Standing here in the backyard of a large house, I've come to the realisation that I need to learn how to say no, saying yes causes trouble. Every ten years, my Dad and the Alpha help set up a large carnival that celebrates each decade that goes by with our pack still standing strong, the last time I attended was when I was 9, now that I'm 19 it's been easier to enjoy the festivities, it never made much sense to me when I was younger

But now, I'm none too pleased with the situation I've gotten myself into now.

"Come on Charlie! The sooner we get this done the sooner you can go back."

I always hated that nickname, it's what I've been called since I was 5. My best friend Carlos and I were sneaking into some girls house, or should I say Carlos is sneaking in, I'm watching guard. Carlos has had a crush on this girl for 3 months. Yesterday he promised to give her a gift the night of the carnival before she attended it, it was a beautiful bracelet with two wolves in the middle. I had to admit, it was quite adorable.

"I'm ready, it's you I'm waiting on, why won't you go through the front door and give it to her? I'm sure it would still be the same." I was getting rather tired standing here. Instead he bit back.

"I have a flair for the dramatic, and besides, I don't think her Dad would be too pleased."

Every Dad has that protective father instinct, no one will ever be good enough for their daughter, I'm slightly glad my Dad is the same, from my current situation I've decided boys are too much effort. What could be so different about this Dad, deep down in this man's heart, he's happy for his daughter.

"Ok? It's just another protective Dad?"

He looked at me like I just said the most ludicrous thing in the world, perhaps he's met the Dad himself and was told to go fuck himself?

"Do you recognise where we are? You and your Dad have been here before, not too long ago actually if I recall correctly."

I take a second to look around, it doesn't look too familiar. I take a step in the direction of the gate that I'm assuming leads to the front yard. I lean forward and try to get a good look, I can only just see the corner of the front porch. I nudge the gate and to my amazement it is unlocked.

"I'm going to take a look, stay there."

It was a shout whisper, I don't want to draw unwanted attention to ourselves if the house was something Important.

I push the gate open and step into the front yard. Being a werewolf, my senses are heightened. I shifted last year for the first time, and since then I've learnt to express my new abilities. I heard a voice and felt the blood drain from my face. Of all the people Carlos could have a crush on, it's the Alpha's daughter. The reason I know this place is because my Dad was being promoted to beta. The previous beta had very recently been killed in a rogue hunt, if I said I wasn't upset, I would be lying. He was like another father to me, my Dad wasn't any better, he was possibly worse. The Alpha, my Dad and the beta were all very close, so The Alpha has chosen my Dad to become to new beta so we came here to discuss a ceremony and to look at the pack house, we were now required to move in with him, we had the choice to before because of their close relationship but decided not to.

Now, I'm standing against a wall, trying to steady my breathing. If I get caught, I will be in so much shit.

"Is someone there? I command you to show yourself!"

Fuck, he must've heard me, or smelt me.

Awkwardly I step out from behind the wall and muster up the most convincing smile I could. He squinted at me, his facial expression softened and I tried my best to hold back a sigh of relief.

"Good evening Charlotte, what on earth are you doing at the pack house at this time? Shouldn't you be at the festival with your father?"

I had to think fast, I certainly couldn't tell the truth, that my best mate is currently hanging out of his daughter's window.

"Well Alpha Knox I snuck away to speak with you, I've been meaning to ask you a few questions."

It wasn't exactly a lie, I did need to ask him a few questions.

"Well then I would be more than happy to answer your queries but as you must know I need to get back to the festival, how about I walk you back?"

I couldn't leave here with him, Carlos was still here and probably still out the window.

"I'm good thanks Alpha Knox, I was just going for a stroll through the forest, thought I'd go for a stretch, let my wolf out."

He looked at me for a second, did he not believe me? It does sound a bit silly. In the end he just sighed and nodded his head slowly.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea, it's only been a year since you last shifted to be fair, well it was nice running into you Charlotte, but you better be at the carnival in half an hour, I'll let your father know your whereabouts, and stay away from rogues." He said in his most formal but Alpha tone.

"Well Alpha"

He smiled down at me.

"Please, just call me Knox, no need for formalities young lady."

And with that he was gone, using his speed to go to the carnival. I wanted to faint, that was the most stressful situation I've been in for a while.

