Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 488

Chapter 488
Stella

The day had taken a long time to pass. I’d spent it exploring the mansion. Then, I’d taken the twins into town for ice cream. They’d have to start school soon, and I had to admit that I didn’t envy them having to do that…even if I did wish, just a little, that I’d had the chance.

Thinking about my mom’s sadness that there seemed to be a distance between her and her mom, and also her sister, I vowed that I wasn’t going to let my relationship with my siblings get any further apart.

Back at home, I popped in on my Dad, Abba, and Papa, but they were totally occupied with pack business. Unlike my mom, they didn’t seem interested in hovering over me, but I figured that could change fast enough if they thought they had any reason to worry. I definitely didn’t want that. Abba snagged my sleeve as I was leaving their office.

“How’s it going?” he asked, pitching his voice low and glancing back at Dad and Papa, who were bent over the desk, looking at some kind of files. “With the…you know.”

“Oh, I, um…I’m sure it’ll be great, Abba. I’m going to try it out later this afternoon when I go shopping. I need some new outfits.”

He laughed, shaking his head, then drew me closer to kiss my temple. “Good for you. Have fun, honey. Let me know how it goes.”

“I will,” I promised.

It wasn’t a lie. Not really. I could go shopping wearing Elleah’s face, if I wanted to.

***

“You need to go shopping,” Selena told me with a roll of her eyes. “I’m not going out with you looking like that.”

She waved at my long, navy skirt and matching flowery blouse. She pointed specifically at my navy ballet flats. I looked down at them.

“They’re comfortable. And I just got them!”

“You look like you teach preschool,” Selena said. “Not the look we’re going for. Change your face and let’s go.”

Shopping with my aunt was way more fun than it had been with my mom and the grouchy twins. Or maybe it was shopping as Elleah and not as Stella. Elleah’s golden hair and gray-blue eyes were a perfect match for an ice-blue silk camisole that Selena insisted I pair with black leather pants and a matching black leather jacket. She added heavy soled black boots that laced up tight to the ankle. Then, she stepped back with an approving nod.

“Still comfy, but not so dainty,” she said. “You look like a real badass.”