The Prophecy of Hydrangea

TWENTY SIX *FULL MOON*

Andrea’s POV

I got up from my bed feeling nervous. Today is the day I have been waiting for all my lives. This is the D day, the most important day in the lives of every werewolves.

The excitement of the day made me wake up quite early. It’s just 6 am. I don’t normally wake up this early unless for something really important and exciting like today.

I entered the bathroom to brush and freshen up. I don’t know why, but I think I have to appear exceptionally beautiful for today.

Finally, my friends and I would be getting our mates today. When Consty didn’t get a mate at eighteen, I was very worried and I sincerely hope he finds his mate today. I know our parents would be very happy if we both become mates, but whatever happens, he will be my friend forever.

I have always wondered on who my mate was going to be, like how would I know he is the one, what feelings was I supposed to have upon sighting him after midnight tonight. I had once asked my mum of how a werewolf knows his or her mate and she had replied that I shouldn’t worry that at the right time I would know all that I need to know.

But then, I can’t help but think. What if my mate rejects me, what would be my fate I thought. However, if in any case I get rejected by my supposed mate, I will accept it as the strong woman that I have become. I know there is more to my life on earth than these whole mates thing.

This thinking of mine makes me odd from other werewolves. It is believed that finding one’s mate is crucial part of every werewolves existence, in effect, every werewolves live to unite with his mate someday.

Dahlia on her part doesn’t appear to be excited like the wolves of others about us finding a mate. Ever since I know her, she has been totally indifferent about this whole mate thing. Most times, I wonder what kind of wolf that she is, she isn’t anything like the wolves of others.

After I was done dressing up, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and noticed the caller was Consty so I picked up.

“Hello Consty what’s up with you.” I asked.

“I am cool Andrea. Are you up already?”. He asked

“Yes, you know, just a little bit excited about today”. I said over the phone.

“I am so nervous of how this whole mate thing is going to play out. My mother thinks I am worrying too much.” I added.

“We are hopeful Andrea. We would all get the best.

“Thanks Consty, I hope so too.” I said.

“You know what Andrea?” He asked.

“I am listening dear, what about?” I requested.

“You know, most times I wonder how it is gonna be after today. We have been friends for like forever, we share so much together. I can’t think of a life without you guys as active part in it, it will all be totally meaningless.” he lamented.

Consty words brought me to reality. I have known my friends all my life, what happens if we have to be far away from each other after today. I think I have to be optimistic about how this would turn out, I have to assure him that it’s going to be okay, that we are friends forever.

“Yeah, I thought of that too. But we all would remain friends forever Consty, today is not going to change any of that.” I assured him.

“I think I worry too much too” he managed to laugh at his end. I laughed too.

“So, have you spoken to any of the girls today?” he asked.

He was referring to Lilium and Brenda.

“Of course not, you are the person to call today. You know what, why don’t we do a conference video call on Skype?” I suggested.

“O yeah, that would be great Andrea because you are actually the first person I am calling today, if I had done that, I would have contacted everyone at once, and wouldn’t have to feel guilty about sidelining anyone.” He said.

“True. I think you have to find a way to appease Lilium and Brenda, you just sidelined both of them on this very important day of their lives.” I said plainly, trying to pull his legs.

“Seriously Andrea, I think you should be the one doing all the appeasement here. You are the cause for the sidelining darling.” He said.

He was laughing on his end.

“No, such defense would not stand dear, you pick up the phone and acted on your freewill”. I countered.

“O my goodness Andrea, don’t you ever give in.” he said while still laughing.

“No I don’t Consty, and you know it.” I responded amidst laughter.

“You can hang up now, let me inform them of the video call on Skype. The call should be in let’s say ten minutes. What do think?”. I suggested.

“Yeah, ten minutes is just fine.” He agrees.

Consty is such a nice fellow, I have grown to love and admire him so much. I started with seeing him as a big brother, but now I don’t know what I feel, I can’t explain how I feel about him. But good or bad, he is my lifetime friend, even today is not going to change that. I assured myself.

I thought of the day’s activity, it’s going to be a filled with activities. The full moon ceremony will begin by 9 pm and it would run into midnight.

Every werewolves at the age of eighteen is expected to shift into their wolf form for the very first time today. Me too would have been shifting into my wolf form for the very first time today if I hadn’t had the rare privilege of shifting at the age of thirteen.

Most wolves are expected to find their mates today, and it is not too common to see a werewolf that would not find the mate at the age of eighteen. During Consty’s time, he was the only one among his peers that didn’t get to find his mate that night, and we had all hoped he was going to find her today.

I intend to go see my mother once I am done with video calling my friends. I want to be by her side all day. After today, I don’t know where life is going to take me.

Consty’s POV

I dropped the call and went to get my laptop from my bag. Nothing gives me joy as much as hearing Andrea’s voice first thing every morning. I developed this habit when I went to college and realized just how much I missed her and how speaking to her each morning brightens my day. I made sure I called Brenda and Lilium too, but not as much as I call Andrea.

