Forbidden Love

     "BUZZZZZZZ" the school bell rang out at exactly 2:45 p.m. Mrs. Macbeth smiled at the entire class and congratulated us all on finishing our last day os high school. Cheers broke out amongst us and we all fled into the hallway to our lockers. Tomorrow I, Lexi Carter, officially graduate Falling Spring High School with top honors as valedictorian of class 2019!      I was cleaning out my locker when I suddenly feel myself being picked up and tossed up and around in the air! I screamed, surprised at the sudden jolt of my body being tossed, only to be caught and softly put back on my feet by Harrison. And right by his side was Hannah. Like always. Harrison and Hannah Clever were twins and my best friends.      Harrison was absolutely gorgeous. He stood 6'4" tall, beautiful tan skin, dark brown hair with natural light brown highlights from the summer sun, and a tone, muscular build. The girls would drool over him daily. Hannah was 5'9" tall, the same beautiful tan skin, same dark brown hair with natural light brown highlights, and she also had a perfect, athletic build.      "Lex we did it!" Harrison exclaimed as he placed me back on the ground. Hannah jumping up and down at his side, clapping her hands in excitement. "We did!" I smiled back at both of them. All three of us have been inseparable since preschool. We did absolutely everything together. "Ok Harrison, give Lex some breathing room" Hannah joked as she squeezed between us and hugged me. We all laughed. Ever since the twins turned 18 a few months ago, Harrison has been even more clingy to me than usual.       "Let's get out of here and head home, I need to finish going over my valedictorian speech for tomorrow" I said. We all grabbed our things out of our lockers, got into Harrison's car, and headed home. The twins dropped me off at the main pack house. They waved goodbye and headed just down the road to their own house in the pack village.       I opened the front door and headed for the kitchen. I knew my mother, Luna Sarah, would be there preparing dinner for my family. Mom was leaning over the kitchen sink, preparing the vegetables for one of tonight's dishes. "Hi Mom" I said as I entered the kitchen greeting her. She asked me how my last day went and I explained my day to her as she continued to prepare dinner. "Are you nervous about your big speech tomorrow?", my mother asked as I snuck a few bites of carrot. "Kinda, but I know once I finalize my speech, I won't be. I'll be prepared." Mom stopped, kissed my forehead and told me, "go on then, go finish it. I want you to be relaxed tomorrow. It's a special day! My last baby is going to be an adult."       I headed up the stairs to my room. Shut the door, put my bag down, and opened my laptop to finish looking over my speech. I needed it to be perfect. As the Alpha's daughter, I was expected to be the best at everything. And I made sure I was. I never wanted to disappoint or embarrass my family. I worked on my speech for about an hour, then my mother mind linked me that dinner was ready. All members of the same wolf pack can mind link one another. I rubbed my dry eyes and headed down. My father, Alpha John, mother, and brother, John Jr. (J.J.) were already seated, waited for me. I sat down and we all dove into the food. Everyone made small talk about how their day went and asked me the same questions about mine. Then my father spoke specifically on my after graduation/birthday party.  Alpha John POV:      "Lexi, tomorrow you not only graduate, but you turn 18. You officially become an adult female of this pack. You know that out of respect for The Moon Goddess, I am giving you tomorrow to find your true mate, but you remember our agreement? If you do not find your mate, after tomorrow, I will choose the best possible match for you and our pack." Lexi kept her eyes down on her plate. After a few moments, she raised her head and eyes to meet mine, and in the most confident voice, she replied, "Yes father. I remember and I still understand. I will do what's best for our pack."      After my father's speech, I didn't really have much of an appetite. I wanted to look strong. I didn't want my family to see the truth. The fear I was holding inside. I wanted nothing more than to feel the true love that every adult wolf finds with their true, destined mate. A mate made for them, specifically by The Moon Goddess herself. The other half of your soul. I wanted to find him more than anything, but I would never go against my father's wishes.       The previous year, my brother J.J. turned 18 and found his mate within the first 12 hours. His mate, Kate, was the daughter of a nearby pack, Running Waters, pack's Alpha. My father was thrilled. He had been trying to build our alliances for years.      He became Alpha of our pack at age 19 by challenging the old alpha to combat. The old alpha was cruel and didn't take care of his pack the way he should have. My father was an ordinary worrier pack member, but one day my father has had enough and challenged the alpha. He fought hard and the alpha submitted and agreed to leave the pack forever. After that, my father became the new Alpha and changed the pack from top to bottom. Now my pack was one of the top packs on the East Coast, the pack members were happy, and it was all thanks to my father's hard work.       All I can do is pray that The Moon Goddess will bless me with my mate tomorrow and I won't have to worry about an arranged marriage to a complete stranger. I grabbed my laptop and continued to tweek my speech for another hour, until I could barely keep my eyes open any longer. I changed into my bed clothes and sunk into my bed. Within minutes, I sunk into darkness.