Betrayed from Birth – Alpha’s Unvalued Daughter
Betrayed from Birth – Alpha’s Unvalued Daughter Chapter 26

Raven's POV

It is the night of the ball, and I have to admit that I am nervous. I am really thankful that my brothers are going to be with me, especially on the stairs. I was worried that I would trip, on my dress or shoes, and tumble down the stairs, landing in a heap at the bottom. In my nightmare, people even saw my underwear when I landed, and I was mortified. Stella thought that my dream was just my mind stressing about it. But in my heart, I believed that it was actually a premonition. I have been massaged, buffed, and scrubbed and now at 430, the ladies are about to do my hair and makeup. The things earlier were very nice. I felt relaxed, but with this new unknown, I was getting anxious again.

My parents had asked me to the Office earlier today, and I saw my brothers were there as well. I saw two gifts on the desk and as my brothers were sitting on the couch and Olivia was in one of the chairs in front of his desk, I slid into the other chair after shutting the door. "Olivia and I wanted to get you something special from us. I thought it was a great idea and when the boys heard about it, they wanted to get you something special too. We know it is not your birthday, but we missed so many of them, and we wanted you to know how much we love you. We also wanted you to have something special from us as well. That way you will have this to wear for tonight when we introduce you" dad said and smiled at me.

"This one is from us," dad said as he handed the bigger box over to me. I opened it to see a large ruby surrounded by diamonds. The diamonds flashed in the light and the blood-red stone was the same color as our pack emblem. There was a pair of matching earrings with it. I had gotten my ears pierced at the mall, and I was excited about getting to wear these tonight. My ears had already healed up, and I have been wearing the diamond solitaires that dad and Olivia had bought me last week ever since. I loved them even though I really didn't want them to spend a lot of money on me. I felt like I was getting spoiled, but I was so thankful for my family loving me enough that they actually wanted to give me gifts.

"This one is from us," Carter said to me, and I opened the second box to see my name spelled out in gold on a necklace. I loved it, and I couldn't wait to put it on. I will be wearing both necklaces tonight, as well as matching earrings. I got up and gave everyone a hug. It seemed like I wasn't the only one who was moved to tears. Olivia and dad were struggling to hold them back, and I didn't know why they were so emotional today. Even at breakfast and lunch, they seemed to be really wanted to stay longer than usual. I guess it is just an emotional day with telling all their friends and allied packs about me. I know that they have been looking forward to doing it. I feel it is special as they want to claim me and tell everyone that I am a member of their family. Especially since my former family didn't want anyone to know that I was a member of their family. They went to a great extent to hide me away, and not recognize me. So this is a really big deal for me, as my family wants everyone to know that I am their daughter. I am now pretty excited about tonight as I am being celebrated. I feel cherished and accepted by my family. I put both necklaces on, with my name nearer my collarbones, and the ruby necklace resting just above my breasts. I put the earrings on and head up to my room to change clothes into what Olivia told me to wear

I had seen others wearing makeup before and I already knew, sometimes they looked very nice and natural, I even liked that smokey eye look. Other times they looked like they were about to graduate from clown college with makeup that seemed like it was caked on and a half-inch thick. I didn't want to look like that. I wanted to look like myself, but better. Olivia was in here with us and giving them instructions. Amanda and Olivia were going to get their hair done first, while we get our makeup done, and then we switch over to the other chairs to trade out. Olivia was a great planner and had even reminded me to wear some shorts, and a button-down shirt so when I went to get dressed I didn't mess up my hair and make-up by pulling a shirt over my head. I can hear them talking and I just closed my eyes while the makeup artist works on me. It is actually kind of pleasant getting my makeup done, and when they are almost finished, they tell me to look up so they can finish my mascara. I do as instructed, and when they are finished I am sent over to get my hair done. The same lady that did Olivia's hair is doing mine, and she had given her the instructions for what to do to mine.

