ˏˋ°•*⁀➷  Mika ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

All day long, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of yesterday. Even with it being slightly chilly due to fall rolling in, I didn't notice it at all as all I could focus on was Yulin's warmth.

Not even to mention the fact that last night was the first time I'd ever kissed someone, it wasn't something I never used to think about due to my circumstances but now all I could think about was kissing Yulin. I had to stop myself several times from going to see him with any outrageous demands or else I'd probably seem greedy.

I mean, I can admit that I'm touch starved but it wasn't something I wanted to openly express, I'd die a thousand deaths due to embarrassment.

"Ah, Mika! It's been a while since I've been able to talk to you. How are you holding up?" Lisa's voice caused me to snap out of my inner monologue instantly as I looked to her smiling face.

Lisa was as always giving off a peaceful and calming aura, it was soothing to even me who has never necessarily needed it since I'd like to think that I've become a pretty level headed person over the years.

"I'm fine, ma'am" I said and Lisa instantly grimaced at my address.

"What's with this ma'am business again? I'm sure I've told you many times before to refer to me with something more casual, Mika. It's okay to call me by my name, or even mother if you so wish. Honestly, I'd take anything other than ma'am" she rambled and I found myself smiling by the end of it.

I'm not sure when I began to find her outspoken yet still polite behavior so endearing but it always makes me laugh by the end of it.

"I apologize" I said in response and Lisa pursed her lips in response.

"Hm...you're forgiven but, only if you explain why my son has been walking around with a grin so wide that the corners of his lips might crack" she asked, giving me a pointed look but I simply kept a passive smile on my face.

"I don't know what you mean" I said and surprisingly, she giggled at my vague answer.

"Alright, I won't pry too much. How is Raven faring? Yulin's told me that Nova and him are mates and I fear our doctor is going to need a doctor once he's through with him" She said.

Nodding, I crossed my arms before answering.

"He's alright from what he tells me. Raven's persistent, but it's a good thing. Your doctor isn't exactly big on affection from what I've heard" I mentioned.

Lisa nodded, her hair swaying with her as she did so.

"Stubborn and persistent are two things they have in common, however, Raven's not afraid to face what's in front of him so I can only imagine that Nova is having a hard time dealing with that" Lisa said.

"Yeah..." I said, giving a small sigh at the end.

"If no one's said it before then I'd like to be the first. You did an amazing job taking care of your brother, parenting is hard enough with two people let alone one but you did it all on your own and that takes a lot" Lisa said.

"Thank you..." I muttered.

I was stunned at the sudden comment, I won't lie. It was heart warming though, to be praised for something I thought was only natural. I didn't see caring for Raven as a responsibility but rather as something that I did because he's my brother.

Perhaps it was also me trying to repay him for everything he's done for me. Raven, as young as he was, fought so hard during the trial to save my life and at the time all I could do was stay silent as he bared the brunt of everyone's disdain for us.

It was my first time seeing him be so brave and it only made me realize that I had to do the same for him. I had to give my all, just as he did that day, and since then it's just become something that came natural to us.

"Is it selfish of me to ask you to watch over my children as you've done Raven?" Lisa's question made me raise a brow at her.

"I don't believe that it is but why do you feel the need to ask that?" I asked, not liking the possible implication those words held.

Sensing my wariness, Lisa was quick to shake off any suspicion I had as she spoke.

"I'm not sick or anything, I just think too far into the future at times. Having someone that I know will be there for them even when I'm gone is very assuring, I don't have a mate after all you know?" She said with a small chuckle at the end but even I could tell it was a self deprecating one.

Staying quiet as she continued, I listened as Lisa explained herself.

"Yulin can't do everything on his own, even if he wants to and Irina only ever does things the way she wants to. They're stubborn children so they need a little guidance at times and perhaps you have more wisdom than I can offer to them" Lisa said.

Staring at my mate's mother, I smiled to her, hoping to alleviate whatever worries she had running through her head.

"Then I guess I'll have to do the same for you" I said.

Lisa's eyes widened as she looked at me with a flustered expression.

"M-Me?" She stuttered out, her actions showing just how much she wasn't expecting those words from me.

"If you're to be my family then why wouldn't I protect you as well?" I asked.

Lisa's silence was new, the woman always knowing what to say to each and every situation, but I'm sure this time she's also thinking the same as I am.

For once, she's too stunned to speak.

"Worrying about things like this will only take you away from the time you have now. Sure, we don't live as long as vampires but we do have a very lengthy lifespan of our own. Don't be so quick to ask me about things that aren't going to happen for at least another five centuries" I said.

