---- Gesture: an action performed to convey a feeling or intention. ----

I checked on the reflection and I could not help but to feel happy about what I was seeing. The green dress combined with my eye colour and all of my trainings did pay off in terms of how it fitted my shape. I had fallen in love with it since I first laid eyes on it and wasted no time on buying it for this occasion.

I chuckled a little remembering how Max was over the moon after I told him I bought a dress.

A dress. Me!

He even bought his clothes to match mine. I was sure today I was going to be the target of many injurious comments and thoughts from all of the girls. Even from the ones that did not dislike me yet. But I did not care, it was our 18th birthday and we deserved spending the day together.

I twirled around to admire the long skirt open gracefully, showing my black high heel sandals. I run my gaze up, stopping just a moment on the tight waist before focusing on the plunging V neck that showed my cleavage. Maybe a bit too much?

"You look stunning." I jumped on my feet, turning to find a sheepish Kenneth leaning against my bedroom's door.

"Ken!" I stuttered a little, not ready to be seen yet. "I did not notice you were here. When did you get inside?"

"Just a second ago, I knocked but you didn't notice." He was pacing the room towards me, stopping a couple of steps in front of me. "Happy birthday Riley."

He opened his arms and offered me a timid smile. I did not take me a second to throw myself at him and hug him back.

"Thanks Ken!" I pulled apart and tapped my dress to smooth out possible creases. "I was seriously thinking you had forgotten about it. I didn't see you in the whole day!"

"How could you?" He snorted, running a hand through his hair. "I would never..."

"Just teasing you." I winked at him, rotating again to the mirror.

I still needed to put some make up on but was getting more and more nervous about the dress cleavage. Well, about the dress itself.

"Do not overthink, you are gorgeous." His voice came from behind, his eyes meeting mine on the mirror's reflection, as if he could read my thoughts. A reticent smile dotted my lips and I swiped my long straight hair over one shoulder a little bashful. Kenneth was not a guy to give compliments lightly. "Indeed, it might be too good..."

"Thank you" I murmured patting the skirt once again, "I needed to hear that."

"Also..." I could see reached for something in his pocket and stretching his arm from behind me holding it out to me. "It might be a perfect fit."

I pulled my eyes from his and looked down to the small black box in his hand.

"Ken, you shouldn't have..." I tried to say, but I saw him shaking his head. 

"Just take it."

I nodded and grabbed the small box, opening it. A beautiful necklace took my breath away, making me turn around to face him.

"Did you make it yourself? This is too much..." My gaze wandered from the necklace to his smiling face.

"It is your 18th birthday, it is not enough." I pursed my lips together and crossed my arms in protest. "Anyhow, I am glad you like it."

"Are you serious?" I opened my arms, giving up on the indignation and letting the excitement take over. "I L-O-V-E it! And you are right, it does fit perfectly. Can you please help me put it on?"

I put the necklace on his hand and spun around, grabbing hold of my hair and offering him my neck. After a couple of seconds without reaction, I peeked backwards at him.

"Ken?"

"Sorry," he cleared his throat and lifted the necklace to pass it above my head. "I was a little lost in thought."

I laughed and waited for him to finish. Feeling happy to see the bloodstone necklace landing on my chest. It was a simple design: a doughnut-shaped pendant hanging from a strap. It was not a perfect circular shape, which gave away he had done it himself and it made my heart warm with happiness. He even used my birthstone which happened to be one of my favourite ones. I loved its red and green colours. How long had he been working on that?

"That's it!" He patted my shoulders and studied my reflection. "Those wolves better behave in the ball... I wish I could be there."

I rolled my eyes and stepped to the table next to the mirror. I grabbed the eyeliner, a red lipstick and some blush and started to perform the little make up abilities I had.

"Do not worry, there will be no one really interested in approaching me."

"That is not what worries me..." Doing the eyeliner needed all of my concentration, so I decided to ignore the barely mumbled words. He did not realize he looked at me through the eyes of a brother, some kind of pink glasses that didn't let him see my flaws. Just like Max.

When I finished putting some colour on my face, I stood straight to see the final result. I knew I could have asked any omega lady in the house to help me with the hair and make-up, but I could not bring myself to use them so blatantly as servants. Not with Kenneth being one of them.

I picked the black strapless purse I was going to bring and put the lipstick in it, feeling ready to go. I flashed a smile at my best friend, ignoring his creased brows, and signed towards the door. It was already time to go and Max was probably waiting for me already.

