LOVE & MAGIC

Chapter Two: The month of certainties

In one week, I will be turning 18! I am so giddy I cannot even stand it. When River turned 18, we thought maybe we would feel more of our mate bond or at least on his part, but no luck. So, we just know that when my wolf is finally awake we would definitely feel the 'pull' as it's called.

His first wolf transformation was tough on him and he has been in and out of school these past few weeks. I have missed him so much. But I know it can be extremely painful for some and can cause lots of damage to our bodies if we do not get the guidance of our families and our pack doctors. River is one of the unlucky ones who will just have to power through the tough part, thankfully it should not last much longer.

I try to be supportive as much as I can, but there is extraordinarily little I can do for him, especially since I have not even wolfed out yet. I have no pointers to give or even know what to say most of the time. I just do my best. I know he appreciates all that I do, so I just go with my gut. I owe it to him to try, he has been the greatest friend.

He has always been so supportive and patient with me. Especially since we started dating. Finding your mate is such a special thing, a serious thing that neither of us wanted to mess things up. So, when I had suggested we take things slow and wait until we both turn 18 to finally be intimate with one another, I didn't think he would be so onboard as he was.

We are on the same wavelength about that. We know how special a mate bond is and want to wait for that moment the sparks fly to even just have our first kiss. I know! Not having kissed him all these years and especially once we started dating has been tough. But we both know how undeniably magical it will be once we feel the bond.

Then we will have the rest of our mated lives to ravish each other uncontrollably. At least that is what Cara, my best friend says. Ok, she most definitely didn't use those exact words, she's more vulgar than that, but that's the idea.

*CELL RINGS*

"HELLO?" I croak out. It is 8 am on a Saturday. What. The. Hell.

"Wake up b***h! We are going shopping for the sexiest dress you will ever buy in your life for your birthday!" Cara screams a little too loudly for such an early morning.

"Goddess, don't you ever just chill?" I moan out. "Are you honestly waking me up this early? AND expecting me to go dress shopping? When you know I absolutely loathe dresses?”

"Listen, you only get mated once, so can you please gather your strength and do what is necessary?" She says impatiently. "I'll be there in five!" She says with her voice going up five octaves and hanging up.

I roll over and decide to just accept my fate. You do not want to mess with Cara.

"OK, seriously. The black dress is super slimming and shows off your ass like no other. BUT. This red dress just screams f**k me until my eyes bleed." Cara says matter of factly and disgustingly I might add.

I groan. "Gross! Oh, Moon Goddess. I just cannot wear any of these. They just aren’t... me." I turn in half circles to look at myself in the dressing room mirrors fully dissatisfied with all that is happening and having no recollection of the young woman I see before me.

"Uhg! Just for once can you trust me on this?" Cara huffs sitting back in her chair exasperated and sucks on her lollipop a little too loudly.

"Can't I just go with the pale yellow one?" I ask holding up a much more mellow and much more me type of dress.

Cara is instantly on her feet attempting to ripe the yellow dress out of my hands. "Give me that thing!"

"Cara stop! You're gonna get your sucker on it and ruin it." I say as she stumbles forward onto the yellow 'so much more me' dress and gets the damn sucker stuck right on the front of it.

"Oops." Cara says lightly, looking up at me through her red batting eyelashes. "I am so sorry Sol! I didn't mean to, honest."

I chuckle and shake my head. "I guess I'll have to get the black dress then."

"Deal." She says knowing she just ruined her chances of me agreeing to the red 'f**k me till my eyes bleed' dress.

I have not spoken to River in the last few days, a text here and there about how he is feeling but nothing much else. Still having issues controlling his wolf, but the pain has been subsiding which is a good sign. I was worried he would be missing the birthday party my parents are throwing for my 18th on Friday night.

We always talk about how we would be together the moment I turn 18, so we would not have to miss a moment of our mate bond. I truly just want his eyes to be the first thing I see when my wolf awakens. Ever since the first time his pale blue eyes stole my heart I have been waiting for my other half, my wolf half to have her heart stolen as well by those mesmerizing eyes.

