My name is Ana

21. Is this real life

Your birthday feels a lot different after you find out it's really not your birthday. Usually, I would wake up feeling like it's my special day. I'd put on an outfit that I had picked out the day before and get to school as quickly as possible. My locker would be decorated. Sometimes, someone would bring me a cupcake. Silly gifts from Beth and sometimes someone else would have something special for me.

I woke up this morning looking for an outfit for a werewolf mate who just found out she's an alpha heir to a pack and soon to be Luna of her mates pack.

Suddenly, I don't feel like I'm stuck in a mediocre town that I don't fit into anymore. I'm not scared or nervous anymore. Well, maybe I am a little, but I feel like I found the missing piece that is now making me feel whole.

I settled for a black handkerchief sundress with silver sparkly moons & my black yoga slings.

I choose my Pandora heart-shaped hoop earrings and a silver necklace with a lavender opal. It's my favorite piece of jewelry. Bill got it for me for my 16th birthday. It's the prettiest color I'd ever seen. Well, besides Dimitri's saphire blue eyes.

My earholes are starting to itch as I pull the necklace around my neck. A subtle burning sensation starts where the charm lays on my chest, and the small rope chain snakes along my skin. It's not painful, but it's annoying.

"Shit." I pull off the necklace before I can finish clasping it. I pull out the earrings. "Silver. Dammit." I huff and look at my jewelry. Almost all silver. Dimitri didn't warn me about silver. Luckily, I do have a few pieces of white gold. I sigh and start rumaging through my jewelry.

I have a lot of stuff I won't be able to wear anymore. I look back at my opal necklace and almost start to cry.

As I look in the mirror while putting on my large white gold hoop earrings. I notice the blemish free, perfectly toned ivory skin on my face. My cheeks are now naturally kissed with pink, and my lips are a natural dark berry. I put on some mascara that pulls out my already dark long lashes and swipe on some clear iridescent lip gloss. I don't need eyeliner. My lashes are dark enough.

This werewolf thing isn't half bad. I'm going to save a lot of money on makeup and skin treatment products. My Mothers face flashes in my mind. I think about how beautiful she is. We have the same shiny black hair. Mine is slightly curly where hers is straight. We have the same porcelain ivory skin. Same pink cheeks, berry lips & long dark lashes. Her eyes are a sparkling emerald green. I realize I'm beautiful, just like her. I never thought I was ugly. Maybe just average, nothing special. I see myself differently. I actually know what my mother looks like now. I don't have to wonder anymore. I look like someone. I smile.

I grab a large hair clip and my backpack and leave my room heading for the stairs. I'm a little early, so I'll just wait outside for Dimitri.

I step outside, closing the door behind me, and start skipping down the front steps. I look up just as i get to the bottom and find Justin standing in the walkway a few feet in front of me. A huge smile painted on his face, arms spread wide. Like how Jim Jones probably greated his people before serving them Kool-aid. It gives me the creeps. I look around and see vases of flowers on both sides of the steps that I should have noticed had I been paying attention.

"What's going on, Justin?" I ask, slowly looking around at the flowers. Something seems off with him.

"Happy Birthday, Ana!" He's standing there like he's waiting for me to run into his arms.

I don't budge. Instead, I'm looking around him and down the road, praying to see Dimitri's car. The smile on his face falters. "Aren't you happy to see me?" He slowly lowers his arms and starts walking towards me.

"I just saw you yesterday." I point out as I take a slow step back.

"No. You feel different today." He tells me. Actually, it's more like he's ordering me. What the f**k is going on with him?

"You feel the connection between us now." He smiles at me like a psycho.

" This can't be happening." I mutter.

I have no idea how to handle this. I decide to go with playing stupid. That seems like the safest option.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Justin. Dimitri is on his way and will be here any second." I tell him, hoping to difuse the situation only to piss him off.

He lunges at me and cages me in his arms. He's a lot stronger than I had anticipated. I try to push him away and start to struggle to break free, but he just grips his arms around me tighter.

"f**k Dimitri! You're supposed to want to be with me! We're mates. I've always known. You feel it now and know it, too. You're just being stubborn. " I'm not gonna lie. If Dimitri wasn't about to pull in the driveway, I would be petrified right now. I'm realizing playing dumb isn't going to work either.

"Have you lost your mind? Let go of me!" I kick him hard in the shin, but he still doesn't let go.

"Stop fighting it! You just have to calm down and give it a minute. You'll feel it, too." He's off his f*****g rocker.

"There's no feeling to fight! Let me go!" I try swinging my head into his face, but he jerks his head back before I hit him. He has my arms pinned down, I can't hit him.

Relief takes over as I hear Dimitri's car rumble down the street. The relief turns to pure rage. Dimitri's here and boy is he pissed! Thank you, moon goddess.