It is the same lady who had cut and put some highlights in my hair two days ago. I had only received haircuts as I have grown up. Some were better than others, depending on who I got to do them. Some of them liked to not cut it straight across the back. They thought that my looking like that was even funnier than when they hit me, and as it was behind me I wouldn't know about it until I got to school. That worked for them until I was 13 years old. Then I started wearing it in a ponytail. The joke was on them then, even if it was slanted down to one side, and obviously a bad cut, it was much less noticeable. The one time the lady did my bangs like that when I was around 10, was also the last time I got my bangs cut. I never let them see me be upset about it, after that day. I always acted like I didn't notice it, because it is much worse if they see you cry about it. Then they knew they got to you. Then the teasing really kicks into high gear. It took months to grow my hair long enough to hide it in my ponytail. Those were some of the longest months of my life. I had to ask for barrettes to try to hide what they had done. But I was told that they were a want, not a need, by my father, I mean Alpha Graham. I think he had great pleasure in seeing my hair so messed up that summer.

The lady doing my hair was super sweet. Her name was Jamie, and she was really excellent at her craft. We had gone to her show two days ago for my first cut and color. Olivia had her put some medium brown and some dark blonde in my hair. It showed off the curls that Jamie had put in my hair after she was done. My hair flowed down my shoulders and halfway down my back and it looked gorgeous. It was silky and so shiny. It seemed like it was more for a model than for me, but here it was, gorgeous, and I wanted to cry at how beautiful I felt with my hair looking like that. I felt like another person and was walking with pride when I came back from the appointment. Both my brothers and dad were very flattering to me about it that night at dinner. Stella and Amanda were with me, and they loved it. Even Beta Timothy and Joshua mentioned how nice my hair looked. I loved it too and wanted to have Jamie, do my hair from now on. I felt so special after getting it done. Olivia said that it was a trial run and that my hair would be styled the same way for the ball. My hair came down in loose waves, and I agree. I think I will look my best that way too. Even without my dress, or makeup on, I felt beautiful.

It was about 20 minutes after 5 when our hair was complete, and Stella and I headed into the changing room to get dressed. Olivia had us getting ready for the ball, in the private rooms on the second floor of the event center. She wanted our family to be the first ones to see us, right before we went to take out pictures. She wanted what I looked like to be a surprise for the guests and the pack members attending. I just went along with it, as I thought it was funny that she was so excited about it. After I got in my gold dress and sat down to put my heels on, I heard footsteps approach and I see Stella in her dress. She is beautiful in a sapphire blue gown, its deep color making her look stunning. Her long brown hair was pulled up in a sleek ponytail, making her face the star tonight. Her blue eyes were glowing, and she looked like a model. I loved the slit in her dress showing off her strong legs as she walked. I am praying that she meets her mate tonight too and that we still get to stay here at Blood Walker together.

I stood up and we head over to the mirror so we can get our first look at ourselves tonight. Olivia had no mirrors in the hair and makeup stations so we wouldn't see ourselves until we were done and dressed for our pictures. We both gasped as we stared at our reflections in the mirror. We are stunning, I cannot believe what I look like. I see Stella's smirk as I gasped at my reflection, and I can tell that she had been working hard to control her excitement at how nice I looked. I am totally floored, I didn't know that I could look this nice either. I am glad that Olivia is getting our pictures done tonight. I don't know if I will ever look this good again. My slim frame is shown off in this sequined dress. It is catching the light and I step closer to look at myself in the mirror. My makeup looks flawless, and whatever she did made my eyes stand out as the focal feature of my face. My lips are in a kind of n**e pick, I have never felt so beautiful before. I am worried less about people staring at me now. I am so happy that I feel like crying, and Olivia and Amanda stepped up behind us to give us a hug. I know that she knew I was about to ruin my makeup and wanted to stop me before I did.

"You both look stunning, let's go meet with the photographer now. We will get out pictures done, and then you girls can get your pictures done too after the fact. I wanted to get both our family, and the Beta family's pictures taken so we need to get going, it is 530, and I wanted us to be done before the guests are let in. A few have already arrived, but we asked that they stay in their vehicles until closer to 6 to give us a little time" Olivia said, and we headed down to get the pictures done. I was glad the makeup covered my cheeks as dad and Beta Timothy started teasing me that they needed to act as my guards tonight to keep me away from the unmated males. But their good-natured teasing also helped to relax my nerves for the night. My brothers though, both seemed very serious about running protection for me.

