The Fate of the Triplet Betas

Chapter Four - The Birthday

I wake up feeling refreshed and happy. My wolf is purring in the back of my head. Today is the day we actually shift and I finally get to see what she looks like. I’m a little concerned about that wolf on the edge of the woods, but I shake it off. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, I can casually mention the wolf to Alpha Eric later.

I hop out of bed and search through my closet for something to wear. My clothes probably won’t survive the shift, so it’s best to pick something that I don’t care about when they get ripped to shreds. A simple black t-shirt and an old pair of black jeans will suffice. I put on some cheap flip flops, I grab my phone and I hurry down the stairs for breakfast.

Kyle and Brad are already awake and are sitting at the island chatting about their Mates.

“She’s beautiful Brad. And the best part is we won’t have to share her. She has a sister named Julie. You’ll meet her later today,” Kyle breathed. He was talking so fast that I almost didn’t catch what he said.

“That’s great,” Brad said, but he didn’t look to happy about it. Probably because Kyle met his Mate before he did.

“Hey boys,” I announced, coming into the kitchen and grabbing a muffin from the plate in the middle of the countertop. Cindy always makes delicious blueberry muffins for breakfast on Saturdays. I wonder where she is this morning. Normally I see her and Ashley doing their last minute clean up when I come down because Ashley likes to stare hungrily at my brothers. She doesn’t care for me, in fact she doesn’t believe Brad and Kyle are my brothers, she thinks I’m her competition. I shudder at the thought, and I turn my attention to my brothers.

"Hey Ayla. I heard the party got a little crazy last night." Brad exclaimed. I roll my eyes and let out an annoyed sigh.

"It was okay. Huxley was the life of the party," I acknowledged, a bit of sarcasm dripping out.

"Yeah, he isn't gonna make it as Alpha when his Dad steps down. Let's just hope he finds his Mate soon so he can stop partying," Kyle stated, shaking his head in disappointment.

Kyle turns back to his breakfast and continued eating while Brad just stared out the window like he was waiting for his Mate to show up any minute. I bite my lip and I sighed. I am already missing Jack. I wonder if he's already here. They did say they had an early morning meeting with Alpha Eric, maybe they are in his office right now.

I turn around and walk down the hall toward the stairs. I finish off my muffin and I dust the crumbs off my hands. The food is always so good that there never any leftovers. I have to ask Cindy or Ashley to give me the recipes when I go with Jack to his Pack. Its a custom for werewolf females to go with the males when they find their Mates. I never liked how that went, but it's helped us grow stronger and Alpha Eric hasn't been rude about it. Sometimes he gives them a choice whether they want to stay or go. Most choose to go because of how strong the bond is.

I creep up the stairs to the third floor and I keep my nose in the air. Jacks scent is no where to be found so he either isn't here yet or he just left.

'We will see him again Darlin' Just have patience'.

Zara's right. I should just go down to the backyard and wait for the party to start then maybe Jack will show up. I was about to head back downstairs when the door to my dad's office opened.

"Oh Ayla. Hey what's up?' my dad asked. I bite my lip.

"Oh nothing. I was just looking for you. I wanted to ask if you had seen my earrings that you got me for my birthday last year? I can't find them anywhere," I lied. I'm not ready to tell him about Jack because then I'd have to tell him I went to Huxley's party last night. My dad was never a fan of Huxley and his Father because they were the Pack that was supposed to help in the rogue attack that killed my mother, but they never showed up. He hasn't quite gotten over that.

"No I'm afraid I haven't honey," my dad answered. He folds his arms across his chest and furrowed his brow while pursing his lips. Uh-oh. That's the, 'I'm trying to read through your lie look.'

"Oh, well. . . I'll go ask Jenna then. Maybe I lent them to her and completely forgot about it." I rambled then I turn around and I hurry quickly down the stairs.

That was a close one.

'Your telling me. His wolf was making me sweat. Why did we have to lie? He would be happy that we found our Mate'.

'I know he would Zara, but he wouldn't like how we met him at an unauthorized party that was hosted by the son of the Alpha that didn't show up to help us when we needed it'.

'Hmph. Sounds like he needs to find his second chance Mate'.

I sigh at her remark. She is right, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a second chance Mate. At least not in my dads case. A month after my mom was killed, my dad tried to kill himself, but he was stopped by an oracle, a witch who spouted a bunch of mumbo jumbo about a prophecy blah blah blah. He believed her and was convinced he would never find love again because of it. My brothers believe that this prophecy is real but I think its stupid. I will never trust witches because they manipulate everybody into doing what they want. Its their way of life. My brothers and I had to learn what really happened from Alpha Eric, because my dad was starting to go off the rails. Kyle had to talk some sense into him when we turned 16 because Eric was very close to demoting him. My dad bounced back pretty quickly after that and we never heard of his ramblings anymore. Brad remembers what the prophecy actually said, but Kyle and I completely forgot all about it.

I return to the kitchen and I exit out the back door to see everyone setting up for the party. The training area doesn't even look like a training area anymore. There are tables with tons of food piled on it and the refreshment table was right next to it. The stage was all set up in the middle of the backyard. That is where the whole Pack watches me and my brothers shift for the first time. I am a little nervous to have Zara take over.

