Anything but Ordinary

Remembering Part 1: The New Beginning

Daisy shut her eyes and, leaning her head back, let the hot water wash over her. She and Jason had been doing this regularly since he returned home from school but it had started long before that. Jason didn't know it, but she was sure he had saved her life. She felt the tears well up in her eyes as she remembered the day her life fell apart six years ago. Jason turned 18 three months after her and a small part of her had always wanted him to be her mate. She would catch herself day dreaming about him, what her life would be like as Luna, what their pups would look like, how happy they would be. Jason's birthday came and went, and her daydreams turned out to be nothing more than fantasy. It wasn't that she wanted the status of being his mate, like so many other shewolves in the pack very clearly did, she craved the comfort of having a mate she knew would love her for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, that was not something she was destined to have. She never understood why the moon goddess would fate her to such a cruel man, but she was rejected and there was nothing she could do to change that now. Feeling the water start to run cold, Daisy stepped out of the shower struggling to push those thoughts from her mind. Wrapping herself in a large fuzzy towel from the closet in the corner of Jason's sprawling marble bathroom, Daisy sighed as she leaned against the dark wood door. There's no point in fighting it, she thought. The memories overtook her and she slid down to the cool tile, wrapping her arms around her knees and pulling them to her chest. She let the tears fall into the plush terry cotton of the towel as memories from the worst day of her life flooded her consciousness.

____6 years ago __________________

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she set down her last brush. 1, 2, 3. Daisy opened her eyes and looked into the mirror at herself. Her bright blue eyes sparkled under full lashes and dark makeup. Her smokey eyeshadow made her eyes look even more catlike than normal. She chuckled at the irony, a wolf with cat eyes. She studied her reflection, looking for any imperfection. Nothing could be out of place tonight, she had to be pristine. Her long golden hair was curled and gathered into a low ponytail with a waterfall of waves cascading down her left shoulder. She smiled as the light glinted off the crystals in the broach pinned into her hair. A crescent moon with an onyx buck standing in front of it, the pack emblem. It had been a gift from the Luna on her 18th birthday three months prior, and was one of her most prized possessions. After applying her bright red lipstick, she stood up from her vanity and turned to the full-length mirror in her room. Her baby blue satin ball gown had a strapless sweetheart neckline, basque waist with a layer of silver sparkly thule. Glistening with each movement, Daisy smiled to herself. Tonight was the night. Jason was turning 18 and Daisy would finally know if he was her mate or not. While most wolves fully shift by their 16th birthday, wolves do not find their mates until both are 18, which meant these had been the longest three months of her life. She grabbed her matching clutch, the gifts for her friends, and made her way to the packhouse where Jason's party was being held.

The March night was cool, but the breeze was warm. Spring was coming. New beginnings, that's what this is. A new beginning. The rest of my life. Daisy took another deep breath as she approached the large steps of the packhouse. Her heels clicked on the stone steps and her hand shook slightly as she reached for the door knob. Entering into the expansive open foyer, she saw the staff bustling to finish the preparations for the party. She chuckled silently to herself, every event Luna Oliva and Alpha Robert Ellis threw was like a wedding. The Luna didn't know how to do something half way. Daisy paused at the door for a moment, taking in the room in front of her. She'd always loved the packhouse, it felt like her second home since she had spent so much time there growing up. For now, the towering double doors to her left were open. She could see into the Alpha family's living room where the TV mounted to the large stone fireplace was playing radio hits while the staff set up. She saw a socked foot dangling over the edge of the large dark brown leather sectional and briefly thought about waking Connor up from his usual nap spot and out of the staff's way, but decided it was best to let sleeping wolves lie and not risk the retaliatory bear hug and toussling of her hair. Daisy admired the fairy lights and greenery skillfully hung from the black walnut wood walls. This place really felt like a log cabin stretched to the size of a castle. I can't wait to move in here. She checked her phone and still had about an hour before the party, as well as several messages from Tess asking where she was. Daisy crossed the tile floor and started up the grand wooden staircase to Tess' room to help her friend finish getting ready.

Tess was Jason's twin sister and Daisy's best friend. People often joked that Daisy was the unofficial Ellis triplet since she resembled the Alpha's twins so closely. Like Jason, Tess had striking green eyes, but her hair was lighter, a pale blonde. She and Daisy were about the same height, 5'7 and lean from hours of training. Despite looking like twins, Daisy and Tess were very different, but opposites attract. Daisy was gentle and submissive, she was content finding her mate and raising pups, but Tess always felt she lived in her brother's shadow. As only males could assume the title of Alpha, Tess often felt overlooked by her parents and the attention they gave her twin brother. This made her frustrated, and she was far more assertive than her best friend, always trying to prove her worth to the pack. Daisy knew that tonight was not going to be easy for her friend, so she needed to offer her support. She knocked on the door to Tess' room and peaked in just in time to see a shoe shoot out of the walk-in closet and across the room.

"Don't shoot!" Daisy laughed, holding her hands up in front of her. Tess poked her head out of the walk-in closet, her icy blonde hair was hanging, half gathered up in delicate braids, fell down over her shoulder and was a stark contrast to her emerald green high necked satin gown.

"I have NO shoes, Daisy! How do I have no shoes?!"

"You have plenty of shoes, Tess. Just find those strappy silver ones that are all glitter, they'll match your jewelry and it's not like people will be looking at your feet anyway."

Tess came out of the closet putting on the shoes Daisy suggested. "You're right, you're always right." She sat in front of her mirror and began to do her makeup. The two girls sat in comfortable and familiar silence for a while, enjoying the comfort they brought one another, each growing more nervous for their own reasons as the seconds ticked on. Daisy broke the silence, "Do you think it's going to happen? Honestly."

"It has to, Daisy, no it's going to. You two have always been in love with each other, you know that he adores you. How else could you fit with us so perfectly? Jason HAS to be your mate. It's the only thing that makes sense."

"But, what if he's not?" Daisy teared up at the mere thought of the possibility. She was beginning to regret not trying to prepare herself for the worst-case scenario. Jason had to be her mate. It was the only thing she had ever wanted. The girls sat in silence a little longer and soon they were heading out of Tess' room down to the landing of the grand staircase where they would meet Alpha Robert, Luna Olivia, Connor, and Jason. Daisy would be escorting Connor through the ceremonial procession into the party as it was tradition for the entire Alpha family to make an entrance to begin the coming of age celebration. When the new Alpha officially turned 18, the current Alpha would present his successor to the pack and training to transition the pack would officially begin. Jason and Tess would turn 18 at exactly 8 o'clock that night. Two hours away. She just had to survive dinner, just one dinner before the rest of her life.

"Let's do this." Tess said, starting for the door. The girls walked through the hall to meet Tess' family on the landing. Daisy greeted the Alpha and Luna with a bow of her head and a hug, as they were more like second parents to her. Jason gave Daisy a kiss on the cheek. You look beautiful tonight, Daisy, Jason mind linked her. She blushed and gave him a coy smile. Her wolf whimpered in excitement. She was absolutely team Jason and wanted a mate so badly.

Connor held up his arm, grinning at her. "You ready?"

"Ready" Daisy said. She took a deep breath and Connor led her down the stairs, into the party, and towards her new beginning.