(Lol, this one shot is turning into something longer than what I first expected. Tell me if you like it longer, or if you like it shorter.)

Kelsy smeared some lip gloss onto my lips, wiping it into the corners of my mouth. I tried to squash down the urge to to lick my lips but it was too strong, so I ran my tongue over the gloss that was supposed to give the effect that I had a perfect shiny smile. Dang- that tasted nasty.

"Riley," My friend hissed, slapping my arm. "You're not supposed to lick the lip gloss off! We're trying to make you pretty for the Alpha Mate Choosing Ceremony!"

"Well, sorry  for not being used to all this crap you smeared on my mouth. I usually go au-naturale," I mumbled as she put more lip gloss on. Maybe I could take a tissue to it when Kelsy was looking the other way. I didn't sign up for the Ceremony anyway, so I wouldn't be crying if I didn't get chosen because I didn't have a shimmery smile.

"I would be darned if you went out there looking like you do right after a Saturday nap. You're best friends with a cosmetologist, so I'm pretty sure people are expecting at least some  glitz and glamour from you."

"Hey- are you saying I don't look cute when I wake up from my nap?"

Kelsy ignored my last question, grabbing a fluffy brush that would put the fur of a male's True Form to shame and dipped it in more powder. After a few more minutes of fluffing, poofing, and primping; she backed up a few steps and nodded in approval. Then she grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to look in her full length mirror hanging on her wall. 

My eyes almost popped out of my sockets. The tired, disheveled strawberry-blonde haired girl was no more. In her place was a sultry woman who was ready to go to an aristocratic party at a manor. I couldn't even believe that was my own reflection staring back at me in the mirror.

My best friend laughed at my reaction, poking me with a finger.

"Uh-huh. Now tell me that the Alpha won't take a second look at you."

I oggled myself, turning to look at my back. "He's probably surrounded by beauty every day, which would make him numb to it. I'd probably get his attention more if I showed up as my natural self. But nontheless, I swear make-up is attainable magic. I thought that the bags under my eyes could never go away no matter how much concealer was used."

"Well, you were mistaken," She said, taking a glimpse of the clock. Kelsy made a double-take and her face immediately paled. She cursed as she ran over to the dresser that had her purse on it.

"Riley, we need to go! The Alpha's Mate Ceremony is starting in twenty minutes!" 

I spun so quickly that I almost toppled myself over in my high heels.

"What? Those people are a stickler for time- I told  you to keep an eye on it!"

Kelsy snatched her purse and got my handbag on the nearby bed, shoved my handbag in my hands, then grabbed my arm and pulled me out the bedroom and towards the exit. This girl was going to kill me before the night was out if she's going to keep doing stunts like that.

"I have high-heels on, Kels- running is equivlent to a high wire circus act," I panted as she fumbled with the keys to her apartment. I spotted the key first on her crowded keyring and jammed the right key into the lock and turned it. The mechanism clicked in response. She stuffed the keys back into her purse, and returned to her dash for the car downstairs with me heaving heavily behind her. 

"You seem to be doing fine, even though you have stilts on and you don't go for jogs anymore...  And thanks back there, by the way!"

I would've shot a retort back at her but my lungs were currently burning like the time Kelsy made me try ghost chili peppers. This run would've been so much easier in my True Form, but sadly our clothes don't come with us after we shift. I really needed to start going for jogs again.

We burst through the stairwell door leading up to the apartments like we were in a spy movie, and continued sprinting throughout the underground parking looking for Kelsy's baby- her brand new convertible silver Bentley. Her parents were part of the Upper Leadership of the Pack, and with favor came some serious cash. Not to mention she was a single child, so there was no one else for her parents to dote on except Kelsy.

A noise pulled me out of my thoughts. My best friend had found her car and had rolled down the top and the windows, yelling at me and patting the seat next to hers.

"Come on, fatty! We need to go!"

I wheezed angrily in reply. I was going to kill her after oxygen returned to my lungs.

