Taboo: Her Married Mate

Friendships and Transitions

Annie did not hold back when it came to the home beauty bar. Everything you could expect was laid out on display for the girls' arrival.

“Both mom and Charles should be busy, so we have the house to ourselves for the most part.”

For the most part? Annie removed her backpack and threw it onto the floor. She started to take off her clothing as well, getting completely naked in the front foyer.

“Oh my gosh Annie, what are you doing!?” Aurora gasped, “someone is going to see you!”

“Who is going to see me? Nobody is even here? I mean, there is the evening chef my mom is obsessed with, but he is tucked away in the kitchen. Don’t be such a prude,” Annie said, sticking her tongue out at Aurora. She was the most self-confident girl Aurora knew when it came to showing her skin. “Besides, once we start our transitioning, we're going to see so many more naked bodies. But if your own flesh scares you that much, there is a robe for you too. Here,” Annie handed Aurora a soft fluffy robe with her initials on it. “Mom had them made for us.”

“Annie, your mom did not need to do that…” Aurora stood in the foyer with the robe in her hand.

“Oh, please, it was literally nothing. Mom had helped some new company sign on with Charles for advertisements, and she got these for making the introductions.” Annie’s mom was always getting cool products from companies in her line of work. “Aurora! Come on, put it on and relax for a bit, I will have the chef make us some food to snack on while we start up our girls' night!!”

The girls spent the next few hours there. Snacking and pampering themselves, gossiping about the week that they had just had, all of Annie’s special outfits, Annie wishing Declan Sharp were her mate, her party and more, until Annie's alarm started to go off. They both fell silent.

“Annie, are you scared?” Aurora asked. Annie let out a long sigh. "I guess I am afraid of the pain. Nobody is honest about that. My mom says that the pain is not something she can explain, since having cubs for her was far worse. Charles says that you forget about the pain the second your paws feel the earth beneath them. The feeling of your bones breaking is also a bit worrisome, but all of that does not stop me from also being excited. Because after tonight, I am going to smell my mate. And if it is anything like my mom said, it was when she first found my dad. Then who cares about the bones breaking, right?” Annie smiled.

Shortly her transition would begin, and Annie would be a new person. The girls sat together in silence for a bit. Even though neither of them spoke of it, they were both worried about how their transitions would change their friendship.

The front door swung open. Annie’s mom came walking into the front room. She was wearing an all-white business suit, with the most vivid shade of red on her lips, her long blonde hair in curls, reaching the tops of her shoulders. Annie looked just like her mother, only Annie was leaner, and her hair was much longer. All their features, though, were about the same.

“Annie, my dear. In a few hours, you will reach transition. This is one of the biggest nights of your life. I only hope you are prepared for what is to follow. And Aurora," Annie’s mom, looked down at Aurora. She frowned slightly and took a nice long breath.

“Aurora, my dear, I’m so glad you get to spend these moments with Annie. I only hope your wolf spirits get along as well as you both do now.”

“Whoa, whoa, mother… what do you mean, you hope our wolf spirits get along?” Annie interpreted “and why the hell is this something that hasn’t been mentioned by anyone in all the years of preparation until now?” Annie started to get loud. Aurora could not say anything. She was still trying to wrap herself around the words that came out of Annie’s mother's mouth. Was their friendship truly about to change? Could it be over? A weight began to get heavy on Aurora’s chest.

“Look, girls, I am sure you have nothing to worry about. And besides, once you get your wolf and smell your mate, your friendship will be the least of your concerns. I know it is not something you want to hear, but it needs to be said. Now, instead of getting upset, let us just try to enjoy the night for what it is and tomorrow you girls will get to party all your blues away, okay” Annie’s mom cleared her throat and walked over towards the front room’s coat closet.

“Annie honey, I have a special dress for you to wear tonight. It is tradition in some families to wear white on transition days, so I had this made.” Annie’s mom pulled out a white garment bag from the closet. While walking towards where the girls were sitting, she unzipped it, revealing the dress to Annie. It was a short, casual dress with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed along the back and had a flared skirt. There was a slight shimmer to the fabric, giving it a silk finish. Annie was going to look gorgeous in that dress.

“Mom! It is so cute. I cannot wait to put it on tonight!” Annie got up to take the dress from her mom. Standing in front of one of the mirrors in the room for the beauty bar, Annie held the dress up against her body.

“You truly are a sight in white, my beautiful girl. "If only your father were here to see you.” Annie’s mom began to sniffle.

“Mom, daddy is here. I know he is. And you have Charles to share this with, so do not be too sad.” Annie hated it when her mom cried, it always made her cry.

“Sweetheart, one day you will understand. There are things about Charles and me that I need to tell you, but tonight is not the night. I care for Charles, but he is not your father. He is not my mate. He is just a young man I married, so I was not a lone wolf raising a cub, and I was fortunate that he ended up being well off and helped my business thrive just as I did for him once I was in the position to. And he knows that. Besides, now that you are grown, after tonight I will be able to leave more often and give Charles the space he and I very much deserve,” Annie’s mom said.

“I do not get why you stay with him if that is how you both feel. It is not because of his brother, is it?”

“Annie! We are together for you, so that you did not have to live with the embarrassment of a mother being unpaired! And do not bring up his brother again,” Annie’s mom snapped. “Now it’s time to start heading outside, Aurora dear, if you could grab Annie’s dress and some sandals please, and Annie drink some water. The transition will give you quite the thirst.” Annie’s mom took off her white blazer that went with her pantsuit, revealing an off-the-shoulder white silk top. And headed towards the kitchen.

“Woah. Ok. Your mom is such a force,” Aurora said, looking at Annie shocked.

Annie looked a bit out of it and pale, her body starting to shiver, and sweat all at once. “Annie? Is it time?”

Annie tried to answer but instead fell to the floor.