I started to walk, but he did not follow me, so I put my hands on my hips while spinning and met his stern gaze.

"The only person that will ever approach me is my mate and, you know what? I won't be finding him anytime soon." I lifted my hand and started counting with my fingers, "First, meeting your mate on the first day you can finally sense them is like a miracle. Second, I cannot connect with my wolf, which will make it impossible from my side to notice him or her. Third, if my mate is someone from this pack, probably he or she will prefer to keep it a secret rather than having to be burdened with me. Fourth, I'd rather not find my mate within the options I have in here. Fifth..."

"Okay, okay!" I managed to crack a smile on his serious face. He grabbed my extended hand with his and started to walk to the door, pulling me behind. "I got the message. Now, go and have fun with Max."

"My goddess Ken," I sighed, exiting the room when he gestured me to go out ahead of him, "you are like my mom..."

"That would make him my mom too, no thanks." Max amused voice came from a close distance. When I looked his way, I saw his stunning figure giving the final steps towards us. He scanned my outfit and smirked satisfied. "In the name of the goddess, my sister is definitely the hottest girl in the pack."

"Do you have a Narcissus complex, brother?"

We all laughed and Max handed a camera to Kenneth.

"We need a commemorative picture for our 18th birthday. The first day I see Rie with a dress since she turned 10!"

I elbowed him and he cringed a bit before settling next to me and striking a cool pose to the camera. I snorted and stood next to him, staring at the camera with a serious face. Ken took the picture and nodded when checking the result.

"Okay, now one smiling!" Max hugged my shoulders and squeezed me against his chest. He looked down on me and fluttered his eyebrows playfully. "Your boobs are going to pop out like this Rie..."

"Hey!" I tried to push him with little success, blushing hard and trying to fix the cleavage. Max used the opportunity and signed Ken to take a picture, pecking a kiss on my cheek shortly after.

"Happy birthday sis."

The sudden display of affection took me by surprise but I reacted fast and tiptoed to kiss him back.

"Happy birthday to you too, big bro!"

He lifted his hand to touch the place I had just brushed with my lips, suddenly quiet, seriously not having expected my reaction. I might need to kiss him more often.

His baffled look made Ken and me burst into laughter, him mirroring us shortly after.

I wiped some tears off my cheeks and felt warm inside, my chest filled with gratitude to the goddess for granting me a place where I was this comfortable being myself.

"It is good to see you are getting along well." Josh's voice came from behind us. "But it is time to go. I am a busy man and you are using me as your taxi driver, outrageous!"

He wanted to sound annoyed, but his slightly curled lip gave him away. I turned to Kenneth and asked him with a gesture if he had taken the picture. He nodded and passed the camera to Max in a quick movement.

"Gamma Josh" he bowed, staying in that position. "I will take my leave if I am no longer needed."

"Wait, I want a last picture with all of us." I answered, surprising not only my companions but also myself.

Me, asking for a picture.

I decided to ignore their amused faces and signaled Max to give me the camera. After all, I wanted to keep a memory of all of my favourite people together and now was as good of a moment as any other.

I placed it on a console and made sure we all fitted in the image. I clicked the button and I heard the sound of the picture being taken. I rolled my eyes.

Obviously me, being me, I had forgotten to set the countdown option. I heard a snicker coming from the men waiting for me to finish and I simple growled to warn them I was not going to put up with any mansplaining.

I finished setting it up and clicked once again, running to join them. I stood in the middle: Max to my right, Kenneth to my left, and Josh towering behind me, with his hand placed on my shoulder. I was loving this picture and I had not seen it yet.

When we heard the clicking sound, Kenneth jumped to pick up the camera, passing it to Max. Before even checking the result, he bowed once again and left quietly, mumbling some polite excuses.

My brother looked at the picture and smiled satisfied.

"Now we can leave, Gamma Josh." He stated, putting the camera on his pocket and offering me his arm. I laced my arm with his and turned to Josh.

"Well, what do you think? Aren't we a cute couple?" I arched an eyebrow and posed with Max, that went perfectly with the flow.

"The cutest." He said sarcastically, spinning on his heels and heading to the door. "Time to go!"

A/N

Well, who said was going to update during their business trip? *hides from angry looks* I am afraid it was me but I obviously had no time for it in the end... Sorry!
Do not throw be to the burning pyre yet! I promise I already have the next chapter in the oven, the Halloween ball chapter has to be this weekend! Haha!
What do you think of the necklace? And the dress? I personally would love to have one similar...
Comments and votes are always very welcome  m(._.)m

Love, Koe