It is on one of these boring days that I am lazing around in my room when my mother calls out at me, “Grace! Grace! Won't you be coming down?" I get off my bed and walk downstairs to the living room where I find them waiting for me. Wow! I had almost forgotten it was my birthday, but my dear parents hadn't. I glare at my parents and my younger brother across the breakfast table as they joyously sing happy birthday to me. The last thing a twenty-year-old college student who still lives at home with her parents wants to hear is them still singing happy birthday to her like they had every year since she was a child.
It is bad enough that I still live under their roof but the fact they still treat me like a child makes it much worse. I have been itching to be independent for some time now but I just don't have the resources for it. Going to college doesn't leave much time for working, so with my part-time waitress job on the side, I am barely paying the bills I have now. Adding new ones just isn't an option.
Mom and dad have been more than understanding about my situation and they have agreed to keep me up, as long as I need, until I am able to move out. Neither of them is rushing me though, so I am thankful for that.
At the song's end they all stand and clap before mom pushes the chocolate iced cake in front of my face. I stare at it down grudgingly, unsure whether or not to taste it. Jake my brother stands behind them and watches in silence, his trademark silence.
I have been on a diet for a solid month now but I have barely lost any weight. If I was able to go out for a run more frequently I'm sure I wouldn't even have to be on this diet. Being a werewolf alone is enough to keep one in shape. You could burn a day's calories in just one run. But it's long time since I had one such run.
I'll just be glad once all of these college courses are over and I can have more free time. My wolf really needs it.
Now that summer is here I'll at least have a good two months before classes start back up again at the local campus. Maybe John will let me pick up a few extra shifts so I can start apartment hunting, I'm sure that by the end of summer I'll have enough saved for first and last month's rent.
"Oh, come on honey. It's your birthday. One slice of cake won't kill you," Mom urges.
It will when I have to work it off later. Maybe after work tonight I can go for a decent run. It's much needed.
"I suppose," I mumble just to make her happy. "Pass me a plate."
"Don't forget to make a wish," she says, watching the lit candles in the middle burn.
Eh, why not? May as well humor them, right?
I close my eyes and lean in close while thinking what I want to wish for. Within a few seconds I automatically know.
My Mate.
I open my eyes and blow out the two and zero candle just before dad
starts cutting the cake. Well...someone was hungry. I think sarcastically to myself.
I dig my fork into the chocolaty goodness that now sits in front of me. It's not often I get chocolate for breakfast. Or at all for that matter. I May as well make the most of it. My brother Tom joins me and we feast on it.
Ah, heaven. I smile. The creamy milk chocolate melts away in my mouth. It is just perfect. Truly and utterly perfect.
"Oh honey, before I forget, there is a pack meeting taking place tonight. Alpha Logan has requested that everyone be there. Apparently he has some news to announce."
Well almost perfect.
What could be so darn important that they need everyone tonight? Now I'm gonna have to switch my shift with Naomi and she is not going to be happy with that. She hates covering the weekend shift. The nights are always the worst. That's when the cafe is filled with the less desirable people.
You know the ones that are a little too touchy and the worst tippers? Well after nine pm at least. Those last three hours until we close are the most dreadful though, the most stressful.
"Honey, you're spacing out again. Have you been losing sleep? You remember what Dr. Andrew said?"
"I know mom," I reply, cutting her off before she could lecture me further. "I was just thinking about the cafe."
I don't know exactly what I have said that makes her smile but she has the biggest grin of all on her face at the mention of it. In fact, it slightly worries me.
"You know, that reminds me dear. Now that it's your twentieth birthday you might meet your mate tonight."
I raise an eyebrow to her in confusion. "What does that have to do with the cafe?"
"Well when you find your mate you won't have to work so much. You know he'll take care of you. You might actually start to enjoy life again."
Oh, so that's where she was going with this. That's why she had that smile?
"Mom you know good and well I don't want a mate for that reason. I want my mate because he'll love me unconditionally. I don't plan on changing my life style because of him," I state.
"I know honey but you may find yourself doing a lot of things you thought you wouldn't normally do," she smiles. "Mates change everything."
I roll my eyes at her but I don't reply. There is no sense arguing with her over it. She'll just pull the experience card at me. After all, she has a mate and I do not.
Maybe she is right. Maybe that will all change tonight. Maybe he's waiting to meet me as well.
Let me see, who all has turned twenty since our last meeting?
Well, there was Clive, the Beta's brother, and Brian, my cousin, who can't be my mate.
Hmm who else? I know there was one more.
Oh... our Alpha, Logan.
But that is only the of age males. That doesn't include the unmated ones who are of all ages.
Even though Alpha Logan turned twenty exactly a week before me, I know there is not chance in hell I am his mate. I'm not sure I am Luna material. Besides I'm pretty sure he is going to announce his mating to his long time girlfriend Josephine tonight. That seems like the only logical reason why we would be holding a mandatory meeting if it was not an emergency.
She is a good year older than him but I never heard her mention that they were mates. Perhaps they were keeping it secret until they knew for sure, and now that Logan is twenty there is no need to wait any longer. He could confirm it.
I guess we'll find out tonight.