'It will be great Darlin'. It will hurt you for the first time, but it will lesson the more times you shift'.

'Boy do I hope your right.'

'I know I'm right. Now get a move on girl. I can smell our Mate. He is near'.

I shake my head and I look around me. The scent hits me full on and I scan the yard for Jack.

My eyes land on him, but he isn't looking at me. He is standing next to his sisters while Alpha Eric is talking with him. I use my werewolf hearing to try and catch what they are saying that has Jack smiling so big.

"I am so grateful that you have agreed to send warriors to protect our Pack. You have no idea that type of rogues that have sulking around. We were only able to kill two, but there are more and they seem to be smarter than the average rogue which is strange," Eric whispered. Jack's smile softens and he goes from joyful to business in two seconds. I blink at him and drop my jaw. That was hot.

"It's no problem Eric. I have a feeling that your Pack is very important and I don't want to see the people here get hurt," Jack's eyes glanced at me and the corner of his mouth quirked up. I close my mouth and bow my head to hide the burning red of my cheeks.

"Hey Ayla. Did you leave the party after Midnight? I barely saw you last night," Jenna's voice from behind me made me jump a little. I shake head and I turn to look at her. Whoa, she is glowing. I guess meeting her Mate has been good on her. Even her light blue eyes were glowing like diamonds.

"Um, yeah I did. I was tired so I called Kyle to come pick me up. I didn't want you to end your night with Brian," I uttered. Jenna squinted at me the same way my dad did when I lied earlier.

I bite my lip and I shrink away from her gaze.

"Come on girl spill it. I want all the details of you meeting your Mate," she shrugged, folding her arms across her chest. Damn it. I cannot keep a secret from her. Her gift from the Moon Goddess is seeing into the future, but sometimes she cant choose what she sees. At this point I think she is happy that she saw me meet my Mate, but I don't think she saw who it was because otherwise she wouldn't be asking for details.

I let out a sigh and stare at her.

"I did meet my Mate and he is right over there talking with your Mates dad," I muttered.

She raised her eyebrow and I just turn to look at Jack who is now laughing at a joke that Eric obviously told him. Jenna whipped her head around with an exasperated huff. I step forward and I can see that her jaw has dropped just like mine did a few moments ago. I try to hide my smile, but its in full swing.

"Oh. My. Goddess," Jenna says, enunciating each word.

"I was shocked too, but the bond we felt last night was unimaginable," I told her. Jack shakes hands with Eric them turns to me with a smirk. I want so bad to run into his arms and bare my face into his neck, but I need to take this slow so that I don't shock anyone here.

I hear a loud gasp and I whip my head to the sound to see Jack's sister staring wide eyed at the back door. I turn to see my brothers standing on the porch. Brad is staring back at her in a trance. He starts barreling toward her and she does the same.

They stop in front of each other and one word is spoken just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Mate."

The whole backyard gasps in shock. Well there goes me not shocking everyone because Brad and Julie just put on a whole show.

The whispers go around. Some good, some bad and I glance at Jack who just shrugged his shoulders.

"Well that was interesting," Jenna confessed, tapping her finger against her chin. She wasn't shocked which means she's probably trying to peace together her visions.

"Well, it was bound to happen today since we are 18. Also Kyle and I met our Mates after midnight during the party," I announced to her.

"Hmmm." Jenna turns to me and touches my shoulder. "It's been a big day for the three of you. Being Mated to the triplet Alphas is a huge step to that prophecy your dad always rambled about."

"What?" I yelped.

"It's true. I am the Moon Goddess' gift so I know all prophecies. Don't worry sweetie. Its not as bad as what your dad rambled on about. I just didn't want to say anything yet until I saw proof, but now that I have I need to meet with you all to discuss it." Jenna consoled. She has been such a great friend and she was almost like a mom to me. Weird, I always thought it was Jenna's mom, but thinking back I can see that it was Jenna all along. From crushing on boys, Jenna told me all the secrets that a mom would. She was even the one to buy me my first b*a when my girls developed even though hers hadn't come in yet. She was always there for me.

"Why are you so much smarter than me?" I asked her. I tilted my head at her and scrunched my face.

"Because I see all," Jenna announces sarcastically. To add to her drama flare she holds her hand out and raises her chin like she's a Queen. I laugh at her composure and she immediately drops the drama to laugh with me. Her eyes look worried though like she isn't telling me everything.

Our laughter is cut short when I hear a low growl at the edge of the woods. It seems that only Jenna and I heard it because everyone seems to not be phased by it.

Jenna taps my shoulder then she points at the thick woods.

I follow her gaze and my eyes widen by what I saw.

A wolf with blood red eyes.

I could have sworn the wolf was looking at me and only me, but I was probably just imagining things. Zara growled through me, and I felt a blinding pain in my spine that caused me to scream. We aren’t supposed to shift like this, but Zara believes that everyone is in danger. Two more growls are heard from across the yard along with two more screams. I blink to see that its my brothers and they too are staring at the red eyed wolf. I see them hunched over just like I am which means all three of us are shifting at the same time. I glance back at the wolf, and I could have sworn he was smiling.

Zara pushed me to the back of my mind and the sound of bones crunching and shifting was all I heard before blacking out.