The engine hummed as I took a flying leap over the car door and plopped in shotgun right next to Kelsy. Part of my butt missed the seat and accidently landed on the belt buckler, making me hiss in pain and stretch out in discomfort.

My best friend glanced out of the corner of her eye at me and smirked.

"Have a pain in the butt?"

"Yeah, and you're it," I grunted, seizing the car belt above my shoulder and slamming it into the buckler.

She snorted as she tapped on the gas pedal which making the Bentley growl in response.

"I hope you're ready," Kelsy said and shifted the gears, "'Cause we gotta drive fast."

She stepped on the gas and the car went screeching in the enclosed lot, unintentionally driving into one of the cement support beams which made a terrible crashing sound and dented the Bentley. I gaped in horror as she backed up the car. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks.

"Wow... I'm sure your dad will be so happy to hear that you need more money to fix the huge, ugly-as-sin dent in your flashy new luxury car. Wanna keep going and have him pay for vet bills, too? I think I saw a cat with tags on it's collar wandering around back there." 

Kelsy's face glowed red, turning the corner out of the apartment's underground parking.

"Keep talking, and I'll leave you right here to walk all the way to the Ceremony."

I burst out laughing as I grinned in victory, leaning back in my seat and enjoying the ride. Payback was sweet- and unfortunately for her, expensive.

-*-

After blowing past three stoplights, two stop signs, and nearly running over a possum that I thought I heard screaming when the animal was close enough to kiss the car's bent bumper; Kelsy and I finally arrived at the Alpha's estate a little past fifteen minutes. It was everything you'd expect it to look like- a large water fountain was in the middle of the loop-around driveway, floodlights lit up the four story mansion, and the landscaping seemed like it was fit for the Queen's vacation home. It was essentially the classic playboy house that almost every celebrity had.

"What do you think the electric bill costs?" I wondered as I stared through one of the windows that allowed me to see the crystal chandelier hanging in the foyer. There were no drapes whatsoever hanging in the mansion. If the Alpha had any stalkers, their job just got ten times easier.

"It depends on whether if they're just trying to put on a font and show off tonight, or if this is what they do everyday," Kelsy said as she parked her banged up Bentley in the grass. "If it is  something they do everyday, I'd wager a nine thousand to ten thousand electric bill every month."

I forgot that my best friend had rolled the roof up, so my whistle was a little too piercing. She cringed as we got out of her car and locked the doors with a single press of a button.

"Yikes. Inside voice, Riley. Anyway... ready to go in?"

Looking over at the mansion for a second, I felt a pang of anxiety. I nervously smoothed my dark purple lower-thigh length dress and patted down my wind-blown hair. 

"How do I look?" 

"Like you're about to vomit."

A laugh got caught in my throat which made me sound like an animal that was getting strangled. Kelsy looked at me with concern, walking over to me and gave me a half-hug. I would never admit it out loud for fear that people would call us a lesbian couple, but her hugs were one of the most soothing things on planet earth.

"You'll be fine- don't sweat it. Come on, lets go inside."

We fast walked up the lit pathway up to the house and stepped into the foyer. Immediately, men from the Pack dressed in suit and ties came and lead us through dizzying hallways to the Ceremony room. As we went through one door the chestnut haired boy on my left told me to follow him while the black haired hottie on the right told Kelsy to keep following him to the dining room. Kelsy flashed an apologetic smile, mouthed "good luck," then disappeared around a corner and left me with the chestnut haired boy. 

"So," I started as we turned down another marble corridor with gold walls, "How has your day been?"

My escort snorted. I could tell by the side of his face lifting up a little that he was amused with my poor attempt at small talk.

"No male Pack member can talk to an Alpha's mate canidate."

I frowned when I heard the sentence leave his mouth as I dodged a mahogany verona side table that took up a little too much space in the hall. This mansion screamed "grandeur spending habits" down to the smallest detail.

"You can't even answer a mate canidate for a simple 'how was your day' question? It's a tad overdone, don't you think?"

