Avenge

Another Year

Mason

Unsettling. It's the only way I can describe life right now.

Especially today of all bullshit of days.

"Now sit. We can handle everything without you."

"That'll be a first."

Both harsh eye rolls from my sisters meant less these days. And the fact I'm not as my happy self on my 19th birthday gives me a card to be an ass.

What on Goddess Earth do I have to celebrate for. Not another year. Not when it feel like what I was given could be a mistake and I can't find the joy in that.

I told them no party. Somehow my witchy sisters found a god damn loophole.

"Ironic. Witches always knows a loophole."

A gathering dinner is what they say. A cake include was just for fun but I know what they're doing.

Without needing their fuss I played nice and at least showed up, I'll eat and when I can...leave.

Everyone gather and talked. I sat alone in my 'special birthday wolf chair' as the girls call it. Whatever. Feed me.

They swing in and out the kitchen. I stand to see how much longer. I pop my head in and slam the door. Huffing back to the table.

Liv and Travis rushes out. Fixing their love feast away.

"Sorry, I know you're impatient." Liv apologize with a platter of Devil Eggs.

I push them to the center as I've lost my stomach. "Can we just start before you two use the food for your uninnocent play."

Travis plops his large-self next to me. Gripping my shoulder hard. "You were told to stay seated. You're lucky I wasn't balls deep in-"

"Oh, go stuff your c**k else where. There were food around. You two have no respect to the hazard it is with your gross, fluids, and..umm..all your lovey..doves.. horny, sex." I struggle to say as I fail to find my envy to my best friends. Both looked at me unamused.

Travis grip loosen, "how about you smile and stop talking. Another year we can raise hell among together, brother."

"Yeah. Another year, brother." I grunted displeased.

Connie just then comes in jumping with a hidden platter. She places it in front of me, quickly lifting the lid to reveal the treat. Kissing my cheek. Her arms don't fall over my neck like she would normally do. And given the stare of her mate walking in sets it.

"Smile for this. I made your favorite and a very special girl helped me." She tells me.

I looked at Connie before a sweet, adorable baker helper releases Milow's hand and jumps to my side, she tugs on my arm. "Me. Me. Me. I helped. Do you like it, Mason?"

Her eyes flutter to me, she's so adorable. "If you did it then yes."

She jumps in glee. "My Mason likes it Uncle Milow. I told you. Mason, Mason. My wolf man wants a ride later, can we? For your birthday day, please?"

Milow goes to clams her down, telling her it's not nice to ask a wolf for rides. Not true, completely. Milow just doesn't like me and the fact his niece has grown a strong liking to me annoys him more.

Rose whines. "But my wolf man loves riding his twin." She turns to me. "Sorry I was rude. I miss your rides."

"I miss them too. I've just been very busy." I tell her.

Liv comes around and smiles, "it's so nice to see a young witch idolized a wolf. Rather than fear them." She says.

Rose smiles happily to her. "I want to mate with a wolf. Just like my book." Everyone stops then, staring at Rose.

"What book mates a witch and wolf?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Witch falls for the wolf man." She proudly says.

I don't recall of such a book. But Liv did. I saw how her face changed when Rose mentioned it.

"I know that one. If I remember correctly the witch had the name Rose."

"Yeah. My name. My wolf man." She tugs on my arm and hugs her stuff toy. I'm aware of her crush. It's cute and her toy is a match to Oliver. Which is why she says it's her wolf man's twin.

"That was my favorite book to read. I didn't know your uncle read it to you."

"My favorite too, Sister Luna. My mama read it once. Now Uncle Milow and Aunt Connie reads it to me." She admits.

I can see how the short news filled Liv in a flashback. I grasp Rose and sat her down on my lap. Needing to change the subject. "Books later, Rose. Tonight we have cake made by the best witch I know. You."

Both Liv and Connie frown at me. In sync Rose sticks her tongue out at them.

"Sorry, the sitter canceled last minute." Milow says. He tries to get Rose off of me and in defense she refuses.

