The Beta's Arrival

Chapter 7

Helen’s POV

I drove us to the nearest ice cream shop and parked. We both got out of the car and went inside. Diane seemed to be on edge, but trying hard to cover it. We stood in line, waiting, while she impatiently checked her phone.

“What would you like to have?” the worker questioned.

“I’ll have a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a bowl,” I said, stepping aside to let Diane see the menu and say what she wanted.

When she didn’t speak up right away, I nudged her. “Oh, sorry. I’ll have two scoops of chocolate in a cone,” she blurted out.

The employee tapped on his screen a few times. “That’ll be eight-fifty,” he responded. “Card or cash?”

“Card,” I said as I pulled out my card.

“No, I suggested coming here,” Diane quickly said as she jumped in front of me, pulling out her wallet. “Cash.” She quickly handed him a twenty-dollar bill.

He shrugged and then took the money from her hand, pressed a button, put the bill in the machine and pulled out her change. He handed it back to her with a receipt. “It’ll be ready in a few moments. Your number is at the bottom of your receipt,” he informed us.

“Thank you,” we both said as we turned and found a table to sit at and wait for our ice cream.

I watched as Diane fidgeted nervously with her fingers while checking her phone on and off. “How’s school going?” I asked, trying to get her to relax.

“Good... ya good,” she muttered.

“Diane, what’s going on?” I finally asked. It was getting hard to sit and watch her act so out of character.

“Oh... nothing. Everything is peachy keen,” she said with a weak smile.

“Peachy keen?” I repeated with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, peachy keen.” She laughed nervously.

“Are you planning something?” I cut straight to the chase.

“No... Why would you think that?” she asked nervously.

“Because you are not acting like yourself,” I stated.

“Oh, I’m just tired. That’s all,” she tried to respond casually.

“Sure. What time can we go home then?” I asked.

“Ummm four-thirty,” she responded without thinking. “I mean whenever... doesn’t matter.”

Before I could press her further, the worker called our number and she practically flew out of her chair straight to the counter. She came back moments later with the ice cream and set it down on the table in front of me. “Let’s eat,” she said as she sat, took a spoon, and shovelled it into her mouth.

I dropped it and began to eat my ice cream. Soon we were finished and left the ice cream shop. We were back in the car and heading home in silence. She continued to check her phone far too often. I pulled the car into our driveway and got out. “Let me,” she said as she sprang to the front door and closed it in my face.

I shook my head and then opened the door. Once the door opened, I heard, “Surprise!” while people popped out of different hiding places. Diane stood near the back with a nervous smile on her face.

“Happy Birthday,” Mom said as she came over and hugged me.

“You didn’t have to,” I whispered to her.

“Your sister wanted to,” she told me and I knew what she meant. She wanted to let my sister do this so she could have some semblance of normalcy.

I plastered on a more enthusiastic smile. “When did you plan all this?” I asked happily and loud enough for my sister to hear.

The party began, everyone congratulated me, gave me a few gifts, and we ate so much food. Soon it was nearly midnight. This would be the only birthday party that people were expected to attend after midnight. That's when the change would happen. That's when I would meet my wolf. It was only customary for friends and family to gather to celebrate and to see what the newest pack addition would look like, especially someone of rank.

I may not have wanted the party, but I did want to share this moment with my friends and family. The clock finally struck twelve and we all made our way to the backyard which was attached to a forest. She would come soon. That's what everyone said. Shortly after midnight, their wolves would come to visit them for the first time.

"Feel anything?" My mother asked.

"Not yet," I sighed.

"You will," she reassured me. "Sometimes it takes a little longer."

I nodded. "Just a little longer," I repeated, trying to calm my nerves.

I felt all eyes on me and then I smelled something, or rather someone. I knew that scent. Before either had been slight, almost unnoticeable, but now... now it was stronger, worse even. Then I saw him, James. "What are you doing here?" I asked as I walked toward him.

"It's your birthday. It's customary for the Alpha family to attend, or at least someone from the family," he said with a sly smile.

"You've come, now you may leave," I said as I gestured away from my house.

"Ah, come on, don't be like that," he huffed. "Can't we just be friends?"

"Friends don't do half the s**t you've done..." I hissed at him.

"But friends do forgive," he smirked.

"There is an extent," I said through gritted teeth.

He stepped closer, uncomfortably so. His scent wrapped around me, engulfing me. It took all of my willpower to refrain from stepping back or lashing out at him. "We are not mates," I told him.

"You can't be sure. You haven't shifted yet," he responded. His gaze was pleading with me. A desperation I had never seen before.

"I can. It's your scent. It's overpowering and not in a good way," I told him.

His gaze dropped just as his shoulders did. "This can't be happening. You have to be my mate. I need you to be my mate. No one else will do," he said through gritted teeth.

"You've lost your mind..." I whispered. Then I felt her.

"Time to come out and play," she said from the back of my mind.

"Now?" I responded, confused.

"Yes, Helen. It's time for me to come out. It is tradition," she answered.

"It's also tradition for you to give me your name," I said back to her.

"Fine. I'm Celestria, your wolf," she introduced herself quickly. "Now it's my turn." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"James, it's time for you to go," her voice slipped from my mouth.

"You must be her wolf," James smirked.

"Yes, I am her wolf," she confirmed.

"Then you must know that she is fighting our bond," he said as he stepped closer, placing his hand on my cheek.

"No, she is correct. We don't have a bond to feel," she told him, and then she turned, and we shifted for the first time into our wolf form, forcing him to distance himself from us.