Her Perfect Mate

Coming of Age

    Arabella woke up the next morning to being shaken "Ara! Its time to get up! They've got a metric ton of pancakes downstairs and if you want any you better beat the guys to them!" Eliza said shaking her again. Ara grumbled as she threw her blankets off and sat up with a yawn and a stretch "Alright Eliza, I'm awake. I need to grab a quick shower and I'll be right down." she stood up and trudged toward the bathroom. "Don't let anybody hog my pancakes!" she called over her shoulder.

    She got in the shower and quickly washed her face and body, before washing her long straight brown hair. She finished and got out wrapping herself in a towel and blowdrying her hair. She brushed it and pulled it into a high, tight pony. 

    She went to walk out of the bathroom a nearly screamed in surprise when she saw Brice sitting on her bed with a box in his hands. At her started sound her suddenly looked and let out a yelp and instantly jumped up. There was a split second before he covered his eyes, that they made eye contact and the room became charged with electricity. Brice sat the box on her bed and carefully moved toward the door with his eyes still covered, "I'm so sorry! I just wanted to bring you your birthday present!" he exclaimed as he left closing the door behind him. 

    Ara blushed deeply for a few moments before taking a deep breath and moving to put her underwear and bra on. Then she moved to open the box Brice had left for her on the bed. Inside, wrapped in pale blue tissue paper, was a simple, but beautiful powder blue sundress with little white daisies along the hem. She smiled softly and slipped the dress on. It fit her perfectly and reached just the right length at mid-thigh. She slipped on a pair of white flip flops before checking herself in the mirror and heading down to breakfast.

    As she reached the bottom of the stairs, everyone turned to see her and yelled happy birthday in unison. Everyone but Brice that was. He was preoccupied with watching her with his jaw almost on the floor. She smiled lightly and blushed. She walked over to hug her father who was waiting for her and then moved to sit with her friends. By this time Brice had managed to collect himself and look like less of a dummy. 

    Luna Anita came over and gave her a warm hug before setting a large plate of pancakes in front of her. "Happy Birthday Sweet Arabella, we are so happy to have you home with us!" 

    Ara thanked her before she looked to Brice who blushed a little. "Sorry for intruding earlier," he said looking down at his plate. Ara reached up and touched his cheek gently with a soft smile, but jerked her hand back as her fingertips tingled where their skin make contact. "uh, its...ok. And thanks for the dress, by the way, I love it." They both smiled and began eating their pancakes.

    Soon everyone had finished and headed out onto the pack grounds to spread out and have a good time. There were also wolves from the other neighboring packs joining the party. There was food and games and music. Everyone was enjoying themselves. As the evening drew near an end, Ara opened her gifts and they had cake. She mingled and talked with everyone who all gave her congratulations and birthday blessings.

    The moon began to rise high into the sky, and Arabella was growing restless. Her senses were growing sharper, and she knew that this was the beginning of unlocking her wolf. The Alpha, Jareth, called everyone to the grove and asked Arabella and her father Dean to come to the front with him and Luna Anita. 

"Tonight we celebrate as Arabella, Daughter of my beta Dean Maxwell comes of age to awaken her wolf!" Jareth spoke loud and clear for everyone to hear. As the moon reached its peak in the sky he smiled, "Please join us in calling to Arabella's wolf to wake her and bring her forward!" Everyone lifted their heads and let out a long slow howl, almost a song. 

Ara began to feel hot a shaky before her bones began to crack and shift making her let out a loud cry that quickly turned into a howl. She blinked and shook out her thick white fur before looking to Alpha Jareth who gave her an approving nod, then her father who winked at her with a smile. Then she heard a soft sweet voice in her head, "Hello Lovely, I'm Lavender. I'm so happy to finally meet you!"

Arabella let out another howl as the pack joined in. Suddenly she was her normal self again laying on the floor as her father and Alpha Jareth helped her up. She looked at them, "Her name is Lavender." she beamed as she looked to find her friends, but she could only see Eliza.

Alpha Jareth dismissed everyone to go back to the festivities and everyone dispersed. "Eliza, where is Brice? Did he see her? My wolf? Where did he go?" Ara asked confused, Eliza looked at her as she linked arms with her leading back toward the party. "I don't know, he just said that he needed to go and just took off right after you shifted." Ara frowned.

They were walking past the gazebo when Arabella froze. She was being drawn to the most intoxicating smell she had ever encountered, wild honey mixed with cinnamon and the smell of fresh rain in the forest.