"I don't make the rules and I'm not supposed to think for myself as a Pack member- the Alpha is supposed to do that for me. Now quit asking me questions before I get into trouble," He muttered as he walked towards a set of french doors on his right. As his hand reached for the handles, I made a noise in my throat causing him to turn around. His intense hazel eyes landed on me and he deadpanned.                                

"What now? "

The stony look he gave me almost made me say "forget it," but I already got this far- why stop now?

"What's your name? Y'know, just in case I'm not accepted."

My escort sighed, turning back to face the doors. I was expecting him to ignore me, but he just stood still as a statue for a good five seconds. My hand reached out to touch his arm to see if he was okay. Right then, he looked over his shoulder at me with the faintest smile on his lips.

"Xander. Call me Xander."

I smiled back at him as he pushed open the doors and stepped aside to let me pass by. Xander's eyes followed me while I walked into the room, then went outside and closed the doors behind me. The cavernous room was painted a dainty white and was filled with elaborate gold furnature. Girls that I did and didn't recognize from Pack gatherings were scattered thoughout the room and chattered quietly in their groups or they were alone, either growling at anyone that came close or stood awkwardly by themselves waiting for something to happen.

I noticed one mousey girl standing alone in a corner. I remembered seeing her before, but I had never had the chance to talk with her during previous meetings because I was always being pulled along by Kelsy to the next thing.

Just seconds later, she had spotted me herself. She beamed and waved at me as I found myself grinning back and walking towards her. 

"I don't think we've ever had the chance to properly greet each other. Hi, the name's Riley," I said, holding out my hand. Her hand took mine and offered a surprizingly firm shake.

"Mine's Hannah. Yeah, I've seen you around before, too. You've always looked cool to talk to, but you're usually busy and I usually lack the guts to initiate the first hello." 

I laughed. I never would've guessed that the shy girl hiding in the corner table with her friends had this much personality. 

"So I'm just curious, but how old are you? I know that you need to be at least twenty years old to be officially accepted to the pack, but you look much younger."

Hannah pouted at the question.

"I'm twenty-three. You'd think that looking younger than your age would be a blessing, but frankly it's annoying as all get-out hearing that sentence so many times. My Mom's dad was a full blooded Japanese man, so I guess being a quarter Asian is where I get my youth genes."

I snorted and opened my mouth to reply to her when the french doors leading into the room flew open. A small committee of well dressed, high ranking Pack members sauntered into the room and gazed at all of the girls peppering the place. Then a man with combed back dark brown hair stepped forward. He wasn't very handsome, but what he lacked in striking facial features was made up for in confidence. He radiated power.

"Ladies," he purred, "Please line up."  

We obeyed and began to form rows. Me and Hannah stood side-by-side towards the back and began cracking jokes.

"Oh goodie, is this a game of Alpha Says?" I muttered. Hannah snickered next to me and bit her bottom lip as she was trying to keep a poker face. She didn't draw as much attention to herself because she was short.

"If that's the case, then we all lost already."

"No, he's Alpha- so that means whatever he says goes because he's Alpha."

Hannah began to whisper-sing to the tune of Sarah Vaughn's 'Whatever Lola wants.' 

"Whatever Alpha wants... Alpha gets..."

I exhaled through my nose trying to keep myself from laughing too loud meanwhile my new friend struggled to keep her shaking shoulders to a minimum.

A blonde girl in front of us that had her hair up in and elegant ball of curls turned her head to give us a death glare over her shoulder. Hannah childishly stuck her tongue out at her which made a new wave of giggles wash over me. I'd have to get this girl's phone number or social media info later. 

Bowing my head to regain control of myself, I heard shoes squeaking on the marble and felt a powerful presence walk towards my direction. I looked up to see the Alpha standing face-to-face in front of me, his icy gray eyes narrowing to slits. I sobered immediately and blushed with embarrassment. I could feel Hannah going still next to me also. 

"What's your name?"