I walked hurriedly back to where Carlos should have been, I looked up and saw the curtains flowing out of the window, I could also hear kissing sounds. Ew. I midlinked Carlos.

"Hey, can you hurry this up please? I just put my ass on the line for you and I can just as easily call the Alpha back."

"You were talking to the Alpha? Shit Charlotte please don't, I'll come down in about three minutes!"

I had so much power right now it made me giddy, but I couldn't do that to my best friend, after all, he's done so much for me in the past.

"Ok, but I'm timing you starting now."

"Thanks Charlie, you're the best"

I pulled out my phone and put on a three minute timer and stood there in Alpha's Knox's backyard while I waited for him.

About two minutes later he jumped from the window with possibly the biggest smile on his face.

"I'm assuming it went well?"

I asked with an annoyed tone, I watched as his smile dropped ever so slightly, he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"It did actually, look I'm so sorry Charlie, I didn't think we would actually bump into the Alpha, but I have really good news!"

He had an ear to ear smile as he said the last part, unfortunately it was incredibly contagious. I knew he had found his mate.

"You found her didn't you?"

I smiled smugly at him and he made a face at me which made me laugh. I could never get sick of his foolishness.

"I did, and oh my goodness Charlie she is so perfect, I love her so much, thank you moon goddess, and thanks Charlie."

Thanks? All I did was watch. And I guess bail his ass out of a very angry Alpha and father.

"What for?"

"For helping me find her, for bailing me out, you really my bestie."

Now my smile from ear to ear. I ran towards him and threw my arms around him. I'm glad I could help him, he was so happy to finally find her.

"What's her name?"

He looked at me puzzled.

"You don't know? You were here not too long ago?"

"I never learnt her name, I didn't even know she was the Alpha's daughter, I met his son."

"Well her name is Miriam."

I smiled at the name, I've always thought the name was a beautiful one.

"Well the next time you see her tell her it's an absolutely beautiful name."

He smiled softly

"I will, now, ready to go back to the festival?"

I was about to say yes but I heard my wolf perk up.

"Can we go for a run instead, we still have twenty minutes until we have to go back to the festival? Pretty please?"

I couldn't say no to a pretty please, and a run honestly sounds quite nice.

"No actually, I'm going to go for a run in my wolf form, would you like to join me?"

"Yeah su-"

"Hey Carlos?"

He turned around so fast I thought he might fall over, I looked past him to see a very very beautiful young lady, she had the most beautiful black hair and a face sculpted to perfection.

"Hey Miriam, come over and meet my best friend Charlotte, the one I was telling you about"

He seriously talked about me whilst making out with a girl, come on Carlos.

"Oh yeah! Hey Charlotte, wow you're very pretty!"

God wasn't she a bundle of joy, and she called me pretty, I always thought I was rather plain. She came up to me and gave a warm hug, she then whispered in my ear.

"We are gonna be such good friends, you're such a sweetie from what Carlos told me."

I was honestly taken aback, I thought she was gonna tell me to piss off and away from Carlos, I think I like little miss Miriam.

"I look forward to it, Miriam."

She let go and I looked back to Carlos.

"So what about that run?"

He smiled softly.

"Actually Charlotte, I was thinking about spending some more time with Miriam, is that ok?"

I was about to say of course when Miriam piped up.

"Absolutely not, hang with your bestie!"

"Honestly Miriam it's ok, I was hoping to have some time to myself anyways, enjoy your snuggle fest and for goodness sake Carlos don't get caught, I can't bail you out when I'm not here."

"Are you sure Charlie?"

Oh my goddess, do they think I'm absolutely hopeless?

"Yes I'm sure, see you guys at the festival?"

"Yeah!"

God Miriam is such a bouncy sweetheart, I think I might have had a crush on her if I wasn't straight.

I watched them walk back inside very quietly, please don't get caught Carlos, please. And after they were completely out of sight, I jumped over the fence and ran a bit into the forest. I found a tree and stripped down, I left Elsie, my wolf, to have full control and shift.

She sprinted off into the woods, I quickly mind linked the Alpha.

"Do you think I could have an extra 20 minutes in the forest? Pretty please?"

*sigh* "Well I can't say no to a pretty please, I'll be timing you Charlotte, have fun"

I let nature and landscape captivate me, Goddess this evening has been eventful.