One

Emily’s POV

“Rise and shine to a new beginning sweetheart,” My mother said pulling open my window curtains and letting in the flow of light 

I opened my eyes to the bright light as I had my hand over my face to shield my face from the sun 

My darkroom soon was eluded by the brightness of the sun peeking through my window blinds

It was my 18th birthday and it all didn’t seem like it 

I only wished for a mate and a birthday as calm as every other 

Being the only known daughter of the Beta of our packing made things easy around the pack and made me well-known around the pack by other pack members 

And not to mention having a boyfriend who loves and cares about you 

Dorian…

Dorian and I have known ourselves like since forever, and have been dating since I was fourteen 

As I got up to my feet looking into my reflection in the mirror

Eighteen wasn’t actually anything special

It felt all the same

Growing up as the only child of the Beta of our pack was a blessing as I was given everything I wanted and had all a child would ever need to be comfortable in a home

I moved to my closet not minding my mum blabbing on how messed I had the state of my room in

I flipped through the hangers, searching for what to wear for my dinner party 

My dad had always been a fan of birthday parties and had all birth year celebrated 

And now turning Eighteen still felt like my tenth birthday 

Having me friends over as they sang me a happy birthday song all through the party

Blowing out candles were my favorite part of ny birthday parties

Balloons tied with ribbons and so on, but this time a few decorations around the house 

How time flies 

Doesn’t it?…

I thought about how age had taken a toll on me and how things were changing with the year

“Hey honey get ready for breakfast!!” my mother yelled on her way out 

I got into the shower and ran the water over my skin, feeling refreshed from tossing all through the night

I had my favorite dress on, still without a birthday dress as I was confused about what to wear for the night

As I got down the stairs, I found my dad smiling at me like he admired every bit of what he saw on me 

“My beautiful angel” he said as he had his arms open for a hug

“Happy birthday sweetheart” he said as he handed me a box

“What’s in here?” I said flipping the box back and forth 

“Open it” he said smiling to me 

I loved how handsome he always looked when he smiled 

Without wasting much time, I had it opened and saw a beautiful silver necklace and a Diamond pendant having the family symbol Which spelt “James”

I hugged the living daylight out of him when I opened it

“My very own pendant, thanks daddy” I said giving him a big embrace 

All through breakfast, it was laughter as we talked about everything and anything bringing memories of the good old days

These were moments I found so precious 

Spending time with my mother and father…

As I sat with them, I admired how lovely they both looked together as I thought about Dorian and how sweet we would look together in few years time

I glanced at my phone, hoping I would see a text from Dorian 

But not a single text from him

Instead, I got a text from Lily who happened to be my best friend since childhood 

Or so I thought…

The mating ceremony was to be held along side my dinner party and I just couldn’t wait to have my friends and loved ones over 

I was hoping the moon goddess would grant me my heart desires of being mated to my boyfriend Dorian 

As I had rejected Roman, the Alpha of the red creek park who had asked for my hand in marriage 

My father was so glad when he did, but was somewhat disappointed when I declined 

As I didn’t care anyway…

I saw how family members trooped in with various gifts and wishes as they came in settling for the mating ceremony alongside my dinner party

I was indeed blessed with the people I had around me

I wasn’t so sure why I hadn’t gotten a text from Dorian, which was so unusual 

I tried placing a call to him but still wasn’t reachable 

I texted back Lily who had dropped a message some hours ago 

I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I felt so tired from helping out with a few arrangements down the hall

After minutes of tossing and turning on my bed, I went off to my closet 

Feeling determined on a picking a dress for the night without any delay

After two wrong picks on what to wear, I spotted a red dress I have had for a long time without wearing 

I tried it on as I looked into the mirror staring at my reflection 

A few moments later, Lily was here

“Where the hell have you been girl?” I asked throwing one of the dress I had littered around the room

“I think I would go with this you have on” she said as she had her hand to her chin 

She made herself comfortable as she laid on my bed looking so exhausted 

I looked into the mirror staring at my reflection again as I wasn’t so satisfied with what I had on

