Sweet Charity

Anthony: Chapter 11: Turning Sixteen

I didn't see Charity after school that day. So I couldn't tell her how sorry I was that I didn't ask if she had to use the toilet. I feel like a total heel. I want to tell her how bad I feel. I didn't get the chance to this whole week. Mandy kept texting me through class and got me sent to in school detention. I am now so frustrated with her.

I text Mandy while I am headed to basketball practice. 'See me after practice.' Tomorrow I turn sixteen and I most likely will find my mate. Today is the day I break up with Mandy. I have to. My mate won't like it if I have a human female companion. Mandy texts back a bunch of hearts.

I roll my eyes. Mandy has been pushing me to 'take our relationship further.' I haven't even kissed her. The only thing we've ever done is hold hands. That was all the farther I would even go with anyone who wasn't my mate.

****After Practice****

Mandy whips into the parking lot in her yellow VW Beetle. I hate that tiny thing. I'm six foot three and there's no leg room in it. Plus, she speeds everywhere. She gets out and runs to me. She's wearing a really short skirt and a spaghetti strap top that's loosely covered with a see-through sweater. I stop her before she can jump on me.

"We should talk. You're not going to like it."

She pouts. "What?"

I lead her to a bench and I tell her everything from start to finish. "I'm a werewolf from the Harvest Falls pack. We were the Diamond Moon pack, but changed the name when our Alpha was murdered about fifteen years ago. I turn sixteen tomorrow and I am likely to find my mate. I will also start learning the ropes of heirarchy since I will be Beta." She listens to everything I say and nods. Most wolves won't tell humans about ourselves.

"Well, I hope you find her. After all, you're so cute," she says calmly, but I can hear the undercurrents of anger in her voice. I pick up on another note in her voice.

"You knew this wasn't going to be forever."

"I know. I just didn't think it would be for this reason," she sighs. "You're an amazing person and I know I went about this relationship all wrong. I am truly sorry Anthony." Her words take my breath away.

"What do you have to be sorry for?"

"I met someone last week. I didn't know how to tell you and I wasn't sure I wanted us to be over so I started stupid fights with you. I was hoping I would make you mad enough to break up with me. I'm relieved that you did it so nicely. Thank you."

I look at her for a while. I don't know what else to say. I nod. We chat for a bit longer before she offers to drive me home. Despite her shortcomings, she's a wonderful person underneath. It took breaking up with her for me to find that goodness. Mandy pats the side of my face when we pull up in front of my house. "See you, Monday, big man."

My house is dark and quiet when I enter. I don't think anything of it since my dad is current Delta. He may be at a pack meeting or something. I grab a snack out of the kitchen and settle myself on the couch to watch a movie. I should be there because I will be Beta after I turn sixteen, but I don't want to. I just want to chill for a bit.

My cousin will be Alpha because my uncle is current Alpha. He and I grew up together so he has wanted me to be his Beta since we were around five. He text me about the meeting. I text back and he said he would catch me up later. I shoot a text to my best friend and his sister Andrea texts me back in response. I ask her what she knows about Charity. She texts me Charity's phone number. I just stare at it until the end of the movie.

Why am I so drawn to her? I don't see her outside of school. I know exactly four things about her. She's nearly my height. She's stunningly beautiful. She's a werewolf. She just moved here. That's a whole lot to know about someone. I save her phone number and compose a text. I don't hit send because my cousin chooses that moment to enter the house.

"Hey, bucko! What's going down?" he asks, while making a bee-line for the kitchen.

Typical Jeremy. I follow him. "Dude, is that the only reason you come over is to eat my food?" I joke with him. He shoves a handful of chips in his mouth and I get a muffled response. It sounds like 'but of course' and I laugh. I let him get his fill of snacks and we sit at the table.

"I met the new pack member tonight," he tells me. "Dude, she's gorgeous." I know he hasn't shifted yet because we share a birthday. I nod for him to continue, but he just finds more food to eat.

"I hate you, dude," I say. "You start a conversation and then stuff your face. Spill. What's she look like?"

He laughs and changes the subject. "You really should attend pack meetings. You might learn something."

"Are you hungry or something?"

"Me, no, never," he laughs, shoving more chips in his mouth. "It's almost midnight. Let's go for a walk in the woods. My dad said it was a good idea."

"Sounds good." I leave a note for my parents and we head out the back door toward the woods. I know why he thinks it's a good idea. Jeremy was born two minutes after midnight and I came along five minutes later. When we do shift, our wolves will be huge. Plus, I've been told the first shift is tremendously painful so being in the woods will dull our screams.

I look over as Jeremy doubles over in pain. And so it begins. He howls loudly. I hear a loud c***k as one of his bones break to make way for his new form. I hear a rustle of leaves thirty yards away as the pain starts to grip my body. My bones start to c***k at deafening levels. It's so intense I want to pass out, but somehow manage to keep my consciousness; only just barely.

Merely ten seconds after I shift, I become vaguely aware of a strange, intoxicating scent. I smell cherry blossoms and honey. I lick at my chops and let out a low growl. I look over at Jeremy who is crouching as one would bow to royalty. Why would he be bowing to me? That's when the scent hits me full-force and I am dropped to the ground.

"Mate!" I hear her sweet voice in my mind. I know that voice.

"Layla, wait!" A new voice joins in.

"But, Alexia, mate," is all she says.

"They've just had their first shift. Give them a second." I am froze in place for a moment. I hear the sounds of the two ladies phasing back to human form. I hear the rustling of clothes being donned. I look at Jeremy. His eyes are closed. I whimper. Oh my body hurts so much still. And then I feel her run her hands over my fur. This must be what happens when you die. You shift and go to heaven where the angels speak and their touch is amazing.

After several minutes of her touching my sides and back, I want to melt. She finally walks into my line of vision. "He's so beautiful, Lauren." It's Charity! She smells so good. I stir. She's standing her full height and looking into my eyes. She leans close to my muzzle and inhales deeply. "I knew it was you," she whispers as she kisses the end of my snout. "I just couldn't tell you."

I watch as Lauren walks over to Jeremy. She nudges him so he opens his eyes. He is still in his bowing pose. She helps him lie down. "You two need to rest now. We will be here." She snuggles up with Jeremy. Charity snuggles close to me and I drift to sleep enveloped by the smell of cherry blossoms and honey.