The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Jordan POV
I stared at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing myself. My hair, sleek and shiny, cascaded down my back in waves. My eyes were bright, with a smoky effect to them, heavy eyeliner making them pop out. My lips were outlined and covered in a pale pink lipstick and pale blush applied to my cheeks. I looked beautiful, I thought, blinking back tears. Not only that, but I was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a pink t-shirt that clung to my breasts and then skimmed down to my waist, that Luna Serena had somehow gotten her hands on. God only knows how she had managed to find something in my size. I didn’t question it. I was too busy looking stunned at myself. For the first time in my life, I actually felt pretty.
“Is that me?” I breathed as Luna Serena beamed at me, satisfaction on her face.
“Of course it is my dear” Luna Serena said gently “and you look gorgeous, but you were already pretty before the makeup and clothes. This just enhanced what you already had.”
I turned around and flung my arms around her. “Thank you so much” I breathed as she patted my back “Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before” I admitted shyly.
“It’s entirely my pleasure,” she said warmly “I had a lot of fun doing your hair and makeup. I always wanted a daughter to makeover,” she said with a laugh “but the goddess blessed me with a son instead.”
She was so nice. Jaxon was really lucky to have her, I thought a bit enviously as she patted my shoulder. My stomach gave a growl and she giggled. “Should we go and eat?” she asked “I think it’s about dinnertime, that’s how long I’ve kept you” she teased.
I blushed and nodded. We made our way out of her room and I practically skipped downstairs. I couldn’t wait to show Jaxon my new look! God, what I wouldn’t give to be able to look like this all the time! But there was no way my father would spend money on me to get proper fitting clothes and he wouldn’t let me get a job either so I could pay for them. So I would have to be happy with today for now.
We reached the kitchen and saw Jaxon and his father sitting at the dining table, deep in discussion, along with a few other pack members, all of them from the looks of it unmated males. I almost stopped in my tracks, as several of them eyed me with curiosity. Jaxon turned to look at me and his mouth fell open.
“Jaxon shut your mouth, you look like a ventriloquist dummy” his mother scolded him, and he blinked and shut his mouth as I giggled.
“Jordan, you look” he stammered “amazing.”
“Thank you, but Luna Serena deserves the credit,” I said honestly as he patted the seat next to him, some of the other males watching intently “She organized all of this.”
“You did a magnificent job my dear” Alpha James said warmly “But you were beautiful to begin with,” he said to me kindly.
Wow. I couldn’t believe how nice Jaxon’s parents were. I blushed. Plates of food began to be put in front of everyone by omegas. I inhaled the intoxicating aroma of the delicious stuffed chicken breast and the steamed vegetables that looked as though they had been cooked with a hint of butter and herbs.
“So Jordan, that’s a really unique name?” commented one of the boys from across me, a smile on his face. He was handsome, with dark black hair and green eyes.
“Um, thanks, my mother chose it. She liked it because she loved the series Crossing Jordan” I answered with a shrug. Jaxon was eying the boy with narrowed eyes. What was his problem? The boy was just trying to be friendly.
I tentatively bit into the chicken and let out a low moan, several of the boys stiffening at the sound. Alpha James gave his wife a knowing grin as she put a hand to her mouth, stifling her giggles. I frowned. Was something wrong with them? Jaxon was smirking.
“This is so good,” I told Luna Serena, taking another bite and moaning again “I’ve never had anything like it.”
“Oh god, that sound” one of the boys whispered “She has no idea what it’s doing to me” he groaned.
Huh? Luna Serena gave me a warm smile. “Thank you, it’s one of my favorites” she gushed, biting into the chicken and chewing it. She swallowed and let out a satisfied sigh as Jaxon dug into his food beside me “I never get tired of this recipe.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry” I exclaimed with dismay, staring at the other boys, who were all roughly Jaxon’s age “I didn’t get any of your names” I apologized.
“I’m Micky” Piped the brunette one with curly hair and freckles with an easy-going grin.
“Mathew,” said another drily.
“Sam”
“Colin.”
“Mark” supplied the one who’d asked my name earlier, a wicked grin on his face.
“Nice to meet you all,” I said cheerfully.
Mark cleared his throat. Jaxon glared at him. “So um Jordan, are you seeing anyone?” he asked bluntly as my mouth dropped open,
Did he mean me? I glanced around the table, but I was the only girl besides Luna Serena. Maybe I had misheard him? That had to be it. There was no way, someone as gorgeous as him, would be interested in someone like me. I swallowed hard. ” I’m sorry, I think I misheard you,” I said carefully as Jaxon stiffened next to me “Would you mind repeating that?” I squeaked.
