POV: Sookie
Sookie heard a knock at the door, making her jump a mile.
"Come in?"
The door opened, and a girl who seemed familiar came in. She had this cute smile that probably got her far in life. Her eyes were golden brown, and her hair was pitch black, piled on her head in a messy bun. This aura about her made you want to pay attention to her.
She was much taller than Sookie, but that wasn't hard. If Sookie estimated correctly, she was close to six feet tall. She could have been a model, the type of girl you love to hate, but she seemed to send off such positive energy that Sookie couldn't be that mad that she felt so small and unpretty next to her.
"Hey." She closed the door behind her.
"I'm sorry, Gasper isn't here," Sookie told her. "I don't know where he went. I'm not supposed to leave the room, I think. And I don't know the visitor policy."
She laughed at that, and the sound echoed against the wall and danced around Sookie.
"I'm Dolly, Gasper's sister."
"Oh. Well, like I said..."
"I'm not here to see him. I wanted to see you."
She sat on the couch, and Sookie sat in the oversized chair.
"If that's okay with you, of course."
"Why not?" Sookie mumbled. "How can I help you?"
"The better question is how I can help you?"
Sookie swallowed hard. She didn't know what the hell was happening anymore, and she wasn't sure anyone here could help her.
"I'm not sure."
"Can I tell you a story?" Dolly asked, leaning forward towards her. "It might help."
"I do like stories."
Sookie read a lot, not as much lately, but she did growing up. Books were like vacations that fueled her imagination.
"When I was thirteen, I started to hear this voice in my head. She told me her name was Tristan, and she was my wolf. That we would meet when I was old enough, but she came early so we could get to know each other. And I hear you had the same thing happen to you."
"I was younger, but yes."
"How old were you?"
"I, maybe three? I don't really remember being without Katherine. My wolf." Sookie told her, and she could tell Dolly was suppressing her surprise.
"I see. That is young."
Was that bad? Sookie wondered but didn't ask.
"I always thought she was an imaginary friend or something. We talked a lot, but around maybe eight or so, she came around more. Around ten, my grandmother found out and got me help. Maybe it could help you, too? The medication?"
Sookie wanted to ask her how to get out of here to get back to it. Gasper was very insistent someone was out to get her and she shouldn't leave the territory. But she needed to eventually. This couldn't last forever. Even though her university did agree to let her finish her classes virtually after Gasper faked some doctor's note for her, she did have somewhat of a life. She had a few job offers lined up and a couple more interviews that she had missed. She would forfeit all of that if she didn't get back soon.
"Sookie, I know you think you are crazy. The humans told you that. I know you talk to Katherine, Azreal, and Gasper. All living together in your mind. I know you shifted. From the outside, it seems unreal, but I promise you, we all live with this. Unmated, just with your wolf, but mated, you get more voices. Joining a pack, you get even more. You control when they can hear you, and when they can't, once you learn how."
What she was saying was accurate. It was precisely what happened. She was Gasper's sister, though. Someone could have prepped her.
"How do you live with that? It's so distracting."
Three other voices in her head was bad enough. But more? How many exactly?
She smiled.
"It gets easier. Takes time is all."
"And you believe this? That you can become a wolf?"
"Of course." She said. "And it's fun sometimes."
"I guess it could be."
"When I was fourteen, I went into my first heat way too early. Did you ever have hot flashes? I think humans call them that. Before a couple of weeks ago?"
"That started around ten, I think? They were smaller and went away quickly. Unlike what just happened."
Sookie blushed. Could she talk to Gasper's sister about this? About how she was with her brother on some weird intense situation?
"I wanted to tell you that heat is an animal instinct we live with. It is normal and happens to all of us. Unchecked, it is quite painful, and you become desperate to cool the heat however you can. I spent days in the cold pool you were in. My dad and brothers sat there with me, holding me. I can't imagine having to face that alone. I would have mated with any wolf who wanted to. In that state, all you can think about is the lust, the desire to be with someone. To get pregnant. It's a curse if you ask me. Alpha she-wolves experience it even stronger, and we think you have alpha blood."
She touched Sookie's shoulder sympathetically. Sookie wanted to shake her off but didn't want to offend her.
"What does that mean exactly?"
Everyone kept talking about this alpha blood she supposedly had. She still didn't quite get it.
"Your parents are high-ranking wolves from somewhere. You are naturally strong. You are beautiful and alluring."
"I would hardly call myself beautiful."
She was starting to lose Sookie there. Next to everyone she saw here, she was average on her best day. She almost thought there was an enchantment over this place, making everyone look so hot.
"You don't look in many mirrors, do you?"
Dolly stood up and pushed her over to sit in the oversized chair with her.
"I've been told I put out 'stay away from me' energy to the world."
Dolly chuckled at that.
"Oh, you do, girl. It's dark, but that makes it irresistible to my brother and likely other wolves, too. Normally, she-wolves are like prey and are usually pretty easy to catch. With you, they will chase you, but you are going to bite back. Gasper needs that. He is, he is pretty dark in his own way."
