Mulan is me tryna slide my update in like I haven't just taken 3 weeks to update.

Shang is y'all... Ready to beat my ass.

HEY LOVES ❤️

It has been three weeks... I'm sorry. Please don't kill me. I literally was stressing because I couldn't find a way to have my vacation time and also squeeze in writing. Ya girl had three versions of this chapter because I felt they weren't good enough.

Forgive me ?

Enjoy~
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Normani crossed her arms and examined the situation before her. Not a single lick of approval was etched across the girl's demeanor. Don't get the brown skin girl wrong, she was not an unreasonable person, Lauren could talk to anyone she wanted.

She just didn't like this dark haired bimbo being so close to Lauren.

The way her brown eyes shined as she laughed at one of Lauren's jokes made Normani roll her own eyes. She didn't like how this girl always inched her way closer to Lauren as they spoke. Lauren and Normani had gotten to the Sacramento pack an hour ago and that girl was practically glued to her mate. It was supposed to be about business for Loup Blanc yet somehow the two girls were strolling and chatting like it was some type of get together.

An angry pout sported the brown skin girl's face as she continued to watch the disgusting show before her. Normani didn't want to be the crazy one in her and Lauren's relationship but she truly did want to cut that girl who was so close to her mate. Before nothing anybody did to Lauren affected her, the Cuban could have had 50,000 broads and Normani wouldn't have cared.

Now that she genuinely cared for Lauren, she could tell that that girl was no good. All she would do was take sneak glances at Lauren for longer than usual. The way that girl's brown eyes dug into Lauren made Normani immensely angry.

As expected, Lauren didn't seem to even notice a thing.

"Lauren !" Normani called out from her seat.

The green eyed girl stopped her conversation with the girl and looked over at her mate with a smile, "Yes Mani ?"

Normani pouted, "I'm hungry."

Lauren was about to suggest the idea that they finally leave and go out for lunch but the brown eyed girl cut in through their conversation, "I think Harry just brought in a party platter from LB today. It's Spanish food day today. If there is, it'd be in the kitchen."

"Is Spanish food okay with you ?" The beta questioned.

"Just fucking fine." The older girl grumbled as she got up and stomped her way towards the kitchen. Normani was so done with that damn girl. All she wanted to do was go home.

As the brown skin girl angrily made her way into the kitchen, she spotted the supposed Harry placing the platter down upon the counter. The Southern Native made her way over towards the platter and unenthusiastically picked up the burrito.

Harry tilted his head at the girl, "I'm sorry, do I know you ?"

"Nope, you don't know me." Normani bit into her burrito and leaned against the counter.

The British boy furrowed his eyebrows, "If you don't know me, then why are you taking food from a stranger ?"

"Because I'm hungry and that brunette bimbo over there said that Harry had brought a platter home," The girl pointed towards the pair, now laughing together, "Stupid ass Selena Quintanilla bootleg."

To her surprise, the blue green eyed boy laughed, a deep chuckle leaving his pink lips, "Selena Quintanilla was a classic. Yvette isn't on her level yet."

"Dumbass broad and her stupid purple highlighted ends." Normani took another aggressive bite of her burrito.

"I think they're actually red. They look purple because of her dark hair." The tall man opened the fridge and bent down looking for his beverage.

The brown skin girl rolled her eyes, "Gee thanks Harry."

"No problem love," The man smiled as he reached for some fruit and water, "You like strawberries ?"

The brown skin girl nodded and there commenced a simple conversation between the two. Nothing more than simple platonic laughs and jokes being thrown between the two as they ate strawberries and Spanish food.

On the other hand, as Lauren took a peek at her girlfriend, she felt her skin jump at the sight of her and that guy talking. Who was he ? What in his stupid mind possessed him to be so close to Normani ?

"Yvette, who's that ?" Lauren questioned, not even caring that she cut the girl right off.

The Hispanic girl swiped away loose strands of her hair, "That's Harry. He's the one that brought home some food."

"He seems to have become close with Normani."

"Yeah he's a such a sweetheart," Yvette pointed towards the boy, "He's also really damn smooth. He nearly got me one time, not gonna lie to you there."

"He nearly got Yvette ? She's as gay as they come." The beta mentally noted as she turned back to see the tall British boy with Normani's hand in his as she appeared to be speaking deeply to her.