The last few days before my birthday all the final planning has come to an end and my mom cannot be happier. This is such an important moment not only for me and River, but our pack. We are not truly part of the pack until we turn. We can finally become a vital part of the pack and contribute in however we can.

There are so many responsibilities and rules to it all, but having your bonded mate by your side, especially coming from within the same pack is such a blessing and there isn't anything we can't accomplish.

"Honey, how are you feeling?" My mother asks as we sit and have breakfast for the last time together just as we are.

"I feel.. I feel," I know I never have to lie to my mother, but somehow now knowing the time is nearly here and knowing all the s****l stuff that comes with all this mate bond business is making me begin to feel embarrassed and I can feel myself closing off.

Sensing what I am thinking and feeling, she knows just what to say. " You may be anxious and nervous about tonight about the bond, but I promise you sweetheart. If you need to take things slow, River will do absolutely that. Our mates not only love us unconditionally, but they also know exactly what we need and how we feel. He will take good care of you." She says with a sly wink and a hidden meaning in that last part.

"Mom!" I give her a huge eye roll. "I'm trying to eat here mom."

"Hey Missy, don't even pretend like you haven't heard a thing or two. I have known Cara as long as you have, and she is no saint." She says with no judgment in her tone, only pointing out the fact she is in on our girl talk.

"Mom?" I start nervously. "What if, what if our wolves don't connect? I mean, what if they hate each other? Is that possible? Is that going to make... being... intimate difficult?"

"Heavens not my love! I have never heard of that happening. But about being intimate, I know 100% after your wolf has awakened and the mate bond is released, you will have no issues in that department." She says reassuringly and with so much affection that I feel silly for even wondering about it at all.

Also, I really should not be so shy talking about this stuff with my mother. She has literally never steered me wrong, why would she start now?

After getting dressed Cara offers to put on my makeup and I make her swear to the Moon Goddess that she will not paint my face to look like some hooker.

"OK, so River said he will be here any minute now." I say, looking at the clock it is 11:30 and my nerves are acting up. I could feel something in the back of my mind pacing and I could only think it is my wolf. She is getting just as nervous and impatient as I am.

I have been so wrapped up in this mate bond, that I completely forgot about meeting my wolf for the first time. She will be my confidant, my protector and with me for the rest of my life. I start to relax a bit knowing I will never be alone and feel a little brave. Brave enough to see how I look at least.

I take one last look in the mirror. The makeup, to my surprise is very subtle and very me. I give Cara an approving nod.

She claps her hands together and squeals with the biggest smile I have ever seen spread across her face.

"You look so amazing Sol! Moon Goddess, I swear if River doesn't f**k you, I sure will." And with that I shake my head and walk out my room.

She always must push the limit. But I love her. She is the most reliable and honest person I have ever met. I just know that whoever her mate is, Moon Goddess help them.

I go downstairs and the food smells delicious. All the decorations look stunning and everyone looks like they are having a great time already. There's even karaoke going on full steam. I scan the crowd to see if River is here, but no sign yet.

People catch a glimpse of me and start wishing me Happy Birthday, asking where River was, telling me how great I look but all I could do is thank them and quickly move to make my way through the crowd. I hope he makes it by midnight.

"He will be here Sol, don't worry." Cara says putting a reassuring arm over my shoulders.

What seems like a lifetime passes and then I see him. His auburn hair all messy but that perfect kind of messy. Then it happens, his pale blue eyes meet mine and my heart leaps through my chest. I cannot help but run as best I can in these stupid heels over to him. He catches me in his arms and says breathlessly how gorgeous I look.

I just stand there smiling at him when I hear it.

Everyone is starting to count down. Cara has everyone in unison counting the seconds down until midnight. Everyone knows this is the moment we have been waiting for, for so many years.

10, 9, 8, 7...

He looks so yummy. So much muscular then the last time we saw each other.

6, 5, 4...

I cannot wait to kiss him. His beautiful lips.

3, 2, 1.

The crowd goes quiet and I feel all eyes on us, but it doesn't faze me one bit.

I only see me and him here in this moment.

I am just waiting for the pull, the sparks, anything.

And nothing.