Chapter 2

As we walked down a corridor of the pack house, I found myself thinking about my life here, "Good Riddance." My past, for the most part, was unhappy. I wasn't sure what my future held, but it had to be better than this, "Right?"

Our pack wasn't as big as some of the others, something else my father probably blamed on me. We had maybe fifty bedrooms, with only twenty or so in use. When my father decided to step down, I assumed that our pack would be absorbed by whomever I was soon to wed.

Layla ushered me towards the bathroom of her bedroom. As she took the gift box from my hands, she said, "Take a warm bath, sweetheart. I'll be out here waiting as soon as you are finished." I nodded before closing the door behind me.

I started the faucet before stripping off my clothes, leaving them in a pile near the door. Before stepping into the tub, I stared at myself in the mirror. I judged myself harshly, I was much too emaciated and pale for a lack of better words. Aside from my long, wavy chestnut hair and my unique eyes, there wasn't anything I truly liked about my appearance.

I had heterochromatic eyes; my right eye was hazel, a golden brown, and my left eye was forest green. That condition was already rare among humans. I was the only werewolf that I knew of that had them. I say that lightly, seeing as I have never shifted before. I'm not sure why my wolf had never chosen to come forth. She was probably more embarrassed by me than my own father was. "Perhaps I was cursed.", I thought to myself.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to push the negative thoughts from my mind before plunging into the scalding water. I added a burst of cool water from the tap just before cutting it off. I tried to take this moment to relax.

I had already packed my belongings, not that I had much. Some toiletries, a few simplistic outfits, and a couple of my favorite books that I had failed to return to the communal room. Those books had gotten me through some pretty difficult times while living in this hell hole. My only means of escape. Oh, how I sometimes wished a knight in shining armor would swoop in and save me from the dragon that was my dad.

A knock at the door interrupted my solace. "Kara, honey, do you need anything." Of course, Layla would check in. I sighed, "I'll be out in fifteen." Hurriedly, I washed and conditioned my hair and scrubbed my body. Before pulling the drain plug, I dunked myself under the water a few times for a rinse.

Wrapping myself up in a towel, I kicked the pile of clothes to the side so that I could open the door. My hair trickled water droplets onto the tobacco-stained wood floor as I walked back into Layla's bedroom.

I saw a garment bag lying on her bed; it was from Gilded Bridal. She sat me down at her Victorian-styled vanity. Her room was far nicer than mine. The décor was warm and comforting, whereas my room was bland, with only a simple bed and nightstand. I wished that I had my own bathroom, but instead, I was forced to use the communal ones.

She started brushing through my tangled hair. "I think an updo would look stunning on you. we can use your mother's comb to help hold it in place.", Layla chirped. I appreciated her trying to make the most of the entire situation. It gave me some semblance of hope for the future.

Layla was a miracle worker, truly. Even I thought I looked beautiful for once. "Now all that's left is for you to slip into your dress.", Layla said as she headed out her door. I wasn't sure why I was nervous about seeing the dress, but my hands trembled as I reached for the zipper on the bag.

The dress was not what I expected; I could tell it was on the more expensive side. Knowing my father would never have spent this much on me, I was confused. "Was this another gift from Layla.", I pondered.

I put the dress on carefully so as not to mess up my hair or the makeup that Layla had worked so hard on. The cream dress was an A-line silhouette with off-the-shoulder sheer lacey sleeves. The detail on the lace throughout the dress was a floral design, and hand-stitched beads were added sparsely. It was simple and classic but stunning, something that I might have actually picked for myself under different circumstances.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and started to tear up as I thought about my mother. If she had been still here, I knew things would have been different, and this moment would have been joyous.

A knock at the door brought me back to reality. Layla came back carrying a larger box this time. "I've got your shoes here.", she was a matter of fact this time. I could tell why a moment later, as my father was close behind her. "Hurry up and get your shit together we're running late", He snarled through grimaced teeth. There was not an ounce of love in his words or facial expressions. I lowered my head as I submitted to his authority.

I gulped as I started to speak, "My bag is already packed and waiting in my room." Layla hurriedly buttoned up the back of my dress as we watched my father head out the door, she slipped me a piece of paper which I tucked into the built-in bra of the dress. She gently pecked my cheek before whispering, "I love you, Dear."

She wore her smile once more as she took one last look at me. Cupping my shoulders and gazing upon me proudly, I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. She knew, as well as I, that this would probably be the last time that we would see each other. I slipped my shoes on before leaving her and my past behind.