6 months later...
Enya POV
Tomorrow is finally my 18th birthday.
I've spent the last 6 months trying to reduce the amount of time I spend training. I took what Erik said to heart, I needed to give myself more days off.
I went from training 7 days a week to 5 days. It was honestly difficult, but also very rewarding. I got to spend more time with my mom, she is an apothecary and makes potions as well as medicines for the pack.
Werewolves heal at a rapid pace, but our full healing abilities don't manifest until we gain our wolf, it's the reason my mom has stayed in business all these years. The pups often injure themselves while training.
She works at the pack infirmary with Dr. Allyson Winters, they have always been very close, almost like sisters. They even share the same birthday.
My parents made her my godmother, I've always called her Aunt Ally.
She is perhaps the sweetest woman alive, her smile lights up any room she walks into. She has very curly blonde hair that is cut just below her jawline.
The curls surround her face beautifully and her eyes are the purest green I've ever seen. She is mates with one of the packs warriors, Troy Winters.
She was his second chance mate. His first mate, Laura, was killed in a rouge attack about 20 years ago. When a wolf loses it's mate they tend to go insane from the grief. Others will die with their mate, the pain of losing them is too much to bear.
Uncle Troy spent over a year with the grief of losing Laura, he has told me before that he nearly took his own life. He was days away from carrying it out, then Aunt Ally arrived with my mom.
My parents met 19 years ago, both my mom and Aunt Ally were human, but my mom was the only one mated to a wolf. She begged Alpha James to let her best friend come live with the pack.
She told him of how close they had been all their lives, and that she was aware of the existence of werewolves, along with other supes.
Her family had disowned her and she had no one else to rely on. Her heartfelt plea convinced the Alpha to let her come stay in the pack. The next day Ally was brought to live on the pack lands.
A few days later Ally and Troy met. They were both very surprised to find out they had been mated. Most wolves don't get a second chance mate. She certainly brought him back to life.
They have been married for the last 17 years and have 5 children together. Their only daughter, Jemma is like my sister, she turns 17 next week. Her 4 little brothers are always running around causing some kind of damage, but they are good kids.
When a human is mated to a werewolf, and they are marked, they are blessed with their own wolf. They have less abilites than the wolves that are born into the pack, but they have the ones that count the most.
Their senses are heightened, they are able to mind-link with the pack, and they have rapid healing as well. They are not as fast and aren't the strongest fighters, so they usually work as employees that run our businesses outside of the pack.
They sometimes find another position that helps to strengthen the pack as a whole. That's how my mom and Aunt Ally came to work at the infirmary.
My mom has said that becoming a werewolf was the strangest, most exhilarating experience of her life. To be able to mind-link with dad and mark him as well, gave her the greatest joy she had ever had.
Until I was born of course.
My parents were marked and mated for only a couple weeks before my mom got pregnant. I've heard the story of how I was born a hundred times.
She nearly lost me in the 21st week of her pregnancy. She had pre-eclampsia and was put on bed rest until I was born. Aunt Ally was by her side every day, so was dad.
I wasn't supposed to be born until mid August, but on July 24th my mom went into labor. The packs midwife had gone out of town that week to visit her brother's pack up north. That meant Aunt Ally and Luna Lizzie had to deliver me themselves.
After 13 hours of intense labor my mom was finally able to hold me for the first time. She and my dad cried over me and thanked the Moon Goddess I was alive and healthy.
Unfortunately my mom wouldn't stop bleeding, she was rushed into surgery only minutes after I was born. The surgeon had no choice but to perform a full hysterectomy, my parents would never be able to have another pup.
They were devastated, but they were also grateful that they had me and mom had survived.
My name Enya is Celtic for fire, my mom said they chose that name for my red hair. My middle name Ruth was my grandmother's name on my mom's side. She died shortly after my parents met.
I've only ever met my mom's sister, Aunt Reyna, no other member from her side of the family. I haven't seen Aunt Reyna much in my life, only a couple times over the years.
The last time I saw her I was 10, she was always nice to me, but I barely remember what she looks like after all these years.
Each high ranked wolf has a huge celebration for their 18th birthday. The entire pack attends the party and then witnesses their first shift.
My party is only 24 hours away, I'm practically buzzing from excitement. My mom, Aunt Ally and Luna Lizzie have been planning this bash for the last 3 weeks.
They asked me what colors I wanted the ballroom decorated in, naturally I chose turqoiuse and black. My mom rolled her eyes when I asked for black. She hates that color, says it's not 'happy enough', whatever that means.
After that I was not allowed to know any of the details for the party, they wanted it to be a surprise when I walked in.
Mom and I have decided to go shopping for the dress I will wear tomorrow. After all the party planning she said it slipped her mind. I figured I would just wear something I already had in my closet.
She insisted that I needed a new dress, "You only turn 18 once. This will be the most important night of your life. Well, so far at least. Once you find your mate, not much else will compare to it."
"What about when I have a pup? Will that top the rest of those days?"
"Of course honey, but that won't be for a few more years I hope. I'm too young to be a grandmother."
We laughed together as we left the pack house in search of the perfect dress.
On our way to my parents car we ran into Erik and Luke. Ever since our match I've sort of been avoiding Erik. That night changed something in me.
I began having more frequent dreams about him and his wolf. He invaded my sleep nearly every night, and the dreams were so vivid I could hardly tell they weren't real. It was difficult enough for me before to not jump Erik's bones, but with these dreams it made it 100 times worse.
My body craved him so much, I wanted to be pinned by him again so badly that I often woke up drenched in sweat after dreaming about it.
Mom was the first to speak, "Hey guys, what are you up to?"
Luke replied, "Hi Mrs. Anders, we were just headed to the game room to shoot some pool."
"You boys are always playing games. And how many times have I asked you to call me Becca?", mom chuckled.
Luke couldn't help but laugh, "Sorry, Becca. Where are you two headed?"
"We are off to find Enya's birthday dress."
"Oh, I thought you would've picked it out weeks ago.", Erik chimed in. Up until he spoke his eyes were fixated on me. I was relieved when he broke away and addressed my mom.
"You know me, scatter brained. I lost track of all that needed to be done while planning with your mom and Ally."
"I didn't even know I had to get a new dress. I thought I would just wear something I already own.", I finally found my voice. I haven't said more than 3 words to Erik in the last few months.
Erik's eyes came back to mine as he said, "No way. You need something new to mark the occasion."
When he finished his sentence he visibly tensed up, he cast his eyes down before patting Luke on the shoulder and saying, "Hey man, we should go grab the pool table before some other wolves get at it."
"Right man, let's go. You ladies have a nice day. Can't wait for the party E!"
That was awkward.