The Magician's mate

Emma Lucas had barely slept last night. Here it was 4 am and she was itching to start the day. She wasn’t lazy but she didn’t normally get up this early, however, today was special. She is turning 18 today, the age where you could find your mate. Emma just knew in her heart that the moon goddess would pair her best friend and her. Corey was going to be a beta and had been her secret crush forever. Emma was certain, based on the fact that Corey had already turned eighteen but hadn’t found his mate, meaning she was either from a different pack or she was younger. Emma was worried at first he would wake up that day and be mated to someone awful like Chelsea, but she started to relax as time went on. Stupid Chelsea, they spent a lot of time together but they were not friends. Emma’s parents and Chelsea’s had been friends for ever. They have even had many joint birthday parties being born on the same day. But not this year. This year was different and they would have completely separate celebrations. Emma decided to go for a run to get some of her nervous energy out. She just had so many thoughts zipping through her head she couldn’t sit still. The moon was still out as she breathed in the crisp October air, the sunrise just a faint glow over the mountain tops. Emma linked her inner wolf, transformed, and was gone in a silver blur.  As the miles passed and the sun strengthened she looped towards home and could already smell coffee and bacon and pancakes. She came in to a loud “Happy Birthday!” from her mom and a softer but love-filled “Happy Day of Emma” from her dad. Emma showered quickly then put on her carefully selected outfit. She didn’t wear dresses or even makeup that often. She was a pretty girl with good bones. She thought her best feature was her green eyes, Corey loved her dimples and the light freckles on her nose. Her wolf even had them, small white flecks just on her muzzle. Looking herself over one last time, she was pleased. Her hair had brushed out into a gentle wave, not it’s weird curly mess shoved in a pony. The gold stars shined in her ears and the matching pendant settled just below her breasts. The tight striped tee tucked into the flowered skirt hugged her figure but was demur enough that her father wouldn’t comment. It was perfect. “You got this Em “ she whispered to her reflection. The light makeup and the inner happiness she felt had her positively glowing. She walked back downstairs to see a small pile of gifts and her grandmother's happy face. Her older sister Kenzie would arrive later, but that could wait, the gifts and the party could wait. All she really wanted was to find Corey and see if they were fated mates. Her mom came back in as she was sneaking towards the back door. Her grandma was also quick and grabbed her wrist. Collette hadn’t lost any speed as she aged and her mind was sharp as ever. “Don’t do it girlie” is all Collette said. “Wh what?” Emma stuttered. Looking into her sharp blue eyes, Emma was certain her grandmother knew far too much. “Don’t go out searching, you will find your mate when the time is right, but don’t go wondering around in hopes of finding him.” Was firm but kind advice. Emma wasn’t quite sure she agreed but didn’t want to argue. She knew it was rude to an elder and she was also concerned if she fussed too much her family would start to pry and find out she had loved Corey for years. That would be mortifying. Instead, if they were just mates, then everyone would expect them to be crazy about each other and no one would ever have to know about her crush. Okay, 9am, she could handle waiting a few more hours. After all, everyone would come to her celebration anyway. Emma’s mom sensed the frustration and gently rubbed her back, “remember dear, we tend to be late bloomers, it took me years to find your father and Kenzie is 3 years older than you and still mateless. It will happen when it is right.” Emma huffed but responded with an obviously forced smile “I know mom, I just hope it’s different for me. “ “Well, I don’t,” announced Collette. Ignoring the hurt look on Emma’s face, she continued “ we live a long time dear, and you can learn a lot about yourself by being alone. Like who you are, what makes you happy and what you want out of life.  A mate is important, but you can’t base your entire future on meeting a person. You need to find out who Emma is.” While her mom nodded thoughtfully, Emma silently hoped her grandma wouldn’t say the same thing to Kenzie. She knew her sister was upset that her best friends were all mated and she felt weird and alone. Continuing with her thoughts, Emma also hoped her family was wrong. You could grow up with your mate, many went to college together and built their future. Emma knew if she found her mate now she still had time to apply to the same college they wanted. Emma got sucked into helping prepare for her celebration by prepping food in the kitchen when a knock sounded on the back door. Emma’s heart fluttered as she saw Corey smile sheepishly, a wrapped box in his hand. Her mom grinned as she took over mixing filling. She tried to calm her racing heart as she went into the porch. She waited for something to happen, but it was the same as always. She was still attracted but there was no pull, her wolf didn’t react, and neither did his. Emma was trying so hard to mask her feelings of shock and disappointment that she failed to notice his. Corey looked horrible. “Are you okay” she asked? He blushed a little and starred at his shoes, “um, yeah. I guess I had just wondered if you were my mate.” He continued on not looking at her “ I, uh, always liked you and so I kind of , um, hoped that today would be special. Oh, crap, I mean of course today is special, it’s your birthday!” He awkwardly continued. “Oh Corey” she sighed as she leaned in to wrap her arms around him, “ I wanted that too, I wanted that a lot.” He brushed back her hair and leaned down to kiss her. Emma’s mind was blank. The kiss was simple and sweet, it made her lips tingle, but that couldn’t stop the hollow feeling in her stomach. They chatted more, opened the perfect gift, a flowered scarf, a book she had been wanting and a bag of her favorite candy. Her heart positively ached. Why couldn’t they just be mates? Honestly, when he asked her if they could just date until either of them became mated, she asked for some time to think about it. She would have leapt for that offer a week ago, but it seemed wrong now. Later that day, Emma got dressed and tried to look forward to her party. It was still an event for her. There would be her favorite dessert and gifts and it was an important milestone. It was even being held at the pack house so everyone could come. Now she could attend all the packhouse meetings. She could go up a level in training. She tried so hard to look on the bright side. The night was clear and cool, the fairy lights twinkled and the bonfire flickered in the center of the patio. Alpha Jake had toasted to her, and she had sipped bubbly champagne. She had danced with so many, and not one sign that she even had a mate. Frustrated, she took a break on a stone bench in the garden. She smiled sadly as she recognized the footsteps approaching. Of course, Corey would find her. He always did. Handing her another glass of wine, he sat down. “Best birthday ever?” He joked. Emma just shrugged. “ I get it, I bet a lot of people feel like this. It will probably get better,” he said. Again she shrugged.  “Okay, let’s talk about something else. You are still my best friend, we should still go to the same school.” Emma was silent, battling the lump in her throat as he kept talking. “I know the three you are most interested in, so that was why I applied to them, so I knew I could transfer easily. Do you know what you want to do yet?” Mind racing, Emma tried to answer that question. What did she want? She should know that, right? Is this what her grandma was talking about? Emma was honest as she said “ I don’t know. I guess I have a few weeks and then I can make my choice.” “Well, think about Pembrook, it is a good school and I chose it to stay close to you, I mean close to the pack.” Corey said earnestly. Why couldn’t they have just been mates! Emma knew he was only being logical, and if she didn’t go to a school close to home she would have to apply for permission to temporarily do an exchange with an allied pack. She didn’t think she wanted to that, right?  Just then Corey stiffened suddenly and looked almost frightening. He suddenly dashed toward the main pack house. Concerned that someone mind linked him to notify him of an emergency, Emma followed after him only to see a crowd of people gathered in a half circle blocking her way. They looked happy at least, Emma noted, and she approached. She heard the conversations as she walked up the path. “What luck, to find her mate on the day of her birthday!” “Aww, I love that we got to see their first meeting as mates!” Then the one that stopped her heart “ wow, to a beta too, that’s lucky.” Emma knew what she would see would hurt, Corey was the only future beta. She willed herself to be happy for him.  Then she peeked through the crowd and gasped sharply. Chelsea! Of everyone, it had to be Chelsea? They didn’t even like Chelsea! Or as she watched them nuzzle closer she realized that she didn’t. But he obviously now would. Emma quietly crept back to the garden. Alone and sick to her stomach, she just stared at the glass of wine Corey had left earlier. Collette caught her as she began to tip it up her lips. “That’s no way to fix it, love.” Emma didn’t even try to hide her tears. This is awful. I thought this would be the best day. I thought he would be my person. We hate her!” She wept brokenly. Patiently, Collette waited for her to quiet. “We don’t always get what we want love. That doesn’t make it less painful, but it is a fact. “ her grandmother gently rubbed her back in slow circles like she had when Emma was a child and fighting naps. “This is a lot, and honestly, dear, I don’t blame you for feeling upset. You will have to remember to be respectful, your relationships will change. You have to separate from him, and learn to like or at least politely tolerate her.  They didn’t choose each other, the moon goddess did.” Collette sounded tired to Emma. Emma felt exhausted so maybe, heartbreak just did that. Emma looked up and asked “ can I just go home?” Collette chuckled softly,”you know that answer, love. You can’t leave your own party, and avoiding it won’t make it any better. We face problems head on in this family. We will sneak in and fix your face, then you will graciously congratulate the happy couple. And you will smile and dance with a few more people. Then, tonight, when you are home, you can fall apart again.” Somehow she did it, she faked her way through it. Most people had no idea how hollow she felt. Corey still seemed dazed, out of it, when she walked up to give her congratulations. Bracing herself to see Chelsea gloating she was surprised to find her equally dazzled and bashful.  Emma wasn’t really sure they even noticed her, they were so wrapped up in each other. It made it easier, sort of. They looked happy. They weren’t thinking about her, not to be mean, but because it wasn’t about her.  That night in bed, Emma didn’t even feel like crying. She just felt exhausted but couldn’t sleep. What now? She had spent the last year, just blindly assuming she would mate (with Corey) on her birthday, follow him to college and start her life.  She realized now she didn’t know what that life looked like. She had been so focused on the boy, knowing that betas live in the pack house in their own wing she had pictured milestones but no specifics.  She had never pinned down exactly what she wanted to major in, or even considered other colleges, she had only really focused on what a life with Corey looked like. She eventually fell asleep and was not disturbed by dreams. The next morning dawned clear again so she decided to run first. As she trotted out toward her favorite stream she saw a flash of dark blue. Corey. “Hi Emma, I am sorry, I don’t know for what exactly, but I am sorry and I want you to be happy. “  Emma patted his arm. “It’s okay, I am okay, I am happy you are happy, and you don’t need to apologize.”  Corey looked relieved. His eyes practically sparkled as he began to talk about his new mate. “It was amazing, I was sitting there like normal and then I smelled this amazing smell, and it was like a magnet, and when our eyes met it felt like electricity. When we touched, it felt like my soul was whole…” He was still speaking but Emma let the words blur. She really was glad he was happy. She was jealous because she wanted that.  “And Chelsea is graduating a semester early and has already been accepted so she can start at Pembrook in just a few weeks. She wants to major in teaching so she can come back and help our pack schools..” Emma tried to pay attention but it was so hard knowing she didn’t quite want to hear it, and that she had no idea what she wanted. After they ran her normal loop, Emma went home and showered, then she began to prepare a list. She could go to any school. Study anything. Where did she want? Not Pembrook. Too close to home, too filled with Corey and Chelsea. Besides, you have to choose a school based on what you want to do. Emma loved to cook and bake. She loved books. She did not want to teach or to go into nursing. Maybe psychology was interesting, and linguistics and history. Okay, Emma liked a lot of things.  Still, what was she willing to do every day? She decided to start with baking. She searched nearby and found  a part-time college class she could fit into her schedule, as long as her parents said yes, she could start there.