Rhythms of the Wild

Chapter 1: Graduation Day

"Erin!" I yelp as I was pulled out of my best friends bed. I sat up slowly as I wiped my blond disheveled hair out of my face and rubbed my eyes. I stare up at my best friend since kindergarten, our pack Alphas daughter and honestly my rock. I shook my head, "Nooooo" I whined

"Get up! Its time to gussy up before we graduate, Sam. Dont think you are wearing that pant suit" Erin exclaimed wiggling her eyebrows. I sat in my half sleep stuper wondering who cares what we look like. Just to cross a stage in front of people neither of us ever wanted to be around for 8 hours a day again. Erin crosses her arms and just stared into me with her electric green eyes. "Fine, fine but I will Not wear one of your butt dresses" I laugh, as she turns to the opened closet and start throwing dresses left and right out of the door. "My butt dresses are not that short" she huffed. "Erin, if I bent over in this, half of my cheeks would be on full display" I said as I held up a small dress that looked like it would fit a toddler better. "Now let's not be dramatic" she grined as she found what she was digging for. She pulled out a white, above knee dress with golden accents. Even I had to admit it was absolutely beautiful. She held it out and lifted her brow. "Take this, shower and put it on" I could see her half smirk to my dumb-founded face and relented. "20 minutes or im coming in" she giggled. I grabbed the dress and took off to her attached bathroom. I huffed as i looked at the dress and back to the pant suit I hung on the door last night. I would be more comfortable in that anyway. "Is a dress really that important Erin?" I half hollered back to her as I hung the dress up. "Important no, but if you want that miserable scum bag to really feel the burn today, you will wear it" she laughed. I grined as I turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm a bit thinking about Reed seeing me in this dress. I slid into the shower deep in thought. He is a miserable, pathetic excuse of a male. It took me 3 years to realize he was only interested in what others could do for him, all take and no give. With a side of cheating douche wrapped into a tall slinder male. I was stupid enough to think on my 18th birthday he would be my Goddess given mate, now I pray that he isnt. Erin however picked up on his narcissistic personality in the love bombing stage but I was just to nieve to see it. I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my hair and the dress on. I had to think fast as two heels came flying out of the closet. I dodged them both but as soon as I laughed Erin was spinning back to me. She clutched her chest as she smiled. "I dont know why you fight me, im always right. Here take these heels, they pair perfectly." I held out my hands for the golden gladiator looking heels and just grimaced. "Erin who in their right mind said all of this was easy to put on?" I whined as I laced the straps up my calves. Erin turned to face me again and just smiled. "No one love, but your legs are to die for and you can do them justice." I stood a little wobbly at first but gathered myself and stood straight. "You are just perfection" Erin said as she wiped a fake tear. Her mom came in at that moment. Mama Chesney ran to Erins vanity, pointing at the chair "sit". I groaned and walked over to park my butt in the seat of no return. Roughly an hour later after being thoroughly plucked, prodded and made up from eyebrows and makeup to my bouncy curled half updo, she was finally done. I sat in awe, she never ceases to amaze me. "You are a magician." I smiled. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "The Goddess did the magic, I just enhanced it." She slid me a wrapped box and grinned, "now open, I seen this and wanted you to have it." I unwrapped the box and opened it to find a small piece of paper and a golden necklace with a sapphire pendant, matching earrings and bracelet. I opened the paper and read. "My darling Sam, I know I am not your birth mother but in every way that matters you will always be one of my babies. I love you to the Goddess and back, sweet girl." I couldnt hold it together, I cried, full blown uglies. Chesney leaned over and hugged me. "Now now my love, dont cry you will mess up your makeup. I just love you and never want you to forget it. Plus it matches your eyes." Erin smiled and came up behind us in a white dress with golden accents, it was almost like a cousin to the dress she gave me and wearing a matching Emerald set to my Sapphire set. "Now look at my darling girls" Chesney said. "Now Erin its your turn." I giggled as I traded places with Erin and watched her grumble as Chesney started doing her makeup and hair. After another 45 minutes we were down stairs of the pack house waiting on Oliver, Erin's dad to come around from the garage. Chesney fussed over last minute details as her eyes glossed over. After a second her green eyes were back to normal, she blew a red strand of her hair out of her face and clapped "Ok, girls. To the car." We both laughed at her exasperated face as we walked out of the pack house. Oliver was opening the rear door for us to get into the back then rounded the car to open the door for Chesney. "My luna" Oliver said, then pecked her lips before dipping his head. He came back around and sat in the drivers seat. "Where is Garret?" Chesney asked. Garret, is the Alpha family's personal driver and one of Oliver's closest friends. "Hannah went into labor this morning. I told him to enjoy the start of his paternity leave." Chesney pailed "It's to early Ollie, poor Hannah must be worried sick." Oliver reached back and grabbed her hand. "It is, but the doctors are not worried right now. They said the pup is measuring bigger than the last time they checked on it and are hopeful for a healthy baby boy" Chesney relaxed in her seat with that confirmation, "Good, they are such a sweet family already. Let's send up prayers to the Moon Goddess for a healthy pup." Chesney closed her eyes as Oliver started to drive. After a couple of minutes her eyes were back open and focused on the drive. We made it to the pack high-school in 10 minutes and was lucky enough to get a spot upfront. "Thank the Goddess, I did not want to hike in these heels today." Erin said as we started to pile out of the car. I giggled. We made our way into the small gym that had been set up for the ceremony. "Alright girls, We are off to our seats. See you in a bit." Alpha Oliver said. "Sam, I will record it for your Mom dear." Chesney said with a forced smile. I knew she was doing her best not to look sad for me so I smiled and nodded my thanks. As we turned to make our way down to the classrooms assigned for our teachers. After 4 hours of pomp and circumstance, walking the stage to get our diplomas and endless pictures taken by Chesney, we were on our way back to the pack house. "Sam, did you see Reeds face as soon as he saw you? Absolutely pricesless" Erin whispered as we waited for our Alpha and Luna to join us in the car. Yes, they were Erins parents but they would always be our Alpha and Luna first. I frowned "No, I didnt. I honestly tried to ignore him today. I wanted it to be a good day and I dont think I could stomach looking at him." Erin grabbed my hand "Come on Sam, he isnt worth it." I growled "I know its been 8 months since everything happened, I keep thinking being in the same room with him will get easier but 3 years of loving him, then for him to cheat makes me want to rip his face off." Erin grinned

"Well, you didnt miss much he looked like a kicked pup and daddy knows you would have a reason for it if you did rip his face off. I honestly think he would let you off with a warning." she snickered. I smiled at the thought but decided to let it go, the less I thought about it the better. Good thing I have another month for my wolf to fully settle in me. I have started feeling her in my mind Im just waiting for my birthday for our link to snap into place. I cant wait to meet her, I just hope she likes me and im not a disappointment to her too. "Aht, aht, no bad thoughts today" Erin said as she squeezed my hand. I quirked a brow at her as she tilted her head. "It's written all over your face babe. Now lets talk about what we are wearing to the party tonight." she said as she rubbed her fingers together like a villain in a human movie. It worked to pull me out of my thoughts.