Discovering Me

A Birthday to Remember

Two weeks later, September 27th, was Rashawn’s birthday.

My dad made sure to have my car serviced so we wouldn’t have a repeat of our last trip. My mom also made sure to contact our vampire family to keep a lookout in case we need assistance again.

We were headed to the Western Revier Pack for the celebration but were not planning on staying the night in the guest suite. Instead, we were staying with Janet’s friend Megan. We had no problems arriving at 4pm, an hour before the party was to begin, but we came to help Megan finish her last bit of baked goods to bring to the party.

I knew the chances of me being Rashawn’s mate were slim, but at one point, he really made me feel like it was a possibility. He was my first boyfriend and I always wanted to be grateful for the experience. I saved some money from helping out in our pack’s daycare after school and bought Rashawn a nice gold chain necklace. It’s similar to the one he mentioned he likes that his favorite action star wears.

These last few weeks I’ve been hearing less and less from him. We did go to the movies last weekend but he seemed distracted. I just hope that even if we weren’t mates he’ll keep it to remember me and our friendship.

The party is outside in a field by the packhouse. The area is set up with a couple of seating pods with fire pits in the middle and picnic tables all around and outdoor games. There’s an area under a big tent that we walk to, to set the food in and then go to set our gifts on the gift table. On the way from one area to the next I see Candy, Shantelle talking to some other she wolves. I wave and continue on to the area where the games are set up.

As we finish a game of corn hole I notice Rashawn walking in with Brent and Corey. Excited, I began to walk over to him to wish him a happy birthday since I hadn’t talked to him much all day. Only a few quick texts. I stop in my tracks as I notice him walking over to Candy and, while hugging her from behind, he is leaning in to smell her neck. She turns and smiles at him, then gives me a quick glance.

“Well, I guess that answers our question” Sierra says in my head, sounding sad.

“Yes I guess it does.” I replied as I turned to walk away from him, back toward where my friends are.

“Lexi! “ I heard. “Hey, can we talk in the courtyard real quick” Alpha Rashawn said as he rushed over to me grabbing my arm to stop me.

“Sure.” I already know what he’s going to tell me. Why furlong the expected.

The courtyard is a short walk from where the party is being held but just far enough and quiet enough for some privacy. It’s still beautiful but not decorated as it was during the Summer Solstice.

“Hey. I hope you don’t think I was avoiding you today. A lot has just happened.” He started to explain.

“Oh, no I understand. Happy 18th Birthday.” I say, reaching out to give him a hug, but he pushes me away. I step back surprised. I thought we could at least be cordial.

“Yea, so about that. As you know, this is my 18th birthday and the mate bond is in full effect as of 5:43 this morning. I just want to say first we have become such great friends the last few months and I hope nothing will ever change that..” (Here it comes, I think) “ I still have a connection to you and probably always will, but... just as a friend. I just wanted to tell you face to face that you... are... not... my... mate.” He slowly explains.

“Yes. I figured that.” I said in a small voice, trying to hold back tears. I feel so emotional. I don't know why I allowed myself to get invested. I'm so stupid. I suspected this in the beginning. I don’t know why I allowed myself to get so attached.

“And I’m sorry. I just don’t want it to seem like a shock when I announce it later, but I know who my mate is.” He says, reaching his arm out so he's touching my shoulder with a sympathetic look.

I take a deep breath and say, “I know. It's Candiace.”looking down, avoiding eye contact, still feeling the tears at the brim of my eyelids.

“It’s that obvious?” He asks.

“Yes." I nodded my head. "I can tell by the way you look at her.” I said, walking away from him to sit down on the bench, elbows on my thighs, because I know my legs would give way any moment if I keep standing. I mustered up the boldness to plaster on a fake smile and continued “Congratulations. She’s a lucky girl. I wish you the best.” I said, trying my best to supress my emotions.

“Thanks. You were always so understanding. Your mate will be a lucky guy as well.” He says as he places a soft kiss on the top of my head and walks away.

I can’t go back to the party like this. I needed to get myself together, so I walked the opposite direction to the packhouse and hid in the bathroom to get my emotions together and retouch my makeup.

Twenty minutes later, I composed myself enough to return to the party. Just in time to hear Alpha Ralph and Luna Dianne address the crowd thanking everyone for coming to the party. Following their gratitude speech, Alpha Rashawn stands to address the partygoers.

“I just wanted to add to my parents' address and thank each and every one of you for the love and support I feel today. Your 18th birthday is a time period in which the outside community identifies you as an adult. As we know, it’s more important in the werewolf community because it signifies a turning of age. You are able to identify your mate. With that, I wanted you all to hear from my mouth that I have done just that.” He says, giving a brief pause.

I felt a few eyes on me and both Tia and Janet walked over to my side. I can tell they are anticipating the results of this announcement.

“I would like to introduce you all, my friends, my family, my allies to my mate and future Luna… Candiace Newberry of the Woodward Pack.” He continues as the party goers cheer to support their future Alpha and Luna.

I suppress my emotions and clap, and both Tia and Janet hug me, asking if I’m okay. I nod and explain what he explained to me, but although we are outside, I feel as though I’m in an area where the walls are closing in on me. It’s taking a lot to suppress myself and I know I need to leave the area before something happens. I excused myself by telling them I just needed a moment to myself and would be in the courtyard. Being the great friends they are, they understood and told me to call if I needed anything.