"No, fuck this. It's time to go." Lauren gritted as she made her way towards the pair.

Harry looked deeper into Normani's eyes, "Those are the hottest peppers in the damn world. You gotta be careful."

Normani smiled and nodded, "Thanks Harry. I thought it was a strawberry, it honestly blended in with the carton."

"These damn kids and their prank wars are gonna get people in trouble," Harry sighed. As the two were eating their Spanish food and speaking, Normani had blindly reached into the strawberry carton to grab a scorpion pepper. Luckily for her, Harry had noticed and slapped it out of her hands before she could eat it. Throughout the pack, the children were playing pranks and Normani was going to be apart of their victims, "But like I said, just take charge, okay ? If she won't do anything, then you can do it. There's no man in the relationship."

The brown skin girl nodded and smiled her pearly white smile, "Thanks Harry. It means a lot."

"No problem. Now come and give Harry his love." The long haired boy opened his arms out making Normani giggle and reciprocate the given emotion.

As the two pulled away, Normani's eyes caught with his long hair, "I really like your hair Harry." The girl let her fingers mindlessly play with the curls.

"Really ? I've been thinking about cutting it."

"Oh God no ! Don't you dare cut a strand of this hair !"

Harry chuckled and looked down at the girl, "Alright, I'll take that into consideration," The man reached out for Normani's hair as well, "I really like yours too."

Stepping in between the two, Lauren brought her hand out and pushed Harry away, "See what you're not going to do is touch Normani. At all," The green eyed beta looked at her mate, "Come on baby, it's time to go."

"But I was just talking to Harry. I don't wanna leave now, he still has to tell me about his summer love."

"Nope, time to go. Let's go." Lauren's piercing green eyes met Harry's, a snarl leaving her lips. The girl's canines were extended as she looked at the boy up and down. She was not for this Harry fellow at all.

Harry waved by to his new friend, "Message me if you need anything, okay love ?"

"I will. Bye Harry." Normani waved back, making Lauren's eyebrows furrow.

The green eyed girl grabbed Normani by her arm and brought her outside the pack house a nasty scowl upon her face, "You will not message him."

Normani crossed her arms, "And why not ?"

"Because I said so. That's why," Lauren let out an angry huff, "Idiot was just flirting his little heart away with you."

The Southern Native let out a dry laugh. So Lauren was jealous now, "You have some nerve Lauren. Letting Yvette be your little groupie the whole time we've been here."

"I'm not talking about me right now Normani."

"But I am," The older girl her face intimidatingly closer towards Lauren, "So don't be a fucking hypocrite and leave it be. You can have girls throwing themselves after you but I can't even have a male friend. Get over yourself."

"Yvette isn't throwing herself at me ! Harry over there is holding your hand and playing with your hair ! Can you not see that he's obviously flirting with you ?!"

"Can you not see that he's obviously gay you dumbass !" Normani yelled out, making Lauren inch back, "Harry is as gay as they come. Surely he is attractive but he's gay. Plus, I wouldn't do that to you. Don't you trust me ?"

Lauren was taken aback by the sudden information. He was gay ? Well that changed everything.

"Wait he's gay ?"

Normani rolled her eyes, "You know what ? I don't have time for this. Take me home." The girl walked past Lauren, bumping shoulders with her as she made her way towards the car.

"Baby, I-I'm sorry-"

