The last of the Lycans

Chapter 2

Eliza POV



I should be picking out an outfit and getting ready; we have a couple of hours before it’s time to head that way. The college is on the other side of the pack, about a 30-minute drive from where we live. Our house runs along the forest line. It has a country feel, but it’s close enough to everything. But here I am, lost in this new book. It’s a romantic piece about a young shifter who finds her mate but is then rejected by him. This is something I dread about finding my fated mate, will he be kind? Or will he be terrible? What if he rejected me? I didn’t come from money or power; would that matter? I wasn’t the skinniest girl in the room, or the most beautiful. Would that matter? I was often full of insecurities. I lived in my head more than anything, constantly overanalyzing every little detail.

Ever since I can remember, I dreamed about the day I would find my mate. As I got older, I became more self-conscious and nervous about the whole ordeal. Since it has just been Dad and me, I learned to be independent and, to be honest, a stubborn woman. I dreamed more about traveling, books, and maybe one day a small bookshop than I did about a mate. I worried that finding my mate could detour any plans I had to travel or to open that little bookshop, teach, or be a librarian. I also worried about leaving behind my family, Dad and Crystal. Small as it is, it is all I have.

I heard the door open, and soon Crystal was standing in front of me, asking me what I was doing. She stared at me with her forest green eyes and shook her head. She knows I am in my head again. I can see the annoyance written all over her face, but a smile in her eyes. She is clearly excited for tonight.

Crystal: “What are you doing? You should be getting ready, and here you are sitting with your nose in a book. Is it at least a good one?”

Me: “Yes, it is. It’s about love, fated mates, all that good stuff!”

Crystal: “Ew, I think I will pass. I would much rather have the real thing! Come on, let’s pick you out an outfit.”

She drags me over to the closet and starts shifting through my wardrobe. It isn’t very impressive and certainly isn’t full of “party” material. Soon, though, she finds a black dress that is far too small for my liking but insists I try it on. After pouting and trying to win a battle I was losing, I finally gave up and headed to the bathroom to try it on.

I looked in the mirror and smiled. My face was a bit red from the sight. The dress hugged me in all the right places. It sat just above my knee, showing off my short but beautiful legs. Another favorite activity of mine was going on long walks that could last for hours. I would plug in an audiobook or listen to my favorite band and get lost walking for what seemed like forever. It was the best way to relieve some stress, though, and it gave me great legs. The dress also made my cleavage appear as though I would fall out, exposing myself to Goddess knows. That was why my face was several shades of red.

Crystal peers into the bathroom and lets out a shriek. She approves. I, however, try again to protest, “It is far too revealing. Look at my breasts! I am pretty sure my butt has already fallen out of the bottom as well”. “You look stunning!” Crystal breathes with a wide grin. “Look, I know you’re saving yourself for your fated mate, but there’s no reason you can’t have a little fun. Who the heck could resist you like this?”

I shook my head. This girl would have me exploring every guy in the pack the way I look right now. I sighed in defeat.

Crystal would explore with other men, and she wasn’t shy about talking about it either. She wasn’t one to think “saving yourself” for your mate was a big deal. I, on the other hand, felt the complete opposite. I wanted my mate to be my first and never gave many guys a second thought. I knew enough about s*x thanks to Crystal but was still so nervous about it. It was one thing to hear about it, another to do it. Crystal and I proceeded to get ready. Neither of us wore much make-up; we didn’t need it. But we did our hair, used some mascara, and glossed our lips.

As we finished getting ready, Crystal said, “Do you think maybe our mates are in another pack and we will meet them at the Mating ball this year?” I was so apprehensive about this and tried to avoid the topic. I hadn’t really shared my worries with Crystal. She was eager to meet her mate, though you would not know this by her many “friends with benefits”.

This ball happens just before school starts in August. August is just three months away. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about it every day. We didn’t attend last year because we didn’t turn 18 until the month after the mating ball. You must be 18 to attend the mating ball. This will be the 1st year for both of us.

Me: “I’m not sure. I kind of hope so, but I also want to get through school before I meet my mate. And I want to travel to all these places I read about.” I smiled.

Crystal: “I get that, and I agree. I want to finish school first as well. I don’t want anything stopping me from becoming a doctor. Mate or no mate, I am going to be a doctor!”

I smiled. My friend really was driven when she set her mind to something. She wasn’t lying; I didn’t see anything stopping her from being a doctor.

Me: “How about for now, we just worry about this party and having a fun summer. We have until August to worry about that.”

Crystal: “You are right!” she squealed loudly.

I covered my ears from her high-pitched voice and said, “Can you squeal any louder?” while I laughed. She rolled her eyes and said, “Look, I am just excited. This is like our first real college party! I know you don’t love parties, but I am glad you agreed to go.”

Me: “It’s ok. I know how excited you are, and I want to go. No, it’s not my favorite thing to do, but I like being with you. Just don’t ditch me!”

Crystal: “I promise I won’t.”

She was definitely lying. She would find some guy, and there I would be, standing off by myself, looking awkward as ever. I wasn’t about to “socialize” with those people. Nah. Maybe I could sneak my book in with me and find a place to zone out while she did her thing? We gathered our things and headed out the door. Dad was working late; he usually didn’t get home until late, but this weekend he was closing on a house and said he may not be back until tomorrow or the following day. I locked up, and we got in my jeep. Crystal told me where we were going, and I headed that way. The drive wasn’t long, but it would take us a good 20-30 minutes to get there. She put on some music, and we listened as we made our way there.