Delilah dances around. “Who’s ready to see our costumes?”
We’re getting ready in the living room which has been turned into a dressing area for the night. I usually keep my makeup minimal—eyeshadow made from natural pigments and spices as well as homemade lip balms.
“The theme for tonight is inner animal.” Sabs curls her hands and pretends to claw the air. “Corny, I know.”
Kady scoffs while applying a layer of shimmery lip gloss, giving her a subtle yet elegant look to match her symmetrical winged eyeliner. “Alpha’s love any excuse to put on lion markings.”
“Okay, I can’t wait anymore!” Delilah wheels over a rack that’s covered in black fabric. “Here we go!”
Sabs squeals and rushes over, whipping off the cover with a flourish.
She grabs a skintight jumpsuit, complete with a tufty tail on its ass. “I’m going to be a fox. Obviously!” She flicks her fiery-red hair over her shoulder. “With my hair, there’s no other choice.”
“Kady, this is yours.” Delilah hands her a white, slinky, flapper-style dress that’s covered in feathers. “Our graceful swan.”
Larry chooses that moment to slink out from his hiding spot underneath the sofa. He hisses at Kady’s dress like it’s a swooping bird.
“It’s okay, little guy.” Kady bends down to pet him.
Larry doesn’t think so. He seems to shake his head then disappears again in a huff.
“This is mine. I can’t wait to put it on!” Delilah hugs a plain blue dress. “The last one is yours, Faye.”
“We went with a bunny.” Sabs hands me the dress. It’s dusty pink, almost ballerina-esque with a tight-fitting bodice coveredin sequins and a tutu skirt with a little, fluffy tail attached. “I wanted to go with a sluttier bunny vibe, but Delilah thought this one was more you.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to go out with half your butt showing,” Delilah explains, making me grateful she was around.
“Hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it!” Sabs strips down to her underwear then squeezes herself into the tiny jumpsuit while I admire my dress. It doesn’t look like it’ll fit past her toned thighs, but she manages to shimmy in. “Zip me up before it becomes undone!”
Kady steps in to do the honors.
Sabs lets out the breath she’s been holding. “Someone’s going to have to come to the bathroom with me every time.”
“Here are your ears, Faye.” Delilah hands me a headband with white, floppy ears. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I say, quickly changing.
Meanwhile, Kady straightens her headdress. It’s like a tiara made up of long, white feathers and pearls. She’s styled her blonde hair into waves, giving her a more relaxed appearance.
Sabs scoops her hair into a high ponytail, clips in two fox ears, then does a little twirl. Her time spent in the gym definitely pays off because her body is insane. She’s like an action figure with an ass so round she could probably squat me!
“What do you think?” Fully ready, Delilah raises her arms up so her sleeves form large wings—almost like a cape—in iridescent blue. “See?” She flaps her wings. “A Morpho butterfly. Pretty neat, right? It’s something the costume maker had in the back.”
“You look amazing, Del,” Kady says.
“Final touches,” Sabs sings, coloring in her nose before beckoning me over. She paints a cute, heart-shaped nose and whiskers on me. “Perfect!” She smiles. “I think we’re ready. To the cart!”
Buzzing with excitement, we head outside. Kady insists on driving because Sabs’s speeding would ruin her hair.
The party is taking place at Club Knotty in the heart of campus. As we drive that way, we pass other omegas who are also leaving. I see a leopard, a black cat, and some more unusual animals, like a koala, octopus and what looks like an armadillo.
The main street has a different energy at night. While the daytime stores are closed, food trucks have pulled in, serving lots of tempting dishes. With the smell of sugary donuts and cotton candy hanging in the air, we pass by people with piles of pita bread and mouth-watering looking burgers I’d struggle to wrap my hands around.
After we park, we amble toward the massive line that has formed outside Club Knotty, bassy music coming from inside.
“Come on!” Sabs grabs my hand and pulls me straight to the front of the line. Delilah and Kady follow, having a debate over whether buttery popcorn is better than caramel corn. “I know the doorman.”
The guy guarding the door is gigantic. He’s easily 6′5′′ and covered in tattoos. His moody expression instantly changes when he sees Sabs, a small smile tugging on his lips. To my surprise, he’s a beta, which is unusual as betas don’t tend to be so hulking in stature.