The older girl just crossed her arms and stood by the car, not a single word coming out of her. Lauren sighed, knowing she truly did mess up again.

~~~

Lauren sighed as she parked the car. The ride back had been completely dead silent and it made her heart hurt. Once they both entered the car, Normani stuck her headphones into her ears and didn't even attempt to speak to Lauren. Every time the younger girl tried to speak to her, she would receive the childish yet effective hand.

Being the sweet dork that Lauren was, she decided that she had to apologize to Normani with more than just her words.

"Mani, wake up." The sound of Lauren's voice made the older girl blink her eyes open. Once she caught the gaze of Lauren on her, Normani rolled her eyes and refused to make eye contact.

"Baby look, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have misjudged everything and just went straight to assumptions."

Normani's lips curled into a scowl, "Especially since that bitch was all over you."

"Yvette ?" Lauren tilted her head.

"That girl was glued to your side. Lauren she was all over you while I was there. That's not only disrespectful but straight up nasty. Do you know how bad I wanted to steal her straight in the mouth ?"

As much as she didn't want to, Lauren grinned widely, "You were jealous of Yvette ?"

"Ya damn skippy I was. She's obviously not as cute as me but she still caught your attention. Did you forget that you're mine Lauren ?

The beta felt a wave of pleasure crash throughout her body at this sudden switch in Normani. Not only was her waking up voice pretty damn sexy but her staking claim was even hotter. A smirk made its way onto the Cuban's face, "Only yours babygirl."

Normani grinned as she brought Lauren in for a hug. The two girls made their way out of the car and through the parking lot together.

"Wait where are we ?" Normani pondered as she looked around the area.

"Since I was such a dickhead towards you, I wanted to show you how sorry I am." Lauren pointed towards the store before them, making Normani cover her mouth in shock. Lauren smiled to herself as she saw the reaction on Normani's face.

"Plushie Palace ?! I haven't been here since I was little !" Normani beamed as she squealed happily.

Plushie Palace was a little workshop in which people, children in particular, choose an animal, character, or some sort of creature they'd want to make into a plushie. Ranging from bears to Pikachu to a fruit, the place was a heaven for people who loved stuffed animals and plushies. The brown skin girl was a complete sucker for cute things, especially stuffed animals and plushies.

The green eyed beta smiled wider, "I hope you like it boo. I know I was being an ass and I wanted to show you how sorry I was in a cute way. Nothing is cuter than a stuffed animal, so-"

"Well shoot ! If this is an apology gift then you should fuck up more often. Oh my God, is that a marshmallow plushie ?!" Normani grabbed a hold of Lauren's hand and rushed towards the door, "C'mon Lauren !"

The Cuban felt her cheeks spread into a crimson blush. She loved being on Normani's good side with a passion.

~

"I'm sick and tired of this fuckery," Kehlani gritted out silently as she held a sleeping Dinah in her arms, "When can you get here Sel ? This poor girl has been suffering through so much."

"I can be there by 5. I need to pick up Demi and we'll be on our way."

Kehlani glanced over at the alarm clock on the nightstand, reading the time 3:28pm. It had been three days after Dinah had her break down in front of Kehlani. The Polynesian girl seemed to only tell the mixed girl of her problems. She was still locked in her room, darkness being the only thing that comforted her.

The tattooed girl sighed, "Please come as fast as you can Selena. This is serious."

"Will do. Anything for you Lani."

~

"Alright welcome to-" The worker awkwardly stopped, realizing that they in fact were speaking to a grown person, rather than a child, "We-welcome to Plushie Palace."

Not even caring much for the worker's tone, Normani beamed happily, staring in awe at everything around her. Lauren on the other hand gave a pointed look towards the girl who was being rude towards her girlfriend.

The Hispanic woman gulped at the stinging green eyes, "How may I help you two today ?"

"We would like to make one plushie please." Lauren stated, sounding very protective.

The Southern Native girl looked up at Lauren, "Aww can I have two please ? We can even get matching ones !"

"Mani, I don't know-"

Once the brown skin girl stuck out her adorable bottom lip, Lauren felt herself practically turn into putty. Normani was such an expert in the art of getting what she wanted. The lighter girl mentally scolded herself. She wasn't going to give in !

"Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give in."

"Fine, whatever you want babygirl." Lauren found herself slip out. Normani cheered happily and hugged Lauren tightly. The action earned a mark of Normani's nude lipstick on the werewolf's cheeks and an even darker mark of a blush.

"God I'm so damn whipped." She thought to herself as she followed a content Normani and awkward employee.

~

As the two walked out of the store, one smiling brightly while the other with an ungainly hold on their plushie, they continued on with their conversation.

"Did they really have to exaggerate and give the plushies birth certificates ?" The Cuban questioned, "I think that's a little overboard. It's just a stuffed animal."

"It is not just a stuffed animal. It's a creation you bring into this world," Normani smiled down at her wolf plushie, "It's like a child. You wouldn't want your child to have no identity. See ? My baby is an individual."

The cheery girl handed Lauren her plushie's birth certificate. Yet again, another deep blush painted Lauren's cheeks, "You named your plushie Lolo ?"

"Yup ! It reminded me of you so I decided to base her off of you," Normani fiddled with the furry stuffed animal's perky ears, "See how her wolf is dark like yours ? Plus she has these really piercing eyes and little smile. Also I got this little collar that looks like a choker necklace because you obviously love those-"

As Normani rambled on and on about her stuffed animal, Lauren couldn't help but smile. She loved how dorkily passionate the girl was about stuffed animals. The way her nose scrunched up a bit as she smiled and pointed towards the little features made the beta's heart swell up. It was not only the prideful feeling of her making Normani happy, but it was the feeling of Normani being her mate and for the rest of their lives, she would be the one making her happy.

"Mani let's go on a date." The beta mindlessly stated through the girl's rambling.

The statement instantly shut her up, the girl's confused doe eyes appearing, "Wait what ?"

"Baby let's go on a date. Let me show you a good time." Lauren took one of the brown skin girl's hands and laced their fingers, swinging them gently. Although the idea popped up into her head in the spur of the moment, she knew that now was a perfect time for them both.

In a matter of seconds, a small grin slide its way onto Normani's face, "I would love to."

Lauren had to refrain herself from jumping up and down in excitement. A million dollar smile spread its way across the Cuban's face as she pulled Normani's cheek in for a loving kiss.

"I've finally stepped up from a periodical gathering !"

