I open my eyes and roll over. It is Friday. My birthday. I jump out of bed and head to the bathroom to start my day before heading down for breakfast.
“Good morning, Mom,” I say as I enter the kitchen and see my mother drinking her coffee.
“Payton my baby girl, good morning,” she says with a big smile
“And a very big Happy 18th Birthday,” she hugs me.
“Thanks mom,”
“Oh, hey listen” she says
“Your brother and father had a meeting this morning about ball stuff, they are sorry they could not be here to wish you a happy birthday, but your father requests you come straight home from school tonight, he wants a family Birthday dinner with his princess,”
I smile; I have always been daddies little princess.
“Oh sure, dinner with the family sounds great,” I kiss my mother, grab my stuff, and head out to pick up Alison.
All the way to school, Alison sang Happy Birthday to me as loud as she could. I could not help but laugh; she could always make me laugh. She is simply the best.
Alpha Black
{On the phone}
“Dear god, are you sure?”
“Yes, Alpha, He will be attending the ball this year,”
“But why now? He is 24 years old. he has never attended our ball before?”
“He has decided to allow his pack to attend this year, and he himself will also attend as well. Do you have an issue with that Alpha Black?”
“No, no, it is open to one and all,” I say
“Very well, see you soon, Alpha,”
Dear god, this can not be happening.
“What is it, Dad?” Jax asks me
“I have just been informed that the Alpha, the one everyone knows as the Beast will be attending this years Ball,”
“Oh, dear god,” says my beta
“We have to cancel the ball,” I said
“We can not do that, Father. Visiting Packs has already arrived,”
“I am aware of that, but how can I allow him to come? What if the Beast finds his mate? What if she is one of our young women from this pack? We would be sending her to her death,” I said
“Not to mention the others of his pack; we have no idea how they would treat their mates,”
“I agree with you Alpha” says my beta
“But Jax is right, the packs have already begun to arrive; it is too late now to cancel”
I slam my fist down on my desk. Damn it, they are right. I know they are, but god help whoever turns out to be his mate.
Payton
I walked into the cafeteria at lunchtime and was shocked when everyone started to sing happy birthday to me as Alison ran over to hug me and pull me over to our table. All my friends hug me as tears fall from my eyes. I have the greatest friends.
“Here, Happy Birthday, Payton,” Alison says, handing me a box
“We have all chipped in and got this for you,”
I opened the box and gasped. I reach in and lift out a beautiful rose gold charm bracelet.
“Each of us bought you a charm to reparent a memory we have with you,” says Jake
“Like this one,” he says, pointing to an ice skate
“I got you a skate because it was you who had taught me to skate; you would not give up on me”
“This one is from me,” says another friend. It was a ski charm
Each friend took turns to point out the charm they added. This has got to be the most precious gift I have ever received.
As Alison and I were heading back to my locker after lunch, she leans against the locker next to mine,
“so, what do you say to a sleepover and movie night tonight?” she asks
“Oh, I wish we could,” I said
“But my dad wants a family birthday dinner”
“Ok, so I can come over after dinner,” she says
“Let me check with my parents, and I will let you know,” I said
“Ok sounds good. I will pack my dress and stuff so we can get ready at your place tomorrow for the ball,” she says
I couldn’t help but laugh
“I said I would let you know, Alison. they said dinner, but I am not sure if that is all or not, so I will let you know,”
She smiles at me and wraps her arm around my shoulder as we walk off towards our next class.
Pulling my car up in front of Alisons house, she turns to me.
“Hey, did you hear who is attending the ball this year?” she asks
“You mean other than the other packs around Canada?” I ask
“Yes, I overheard my father this morning telling my mother they were freaked out,”
“Why?”
“Because the Alpha known as the Beast and his pack are attending this year,”
I gasp
“Your kidding,”
“Nope I heard it; he is attending. Oh my god, could you imagine being his mate?”
“I sure as hope it is not me, I would be so scared to reject him, the stories of him oh my god,”
“I agree, Alis on, dear god, I can not believe he is attending. I pray no one in our pack turns out to be his mate.”
