Midnight Moon's new Luna

Chapter 4 - Birthday Girl

Vera

Mom was really not doing well. I tried to care for her, but she was being downright hostile, rejecting any offer to help.

“Can I help you to the bathroom?” I asked. Her face was a greenish color, like she was about to throw up.

“No!” She barked. “Just fetch me a bucket or something.”

I hurriedly looked around the room and the bathroom but found nothing. Out in the hallway, I located an unlocked janitor's closet, and I quickly grabbed a bucket. I just managed to get it to her in time.

“Get out,” She managed between fits of hurling. “I don't want you to see me like this.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. She just waved me away. “Alright. I'll be back later. Feel better soon.”

I closed the door behind me and leaned against the wall. I knew she didn't mean to be so snappish, she was just feeling absolutely horrible. But I’d hoped she might at least wish me a happy birthday. She'd felt well enough before the chemo. She must have forgotten.

Fishing my phone out of the pocket, I looked at the time. 10:20. In just over two hours, I would be 18 years old, and would finally have a connection to my wolf.

I wonder what she'll be like, I thought.

I decided that when I met her for the first time, I didn't want to do so in the hospital. And I had a lot of time to kill. So I headed downstairs and got a cup of coffee to go. It was time to find that park I had seen from the window.

Humans walked about everywhere. When you spent most of your life in the packlands, it was easy to forget how many humans there actually were in the world. But here and there I caught the smell of supernaturals. Werewolves, witches, a couple of vampires, and even some scents I couldn't place. Many of them probably had close ones at the hospital too.

It was pretty funny being part of the supernatural community, in a human city. When we would catch each other's scents and look at one another, there was an understanding there. We were part of something special, unknown to our surroundings. A small nod of recognition, a quick smile that seemed to say “I see you, sister.”

Caleb

I was walking toward the werewolf cancer ward to try to find Vera. I would be leaving the hospital in just a few hours, but I'd promised to stop by before returning home to Midnight Moon. I felt somewhat guilty about that. My focus should be on my injured Beta, and returning to my pack. They were my responsibility. But I had made a promise.

And there was just something about this girl. She was constantly tugging on my thoughts. And it was her birthday after all. At least I could wish her a happy birthday, and say my goodbyes…

What is that smell? It was lovely. It smelled of freshly cut grass, pine trees and wildflowers. I inhaled deeply, hungrily.

“Excuse me, sir.”

I had stopped in the middle of the hallway, blocking the way for a nurse.

“I'm sorry.” I stepped aside to let her by, but then I suddenly remembered what I was doing in this part of the hospital. “Do you know where I could find the room of Mrs. Jones and her daughter Vera Jones?”

“I really can't give out private information about patients,” she said.

“Please,” I said, using my alpha voice. “I promised Vera I would stop by today.”

My Alpha voice wouldn’t have full effect on her, since she wasn’t a member of my pack, but it should still make it harder for her to resist. It worked, and she told me how to find the right room, so I kept going.

That wonderful scent grew stronger, and by the time I reached the hallway the nurse had indicated, it was hard to focus. I managed to find the right door, and knocked.

“Come in,” said a weak voice from the inside. There was only one person there. The woman in the bed looked so frail and tired. She was bold, pale and skinny. But soon I saw the similarities to her daughter.

“Who are you?” her voice was barely more than a whisper. “You’re not my doctor.”

“No, ma’am. My name is Alpha Caleb Ray. I was actually looking for your daughter, to wish her a happy birthday.”

“Oh, fuck.”

I don’t know what I had been expecting. Maybe that she would ask how I knew her daughter or something. But the swearing caught me off guard.

“It’s her birthday… I completely forgot,” she sighed, leaning her head back. “I’m a terrible mother.”

“Not at all,” I said. “I met Vera in the cafeteria a few days ago, and I’ve talked to her quite a bit. It’s clear she loves you, and only wishes for you to get better. She understands that you’re sick and feeling awful.”

She smiled. “That’s very nice of you to say. I hope you don’t find me rude, but I'm exhausted and would very much like to sleep. And as you can see, Vera isn’t here. I’m afraid I don't know where she went.”

“That’s alright. I think I have an idea of how to find her. You rest and find your strength.”

I stepped back out and was just about to close the door when she spoke.

“When you find her, could you tell her that I’m sorry, and would like to apologize?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

I closed the door behind me and took off at a quick pace. Now I was sure I could find her. When I’d first opened the door, that smell had hit me like a hammer to the head. For a moment I’d thought it would knock me off my feet. Her scent was easy to pick out, even among the stenches of sickness and medicine. There was only one thing that could smell that intoxicating.

Mate. We have to find her, my wolf, Raid, snarled in my head.

I followed her scent out of the hospital and into the city. Raid was going absolutely wild in my head. Since I hadn't found my mate yet, I already knew that if I ever did find her, she’d be from a different pack. But I hadn't expected to find her here and now.

If you’re over 18, it’s possible to feel the matebond to someone who is close to their 18:th birthday. But I hadn’t felt anything other than being surprisingly comfortable in her presence, and wanting to spend time with her. I did feel drawn to her, but who wouldn’t?

I guessed I hadn’t felt it, since I really didn’t know her that well, and I was distracted. My Beta was grievously injured and I was stressed out, being away from my pack. I really should have gone back home already.

Ben’s taking care of the pack. Now shut up and find our mate, Raid grumbled. Why did she go out into the city?

“She probably didn’t want to spend her whole birthday in a hospital,” I replied.

She knew we were coming to see her. Stupid girl.

“Actually, she couldn’t know for sure. I told her I would try to come see her. Besides, she probably forgot.”

Still… Going out into the city was stupid. Dangerous. She could be hit by a car, or get robbed or-

“Overprotective already?” I teased him. He growled in response.

Her scent led me to a park, and it didn’t take too long before I saw her standing by a pond. I slowed my pace as I approached her. I’d been close to running here. Despite my teasing of Raid, I would be lying to myself if I pretended that the thought of my mate walking around in a large city, all by herself, didn’t put me on edge. I didn’t really know her yet, but it was my natural instinct to be protective of my mate.

She had her back to me. It almost looked like a painting, her with her red hair, at the edge of the pond, which was framed by colorful autumn trees.

A wind swept in from behind, blowing my scent towards her. She turned around and looked at me, eyes wide.