Leading up to...


One week. The countdown had begun. 6 days, 12 hours, and 24 minutes before the day everyone had been waiting for. Everyone was stressed.

Putting final touches on their outfits, making sure they book hair and makeup appointments, and even getting dates set. No school, no work, just plain planning, and perfecting.

Serenity didn't have time to process what was happening. Between Mr. Edward's history lesson and Liam allowing her to actually attend the ball. She was swamped. Not physically but mentally. She didn't even know how to process the information being given to her, so she did the best thing she could.

For now, she would ignore it all.

So here she sat on a blistering Sunday afternoon locked up in her room. The weather was being unpredictable as usual and it was a whopping 85 degrees outside. A big change from the 40 degrees it had been the previous week.

Serenity laid on her bed staring up at the ceiling. Sweat slowly began to form on her forehead in tiny little beads. It may have been only 85 outside but inside, up in her attic room, it's ten degrees hotter. Way too hot to be doing anything.

Her eyes suddenly became heavy, and slowly as the minutes passed by she fell into a peaceful slumber. Since she had no responsibilities or duties she went unnoticed up in her room. No one bothered her, and for once in her life, she wasn't needed. So she peacefully dozed off forgetting all her worries, even if it were only for a second.

                 Downstairs was a bit more chaotic.

"That's it. Everythings in order!" Mateo sunk down in his office chair. Both in defeat and relief.

"Does this mean you will ease up a bit?" Zoey sat in front of him in the chair that laid in front of his desk. With her feet up on the arm of the chair rest she sat chewing on the pen she was holding.

Mateo sighed, "not exactly, love. We're still a bit on edge because of the low security. Having the teens take shifts through the day instead of actual works out is stressing Liam out."

She sighs, "Of course it is. It's always something with him."

"Don't say that. He's your alpha now too. Don't forget that."

"I know, I know, but recently with everything that been happening. I haven't gotten to see much of you. Not unless I come in here and help you with work." She sighs.

"Things have been stressful I understand that, but this is my job," He sat up and put his arms on his desk clasping his hands together. He knew she deserved the truth of what it was going to be like after the ball, so that's what he was going to give her. The truth, "Look, Zoey, after the ball things are going to hit the fan."

She sits up in her seat letting the papers that were in her lap fall to the ground, "what do you mean?"

"Liam has an announcement to make at the ball, and the reaction of everyone can go one of two ways. Hopefully, it goes well, but there are no promises of that. No matter which direction it takes though I will still be just as busy as I have been this past month. Maybe even more."

Now she was confused more than ever, "Announcement? What announcement?"

Mateo shakes his head, "I cannot tell you much. I just wanted to warn you." He stands up and makes his way around the desk, "Now, how about we take the rest of the afternoon to ourselves? We can go into town if you'd like?"

Her mind was racing. Did her dad know this information? What was going to happen at the ball? Pushing all these questions to the back of her mind she smiled and nodded her head, "can we grab some ice cream?"

Taking her hand he nods, "Of course darling."

Zoey knew her place. To be a pretty face that the pack can rely on. Since there is no current standing luna she was the next best thing. She would be Using this to her advantage and that meant to find out what was actually going on.

By the time she was done doing that the pack would be more loyal to her than their future luna.

               Liam looked up from his spot on the couch. Through the living room window, he could tell the sun was about to set. This means that the guard shift would soon switch out. Since Mateo went to town with Zoey he would make sure that everyone was where they were supposed to be.

He stood up and left the room. The kids being too invest in their game didn't even notice. He went up the stairs and into his office where he grabbed the schedule of who all was on guard at five. Going down the list he sees her name along with a few others.

He hasn't seen her all day, not even for lunch, and began to wonder where she had been. Just to make sure she wouldn't be late for her duties he went to look for her in her room. Maybe that's where she was hiding out.

Upon reaching her bedroom door he could sense she was in there. He quietly cracked open the door. The room radiated heat as soon as he opened it even slightly. He thought it odd. It was quite warm up here, but her room wasn't just warm, it was hot.

Pushing open the door he walks inside to see her soundly sleeping on her bed. She wore the bare minimum- a pair of shorts and a cami- probably due to how hot it was. He bent down next to her and could see the beads of sweat that dripped down her forehead.

How could she still possibly be asleep in these conditions? He wondered as he continued to watch her sleep.

A few minutes went by until she started to rustle in her sleep. He figured she was waking up. As to not make it seem so weird he stood up and walked towards the door.

Serenity booted upright just as he made it to the door. He turned hearing her sit up abruptly. Turning back around he goes back to her and gently places his hand on her shoulder.

She slightly jumps surprised by the contact and the other person in the room. She hadn't quite taken in her surroundings yet.

"Are you okay?"

Serenity nods her head while entangling her hands in her curly locks, "I-I'm fine." she wasn't going to tell him about the recurring dream. In fact, she didn't even know if it'd be considered a dream or a nightmare.

Liam removed his hand from her sticky skin that is glazed over by sweat. Deciding not to press on the matter he change the topic, "It's rather-" he searched for the word for a second, "humid up here."

"Yes, it gets like that in the summer. I often camp out in the living room."

He ponders a few ideas for a few moments.

"Did you need something?" She asks. Why was he in her room?

"The guard shift is about to switch out. I hadn't seen you all day, so I just came to check up on you."

Sernity hops up, "Oh no! My shift!" she starts to rush around her room getting her stuff together.

