Chapter Two: Her mate

Adira is ecstatic about the mating ball tonight. It is been all that she and her girlfriends could talk about all week.

Mating ball is a time when a werewolf finds the one he or she would be mated with for life, and Adira is holding her breath for this special someone.

Having grown up watching her parents loving relationship, their deep affection for each other. How much her father adores and protects her mother, and how in turn she worships her father, Adira longs for the same thing for herself.

Her father, though a very strict disciplinarian, is very affectionate, and deeply protective especially to the people he loves, and she wants someone like that.

Basically, she is wishing that the moon goddess would grant her someone like her father. She has a boyfriend, Jake, who is the son of their Beta. She and Jake have been dating since their Sophomore year.

Adira loves Jake so much because he reminds her of her father. He has her father’s strength, while also displaying his sensitive heart.

Jake isn't only handsome, but kind and down to earth. The kind of person Adira would love to spend the rest of her life with. She hopes dearly that the moon goddess would make them mates, because Jake is the perfect one for her.

While Adira’s thoughts is focused on her boyfriend, another face crashes through her thoughts. A face she forces herself not to think about.

Anytime she thought about her sister it always evokes a tsunami of rage inside her that Adira doesn't know how to deal with. She resents and loves her sister so dearly, and the two strong emotions she feels with the brunette battles each other in her mind feeling her with discomfort, so she decided not to think about her sister at all.

Growing up, she had worshipped her sister, following her around like a love-sick puppy, her heart desiring for a smile from the one she adores so much, only her sister never wanted her around.

She treated her like a pest that she couldn't stand, getting angry at her for the slightest mistake. Rarely, played with her. But despite her sister’s indifference to her, Adira admired her so much and wanted to be like her.

Her sister was strong, resilience and the most beautiful person Adira has ever seen.

Growing up, she had the worst crush on her, but she out grew it.

Hopefully, Adira added as she applied her make up delicately in front of her vanity mirror. Seeing her sister in any other light aside sisterhood is not only wrong because they are siblings, but because her sister is a girl.

Adira dreads to think what her parents and everyone would think of her if they found out that she sometimes imagines what it would feel like to kiss her sister.

Probably think her sick, and her parents would commit her into a mental institution to have her insanity cured.

A knock sounded on her door, jolting her from her reverie.

“Yes!” Adira called out, setting down her powder puff.

“Honey! Are you ready?” Her mother questioned opening the door. The older blonde frowned at the sight of her daughter still in her underwear, nowhere ready to leave with them now.

“Adira! What have you been doing all these while?” Her mother raised a brow at her. Adira had gone up to get ready for the ball two hours ago, and yet she has yet to put on her clothes.

Adira offered a sheepish smile. “I’m taking my time, Mother. If I’m going to outshine everyone tonight, I need to look perfect.”

Her mother’s stern look melted into a fond smile. “Trying to impress someone special, are we?” she teased, her green eyes sparkling mischievously.

Adira’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t deny it. “Of course, Mother. I’m hoping to impress my mate.”

“Oh my darling,” her mother crooned fondly, she is aware of how much her daughter longs to find her mate. They are best of friends and her daughter have always confided in her, and that is how she knew how much finding her mate meant to her daughter.

“So, do you have anyone in particular?” She asked curiously, while thinking her daughter must desire her long-standing boyfriend for a mate. The young man would be good for her daughter. He is kind-hearted and well brought up. If there is anybody she would chose for her daughter it would be him.

Adira hesitated for a moment, another face flashing unbidden in her mind before she pushed it away. “I’d love for it to be Jake,” she admitted. “But if it’s not, I’ll accept whoever the Moon Goddess chooses for me.”

Her mother smiled approvingly. “Well, let’s hope the Moon Goddess grants your wish.” She kissed Adira’s forehead. “Your father and I will head over now. Don’t be too long, okay?”

As her mother left, Adira’s thoughts turned inward. What would she do if her mate wasn’t Jake? She loved him, but she couldn’t ignore the lack of a spark between them. She had hoped that if they were mates, the bond would bridge that gap.

