Fated or Mated

Nineteenth Birthday

EPISODE 4

19th Birthday 

"Chris? Is everything okay love?" Mom's soothing voice makes my tears fall. Everything was definitely not okay. I do my best to hold back my sobs.

"Chris is calling now? Did something happen at training?" I could hear my father's voice growing closer in the background.  "Talk to me princess, what's weighing on you?" Dad seems to have taken the receiver from Mom.

Taking a deep breath I catch them up on Bianca and Matt. "You are all being so responsible about this princess. Your mother and I are so proud." Dad reassures me.

"We will all sit down as soon as you want to sort through this. Try not to worry, these things have a way of resolving themselves." Mom chimes in.

The next morning Bianca bursts into my room. "Girl! We made the morning news!" Bianca yells a bit too loudly for my taste this early in the morning. Groaning I sit up as she flicks my TV on. Sure enough those jerks called the campus police and probably the media too. Nice offensive play, but I still have plenty of ways to get the video to the authorities. I'll have to call up Bianca's dad, our pack Beta. We'll need his help leaking the video on the internet anonymously.

"I see those wheels turning." Bianca says accusingly. "Your going to get my dad to help aren't you?"

"It's worth the lecture to not let them get away with it Bonks. Now, can I get ready for the day in peace you pain in the butt?" My response earns me a middle finger and the privacy I requested.

Before I knew it the semester ended and I was feeling pretty good about my final exams. Still exhausted, still worried about my besties, psycho wolf and turning nineteen I threw my luggage in the back of the second airport shuttle. Once I made sure all of my college pack members were present I gave the okay to get going.

The flight was brutal. I counted the minutes to hearing a crewmate tell us that the plane would be landing soon. Like a parolee anxious to taste the air of freedom my heart rate sped up as the head stewardess made the next announcement. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now making our final descent and ask that you return your seat backs and tray tables to their upright and locked positions." 

Her voice, though nasal, was like music to my ears. Bonks has been drooling on my shoulder for at least an hour and chatty Charlie hasn't shut up since we loaded into our airport shuttle this morning. I know she's a nervous traveler but I'd hoped to be the one drooling on someone's shoulder this flight.

Finals left me sleep deprived and in one major sugar / caffeine crash.

Our plane lands and has arrived at the gate. All of the passengers rise to their feet collecting their things to exit the plane. I was about to motion to Charlie to stand up since she had the isle seat when she turned her whole body towards me with a jerk.

"I'm sorry Chris", Charlie lowered her eyes. " I talked your ear off keeping you up and now you're exhausted. Thanks for being there for me and not complaining."

"Charlie, I have never wanted to choke you more." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. Just then Bianca popped back to life wiping her chin looking confused. 

"But travel anxiety is a real thing and if I helped in any way it's worth it." I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. "Hey Bonks?" I said looking over my shoulder getting the sleeping beauty's attention. "I get the window seat next semester if you're just going to drool on me anyway."

"Lubrication is good for the skin. It preserves your youth." She pretends to smear drool all over my face while saying it.

"Girls, girls, girls. A whole year at college and you haven't matured a bit." Matt says, fluttering his lush lashes at us from the crowded isle.

Seeing him back to his old antics overwhelmed me. Since his breakup with Bianca he's been a shell of his former self. I practically crushed Charlie when I threw my upper half onto Matt to grab him into a hug. Her head trapped between Matt's side and my lower abdomen she pleaded for mercy. I squeezed Matt so tightly I heard a huff of air escape his lungs. He returned the hug kissing my hair which made a few tears fall. Charlie must have been short on Oxygen because I felt her small hand rapidly tapping my shoulder. I quickly pushed off of Matt, wiping my tears as if they'd never fallen, turning my attention to a recovering Charlie.  She waved me off to signal she was fine.

"Sorry girl", I apologized looking back at a grinning Matt.

"I love you too Chris." He said with a wink. "You too Bonks...always."

I looked back over my shoulder at a relieved Bianca sporting a tight lipped smile obviously holding back tears.

Our pack sent a fleet of black SUV's from our motor pool to collect us at the airport. The two hour drive to our secluded territory in upstate New York was my chance to get a bit of rest. It was going to be a long afternoon and evening between our welcoming, unpacking and dinner. "Don't forget our hunt", Kira reminds me. Guess I should add disappointing parents to the list.

As we pulled up to the pack house Bianca nudged me to wake up. I popped a mint, fixed my hair and prepared myself to see my parents.  

