A Mate That was Lost

Chapter 6

I woke from a dreamless sleep with a headache. I groaned and rolled over to try and go back to sleep. I was just about to fall asleep when someone started knocking on my door. I laid there in silence as the knocking stopped. I started to close my eyes thinking whoever was knocking had gone away. I had a few minutes of peace that was interrupted by banging. 

I sigh.

“Hey,” Vic yells.

When I don’t answer he just barges in like he owns the place. He walks over to the edge of the bed. I lay there not moving hoping he will just think I am still asleep and leave.

I was wrong. I was wrong in the worst way.

Instead of leaving he throws himself on top of me. We both struggle for dominance but since he is on top he wins and ends up pinning my arms above my head while straddling my hips. I look up at him glaring and huffing. He just grins down at me mischievously.

“Morning birthday girl,” he sings.

I just roll my eyes and continue glaring at him. I am not a morning person and Vic knows this. Still grinning like a mad man he shifts so he is holding my wrists with just one hand and he moves his other hand down my body stopping at my sides.

My eyes widen with fear as I realize what he is about to do. His grin widens before he starts tickling me. I tried to hold back my shrieks of laughter with little success and soon I was shrieking so loud that Kendall and Derek came running into my room.

Vic stops as he looks at Kendall and Derek, who look at each other as the register what is happening. I am pleading with my eyes at Derek and Kendall to help me. They look back at me with an evil grin and start to stalk forward.

“Oh s**t,” I start to struggle against Vic’s hold.

I continue to struggle like my laugh depends on it and am almost out of his hold when I feel two more sets of hands holding me down. I gulp and look up at the three guys holding me down.

“Please,” I plead. “I am begging you. Please don’t.”

Their eyes widen at my plea because it is so unlike me. I don’t beg. I am willing to make an exception today though. I seriously hate being tickled and these three know this. You would think they would know this by now especially since last time someone tried to tickle me they got a fist in the throat. But it looks like they learned from past mistakes and now are tag teaming me.

“Happy birthday,” they all said.

They start tickling me and I start shrieking and calling them names.

“Stop you fuckers,” I gasp. “f*****g stop you evil bastards.”

They finally stop and are laughing their asses off while I try and catch my breath. I sat up and glared at each of them.

“You guys are assholes,” I mutter.

I roll my eyes as they are still laughing. I leave them to their laughing fit and walk into my bathroom. I look in the mirror and gasp. No wonder they were laughing. It looks like a rats nest had a party on top of my head. I stare at my reflection and try not to laugh, myself. I shake my head at the boys and get in the shower. When I am done I step out and dry myself off.

Wrapping my towel around me, I walk over to the sink to brush my teeth. When I am done, I start to do my hair into a simple half updo. I start on my make up keeping it simple and light. When I am done I open the door and peek out into my room to see if the boys are still there. When I see that they are not I walk out of the bathroom and to my closet. I throw on a pair of short jean shorts and a blue crop top. I look in the mirror and nod my head in approval. My shorts aren’t so short that I would be considered a slut and my ass isn’t hanging out. I slip on a pair of converse and grab my phone.

I look down at my phone and see I have a text from Derek telling me to meet them downstairs for breakfast. I walk downstairs to the kitchen. I live on the same floor as Vic in the packhouse below the Gamma wing.

I walk into the kitchen and jump back as everyone yells happy birthday at me. I grin when I see everyone’s smiling faces. My grin widens when I see pancakes with nutella in the hands of Derek. I walk over to Derek thanking everyone. He hands me the plate and winks.

“Alright let's eat,” Derek said enthusiastically. 

We all eat while chatting about the party that is gonna be held later for my birthday. As I am putting my plate in the sink after I am done my headache comes back. I frown. Vic notices me frowning and walks over to me.

“Hey,” he said with a worried look on his face. “Are you alright?”

I nod my head in response and smile up at him. He bends down and pecks my lips before heading over back to Derek. 

The day went on pretty normally with everyone hanging out. Derek even took the day off to celebrate. As dinner rolls around I head upstairs to change into the white dress. My headache is a full on migraine now so I grab some sunglasses and head back downstairs and to the backyard where everyone is waiting.

Derek is on stage with the other ranked members and motions for me to join.

“Attention everyone,” he begins. “As you all know we are here to celebrate Lani Simmons first shift and have her first pack run. After she shifts for the first time she will be able to link those of us who can shift. Now I believe it is almost time for her to shift.”