Lisa was silent and then suddenly, it was like flowers had bloomed as she began to laugh. Her laughter was surely contagious, the sound reminding me of bells that only rang when something good was happening.

"Thank you for your words" she said and I nodded.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, mother" I said and once again, I had thrown the woman in disarray as she perked up at my words.

"I see you have a cheeky side!" She said with a huge smile as she pointed at me.

"When I want to" I said passively, shrugging but also keeping up my smile.

As if making up her mind, Lisa's look suddenly became determined.

"If possible, may I steal you for the day?" She asked.

Tilting my head in confusion, Lisa moved to speak again in response.

"If you're comfortable that is" she quickly said.

"I don't mind" I said and Lisa smiled as she clasped her hands together.

"Lovely! I'll get ready in a flash" she said before disappearing from my sight in an instant.

Who would ever think I'd just randomly be hanging out with my mate's mother?

I waited for probably a sum of thirty minutes before Lisa had appeared before me once more, her bag in hand and sunshades atop her head.

"Shall we?" She said and I merely allowed her to lead the way.

The car we took was the same one that Yulin had taken to drive us to our old cabin, only this time the driver and destination was different. My eyes roamed once again as we drove past so many buildings.

The city was beautiful and clean, very little people were on the streets but that changed as soon as we arrived at the parking lot of Lisa's destination.

She wanted to go shopping it seems. I was going to ask if it would be better if she took Irina but I figured there must be a reason she asked me come.

"I know, I know. You're wondering why we're here and I'm sure Yulin hasn't told you because you two haven't officially become mates, but the Alpha's Banquet will be happening in about three months from now and I have yet to choose an outfit" Lisa explained.

Ah yes...that.

Only immediate family members and their mates were allowed to attend this huge event, after all, it was the time to celebrate the peace we've reigned in for so many years and make offerings to the moon goddess.

I never went since Olivia and Clara were the oldest but going to one was an option that was out of the question once Raven and I left our old pack.

"Truthfully, this is the first time I'll be attending in quite some time and I'm at a loss for what to wear" Lisa said as we walked into the store.

So many dresses were everywhere, all of the mannequins were adorned in gorgeous and high quality fabrics. It's no wonder Lisa wanted help choosing a dress, even I would have a hard time choosing just one.

"You normally don't attend?" I asked and Lisa shook her head.

"No. Honestly, back then, I was young and insecure. I was always afraid of the looks I received every time I'd gone so I eventually decided to stop attending. Those people would chew me up and spit me out as if I'd soiled their tastebuds from just the sight of me" Lisa explained, a forlorn look crossing her features before she turned to me.

"It's okay, no need to look so worried. It was a long time ago and I've had many years to toughen up"

I hadn't even realized I was making a face until Lisa mentioned it but what I did know is that we had to find the most breathtaking and stunning dress to knock those bastards down a peg.

"Then let's find one that'll have flies living in their mouths" I grumbled and Lisa chuckled.

"When was the last time you attended one of these?" I asked and Lisa had to think for a bit before speaking.

"Probably shortly after I gave birth to Yulin" Lisa said and my eyes widened.

She hasn't been to one of the banquets in over 20 years...I can only imagine everyone must have thought she disappeared off the face of the earth or something.

I didn't hear much about this pack's reputation until around when I turned 20, we had run into a few neutral rogues and they were mostly about Yulin's reign as Alpha.

"If I may, what made you decide to go?" I asked and Lisa's eyes locked with mine.

"You" she said.

Me? What did I do?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I am one hundred percent confident that Yulin will ask you to come with him officially as his mate. I cannot miss out on such an important moment" she said.

"You're also insinuating that we'd be officially mated before then" I said with narrowed eyes but Lisa played it cool as she waved off my look.

"I am, as your brother calls it, manifesting" she said with a wink before moving over to a dress that had caught her eye.

Her words were as loud and clear as they were meant to be subtle but I made no remark towards it. I didn't want to say anything that could embarrass myself after all.

"Where do we even start?" Lisa muttered as she looked around but then she looked back to me with a smile.

"Mika, if you don't mind, I'd like to have you choose my dress" she said and I froze up.

"Why?" I asked, not really bothered by the fact that she was asking but moreso by me being the person she's inquiring to.

"I'm curious to see your taste in fashion" she said.

Seeing as it was a request for something important, I'd feel bad if I rejected her, and remembering that this is her first time in a long time attending this event only made me feel inclined to help her.

Choosing the right clothing is no different from strategy planning so I knew this would be easy but I also had to be meticulous.

