The Genius and The Prince

“EMMMMIIIII!” I hear as I get pounced on. I open my eyes and see my younger sister of 2 years smiling wildly at me. “Today is the day!” She cares more about my 20th birthday than I ever will. I graduated from high school at 16, finished my bachelor’s in business and economics at 18, and just finished with my law degree from the local State College. I still must pass the human side of our world and take the BAR exam. But does that matter to her? Nope. She is obsessed with my finding my mate. We are taught as young werewolves about mates. Thankfully, I tested out of that class. I have had it easy since my father is the Alpha, and I was allowed to challenge classes and test out of them. It made high school so much easier. I am sociable when I have to be, but I would rather be in a room full of Alpha’s discussing business plans or treaties. Our father had Paxton, my older brother and future Alpha of the Starlite pack, sit in at meetings early. Paxton would sit and make faces and play on his phone. I would take notes and at 13, when I pointed out an error in the geographical areas and verbiage in the treaty Dad was about to sign. From that moment on, I became the one he would have review the documents. I decided on Law thanks to all the meetings I sat in. I went to a human high school online and undergrad as well online. The local college allowed me to do a mix of online and in-person, thus I know both human and werewolf laws. I was offered a position with the Werewolf King as an advisor but politely declined and took a position at a firm in Atlanta that is run by Richard Walters. He and his family are known in our community for writing most of the current laws. Apparently, his son, Braxton, and the King's son, Jackson, had a falling out and Richard left North Carolina with his family and started the Atlanta Hills Pack along with Wolfe Law firm. They offered me a nice position as a starting lawyer and, since he started his own pack, they gave me accommodation on their pack lands. I leave today after a birthday lunch for the 2-hour drive. I chose this position due to it being closer to my family. I know Pax, he has yet to find his mate and Dad won’t turn the pack over till he does. “AVA! Get off your sister!” My mother yells at her from wherever she is. “EMI, get up! We have things to do!” She now is spoiling my relaxing day. Ava rolls off me and is bouncing over to my closet. “Let’s see…” She says as she walks in it humming. “Ava, I am not letting you pick my clothes. Last time you tried to get me to wear one of your choices I told you, I do not want to look like a pink pop tart.” She has no idea that when I say pop tart, I am referring to a slut. She has absolutely no idea that just because we have fabulous physiques due to our wolves, doesn’t mean we need to show it all. We are VERY different. “Emi, listen today is the day you will find your mate and live happily ever after. I can just feel it. Why would you want to wear this!” She stands in my closet with my Anne Kline short-sleeved boat-neck black dress. “This screams, I am an old lady. You’re 20!” She yells from my closet as she tosses it on the ground. She has been saying this every year since I turned 18. Wolves can start to sense their mate at 18, but I have yet to sense mine. Same with Pax and Ava. Mom and Dad both say we just haven’t found them yet. I know Pax is feeling anxious, but I have yet to care. “Hey! That is my lucky dress! I got my new job wearing that!” I tell her as I pick it up and pat it like it’s hurt. “You might as well pull everything out anyways. Remember I am leaving tonight for the Atlanta pack.” I tell her as I pull the suitcase out from under my bed. It is half full, I started packing a week ago. My SUV already has one suitcase in it; this one is just for the things I plan on wearing tomorrow and last-minute items. “I am wearing this dress today; Dad has an import meeting.” “Yeah, who is it? Alpha Chaz? He is so hot!” She says, coming over with a bounce in her step. I just shake my head and roll my eyes, what kinda name is Chaz. “First, I have no idea he wouldn’t tell me. It is supposed to be confidential. Second, Chaz is an i***t! And who names their kid Chaz!” I say annoyed. “Emily! Your Father needs him in his office at the pack house, and he can’t link you because you keep blocking him!” Mom yells from the other room. “Pull up the blocks sweetheart, I am not your secretary!” “Fine! Thanks Mom!” I yell as I open the link. “Emily!” My father says through our link. “Yes?” I am packing the rest of my things and gently place my black dress on my bed. “Are you dressed yet? It is almost 10am!” I walk to my nightstand and pick up my phone. Oh, guess they did let me sleep in. “I am just about to jump in the shower, I just finished packing.” I tell him as I walk to the bathroom. “You have 30 minutes to get here; we have things to discuss before our guest arrive at 2pm.” He says sternly to me. “Dad, am I ever late? I mean besides today?” I tell him with the same tone. “No. And I know it is your birthday, so I am giving you some leeway here.” Dad says as gently as he can. He is usually a force to be reckoned with. With mom he is a complete mush, with Paxton and I he is a little softer, but Ava is just like my mom, he is a total puppy with her. I roll my eyes and get in the shower. I had already tied up my wavey dark hair. I have always loved my hair. It is dark and has red tones on it. Since my wolf is a red russet color, it comes through in my dark hair. It was brown, but when I got my wolf at 16 and shifted it turned dark brown with dark red tones. My brother had brown hair as well, and after he shifted, his turned black, while Ava’s went from light brown to blonde. It is like a rite of passage as a werewolf. When your hair changes, you know the wolf has come out and become part of you. My wolf’s name is Amira, and for today, for some reason, she is awfully quiet. ‘Amira?’ I called out to her. ‘Yes?’ She responds quietly. ‘What’s up with you? You are acting weird, usually you’re jumping around.’ I ask her as I continue my shower. ‘Something, or someone is coming.’ She responds cryptically. ‘And?’ I ask as I turn off my shower and grab my towel. ‘I don’t know, I am just anxious. You aren’t ready.’ Okay now she is really acting funny. ‘What do you mean I am not ready? I am always ready, remember we have a plan, and we work the plan. If issues arise, we work through them one by one.’ I tell her as I shake my head and walk into my room and put on my clothes. ‘We are solid!’ ‘Some things can’t be planned.’ She responds and floats to the back of my mind, in essence blocking me.