Mark smiled at me bashfully. “I was asking if you have a boyfriend?” he asked.
The other boys looked at me interested. I swallowed hard. Wow. Maybe Jaxon hadn’t been kidding when he said his pack was different when it came to how people were treated.
“Um no I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said carefully “but I’m not allowed to date either” I explained and his face drooped. “How come?” asked Luna Serena interestedly “I mean you are almost eighteen aren’t you?” she questioned.
I stared down at the table. “My father is um, overprotective. The only reason I’m allowed to go to the ball with Jaxon is that he’s an Alpha, otherwise, I would have been working instead” I explained feeling embarrassed.
Jaxon put an arm around me. “It’s cool, don’t sweat it,” he said nonchalantly as the other boys sighed in disappointment” Who knows you might even find your mate at the ball” he teased.
“I doubt it” I muttered, “besides who is going to want somebody who looks like me?” I murmured without thinking. Instantly the boys chimed in. “I would.”
“What are you talking about? Anybody would be lucky to have you as their mate.”
“God, if I could be so lucky.”
I stared around the table in disbelief. “Do you really mean that?” I demanded suspiciously “Or are you just saying that because I’m a friend of Jaxon’s?”
They all shook their head. “There’s nothing wrong with you?” Mark said confused “So you have curves. Just means your soft and cuddly. We like that” he added as the other boys nodded.
Luna Serena smiled at me sadly “I take it you come from a pack where curves are not necessarily celebrated or seen as a good thing.”
I nodded quietly. She sighed. “Well here, we encourage people to see a person for who they truly are. Your curves are stunning, and your mate will be lucky to have you. Just you wait and see” she advised as the boys nodded their agreement, still tucking into their food.
Jaxon grinned. “Told you, “He said gruffly.
“Okay, okay” I grumbled and then groaned.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked in concern.
“I still have to go dress shopping for the ball,” I said in dismay “and the ball is next week. We have to match” I hissed” What suit are you wearing.”
“I don’t know, I haven’t really given it much thought” he shot back, looking slightly panicked “I was just going to throw whatever on.”
His mother gasped in outrage. “Jaxon, you don’t just throw a random suit on and think that’s appropriate” she scolded. He sighed.
Honestly, I admired him for being so easygoing about it. Luna Serena gave a clap and her husband eyed her warily. “You can wear the black suit I got you last year with the dark blue shirt,” she said calmly “No ties, they make you look pompous.
”
“Gee thanks,” Jaxon said uncertainly as I giggled.
Then she turned excited eyes on me. “I can’t wait to take you shopping” she gushed “It’s going to be so much fun. I know the perfect place” she announced with enthusiasm “They carry lots of different sizes and I have an idea of what colors are going to suit your complexion. Oh we can make it a girls day” she squealed, bouncing up and down on her chair.
I shook my head. “I can’t ask you to do that. My father will pay for my dress” I said quietly and then gasped as tears filled her eyes.
“You don’t want to go shopping with me” she sniffled as I turned panicked eyes on Jaxon who looked a little worried now” Am I too much? I just thought, it would be fun to play dress-ups. I don’t mind paying for the dress,” she said in a choked voice “it would mean so much to me. It’s not the same dressing Jaxon up, he gets so irritated and bored. So does James” she sniffled “and we could get our nails done and our hair.”
“Oh no, it’s not that,” I said getting up from my seat and rushing over to her “It’s just that I don’t want to upset Jaxon because I’m meant to be spending time with him.”
“Oh it’s cool,” Jaxon said wryly “We can spend tonight together and mum can take you tomorrow. You do need a dress,” he said calmly “and it’s not like we won’t be spending the night together at the ball” he reminded me.
His mother’s eyes lit up. I couldn’t very well refuse now, not after she’d been so nice to me. “Sure, I’d love to go dress shopping tomorrow,” I said as the boys began to discretely file out of the kitchen “if you don’t mind taking me.”
“Yes” she shouted “Just you wait, you’re going to be the prettiest girl at the ball so help me god,” she told me as I stared at her flabbergasted “And you and Jaxon are going to have the best time. I hope you have a lot of stamina because there’s going to be hours of walking and sitting and getting prepared.”
Um, how bad could it be? Jaxon grabbed my hand and began to tug me away as his mother began to get up, muttering things under her breath. “She won’t hear a single thing you say now” he laughed “and you have no idea what you’ve just let yourself in for.”
“You’re exaggerating” I protested “How hard can shopping be?”
“You’ll see,” he said grimly “If shopping was an Olympic sport, my mother would be a gold medallist every year in a row. I’ll pray for you,” he said with a shake of his head “but for now, let’s go watch a movie and then get some sleep. You’re going to need it.”