A few minutes later Melissa returned with a fair skinned, thin, older woman with white and silver hair pulled up into a neat bun, “Good Morning, I am Judy the owner, Melissa says you need a dress and alteration done by tomorrow morning. I’m sure she informed you that-” Lynelle held her hand up, “Let’s just save ourselves the same song and dance Melissa and I just did here.” She took my hand and pulled me forward, “This is Lily, our future Queen Luna, you will have any dress she chooses altered and ready for her by late tomorrow morning. There was a reason we came here so early in the morning.” They both looked at me wide-eyed, “We would have come sooner if it had been possible but it was not and time is of the essence. Can you do this? Or do I have to tell the Alpha King that his Luna will be presented to him and the pack in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt?” They both shook their heads wildly. 

Judy turned to Melissa, “Call in Addi, Jessica, and Rodel and pull Maci off of the Wolhart project. Have them ready for whatever dress Luna Lily chooses.” Melissa nodded and turned to leave but stopped and looked back at me. She bowed her head, “Please forgive me Queen Luna.” I glanced at Lynelle. I wasn't Queen Luna yet. She gestured to Melissa in response to my glance. What should I say to this? No um’s, no um’s, no um’s! Ms. Tulley always said that um’s killed the credibility of anything one said. I gave Melissa a nod of my head, “I will forgive this since you did not know…but in the future, try asking questions before you assume something about someone.” She gave me a small curtsey, “Thank you your Majesty.” Oh my god! Majesty!?! As if hearing Queen Luna wasn’t overwhelming enough.  

Aunt Lynelle beamed proudly, “That’s my niece.” Abby hooked her arm in mine, “That was very well put for your first statement as queen.” She nudged me in my ribs before looking at Judy, “Now Miss Judy, let’s see the goods!” Her tone was upbeat, excited, and friendly, making Judy smile, a clear edge of relief in her soft features, “Yes, right this way.” 

Who thought there would be so many styles and variations of strapless dresses? I don’t know how many dresses I tried on. I was thankful that no mermaid dresses were shown to me. It almost seemed they didn’t have any dresses in that style. It was fine with me of course. Those dresses always looked uncomfortable and restricting to me. I giggled as I waited for the next dress to be brought to me. Maybe the original purpose of the mermaid dress was so the bride would have a harder time running away.

The next dress is handed to me through the curtain. I took it and held it up to look it over and see how I was supposed to put this one on. My brows pinched together in confusion, “I thought the dress had to be strapless.” Judy answered just on the other side of the curtain, “Yes, you’re right but this dress is unique by our collection standards. Those sleeves are an off-the-shoulder style. I think due to your position, unique appearance, and small stature, this dress might give you that extra…pop.” I shrugged. This was her expertise not mine. 

I took the dress out of its cover and off the hanger after unbuttoning the pearl buttons that lined the spine of the corset of the dress. I stepped into it and pulled it on and got as far as I could on my own before letting Judy know she could come in to help me finish. As she worked on the far too many buttons I took in the dress in the mirror. A loose, long, drapey skirt with leafy lace stitching that started at the bottom of the skirt and faded as it went up. The same lace pattern covered the corset and faded as it went down the skirt leaving the knee and lower thigh area of the dress as the only place bare of the lace. The corset was heart shaped at the top and the sleeves started around my arm at my armpits. The sleeves were loose bohemian style sleeves that bunched at the elbow then belled out again before bunching around my wrists. It was a beautiful dress and I was really liking it.  

Judy stood upright and smiled at me in the mirror, “Lovely. Now let's go show Lynelle and Abby.” She pulled the curtain and led the way to where Aunt Lynelle and Abby were waiting. As soon as I stepped out they both lit up. I was smiling too, I really liked this dress. Then I stepped up onto the platform they sat in front of and I frowned. I felt a draft in the skirts of the dress…again? Abby tilted her head noticing my expression change, “What’s wrong?” Judy went around me fanning out the skirts of the dress so they could see it in its full glory and I felt the draft again. I looked down at the dress and saw the problem. Just like every other dress I’d tried on there was a massive slit that ran all the way up the skirt only stopping when it met the corset, “Why does every skirt have this slit here?” Judy paused before answering, “It’s part of the tradition much like the straplessness. Every dress here has it.” She set to adjusting the sleeves a bit and I frowned, “Can it be done away with in alterations?” Both Judy and Lynelle shook their heads, “No.” My eyes moved to Abby and she shook her head with a shrug. 

I turned and looked at the dress in the mirror. This was the most beautiful dress I’d put on all morning and it was different from the rest. Then I saw myself, I was smiling and then my eyes moved to Abby and Lynelle’s reflections behind me. They were smiling too. This was the dress, “Thank you Judy, I will take this dress.” She clapped excitedly, “Perfect! I thought this one might appeal to you.” She tugged around a bag she’d had on her hip this whole time and pulled out a few clips. She started clipping and marking parts of the dress and then after going back to the fitting room she took my measurements. Then I got dressed and went back out to Abby and Aunt Lynelle.

“That dress was absolutely stunning on you Lily.” Aunt Lynelle wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me to her, “And I think it is perfect and almost fitting that the dress has sleeves. You’re not the traditional Lycan bride, why should your dress be traditional?” Abby came up beside me, “It’s very you too. Almost fairy-like.” I smiled, “Aww, thank you guys. And thank you for your help.” They both nodded, “Of course!” Aunt Lynelle released me, “Now, how ‘bout we go grab some lunch over at Jesse’s before heading back?” As if on queue my stomach growled, “That sounds great!” Abby led the way to the door.

Abby stepped out and was a little ahead of me when she suddenly called out in pain and stumbled a bit. I quickly closed the distance between us, “What happened?” She turned and put her hand on my shoulder for balance, “There’s something in my shoe.” She awkwardly twisted herself around until she could lean down using me as support and struggled with her shoe. Eventually, a sharp looking pebble popped out of her shoe and bounced across the ground, “Ugh! Thank you Lily.” I giggled, “Glad to be of service.” Aunt Lynelle had been giving contact information to Judy and came out as Abby released her grip on me.