My thoughts are cut off by my phone ringing giving me a bit of a fright. It always rings and vibrates unnecessarily loud and violently when it is on a hard surface and I hate that.I groan and pick it up from the table to see who is calling me. When the name flashes across my screen it only serves to irritate me further.What does he want? I am not due to work for another six hours. Something must have happened."Hey, John," I answer, hiding my annoyance."Grace, just the person I needed to talk to," He chuckles nervously.I sigh and roll up my eyes."Well, you got her."After a brief moment of silence he begins to speak."Someone bail on you again?" I ask, keeping my friendly tone. After all, he is still my boss and I need this job until after college to help keep me up.I hear a heavy sigh on the other end of the line before he replies. "Athena quit this morning.""Not another one," I groan.Lately, waitresses have been quitting left and right, and now one of the senior employees has
I have decided to concentrate on my job and ignore what had transpired, but with the passing days I find myself thinking of my mate often. All hopes I had of forgetting him are now gone and, I find myself unable to distract myself from thinking about him. I don't know why it is so hard for me. Right now, he is off planning some extravagant wedding with Josephine, while I sit here saddened by the thought of my mate mating with someone else.Yes, I have finally come to terms with what has happening to me. I have found my mate and that's all there was to it. I can't change it or do anything about it. I just have to accept it, he belongs to someone else.I try to ignore the urging of my wolf to go to him, and at times it is a bit overbearing. It is exhausting having her in my mind all time with no way to switch her off. I know she wouldn't give up until we have him.The only problem is that he doesn't know we exist. I'm not exactly sure what I am going to do about that either. Some parts
Later that evening I sit in the crowded club with my best friend Doreen next to me. She is busy chatting with some stranger. I know that he is human, but I don't know him personally. That tells me that she is only looking for a good time.She is smart when it comes to her mate. She doesn't want a serious relationship to avoid any future complication when she meets her mate. So in the mean time she decides to just have a little fun until that day finally comes.She is much more confident than me. This is her weekend routine and I am always just along for the ride. It beats sitting at home on the weekend doing nothing even if I did leave alone every night. I just want to loosen up a bit. I have no intentions of meeting anyone.That doesn't stop Doreen from trying to set me up though. If a guy she is interested in comes in with a friend she's always trying to set me up with them to make it easier on her.She never gives up.Just as I take a sip of my drink I notice someone leaning on the
Some days later and I have somehow managed to brush aside the issue of my mate Alpha Logan. I am seated at home watching TV with mum, but she isn't really watching. She takes the empty plate that sits in front of me and carries it to the sink. She has been cleaning all morning, and she is not about to stop now. I have a feeling she would have taken my plate whether I was done or not.You'd think she is expecting the president over for dinner with the way she is acting. There is not a part of this house that has been untouched by her. Well apart from my room of course. That is my responsibility.She is just washing up the rest of the dishes when dad finally makes his appearance.He has been going nonstop all day running errands for the Alpha and his father. I am starting to get worried about him, when does he ever rest?He looks so worn out. He seems to have aged five years since I last saw him. He desperately needs to rest."There you are." Mom smiles walking over to greet him. "Grace
Chapter 6LOGAN"Welcome Alpha. It's an honor to have you here." Jane, William's mate, greets us, welcoming us inside."Thank you." We nod, stepping in.The aroma of food hits me as soon as I enter. Although it smells delightful, that is not the reason we are here. We have business to discuss and a lot of it. The pack is at risk, and until we find the intruder on our territory, we will not rest.My beta, Andrew, my father and I are gathered around the small living room across from William waiting for his mate to take the seat next to him.It is always customary for the Alpha to stand while doing business because it shows leadership and boldness, something every Alpha needs to have."I believe someone is missing," my father states eyeing the Brooks.That's right. Didn't they have a daughter? I believe her name was Grace, if I'm not mistaken. I used to attend high school with her a few years ago. I haven't seen her much since graduation, apart from the few mandatory pack meetings we had
Things are moving very fast and I need the think quickly. It is like my mind is in a whirlwind. I am finally here in front of my mate and he knows who I am. My heart beats fast and my stomach is full of butterflies at the word mate. It feels nice to hear him admit it. Does this mean he has accepted it?His hand gently touches my face while his eyes search mine. A warm sensation fills my body and tingles are left behind by his touch. Before I know what I am doing I am leaning into it. I crave for more.The world has now stopped and we are the only ones in it. Nothing matters besides me and him. I want him. No I need him and I can only hope he feels the same about me.His silence is deafening, offering no insight to his true feeling for me. He is revealing nothing, although I know that he is so deep in thought. His smile is enough to assure me, but when it becomes suddenly serious I feel doubtful again."You ran from me." He mumbles, sounding a bit hurt and dropping his hand by his sid
Days pass and I am in complete pain. Logan has been true to his word and our Beta, Andrew or another one of our wolves has been watching over me since that night. I haven't been going out other than to work and I have been slowly going crazy. I feel like it has been much longer than a week.At this rate I am sure to lose it if he doesn't let me breath.He still hasn't given me his answer about Josephine yet which only makes me angrier at him. Every day that he puts it off the more resentful I become.Even though he has come over to visit me often, it still doesn't make up for his behavior. I only speak to him when I have to. Most of the time he just sits and stares at me, not even bothering to make a conversation. It is awkward but it gives me time to think.I often wonder if Josephine knows about me. Has he told her anything? Surely she should have suspected something different in him by now. He leaves her every morning and evening to come see me and that should have aroused suspicion
“Be my mate," Samuel suggests. His words get me off guard. I am not sure the kind of reaction my wolf shows, but I'm pretty sure it is one of sheer surprise.Me mate with Samuel? This is just insane. We don't even like each other. Well...I guess he probably likes me due to his excessive flirting at the diner last week but I have never really thought of him that way. I just lost a mate.My mood gets foul. Oh yeah, because of remembering my mate, my former mate.I have temporarily forgotten about him. The hollow feeling inside my chest has started to make its appearance again.Samuel watches me very closely, cautiously. When my eyes begin to water again, he tenses. He slowly takes a few steps toward me and places his hands on my shoulders and gently, soothingly, rubs them.Had my wolf been present she would have protested to him touching us wholeheartedly. She still wants Logan, but the sad truth is she isn't here. She's gone. She left me, when Logan did. I am utterly alone inside. "Se