"GOOD MORNING SWEETIE! HAPPY BIRTHDAYYY!" my parents sang at the top of their lungs as they ambushed me in bed and drowned me in their hugs and kisses.
Seriously, they are so embarrassing.
And I love them so much for it.
Despite being one of the weakest wolf in the pack due to my size and strength, they have never once despised or chastised me. They accepted the person that I am and loved me wholeheartedly.
I am eternally grateful to have parents like them.
Xena purred happily inside of me.
"Thanks mom. Thanks dad." I looked at them as I struggled out of their tight embrace.
My mom looked at me expectantly, her eyes welling up.
"Sweetie… Ohhh. I'm just so proud of you, honey!" she sobbed as my dad pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
"Lia, I just want to say, I know you have been waiting for this day for the longest time. Dad just doesn't want you to get your hopes up and then be disappointed, okay? Sometimes, we don't always find our Mate immediately. You know that right?" Dad inquired cautiously.
I nodded quietly. Usually our Mates tend to be from the same pack, but there are times where one's Mate belong to a different pack and so we have to go own our own journeys to find them or be forever condemned to a lonely existence.
I understood that. But I am also determined to find him, no matter where he is.
I was ready to leave the pack if I must.
I believe that True Love is worth taking the risk for. And I am so done with living a life like that.
I know that mom and dad will be sad to see me leave. But I am sure that they will understand why I have to do it.
Maybe someday, when I find him, we can return to our pack again.
Regardless, I was hopeful and excited for this upcoming adventure.
Finally.
__
As I started to prepare for school, I put on my best navy blue dress that gives me a little more shape than just a thin, sickly-looking stick. Its A-line cut gives a little more volume to my non-existent hips.
Xena licked her paws approvingly.
I attempted to brush out my frazzled hair and put on some makeup, at a last desperate attempt to look my best in case I meet him today.
I took a last glance in the mirror and frankly, I look like a skinny child using her mother's makeup badly. But deep down, I understand that it doesn't matter when it comes to him.
He will see me and everything else is superfluous.
I am just so excited for the day to start. It feels like my life is actually starting to begin right this moment.
I gave myself a nod in the mirror and headed out to meet Al.
--
"Girl! You look…." Al gazed at me, mouth agape.
"Well?" I inquired, albeit a little shy at my new appearance and Al's reaction.
I've never dressed up like this before so I was rather nervous even though I keep pretending that I didn't care about how anyone looked at me. I was feeling insecure.
"Like shit" Al finished his sentence and guffawed so loudly it scared the neighbour's cat.
I rolled my eyes at Al and pushed him off his bike playfully.
"You're fine, Lia. Just… you know, different. I've known you all my life, and this is the first time I've seen you in make up! You must really want this huh?" Al started.
Al paused.
"Look Lia, you know we all care and love you right? I just feel that you are-"
"Al, look, I get it okay?" I interjected.
"I know you and my parents are worried about me being let down if I don't find my Mate. I'll be alright, I'm not crazy or delusional and I understand that it takes time! Look, I don't think that I will definitely find him today. If I do, it is just a bonus okay?" I huffed, slightly annoyed by Al's remark.
Al looked at me, with that annoying puppy eyes, full of worry and concern.
I sighed loudly.
"Stop it, Al! Time to go to school and see that disgusting couple make out and have sex in the homeroom" I jested. Everyone knew about Ethan and Stacey's rendezvous in the empty classrooms and frankly, it is just a matter of time before they mated properly and got married officially, so no one really cared.
Al laughed, "Alright, alright. C'mon, let's go chase after your Mr. Right then, Thalia Grace!"
We laughed and raced each other to school, peddling like crazy.
--
"I WIN." Panting loudly, Al announced himself triumphant as I weakly peddled behind and only caught up with him much later.
Definitely not the strongest she-wolf, yep.
Xena howled petulantly at our loss.
I love my wolf, don't get me wrong, but she really isn't very strong at all. She looks frail and delicate, not exactly your warrior type at all.
I still love her nonetheless. Xena and Al have been there for me throughout it all.
Suddenly, a whiff of a scent passed by and I stiffened.
Wait.
No, it is too subtle. Maybe I am imagining things.
Al noticed that little change in me and he asked, "Hey, you alright? Feeling okay?"
"Yeah, absolutely. All good, man! I have Calculus for the first period so I'll just see you at lunch okay?" I replied as chirpily as I could to get away from Al fast.
If there is any possibility at all that my Mate was here, I am determined to find him.
My heart is pounding so loudly and my palms are sweaty already.
I sniffed the air and ran towards the school building as the scent got stronger and stronger.
As the students started to flow into their respective classrooms, it got easier to trace the scent.
Walking cautiously and sniffing the air, I was brought to the abandoned building behind the main school block.
As I passed the long corridors, the scent got stronger.
Xena is now alert and excited.
It smells like musky sandalwood, freshly squeezed oranges and clean laundry. Is that the scent of my Mate?
It was intoxicating.
As the scent got stronger, low voices got clearer too.
I think my Mate is in one of those empty classrooms with someone. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying too.
"Ohhh…" a moan escaped.
I froze.
"Fuck yes, baby. Oh, that feels so good." The female voice got clearer.
My face is flushed red as I walked towards the voices.
I pushed the door open, already knowing what I will find.
Stacey half-lay on the dusty school desk, her skirt hiked up above her waist as her legs wrapped around Ethan, the school president and next Alpha in line.
Ethan has his pants around his ankles as he pounded into Stacey furiously, connected to each other at the hips. The both of them lost in their desire and lust for each other.
This cannot be…
Xena howled painfully.
Hot tears gushed down my face as I stood there dumbly, watching the obscene scene before me.
Stacey still moaning and thrusting her hips further into Ethan, her eyes squeezed tight in pleasure. Ethan, looked up and saw me.
We made eye contact.
However, that jerk continued his forceful thrusts into Stacey as he looked at me, almost threateningly, daring me to say anything at all.
Stacey moaned even louder, oblivious to what was happening.
I wanted to vomit.
I wanted to leave. I wanted to slam the door and run out. I wanted to scream and shout and crumble to the floor, howling in pain together with Xena.
But all I did was stand there stupidly as I watch my Mate fuck another girl.
As Ethan thrusted more and more furiously into Stacey, he suddenly gripped her waist tightly and climaxed loudly. He let out a satisfied moan as he stared as me defiantly.
That sick fuck.
I couldn't move at all. I felt complete disgust and hatred but my legs failed me.
I need to get out now.
Stacey finally opened her eyes and got up from the desk. As she turned around to dress herself up, she spotted me and she yelled with vitriol.
"EW! YOU SICK FUCK. What the fuck are you doing, watching us, you perverted mutt! FUCK OFF BITCH!" she scrambled to pull her top over her exposed breasts.
Her shout shocked me into action. I turned around and ran.
I could still hear her screaming.
I ran and I ran.
As I ran, tears flowed freely as I couldn't comprehend what just happened.
Finally, I collapsed into a pile in the middle of a field.
Xena and I bawled loudly, this was not supposed to happen.
It felt as if I can never stop the tears from coming.
My eyes were already swollen but the tears were relentless.
My heart ached so excruciatingly that all I could do is beat my chest painfully so that it could manifest in some physical, tangible way.
The sun was finally setting, and my phone showed that I have 26 missed calls from Al and 13 missed calls from my parents.
Honestly, I don't want to see anyone.
As I lay down on the field, completely dried up and exhausted, a sudden thought came to me in a moment of clarity.
--
Ethan knew.
His birthday was last month, he knew then that I was his Mate.
He knew.