Fighting Fate (Moonlight Trials Series #2)

Chapter 27 – Birthday Surprises

Chapter 27 – Birthday Surprises

Jaspers POV

I opened my eyes to a sky that was just lighting up with the morning sun. There were red and golden hues shining through the blinds in Ivy’s bedroom and I stretched and yawned before realising what today was. It was my 18th birthday. Today would be the day I would finally be able to officially find my mate. If it was Ivy, then I would immediately feel the pull towards her even though she wouldn’t. However, if she wasn’t my mate then I wouldn’t feel anything, unless what was happening to Karma, was also happening to us. I decided that today would be the day I would finally touch her properly in human form, not just a graze with my fingertips.

I looked over to Ivy’s bed, wondering if she was still asleep and I had time for a run before she decided to celebrate my “got you” day. I could see a lump in her bed, which wasn’t made but it was smaller than usual. I got up to check it out and noticed she wasn’t in bed. Ivy hated getting up early, so where was she? It was only around 7am and the spring sun was only just starting to come up properly. I yipped, wondering if she would answer me.

“I’m downstairs Jasp!” She answered, and I still found it hard to believe that she was up and downstairs this early. I plodded down the stairs, still half asleep, and smelled bacon. One of my favourites. She was happily humming, cooking the bacon but also seemed to be baking something. I tried to look, intrigued.

“Ah, ah, ah!” She scolded playfully. “That’s not for you and get out of my kitchen!” She laughed, pushing my giant form away from the cooker. I grumbled but headed into the living area. Her parents were either not up yet or had gone out early, so I headed for the sofa and got onto it, wondering if I could fit a nap in before breakfast.

“Jasper!” Ivy shouted after a little while and I opened my eyes and saw a plate of bacon, sausages, eggs and ham in front of me. I had to stop myself from salivating. I yipped excitedly as she placed it on the living room table, so it was high enough for me. Whilst I did still eat from a dog bowl, her parents had talked about me getting too old to bend my neck as much. I hadn’t complained at the raised bowl they gave me and letting me eat off the coffee table sometimes. They knew I wasn’t a messy eater. “Happy got you day!” She smiled happily as she sat to eat her breakfast in one of the recliners her dad had bought years ago.

“You know, it's my friend Jaspers' birthday today.” She said, eating her food. I looked at her curiously. “He will be 18, just like I think you are.” She smiled. “I made him a gift too, that’s what's in the oven.” She looked at me and grinned. “Hopefully he likes food as much as you do.” I continued to eat but something about the way she was speaking seemed to hurt. I was happy she was no longer thinking of us as the same person, but she seemed sad that we weren’t, and it hurt. Should I just tell her? Mate or not?

You want to be with her anyway? Onyx asked, and I could hear a sad pang in his voice.

I do Onyx. I know you want to find our fated mate, but I love Ivy.

I do too, but what Tracker and Karma had, just seemed right. He said, the sadness still bitter in my mind.

I know and I want that, but with Ivy. If Karma is right, then why can't we make Ivy our mate like Chase has done to Karma? I felt Onyx thinking in my mind and if he could shrug, then that’s what he was doing.

The moon goddess chooses a mate for us, to complete us, for us to mate with for life. I sighed and carried on eating. Ivy finished and cleaned her plates, then got the present for “other Jasper” out of the oven. I tried to sneak a peak, but she hid it well and when she had done, it was inside a plastic, none see through tub. I huffed and she turned to me.

“Everything ok?” I nosed the tub and she chuckled. “Its not for you and if you saw it, you might want it. Not happening buster.” She laughed. “Right, I will be heading out in a few hours. Jasper will be here at 11. What are you going to do?” I took the last mouth full of my meal and yipped at the back door. She frowned at me. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay inside?” She questioned and there seemed to be a hidden thought behind it. I frowned and tilted my head at her. I yipped again at the back door. She sighed and let me outside. I went to the bathroom in my usual place and then curled up on the grass. She stood and watched me for a long time before finally heading upstairs, to presumably, get ready for meeting human me at 11. I made sure I was positioned in the yard so I could see the clock and waited until it was 10.30 before heading to the woods to change into my human form and get dressed.

