Immediately

"I'll be right back, I need to attend to something important," I said to Patty and was about to walk away when she stopped me.

"It hasn't been five minutes since you came and you already going, what's wrong?, What do you want to tell me?"Patty asked.

"Something just happened at home and I need to be there," I replied.

"We need to talk Cassy. You have something to say to me and I also have something to say to you."She said.

"What do you want to say?"I asked.

"I got into Yale" She announced.

I was surprised"You got into Yale?"I asked to be sure of what I heard.

"Yes, I did. I will be traveling in the next three days."She said.

"Oh, safe journey," I muttered. 

It was the only thing I could say. I was surprised and dumbfounded at the same time.

Patty getting the college of her choice which is more than a thousand miles away from where I live, and also me finding my mate, it means our friendship is over.

"Are you okay?"Patty asked.

"I am. I'm glad you got into Yale, and I wish you the best."I replied.

"I know something is wrong Cassy. You are not glad that I got into Yale, you are sad. I can feel it."She said.

I sighed"You're good at reading minds" I replied.

"Getting into Yale doesn't mean our friendship is over. We can still text each other, and also do video calls."I said.

"Our friendship is over Patty" I yelled.

She glared at me for a while.

I exhaled"I'm sorry for yelling. But it's that I need to tell you something."I said.

"Go on, I'm all ears."She replied.

"I belong to a Lycan pack" I blurted.

She was silent and I could tell, she was trying to understand what she had just heard.

She chuckled"You are a werewolf?" she asked.

"I'm not a werewolf, I'm something stronger than a werewolf. I can transform at any time, I don't need to wait until it's a full moon."I replied.

Patty smiled"Is that what you're trying to say. I knew right from time, your mother told me when we became friends. She told me I shouldn't be afraid if you tried to attack me." she said.

"My mom told you that?"I asked.

"Yes, she did, "Patty replied.

I was surprised. All these times, she knew. She knew who I was, and she didn't react.

"So why didn't you react when she told you?"I asked.

"Because I don't want you to feel bad. You are who you are Cassy, and you should be proud of that. And besides, you are not the first werewolf friend that I have."She replied.

"But that's not all Patty. I'm turning eighteen in the next two days_"

I didn't complete my statement before she interrupted.

Patty squealed"What are your plans, what cloth are you wearing?" she asked.

"I know it's my birthday, but that's not what I want to say, "I replied.

"Then what do you want to say?"She asked.

"I'm to find my mate. It's a tradition that once we turn eighteen, we must find our mate."I replied.

"Is it a big deal?"She asked.

"Yes, it is. I' will kick out of the pack if I don't find a mate."I replied.

Patty exhaled"It's okay. We can still chat using social media. Our friendship isn't going to end, 'cause you will always be on my mind." she said.

Her words made me feel special. Patty is always good at assuring me, and that's one of the reasons we became best friends.

I moved closer to her and gave her a warm hug."Thank you for always being there for me."I said.

"You're welcome."She replied.

We disengaged from the hug"Are you celebrating your birthday?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't have plans for it, but when I do, I'll give you a call"I replied.

"Ok, say," She muttered.

I walked out of her room and made my way to the exit of her house. I can't get lost, this is not the first nor the second time I'm in her house.

Her younger sister gave me a deadly glare. Ever since I became friends with Patty, she always glare at me, for no reason.

I ignored her and made my way out of her house. When I got outside, I remembered the reason why my mother called. I had forgotten about it, so immediately I boarded a cab that took me straight to my house.

After paying the driver, I alighted from the cab.

A lot of people were gathered In front of our house, there was also an ambulance van parked in front of our house. A boy was carried with a stretcher into the van, and I could tell from afar that he was seriously wounded.

"Look at what you did to my son, I'm going to make you both pay." A woman yelled, I don't need a soothsayer to tell me that the woman is the mother of the child that is been carried into the ambulance van.

I walked slowly, and the glares I was given, were deadly.

My parents sighted me. My mother gave me the 'i warned you' stare, and I could tell she was furious with me.

My father didn't care to look at me. He only saw me coming and then turned his gaze to somewhere else.

 "I told you to stay at home with your brother why didn't you?"She asked.

"I went to Patty's house," I replied.

"That's not an excuse. You had only one job to do. Look at the way they stare at us now, we are not welcomed, not anymore. And it's all your fault."She yelled.

"Be easy on her"My father said.

She turned to him"Why should I be easy on her?, After all, she knows who his brother this, and she should have been there to calm him down when he was angry."My mother replied.

I stood staring at both of them. I agree with me being at fault, but yelling at me In front of the crowd, is something I don't like. It's embarrassing.

She faced me"You should be glad that they are not taking this to court." she said.

"Why should I be happy? You and I know that the only reason why Greg would do such a thing is that he was bullied. He had tried explaining to you what he is facing, but you guys won't listen to him. It's not my fault, but yours."I yelled In anger.

Everyone stared at me, including the parents of the boy that got injured by Greg. 

To save myself from the embarrassment, I walked into the house and headed to my room.

I slid into my bed and buried my face under my pillow. I couldn't believe I yelled at her. My mother didn't deserve that and I know it. 

She always wants the best for me, and even though she yelled and blamed me for what happened, I shouldn't have said that to her.

But one thing about her is anytime I'm angry at her, she will always come to console me. And I'm sure she will be on her way to my room.

And just then I heard a soft knock on my door. She didn't wait for my response before she entered.

I removed my pillow and sat up properly. She walked closer to me and sat beside me on the bed.

"I'm sorry to blame you for what happened to Greg. It's my fault, and I shouldn't have yelled at you."She apologized.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. I know you want the best for me, and I shouldn't have done what I did." I apologized.

"You don't need to apologize. You did it out of anger, and I fully understand."She said.

"What about Greg? I didn't see him, "I asked, changing the topic.

"He's good. I've talked to him. He explained to me what happened, and the kid he beat up was at fault. He did it out of self-defense and I don't blame him for that."She paused then continued "But he said that you gave him tips on how to fight back, did you?" she asked.

"Yes, I did. You and dad didn't take the bullying matter seriously, and he came to me when he became tired of telling you. So I did what an older sister would do"I replied.

"Thanks for the tip. I'm glad you helped him. But I hope you told him when to use it, and when not to?"She asked.

"I didn't tell him that. But I'm sure he knows."I replied.

"I do not think so, but anyway the ship keeps putting them In their places."She said, and I smiled.

Back in her days, my mother is known for kicking the asses of those who mess with her, but she stopped when she got married. 

I began to think about the negative side of what happened. The neighbors won't see us as humans again, but as monsters who tried killing a little boy.

This is what I've been afraid of. This is the reason why I refused to transform, this is the reason why I'm not proud of who I am.

My mother was about to leave her room, but I stopped her.

"What if they see us as monsters? What if they don't accept us in this community again? What if they send us away because of what happened?"I asked.

She sighed, and sat next to me."They are going to call us a lot of things. Things that are more dangerous than a monster, but one thing you shouldn't do, Is to listen to them. Do not listen to them, be proud of who you are. Do not let their words get into your head. And if they send us away, we are going to leave for them." she replied.

Just then the door opened revealing my father.

He had a sad facial expression, and I could tell something is wrong.

"What's wrong dad?"I asked.

"There's bad news."He replied.

"Which is?"My mother asked.

"We are told to pack out of this house immediately."He replied.