They all burst out laughing.
“Hey! I can hear you!” Frank shouts from outside, making me give the girls a wink.
“Now let’s all take a deep breath and calm down.” Melissa winks at the girls again. You feel the excitement come down a notch, the emotions changing from mad people, and they stop hyperventilating. “Visualize your goal. Look. Take time to see yourself from head to toe. Every detail of what it is you want to look like. Deep breathe in and out.” She gives them a second or two. A spark of light runs through the circle.
“Feel the love of sharing and caring for each other. It is not a competition, but a night to enjoy.” She continues. Calmly, all the girls kiss her on the cheek, breaking the circle and going upstairs to get ready.
“I’m not gonna ask how you do that. I’m just gonna sit here on our porch and look at what the rest of the pack is up to until you tell me to go get dressed.” Frank shouts from outside. Melissa joins him sitting down on his lap, her arms around his neck.
“You, my darling husband, don’t have to do anything except get dressed when I tell you.” She laughs, and he pulls her closer, kissing her. She permits him without hesitation, exploring his mouth as eagerly as he does hers. Their passion burning just as strong as the first day that they met.
“EEEUUUWWWW Mom and Dad!!! Now I’m going to have to wash my eyes with antiseptic!” Glinda shouts, turning around and running back into the house, leaving her two amused parents behind.
“And they are all preparing to find boyfriends tonight?” Frank raises an amused brow at Melissa. This was going to be interesting … Sitting there listening to their girls and their mother he thinks to himself … They are all excited about finding boyfriends!! He had better check his guns. Jumping up, he walks to his office.
“Where are you going, honey?” Melissa sounds like she might already know.
“Nowhere honey... Just going to check my guns!” Frank says matter-of-factly.
“DAD!!!” All the girls shriek, making Melissa cry with laughter. It happens every year. First, he wants them out of the house. Then, when it hits him, he checks his guns. It must be terrible to have a werewolf for a father and the Alpha at that!
“Mom, can you please come and help me? I have an idea in mind, but I am not so sure if it will be okay for the festival.” Isobel calls from upstairs.
“Sure Isobel, on my way.” Melissa walks into the room, finding Isobel dressed in a black short dress, the same pattern she wore the day that Melissa and Frank met. Showing off her thin middle and fanning out to just above her knees. A silver sash around her waist, complimenting her beauty.
“Any reason you are going for a black dress?” Melissa frowns slightly. She instantly recognizes the colours.
“I don’t know. It just feels right. Is that okay? Doesn’t it mean something horrible is going to happen, mother? Maybe I should rather put on something with more color.” Isobel sounds panicked.
“Firstly, my darling daughter, black is a color.” Melissa winks. “Secondly, if the dress is calling to you, there is no use in wearing anything else. You will feel uncomfortable all evening and sometimes destiny decides for you remember?”
“Okay, mom.” Isobel nods, having lost some of her spark to go to the festival. Melissa checks in on Circe, who is wearing her favorite full-length white satin gown. Slits down the sides from just below the hips to the tips of her toes.
Frank hates this dress, making Melissa giggle when she sees her daughter. Golden yarn weaved into the fabric makes the dress shimmer in the light. Circe is clearly in deep discussion with her wolf Leloo, who is refusing to wear beaded “sandals”.
Her hair is the color of chocolate against her dress. Circe is so engrossed in her appearance that neither she nor Leloo notices Melissa closing the door. Isobel comes walking down the passage twirling a strand of her beautiful long silver hair around her index finger.
“Isobel?” Melissa frowns.
“Mother? Mheegan is also unsettled. We just can’t agree. Maybe we should just stay this year.” Isobel sounds slightly out of breath with worry.
“Darling wolf daughter of mine, you both get this nervous every year and then end up being the life of the party. You are my social butterfly daughter. Just take a breath as I showed you earlier. If the dress is still a problem, try another. There is still enough time.” Melissa hugs Isobel, hearing Mheegan growl softly.
She generally hates dresses, preferring to rather wear short shorts and chase rabbits. Stepping into the room of the twins, Willow and Tabatha, the scene is what Melissa expected. Willow is on her bed reading a book, already dressed in her normal daily uniform of a dress, hair tied back into a neat bun and sensible shoes.
Tabatha, on the other hand, is chatting away, clothes all over the place, eyes bright, trying on dress after dress.
“Hi, Mom! What do you think of this one?” Tabatha beams the instant Melissa walks in.
“Beautiful Tabatha, the dark blue in your dress shows off those beautiful eyes.” Melissa winks, knowing Tabatha never has issues getting ready. “Willow?” Melissa frowns.
“Yes, mother?” Willow looks up from her book.
“You okay over there?” She asks, but she already knows the answer. Willow is her calmest daughter of them all.
“Yes, thank you, mother.” Willow is the kind of child that just carries on, on her own. She didn’t get over-excited or depressed. She was quiet, loved her books, and not standing out in a crowd.
“MOOOOMMM!” Glinda yells just as Melissa opens the door.
“You called little one.” Melissa raises yet another amused brow.
“I’m not a little one, mom! Circe won’t let me use her lip-gloss.” She immediately complains.
“Then come use mine, my darling girl.” Melissa sighs slightly.
“No, I want hers, it smells nice.” Glinda pouts with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“That is why I don’t want you using it, brat! You will finish the entire tube before the night is over!” Circe walks past the door on her way downstairs.
“I’m not a brat! MOM! Tell her! I’m not a brat!” Glinda’s eyes fill with tears.
“Glinda darling, you know I don’t lie.” Melissa sighs deeply.
“MOM!” Glinda shouts as more tears form in her eyes.