I had numerous bags of clothes hidden throughout the village. One near Ivy’s work. One not far from home, hidden in a stump. One near the bus stop for school and the rest were hidden in Trackers bike shed. I changed into the clothes I had left, which were a pair of grey, faded jeans, a grey t-shirt, a pair of black sneakers and my black waistcoat. It was chilly out, but I didn’t feel the cold like humans would. I put in all of my piercings and ran my hand through my hair, leaving it to its usual messy look. I made sure I had put my wallet and a few notes with my clothes ready for today and a backpack. I wanted to treat Ivy and had already called Franks earlier in the week and ordered sandwiches, snacks, coffee and cold drinks for us to take on our hike.

I headed to Ivy’s just before 11 and waited at the bottom of the garden for a sign she was ready. When I saw the curtain move but then be immediately dropped back down. I headed up the path to the front door and knocked.

“Hey Jasper.” Ivy smiled, but there was an edge to the smile. What had I done this time? But mostly, all I could think was how little reaction Onyx was having towards her. I sighed before plastering a smile on my face.

“Hi Ivy. Ready for our hike?” I asked, seeing she had dressed in leggings, a t-shirt, hoody and a Gillet. She also seemed to have gloves in her pocket.

“Sure. I just need to grab something and leave the back door unlocked for if Jasper wants to come in the house at any point.” I nodded and waited on the doorstep. “You can come in you know.” She laughed as she headed to the kitchen, when her back was turned, I frowned, not only was I uncomfortable in the house, but Onyx definitely didn’t recognise her as our mate. To say it felt weird in the house was an understatement. Even though I knew everything was standard human size, everything felt tiny. I was so used to walking around this house as a wolf that I felt like an imposter, that I didn’t belong in the house as a human, a fraud. I sighed and shouted to Ivy that I would wait outside as I was feeling a little warm and she agreed from the kitchen. I headed outside to sulk. I needed to touch her to see if the sparks were still there and have hope that Karma was right about us.

Ivy’s POV

“I’m ready!” I smiled as I locked the front door, cradling the plastic tub. I was extremely happy with how it had turned out and I couldn’t wait for him to see it. I just hoped that either way this went he would like it.

“Want me to pop that in my bag so you don’t have to carry it?” Jasper asked, getting his backpack off his shoulder. I shook my head and pulled it closer to my chest. “Ok, well we need to call via Franks if that’s ok. I ordered us some things for the hike.” I didn’t question what he had ordered, wondering if it was food but I nodded anyway. After we picked up the food, we headed into the woods and began walking. We sipped our coffees and talked about school, bringing up memories that made us chuckle. I never wanted to admit it but I had actually always been paying attention to Jasper, especially during football or basketball games. And he ad also been paying closer attention to me than I had realised, reminding me of times he found particularly funny, like when I dropped my phone down the toilet in our second year or when I fell asleep on a school trip and Jesse had drawn a moustache on my face with eyeliner.

“What about that time you got Josh with the ball so hard he fell into the bleachers.”

“Hey, he had it coming!” Jasper defended himself as I laughed so hard, I was worried coffee would come out of my nose.

“I didn’t say he didn’t, that’s what makes it so hilarious. He was an absolute douche to you and Tracker.”

“What about that time Tracker ripped his shirt on the bleachers when he was showing off and like 7 girls fainted.” This time I did nearly choke on my coffee.

“OH MY GOD!” She screeched with laughter. “I had almost forgotten about that!” I turned to see his reacting, but he had stopped dead on the trail and was… sniffing.

“Jasper? Are you ok?” I could see his eyes changing colours again from his honey colour to the darker brown and he seemed to be in a trance. I waled up to him and shouted again. He didn’t answer so I put my hands up to shake his shoulder.