“Look at you! You are beautiful hurry up” Lily said as she got to her feet 

“Aren’t you changing what you have on?” I asked her

Wondering why she still wasn’t bothered about changing 

The Lilly I know, would have had her makeover done by now but she didn’t 

“I will for sure, but first…Let’s make a toast to a new beginning” she said as she brought out a tumbler from my refrigerator pouring out the Orange juice she had gotten on her way to the house

“You didn’t have to girl, we have a lot to drink for dinner” I said smiling so innocently as I grabbed my own share

“A toast to…” she said looking straight into my eyes

“A new beginning” I said as I had my glass against hers

Together we drank and laughed remembering the good old days

We were grown girls now anyway…

As she smiled, I remembered how innocently cute she looked the day we met at the playground having our parents worried over finding us

A day I would always remember 

For a moment I felt the walls coming in on me, I giggled when Lilly said something but wasn’t sure why I giggled 

Soon afterwards, the pain I felt down my stomach was intrusively painful as it didn’t subside like I expected it to

I held on to the arm chair as I was in need of support from falling

I looked up at Lilly who stood there doing nothing as she watched me cry out in pain

“Help!!!” I cried out

I wasn’t so much of a drama queen, so I wondered why Lilly just stood there watching as I winced in pain 

Without her minding the pain I was going through at that point in time 

“Lilly my stomach hurts, get mummy” I said as I had my eyes closed wanting for the pain I felt to go away

But it didn’t, instead it became worse

I watched how Lily walked up to the door as she had it locked 

I couldn’t understand why she did that as I thought of what I had forgotten to do or probably done to make her care less

She wasn’t the girl I met at the playground when I was nine 

“Lilly, what are you doing? I asked still wondering why she wasn’t moved 

She didn’t bulge either, instead she sat back down as she had her hands to her chest waiting probably till what I feared was happening to actually happen 

Did she plan this?…. I asked myself as I thought of ways to crawl to the door probably with the last strength I had to have it opened 

My legs felt numb all of a sudden as I felt cold through my hands and feet

I was slowly losing it and needed help as fast as possible 

Wolves were practically crafted to kill and protect according to instincts but now it felt as though she had this planned for a while now 

I couldn’t help but wonder why I had to go through this on my 18th birthday and wished I had accepted the proposal of Roman

Not that felt any attraction towards him but it definitely would have saved me the stress of going through 

I looked up at her halfway gone as I felt the urge to throw up 

As I looked down to the floor where I laid, I froze when I saw it

Blood…

I was poisoned 

After moments of me tossing on the ground crying out in pain begging for Lilly to send in help 

I heard a tap on the door

Finally help came…

Or so I thought anyway 

The tap came in twice and I wondered who it was on the other end

I saw how slowly Lilly walked up to the door trying to see who it was 

And when she finally heard the tap, she opened up

I wasn’t so sure of who I saw, but the voice sounded so familiar 

She hugged the figure that came in

And soon rather than later I got a glimpse of who it was 

Dorian…

They had this all planned 

My heart sank the moment he walked in

I felt so helpless as I they stood before me 

The very two persons I had trusted and hoped on spending the rest of the day with 

And now I lay here in wait of death

A tap came on the door soon after he entered as I prayed for it to be someone who has com to help 

“The party would be starting in an hour guys, hurry up” 

It was my mother…

She probably must be wondering what had kept us in for a long time 

I cried out in pain when I heard her voice as I wished to see her just one last time before drifting on to the warm 

embrace of death

“I’m sorry things had to end this way, but you have long been in a position that was meant to be mine” Lilly said as she giggled 

“And now, I have come to take what’s rightfully mine” she added holding on to the hands of Dorian as they kissed right in front of me 

I wondered why death felt so slow leaving me in the hands of the torture I was going through having them here together 

Mates are gifts from the moon goddess to her people but now it felt as though mine was forcefully taken away from me by someone else 

I could feel Dorian staring at me from time to time as he spoke with Lilly 

I watched as they laughed and giggled to themselves as I had my eyes closed finally giving up on life and everything I had around me 

All the attraction I felt for him soon disappeared as I was left in my own pool of blood to suffer

Death was finally here

I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth embrace I felt from death 

I could hear faintly Dorian and Lily as they giggled turning in the lock to my room

I wasn’t sure what next as I thought of where exactly it is I had gone wrong as I begged to be grsy

Soon it all came to a stop

I was gone…