Her Unknown Wolf

Happy Birthday

~Savia

The dreams continued every night since seeing that man at the mall. Each night things changed but the parts that remained the same were always the look in his eyes and a low rumbling growl. Sometimes, a wolfs howl also made its presence inside the dreams.Tonight, the dream was different again. A voice murmuring, barely above a whisper, but it echoed repeatedly. Mate.

I woke up again in a sweat with my heart thudding in my chest like it was trying to escape. Mate? What did that even mean? Like a friend? Whatever it meant, he didn't seem like he would want to be my friend, nor like he was the type to have friends. I don't understand what the issue is or why I've been having all these disturbing dreams about a man I didnt even technically meet. It was crazy wasn't it? How can I make them stop?

Saavvviiiaaaa. I heard a voice say my name inside my head, making my heart pound harder in the dark and quiet of my room.

Savy. It spoke again. This wasn't a voice I knew. I had never heard it before.

"I-is someone there?" I whispered quietly, scared someone was in my room but also willing to accept the fact that I was still dreaming somehow. How else could a voice sound in my head like that? I wasn't labeled with multi-personality disorder or schizophrenia. Why would this be happening to me? And why now?

I looked over at the clock and it was just after midnight, now officially my 18th birthday.

I am here. A voice echoed inside my skull.

"Wh-who are you?" I squeaked out, still only a whisper.

I am Vex and I am your wolf.

My..... What? I thought to myself.

Your wolf, Savia. The voice replied even though I didn't speak out loud. It still heard me and it, whatever it was, replied. What was a wolf aside from some wild animal? I heard the chuckle inside my mind, heart racing, all around me felt cold, I was cold. My hair stood on end, goosebumps forming everywhere they could. Panic and anxiety flooding through me, I began to hyperventilate, then... darkness.

......

I woke up to the sound of birds singing and sun light filtering in through a partially open curtain. I could also hear my mom shuffling around in the hallway, probably putting clean towels away in our cabinet outside the bathroom door.

I looked around and sighed. No voices. It must have been some strange dream that was connected to the one about the guy from the mall. Maybe it was one in the same even. Those dreams kept getting stranger after all and changing. It's possible.

I got dressed in a light yellow, sleeveless sundress with heels. Putting my hair up in a high ponytail that I wrapped and pinned around the hair tie, I then put on a sunhat before beginning my make up. It was all mostly yellows with some hints of orange to make sure it popped, including my lips which had a yellowish beige lipstick applied.

Exiting my bedroom and forgetting about the new development in my dreams from last night, I walked up to my mom and gave her a hug.

"Good morning, Mom."

"Oh! Good morning, honey. Did you sleep any better tonight?"

"Maybe a little." I sighed. "I slept til about half hour ago then I got ready. I don't feel very refreshed though, still really tired. "

She frowned, pulling her lips to one side of her face, and sighed deeply.

"I wish I knew what was troubling you so badly about that man so I could help you."

"I know, Mom, it's okay though, honest." I placed my hand on her shoulder and she placed hers on top of my fingers then laid her head on top of our hands, gently grasping my fingers with her own.

"How about we go downstairs and I make us some breakfast? We can talk about things if you want, see if it helps anything."

"That sounds wonderful. I'll help you though, you don't have to make everything. I'm more than old enough to do something too."

"I know," she smiled, "but where's the fun in that?"

We made egg sandwiches with cheese and sausage patties. Simple yet still filling. It was one of my favorites. Even though she didn't want my help I still toasted and buttered our bread while she made our eggs and sausages.

Never any harm in helping when I can. I also love my mom more than anything. It's been just the two of us since my dad left when I was 10. It was hard at first, yeah, but we got through it together, each of us the others comfort. She never told me why he left but it was obvious with all the fights in the middle of the night. I woke to hear them all. He was always angry at her. She found something in his truck, saw a text message that was a little too provocative to be whose name it was under on his phone, same saved photos from other women, messages to others that were flirty. He was never a loyal man and since he left, my mom's focus was only on me and my well being. We didn't need a man who wouldn't put us, his family, first.

The worst part? It was during one of these numerous fights that I found out I was adopted. My mom was infertile. The fact that she was unable to create children of her own was one of the main reasons my dad slept around and didn't try to work things out or stay. He wanted his own blood children and having me, an 'adopted and annoying little brat of a girl', wasn't enough for him.

"I have something for you. And something to tell you." My mom reached into her pocket and pulled out a little jewelry bag tied with a ribbon and handed it to me. I opened it to find a beautiful necklace that had a wolfs head on it in the middle of the chain. I let out a small gasp over how coincidental it and the voice called Vex was. "This was found with you in a hospital bassinet. You were adopted. I don't know if you ever knew. No one knows anything about your birth parents. We tried to look."

"That's fine. As far as I'm concerned, you're my only mother. They wouldn't have left me if they wanted me, but you chose me, and it was you that was always there. I'm grateful and lucky that you're my mom. " I smiled at her and she returned it. No need to tell her that I already knew. It may only make her feel bad for waiting so long to tell me. We chatted a little more before deciding to finish up.

"So, when do you want to get your decorations and set up for today?" My mom asked while rinsing the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.

"We can go now. "

"Alright. Party City okay?" She asked as she dried her hands on a kitchen towel.

"Yes, that's fine."

We got inside the car and began driving across town. I was staring out the window, as always, watching us pass by everything. As we kept getting closer to the store, I started to feel my heart rate quicken. My breath caught in my throat momentarily until we passed another building. As soon as it was out of view everything was back to normal.

