Fated to the Shadows

Lydia heard the springs of her worn out mattress creak as she rolled over and caught sight of the old analog clock on the wall. Her bedroom at her uncle's house barely deserved the title. It did technically have a bed, laying bare on the floor, absent of a frame. A small nightstand served as her dresser. The paint had begun to chip away and the drawers stuck, but the few hand-me-downs she owned were neatly packed away. That was the extent of her furniture. Anything more in her cramped space and she wouldn't fit herself. After her parents had tragically passed a few years back, Lydia was left to her uncle Jeriah and forgotten about by the majority of the pack. Her parents were humble omegas, but they were honorable and well respected. Her father inherited the biggest farm on the packlands and he saw to it that no one ever went hungry. Her mother worked as a nurse at the pack hospital, she gave herself to her work completely and was beloved by her patients. And yet, after everything that happened, Lydia was forgotten. Her uncle Jeriah was a kind man, but he took the loss of his sister very hard. His life spiraled into a wave of alcoholism and late nights full of secrets. Lydia groaned as she heard a knock at the front door, it quickly grew in volume and impatience. She untangled herself from her scratchy flannel blanket and made her way towards the disturbance. She didn't bother to investigate through the peephole, she knew exactly who was waiting for her on the other side of her heavy oak door. Tugging it open, she found herself looking up at the familiar freckled face of her dear friend Silas. "Lydi! You're not even dressed!" Lydia glanced down at her disheveled pajamas. "Right..." She sighed as two large hands grabbed her shoulders and guided her back to her bedroom. "Hurry up! If we are late again, my mother might cancel your party." "Would that be such a bad thing?" Lydia mumbled under her breath. "Oh, come on. You know how important tonight is." A night like tonight was important for most young wolves. Today was Lydia's 18th birthday. Usually the parents would host an event, inviting all the other young wolves in the pack in the hopes that their precious pup would finally find their mate. Lydia used to dream of finding her mate. Marrying your fated mate wasn't as common as it used to be, but her parents were fated mates and she saw first hand how fulfilling that love could be. After she lost her parents though, she saw the other side. Her uncle Jeriah had refused to marry anyone until he found his mate, and look at him now. A fated mate was preferable, but anything was better than growing old and alone. Lydia refused to put too much hope on finding her mate. "Lydi! Come on! Just throw some pants on so we can go!" "Okay, I'm ready. Let's get this over with." Lydia watched her oldest friend as he all but skipped down her driveway in his excitement. She couldn't help but smile too. Silas was just that kind of guy, his joy was contagious. "By the way," he shouted back at her "Happy Birthday!" Lydia increased her pace to keep up. "Technically, it isn't my birthday yet." Silas chuckled. "Oh, I know, mystical midnight baby. That's why I convinced mom to throw your party so late. You will be blowing out your candles just as the clock strikes 12." Lydia forced herself not to roll her eyes. She knew how much Silas relished in his superstition. She also knew how much love and energy he had spent on making tonight perfect for her. "I still can't believe you convinced her to have the party at all. I haven't had a birthday party since... since before." They let the silence fill in the blank. Lydia hadn't celebrated her birthday since she lost her parents. To everyone but Silas, Lydia's birthday was just another day. "You know how close she was to your mom. She loves you, the memories just hurt her." Silas sighed, feeling defensive of his mother. Lydia knew he spoke the truth. She was the spiting image of her mother, Rosalie. From their loose black waves to her piercing green eyes, she was her mother made over. Silas and Lydia had grown up together, just as their mothers had. Best friends begat best friends. She had so many memories of the four of them when she was small. She hated herself for being a painful reminder of those days. "She was honored to do this for you. And in your mother's place. It's going to be fun, I promise. It will be a party that even you can enjoy," Silas teased. "You make everywhere fun, just promise you will stay close to me through it all. Help make the attention bearable." "Am I ever anywhere else?" Silas gave her a wink.