Apprentice to the Alpha 

---Evelyn--- Ring! Startled, I glanced toward the clock, wiping drool from my mouth. There I go daydreaming again. Goddess, why am I so embarrassing? I really hope nobody noticed. I glance around with pretend nonchalance, and everyone is stuffing their bags or running out the door. Good. I was lucky this time. I need to quit dozing off in class, but it's hard not to. My perfect boyfriend keeps me up late every night! Well, I blame him, but really, I just need to have more self-control. But I can't help it. He's so ~dreamy~ Josh is sweet, charming, considerate, and most importantly: my mate. He will be in 300 days, anyway. He says he’s known for ages that I’m his mate, but he tried to wait to tell me until I turned 18 and was old enough to feel the pull. We grew up together because he is my dad’s best friend’s son. I’d say we were raised like cousins, but honestly I’m pretty sure our parents have been shipping us since we were in diapers. Then, his parents died in a rogue attack a few years ago. It was an awful accident that still haunts the pack leaders, but luckily, there weren’t many casualties. My parents tried to unofficially adopt him, but he was already 18 at that point. He said that he was in college and basically just needed somewhere to be for weekends and breaks. My parents agreed and gave him his own room in our recently finished basement. He always swears they do too much for him, but I’m glad. I can’t imagine how it would feel to be all alone in the world before even being in a place to support yourself. Today is Friday, and in only a few hours, he’ll be home!! I can’t wait! …And there I go, daydreaming again. I can’t be late for English, Mrs. Harris will kill me! My name is Evelyn Rose, and I am a senior at South Rock High School. I have long black hair and blue eyes that my kid siblings swear looks purple sometimes. I belong to a pack of werewolves called the Lunar Eclipse pack, so named because it was founded by a blessed wolf. Most of us wolf shifters lose our ability to connect with our wolves during the eclipse. Apparently, it has something to do with how the shadow of the earth drowns out the moon, which temporarily severs connection to the Moon Goddess. Anyway, our founder was a rare female Alpha who supposedly was blessed to retain her connection even during the eclipse. Hundreds of years ago, our pack was being hunted by vampires after the Alpha’s powers. They decided to strike on an eclipse, thinking it would guarantee victory. However, during the attack, the blessed wolf’s true powers were revealed, and she ended up annihilating the entire coven. So they say, anyway. Our pack has been called Lunar Eclipse ever since. My parents are always telling me that I am her great great granddaughter or something and are convinced I’ll be blessed too because I was born during an eclipse. Whatever, to me, the whole story sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo invented to make us wolves feel better about being basically human during the lunar eclipse. I bet she was just really good at combat in her human form, and the vampires underestimated her. I am related to her, though. My uncle is the Alpha, and our bloodline has gone uninterrupted since our founding. I duck into the classroom as the bell rings. Thank the Goddess I won’t get another tardy, at least today. I go to a school that’s primarily humans but includes a minority of werewolves. Not that the humans know that, anyway. The staff at the school has a similar ratio, so only three of my teachers right now are werewolves. Though some of them take it easy on their shifter pupils, Mrs. Harris definitely isn’t one of them. That hag is old, crouchy, and seems to hate all students equally. The old bat slams the door closed behind me, and I jump about 3 feet in the air. I scurry to my seat, avoiding her glare. On the way, I give a meaningful look to my BFF. Her name is Marie, and she is the best person I know. She has red hair, green eyes, freckles, and swears like a sailor. She’s fantastic at reading people, and luckily, I’ve passed the check. She’s the type that if she likes you, she’ll bend over backward to help you. If she doesn’t like you, happy funeral, buddy. She is a total queen, and I am grateful every day to call her my best friend. As Mrs. Harris drones on about “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Marie slides me a note. [You better not be late to my birthday party tonight!] I feign a look of outrage and scribble back: [I would never! I am the most punctual person I know. Besides, I wouldn’t want to miss your 18th birthday! What if you meet your mate!?] She takes the note and looks disgusted. [Eve, please. My mate? Here? As if. Do you think the Moon Goddess would pair me with one of these f*****g idiots? No way.] I wait until Mrs. Harris looks away to reply. [You mean you’re not hoping a certain blonde-haired beauty ends up being your mate? ;)] Marie scowls and covers her bright red cheeks. [Oh stop. Kate is straight. And she’s never even looked at me. Besides, I sent hundreds of cards out as an excuse to invite her but the girl didn’t even bother sending a damn rejection] I suddenly feel bad for teasing her. I look at the front row where Kate is answering a question about symbolism with a lot more insight than I had gleaned from the reading. [Sorry, sweetheart. But I know whether she comes or not, it’ll be a kick-ass party. Your parents even hired a DJ!] Marie smiled, then raised her hand to make a counterargument against Kate’s point that was even more insightful, if possible. Kate turned around and nodded at Marie’s answer. That’s my girl. *** ---Marie--- My parents ran around the house like wild people, barking orders and probably scaring