"Alpha Julio, Alpha Anna Julia" Sean was the first to greet them and bow. One by one, every student greeted my parents with a bow before heading inside the pack house to reunite with their families.  

Gracious as always my parents acknowledged their greeting with a nod and warm smile. Each of my best friends received a firm handshake and big smile from my dad and a hug from my mom.

I waited for the last student to enter the pack house and gave my parents the deepest bow. My respect and gratitude for them was immeasurable.  Before I could utter a word they lifted me up into a three way embrace. 

"Hija (daughter), we have missed you so much and couldn't be prouder of your success this semester as both a student and a leader", Mom said through unshed tears. "We have received so many wonderful reports from the parents of your college mates." Dad said while squeezing me tighter.

"That's great to hear." I began, as we untangled ourselves from each other. "May we debrief, after a brief, or potentially not so brief hunt?"

I saw dad's eyes glaze over before hearing his booming voice through our pack link.

"Anyone interested in a celebratory hunt to begin in fifteen minutes?" My father announces more than asks.

"Ahem!" Mom interjects "we mustn't forget there's still much to do in preparation for your birthday my love." Mom doesn't use the link when disagreeing with dad.

"Of course my love," dad plants a sloppy passionate kiss on her lips. It's his only weapon against her. His kisses leave her frazzled and oddly compliant to any of his wishes. Mom calls it her kryptonite.

"Dad, can I..." Dad interrupts me before I can finish. As if reading my mind he says, "Go mi higa (my daughter) go. The rest of us will catch up."

Not missing a beat I ran into the woods stripping my clothes to leave them in a pile by the forest's edge. As soon as my four paws hit the ground Kira let out a tremendous howl of joy. I could hear Bianca, Matt and Sean's wolves howl a response.  Looks like they dove into the woods right after me. Man it felt good to shift. It's like finally cracking your knuckles after a while. In my wolf form I allow Kira complete freedom. She needed this, the dang wolf was becoming deranged.

Dad made sure we didn't let the hunt run too long. He had the Omegas round up all the deer meat so we wouldn't spoil our dinner. 'I know what we're having for breakfast and lunch tomorrow' Kira brags.

That evening at dinner my parents and I finalized my birthday details.  "Is it selfish to hope you find your mate at our regional Alpha meeting in two weeks?" Dad said from under a furrowed brow. "Only if it's for selfish reasons Papa. Still, I hope I have more time to myself."

"Anna Christina, you've had nineteen years" Mom says sounding exasperated. She never understood my aversion to mating before finishing college. I am not going to drop out just because my wolf can't handle being away from our mate. Plus, I want to see the world, study abroad and finish Alpha training. But, not wanting to anger an already brooding Luna I hold my tongue. Mom’s temper is legendary, so even though I’m sure I’ve never felt the full force of her wrath, I’m careful to keep it that way. Her wolf is intimidating in her tamest temperament.

"I have a question for you guys" I say wanting to change the subject but also remembering something important. 

'Don't you dare', Kira snarled at me.

'Embarrassed psychopath?', I retorted.

'What happens between us stays between us' she loud whispers. 

'First off, we are not Vegas and second...why are you whispering?'

'Dramatic effect', Kira proudly responds.

"If it's about Kira princess; all I can say is Alpha wolves are tempermental." Dad says, interrupting my internal dialogue.

'The temper part is a given, it's the mental that concerns me', I say inwardly just for Kira to hear. She snickers wickedly at my comment.

"Letting her hunt shows you are in tune with her needs and prioritize her." Dad continues. "Kira is you and you are Kira. One cannot exist without the other. Taking care of one another is the beauty of being a werewolf. As you continue this journey called life my words will make more and more sense."

"Thank you Papa", I smiled warmly at my parents. “I’m off to bed unless you need me for anything else?”

They both wave goodbye and I blow them goodnight kisses which they return. We all pretend to catch the kiss and place it on our hearts. A gesture we’ve always done, it’s another way of saying I love you that’s uniquely ours. I’m so tired and not looking forward to climbing three flights of stairs to my room on the fourth floor of the pack house.

It's the day of my birthday party. At midnight I turn nineteen and find out if my mate is nearby or not. As an Alpha my wolf will sense our mate up to fifty miles away. Once we are close enough to pick up his scent we will know for sure. Kira's acting weirder than usual and has been blocking me since I woke up. Too busy to worry about it, I go about my day getting ready for the party.

