The Werewolf Lottery

CHAPTER 3: My last night

GARFIELD'S POV:

Tomorrow I would have to say goodbye to everything I have ever known. One week ago, I turned eighteen. Far from the happy occasion I had in mind, I never received my wolf.

There is no real science behind why some people don't get wolves, but it's thought the stronger your bloodline, the more likely you are to receive the moon goddess's blessing. If that is in fact true, then as an omega wolf, I am genetically more likely to be wolfless than higher-ranking wolves. However, I come from a long line of successful wolves, and never once has a member of our bloodline presented as wolfless, so I really didn't see this coming. I guess in that sense, I was the disappointment of the family, though my parents would never truly say that.

Tomorrow will be exactly one week since my birthday and the last day I will be allowed to stay in this pack. Most packs are not so lenient. In most packs, as soon as you present as wolfless you are thrown on the first bus to the human village. Luckily, our alpha family are firm but fair. They allow us seven days to pack, prepare and say our goodbyes. If it was up to our alpha, I am sure he wouldn't enforce this separation of loved ones at all if it were not the law. In fact, it is one of the strictest laws enforced by the supernatural council. If anyone breaks their laws, their punishment will be death. Not just death for themselves but for their entire family. I do not blame the alpha for not wanting to encourage the council to unleash their wrath on his family. In his position, I am certain I would do the very same thing.

My bags are all packed and piled up next to my bedroom door, apart from my suit, which is the last thing left hanging in my closet. Tonight, on my last night in the amber moon pack, instead of spending time with my family and saying my goodbyes, I would be putting on that suit and attending the mandatory party at the pack house. Parties are not usually mandatory, but this party is to celebrate the birthday of Beta Chandler's daughter. Needless to say, celebrating was the last thing I wanted to do at this moment.

"Garfield honey, we have to leave in fifteen minutes to head to the party." My mum shouted from downstairs.

"Okay mum, I'm just putting on my suit. I will be down in a moment." I shouted back.

I threw on my suit and glanced in the mirror. This suit looked so silly on me thanks to my mother. She purchased me a brown checkered suit! If I didn't know how sweet and kind that woman was, I would swear she bought it to try and embarrass me. Although, I'm not sure if that is even possible at this point, what with tonight being my final night at Amber Moon Pack. A wolfless werewolf is surely the height of embarrassment already. To add insult to injury, I was expected to attend an event, during which another person would probably be blessed with their wolf, unlike me. This really was a bittersweet goodbye.

Heading downstairs, I could see my mother and father waiting at the bottom, all ready to go.

"Garfield my boy, looking smart!" my dad approved, patting me on the back. I honestly could not tell if he was being serious or just trying to show my mother that he approved of her choice of suit.

"Dad, I look like Rupert the bear!" I whined.

"Oh no sweet pea, you look like a very handsome and professional young man." my mother gushed whilst fussing about with the collar of my suit jacket.

"Momma, Please!" I almost yelled whilst swatting away her hands. "Let's just get going so we can get this over with."

We only live two doors down from the pack house, so we could easily walk to the party. I trudged silently, a step or two behind my parents, trying with all my might not to think about what I would be facing once the party was over. However, as we reached the pack house, I put on a brave face so that my mother would not see my sorrow. My mother had been sobbing on and off for the past week since I presented as wolfless, but tonight, for the first time in a week, she seemed happily distracted by the festivities. I would not ruin that for her.

She turned to face me and straightened my collar once again.

"Garfield honey, go and have fun with your friends. Your father and I will find our table." She said over her shoulder as she weaved herself through the crowd, pulling my father along behind her.

Little did they know, my list of friends concluded of one name and that was my best friend Mick. Mick had been by my side since we were pups in nursery together.

Knowing he would most likely be occupying a permanent place near the buffet table, I started walking in that direction. As predicted, as soon as the food table came into view, there was Mick. As I approached him, I could do nothing but chuckle at the sight before me. He had pulled up a chair at the end of the buffet table and had a sandwich sticking out of his mouth, one in each hand and a platter sat in front of him, piled high with steak. For such a slender person, this guy sure has one hell of an appetite.

"Mick, you animal! Chew your food." I yelled over to him, catching his attention.

Turning to face me, he dropped his sandwiches on top of his steak and waved to me. Just as I made it to the end of the table, he swallowed down the remainder of the sandwich that a moment ago had been sticking out of his mouth.

"Garf man, come to celebrate your last day in paradise?" He laughed jokingly. If it had been anyone else who had said that, I probably would have been offended. When it comes to Mick, we both take every opportunity to take cheap shots at each other, almost like we were brothers by blood.

"Yeah, something like that, I guess. Mum, it's mandatory, and Mum wouldn't have given me much choice anyway. I think this is good for her to be here. Anything to take her mind off tomorrow, I suppose." I mumbled back.

"Well then, let's take your mind off it too!" Mick cheered whilst clapping me on the back.

Mick disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone and wandering through the crowd in search of him. Before I even had time to take two steps, Mick returned with a tray of shots for us both. This can only go one way, and I sense vomit in my future.

Picking up one shot each, we quickly drink them in one gulp. The familiar taste of Sambuca made me wince, but we quickly drank three more shots each before the tray was empty. I could feel my head spinning already, and it was only 8pm. I was definitely not making it to the end of the night at this rate.

Lightly buzzed and giddy, we headed to the dance floor, packed with bodies, to dance off our Sambuca high. Grinning at each other like idiots, we jumped and pumped our fists in the air to the beat of the music as if we didn't have a care in the world. This was exactly the distraction I needed.

We danced for what seemed like hours before we collapsed into two chairs near the balcony, gasping to get our breath back. Looking at the clock, it had just reached half past eight, and I already felt beyond tired. I had to believe the sambuci was to blame. Just then everyone started to count down from ten, to signify Beta Chandler's daughter was about to officially be eighteen. However, I chose not to acknowledge the countdown and started talking to Mick.

"Mick, thanks for tonight. It was just the distrac....." I started to say when my sentence trailed off. Suddenly, the most intoxicating smell blew my way from the open balcony window.

"Garfield? Are you okay, dude?" Mick sounded worried.

If I had a wolf, I am sure now would have been the moment he shouted "MATE"!