“I hate it. Let’s go to another store.” I went to hang it back up.
Five grand, for an engagement dress.Were they insane?
Sage pulled the tag from my hands and looked at it, rolling her eyes. “My sweet sixteen dress was more than this. It’s totally fine.”
My mouth dropped open. “Sage, that’sobscene.That’s someone’s monthly salary.”
She pulled out her phone and hit a few buttons.
I panicked. “No. What are you doing?” Sage was a loose cannon; I never knew what she was going to do.
“Hey, Cuz,” Sage purred into the phone and my whole body went rigid. “Demi is scared to buy her dream dress for tonight because it’s five grand.”
I punched her in the arm,hard, and she winced before handing me the phone.
“You asshole,” I mouthed to her, but she simply held the dress over her body and began to spin around the room with it as she ignored me.
“Hello…” I gulped, pressing the phone to my ear.
“I love that you’re economical,” Sawyer said, “but I plan on only getting married once, so let’s go big or go home with this, okay, love?”
“I mean, I guess if there is any time to go big or go home, it’s with your wedding to a millionaire.” I laughed nervously into the phone. I hated talking about money. It felt weird when I stopped to think of all the stuff Sawyer bought me and how much it might cost.
“Billionaire. But yes, get the dress, okay? Can’t wait to see you in it.”
Billionaire.My eyes bugged and I mentally stumbled over his words. I mean I had seen Hudson on everything since I got here. Hudson hospital, Hudson laboratories, Hudson pharmaceuticals but… billionaire? I shook my head.
“Kay,” I squeaked into the phone and ended the call. “Low blow,” I called at Sage and chucked the phone at her. She caught it in mid-air and then laughed.
“Try it on.” She shoved the pretty dress at me and I conceded.
After slipping the dress on, it was like the fashion angels sang as I walked out to model for Sage. It fit like a glove and I felt so beautiful.
Sage’s mouth dropped open at the sight of me. “Holy shit. You have to wear heels with it.”
I shook my head. “Sawyer said yesterday not to get shoes, that he got some for me.”
Her face screwed up. “That’s dangerous. If they are hideous you will have to pretend you love them.”
I grinned, about to retort when I felt something… that weird feeling I was being watched again. It was a pull on my energy that I couldn’t explain, yet it felt familiar, so I was just left feeling confused.
“What’s wrong?” Sage must have noticed my face.
I swallowed hard. “Nothing.” I stepped into the dressing room and quickly changed, then paid for the dress with Sawyer’s credit card. I wanted to be happy. Tonight was my big night, but I felt this pit in my stomach, a sickening feeling that was mixed with loneliness. I felt fine before we got to the mall, but now my emotions were all weird and depressing.
What the hell?
I was about to question my sanity, when we stepped out of the store and Astra leaped into view. “Alpha.” Her voice shook as she sprang in front of me.
My heart jackknifed in my chest at the sight of the tiny Paladin wolf on Werewolf City land.
Eugene stepped forward, springing into action from across the mall, but Walsh stopped him, looking at me.
I shook my head, and then waved them off. “Sage, can you give us a moment?” I handed her my dress and she looked confusedly at Astra, nodding.
Why was she here?
The small wolf girl looked dirty, sick, confused. She had dark circles under her eyes and a network of red scars across her face; her skin was pale and covered with dirt. There were even a few twigs in her hair. A protective need surged up inside of me.
