Beta Tara

The morning sun blares into my room, shining directly on my face. With a groan, I bury my face under the pillow, attempting to block out the light. A knock on the door interrupts my half-hearted attempt at extra sleep. "Tara!" My father's voice calls out, "Let's go, honey!" I get up begrudgingly, taking a quick shower and dressing in comfortable clothes. As I glance in the mirror, I pull my long black hair into a high ponytail, the strands falling in a sleek cascade. My tan, freckled skin and bright blue eyes stare back at me. Dad always says I resemble my mother, more with each passing year, especially around this time. Stepping back to take in my appearance, I note my petite frame, which I often cover with oversized, baggy clothing. I look at the t-shirt and jeans that I wear and sigh. I smile in the mirror, then frown, good enough. I leave my room and head downstairs. The main pack house is busier than usual and everyone is running around. I have no idea what's going on. I head to the kitchen to grab an apple, only to have Adonis snatch it away with a smirk before leaving. Adonis is Alpha Seb's youngest son. He stands tall with a lean yet strong build, he has a tan complexion hinting at hours spent outdoors. He has a bit of a rugged appearance with his dark brown eyes and his short, tousled hair. All the girls in the pack love him, but I find him arrogant and frustrating. We are the same age, yet he treats me like his little sister. I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at him, I grab a different apple and start heading towards the door behind him. As I am walking towards the back door dodging and weaving the omegas running around, I hear my father call out from the stairs, "Tara!" I turn around with the apple in my mouth as I am fixing my backpack onto my shoulders, his somber tone hints at something important. He walks over to me and with a sigh says, "Tara, honey, I know tomorrow is your birthday… a very special birthday indeed. You’ll be turning 18…" He looks down at the ground then back into my eyes, "You look just like your mother…" I peer up at him, "Dad, what's with the dramatics?" "Tonight... I can't be there for your first shift. We have guests coming, and I need to be with the Alpha. We'll have to postpone your celebration too." I give him a reassuring smile and hug him, "It’s okay dad, really. I understand. Cerys was going to come with me anyway." He kisses me on the forehead, "I knew you would understand. We will do something soon, I promise." He walks away as I head out the door to head to school. My father is Beta Titus Foster, Alpha Seb’s right-hand man. I never have and will never blame him for putting his duties first. In about a month, it’ll be Cerys’ twenty-first birthday when he will assume the Alpha title. Alpha Seb and Luna Faye had two boys, Cerys Baker, the eldest, and Adonis Baker, the youngest. Cerys looks the complete opposite of Adonis. Adonis takes after Alpha Seb and Cerys looks more like the Luna. Cerys with fair skin boasts bright blue eyes and long, shoulder length, pulled-back blonde hair. While he's bigger built than Adonis, they stand at the same height, emitting the same aura of strength and presence. Out of the two, Cerys and I get along the most. We have been training together and attending Alpha meetings since childhood. I was chosen to become his Beta after all. Normally, the Beta roll goes to the son of the current Beta but my father had only me, his daughter, and our pack, the Jade Moon pack, is known for its progressiveness, kindness, and generosity. For my entire life it's just been my father and I, he never took a chosen mate after my mother died giving birth to me. He doesn’t talk about her really, he only ever says that I look like her. I know Luna Faye and her were very close. Mom was very kind and gentle, everyone loved her. Her death really affected the pack and the Alpha family. I know I take more after my father, who is bold and aggressive, but ultimately, I hope that I can live up to her name when I become Beta. I head out the back door and there in the car are Ceyrs and Adonis waiting for me. Though Ceyrs has already graduated, he still drives us to the pack school. Adonis and I are finishing our last year of school. You would think that we would be closer, but we spend most of our time separately. Because he won't become Alpha of the pack, Adonis doesn't have as high expectations placed on him as Ceyrs does. He is still meant to attend the same training and meetings as us, but somehow, it always eludes him. He never protested to me become Beta either. As I make my way to the car, I glare at him through the window as he eats his apple. I take a seat in the back of the black SUV, he then throws the apple core back at me hitting me in the face. "Watch it!" I yell as I throw it back towards him. He catches it without much thought and then looks back at me smirking. I just roll my eyes as he tosses the apple core out the window onto the ground. "My dad won’t be able to be there tonight," I immediately say as soon as Cerys begins driving, "he also told me that we will have to postpone my birthday celebration tomorrow." I sigh. Ceyrs quickly looks back at me through the rearview mirror then back towards the road. I can tell that he has something to say but is hesitating. "What?" I look at him. "I actually won’t be able to go with you tonight either…" he shyly says. "What? Why not?!" "Tonight the Alpha and his family from the Luna Azuli pack will be visiting to discuss some pack matters." "Why wasn’t I told about this? Shouldn’t I be there too?" I am caught dumbfounded, they don't usually keep things from me. "It was last minute. Your father and I asked if you could be excused since it'll be your first shift. I will find someone to go with you tonight, I promise." Cerys looks back at me and softly smiles quickly before turning his attention back to driving. "I’ll go with you." Adonis chimes in. I immediately turn to him annoyed, "Why would you even want to do that? I heard Zara is having a house party and I heard her tell everyone that you will be there." Zara is also the same year as us at school and for some reason she absolutely hates my guts. Though I am the Beta’s daughter and the next Beta of the pack, I don’t necessarily get any special treatment from any of the other kids at my school. I really only have one other friend outside of Cerys and Adonis, if you can even count him. Not that I complain though, they’re all a bunch of stuck up dumbasses. I am focused on my duty of becoming Beta and being Ceyrs' right hand when he takes the title. "Just a party. I never said that I would go." He lifts his arm behind his head and rests on the seats head rest. "I'm sure it'll be a drab like last week's party anyway." "No," I say with suspicion, "I'll find someone else. Thanks." "Oh come on Squirt, let me help you, don’t be so stubborn," Adonis says mockingly. "Why do you want to help me?" I hate it when he calls me that. "Tara, just let him go with you, please, I’d feel better if he did." Cerys says sternly and with sharp eyes. I turn to look at him briefly then look away, "Fine." his unspoken command is clear, even as I grumble inwardly at Adonis' presence. "Alright, it’s settled then. I'll meet you tonight." Adonis looks back and winks at me. I then out the window. Happy birthday to me.