"Yes, take your time though. You will be with me, and I can handle it."

3 days. 9 hours. 37 minutes. People began to arrive on Wednesday. To Liams relief everything was going as planned.

"Welcome, welcome!" he walked around the packhouse greeting different people. He felt rather over-stimulated and wished it was all over already.

"Alpha! A few more packs than expected arrived today. The dining room is only big enough to sit two of those packs comfortably."

Liam is stopped by Aston. All formalities while other packs are present, "It's a nice evening. Set up a few tables, and picnic spots outback."

Aston quickly dismissed himself to do just this.

How were they already running out of space? Liam thought as he walked into the kitchen. Preparations for lunch are already being made, so it's even more hectic than the rest of the house.

"Alpha, the other packs don't eat as we do. How do we prepare food for them?" One of the pack's moms that is the head chef asked upon seeing him.

"Umm, go ahead and cook a few dishes. I'm sure there's a cookbook around here somewhere."

"Yes of course," she smiles and goes back on about her business.

Liam decided to walk around the packhouse and socialize. He made it as far as the living room before being ambushed by a group of girls. 

"Alpha Liam?"

"Yes, ladies." He knew this was coming. Everyone was interested in his love life and inquired about the future Luna of his ever-growing pack. 

The group of three girls shyly twisted their hair and batted their eyelashes until one (most likely the leader of the group) stepped forward to introduce herself, "I'm Amry, from the Howlers pack."

Liam drank in the girl's physical appearance. She was easy on the eyes with long straight strawberry blonde hair, freckled button nose, and green doe eyes. Overall she was quite attractive.

"Hello Amry it's a pleasure to be able to host your pack," He takes her hand and places a soft kiss on top of it. 

The girl slightly swoons but keeps her composure, "we were just wondering if we could help in any way?"

"No no no, just sit back and relax in fact," he spots Jullianne walk down the stairs, "Jullianne!" she turns and smiles at him. He motions for her to come over, "girls this is Jullianne, she'd be more than happy to show you all around. Wouldnt you Jullianne?" 

"Of course alpha," she bows to show her respect. 

"Great! Take them down by the pond, I'm sure they'd love that." he leaves them to be. He didn't need more females following him around like the lost puppies they were. 

Speaking of females. He hadn't really seen Serenity. Had she been busy? He hoped she had been able to socialize with all the different packs. 

Why he was thinking of her? He didn't know. Why he wanted her and omega to socialize with the other pack? He also didn't know. What has come over him? Maybe his head hadn't been screwed on right this morning. Or he was simply just losing it. 

               "LOOK SERENITY LOOK!" Des exclaimed while twirling around her room in her ball gown. 

"Yes, I see it beautiful!" She giggled at how happy her friend was. After waiting and waiting she had finally received her dress back from the tailors. 

"I feel like a million bucks!" Des grabs her friend's hands pulling her up from where she was sitting on the bed and makes her twirl around also. 

"Yes, yes, yes, now take it off! You are going to ruin it before you even get to show it off! That dress cost a pretty penny and I will not have anything happen to it before everyone sees it!" Her mom walks in and throws a fit upon seeing her daughter already wearing the dress.

Sighing her shoulders sag and she drops Serenity's hands, "Way to ruin our fun mom."

Eloise rolls her eyes at her daughter, "You will have enough fun at the ball, now take it off and start heading to the packhouse. Aston has his hands full with lunch since all the packs have started arriving. You can go lend him a hand."

Mercedes starts taking the dress off carefully while serenity takes a seat back on the bed. 

"Why do we have to help? I'm sure they have everything handled without us." Des huffs. 

"Don't huff at me! Now, do as I say! Be sure to socialize with the other packs. And be polite!"

Serenity stands up, "yes ma'am." she bows and ushers her friend to hurry up and get dressed.

"That's more like it. Thank you, sweetie," she turns to her daughter, "You could learn some manners from her!" with that she turns on her heels and walks out the room. 

Mercedes finishes getting dressed, "you're making me look like a bad influence."

Serenity shakes her head, "It's not like I can be disrespectful. I'm an omega. Your mom was the last Crescent. I'm not trying to get thrown out of the pack right now."

"Your right, who would be my best friend then?"

They laugh and walk out of the room. Before heading out they stop in the kitchen to grab a drink. 

"Hey honey," Des's dad walks into the kitchen as they're grabbing a juice pouch. 

"Hey, dad." She bows her head in respect.

"Where are you two off to?"

"Mom told us to go to the packhouse and see if we can help."

He nods his head, "Okay, hurry down. I heard they ran out of room inside to eat so they have to set up outside. I'm sure they can use some help cooking also."

"Yes sir."

No other words were exchanged. Instead, they just left. Off to the packhouse, they went. 

Of course, once they arrived it was chaotic. Different people of all packs lingered around the house socializing with one another. All the different scents mingled together and you couldn't quite tell who's was who. 

Serenity lost Des in the crowd as she stopped to talk to a group of girls standing outside of the packhouse. She continued to go inside. 

The living room was packed with kids playing on the game system, the kitchen was flooded with people cooking dinner, so the only place left was to go outside. Picnic areas were already set up, so she walked around trying to find an empty area to drink in some sunlight. 










The ball is the next chapter! Whos excited? I know I am! How are we liking the longer chapters?

What do you think is going to happen at the ball?

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