"Alright" I said.

It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Lisa was very beautiful so I had to make sure anything I chose would compliment her and even enhance her already stunning beauty.

Lisa's midnight hair was also long and her bangs cupped her face but never went beyond the point of being too in the way, her hair would surely shimmer in the lights just like Yulin's. Her grey eyes, in my opinion, were her selling point as they always exuded a warmth that not everyone is deserving of so I knew she'd have no problem charming others if we moved the bangs to help expose them more.

"Shades of blue or green are best and as for your hair, I think it's okay for you to leave it down but perhaps you can wear a pin to hold your bangs away?" I said as I pointed to her bangs.

"These people will try to jab you in anyway they can, looking your sharpest will cut down any opportunity they may think they've found" I explained.

Lisa only smiled and nodded, following along as we went to continue our hunt for the perfect dress.

Lisa expressed that she liked dresses that had slits so I did my best to choose one that would compliment her legs nicely and give the illusion that they were a bit longer than they actually were. Her heels would do the rest as it would give her the proper boost so that she can stand tall and gracefully proud.

As for the designs, I figured it would be good if the dress had a shimmer that was enough to bring people's attention to her but the jewelry she would adorn from her own collection should be enough to keep them looking.

After a long, long time combing through dress after dress, Lisa finally exited the dressing room in our latest dress. Her smile was wide as she slowly spun around and I could only feel a sense of satisfaction as she did so.

The dress compliments and accentuates every part of her and I gave myself a pat on the back for making this happen.

"This is the one for sure" she said and I nodded.

"I agree. You are surely going to be the most beautiful woman there" I said and Lisa thanked me as she stepped away from the mirror.

"Will you pick a hairpin for me?" Lisa asked and I nodded.

"Sure" I said and that seemed enough to send Lisa into a smiling bubble of joy.

Her happiness was exuding off her in intense waves and I could only be thankful that we were able to find the perfect dress for her. Lisa looked great in all of them but this one is the one that's going to help her regain her reputation that she lost so long ago.

As Lisa went to go change out of the dress, I decided to look at their hair accessories to search for a pin. Lisa's dress was blue so I started looking at all the ones that went well with that color.

Out of the corner of my eye, a pin caught my attention almost immediately.

The base of the clip itself was black but the ornament on top of it was damn near the same color as Lisa's dress, when it was in her hair it would look as if the butterfly was just resting in her hair and I smiled.

This one will do.

"You're smiling, I take it this is the one I'm wearing?" Lisa said as she came back to me.

Holding it up to her hair, my assumption was confirmed and I nodded to answer Lisa's question.

"Yeah, this is it" I said.

"Great! Let's go to the counter, they have the dress up there" she said and when we walked to the checkout even the cashier was looking at the dress in awe.

"I didn't even know we carried this one. It'll look stunning on you, miss" the cashier said as she rang us up and while the two ladies conversed my eyes could only fall to the price that came up on the pin pad.

Watching as Lisa swiped her card effortlessly, I could never have imagined that I'd be so fine with someone spending so much money but it was for her grand entrance so I kept my shock in check.

Taking the bag once we were finished, Lisa and I walked out of the store and upon leaving, Lisa stretched.

"Whew, I am tired. Are you hungry? Shall we get something to eat?" Lisa asked but before I could answer, her phone started ringing.

"Hm, it's Yulin. He's probably thinking I kidnapped you" she said before answering.

"Hellloooo?...no, we're fine. Of course I'm treating him well! We're actually about to get something to eat" Lisa feigned disbelief as she spoke with Yulin and I could only imagine what he's asking her.

"I suppose" Lisa said before taking the phone off her ear and handing it to me.

"He wants to speak to you" she said and I took the phone from her.

"Yes?" I said as I put the phone to my ear.

"She's more fond of you than I realized, I didn't think she'd take you to see the town before I could" Yulin said and I found myself instantly smiling at his humor.

"It's okay, the city's big so we can always go another time" I said.

"Please let me know if you're tired, that woman can do everything and anything in a day if she so wishes" Yulin said.

"I promise it's only been entertaining and fun so far" I said.

"Well, I guess I can't be too jealous. I'm just glad you two get along so well. I guess I'll leave you to it" Yulin said.

"Alright, see you later" I ended the conversation and hung up before handing the phone back to Lisa.

"Such a worrywart right?" Lisa said.

"It's not a bad thing nor is it overbearing" I said which only made Lisa nod in agreement.

"Yeah...okay, for real now, let's find something to eat! Well, after we drop the dress off to the car" she said.