Lovely. He was demanding, too.

"Riley Kenneth."

"And how old are you, Miss Kenneth?" He questioned as he paced around me in a circle. My wolf instincts awoken inside me, telling me to Shift and hurt him while I still could. I clenched my hands and kept them at my sides. I would not give into the temptation that would surely get me killed for attacking the Pack Leader.

"I'm twenty-two years old."

He stopped pacing around me and went back to staring me down. How did this man succeed in making me feel challenged in every way possible? 

The Alpha then grabbed my chin and tipped my face upwards while he looked at my neck and jaw.

"And you never had a boyfriend?"

My stomach clenched at his closeness. This had gotten way too personal and touchy for my liking- the inner wolf threatening to break loose. I pushed him a few steps away from me as he stumbled backwards from my sudden actions. His expression soured, letting his eyes go frigid.

Then suddenly he smiled. 

"I reject you."

A large bodyguard emerged from the gathering that came with The Alpha and grabbed my arm, leading me out of the room. I tried wiggling my limb a little to let my circulation flow better but he was unmovable as stone. I gave up and let him escort me to the dining room where Kelsy would be waiting for me, his shoes squeaking and my high-heels clicking sharply against the marble.

About five different dizzying, twisting hallways later, the body guard released my arm at the front of the door on my right. I could hear the murmur of a few hundred voices and clinking glasses just beyond the wooden barrier. I inhaled. Pushing the door open, I went in.

I only stepped one foot into the fine dining area, and the room went completely silent. Every eye turned to me as the chandeliers reflected light onto their white linen tablecloths and clothes. You could hear a pin drop. I raised an eyebrow, I looking over the sea of diners that were all staring at me like I was a ghost. Why the heck was everyone looking at me like that? This must be what a near extinct animal feels like sitting behind a glass wall at the zoo.

"Riley!" A familiar head of lightbrown hair bounced as she was waving in a corner. My ears perked with recognition.

"Riley!" Kelsy yelled. "Get over here!"

 I began to weave my way through the crowded rows of seats and tables that strangely reminded me of toothpaste being squeezed out of it's tube. People were starting to go back to their dull chatter, but it was still eerily quiet. I realized soon that there were two other faces sitting at my best friend's table with her. It was the black haired beauty and the stoic chestnut escorts. But as I came closer, I was able to see the grim faces on them too.

"Guys, why is everyone staring at me weirdly?"

Kelsy blinked at me. Her eyes lit up when it dawned on her what I was talking about. 

"Wait- you don't know how the Ceremony works?"

"Yeah, I do. The Alpha looks at me, then he either says yes or no."

Kelsy gazed at me quickly then started to rub her temple with her hands and muttered curses under her breath. The black haired escort glanced at me, then glared at Kelsy.

"You are this high up in the Pack, best friends with the canidate, and you still  forgot to mention one of the single most important details about the Ceremony?" 

"I thought I had told her!"

"What a best friend you  are."

I was getting tired of hearing their squabble and not getting answers. I slammed my fist down on the table which made everybody's attention snap back to me. If I kept this up, whatever social awkwardness I had before would go away by the end of the day.

"I would appreciate it if one of you morons would enlighten me with whatever the important detail is- preferably sometime tonight."

Xander got to it first, his hazel eyes hardening with every word.

"Walking out of the Ceremony room alone is not normal. Usually, the Alpha returns with his chosen mate with the rest of the girls flocking behind them. When the Alpha says "I reject you," it's a code phrase which has a much more sinister meaning behind it."

I tapped my fingers impatiently on the table, waiting for him to continue. He sighed.

"It means he's making you his mistress."

I blinked, slumping in my seat as I came to fully realize what he said. This couldn't possibly turn out good.

A/N: Sooooo... too long? Too short? Not enough detail? And the most important question of all- did I make you laugh? Let me know in the comments! (This is the celebration update if anyone was paying attention)

I promised I would mention entrenched when I was done, so tadaaaaaa. Lol.