That was strange. I thought to myself. Why did that happen? I sighed heavily and rested my head on the cool glass.

"Something wrong?" My mom asked, catching my attention.

"What? Oh. No, nothings wrong. Just thinking."

"Anything special?"

"No." I shoved any thought about my reaction to... what exactly.... out of my mind.

When we reached the store we got straight to work getting necessary items. We gathered so many 18th themed plates, napkins, banners, streamers, balloons, tablecloths, serving dishes, and plastic silverware in color of choice: light lilac. This was going to be an amazing party.

I texted May and Brooke as soon as we finished at checkout and asked them if they'd like to come and help set up. Brooke was the first to respond and she seemed a bit happier about the party than I did, so of course she said yes. A true friend through and through. She was always right there if needed. Sometimes I felt she was more loyal than a dog.

"So where do we start?" Brooke said enthusiastically upon arrival. "Your backyard is as bare as my..."

"Streamers!" I interrupted her. "We can start with the streamers, then the banners, and after them, the balloons." She narrowed her eyes at me playfully and smirked as she walked away to start putting up streamers in light lilac, baby blue, and silver.

I helped my mom blow up the balloons and set up other decorations. The three of us put up the banners together and weaved a balloon arch for the entrance. It all looked amazing and exactly how I pictured it once all was done. Now just to wait for the guests to come in about an hour and get my cake.

"So, anything new with mall guy?" Brooke asked quietly as she sat next to me. I was grateful she would be quiet enough to make sure no one else heard.

"Yes." I glanced around to be extra sure we wouldn't be overheard. "It's always something new, something added. Last night's though was an entirely new dream. It started the way they always do, with the guy in the mall and the growl, but this time I thought I woke up and it was just panic inducing. I thought I heard another voice in my head. It even had a name, Vex, and said it was my wolf? I don't even know what that means."

"Oh, my dear, sweet child." Brooke said as she draped her arm over my shoulders. "I think you might need to see a therapist. Get to the bottom of why this is happening to you. There is really no reason for this to be so traumatic that it's invading your dreams. Nothing bad has ever happened to you that would make this have a reason."

Maybe she was right. There was no reason for it. I havent been a victim of anything and I pass by people all the time, not even thinking or giving any type of thought to them after passing. Why did this guy have such a strong pull on my physical wellbeing that I can't stop thinking of him? I'd have to bring up a therapist after the party. It was making me nervous but I knew that my mom would support me in anything and everything.

Even knowing this I could already see the look she'll have in her eyes, full of deep understanding and hiding concern that only started appearing recently. The protection items we bought have done nothing to make me feel better. I'm still too nervous to leave the house on my own. The later it gets, the more I refuse. It was frustrating. I had no problems being independent before, going shopping when I wanted to or to the store a few blocks away when it was needed all alone. Finally, turning back to Brooke, I answered her with defeated agreement.

......

~Mall Guy

I couldn't stop thinking of the girl from the mall. The moment she walked past me, I knew she was my mate. The smell of lilacs and honeysuckle hit me so hard I had to sit down.

"Everything alright, boss?" My Beta, Eric, asked as I took to a bench, all of us leaning our heads close so outsiders couldn't listen in.

"Yeah." I sighed unable to look away. "I just found my mate, at a human mall of all places."

"Which one? Shall we approach?" My Gamma, Dietrich asked.

"No. She doesn't know it yet. My wolf can feel hers is about ready to stir. We'll have to come back later."

Now, a week after, I couldn't stop dreaming of her. It always seemed so real, as if we were meeting in these precious hours. I couldn't do anything but stare and watch her while I mustered up the strength to do something, to say anything. She would always leave in a fit of panic. Sometimes my wolf would howl, trying to reach hers to see if she had come forth yet but up until a few nights ago, there was never any response. The one we got the night of what we guess was her birthday, was a strong and powerful essence that seemed to radiate through us. This caused her to leave earlier than normal. I hoped she would try to find me now. She'd love it here at Shadow Lake. She would never want for anything. I just had to find her.

"Alpha Drake." A knock sounded at my office door, interrupting my thoughts of the silver haired girl, and Eric came in.

"Yes?"

"We think we know where you can find the girl. Our warriors have been out around the neighboring towns and cities from the mall and a few think they spotted her a few days ago heading to a party store. She was riding with someone in a car, probably her mother. The warrior who spotted her tried to call to her wolf and, while there was no visible response, they were able to sense a spike in heart rate as they came closer before driving by."

"So is it narrowed down to this particular town?"

"Yes, with 98% certainty."

I nodded. Her wolf likes to spike her heart when contact of some sort is attempted. I knew I would have to hang around the town and walk every day, numerous times, to explore and try to find her. I'd give anything to smell that sweet aroma again.

Are we going to find our mate now? My wolf, Sage, asked enthusiastically, dancing around in my head with excitement coursing through the parts that were his.

The parts that were mine, however, pulsed nervousness and unease. I was unsure how Vivienne would handle an unheard of wolf taking her spot. She was going to be my chosen mate and Luna. We were together for a little over two years and it was time to get mated. I was actually at the mall that day to pick out an engagement ring. When I returned without one, rumors started flying faster than a jet, none of them accurate but all of them mentioning someone's supposed infidelity.

"Eric, I'm going to need you to tend to pack affairs for me for awhile. I'm going to find her."