finest clothes and are getting seated around the large table. We sit together and Beta Adam asks for the Moon Goddess' blessing for our food, and for our Alpha's strength. Once he finishes we all dig in. It's the first time since my parents were alive that I've eaten with everyone. It's so weird, but thankfully nothing is said.

After everyone is finished, we move to the throneroom for the ceremony. Xavier walks down the aisle and reaches the throne. He bows, showing his respect for his father and all Alpha's of the Red Fang Pack before him. He then turns to look at the pack members as we all bow to him. He sits in the throne and we all feel a sudden burst of energy flow over us.

"As your Alpha, I have some things I would like to change. First off, I am demolishing Beta Adam's order to Haley Smith, forcing her to look at the ground for these past few years. Secondly, the first time I see a pack member lay their hand on her, they will be banished from the pack. If the offense is bad enough, they may be ripped apart by me first. We are supposed to be a family. Yet, you have shunned her for years. Why? Because her father wasn't able to protect my father and mother, your Alpha and Luna? He gave his life, his family gave their lives. Trying to protect my family. They should be honored. She's the last of the Smith line. One of the strongest families of our pack. Treat her as such. Thank you all, please enjoy the rest of tonights festivities." he then stands and strides in my direction. Rebecca pats my shoulder and slips away with a smile. For the first time in what seems like forever I look into Xavier's grey eyes.

"May I have this dance?" he asks huskily.

"Y-yes." I place my hand in his and we begin gliding beautifully on the dancefloor. We dance for what seems like hours. Once the party is over Rebecca waves goodnight as Xavier escorts me home. The closer we get to my shack the more nervous I become.

"This is fine I can make it the rest of the way." I say as i pull my arm away from him.

"Haley. I know you live in a shack. That's another thing I would like to change. I'm giving you your family home back."