On Friday instead of going to finals with all of their friends and classmates, Ben and Blair were sent to the office. They sat waiting for the headmaster to call them into his office, Blair kicked a pen cap between her converse, "Alright, Ben and Blair, come with me," the headmaster Mr. Reilly, who was short, chubby and going bald from the center of his head out. He always wore suits and smelled like cigars, and everyone was sure he was sleeping with his secretary. "Are we in trouble?" Ben asked. "No, but you two have to take your test," he said taking them to a room in the library. "Why can't we take finals in the classroom with everyone else?" Blair asked. "Because you aren't taking finals," he began holding out his hand for them to take a seat. "You two are testing out," he added. The two looked at each other confused, "Didn't your father tell you?" Mr. Reilly asked. The twins shook their head, "Well, I'm sure he's busy with alpha stuff. You two are taking your high school equivalency test and getting your diplomas early, such as the alpha does," he explained. "Blair's not an alpha," Ben pointed out. "But she's been claimed and will need to take her place as the ever-green packs luna," Mr. Reilly replied.
The secretary Miss Kincaid handed them their tests, she had been waiting for them in the library, with her perfect red-haired bun and white shirt with a pencil skirt per her usual attire. The room went silent as the twins began their tests carefully reading each question and selecting the best answer. Ben had finished before Blair, who took the whole time. When the bell rang, they stood and walked out. "I'll let your father know your results soon," Mr. Reilly told them as he followed them back till, he headed into his office, and they left the school. "Why didn't dad tell us?" Blair asked confused. "I knew, I just didn't think it would be today," Ben told her. Blair stopped in the front of the school, "Don't read into it, Blair," Ben called as he kept going. She couldn't help but read into it, why wouldn't her dad tell her about the test? Why didn't James tell her he was coming to claim her? Why was Ben shutting her out? Blair had never felt so alone, she felt like everyone around her was making her decisions for her. Blair didn't leave with Ben or head to her friend's house, instead she walked home thinking about what was happening to her. She had all of these things happening to her at once she just wanted life to continue as it had. However, after winter break nothing was going to be the same.
Blair decided she needed to take something into her own hands and after dinner she sat in the kitchen eating ice cream, when Ben walked in, "Ben," Blair called, trying to talk over his headphones. "What?" He asked getting a water from the fridge and pulling his headphones out. "I need you to look over the play list for the party and what song do you want to dance with mom too?" She asked. "Dance with mom?" He grimaced. "Yeah, you don't have an escort or mate, so shouldn't you dance with mom?" She pushed. "I do have an escort and I'm not dancing in front of the pack. It's not a wedding," he ordered trying to leave. "Fine, look over the playlist then," she said rolling her eyes. He walked back and sat down looking over her playlist, "Looks fine," he shrugged. "Can I try something?" She asked. "What?" He asked back skeptical. "Ok sit and empty your mind, should be easy there's not much there to begin with," Blair commanded with a smile.
They sat down on the stools and stared at each other, Blair pushed her mind, "Ben can you hear me," she thought and tried to push it into his mind. Ben raised an eyebrow, "Is there supposed to be something happening?" He questioned. "You can't hear me?" She asked. "You just talked," he replied. Defeated she got up and went to her room, Ben sighed and went to his dad's office. He went in and sat down waiting for his dad to get off the phone, "Ok… Sofie, Ben just walked in so whatever you want to do is fine with me. I love you too," Kaspar said and hung up. "What can I do for you, son?" He asked. "I know," Ben told him. "Know what?" Kaspar questioned. "About me," Ben admitted. Kaspar took a deep breath and let it out, "Blair thinks she can keep me from turning," Ben told him. "Yes, she thinks if she stays connected to you, she can stop you," Kaspar explained. "Dad, he will try to kill her," Ben responded. "I know," Kaspar admitted. "She can connect to me, but I can't let her. I can't take that risk," Ben said staying stoic. Kaspar nodded, "I'm scared, dad," Ben revealed. "I am too, son," Kaspar told him.