"It's fine. You're family." I said to his face.

Connie wraps herself to him. Trying to not let his ego ruin the dinner. I can tell they had talked before coming. But both girls wanted to come because they like me despite his hate.

"Can we sing now, Mason? My bedtime is close."

I smile. Over the falter of my life, this moment I decide to give in. I can't upset sweet Rose.

Agreeing we all gather and did the damn birthday cake thing. Rose was happy and crashed quick after her piece of cake. Milow used that as an excuse to leave and now we sit around chatting it up.

As cheery as the last hour or so can be. I wanted to head to bed. Faking it wasn't my thing. I did it for Rose and now she's gone.

Looking around I see the room wasn't full. Placing my drink down, Oliver's tail sprang. There was this smell coming from the kitchen.

"Are the girls cooking?" I ask Travis.

"We ate everything they cooked, what else can those girls be making. I need another stomach." He admits.

Giving it some time I notice the smell wasn't gone. Everyone else seemed busy so I sneaked my way to follow the scent.

Heading into the kitchen where it brew stronger. I would never thought both my sisters would be doing what I f*****g thought they were doing.

I growled into the room despite Oliver's whining in my head. The girls jumped, full of shock on their faces.

Caught red handed, I see them enjoy the company of my mate with a secret door that enters his room. He holds a plate of cake and dare I say he smiles to them until I enter. His eyes sharp to me and I avoid as always.

Looking was like kneeling to him.

"Shut it! Now!"

Connie seals it while Liv tries to step towards me, I back away.

"Oh, come on, Mason."

"Girls, please don't make this harder."

"It was just cake." Connie says. But it was more than that.

"He should be here." Oliver shields his muttering whines at Liv's words.

"No." I said as I hold back from shouting at them. I didn't want to have anyone else coming in.

"Well, sad boy. Try to be happy. This is this the first time we all are together and unfortunately your parent's flight won't be in until tomorrow." She adds.

"Good. They should stay there and Landon too."

Sadly Liv had rearranged their home. Their move back at this time is not fitting.

How the hell am I gonna deal with my parents, littler brother, the pack, and my mate all in one.

Poison me now, Goddess.

Tomorrow

In sometime my folks had arrived. I'd played the Beta card and occupied myself for the day. It worked for the most time but I did get a scold from my old man. I showed a face and had no choice but to leave.

A simple hi and kiss was all. I was gonna see them later.

Today was no other day though. In our culture the moon tonight will glow brighter than ever. It's good fortune to be out in its glow. Even so if you are born around the day of. Lucky me I was years ago, and for the first time since then the moon will once again come in a late night bloom just a day later. Which is still sign as good. My folks takes it too far and talks of such a life I should have because of it.

Bullshit. All f*****g bullshit.

Mamma had plan such a feast to bring, being she honor in her first son's birth.

With that said she wasn't working alone. I have seen Liv and Connie fixing around the home as they soon arrived. To annoy me they brought Cullen to help and I can't resist the need to remind them he has boundaries to set and they laughed in my face.

Wasn't disrespectful but it was more I was overreacting since I demanded he not be around my home and touch what is my parents stuff.

It was just too soon, seeing him there like that. It set flashes in my mind that I can't confess too. I told the girls that and this is their way of getting me to not be so push-back at him.

Whatever. Mate or not our fate may have set its coarse, why try to fix it?

"Hey, want to drink our sorrows?" I ask Travis who looks just as lost in his mind as I've.

"Sorrows? s**t, man." He takes the drink and sips it, I join.

I watch as he watch in the distance. It grew an envy in me, but it over set when I see him proudly watch his mate dance under the moon.

"Things good?" I ask.

"Mother would have love her. Love this." I got it then. It wasn't just seeing his mate dancing, it was her dancing with Mamma.

Their relationship is strong I'll admit. And I guess it hits hard to him.

"She would. They'll be so close it may of annoy you." Travis chuckle a grin. Still I see him straying in his head.

