Louisseena

Chapter 2

Nana

In the Raydiant Pack, like any other packs, we have events. This week we are having the annual summer exchange with a pack called Down Under Pack. They live very far from us, at least an 8 hour flight away I heard from my friends in the pack. They have sent some unmated wolves to our pack and so did we sent some to theirs. It’s an exchange to study how we run the pack, how we can learn and improve with one another. More importantly, these unmated wolves might have a chance to meet their mate.

I don’t really care about these exchanges. Deep down I feel so unwanted and knowing my luck, I’ll never get a mate. I’m already 24 years old this year and that is considered old to not have a mate. Usually in our pack, pups get their werewolves around 16-18 years old and easily find their mates before 20. Probably maybe because I’m always cooped up at home and I don’t get to meet people or I’m just plain ugly.

I consider myself ugly in all sorts of ways. But my good friend, Kahley always says otherwise. She always says that there are no ugly women, just lazy women. Okay, maybe I’m lazy too. Kahley has been my good friend from pack school since I was 16. She is tall, taller than me and slimmer than me. She has dark golden brown long hair and fair skin, accompanied with a cheerful personality.

Guys always like to go after her, it was obvious. When we hangout, random guys would come up to us and ask for her number, never mine. I’m always the backup girl that they fall for. Like when Hayley rejects them and they come to pour their sorrow towards me, they will find out that I’m not too bad. I can feel it that they liked me.

But of course in the end, nobody ever confessed to me. I would also not know how to accept or reject them since Hayley and I wanted to wait for our mates. My other friends from pack school, we hardly meet up. Mostly just texting a lot in the group chat. But when we do meet up, it’s like we are the best of friends and then swear to meet up again soon. It rarely happens. Meetups are like once in a blue moon. 

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Today is the last day of the exchange. I decided to head over to the forest near the pack house to let Raven out for a run. My wolf’s fur is really dark and all black, just like my hair, long and black. Nobody really knows the colour of my wolf, not even my mum.

The ages that we are to get our wolf, it was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Families usually gather together to celebrate. Not in my family. She didn’t care. She never intended to celebrate therefore I will not tell her the colour of my wolf. I will not shift in front of her just because she asked me to.

She always pestered me to tell her but I didn’t budge. “ Why can’t you even tell your mother? I am your mother.” I just ignored all that she said. I know deep down she did not truly care about my wolf or me. She only wanted to know because her siblings were curious.

Stories have it that being an all black wolf is as rare as an all white wolf. However, I couldn’t find any real stories in our pack’s library. Maybe I needed to visit a more ancient one. Kahley thinks my hair is too black and tells me to dye my hair other wonderful colours but I never want to touch my hair colour thinking it will affect my wolf's fur. Silly, I know ! Also, I like the idea of staying home and not going out, especially to any social gatherings. I didn’t really want to meet any of my pack members after what happened to my family’s position. But Raven always whines in my mind and pushes me to go exercise. Told ya I’m lazy.

Since our guests are leaving, I would feel more at ease being around the forest. As I approached the pack house, something was perking my nose. It was one of my favourite scents, earl grey mixed with fresh morning woods. I looked up and my eyes met a brown eyed man looking back at me. After a moment, I break away and see that he is a very fair and lean man with orange short hair. He had freckles all over his face. Immediately he walked over to me and said, “mate”. 

I was shocked ! I actually met my mate, right here right now. I stumbled to find words to say. Rather than seeing a happy or excited look on his face, he shed a little disappointment. I was a little taken aback and I just replied softly to him, “mate”.  His eyes glow before turning back to normal as if he is forcing his wolf back in.

He smiled at my reply, like a fake smile and continued saying,” hey…. I’m sorry that today is my last day here. In fact, we all were just leaving.” He turned his head back towards his pack who were all waving goodbyes to my pack members. Then he turned his head back to me and said,” don’t worry. This will not be our last time meeting. Here, this is my contact number. We’ll keep in touch.” We exchanged contact numbers and he gave me a hug. I felt a wave of tingles go through my body at his touch. Then he quickly let me go and proceeded to join his pack who were all boarding the bus that will take them to the airport. 

I am still a little in shock. I had met my mate. The goddess who has forgotten about me has now remembered me and gave me a mate ! I am ecstatic ! Raven was howling and chasing her tail in my mind. I am so happy. I never felt so happy… I thought my luck had finally changed. If anybody right here right now said they don’t believe in the goddess, I’ll show them now that miracles can happen and you just have to be patient.