“Happy birthday again, Payton,” she says
“I hope you have a great last night dinner with your family”
“Why would you say that Alison?” I ask
“I can not help but think come tomorrow at the ball. We are both going to find our mates, and they are not from our pack,” she says. I see the sad look on her face
“I know I thought of that too, but Alison, I do not know what I will do if we are not together. We have been friends since the day I was born” I said
She leans over and hugs me,
“You and I both,” she says
“So, text me after and let me know about the sleep over,” she opens the car door and steps out
“As soon as I know I’ll message you,” I said
She closes the door and walks away. I slowly drive up the street to my house and stop, but I do not get out. Instead, I break down crying. I have always wanted to find my mate and be happy, have pups, and so forth. But just thinking of not seeing or talking to my best friend every day kills me. At the same time, I can not help but think about the Beast and his pack coming. No one really knows what the beast even looks like, but everyone is dead scared of him. I pray he is not my mate.
Fifteen minutes later, I wipe my tears and head up towards the house. Stepping through the door, a party horn and cheers sound.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” my brother and parents yell all, pulling me into a hug
“Thank you, everyone,” I said with a big smile
“Oh my god, mom, is that roast beef, roasted potatoes, and corn on the cob I smell?”
“It sure is,” says Mom
“I had to make my girls’ favorite dinner on her day,”
We all head into the kitchen and sit down to eat. Along with the roast beef, corn, and potatoes, there is salad, buns, and a bowl of fruit. I notice there is also my favorite dessert, Strawberry Cheesecake, on the counter.
All through dinner, there is talk laughter and smiles. I love my family. I am going to miss family times together when I am forced to leave with my mate.
“Payton dear?” says my mother placing a hand on mine
“What is wrong, my dear?”
“I am sorry,” I said
“I did not mean to damper the mood; it is just I can not help but think that my mate belongs to another pack, and I will be forced to leave my home and family”
“Oh, my baby,” says my mother
“No matter what, my dear, we will always stay in touch and see you,”
After my mother stops hugging me, we make our way to living for coffee and cake.
My parents hand me a large box, I open it. Inside is a lot of canvas paints and brushes,
“Oh wow, this is totally awesome,” I said
“Thank you so much. I was running low on this stuff, too,”
I hug my parents, Jaxson, hands me a small box, and I open it,
I gasp and lift out a charm
“Alison informed me she and your friends were getting you a charm bracelet and charms, so I had one made for you” he says
I hold up the charm,
“Wow Jax it’s Thor,” I say the charm was made to look just like Jaxson’s wolf Thor
“I love it so much,”
“Now you will always have Thor with you, sis,” he says, hugging me
“Come show us the charms dear,” says my mother
As I was telling my parents about each charm the phone rings, a few moments later, my father slams the phone down.
“I am sorry, sweetheart, but that was Beta John, your mother, and I have to go up to the pack house and entertain the Alpha’s and their mates tonight,”
“Oh, that is alright, Daddy. I understand; you are the Alpha and Luna of this pack,” I said
“Are you sure you do not mind, my dear?”
“No, I am an adult now. I am not 5 years old; I know you have responsibilities and duties as the Alpha,”
“Thank you so being understanding,” my father hugs me,
Then, I remember what Alison said to me in the car.
“Umm dad,”
“Yes?’
“Is it true the Beast is attending the ball this year?”
My mother gasps and drops her cup
“Where did you hear that?” My father asks
“Alison, she overheard her father telling her mother,”
My father sighs and runs his hands through his hair,
“Oh, dear god, it is true, the beast is coming here?” My mom says frightened
“Yes, I am afraid, so there is nothing I can do,” says father
“We can talk about this after right now we must get to the pack house,”
“Oh, since the family night is over, is it alright to have Alison sleep over for movie night?” I asked
“Oh course,” says my father, kissing my head, then taking my mothers hand and heading out.
I pick up my phone and text Alison.
“I am heading to the club if you need me, sis,” says Jax
A few moments later, Alison is walking through the door with all her things for the ball tomorrow.
We make pop corn grab drinks and head up to my room.