Adira finished with her make up and got up from the small stool she sat on, and walked to the bed where her purple princess gown laid spread out.

She lifted the gown, and slipped it up her body from her feet. The gown hugged her from her moderate bossom to her tiny waist, before spreading out in a wide flay, like Snow White dress. The gown small puff sleeves slide slightly off Adira’s delicate shoulders.

She had her blonde hair up in fancy silver pins, and a silver necklace with a diamond pendant adorning her slender neck.

She slipped her small feet into a pair of silver sandals, picked her small silver clutch and walked out of her room.

On the stairs, her phone rang, it was Jake calling her to let her know he was waiting down stairs.

Perfect timing, Adira thought with a smile as she descended down the stairs.

As she drew closer to the door, her heart began to thump in her chest. This is it? She hasn't seen Jake in days, and today she is hoping that once their eyes meet everything will fall into place.

When Jake saw her coming, he quickly got out of the car to open the passenger door for her. “You look stunning,” he complimented with a beautiful smile on his tanned face, his brown eyes connecting with hers fondly.

As soon as her green eyes met his and nothing happened, Adira felt a sharp sting of disappointment in her chest, and her bright expression clouded.

“What is wrong, Adira?” Jake asked worriedly, seeing her crestfallen expression.

“We are not mates,” Adira muttered sadly, looking to the ground.

Jake reached out to gently tilting her chin so their eyes met. “It doesn't matter to me,” he said softly, his brown eyes staring down at her with so much love. Jake is a foot taller than Adira.

Adira’s heart raced at Jake’s words. She didn't expect such commitment, and wondered if she felt the same toward him? “But…” she began to remind him that if they weren't mates, it means that someone else is, but he caught her off by placing one long finger over her lightly coated lips.

“No but, baby. I love you, and no one else, and I will not allow some archaic tradition to tell me who to love.”

Adira didn't agree with Jake. To her, finding your mate is the ultimate thing. As a werewolf she didn't believe that you love someone who isn't your mate with your whole heart, there will always be something missing, but she wasn't giving a chance to express her views before Jake claimed her lips with his.

He kissed her passionately until they ran out of air. He pulled back slightly and gazed at her with such an intense smoldering look in his eyes that it left Adira breathless.

“I want to make love to you,” Jake whispered achingly, his calloused fingers caressing the smooth skin of her cheeks in a loving fashion.

Adira closed her eyes, leaning into his touch even as her heart pounded anxiously at Jake’s request. She hasn't giving herself to him because she has been waiting for her mate. How does she tell him that nothing has changed on that front?

“I am sorry Jake, but I am not yet ready to take our relationship in that direction.”

A fleeting look of disappointment flashed through Jake’s eyes but was gone before Adira could note its presence.

“Then promise me something,” he pleaded, his brown eyes softening.

“What?” Adira asked curiously, tilting her head backward a little bit.

“That you would choose me.”

Adira couldn't promise that. For years, she had longed to find her mate, and even though she had wished for the person to be the gorgeous boy in front of her, that didn't mean she was giving up on that dream.

“I'm sorry, Jake. I can't,” Adira said regretfully, hoping the boy would understand. She can't loose her chance at a true love, at having the same thing her parents has.

Jake nodded, his jaw tightening as he fought to hide his pain. “I understand. But I won’t give up on you.”

Adira didn't have a response to his words, so she entered the car instead.

They drove in silence to the hotel venue, when they got in, Adira used the excuse of finding her parents to escape the awkwardness that has settled between them.

It didn't take long for her to find her parents in the slightly crowded room. As she approached them, her heart leaped to her throat at the sight of the tall figure standing beside them.

She came, she thought in slight panic. Her sister has always avoided events like this, and Adira never knew why. She had assumed she would miss this one as well, and didn't prepare to meet her sister.

How long has it been? Four years, five? Her sister had made it a point to come home when she knew Adira wouldn't be home.

They haven't seen each other in a while, and Adira wondered how much her sister had changed.

“Right behind you,” she said in a low husky tone when she heard her sister asking after her.

When she turned and their eyes met, her whole world collapsed around her.

“It can't be,” Adira panicked feeling faint.