"Things f****d us over. The both of us." He sips his drink. "Maybe seeing more will be good. When was the last time we visit the county?" He asked me out of nowhere.

I rub my head, wrapping the years back. "Before it s**t-cased." It's been like 5 years I think.

"It's closest to my mother. She can sense her maybe. Italy is just another home." I agreed with him.

"Maybe when thing calm down. She'll accept my offer to visit."

"That's great. She'll love that, man." Giving him a pat I see him slip out his mind.

"Yeah. Mom too."

"Yeah, she would."

Watching we see how they laugh together, enjoying their time like..it's like they're daughter and mother. Something Travis will never get to witness in his side. Sadly Liv wouldn't see Travis build such a relation with her parents neither. Even her birth father that she rekindle with. It's all lost.

Shit! "What is he doing here?"

On top of bullshit to happen, they're joined with a guess. And not just any guest.

"Crap, man. I keep telling Elizabeth to lock him up, but she was busy doing some witch testing s**t and she was using him."

Watching Cullen join with Papá was not in my books. They all chat like old friends. It ticked me as much as I swallow down that bonded feeling that tried to change it.

"Not his first."

I had caught Liv video chatting with my parents in front of Cullen. So they met for say. And earlier today they had also met, which is why I left in a rush.

"What?" Travis c****d his head in his own anger.

"Yeah. I caught them at my parents' home, he was laughing and chatting with Mamma. Even s**t talking with Landon."

"What your folks say? About you know?"

"I didn't hear it."

I left at any moment they tried to talk about him or mate s**t. I know they know and I don't want to f*****g hear a word about it. Especially Papá. Who knows what will come out his mouth. And Mamma. She wouldn't be getting a little Mason with this bond s**t.

Just then the pot continues to boil over. We both watch as more join. I didn't mind my family basking the joy of neither sister. Cullen was one thing but seeing Perry string his cocky-self made me want to chew him up.

"Bastard has no respect."

We tried listening as if we have Liv's vampire ears.

Perry smiles all too much at Liv who holds a scowl. Her eyes widen when my little brother Landon speaks. Making Mamma slap him on the back of the head. At the same time Perry commented something I can only assume is inappropriate in his own way.

Liv says something firmly and he doesn't lit up. I see how my parents react. Papà takes it among himself to throw his arm over Perry and grabs Landon's back collar. Dragging both of them away from their obsessiveness.

"Do they talk?" Travis ask me.

"No. So I can guess what their reunion is right now."

Secretly Papà likes Perry. Always said good things even when Perry has done the unthinkable. Said he was making his own way outside his family.

"Why is he even still here, man?"

Travis chug down his drink. As did I. "Ask my wife."

"I have." His eyes snap, wondering what she says.

"He's bullshitting her. And she knows it."

"Well, any more of this and I'm gonna throw him out even if she bitches about it."

I pat his shoulder. "Liv is just doing her thing. Once he feels he made his point he'll leave." Praying.

"Damn pity bullshit, man."

Liv then brings herself over, wrapping her arms over him. "Grumpy, the both of you."

"We're not drunk yet, that's all." I tell her.

She pouts to me. I can see her trying to read me and she catches me watching Cullen. I shake my head to hear anything.

"Mm." She huffed. "Come, Sweet Wolf. I'll fix your grumpy." She kissed Travis who wrapped himself over her tightly, clearly seeing how she can calm him down so fast really makes me think.

But it can't happen.

"One day, brother." Travis says to me as he stands before me with his wife wrap around him. They both look like royalty. "You will join in the joy I have here. I pray to Moon Goddess to bless you."

Bless. I know he's not talking about Cullen. He wants him gone just like I do.

But do I?

"Let me drink my thoughts." I wave them off.

Leaving me with my thoughts wasn't good. Lately it has been worse. Every time I sniff the air I can smell him like he has just passed me. Closing my eyes and I see his face. The eager need to feel what I haven't yet felt kills me and that dealing of following. Any of it destroys the vow of my greater vow of all.

My vow. Bond, fated mates. My vows. Who am I without my vows.