First Full Moon

Chapter 2

The rest of the school week continued on as usual. I went to my classes, had lunch with my friends and chilled out at home playing my guitar writing new songs at night. My mum was busy planning my 18th birthday dinner. I told her I just wanted the usual people there, which she begrudgingly agreed to if I would let her make it 'special'. Who knows what I have agreed to.

It was Friday night and we were heading home to get ready for the Alpha's BBQ night. Sarah, Ellie and I waited for Dylan to pick us up from school before going to my house to get ready. Dylan pulled up and we all piled in. Sarah and Ellie had duffle bags full of clothes, make-up and shoes, so Dylan helped them stuff the bags into the boot. The girls bombarded Dylan with questions about who was going to be there? What were they serving for dinner? Was there going to be dancing? Did he think he would meet his mate? Dylan couldn't wait to get us out of his car and back to setting everything up with Seb.

When we arrived home, we grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and headed to my bedroom. The girls had already picked out our outfits and wanted to get started on hair and make-up.

It took us roughly 3 hours but we finally finished getting ready.

Ellie had her shoulder-length black hair in a straightened bob with a smokey eye and bright red lipstick. She was wearing a short red skater dress with a black leather jacket over the top and black pumps. Her long legs looked like they went on for days.

Sarah had her long blonde hair in curls with half swept up into a braid. She had winged eyeliner and a pink lip-gloss - simple but stunning. Sarah wore a plum one-shoulder knit jumper with a denim mini skirt and lace-up wedges, looking like a real life Barbie doll.

The girls played dress-up on me. They had curled my long dark brown hair into waves, chose natural makeup with a light smokey eye and nice brown-coloured lipstick. I wore my ripped boyfriend jeans, a dark green crop top showing a little bit of cleavage and accentuated my small waist with some black ankle boots. I had to admit, they had done a good job. I looked and felt pretty good! They thought so too, as they congratulated each other on their work behind me.

We all walked down the road to the Alpha's house where the BBQ was being held in their backyard. The backyard had a big BBQ in the middle of the deck which led out to big tables and chairs spread out across the huge expanse of lawn. The yard was immaculate. Not a single blade of grass was out of place. Luna Jen wanted everything perfect for her son to meet his mate. Hopefully. She had put on a spread to feed hundreds too. Dylan walked past with 2 plates filled with food which I knew were both for him.

We met up with Henry and Asher as we found a table on the side so we could people-watch. A few members of the pack met their mates, which was very romantic and dramatic, but mostly we just watched the girls of the pack swoon over Dylan and Seb. One girl in particular, Hayley, was all over Seb like a rash. He didn't pay her much mind, but he also didn't shut her down, so she continued her efforts to win his attention.

"Looks like Hayley has succeeded tonight everyone! There they go!" Asher points out, gazing over as Seb and Hayley walk around the house to the side gate hand-in-hand following another group of people leaving. As I watched them walk away I started to feel a bit jealous. I scolded myself. What right do I have to even be jealous to begin with? He is my brother's best friend and not the slightest bit interested in me! As I was sitting there rolling my eyes at myself when I noticed Seb turn and look right at me. He smirked, winked and hesitated like he was about to come over before Hayley pulled him along by the arm.

"Did Seb just wink at you Alice?" Henry asked me, shocked.

I just shrugged my shoulders. Not really sure what any of it meant. It was just a casual exchange, right?

"He definitely did! Do you have a secret to tell us, Alice?" Ellie probed, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"Absolutely not!" I replied. "He probably just saw us watching and thought he caught us in the act." As I desperately tried to convince myself it was nothing to avoid getting my hopes up.

"Looks like someone has a crush on our Alice!" Sarah added while nudging me with her shoulder.

"He does not!" yelled Asher, making everyone jump and people from the tables around us turned to see the commotion. "He is busy off with that cow, Hayley. Alice is too good for a guy like him!" Everyone sat in silence after Asher's outburst, a bit stunned whilst he stood up and walked away.

"You cool man?" Henry called out to Asher as he hurriedly walked off.

"Well... that was weird" I stated. Making Sarah and Ellie giggle. Henry shrugged his shoulders and went to follow Asher. Ellie, Sarah and I continued to people watch and make comments on who we thought would turn out mates when they turned 18. They say you feel drawn to that person before, but it isn't until your birthday that you feel the full powers of the mate bond.

Everyone had gone home so I was helping Mum and Luna Jen pack everything up while Dad and Alpha Ben stacked the chairs and tables to be put back in the pack shed.

"Thanks for your help Alice." Luna Jen says to me, "so when do you turn 18 again?" she continued.

"Wednesday!" my Mum replied for me,poking her head in the doorway with a bit too much enthusiasm. She really was looking forward to it.

"Ohh it's coming up fast isn't it? I wonder if you'll find your mate?" Luna Jen and Mum looked at me expectantly.

"Maybe!" I responded - not really believing it, but it made them happy. Luna Jen and Mum smiled at each other and continued to chat about her plans for my birthday and inviting them to dinner. I gave her a glare to which she rolled her eyes in response. It was obvious there was going to be no reasoning with that woman about the party planning.

"Why don't you go home Alice?" Dad calls to me from the other side of the lawn, saving me from the mothers. "You look pretty exhausted and we're almost done here."

"Alright, see you home later!" I called back and waved to Alpha Ben, walking out the side gate to the street.