~~~

"I should've stuck with a periodical gathering. Fuck ! Fuck !" Lauren cursed to herself as she yanked out yet another article of clothing that didn't suffice. Right after Normani had agreed to go on their date, Lauren drove them back to Oakland so they could get dressed and ready.

The poor beta had nearly tossed out a solid three-fourths of her closet. Nothing but anxiety coursed through the girl's veins. She wanted tonight to be perfect for the two. How could it be perfect if her outfit was a complete mess ?

"Why would I even buy this ugly shirt ? Olive green looks terrible on me." Lauren self-ranted as she yeeted the item over her head. As the girl threw the shirt, the sound of a yelp caught her attention. She spun around to see a struggling Ally trying to remove the green t-shirt from her face.

"For the love of God Lauren, calm down. You nearly sent me to my death bed. I almost died because of a- ooh this is a cute top." The alpha held up the plain olive green and tilted her head.

Lauren waved her off, "Take it. I never wore it anyway."

A small grin placed its way on Ally's face. The Mexican girl bid her a small thank you as she folded her shirt. It was then that Lauren noticed some off things about her alpha. Ally's once live and tan skin had tinted down a few shades. There were some deep bags under the girl's eyes accompanied by an awkward crinkle in the corners of her lips when she smiled.

"Allz, it hasn't gotten better ?" Lauren questioned as she reached out to touch her best friend's face. Once her skin met Ally's cheek, Lauren instantly shot back. Her skin was so cold.

"It never got better Lauren. He's making my life a living hell and I can't even fight back," Ally tossed the folded shirt behind her on Lauren's bed, "I haven't spoken to Dinah in nearly two weeks and I am dying inside. I always try to approach her but I'm scared she'll hate me more. I can't even sleep at night without being terrified Lauren."

Lauren, instantly forgetting about what she was doing before, stepped before her best friend, "Babe when was the last time you slept ?"

Tears brimmed up in the corner of Ally's eyes, "Four days."

"96 hours Ally ?!" The Mexican girl nodded. Lauren felt her canines extend in her gums, "I'm going to fucking kill him."

"Lauren there's no way to find him. We don't even know where he could be nor who he is with. I don't want you risking yourself. There has to be a starting point before you can go after him."

The green eyed beta sighed as she brought her friend into a loving hug, "I promised your parents I'd protect you with my life and I'm living with that promise Ally."

"I know and I thank you everyday for it. But for now, we need to find leads before you jump into assassin mode, okay ?" Ally looked up at her friend to see her nodding, "Good. Now brighten up my mood. Why are half your clothes out of the closet ?"

Lauren shrugged, "Because it's national coming out day ?"

Ally hit the girl's shoulder and let out a little giggle, "Very funny Lauren. Now spill. I'm your best friend now."

"I have a date with Mani and I have no idea as to what to wear. Nothing I've chosen will be up to par with her." Once again, the Cuban groaned as she threw a pair of shorts behind her head.

