“Even if I am not your mate, I will help you through this, whatever it ends up being”, Wyatt said, looking into my eyes.
“But why? I don’t understand why you would want to help me? I have brought rogue attacks to your pack! They almost killed Brooke! And all those women in the shelter!”
“But you saved them! You are a good person, I can tell. I don’t know what is coming but I feel like you are the key to this.”
“I want to believe you but I just can’t. It seems like everywhere I turn, you are there, watching me. What are YOU hiding?” I challenged him as I stepped away from him. I wasn’t sure why I was saying this. I just had an overwhelming emotion that he was hiding something too.
“Just know I am here to help you. I need to find the truth. No matter what it is. I have a pack to protect, yes but I want you to be part of that pack!”
“Part of this pack? And what if you find your mate tomorrow? Then what? Who will be more important then? Her wants and needs or my quest I am on? How quickly will I be kicked out of the pack house then?”
He looked shocked for a minute. “I will not kick you out regardless.”
“You don’t know what you will do! No one thought Damian would do what he did till he did it!”
I knew I said the wrong thing as soon as it left my lips. Wyatt’s whole demeanor changed. His eyes went pitch black and he started shaking. “YOU FUCKING DARE TO COMPARE ME TO HIM?” I started to feel some fear, but like a good daughter, I kept my heart rate slow and whipped all emotion from my face. If I am going to die right here and now, I would be doing it with a fight.
Wyatt walked straight up to me and looked me dead in the eye, “SUBMIT NOW!” He demanded. I didn’t even feel a tug, but I could feel his whole aura shoot out from him trying to force me to submit.
I don’t even know what happened. I just got instantly pissed he would try to make me submit. This time I felt my eyes glow green and my own aura shot out in waves. It was the most powerful I have ever felt. I could feel my power match Wyatt’s. He looked completely shocked by this. I just saw red. I was so pissed. “I told you I would never submit to anyone! I will not be thought of less than! How dare you! I now see the truth; you have been using me to figure out what I am here for. You never cared!” I felt the urge to thrust my hands forward, so I did. A huge gust of wind came up and hit Wyatt in the gut and threw him back 15 feet.
I couldn’t believe that just happened! I looked at my hands like they were from a foreign place. How did I just do that?
“Nina, Run!” Raven said to me. I looked up and saw Wyatt shift into a large black wolf. I took off running. I could feel him behind me. “Don’t look back, just run! I will help you!” Raven gave me some of her speed and I could feel Wyatt fall behind me. I ran to the packhouse and didn’t stop for anyone. I ran straight up to my room and slammed the door.
“Holy shit Raven! What was that?” I asked, freaking out.
“I don’t know, I feel like we are about to change, but I don’t know what is happening. I feel really tired right now. I am going to sleep but you should be able to wake me if you need anything. I feel weird…” and with that, Raven slumped over and was unconscious. Now I felt really alone. I slumped against the wall and started balling. What is happening to me? I shouldn’t have been able to do that! Are these the powers the book was talking about? I am not a bad person! Why did I have to be the one for all this? I have never been more scared. Eventually, I cried myself to sleep on the floor.
I was vaguely aware of someone walking through my balcony, picking me up and putting me on the bed, playing with my hair before blackness consumed me.
The next morning, I sat in my bed trying to figure out what happened yesterday. I just laid in bed deep in thought till I heard a knocking on my bedroom door.
“Wake up! It is Friday! Wyatt’s 18th Birthday bash! I need your help decorating and then we are getting ready!” Kelly screamed from the hall. It was like déjà vu. I got out of bed and walked to the door, opening it. “I brought coffee?” Kelly said nicely. I grabbed the mug and walked back to the bed, sitting down. “Wow you really are not a morning person!” she said, laughing.
I didn’t even reply, I drank my cup while she sat on the chair waiting patiently. Finally, I got up and got dressed for the day. I kept things simple with a pair of shorts that stopped just below my ass, a t-shirt and threw my hair in a messy bun.
“Ready”. I said “This is as good as it is going to get until I shower and do something with my hair tonight.”
Turns out the party is in the back yard. We had streams of lights to hand, tables and chairs to set up and all the decoration. I kept looking around me.
“He went on a trip last night with dad”, Kelly said like she knew who I was looking for. “It is tradition to go on a hunting trip the day of your 18th birthday. Though, Wyatt was very pissed last night, do you know why?”
I suddenly felt really guilty. “I might have said something I didn’t mean to him but he was being a jerk!” Kelly laughed at this and waved her hand in a dismissive way.
“I know how my brother can be! You are good for him!”
“What do you mean? What if I am not his mate!”
