But he can’t be my mate!

Nell’s POV THWACK Something soft but solid hits me square in my face and my eyes spring open. “Wake up, knob head” My brother Ben’s low annoying voice booms. I blink rapidly before squeezing my eyes shut as the daylight threatens to burn my retinas. “Let’s go, Mum says she making a nice breakfast and it’ll be ready in 5 minutes” He says in that monotone voice that drives me mad. “Fine, I’ll be there in 5 minutes, now go away” I huff into my pillow. THWACK A second object hits my back this time, but this one was definitely not soft! “OW! What the hell Ben!” I hiss as I reach round to try and soothe the spot my slipper had just hit. “No can do, Mum says, she knows what you’re like and you’ll just fall back asleep so I’m not to leave your room until you’re fully out of bed” he says as he gives me a grin that makes me want to punch him in the face. If I wasn’t still half asleep I might have even done it. But one thing I am not, is a morning person. Even the satisfaction of wiping that smug grin off his face required far too much energy for this hour. With a dramatic sigh I sat up in bed and swung my legs off the side. “You could have just woken me up like a normal person, and like tapped me nicely” I said. “And get within two foot of your morning breath, no thank you!” He jabbed. I rolled my eyes at him, stood up and heard him audibly gag. I spun towards him to see that he was bent over double pretending to retch. “What is wrong with you!” I shouted. “Please put some clothes on before you come downstairs, literally nobody needs to see all of this” he motioned to all of me, “right before eating” he grimaced. “You’re disgusting!” He turned and left the room closing the door behind him. “Screw you Ben!” I screamed as the door shut. I was wearing clothes! Granted, not many, just a tank top and some shorts but I got super hot at night so I didn’t really have a choice. And it wasn’t like werewolves were normally weird around nakedness, it happened a lot when we shifted unexpectedly! He’s just being a jerk! I walk over the wardrobe to pick an outfit and catch my reflection in the mirror. A lot had changed in the last 12 months. I had officially transitioned from being a little girl to a young woman. I was still petite and hadn’t grown past 5ft but the rest of me had developed. I’d lost all my childish puppy fat and instead now had soft curvy hips, and a fuller chest than I felt I should have, considering how little I was everywhere else. My frizzy bright orange hair had tamed and now fell just below my shoulders and had warmed to a light mahogany colour. My cheeks had hollowed and my features felt like they had found themselves. My freckles still stole the show, and It helped that I knew how to shape my eyebrows now! My wardrobe had developed too. After many nights scrolling through t****k for inspiration. I’d finally learnt how to dress my new body. I no longer wore oversized T-shirts that hid everything. I now favoured short skirts and tight tops with either a chunky knit cardigan or an oversized shirt. I was still faithful to my converse though, those babies never let me down! I shoved on a simple outfit, gave my hair a quick brush then headed to the bathroom. Once I was all freshened up I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. Dad and Ben were sitting at the breakfast bar and Mum was serving up breakfast onto plates. “Perfect timing, morning sweetie’ Mum cooed whilst giving me the widest smile. Her smile made you feel like you were the most important person in the world! “Morning Mum, morning Dad” I kissed my Dad on the check as I passed him. As I passed Ben I smacked him hard across the back of his head. “Abuse, Mum did you see that” Ben moaned like a toddler. “Pack it in you two” Mum said through a smile. I gave Ben a smug look and sat down at the end of the breakfast bar. Mum placed a plate in front of me that was beyond full! Sausages, bacon, hash browns, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, scrambled eggs AND fried eggs and two pieces of toast. “Flipping eck Mum, what’s the occasion” I exclaimed! Mum looked between Ben and I and her eyes started to fill with tears. “I just thought, this might be our last breakfast together as a family all living in one house. I wanted to make it special” she chocked up on the last words causing Dad to take her hand and kiss it. A lump formed in my throat. Tomorrow was my 18th Birthday. It wasn’t a guarentee, but most wolves find their mates on their 18th birthday, as their wolf becomes fully grown and is able to scent the mate bond. Not every wolf though. If your mate doesn’t live close, or if they are still under 18 you won’t meet them on your birthday but will at some point. So we don’t stress about it if it doesn’t happen. There is always the worry your destined mate had died already, but that’s super rare! I’m not very subtle about hoping I meet my mate tomorrow. I’ve longed for a mate for as long as I’ve known what it means to have one. If I meet my mate tomorrow, we’ll mark each other straight away and begin our lives together. I’m so flipping excited, but looking at Mum and Dad now, I feel like I miss them already! “Oh Mum, don’t get all sappy on us now, we’ve no idea what will happen tomorrow” I say reaching over to stroke her arm. “Yeah you’ve got nothing to worry about Mum, no one in their right mind would want to Mate with Nell, so even if she is fated, they’ll probably run as fast as they can in the other direction. You’ll have her for years yet” Ben teased. “Benedict” Mum scolded as Dad took a turn to smack him over the head. “Don’t be mean to your sister, it’s not like your mate came knocking on your 18th birthday, so play nice!” Dad said in a firm but playful tone. “You’ll be the Alpha one day son, you need to learn to treat people better”. “I treat everyone else fine Dad, Nell just requires more … direct honesty to keep her humble! As her big brother, I’m happy oblige’ he teases again. I throw a chunk of sausage at his face but the i***t opens his mouth just in time and catches it. I want to be annoyed, but it was pretty impressive and I let out a small laugh. “Benny can you please take Nell in with you today, I’m picking her up early from College for her final fitting for tomorrow so I don’t want her to have to leave her car there” Mum asks. “As long as she puts deodorant on, and doesn’t mess with my heating settings, sure” he replies. I frown at him over my cup of tea then roll my eyes. I had forgotten about the fitting, and all the other things on the to do list! Man, today was going to be a long day!