We had a good time taking our family pictures and watching the Beta family take their pictures. It was fun, and the photographer was really good. Dad and Beta Timothy too one together, and then with their wives. My brothers and Joshua took some together, and then some of just my brothers, and then Stella and I took some. We took group shots as well and then a few minutes to 6 we were finishing up with just the children in the picture, the five of us. Stella and I were in the front with Carter in the center, and Joshua and Austin flanking him. Everything was fine until my brothers, and I went to walk up the stairs to wait for my introduction. My heel got caught in my dress, and I reached out to catch the railing to keep from falling, and Joshua caught me and pulled me to his chest to keep me from tumbling backward down the stairs. I looked up to thank him when a growl outside shook the door. I frowned thinking that it was Justin trying to still claim me, but I didn't see Justin out there. There were about 40 people at the door, and they all seemed to be looking back toward a very big guy near the back of the line. I couldn't see his face though, and I quickly cleared my heel and left with my brothers, after thanking Joshua for keeping me from falling.

I could see my dad and Beta Timothy heading for the door, it was still 5 minutes until 6, but they were going to start letting people in now. I am sure that dad will clear up any problem that there was outside, I am sure it was a misunderstanding. I couldn't see how it could involve me anyway. I can tell that Carter was thinking about the growl and I noticed that he was mind linking dad. About a minute later I felt him jerk in surprise and stopped at the top of the stairs to look back down at dad, who nodded to him as if confirming something to Carter. I see Austin look at Carter with a frown and see his eyes glazing over to show that he was linking Carter. I felt his hand squeeze mine in comfort and he gives me a gentle smile. It can't be that bad then, whatever it is. We all went to go use the restroom and grab a bottle of water from the bar, we had twenty minutes to burn up for now. I see Carter ask for an actual drink. I was surprised as I knew that he wanted to be completely clear-headed as he was actively looking for his mate tonight. "Carter, are you OK? I know you can have a drink, we are 18, and on our land, but you seem upset. Did you get bad news?" I asked him.

"Yes, I got bad news. Dad just told me that he allowed Reagan and Justin, onto our land. They came with Alpha Graham and Luna Cassandra. I am quite sure that one or more of them are not here to celebrate you tonight. I don't want to see her, but dad anticipated this and had 4 warriors here tonight to kind of shadow them. He knew that Reagan would be coming, so he has them dressed for the party. You don't have to worry, Lanie will be shadowing Reagan, and Charlie will have Justin. Reagan is evil to the bone, and I am quite sure she wanted to come here and give you a hard time. I don't want to see her, I may not have wanted her after all that she has done to you My heart was still hurt by what she did, both to you and to me. I also don't want her messing up my chance to find my second chance mate. Sometimes misunderstandings arise if an ex is trying to keep you away from your mate because of jealousy. It happens much more than you think. This is going to be a long night, with her here. I promise you, Raven, this will be the only alcoholic drink that I drink tonight" Carter told me.

"I have been going back and forth on if I wanted them to be here Carter. I did invite them, but it was more me tossing it in their face that I have moved on and moved up. I really didn't want to hear her annoying voice again" I told him. I was glad that within five days of my being here, dad had the gap closed off between us and Silver Blade with the 10-foot fence. That gap was proof that dad was waiting on me to come to him, and I am glad Emerald and I did. I can feel Emerald in my head getting excited. She is flustered and wants us to go downstairs already.

"Don't forget, Reagan and Justin are both down there. I can wait, Emerald, I really don't want to deal with whatever crap she or he wants to pull on us. Let alone the Alpha Graham, and Luna Cassandra. I have nothing at all to say to any of them" I linked her. "They aren't the only ones down there Raven. I am ready to go" she tells me, and I have to smile at her excitement.

"It is time to get ready to go down, we can head over towards the stairs, but we need to stay back a little as dad and Olivia don't want anyone getting an early peek at you. For some reason they want every eye to be on you after they make the announcement. After they speak we will approach the stairs and we will take you down. Don't worry about tripping, Austin and I have you. You look beautiful tonight, Raven. Just relax, we are all here for you. I think that it is going to be a very memorable night. We won't allow you to be harmed tonight." Carter tells me, and I take a deep breath. I am still nervous in the pit of my stomach, but I am excited as well. I know that I can trust my family, and the Beta family tonight. I trust Lanie and Charlie, the head trainers too. I am ready to go when I heard my father's voice booming across the room, and it went silent for him to speak. Both he and Olivia were so sweet with their words about me becoming a member of the family and being a long-lost child returning to the fold, and I am trying not to cry. Olivia and Stella both told me that it would ruin my makeup, so I looked at the ceiling, blinking back my tears. Austin squeezes my hand and smiles down at me as they go to introduce me, I hope this turns out to be a really good night.