“Regardless, you are giving him a taste of his own medicine, get him off his high horse!”
“Well, I certainly laid into him.”
“Eww gross! I do not need to know about my brother’s sex life!”
I made a gagging sound, “I didn’t mean that way! Verbally!” and I threw streamers at her!
We managed to get everything done with some help by lunch time. We had sandwiches and chips brought to her room. Since her room was bigger, we got ready there. Ashley and even Brooke joined us! Ashley had a knack for doing hair and Kelly handled all the makeup.
By 6pm we were all in our dresses and dolled up ready to break some hearts. Suddenly, I felt very nervous!
“How do I look?” I asked quietly!
“Absolutely stunning dear!” Luna Autumn said as she quietly entered the room.
My eyes widened in shock. I was not expecting to see her. “Thank you, Luna!”
“And you girls look beautiful as well!” the Luna said as she looked around the room. “Let’s all head down, shall we?”
“Oh yes! I can’t wait for Zach to see me!” Brooke said, jumping up and down and practically ran out the door. We all laughed and followed suit.
At the back door, Alpha Paul was in black jeans with a white button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled and the top 3 buttons were unbuttoned. Zach had on blue jeans with a dark green polo and Maverick was wearing all black with his sleeves rolled as well. Zach escorted Brooke and I outside as Maverick took Kelly’s hand and Alpha and Luna, with Ashley, took the lead.
I could already hear the loud music and laughter. I got a huge wave of déjà vu. I looked up at Zach and he was looking at me with a worried expression. “You okay Nina?”
“What’s wrong, Nina?” Brooke asked nervously.
“Just déjà vu, this was the setting I found out my ex was not my mate but my best friend’s”, I told Brooke. She instantly got a sad look on her face and gave me a hug.
“I am so sorry! Do you want to leave?”
“No! I’m okay, I got this.” I said more to myself.
“Let’s get a drink!” Zach said and kissed Brooke on the forehead. I nodded my head yes and we made our way to the bar. The bartender asked us what he wanted. It was a fully stocked bar and when I helped unload it, I knew exactly where and what they had.
“I will take a Sex On The Beach please”, Brooke said.
“Jack Daniels on the rocks please” I said.
“Make that two” Zach chimed in. I looked at him and he nodded back to me and pulled Brooke closer, tuckling her in his side for comfort.
I looked at Brooke, I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what. “I understand, Nina. Zach and I talked. I understand your friendship is like a brother/ sister thing. I am not jealous and if you need some support getting through tonight, we are here for you!”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Thank you so much for that.”
“Here are your drinks ladies and sir!” We took our drinks and made our way back to the table with Kelly, Maverick and Ashley.
“Already started?” Kelly said “Where is mine?!”
“I’ll get it, what do you want?” Maverick piped up.
“Vodka and cranberry juice”
“Your wish is my command.”
Just then, the song ‘Single Ladies’ came on and Kelly started jumping up and down. “Lets go dance!” she said and grabbed my hand and drug me out to the floor. Ashley and Brooke followed us. We danced like idiots throughout the whole song and by the end, I had a huge smile on my face. The dance floor was crowded and more sexual music came on, causing us to swing our hips. Maverick returned and gave Kelly her drink and grabbed her hips pulling her against him and they danced together.
I felt someone’s hands run down both sides of my arms, leaving sparks in their wake. I felt the strongest pull toward this person and I instantly stood up straight, stiff as a board. Kelly saw this and had a huge smile on her face, jumping up and down, causing Maverick to spill his drink down his shirt. These hands grabbed my shoulders and started to turn me around. I closed my eyes. I don’t know why. Was I afraid? Would he still want me when he knew my secret? Will he just reject me?
I could feel him standing in front of me and his body almost fully flushed against mine. My eyes were tightly shut and my breathing was getting harder to control. I felt the music fade away and all the noise from the party went quiet.
“Open your eyes beautiful”, the sweetest voice I have ever heard, belonging to my mate.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I was met with his goldish-brown eyes. I didn’t realize up close they had flacks of green in them. I felt the bond snap in place. It was like a rope circled around us tying us together. I have never felt something so strong and powerful. My legs started to give out and he expertly slid a hand around my back supporting me.
“Mate” he said with a small smile on his face. He was studying my expression, trying to decide how I felt. I could instantly feel his emotions. Happiness, worry and desire filled me and I knew they were from him. I couldn’t even figure out how I felt. Scared? Worried? Happy? I just needed to know if he was going to accept me.
Like he could read my mind, “I accept all of you princess” and with that I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He didn’t hesitate as he pulled me even tighter against him, kissing me back.