The alpha, now prepared for the sudden attack, dodged the flying shorts and shook her head, "Move Laur, let Mama Ally help you out."

~~~

Normani sighed as she finished slipping on her pink crop top and flopped down on her bed. There, as usual, in her own bed, laid Dinah. The Polynesian girl always faced the wall, never wanting to show her face.

Normani knew she shouldn't have been holding this grudge against her best friend but she couldn't help it. They had always been open with each other, it was like their code of conduct. With that bond being broken, Normani felt like she had been thrown out easily, like their years of friendship meant nothing.

The brown skin girl rubbed the bridge of her nose. She truly did love this girl, this goofball that was her best friend truly did have a spot in her heart. It was time to be the bigger girl and put her pride aside.

"Hey Dinah," The brown skin girl called out. Expectedly, she received no response, "Can we talk ?"

After a brief period of silence, Normani continued to speak, "Well I guess I'll talk and you listen. Or hopefully you will be listening. With those big ears of yours, you could hear anything," With yet another awkward laugh and even awkwarder silence, Normani continued, "So Lauren took me to Plushie Palace. After I got my plushie she asked me out on a date and I said yes. But I really regret saying yes because I have nothing to wear."

Normani took a breath and waited for a response, expectedly, no response. Yet she continued on, "So I put on this pink crop top but I feel like a crop top is too much. I would've put on a flannel but that's too casual and I still don't know where we're going."

The silence filled the girl as she took a deep breath, "I also wanted to tell her a joke about chocolate I heard earlier. The joke wasn't that funny so I just snickered." Normani herself chuckled but let it linger in the air as it flooded into the silence.

The brown skin girl was ready to give up on trying to in. Once again, Normani sighed as she pushed herself off the bed only to feel a vibration in her pocket. The girl pulled out her phone to see a message.

½ Dinally:
That joke was so corny Mani, I swear you're such a dork.

½ Dinally:

Normani grinned widely as she raced back over towards her friend and leapt on her bed, laughing wholeheartedly. The brown skin girl snuggled her cheek against her Polynesian friend's arm, "I knew you couldn't resist this Kordei Charm."

"Your joke was so bad, I had to let you know." Dinah's raspy untouched voice put a smile on both girl's faces.

The brown skin girl kissed her friend's forehead and brought her into a loving hug, "I've missed you pookie."

"I've missed you Mani."

~~

After many minutes of Ally pushing Lauren out of the house, the Cuban girl sat patiently on the hood of the jeep with a cute single daisy in her grasp. Lauren let her legs sway off the side of the car as she stared down at her Converse.

As Mama Ally stated, she did settle on Lauren's outfit. The Cuban girl wore a cute pair of overall shorts and a black bandeau, exposing her amazing curves. The outfit was so dorky and cute in Ally's opinion, it was perfect for what Lauren had in store for the two.

Lauren's hand shook as she continued to stare down at her sneakers. Boy was she nervous for their first date. Date. The word brought a tiny smile upon the girl's face at the fact that she finally was able to go out on a date with Normani.

"Alright Lauren, it's time to woman up," The girl stated to herself, trying to raise her confidence before she completely made a fool out of herself, "You will take Normani out on a date. You will have a good time. You will-"

Before the last statement could be stated, out of the packhouse stepped Normani. The girl easily made her way towards the car, a bright smile on her face.

As for Lauren, the girl nearly drooled on sight. The girl sported a light washed pair of shorts with an even shorter shirt. The girl's light pink crop top exposed Normani's toned stomach, a particularly bright belly button piercing glimmered back at Lauren.

"Lauren ? Hello Lauren ?" Normani snapped her fingers in front of the girl. The beta blinked multiple times before raising her dropped jaw.

Lauren licked her lips, speaking out breathlessly, "Hot."

"I'm sorry, what ?" The brown skin girl chuckled.

"Hot. Hot pink. That's a cute hot pink crop top." Lauren mentally face palmed herself at how lame her cover up was.

"It's peach Lauren," Normani giggled and brought the girl in for a hug, "Cute attempt though, thank you."

The green eyed beta continued to eye the girl's outfit down, "No, no, thank you. For that phenomenal outfit. I give it a ten-out-of-ten stars. One hundred percent on RottenTomatos.com."

The brown skin girl rolled her eyes and pushed Lauren out of the hug. Both girls laughed together as they made their way into the car and onto the road.

It was date time.