It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This

Chapter 4

“I can’t believe you turn 18 tomorrow!” I hear Layla squeal jerking me out of my deep slumber,

“ugh don’t remind me, 18 an official adult, and still have no idea where I want to go in life, maybe Paris?” That makes Layla laugh, and me,

I roll off the bed and head to the bathroom to shower and get ready for school I stay in the shower a little longer than I intended but I made sure to shave my legs and I was extra thorough with my hair wanting to try and tame my curls today, I needed to be. Once I was out of the shower I wrapped a towel around my body and plopped down on the bed next to Layla, I have no idea what I want to wear.

”what do you plan on wearing today?” I swear it’s almost like Layla can read my mind,

”I was just thinking about that,” I laugh looking at her she’s a fashionista, surely she’ll be able to guide me in what to wear I know it’s not my birthday yet but I want to look great today, I’m officially single and ready to mingle, she walks to my closet,

”hmm what about this?” She holds up one of my all time favorite outfits a strapless jumper that’s yellow, red, and teal striped,

”that’s perfect but what..” she’s already holding up a pair of white strappy sandals, she knows me so well.

“Okay now I need something to wear over my shoulders, ummm what about this light wash denim jacket?” She nods her head,

“there you look wonderful” I sigh and look in the mirror, she wasn’t wrong I do look great and I feel great too, but I can’t help but feel my heart ache a little bit, moving on officially from Dylan might be a little harder than I expected but I just have to keep pushing on.

”okay now for makeup” I hear Layla from the bathroom I wasn’t in the mood for it but to heck with it, it might help.

“You’re the professional here have your way with my face and beat it or whatever it is you do” it takes her about twenty minutes to do my make up before she’s satisfied with the way it looks, I have fake eyelashes, highlighter, bronzer and something called a setting spray on though after she put it on my face I couldn’t tell a difference, I don’t know why girls put this on so much. We head down stairs where my mom and dad are standing to my surprise and making breakfast.

“mmmm that smells yummy what is it?” I pour myself a cup of coffee.

”I’m making omelettes, bacon and sausage” I lick my lips I’m starving.

“it’s ready so start making your plates,” we make our plates and start eating, this is the best breakfast I’ve had in a while, just then my phone goes off, it’s my alarm letting me know it’s time to leave, i motion to Layla that it’s time and we rush out the door.

“Oh, shoot I forgot my bag, I’ll be back.” I rush back in but I’m stopped before I can go any further when I hear my mom and dad talking just above a whisper.

“Aren’t you afraid of what will happen when she turns 18 tomorrow?” That really grabs my attention, I’m only turning 18 what’s going to be so different?

“I don’t know Jackson, we’ve tried for so long to keep that suppressed and honestly with you being human, we don’t even know if she’ll get that we just have to wait and see.” With dad being human.

“I told you Avery in due time I will give a proper introduction” that voice again.

“Delilah, I still feel like we should of have a discussion with her sooner rather than later, I know she hasn’t shown any signs of potentially gaining that side and ability but we still could have warned her.” Just then my phone goes off, it’s Layla I better get going.

We arrive at school and are standing over by our lockers and I’m still deep in thought about what I heard my mom and dad talking about when I feel someone staring at me and just as I’m about to turn and look when I see Xavier standing in front of me, his piercing pale blue eyes that remind me of an icy blue ocean that I just want to get lost in.

“Hey I don’t think we’ve had time to properly introduce ourselves, my names Xavier” I’m a little taken back I know his name but he’s never said more to me than just his name.

“Oh hey, um I’m Avery” he’s just standing there staring into my eyes, I’m starting to get a little uncomfortable when he ask me if I want to have dinner sometime, and for some odd reason I can’t help myself and I invite him to my birthday party tomorrow, he said sometime not tomorrow but I couldn’t even stop the words and just invited him.

“well I wouldn’t want to intrude on someone else’s party” I couldn’t help but giggle.

”Actually it’s my party,I turn 18 tomorrow!” I pause for a second taking him in, his dirty blonde hair, and today he’s wearing nice light wash denim jeans, a black button down shirt with the top two unbuttoned letting a gold chain peak through, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows exposing his muscular arms.

”Oh well then yeah that’s sounds cool, are you sure it’ll be alright?” I’m assuming he’s talking about the whole Dylan thing, I just nodded my head to assure him it was okay and honestly I didn’t even think Dylan would be there, the rest of the day flew by and before I knew it I was home in bed and almost to sleep when I heard that voice again.

“hi, it’s time I officially introduce us, my names Clarice I’m your wolf.”

Me-“My wolf what do you mean my wolf?”

C-“I’m assuming your mom never filled you in on anything, you see a long time ago you were part of the Eclipse pack but it was over thrown by rogues and your Alpha was killed, soon after your mom and most of the other wolfs in the pack dispersed and a lot of them still remain hidden amongst the humans,”

M-“so that’s what my mom was talking about with my dad yesterday?”

