“My friend desires a bespoke Brianna Layla Gown.”
She rolled her eyes at him, questioning whose store he believed he was in. “Everything downstairs is a Brianna Layla gown,” she retorted with dripping sarcasm in response to his foolish request.
“You are exceedingly impolite,” he glared directly at her.
This was not rudeness; it was merely annoyance, as he did not wish to witness her extreme anger. She was taking every measure to expel him from her store, exhibiting an attitude that suggested he should not return.
I observed him take a breath to temper his anger; his wolf likely irritable due to the disrespect she was exhibiting. I heard Layla snicker in amusement within her mind; they had scarcely begun.
“Kindly, at the very least, examine the image of the dress she desires.” He shifted slightly. “Sadie, enter and display the dress you desire to the lady,” he summoned her.
Brianna’s jaw clenched tightly, to the extent that she could hear her teeth grinding against one another. Observed him gaze directly at her. He had also discerned it. They were disinclined to learn the woman’s name and were particularly averse to making direct eye contact with her. That was the reason she ascended the stairs and requested Stella to address them.
On any other day in her store, Brianna would have been eager to remain downstairs and assist her customers, who appreciated meeting her; she was aware of this and generally did not mind engaging with them.
Only the super prima donnas vexed her; the whiny, spoilt infants who had never encountered the word ‘No’ irritated both her and Layla. She was now glaring directly at him and observed him attempting to scent her, an intriguing reaction to her ire; he evidently was unaccustomed to humans confronting or defying him.
A striking red-haired girl entered her office shortly thereafter, clearly not her natural hair colour, which was as vivid as a fire truck. The girl, not yet a woman, appeared to be around 18 or 19 years old. She smiled directly at Brianna, possessing deep, dark blue eyes. Her physique was trim, taut, and remarkable, characteristic of all wolves. She wore a well-fitted dress that accentuated her breasts and hips, drawing attention to her impressive fitness. She thought bitterly that he was precisely her type; it did not elude her or Layla that she also bore the scent of Alpha blood.
She did not smile at Sadie, as she had been summoned. She had already been initiated into the pack and bore its scent. The girl hesitated when Brianna’s gaze met hers, visibly irritated and angered by the necessity of direct eye contact.
Luca escorted her deeper into the office, stating, “I’m certain she won’t bite, Sadie.” It was a caution; both she and Layla noted his tone. “Display the dress you desire.” I am confident that I will persuade her to proceed with it.
“Unlikely.” Layla seethed internally.
Observed him escort Sadie across the office and position her opposite Brianna. He glared directly at him; he was fortunate that Layla remained partially within herself and had not fully emerged. Indeed, he was accustomed to always having his desires fulfilled. Undoubtedly, whatever the Luna desired, she would obtain; he was present to ensure that. Today, he would discover that he could not attain all his desires; she was not easily manipulated.
Indeed, every other Luna attained their desires; she and Layla harboured a profound disdain for Lunars, nearly as intense as their animosity towards their own kind.
“Brianna,” she sensed his aura emanate towards her, albeit slightly. Presumably attempting to articulate her grievance: “It is Sadie’s desire.”
“I informed you that I am occupied and lack the time,” she retorted, ensuring he comprehended that his presence held no significance for her.
“Examine it,” he asserted to her.
They were no longer members of his pack; rogues lacked masters and were not obligated to respond to anyone unless they voluntarily chose to do so. She raised an eyebrow at him and snapped, “I disapprove of your attitude,” before standing up, sensing Layla’s agitation within her mind. They would be no match for him; however, they were unwilling to permit him to dominate them in their office.
“Nor I yours,” he retorted sharply, observing him retrieve the photograph from the girl’s grasp. “What detriment could arise from examining it?” he extended it towards her.
“Nothing, I presume,” she replied tersely, seizing the object from his grasp. It was, in fact, a magazine clipping rather than a photograph, and the instant her gaze fell upon it, her ire intensified. She had created only one of these, subjecting herself to torment over it.
It was the exact dress she had conceived for herself, the one she had perpetually envisioned wearing, the one she had crafted long before departing from the pack, tormenting herself with fantasies of Ryder scenting and claiming her, and that dress being the one she would don for her Luna Ceremony. It has never occurred and will never occur.
Brianna was unequivocally certain that the girl before her would never don that dress, as she would never create it for her ceremony with Ryder.
She tore the clipping in half, then in half again. “I will not make that,” she spat, discarding the torn pieces into the bin. I heard the girl gasp and sob, then she abruptly rose from the chair and exited the room hastily, while I observed Luca pursue her. She practically snarled at him, “Go and don’t return.”
