Scarlet's Daughter

Chapter 6: Young Lady

**Two Years Later**

    I got up early for my special girl, this week is her birthday week. It's time to have the MATE talk. Ugh, why did they have to grow up? I sigh, making pancakes and bacon for breakfast. She loves it when I make breakfast, and since she's an only child I'm gonna spoil her. "MOOOOMM, ARE YOU MAKING BACON!?!?!?!?!" Annie screamed the question from the living room below me. "COME UP AND SEE!!" I shout back and not even a minute later I hear Annie's footsteps running up the stairs. I quickly make a plate for Annie, grabbing three bacon, two pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a bottle of syrup on the kitchen table. "Yes!!" Annie says out loud, "thank you, mom" kissing me on the cheek. "Welcome dear," I make a plate for myself as I say "we do need to talk about something." I turn around with my plate in my hand, I set it on the table and go back for a cup. "What's this talk about? Not about the birds and the bees right??" I chuckle as I sit down and pour myself a glass of orange juice. "Yes and no. We need to discuss about how us werewolves find our soulmates, and about your father." I sigh and finally sit down, I really should have grabbed some alcohol. "Oookay." She says and grabs us silverware. 

    As I began our talk, I cut up my pancakes. "So to start off, you'll smell your mate before you see him. Most of the time, not always. Most of the time when a male finally gets his mate, he's excited and happy. That is not the case when I met your father. I was running away from a pack that was going to kill me, when I met your father. He didn't save me. He was a leader of a pack of rogues, we never caught each other's names. I guess that was for the best... your father gave me these marks across my face." I started shoveling pancakes into my mouth, "What about the rest of the marks?" Annie asked and took a sip of her orange juice. "Well you see, your father was a leader of a pack as I said before. After he injured me by clawing my face, he also took a bite out of my neck right where he was suppose to mark me." An I show her where he bite me and the spot he was suppose to mark. "What do you mean by mark?" Annie asks with bacon hanging out of her mouth. "Marking is another way of making the bond between mates stronger. You'll mark each other and have s*x, then the mating is permanent. You'll be like swans." I take another piece of my pancake and swallow, "your father allowed his pack to trap me, attack me, and r**e me. But not before he had his turn. Then, after they were done; they threw me into the river in hopes that I'd die." Annie sat there with tears falling down her face, "I don't want a mate." I dismissively wave at her, "not all mates are like your father. When you find your mate, be sure that's kind, caring, protective, and romantic. In all just make sure he loves you before you give it all away. I say ALL away cause I know you gave Kim all the condoms I gave you." I say chuckling to myself. Annie gets red with embarrassment and burst out laughing. I shake my head at her, "when the time comes, don't be afraid of him and don't be afraid to love him. Let my experience be a lesson that you'll never have, but learn from. Fight harder, be stronger, and bite off d***s if you have to. Don't be afraid to put yourself first sometimes." With all that being said I ate the rest of my pancakes, bacon, and downed my orange juice.

**One day before her 18th birthday**

    Annie is turning 18 years old tomorrow and my preparations are almost done. Although, Annie hasn't been allowed back school amongst humans; Annie has one very good friend Kim. I remember when Annie was 14 years old came home and told me about her. Something about whacking a snobby girl's face with a skateboard, breaking her nose. Ever since it's always been Annie and Kim. Kim had called me yesterday about taking Annie out today to celebrate her birthday. Of course I let her go, with a wad of money as well, I assume Kim is taking Annie to the skate park, mall, movies, and a possible sleepover. I trust Kim, she's always there for Annie when I couldn't be. In other words Kim was basically another daughter to me. So while the girls are out today I'm putting together decorations to put up tomorrow. "My Annie is growing up too quickly!" I think to myself, tears threatening to leave my eye. "At Least I know the odds of her finding her mate at this age is slim. Be a miracle really!" I sigh at the thought of my baby finding someone to grow old with. As I make a grab for some tape the house phone goes off. I speed run to the phone, and answered it.

 "Hi mom, it's Kim. I'm keeping Annie for the night, but will be bringing her home tomorrow afternoon. Is that alright?" 

"Yes dear, perfectly fine. Does Annie still have clothes at your house? Or should I swing by with bag for her?" I ask.

"No, she's got clothes at the house. Thanks mom, you are the best!" Kim says and in the background I can hear Annie say "I love you!!". "I love you girls, be safe!" and I hung up the phone. 

    Now to continue preparing for Annie's birthday. It's about 11:30 pm by the time everything was put up and the whole house decorated. I yawn and stretch "I guess, the cake can wait for tomorrow. Presents need done though." I say to no one else but myself. As I talk to myself I started walking downstairs to my bedroom, until I crash on my bed. "Tomorrow is gonna be a busy day." I thought to myself, closing my eyes allowing myself to succumb to sleep. 

    I awoke with the sound of my alarm going off at 11am, "Oh dear. I need to hurry." I say to myself and quickly head for the shower. I managed to get out, dressed, and ready at 11:15am. I rush upstairs to get started on the cake, "I pray Kim won't be on time like usual...I should call her just incase." I say out loud to myself. As I reached for the phone it rings, "please let it be Kim telling me she's gonna be late." I say to myself and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey mom, it's Kim. Just letting you know that the star of the day is passed out and isn't waking up. Literally, nothing is waking sleeping beauty up!"

"Ahh good, I'm a little behind schedule. Give me till 1 in the afternoon and bring her over. If she's not awake by then, make some bacon. The girl cannot resist bacon." I say chuckling to myself.

"Right on, see you at 1. Bye, love you."

"I love you too." 

    I hung up the phone and proceeded to pull out all the ingredients for the cake. Once I was sure I have everything I start mixing, setting a timer, and letting it bake. I layed out the frosting I'm planning on using on the kitchen table. "Now to wait... maybe I should go pick some berries. She does love the berries in the woods." I think to myself grabbing a scarf, a gringham basket, and headed out the door. Two minutes of searching for berry bushes, I caught the scent of something.... or someone.