Irene
Days pass as she works, monitoring every detail of the pack and working in the kitchen during her free time. A day passed and another, and soon enough she is dawning the day of her 18th birthday.
She cannot help but be ecstatic as the night approaches. Whilst working in the kitchen, she feels giddy earning stares from the other staff. She ignores all their stares, for the first time none of those mattered, she was far too happy to let them do so.
As she chopped the vegetables, she wondered if she was going to find her mate sldays from now. Many questions filled her mind how was hi going to look? Where were they going to meet? When were they going to meet?
She was expecting this day for a long time, having been alone and ostracized from the pack, the idea of having someone fated to her, who would love her not for her past or her duties, was special.
A traitorous thought sneaked into her mind : What if he rejected her?
Her blood froze and she put down the knife she was holding. After a moment, she picked up the knife began chopping again.
There was no use worrying about that anyway.
As the sun began to set, the itch inside her grew until it was feverish. She was more restless than ever. She knew she wouldn't be able to concentrate at the moment, opting to leave the pack kitchen instead.
She passed all the others to meet Madam BiBi who was instructing a person.
"Madame, I will take my leave now." she said, bowing slightly.
Even though she was the beta of the pack, Madam BiBi was the one ruling the kitchen, and she wasn't here as a beta but as a simple worker.
The older woman looked at her scrutinizingly for a moment before speaking "Tonight will be your birthday wouldnt it?"
He eyes widened slightly at Madam Bibi's words. Apart from the alpha and the Luna, nobody else knew of her birthday.
"How did you-"
The woman tutted and put her hands on her lips, silently making Irene keep silent.
"No need to worry how I know. Go now, before I change my mind."
Knowing that saying anymore will bring more problems to her, Irene gave a grateful smile, giving a small thanks as she passed the woman, removing the aporn and cap she was wearing and running all the way to her home within the pack house.
On her way there she saw two boxes lodged on her home, like it was this same day the year before, and the years before since her parents died.
All from the Alpha and Luna of the pack.
Her eyes teared up a little. She had visited them in the morning before going to do her pack duties, she didn't know how they were able to do all this in the short period of time. Especially as Alpha Corneal's health was still recovering, he and the Luna had still made time to select a gift for her. Normally they would come by themselves when they could, but the gesture was beautiful all the same.
She went towards her room and opened it with her key. With her werewolf strength she was able to lift the boxes which was surprisingly light. She dropped them on her living room.
Despite her need for patience the itch in her only hastened her escitement. Taking a small breath, she was able to effectively transform her hand at will, using her claws sh eopenrd the taped seal of both of the boxes to see a smaller box and a card.
Dear Irene
Happy 18th birthday!
Im sorry that we couldn't visit you personally this time
But luckily for us, we had long since planned for your birthday gift a long time ago.
Whenever you get this, tonight will be the night you will be able to find your fated one. It may be tonight or the next or even a few months!
Whenever it may be, I know that there is someone out there for you, and I know that whoever it is will love you as you do them.
Signed
Marina Corneal
Michael Corneal
She looke into the smaller box and gasped in wonder.
It was a necklace, encased in a black velvet casing. The necklace in particular, was a beautiful rose gold metal.
Most of all, at its center laid an intricately sculpted daffodil. Her birth flower.
"Oh" she breathed out shakily, raising the necklace up. This was too much, far too personal for her to handle.
It was as she looked at it that she saw an engraving on the back of the pendant. It was very tiny, but with squinting, she could see it.
Love, I. A
She gasped. Those were her mother's initials.
Underneath the box she saw another note inside.
This was chosen by your own mother. Back then she thought of what she was going to give to you for your 18th birthday, and by the time she knew it, she had already ordered a custom made necklace before you had even reached your first year! She wished she was going to give this to you the day you turned 18, and even though she is not among us, I knew that I will have to pass it on to you.
I know that you will treasure it as much as she did.
Marina Corneal.
She checked underneath the same box and saw another gift inside probably from the Alpha himself. Opening it, she saw a small note and A small leather satchel.
Dear Irene,
By now you are soon to turn 18, your father himself left you a gift before the rogue attack, knowing that there was a chance he may not have come back.
She opened the small leather satchel and saw the small dagger inside. Judging from the fact that she could feel it, it wasn't made if silver. As she unsheathed it, she saw an engraving on the hilt. It was a Latin phrase.
Temet nosce
She held on to the necklace and knife closely, reveling in the small memory of her father and mother. She turned to look at their picture on the window and imagined then smiling at her at this moment.
"Thank you" she whispered to the empty room.
She opened the second box to see the gifts from the both of them. While the Luna gifted her a copper charm bracelet, the Alpha Had given her a keychain holder and a journal. A smile came to her face at his typical gifts and appreciated both
Her past excitement was now gone and filled with simple contentment,she made herself a meal, of pasta and ate fitfully. As the stars shined and the orange sky became night, she felt the itching feeling again.
She looked at the clock, it was now a few minutes clocking 12. In a few minutes from now, she'll finally be of age.
This time she felt the urge to run. She was drawn to the full moon that now shined brightly in the sky.
Leaving her home, she took her time running to the forest. By the time she had gotten there, she spread her arms wide and breathed in the fresh night air. She felt bigger than before, the rush of adrenaline pumping out if her in waves.
She didn't know how she knew, but somehow it clicked inside of her, making her look at the moon in happiness.
The clock had striked. She was 18 now.
With a whoop, she took off, hopping and dodging trees as she whizzed through them. She revealed in the cold wind blowing at her,the scent of trees and wildlife surrounding her, the rush of energy that was in her at the moment. It all felt surreal. In this moment she could help but feel so...
Free.
It felt like she hadn't done this in a long time. She truly hadn't, having been
She didn't know how long she ran in the forest. Taking a breath she was urged to stop. She lay down onto a grassy bed, looking at the sky whilst panting heavily.
Soon she heard a sharp snap of a twig which made her sit up in alert. She turned to the direction and saw a shiloette coming among the forest. Immediately, she stood up and looked at the shadow
Her heart beat faster, her wolf got more restless, anticipating something she could not comprehend. She came towards the shiloette and the moon shined brightly to to reveal the hidden figure.
She would recognise those grey eyes, the dark hair that stood against the night. The face and body.
It was Jack.
She wanted to step back, yet she could not, feeling more drawn than ever. They looked at each other, and finally she could comprehend the draw she felt. Her heart fell as she realised what it meant.
Mate