Mated To An Enemy

After the tour was over, the three women returned to get ready for the party.

Ashleigh looked at herself in the mirror.

She wore a simple flowing red gown with long sleeves. There were no flourishes or accents. Simplicity at its finest.

Her hair was down and slightly curled, and her makeup was lightly done.

Corrine knocked at the doorframe.

Ashleigh looked back over her shoulder.

“Come in.” She smiled and turned to show her mother her dress.

Corrine smiled and tilted her head to the side.

For her part, Corrine’s hair was braided and knotted much less extravagantly than usual. Her dress was long and simple like Ashleigh’s. However, it was a deep burgundy, and she wore a large dark leather belt as an accent.

“Did Caleb pick this?” Corrine asked.

Ashleigh nodded.

“I wasn’t sure what to pick,” she said, turning back to the mirror. “But it’s nice.”

“It’s lovely,” Corrine smiled. “Now, take it off.”

“What?” Ashleigh asked with surprise.

“It’s a very nice dress, and I am sure he got it because he knows how little you care for the glitz and glamour of dressing up. But tonight, is not just about you. Tonight, you present yourself as Luna to the Summer wolves. Tonight, you dress for them.”

Ashleigh looked down at the dress and then back up at her mother.

“But I don’t have anything else.”

“My darling girl.” Corrine smiled and reached out to Ashleigh. “For two years I was preparing to give you a wedding to die for, and in the end, you gave me only a few hours to prepare for it.”

Ashleigh laughed and mumbled an apology.

“So, it’s not a wedding, but I have spent time and effort preparing at least this.”

Corrine went back to the door and reached down. She picked up a large box and brought it to the desk not far from where Ashleigh stood.

“Come,” Corrine called.

Ashleigh approached the box and looked at her mother curiously.

“Well, open it.” Corrine laughed.

Ashleigh pulled back the lid.

The first thing she saw was a beautiful dark green material with etchings of golden thread. She reached in and pulled it out. Holding it against her body, she was surprised at how lightweight it was, and how simple.

It was strapless, with a sweetheart neckline and a long ruffled skirt.

Ashleigh furrowed her brow and looked at her mother. It was lovely, she was particularly fond of the color, but it did seem a bit underwhelming for how her mother had hyped it up.

She also couldn’t help but think of how awkward it would be to walk in a ruffled skirt. Caleb’s choice was at least easy to move around in.

“The Luna is many things to her pack. And as archaic and ridiculous as it may sound, one of those things is beautiful. When they look at you, they wish to admire you, in action, in word, and in aesthetics.”

Corrine shrugged and smiled. She took the dress and laid it out on the bed nearby.

“Keep looking,” she said as she straightened it out.

Ashleigh turned back to the box. Next, she pulled out a pair of black pants, breathable and durable material like those she wore with her armor.

“Pants?” Ashleigh asked.

“Mmhmm,” Corrine hummed. Taking them from Ashleigh’s hands. “I know how much you dislike wearing dresses.”

“Okay…”

Ashleigh turned once more to the box.

When she looked again, she found a black, lace-up underbust corset and a small velvet bag cinched closed.

“A little flourish,” Corrine said, “with purpose.”

She took the corset and laid it on the bed beside the dress. She then opened the velvet bag and pulled out four small throwing knives. Corrine placed each one neatly in almost invisible slots along the corset.

“Mom!” Ashleigh cried out.

“What?” Corrine smiled. “I told you it had a purpose.”

“I don’t think wearing weapons is the best message,” Ashleigh sighed.

“Isn’t it?” Corrine asked.

Ashleigh raised a brow.

“The last celebration you attended here, there was an attack,” Corrine said. “As Luna, you must always be prepared to defend your people.”

“If you say so,” Ashleigh sighed, returning to the box.

This time she found long laced black boots that would reach mid-thigh. A strange choice when wearing a dress, especially one with such a long skirt, but she said nothing.

The last item in the box was something Ashleigh recognized immediately, making her pause and look back at her mother.

“That… shouldn’t be there… should it?” she asked.

Corrine smiled.

“Pull it out, darling.”

“Alright…”

Ashleigh reached in and pulled out the last item.

“Now,” Corrine smiled, “let’s get you dressed.”

Twenty minutes later, the final pieces of her outfit were on her body, and her mother was doing her hair.

Ashleigh was still unsure about the outfit her mother had chosen, but she hadn’t seen herself in it yet either.

“I’m not as good at this as Axel is. Truly that boy does magic with hair,” Corrine laughed. “But luckily, what I am doing isn’t that complicated.”

“What, no braided crowns?” Ashleigh laughed.

“No,” Corrine smiled as she twirled the strand of hair in the curling iron. “In Winter, yes, but Summer, no.”

“Do you think they wouldn’t like it?” Ashleigh asked.

“The braids and knots of Winter honor our history,” Corrine said softly. “You are becoming Luna of Summer now, and you must honor their traditions. Just as when Axel’s mate joins Winter, I expect her to wear the braids and knots.”

“He’d have to find her first,” Ashleigh said.

Corrine smiled. She ran her fingers through the curls of Ashleigh’s honey-colored hair. Grabbing one of the last remaining strands without a ring.

“So, what are we doing with my hair then?” Ashleigh asked. “What is the Summer style?”

“Well… they don’t have a particular style perse. They mostly dress for efficiency or the occasion. If you remember the Summer wolves that came to your birthday party, they all dressed in the same suit. They looked sharp, but it was essentially a formal wear uniform.”

“Caleb’s suit was different,” Ashleigh commented.

“Yes,” Corrine agreed. “But as Alpha, it would be strange for him not to stand out from his wolves somehow.”

“True.”

Corrine finished working on the last curl and set down the curling iron.

“There,” she said. “All done.”

Corrine grabbed a hand mirror to show Ashleigh her hair.

The left side and back of her hair hung loose in flowing curls. While the right side had three rows of side braids

“I thought you said no braids,” Ashleigh commented, touching the braids affectionately.

“I said no crowns,” Corrine smiled. “But you will always be a part of Winter, and Winter a part of you.”

Ashleigh nodded warmly.

“Now, would you like to see the whole picture?” Corrine asked.

Ashleigh smiled and nodded.

Corrine offered her hand, and Ashleigh took it. They walked together to the tall mirror across the room.

Ashleigh looked into the mirror with delight as she looked over her outfit. The green was beautiful, and the black of the corset only served to highlight the depth of the color. She turned slightly to get a full view of the skirt. She still thought it was a little big, but she knew the others would love it.

“One final touch,” Corrine said.

She stepped forward and pulled at the center of the skirt. Ashleigh gasped as it separated just slightly off center. Corrine peeled it back to gather at Ashleigh’s hip, where a small hook waited to hold the skirt's weight.

Ashleigh looked up at the mirror and smiled brightly as she saw the actual effect her mother had intended.

Turning, the mirror only saw her left half, loose blonde curls, bare shoulder, and a beautiful gown of green and gold. But then, turning to the right was a whole different picture.

With the skirt pulled back, she could see the boots and the pants; still, the dress gave a feminine accent. Continuing up, the corset with the hilts of the four throwing knives peeking through gave a feeling of danger.

Finally, the last item in the box was the one that Ashleigh had been so confused to see, but now she understood.

A black leather pauldron covered her right shoulder down to the elbow, where a matching bracer continued down to her hand.

Ashleigh centered herself in the mirror, she looked at two sides of herself, the woman and the warrior. Seeing them blend together so seamlessly. She felt strong, and beautiful.

“Come, Luna Ashleigh.” Corrine smiled, offering her hand. “It’s time to greet your people.”