My college mates and I decided on a pre-party acknowledgement of their accomplishments this school year. We will include the wolves attending other universities as well of course. Mom put together gift bags for all of the college wolves. She's amazing that way. They'll complain about their Alphas being too generous I'm sure. My peers are still mostly uncomfortable with recognition and praise from their Alphas. These wolves seriously have no idea how amazing they are. How they honor our pack everyday in even the smallest of gestures.  

I get it, there's nothing special about being the center of attention. We feel special when a pack member overcomes a difficulty while honoring our traditions; not taking an easy out or cheating. Every laugh, cry and moment shared is what makes us feel special. Still, I need them to know that their trust in the leadership of my parents and faith in me as a successor is all I want…it’s the true gift.

It’s twenty minutes till my party starts and Kira is still blocking me. Not one snarky comment about my hair and makeup. The absence of my wolf is making me nervous and the little motivation I had to join the party is quickly fading. A loud knock on my door makes me jump out of my vanity seat.

“Chris?” Bianca calls through the double doors of my bedroom suite.

“Are you alone?” I call back.

“Yeah?” Bianca’s response comes out more like a question which is her fibbing tell.

My room is huge, not including the massive walk-in closet where my vanity sits or the bathroom, it’s about a thousand square feet. It’s bigger than most New York City apartments and has everything but a kitchen in it. I know I will never make it to the door to lock it in time so I consider hiding in my safe room. Unfortunately, my three best friends are not only werewolves, but some of the fastest moving wolves in our pack. It takes milliseconds for them to burst into my walk-in closet.

“I swear this thing gets bigger every time I come here.” Matt exclaims.

“That’s what she said.” Sean chimes in.

“ANYWAY!!!! For Pete’s sake, we are here to make sure our bestie is okay!” Bianca scolds them.

I can’t help snicker at their banter. Little do they know that just their presence soothes my nerves.

“I was going to make a run for the safe room.” I admit.

“Why do you think we bolted in here, genius?” Sean teases.

“Chris, what’s wrong?” Bianca asks while rolling her eyes at Sean.

“Kira’s blocked me all day and something feels really off. I’m super worried about tonight you guys.” My confession darkens everyone’s mood.

“Whatever it is, locking yourself up isn’t going to change anything.” Bianca says.

“A man, or in this case woman, often meets her destiny on the road she took to avoid it.” Matt adds.

“Dude…seriously… quoting Kunfu Panda?” Sean says while raising a brow at Matt.

“There’s loads of wisdom in that film bro. Like… yesterday is history, tomorrow’s a mystery…”Matt continues when we interrupt him saying in unison… “But today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present!” I almost fall over laughing while everyone else is bent over with laughter. Goddess, we are dorks.  

Sean extends his arm to me and I stand to take it. “We got you Chris, there’s no reason to stress a bad feeling or your crazy wolf… and by the way… you look stunning in that form fitting gown. Did you have to wear gold?” Sean takes a deep breath inhaling my scent with his eyes closed. When he opens them again the desire in them leaves me breathless.

Mom picked this dress of course. Gold really sets off my complexion, blond highlights and honey eyes. The skirt is short and tight with an off the shoulder sweetheart bodice. It shimmers in the light giving the illusion of pixie dust. Naturally I chose impossibly high heels so I went with a nude shoe to make my short legs look longer. My Dark curly brown hair is swept up in a soft curl bun with a side bang and wispy curls framing my face. I kept my make up natural with winged eyeliner and a ton of mascara for dramatic eyes…lol.

Bianca wore a black lace babydoll dress that may have been meant to be lingerie. She added large curls to her usually straight hair and she’s also wearing nude heels making her already long legs look impossibly long. The guys are wearing grey three piece suits with gold and black ties to match us. We all look absolutely picture perfect.

Walking into the party I see my parents breath a sigh of relief. I hate that I stressed them out. My friends are right, my first instinct can’t be to hide when I have a bad feeling. That’s not me, I’m a badass who takes down anyone and anything in my way. This new confidence carries me through the awards ceremony, speeches and some pretty goofy dance moves with my crew. As midnight draws near a huge eight tier art deco golden glittery cake is brought out by some of our kitchen staff. I take my place and the ten second countdown to midnight begins. Right at midnight as everyone begins to sing Happy Birthday my vision goes dark and I hear a blood curdling scream. Wait! That’s me I’m screaming.