AVA: AWAKENING OF THE LUNA

It was the biggest event that had everyone buzzing, something even beyond high school prom excitement; girls huddled in corners whispering and giggling about which girl Alpha would choose as his mate. Everyone wanted to be his favorite.

Then there was Madison - a stereotypical mean girl who glances at you as if she owns the place. Rumors were that she had basically ransacked every beauty salon in town just to be the prettiest there. But you know, you can put on makeup as thick as you want, but it cannot replace an ugly personality.

Now, Ava? She could care less about any of this. Actually, she detested every single person in the pack, and honestly, who could blame her? They had been awful to her, shoving around and making her feel like she did not belong just because they thought her weak. She knew she had no chance of being chosen, and she was all right with that.

Thank God for Alora though; she was one perfect thing in Ava's life. They had been best friends ever and Alora could literally be the sole person who saw Ava for who she was. She was not afraid to confront everybody else and tell them they were wrong about her friend.

Then - BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Ava's alarm snapped her back to reality. She had lost herself in thoughts, managed to nearly forget the date - the anniversary of her father's death.

Ava rushed through preparations; her silver hair caught the light as it was once again put in a ponytail - the way she always did it. Gentle looking sweet features; nice eyebrows; these deep brown eyes that soften in a morning sun. The physical thing everyone used to pick on her was this crescent birthmark on her forehead that genuinely stood out.

After showering, she wore some cozy clothes that perfectly fitted her slender body. Bundling her purse, then saw that old scar on her right arm. Odd thing about it; she'd had it since childhood, but she did not know how she got it. Ignoring that mystery, she went out the door.

Walking the street gave a feeling like being under a spotlight - that feeling when everybody watches: noisy whispers and glaring eyes toward her, but Ava just kept her head down. She had gotten good at tuning all that out by now.

She had stopped to pick up white lilies at Flora Flowers, as they always reminded her of her dad. He loved them. But to get to the cemetery, she had to run the usual gauntlet of bullies.

"Hey! Freak!" someone yelled.

Ava just kept moving.

"Yeah, that's right, keep walking, demon!" There was even spitting on the ground after her, as if she was something disgusting.

Her chest felt constricted, yet she would not allow them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She kept telling herself this much worse feigned breath.

After reaching the cemetery, she checked all around to ensure that no one was shadowing or tailing her. Only after that, did she relax a little.

Honestly, she feels pretty much drained due to everyone's mina with her. It hit her all over again when she squatted between the tombstones of her parents': a deadly hollow feeling of loss. She tried so hard to keep strong, but seeing the names carved in those old stones broke something in her.

The tears just fell. It crashed over her like a wave-the truth of whole aloneness. She wiped her eyes with her hand and took a wiggly breath before laying the lilies down.

"Mom, Dad... it's me," she whispered through an unstable voice.

"I'm sorry I'm not around so much anymore. Things are just... really tough right now. Nothing changed-people still hate me, treat me like I don't belong here. But I'm trying to be really strong about this, as much as both of you would have wanted."

She squirmed a little and released that pitiful laugh that said a lot without words.

"You know Dad," she added softly-toying with the petals of a lily- .

"It's been one more year without you, and this world... it still feels so empty. There are times when I even wonder if those people might be right-about me being bad luck. If I hadn't crossed their path, maybe you and Mom would have been here, you know?"

At that moment, this intense fury of wind blew through the cemetery, and the trees shook their tops to pieces. Ava went completely stiff.

It wasn't new - it happened every time she came to visit. Inside her, she liked to think it was her parents communicating with her. The way the wind was howling seemed like someone was saying, "No, don't think like that!" But then again, maybe she was just seeing what she wanted to see. At least this way, she felt not so completely alone, as if they were somehow still looking out for her. Still, just as the wind died down, she took a breath and smiled a bit. "So...I've got something to tell you both," she said slightly blushing. "You remember me mentioning Damon? The Alpha?" She waited for him as she twirled her silver hair nervously. "Well, today's a big deal. He's picking his mate. I mean, I know he is hardly ever going to notice me, but... I don't know, he just does something to me, you know? Whenever I see him, it's... I can't explain it, but like we're somehow connected. My wolf goes crazy around him - she's never reacted to anyone else like that." The dreamy look in her eyes faded with a deep sigh. "But let's be real about this," she said, sounding somewhat playful at the end of her sentence. "He probably doesn't know I exist. I've spent all those years watching him from afar, but he's never once noticed me at all. He has always built a wall. like he's made of ice or something." After sitting there for a while longer, just being close to her parents' graves, Ava finally picked herself up and headed home. Later that Evening

Once again Ava lay stretched on the bed as she went through the cracks in the ceiling, probably for the hundredth time. Down at Moon Square, the entire pack must be going crazy with preparations for the Moon Mating Ceremony; and here she was, living happily in her little bubble.

A sharp knock at her door startled her.

"Who in the hell...?" she muttered and dragged herself off the bed.

Ava stood up and open the door, and literally had to catch her breath. There was Alora, appearing as if she had just stepped out of a magazine; adorning this incredible midnight blue gown which shimmered with every movement along with absolutely flawless makeup-the one done that probably took hours to prepare but looked so natural.

"Oh my god, Alora..." Ava breathed taking in her friend's transformation. "You're stunning. Like, really stunning."

Alora did a little twirl, grinning. "I clean up pretty well, don't I? But hold up - why are you still in your pajamas? Please tell me you're not planning to skip this."

Before Ava could even think of an excuse, Alora had already pushed past her and was heading straight for her closet like she owned the place.

"I just... I don't know if I should go," Ava said quietly, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Maybe it's better if I stay here."

Alora looked back, hands on her hips, and said, "Let me guess." Thrusting her hand deep into Ava's clothing, she completed her phrase in a dull monotonous voice: "Feeling nervous about those stupid jerks and their stupid comments?" She asked her worriedly about all the looks and whispers.

Ava didn't respond but looked down at the floor. The silence of Alora was enough to comprehend that she had hit the nail on the head.

"That's what I thought," Alora muttered while pulling out the most gorgeous emerald green dress that Ava had long forgotten. "Well, tough luck, bestie. Well, baby girl, don't let them ruin the entire night for you. Come with me, and we'll have a fantastic evening. Besides," she said in a mischievous way, "you never know who might make a note of you."

She tossed the dress toward Ava, who caught it automatically. "Now get dressed. We've got a ceremony to attend, and I'm not taking no for an answer."

Looking at the dress and then her best friend's dogged face, Ava felt a smile crinkle her lips, her first real one all day.

"You're not going to drop it, are you?" She already knew the answer from her friend.

"Not a chance," Alora declared triumphantly. "Now, hurry! Beauty like this takes time, and we have work to do!"

Perhaps tonight would not be such a disaster she had feared, Ava thought as she held the dress up against her and wore it because with Alora by her side, anything seemed possible.