CHAPTER 56: PREPS
CHAPTER 56: PREPS
Alana’s POV
For three days straight, I had only seen Axel when it was either dinner or bedtime. This was the busiest he had been in a very long while but he still made out time to have dinner with me most of the nights.
It was all about pack business and something to do with re-enforcing the pack borders against the recent attacks. Apparently, we could never be too prepared. Alistair and his men had made it past the pack barriers once and Axel was preventing that from happening again.
We would have dinner together in the evenings, and after small conversations, we would head to bed —well, I mostly went to bed before Axel did.— In the mornings, I would feel him plant a kiss on my forehead before zooming off for almost the entire day.
It was bitter-sweet because there was nothing I wanted more than to have him close to me in all the hours of the day but it also meant I had the space and privacy to plan his birthday dinner without Axel snooping around.
A part of me felt like Axel knew that I was scheming something behind his back because he wasContent is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Alpha and it was next to impossible to get anything past him, especially the loads of shopping bags I brought back from my little visit with Coral to the mall and the dress store.
My eyes traveled from the covers that I had been curled under since Axel got up that morning to the huge wall clock at the entrance of the room. It was half past the time that Coral asked me to be downstairs. Goddess!
I didn’t want to find out what she would have to say when I came down late or when she came up here, so I shot up from the bed and hit the shower.
I only required a small amount of skincare products for my skin and face. The scars from the injuries I had sustained all over my body for ages were now completely faded, except for the little tattoo-like mark on my neck. The scars on my legs, my back, hands, and face were all gone too.
My hair and skin were healthier and I had added a considerable amount of flesh in all the right places. My eyes were always either a bright shade of violet or gold. It was like I was going through puberty all over again.
I looked and felt the most beautiful I had been. Ever.
After masking my hair in some essential oils and conditioner, I did a deep rinse and a full body wash before I stepped out in a towel.
It only took a few more minutes to get ready and head downstairs where Coral was sprawled on the couch, propped on her hand, facing the TV, legs crossed, and munching on a bowl of popcorn at ten in the morning. Her deep green hair covered most of her face so I couldn’t yet tell if she was scowling at me or not.
“There’s toast and avocados,” she called without turning away from the TV. “Axel had fresh juice made for you before he left.”
“Oh,” I said.
“We have a long day, Alana, get your energy up.”
“Fine, Mom,” I sneered.
She finally turned her face to me, revealing her eyelashes darkened with mascara and a thin line of gold eyeliners. Her green eyes never popped more.
“The color suits you,” I arranged a plate with two toasts, slices of avocado, and a glass of lemonade mostly because it reminded me of my mates’ scent.
“Thanks. I would say the same thing for you but it’s like you repel makeup.”
It was true. The one time I remember having elaborate makeup on was the day I was first introduced to the pack as Axel’s mate. On that day, I begged Coral to make it as light as possible. I didn’t like the idea of layers of foundation sitting on my face for hours.
“Care for?” I tipped my plate to her, offering her some food but she waved me away with her free hand. I shrugged, but down on the first toast, closed my eyes, and let the flavor of the first bite generously coat my taste buds and I groaned through my stuffed mouth.
“We’ll need a cake,” I began. “I learned a little about how to bake with my Mom back then, but I’ve never really got the chance to practice.”
Coral’s gaze met mine and I sensed that she wanted to ask about my family since this was the closest I had ever gotten to mentioning them but she said something else instead. That was fine by me. I didn’t feel like talking about my family anyway.
“Me either,” said Coral. “Do you want to try it? We could order one instead.”
I shook my head. I wanted that special feeling for Axel where someone who cared about him baked him a homemade cake rather than just buying a random already-made one. “Lexi can help. And we’ll have a manual.”
“What could possibly go wrong with baking a birthday cake?” She shrugged.
“Nothing,” I replied with a light laugh.
“What else are you thinking of?”
“Food.” My eyes shot up excitedly.
“You seem more excited about the food you’ll eat than anything else, Alana,”
“I know it’s his party, but it wouldn’t hurt to fill my belly now, would it?”
“Whatever, Alana.”
“And drinks, just for a few people.”
“That’s okay. What about the theme, decor, music, and other entertainment?”
“I actually haven't thought of that. I feel like Axel will only want it to be a few people. Nothing too complicated.
“Alright. Can we finally leave now to go pick out the items for the cake?” Coral asked as she finished the last of the popcorn from the bowl.
“Yes, Coral. I have to stop by the omega section first.”
“Yeah? For Lexi?”
“Yes, and no.”
She tipped her head to me, asking me to continue.
“I just want to see how the other omegas are fairing. Now that I’m Luna, some things have to change, beginning with who stands for the omegas because we both know that she who shall not be named does not.”
A glint of…approval flashed in her green eyes for a brief moment before she finally responded. “Right behind you, Luna.”