I couldn’t help but giggle. “I don’t think I could ever be as excited as you are about anything,” I teased, taking the dress from her hands and hanging it on the closet door.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” she declared. “So, are you ready? This is the first step toward being part of Caelan’s pack!”
“I guess there’s a part of me that’s excited. I mean, Caelan’s going to declare me as his mate after I’m made an official member of Harvest Moon. But I don’t know.” I sighed. “I guessI’m just nervous about how the pack is going to take the news. What if they don’t like me?”
“Don’t be silly,” Taffy chided, dismissing my words with a wave of her hand. “I already told you that the pack is going to love you. All that matters is that you make Caelan happy. They trust him, and if he trusts you, then they’ll accept it without question.”
She came over, putting a hand on my shoulder as she turned me to face her. “Plus, you’re Caelan’sfatedmate. That means something. The Goddess chose you for one another, and there’s a reason she did what she did. We just don’t know what it is yet. We have no right to question her wisdom.”
I sniffled, fighting back tears as the weight of her words hit me. I wanted to believe she was right. Not just about the pack accepting me, but also that the Goddess had a reason for why I’d been afflicted as I had.
Maybe she does have a purpose in mind for me.
“On a lighter note,” Taffy sang. “You’re going to love what I picked out for you. You will look absolutely gorgeous tonight! I can’t wait for Caelan to see! He’s going to want to mark you right then and there!” she squealed, letting go of my hands and clapping excitedly. “Open it!”
I unzipped the garment bag with a smile. Inside was a long, dark-red dress with spaghetti straps and sheer panels running down the sides of the skirt. It was stunning.
Taffy’s right. Caelan is going to lose his mind when he sees me in this.I slipped it on, the silky fabric soft against my skin as Taffy zipped up the back. I stood in front of the dressing mirrorand looked at myself.
I was surprised by how pretty I felt as I swished the skirt around. Then a thought struck me that made me frown.
I look like Sunny.
Thinking about my sister made me a little sad. She and my father were the only family I’d known for so long, but despite everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but feel upset that I might never see them again.
Would they even want to be around me now? They clearly felt like I betrayed them by taking Sunny’s place at Caelan’s side. After everything they’ve done, do I really want to see them ever again?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure, but I still couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness at the realization that I might not have a family anymore.
“There! Absolutely perfect!” Taffy announced after I slipped on the heels she’d bought to go with the gown.
She looked up, her smile suddenly dropping as she noticed my expression. “Shade, what’s wrong?”
I shrugged, trying to dismiss the silly notions running through my head. My family had never been kind to me. Why should I care that they weren’t here? It felt ridiculous.
“No, don’t shrug it off. What’s the matter? Maybe I can help,” Taffy pressed.
“It’s stupid, really,” I admitted with a sigh. “It just hit me that I probably don’t have a family anymore.”
My gaze dropped to the floor as I fought back tears.
“That’s not true,” Taffy asserted, putting a comforting hand on my arm. “Your family didn’t deserve you, Shade. They treated you like you were disposable. What you have here with Caelan and the rest of us? That’s a real family. One that loves you for who you are.”
I covered her hand with my own, my throat tight with emotion.
“We may not be blood,” she continued. “But we’re going to be there for you like they should’ve been in the first place. And not because we need you to protect us with your superpowers, but because we care for you and want you to be happy. Because that’s what you deserve. What everyone deserves.” A lone tear slid over my cheek, and she reached up to wipe it away.
“Don’t cry for them, Shade. They aren’t worthy of it,” she said with a misty smile before clearing her throat. “Also, like I need you to stop so I can do your makeup. I can’t have you going out there looking all puffy-eyed and sad for your initiation. Not the look we’re going for here.”
I laughed as she gave a dramatic eye roll, grateful she’d managed to ease the tension.
She’s right. My past is behind me for a reason. Chin up. Eyes forward.
Harvest Moon Initiation
SHADE
Finally, it was time for the initiation to begin.