In the courtyard I am alone. I sit on the same bench I was on moments ago and can open up my emotions some. I close my eyes and begin some breathing exercises my parents have me do to control my abilities, knowing that sometimes with my extreme emotions certain traits show themselves.

“Oh there you are.” I hear and open my eyes and see Candy walking towards me with a scowl on her face. “I just wanted to keep an eye on you to make sure you weren’t going to do anything crazy.” She says.

“Crazy like what?” I asked, not knowing what she was talking about. I really don't care, but maybe if I let her speak her piece she'll leave sooner.

“Well you know how the crazy exes always flip out and try to poison the future Luna, attack her, or come up with some ploy like faking a pregnancy just to get the Alpha back. I just wanted to make sure it’s understood that I am not going to let that fly. I will fight you back with all of my Luna strength and I have been training so I'm pretty strong.” She says with an attitude.

“Don’t worry, I’ve read those werewolf books too. I’m not plotting against you. I just really need some time alone to process things. Enjoy the party.” I said, attempting to diffuse the situation so she could go away. I begin to close my eyes to start breathing again, hoping she will just walk away, which she doesn’t. She walks closer to me and stands in front of me.

“You do not get to tell me what to do. I am the future Luna, not you. I get to tell you what to do, and I think you need to leave out of this pack.” She sneers at me I guess trying to use a Luna command. I stand up to walk away from her. I’m a few inches shorter than her but I am not in the mood for this mess but I have to let her know.

“Candice. You really need to get out of my face. You are not my Luna, Rashawn is not my Alpha and I am not even part of this pack. I am here as a guest, so don’t worry, I will leave when it’s time.” I grit out realizing I let more of my aura slip out. I need to get away from her before something happens and started to walk away again and she grabs my arm. “GET OFF OF ME”, I yelled as I tried to yank my arm away.

“NO! THIS IS NOT OVER! YOU CAN NOT JUST WALK AWAY AGTER DISRESPECTING ME!” She yells back, pushing me down. I’m seething. My wolf is on edge. This b***h has some nerve. I really need to get out of here before I kill her. I go to get up and she smacks me. As she goes to take another blow, I grab her arm, swooped my leg under her and knocked her to the ground, saying, “Leave me the f**k alone you crazy ass bitch.” I’m trying hard to suppress my siphoning.

She just won’t listen and extends her claws, taking a swipe at me, just barely grazing me but just enough to draw some blood. This b***h is crazy. I grab her and pinned her down, growling out trying to warn her, “Look, I will kill you without a problem. You really don’t know who you are dealing with. Leave me the f…”

I’m stopped mid sentence with a loud growl as I’m being held up in the air by my neck. I’m struggling to breathe. Then I hear Rashawn using his Alpha tone… on me.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING? ATTACKING MY MATE! I SHOULD KILL YOU!” he says. Then threws me down full force against the bench, knocking it over and completely knocking the wind out of me and the pain to my side feels like my rib may be broken from the impact.

I’m coughing. My vision is blurry. Wait, did he think I was attacking her? I tried to stand but fell.

“Grab her and put her in a cell and make sure she is in spell-binding fetters. I trusted you when you said we were good Lexi, and here you are attacking my mate.” He continues, now with his arms wrapped around his crying mate.

“NO” I choked out, still trying to catch my breath, but it hurts to breathe.

“NO WHAT?” He said, enraged as Brent grabs me by my hair and yanks me up.

“What’s going on?” Alpha Ralph inquires as he walks up noticing the disturbance.

“She attacked my mate and threatened to kill her.” Rashawn says to his father. Candice has her head burried into his chest.

“No that’s now what happened.” I managed to say before Brent grabbed my arm, yanking me, pulling me back towards a side entrance into the pack house.

“I can’t believe you’re going to try to lie. I walked in as you were on top of her, threatening her. Look at my mate. She’s in tears, terrified, she didn't leave all the trouble she had in her past to come here and be mistreated by an ex-girlfriend . Why? Because the goddess chose her for me, not you? I don’t want to see any parts of you anymore. Get her out of here!” Rashawn yells, holding his mate in his arms.

“I’m sorry son. Please take your mate and comfort her. I’ll take care of this situation here. We’ll call the elders and her Alpha to come and receive her first thing in the morning. Tonight she’ll be in a guarded cell and I’ll make sure her wolf and all other abilities are suppressed until she is removed from the territory. Your mate won’t have to worry about anything else. Brent, you know where to take her.” Alpha Ralph coldly says.

Tears are flooding my face as I’m trying hard to keep myself suppressed so as not to cause any more trouble for myself. No one wanted to even hear me out. How could they believe that? They know me.

“What’s going to happen to us?” Sierra asks, afraid.

“I honestly don't know. The punishment for attacking a ranked member can be anything up to death.” I say, knowing things don’t look good for us at all. Especially with Beta Brent involved in my punishment. He hated me for no reason. Now he thinks he has a reason Sierra is whimpering in my head with her head between her paws. I want to comfort her but I'm too afraid of what may happen.