Kiara followed when everyone else made their way inside, trying to blend in as she always did. Because of this, she was surprised when the new girl said something to her. She still had yet to remember her name, but this girl knew Kiara’s and that made her slightly uncomfortable. It was strange considering that she had been surprised that Jaii had remembered it. She stared at the clothes, only able to nod at Vera’s words. She had to be some kind of relation to an alpha. The girl had the air about her. The same air that Jaii had.

Slipping into the dress, she found that it was longer than she would normally wear, but it covered her mark and that made her happy. Now if only she had shoes. Kiara made her way to a window, looking out as people reunited. Like Jaii, she could smell that Sam was mated to the healer, and that he was mated to the new girl. She watched them for a moment and knew that was what being mated should be like. Not what she had. Not with a stranger. You were supposed to feel something. You were supposed to know. Her eyes moved back to the outdoors as she thought of what a mess she was in. A sudden pang of longing went through her as she thought of her parents and her store. Without it, who would she become? That scared little girl she was just starting to break out of?

Kiara was moving before she could stop herself. If she was going to feel this way, she would do it alone, not around other people. She definitely couldn’t be like this around her alpha. She needed to be strong and reliable, and she didn’t feel like either of those things at that moment. All she felt was small and weak. It was true that her pack had not been very good to her, but it was what she had. All she had. Now she was here with strangers. When she was back outside, Kiara slowly fell to her knees and placed her head in her hands. With everyone so busy, she was sure no one would bother her, hoped no one would bother her. She just needed a moment to mourn for all she had lost and to decide whether it was worth it.