Finally, it was Saturday morning, the day of Ben and Blair birthday party. Blair made her way downstairs to eat before Sofie took her to her fitting for her claiming dress. Blair heard raised voices down the hall when she reached the bottom of the stairs, and she went over to her father's office where they were coming from. It was her parents. They didn't argue often, so Blair approached as quietly as she could to hear what they were saying. "Sofie, it's done her claiming will wait till after the alpha ceremony," Kaspar's voice was stern and raised. "That's not fair, you can't just change your mind," Sofie argued back. "It just works out better that way and I'm sure she wants to be here for her brother," Kaspar argued back. "Why does Blair always have to be second? Can't you put her first for once," Sofie pointed out. "She was first to be imprinted on. She'll have her claiming before Ben's mate," Kaspar tried to appease her. "What are you doing?" Ben called from the end of the hall. Blair quickly tip toed over hushing him, "What?" He asked confused. "They were arguing," Blair told him.
Suddenly the door to the office flew open as Sofie walked out, "Blair, your father wants to talk to you before we go," her mother said walking past them, before Blair could explain anymore. Blair smiled and headed back down the hall, "Shut the door," Kaspar ordered. Blair shut the door and sat down in the chair across from her dad, "We are going to move your claiming ceremony to Sunday evening," Kaspar informed. "Ok," Blair replied. "Are you mad?" He asked. "No," Blair answered. "You mother seems to think I put you second to Ben," Kaspar told her. "It's not a big deal," Blair assured. Kaspar's face fell, "If you are claimed and marked for another pack and your brother become possessed, you will have no claim," Kaspar explains. Blair felt the weight of everything about to happen, "I understand daddy," she replied. "I'm sorry this is all on you," he offered. Blair gave him half a smile and got up, "Your mother's probably waiting," he told her. Blair nodded and walked out; she could see the grief of these decisions on her father's face. He had been carrying this burden for too long alone.
Blair prayed if the time came, she would have the strength to do what she needed to for the pack. Blair went to her fitting for her claiming dress, with Sofie, Jen, and Beth. The claiming was still a week away, but there were a lot of preparations the week leading up to it. Not to mention tonight was the twin's birthday party with their friends and some young adults from other packs looking to find their mates. Blair came out and stood on the pedestal for the dressmaker. She was in her vintage, bateau neck, pearl colored, long sleeve dress, "Blair, you look gorgeous," Beth cooed. "Thank you," Blair smiled a little uncomfortable with the compliments. "How does it feel?" Jane the dress maker asked standing behind Blair and looking at her in the mirror. "It's perfect," Blair assured. "Are you sure you don't want an open back?" Jane asked. Blair smiled, "I could do cut outs," Jane offered. "It's perfect the way it is," Blair answered with a knowing smile. "How about the length?" Jane continued. Jane had graduated Blair's freshmen year; she had worked in her mother's dress shop all through high school and went to college to be an official seamstress. She had still preferred to customize a dress to the person requesting and she didn't fall short of delivering. "I think with the shoes it will be perfect," Blair assured her. "Oh, the shoes," Sofie remembered and pulled the box out on the floor next to her purse.
They were a pair of dark green vintage heels, that had gold ivy around the heel for embellishments, Sofie helped Blair put them on and she turned and looked at herself, "I look like I'm getting married," Blair observed. Everyone stared at her, trying to read her emotion, "Well in away the claim is a wedding," Sofie told her. Blair sighed, "Jen, why don't you and Beth try on your dresses," Sofie offered as she helped Blair back into the dressing room.
"What's the matter, darling?" Sofie asked with a pause. "You've been waiting for this day since you came home from the ever-green pack when you were eleven," Sofie added exasperated. "Ten," Blair corrected. "Whatever, why are you so depressed about this?" Sofie asked. "I just feel like everyone is making choices for me and not telling me," Blair confessed. "Ok, it was wrong of your father to not tell you. He explained he didn't want you to worry," Sofie reminded. "I know, but James didn't say anything about the claiming in any of his letters or emails," Blair told her. "Well, didn't he tell you he was coming to visit," Sofie replied. Blair nodded her head, "For my birthday," she responded shrugging. "And you didn't make the connection? Blair," Sofie said in a duh tone. Blair thought for a moment, "I think you've been so wrapped up in Ben's alpha stuff, you haven't been thinking about you," Sofie suggested. Blair half smiled, "Thanks mom," she replied, knowing her mother had no clue how right she was. "I'm always here for you honey, no matter what," Sofie promised and hugged her daughter.