Chapter 2

I hear a loud shrieking sound and open my eyes and groan looking for the deafening sound.

I look to my left and on my bedside table I see the culprit ringing and vibrating telling me that it's time to wake up.

I reach my hand over and slide the bar on my phone to silence the obnoxious sound.

I look at the time and date and lay back down looking up at the ceiling. "Happy birthday to me...whoppee," I say sarcastically into the still air.

I lay there for a few more minutes before I decide to get out of bed and walk to my bathroom to start the shower.

Once I see the steam coming out from the top of the curtain I take off my clothes and get in.

It feels so refreshing, like yesterday was wiped away. This is my happy place and the only time where I can just be to myself and not have a care in the world.

I stay in there until I start to get pruny and shut if off. I wrap a towel around myself and head back into my room to my closet.

I decide on some dark blue skinny jeans with rips at the knees, a white t-shirt, and a grey and black knitted cardigan to go over it. I put my black knee high boots on and head over to my vanity.

I look at my hair distastefully and decide to just blow dry it and leave it in its natural waves.

Once done I grab my backpack and hurry down the steps hoping that I avoid my father this morning.

As my hand touches the door knob I hear my name being called by a gruff voice.

No, please not today.

I turn around reluctantly to see my father standing a few feet away from me. I come to see that he already has his permanent scowl on for the day as he looks at me detestably.

"Today after school I need you to come straight home," he starts. "Alpha Bryant wants to speak with us and I need you to make a nice meal and show your face," my father surprisingly says in a calm tone. What do they want with us? Last time I checked we left, well actually my father was the one who decided to leave for the both of us.

"Okay," I say lowly expecting this is some sort of game and that I'll be cussed out any second now.

Instead to my suprise he nods his head and turns around to walk away. Before he's out of my view he stops still facing away from me and after a few beats he tells me over his shoulder, "Happy Birthday," and then continues to the living room to finish watching some tv show that sounds like cowboys and indians.

I stand there for a minute shocked not knowing what's going on. That was weird. This dinner must be important for him to be talking to me somewhat decent and remembering my birthday.

I walk out the door not wanting to dwell on it any longer.

I arrive at my high school after a fifteen minute walk and enter the two silver doors that lead inside to my safe haven I call school.

Most people hate school, but I actually like it. It allows me to escape the drama at home and it's also a plus that I'm really good at it.

I begin to walk to my first period class, Anatomy, one of my favorites, when I hear a girls voice calling out from behind me.

"Hey, E wait up."

I turn around and see my best friend Emerie jogging over to me.

"Hey Em, how are you?" I say brightly.

She's dressed in some blue jeans and a white long sleeved shirt adorned with a grey scarf. She's a petite girl with beautiful hazel eyes and dark brown hair.

We've been the best of friends since we were five. We come from the same pack and have a lot in common. We both love food, movies, and have an obsession for reality tv. Personality wise though we're the complete opposite. She's outgoing and I'm shy and like to keep to myself. She goes after what she wants and I am content with whatever I already have. She's absolutely stunning and I'm just your average looking girl even though she tells me I should look in the mirror because I'm gorgeous inside and out. She's truly a great friend.

"Ahhhhh happy birthday!" She exclaims ignoring my question.

"Thanks Em," I shly reply back.

"Girl this is the big one eight you have to be more excited than that. You have the chance to meet your mate now and be with him forever," she says excitedly jumping up and down causing heads to turn our way.

"Keep it down you're making a scene," I whisper where she can only hear me. She rolls her eyes at me.

"This is the big one," she repeats in a quieter tone this time.

"I know. It's just...it's just I don't know."

"It's just what?" She questions waiting for my response.

I look at her and sigh. "It's just what if he takes one look at me and decides that he doesn't want someone like me?"

Em stares back at me like I've just grown two heads. "What do you mean someone like you?"

"Come on Em you know what I mean. I mean look at me, look at who I am. I surely don't have your looks and I also know I'm branded as the pack outsider. I hardly talk to anyone here but you. People look at me differently and..."

"And nothing Elena. That's BS and you know it." She cuts me off.

"First of all you don't even know if your mate is part of our pack or if you even know them at all. Secondly, your beautiful, smart, and kind. Anybody would be lucky to have you. And third stop beating yourself up so much. He's your mate for god's sake. Y'all are destined to be together and have like twenty human pups, so be positive," she says with her head held high like it's the truest thing anybody has ever heard.

I look at her and realize how lucky I am to have her in my life.

"You know what Em, you're right. I am going to start being more positve. I am going to have twenty kids and my mate is going to be amazing and love me for me." I try to say it in the most convincing voice that I can muster up. Hey it's what they always say, "if you believe it you can achieve it." Although I don't know if I actually want twenty kids.

"That's the spirit," she says as she hooks her arm through mine and leads us to our first period class.

When I enter the classroom I notice a pleasant smell. It's nothing like I have ever smelt before and I can't get enough of it. I'm drawn to it. My wolf goes crazy.

My eyes start to wander around the room willing me to find where it's coming from. They soon land on two breathtaking, vivid green eyes that are already staring back at me.

I gasp and my world stops.

I can't breath.