C-“yes I’ve been trying to refrain from scaring you and I know you’ve been questioning me a lot but I’m only here to help and support you and come tonight at midnight if you’re up for it, you can shift into me for the first time.”

M-“what do you mean shift into you?”

C-“you can actually fully shift into wolf form, and you will take my place in the back of my mind like how I am with you right now, it will be painful your first shift, but I will be with you every step of the way.”

And with that she didn’t say another word, I tossed and turned all night debating on talking to my mom, when three o’clock rolled around I finally rolled out of bed to talk to my mom, I walked into the kitchen and to my surprise she was already sitting there. Almost like she knew I was coming.

“Hey, what are you doing up at this time?” I take a seat next to her waiting pretending like I didn’t already know she was potentially waiting for me to come and ask questions.

”Well I’ve been waiting for you, I wasn’t sure if you would get your wolf side like me or remain human like your dad, I’m sorry we haven’t talked about this sooner but I didn’t want to worry you when unnecessary.” I sighed thinking about how in depth I wanted to talk about this whole thing.

“Do you know if there are anymore around us?” She shook her head,”what happens if I shift into my wolf?.. her name is Clarice by the way” my mom takes a sip of her water and then turns to me.

“I won’t lie to you but shifting for the very first time is extremely painful, but after the first couple of times it becomes like second nature.” I glance around

“am I able to shift tonight?” She nods,”okay well I think I would like to try.” We get into the car and head to the woods, once we’re there we move deeper into the woods away from seeing eyes and I take a deep breath, “remember it’s going to hurt but it’s okay to scream and cry, do you want me to shift with you?” I nod my head.

C-“are you sure you’re ready?”

M-“I’m sure it’s now or never and I’m sure you’re excited to get out too”

With that I take a deep breath and start feeling Clarice push herself forward, I start to hear the snaps of my bones contorting themselves to take on my wolf form, after about 30 minutes of pain Clarice is finally in control and she’s running fast she looks beside me to see my mom a beautiful burgundy brown color.

M-is there any way for me to talk to my mom while we’re like this?

C-you should be able to with a mind link since you guys come from the same pack just trying to reach out to her and imagine you guys are just having a normal conversation.

M-mom can you hear me?

But all I hear is silence

Mom- oh Avery your wolf is so beautiful .

I laugh and take a deep breath because I can finally hear her talk. We continue running for what feels like hours when we finally slow down and head to a stream for some water and I catch a glimpse of myself, wow Clarice is absolutely breathtaking, she’s a beautiful ember gold with deep blue eyes.

M-Mom what’s your wolfs name?

Mom-Isabel.

And just like that we’re off running again like two toddlers loose at the playground it’s exhilarating. When we finally decide it’s time to shift back and head towards the house it’s getting close to 7, Layla is planning on coming over at 8 to help decorate for the party and then to drag me off to go shopping blech but she is buying my outfit as my gift so I’m happy about that. The day goes by quick and before I know it we’re back home from shopping and getting ready for the party, I ended up going with a black velvety dress with a thigh high slit and black stilettos, and I’m wearing a beautiful diamond necklace with dangly diamond earring to match. I look at myself in the mirror in awe I feel like a woman, I don’t know if it’s because of my wolf or the dress but I feel a different admiration for myself than I did the day before. Layla is putting the finishing touches on her outfit, a blue silky dress with two slits that go up her thigh dangerously high but who am I to judge and she has on diamond heels she also looks stunning sometimes I get jealous of her looks but she tells me that she also gets jealous of me which I guess goes to show it doesn’t matter how good or bad you think you look someone always looks better or thinks you look better than they do. Guest have finally started to arrive I hear them from upstairs. Mom told me that my hearing would increase and my strength would as well since I have now accepted my wolf side, she hasn’t given me much detail on my lineage though like if I was an omega wolf or a beta, all I know is that I’m a wolf. I have to take it day by day because I don’t want to overwhelm myself. I thought I would be more scared of this new side of me but I’ve embraced her with open arms and I’m so excited for this journey. I’m pulled from my thoughts when my phone goes off

Dylan-I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it tonight it’s just too much for me-

My heart clenches I wanted to see him we haven’t talked or even texted since I told him I couldn’t do this again. But I understood.

“What’s wrong?” I hear Layla ask I almost forgot I wasn’t alone,

”Dylan just told me he wasn’t coming” she looks at me with knowing eyes and just hugs me, I let her. I hear my mom announce that I would be coming down shortly so I make my way to the stairs and on to the back patio looking around at everyone smiling when all of a sudden it hits me, sage and pine fill my lungs and Clarice starts going wild and all I hear her say before my eyes lock on to his is “MATE”