****************************

The ceremony of the full moon was about to start, the hall in the pack house is fully decorated with the finest of decorations, the DJ was already playing some cool music and the pack members were beginning to troop in in their numbers.

I haven’t seen any of the girls since I arrived. I wonder what might be keeping them, for it’s almost 9 : 00 pm. After thinking about it for the whole time, I picked up my phone and called Andrea even though I was very much aware that she would be upstairs in her bed room with Lilium and Brenda. After a few beeps, she picked her phone.

“Hey Andrea, what’s still keeping you guys, I have actually been hoping to see you guys but none of you are here. It’s almost time to start, the whole hall is filled up and I have even seen the Alpha and the luna around”

I said into the receiver in a loud voice against the music in the background hoping she heard me clearly.

“We will be down any moment from now Consty, sorry we kept you waiting”. She said.

“Okay, be fast guys” I said and ended the call.

I can’t wait to share this amazing moment with everyone of them because deep within me, I know tonight would be not like every others.

**************************

Andrea’s POV

As the event officially began, the Master of the Ceremony (MC) climbed up to the podium and collected the microphone from it’s stand.

A part of the podium, the left side was occupied by my father, mother and some important pack members, which includes beta Paige, uncle Jasper and the elders of the Great Crest Pack.

“I welcome everyone of us for taking out time to be here today. As we all know, we are all gathered here for the full moon and to witness a great day in the lives of our sons and daughters who are eighteen years old.” The MC said.

I was seated with my friends, and since the night started, we haven’t said much to ourselves due to the excitement within each of us.

The MC continued in his address. At intervals, he sang along with the song on the background being played by the DJ. Also, at some point he told a little joke here and there to relief the tension and lighten up the moods of everyone. And we all enjoyed his little jokes.

“Okay everyone,” the MC said

He tried to get the attention of everyone in the hall.

“In other not to waste any more of our time, I would be calling on all of the celebrants for today to climb up to the podium”

On hearing this, the whole hall erupted with applause.

We the celebrants stood up amidst the applause and went up to stand on the podium as instructed.

On getting to the podium, I was made to stand aside on the instructions of the elders. I stood on the left side of the podium right in front of where my parents and the others, while my peers stood at the middle of the stage facing the large audience.

If I hadn’t shifted before now, I would be among my peers, but now I have to stay aside from them till they have their first shift into their wolf form.

“We already have all our celebrants, so I will have to hand over the microphone to beta Paige to continue with today’s event”.

Beta Paige stood up, walks over to the MC and collected the microphone from him. The MC went and sat at the back of the podium.

“I greet everyone in this hall, and I welcome you once again. As we all know, we are going to begin by explaining to tonight’s celebrants about the event for the night…..” beta Paige said.

While listening to him, my gaze wandered round the hall. I could see Consty sitting all by himself and was watching us attentively. I saw Betty sitting close to the entrance and smiling at me. I smiled back at her. I looked at the faces of everyone in the hall, most of them I know, others I don’t.

Inside of me, I appreciated everyone for taking time out of their busy schedule to be here today on our special occasion.

*I am so excited Andrea*

Dahlia informed me through our mind link.

“Finally you are Dahlia, I thought you never cared about meeting our mate”. I responded.

I was surprised at her admission.

“I didn’t say anything about mate Andrea” she rebutted.

I decided not to respond, she was making me miss what was happening. I continued to listen to beta Paige speech but Dahlia disrupted me again.

“You must be very strong Andrea, you would be needing all of your strength for this” Dahlia warned.

“okay Dahlia” I said nonchalantly.

I was not interested in having this conversation with her at this point.

“Its almost time everyone” beta Paige announced.

I watched as the clock ticks for five, four, three, two, and then one second and it’s 12 mid night.

At the tick of 12, I heard the screams from my peers as they shifted to their wolf form, with the sounds of bone cracking, stretches and the rest. Deep within me, I wish them on their first shift, because I know just how much pain they would be passing through in this their first shift. However, the subsequent shifts would have as much effect as this is having on them.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my hips, and I let out a loud growl. The pain was unexpected and unbearable. Then followed by the sound of my bones breaking and I felt like it was all breaking into tiny pieces.

*What’s happening to me Dahlia?*

I managed to connect to Dahlia through our mind link.

*Where are all these pains coming from?*

I added and screamed within me causing the lights in the hall to switch off and on.

*You are having your hybrid shift Andrea*.

*Hybrid shift, what’s that about?* I asked as I groaned in pains.

*I tried to warn you earlier as soon as I got to know about it, we are spirit wolves Andrea*. She announced in pride.

I don’t care whatever it was that is making her this excited, all that matters right at this moment is for all of these pains to go away. However I managed to ask.

*Spirit wolves, what is that, I thought it have to do with…*

I couldn’t finish my question as I twisted in pains, I let out a very loud growl that shook at the foundation of the pack house.

*Don’t worry Andrea, we would do this together.* Dahlia consoled.

The pains blinded me, I couldn’t see anyone. And for the very first time, I was overtaken by fear, I was afraid, I literally felt what fear truly is. With my eyes closed, I grope around me, hoping to touch my mother, hoping she would come for me.