As if that is some signal, everyone starts to shift into their wolves except Derek who stays in his human form to help me through my first shift. He turns to look at me and watches me carefully.

“Alright,” he said, smiling. “Are you ready?”

I nod and force a smile back.

“Alright then,” he said. “You need to let Diamond come forward and let her take over. You are probably already feeling a migraine by now so that means you are subconsciously fighting the shift. When you let Diamond take over the headache will go away making this easier.

I nod my head and let my eyes cloud over as I talk to Diamond.

“Are you ready to come out, Diamond,” I ask my wolf.

“More than ready,” Diamond responds.

I feel her push her way forward. When she has complete control my migraine disappears but I can still feel everything around me. Diamond and I scream out as I feel my bones crack as I start to shift. Diamond opens our eyes and I see that Derek has already shifted and is patiently waiting for us to finish our shift.

After what feels like hours of excruciating pain I am left laying on the ground panting. I look up to find Derek's wolf, Damien, standing over me. He is staring at me in awe. I tilt my head in confusion and see that Vic’s wolf, Lance, staring at me with the same expression. Lance is a reddish brown wolf with beautiful brown eyes.

“What,” I said in the mindlink.

“Lani,” Vic starts.

“Diamonds a white wolf,” Derek continues.

“With black paws and dark blue eyes,” Kendall finishes.

I look over at Kendalls wolf, Blade. Blade is a black wolf with black eyes. I look down and see that I indeed have black paws and the rest of me is white.

“You're beautiful,” Vic whispers into the mind link.

I give him a wolfy grin. Derek huffs and turns to look at everyone.

“Let’s run,” he yells through the mindlink.

Damien takes off to the forest and we all follow behind. Since this is the first time Diamond is out, I decide to give her complete control and retreat to the back of my mind.

The run was amazing and Diamond even chased and caught a rabbit. When we got back to the packhouse everyone shifted and got dressed. I sat and waited and wondered if I could stay in wolf form until everyone else goes inside. Vic walks up to me with a pair of shorts on and hands me a black dress.

“Here,” he said, and points behind the stage. “You can shift and change over there.”

I nod my head and gently grab the clothes from Vic. I walk over to the back of the stage and shift back. The shift back was less painful and faster. Once I was done I slip on the dress and head back out where I am caught in Derek’s embrace as he hugs me.

“How was your first pack run,” Derek asks as he lets me go.

“It was amazing,” I replied excitedly, “I have never felt so free. When I caught that rabbit, it was such a rush.”

 “Good,” he chuckles. “I am glad. Now we have to start getting you to train in wolf form.”

I get even more excited hearing him say that. I love training and the thought of getting Diamond stronger.

“Soon we will be the strongest we have ever been,” Diamond said. “Our mate is gonna have to watch their back if they piss us off.”

I grin at that. My grin slowly fades as I look at Vic and realize that he isn’t my mate. He must have realized it too cause when he smiles at me it doesn’t reach his eyes. I walk over to him and step into his arms burying my face into his chest.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “I really thought we would be mates.”

“Don’t be,” Vic sighs. “The Moon Goddess knows what she is doing. Just because we aren’t mates doesn’t mean we can’t keep doing what we are doing.”

He looks down at me and grins. I look up at him and grin back. I get on my tip toes and give him a quick kiss. When I start to pull away he wraps his arm around my waist pulling me back deepening the kiss. I lean into the kiss and I feel his tongue graze across my bottom lip, begging for entrance. I grant him access as I open my mouth. When his tongue touches mine, we both moan.

Before our makeout session can get any more heated, we hear someone clear their throat. Vic and I jump away from each other breathing hard. I look behind me and see Ryan standing there with a smirk.

“Happy birthday kid,” he said, still smirking.

“Thanks, Ryan,” I said, blushing.

We chat for a few more minutes until everyone starts to head home. I grab Vic’s hand and he walks me to my room. I stand at my door awkwardly and he turns to me smiling.

“I guess this is goodnight,” he said.

“It doesn’t have to be,” I said quietly. “Why don’t you stay the night. No s*x. Just cuddling, I promise.”

“Just cuddling,” he said, brightly.

I open the door to my room and we step in. I head to the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I am done getting ready I slip on my pajamas and go back into the room and see Vic has already slipped out of his clothes and is already in bed waiting. I walk over to the bed and he opens the covers and I crawl into bed. When I am settled he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his chest. I sigh and notice that he is still wearing his boxers. I lay my head onto his chest and close my eyes. I fall asleep listening to his heart beat.