the s**t out of the event staff. My party would mostly be held outside, but people would still need to come in to go to the bathroom. Plus, our kitchen was kind of the center of operations. Because of this, the inside of the house had to be as perfect as the outside. My parents had been on edge all week trying to get everything ready. Tonight at Midnight, I’ll turn 18. That means I’ll be able to shift and begin looking for my mate. I’ll admit- I’m anxious. Eve seems to think I’m a fiery superhero or something, but mostly I feel f*****g awkward. The only thing fiery about me is my hair and acne. Werewolves rarely get sick, but I guess that protection doesn’t extend to blackheads because this b***h could win an award for how many I have. Growing up, I’d always dreamed of turning 18, so I could go to the wolf balls that were held semi-annually at the local packs. I fancied myself a cinderella- imagining walking in and meeting the eye of a mysterious stranger across the room. I guess due to my childhood delusions, my parents had decided long ago they needed to host an unofficial one for me for my 18th birthday party. Though I can’t complain feeling like a princess- I suppose being an only child had its perks. The awkward part is parents never shut up about how they hope I’d find my perfect prince and settle down quickly. They probably saw this as the ideal opportunity to do that. I hadn’t exactly had the nerve to explain I was more interested in a princess... I figured the conversation would be easier once I found my mate. Eve loves me and likes to say she thinks my mate will be our class president, Kate Springs, but I seriously doubt the Moon Goddess would pair her with a f*****g nobody like me. It is fun to dream, though: she’s gorgeous, put together, and smart. Plus, she has a calming presence that I’d never have a chance of replicating. She’s the total package. Actually, while I’m thinking about it, I really ought to text my best b***h. Me: [EVE. I was thinking, and I know you wanted to see your boy tonight after my party, so why don’t you just bring him with you! Then you don’t have to wait to see him!] I get an immediate reply. Bitch <3: [I can’t, honey. My parents have made it CLEAR that I’m not allowed to date until I’m 18. They refuse to accept that it’s possible to meet your mate before then. I don’t think they’d change their mind, even if they knew it was Josh I’ve been seeing. I know that anybody saw us together, I’d be busted for sure.] I roll my eyes and try to convince her. Me: [Everyone knows you dorks grew up together and that your parents took him in. Nobody will think anything of it! Besides, I haven’t seen s**t from him since you started dating him last year. Tell him to quit avoiding me!] I watch as my mom growls at a cook that I’m pretty sure is human. He looks both confused and terrified. I wonder what he thinks he heard, seeing as humans definitely can’t growl quite the way we can. My mom is so good at that: I don’t know anyone else who can get the right mixture of intimidation and class in their growls. I guess it comes from being a doctor’s wife- she’s had to use it on my dad loads of times growing up when he was tempted to take overtime at the pack hospital. Several minutes later, I finally got a response from Evelyn. Bitch <3: [I’m sorry, honey. You’re totally right, but Josh says it’s too risky. Secretly I think it’s really that he hates crowds. I wish he would just do it for me just this once, though] I sigh. I should have assumed he’d rain on my parade. I loved him growing up; he was almost like a cousin to me. But ever since his parents died, he’s seemed different. I hate feeling this way about him because I’m sure it’s just the trauma of losing his family. I’ll never say this out loud, but sometimes I wonder if they really will turn out to be mates. I can’t put my finger on it, but she’s seemed to dim a bit since getting in a relationship with Josh. Honestly, they probably both just need therapy. I’d heard stories that he used to be the golden boy back when he was in high school; everyone expected great things from him. While he used to be popular and lively, now he sticks to himself. He doesn’t really talk to anyone in the pack except Eve and her family. I feel bad for him but I feel a bit off about the whole thing. I should stop thinking about it- we’ll all know for sure when she turns 18 anyway. Maybe I should look up a good couples therapist for when that happens so they’ll learn to communicate. I make sure to text something that would cheer her up. Me: [Well, he’s right to be afraid of this crowd. My mom must have thought the f**k of of invites I sent wasn’t enough because I’m pretty sure she invited every eligible, unmated wolf in the STATE to the party. She’s like whatever the birthday party version is of a Motherzilla of the Bride. I’m pretty sure there’s at least a cook and two event staff crying in the backyard. Just make sure you sneak him some punch after it ends. My parents are officially letting me drink since I’m 18 now, and it’s got vodka in it!] I know my mood-lightening efforts have been successful with Evelyn’s reply. Bitch <3: [LOL Motherzilla of the Bride of birthday parties! I’m crying! Make sure she doesn’t hear you calling her that, or she’ll use her award-winning growl on you. I’m pretty sure she can out growl the Alpha!] ---Evelyn--- I’m super disappointed that Josh doesn’t want to go to the party. I know he’s just trying to protect me, but I really don’t think anyone would think we’re a couple. Oh well, we can make it known to the world soon. I’m just being selfish for feeling this way. I take a deep breath and send him a text to ensure he knows I’m not mad. Me: [300 more days, baby. Then the world will know I’m yours.]