On the last comment, she stiffened. Was she afraid of him?
"You seem to have formed an interesting image of me."
"You painted the picture, Sookie," she said and hugged her.
No one around here believed in personal space.
"Now, there is a party happening in a couple of weeks. We do these once a quarter to swear in new pack members. Would you come with me to the mall? You need a dress, and I have nothing to wear either."
"I don't think I'm invited."
Sookie held back a laugh. Gasper didn't want her to leave the room. Why would he take her to a party?
"Of course you are! I would expect Gasper to announce you there."
Her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Announce me?"
Not sure she liked the sound of that.
"Gasper eventually needs to inform everyone you exist. The sooner, the better, in my opinion. He's being overly cautious. As always."
Did Sookie want to be announced? What did that mean?
"And if he doesn't bring you, I will. I'm allowed a date."
Shopping didn't seem that dangerous. Then Sookie remembered she had no idea where her purse went after the bar.
"No. I don't think I can do that."
"We will bring guards. Gasper would be okay with it. Or at least he'll know I came up with the idea and blame me. He enjoys blaming me for things."
"I just mean..." Sookie shook her head.
It wouldn't hurt to go window shopping, right? She could go and have some fun away from this place. It might be helpful. Plus, she did not like anyone even implying she needed permission to do anything.
"Okay."
"Great!" Dolly grabbed her hand before she could change her mind. "I promise you will have fun."
Sookie wasn't sure she believed that. This felt like forced fun. But it would be nice to go out. It had been a couple of weeks since she had been anywhere. So off to the mall they went, with about ten guards in tow.
How important were these people?
"Dolly, why do we need so many guards?" Sookie asked her as they got in the car.
"Oh, um, just in case. Plus, we will need help with the bags."
Sookie hoped she was joking, but she felt she wasn't.
The car was sleek and black, something expensive that Sookie couldn't identify. She climbed into the back seat with Dolly while guards filled two other vehicles. The whole procession felt excessive, like they were royalty or something.
We kind of are, Katherine whispered. Alpha families are nobility in our world.
Shut up, Katherine.
Dolly chatted the entire drive, filling the silence with stories about the pack, about Gasper as a kid, about their family. She painted a picture of a world Sookie had never imagined. One where wolves ran under the full moon, where families shifted together, where the supernatural was just normal life.
It should have felt insane. Maybe it was insane. But sitting next to Dolly, listening to her laugh, watching the city pass by outside the window, Sookie felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.
She felt like she belonged somewhere.
The mall was crowded, full of humans going about their normal human lives. Sookie watched them with a strange detachment. Had she been one of them just weeks ago? Walking around, completely unaware that werewolves existed, that there was an entire hidden world right beneath the surface?
The guards spread out around them, trying to be discreet but failing. Ten massive men following two women through a mall wasn't exactly subtle.
"Ignore them," Dolly said, linking her arm through Sookie's. "They're basically furniture at this point."
They went from store to store, Dolly pulling dresses off racks and holding them up to Sookie. Everything was too fancy, too expensive, too much. But Dolly was relentless.
"This one," she said, holding up a deep emerald gown that shimmered in the light. "This is the one."
"I can't afford that."
"Gasper can."
"I'm not taking his money."
"Why not? You're his mate. What's his is yours."
"That's not how this works."
"That's exactly how this works." Dolly shoved the dress into her hands. "Try it on. Humor me."
Sookie went into the dressing room, mostly to get Dolly to stop talking. She slipped the dress on, expecting it to look ridiculous. But when she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.
The dress hugged her curves, made her skin glow, brought out the unusual purple of her eyes. She looked like someone who belonged at a fancy party. Someone who could stand next to an alpha and not look out of place.
"Holy shit," Dolly said when Sookie came out. "You look incredible."
"It's too much."
"It's perfect. We're getting it."
Before Sookie could argue, Dolly was at the register, Gasper's credit card already out. The guards carried the bags, and they moved on to the next store.
By the time they finished, Sookie was exhausted but smiling. Dolly had somehow made shopping feel like an adventure instead of a chore. She had made Sookie feel normal, even though nothing about this situation was normal.
On the drive back, Dolly squeezed her hand.
"Thank you for coming with me today."
"I should be thanking you. For everything. For explaining things. For being patient with me."
"That's what sisters do."
Sisters. The word settled warm in Sookie's chest. She had never had a sister before. Never had anyone who felt like family except her grandmother, and that relationship had always been complicated.
"I'd like that," Sookie said quietly. "Having a sister."
"Good. Because you're stuck with me now."
When they got back to the pack house, Gasper was waiting. His eyes went immediately to Sookie, checking her over, making sure she was safe. Then they landed on the bags the guards were carrying, and his expression shifted to confusion.
"Dolly, what did you do?"
"Took my future sister-in-law shopping. You're welcome."
He looked at Sookie, and she shrugged.
"She's very persuasive."
"That she is." But he was smiling, relief evident on his face. "Did you have fun?"
"Actually, yes. I did."
And for the first time since arriving at Dark Moon, Sookie meant it.