Chapter 5 - Seren

My head was a mess by the time I walked into the house. Only to find my Mum’s angry eyes staring at me. Yes, I had managed it again. I had pissed her off. I could win awards in that.

“I lost my bracelet when I went for a run, okay?” I explained, hoping she might at least show me some sympathy, or, if not, then try to understand the reason I had not returned when she had asked me to. “So I had to go back and look for it.”

Her big green eyes darkened at those words, her brow furrowed. “As in the bracelet your Dad gave you?” Her voice was hoarse, and already I knew this was not going to go as I hoped, so I simply nodded.

A heavy sigh slipped from my Mum’s lips as her hands fell to her sides in what I could only assume was frustration. “How could you be so irresponsible, Seren?” she snapped. “You know how precious that bracelet is! It is not like you can just get another one. Or at least not one that would hold the same meaning.”

My eyes widened at her reaction. She had to be kidding, right? Like I had chosen to lose it on purpose? My heart was breaking at the fact I had not been able to find it, and the last thing I needed was my Mum yelling at me over it. And the weird thing was the one person in the pack who hated me more than anyone else had shown me more sympathy than my own fucking mother!

“No shit!” I sobbed. “I didn’t choose for it to fall off. But, you will be glad to know while I was up there I saw King Lachlan and wished him a happy birthday. He actually tried to help me find the bracelet. So, I did as you asked, okay?” I walked away from her, wiping the stray tear that had slipped from my eye. Hating that my Mum had been so harsh over the bracelet. I felt incomplete without it, and now I had her giving me a hard time over losing it. Almost like she felt it had been intentional.

“Seren, wait!” Mum’s voice echoed along the hallway of our family home. A home that had never felt the same to me since my Dad passed away. It felt empty almost, which was crazy when there were still three of us living here. But it just didn't feel right without my Dad here.

I turned sharply as I reached the staircase, and looked back toward her. “So you can tell me how bad I am?” I questioned, sniffling the tears away.

My Mum offered me a sympathetic smile. “I am sorry for yelling, it just hurts that you may have lost the last thing your Dad gave you, Ren.” Her voice sounded a little unsteady, telling me she may be as close to tears as I was. I wish I had never told her about the bracelet now, and just took the blame for being late. Anything would have been better than the guilt I was currently feeling...

“Do you not think that is how I am feeling?” I suggested, and she nodded slowly, that same smile offered once more.

“It was nice of Lach to help you look for it. Such a sweet boy. And on his birthday too.” Mum said with a tenderness in her voice that made me roll my eyes. Both her and my Aunt Zoe, the former Luna, saw Lachlan as an additional son. Acted like the sun shone from his ass.

“Uh-huh.”

“Seren, give the boy a break. Today will be hard for him. A day he should be sharing with his Dad. His Dad gave his life so you could be here. Remember that.” My Mum’s words hit hard. She had a habit of reminding me of one of the scariest days of my life… one I would forever hold guilt over, but it was unfair to hold it over me like that.

I walked away from her without a further word. I was not about to get into this again. “Oh, Seren, get yourself cleaned up, we are expected at the training field in an hour to put the finishing touches to the party.” Mum ordered me, and again I felt my shoulders sag in anticipation of what would lie ahead for me.

Before I knew it, we were walking out of the house together, my Mum already wittering in my ear about all the things that she wanted me to do once we arrived, and then moved onto all the things they had arranged for the celebrations. They had, just as I had expected, gone to a lot of effort for Lachlan’s birthday. But, they had done the same for my brother, Cole, when he had come of age, and the same for our Alpha, Marcus, as he came of age. So, no doubt they wanted to ensure that Lachlan received the same treatment. Our pack liked to celebrate properly, and tonight, the atmosphere would be a good one. I just wish I did not have to join in.

“Can you please try to look like you want to be there, Seren.” Mum admonished me and I plastered on a fake smile, only to earn myself a frown from the woman to my left. “You are not clever, young lady.”

“No, I don’t suppose I am.” I muttered under my breath, just as my Aunt Zoe, our former pack Luna, wrapped her arms around me in a huge hug, almost smothering me in the process.

“Aww, hello beautiful!” she said excitedly. I looked across at my Mum in a bid for help, and she simply grinned. They were all as over-affectionate as one another. All over-friendly, and far too cheerful for my liking, but they were my closest family at the end of the day. I had to love them.

“Hey Aunt Zoe.” I smiled awkwardly, trying to extricate myself from her embrace.

“Mom, let the poor girl go!” Marcus, the pack Alpha, and my brother’s best friend laughed as he walked past. “Alright Rennie!” he offered me a hand for a high five. I hated his nickname, but he had picked it when he was about eight, and it has stuck ever since.

“Hey Marcus, sorry, Alpha!” I stuck my tongue out at him. While Lachlan and I may no longer get along, Marcus has always looked out for me. He and his mate, our new pack Luna, Amalie, often spent time with my brother, Cole, so I enjoyed seeing them.

“They roped you into setting up the party?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Unlcuky. I get out of it, because I am important.” He laughed, giving me a wink, so I shook my head at him, giving him the middle finger as he walked away laughing.

“Right, come on, still lots to do.” Aunt Zoe told me, just as Lachlan’s Mum, Alena, rushed over.

“Lachlan is already on his way!” she fusses, and instantly I felt any happiness draining from me. I don’t think I was ready for spending time with him again yet. The time spent together earlier in the forest had been awkward enough, as much as I may have appreciated his help. The way his dark eyes continued to fall upon me had made me feel uncomfortable. Something seemed different about him. Maybe it was the new wolf... the Beta aura he now possessed. But, whatever it was, I did not like it. That look was intimidating. And it scared me. He scared me.

“I will get Harry to send a pack link out then we can get everyone here. And Marcus can delay him.” Aunt Zoe said calmly, with a smile, as if she had no worries at all in the world. She was a queen at organizing celebrations, so she had nothing to stress about tonight. I, however, had everything to worry about. I was being forced to come to a party I wanted to avoid.

A party that the special guest was already on his way to. A special guest that hated me, yet I was expected to treat him like he was something special, especially today. Great…