My heart raced

"What are you still doing in bed Cassy, it's time to wake up."My mom said.

I scratched my eyes to see if it was real or if I was still dreaming.

"I'll be down in a minute," I replied.

"Okay, we have something to discuss with you."She said.

"Is it about my birthday? are you celebrating it for me?"I asked.

"No, it's not about your birthday."She paused and asked, "And besides when's your birthday?"

"My birthday is two days from now, "I replied.

I was confused. Everything that happened was just a dream? I thought it was real.

"Are you okay?"She asked, noticing my facial expression. 

"I'm okay, but I'm confused" I replied.

"What do you mean by you are confused?"She asked.

"I had a dream and it felt so real. I forgot it was my birthday in the dream and you surprised me by throwing a party for me. The dream just felt so real to be a dream."I replied.

She smiled"It's a sign Cassy. It's the reason why I and your father wants to discuss it with you." she said.

"What sign? you knew this was going to happen to me?"I asked curiously.

"Calm down Cassy. You should come downstairs, also that we can have this discussion properly."She replied.

"Can't we discuss it right here?"I asked.

"No, it should be between the three of us. Your father, I, and you."She replied.

"And why should that be?"I asked.

"You are asking too many questions, Cassy. You have nothing to worry about, when you come downstairs, it will all be explained to you."She said and walked out of my room.

I sighed. The whole thing was just confusing. Hosting a surprise party for me, inviting my best friend Patty, and seeing Ryan. And it all turned out to be a dream.

I was thinking of walking to Ryan, to know if he would still notice and then mom interrupted, by waking me up.

What if it's a sign that I am insane? I looked around my bed and saw the book I was reading. 

It was given to me by my father, as a gift. He wanted me to feel good about being part of the pack. I haven't touched the book ever since he gave me, not until yesterday which was our graduation.

Yeah, the graduation part of the dream was real. And the only thing that wasn't real, was the birthday party.

I started reading the book because of Ryan, but now I'm over it and I've made a promise to myself, not to ever fall for him again.

I picked up the book, stood up from my bed, and walked out of my room. 

As usual, Greg's room was loud and noisy. I've warned him several times about it, but he won't just listen, so stopped and allowed him to be him.

He is a victim of bullying. My father always told him to stand up for himself, but because he is a timid person, he doesn't. 

My mother went to his school to report it, and the principal assured her it was going to stop, but it didn't. 

Greg still got bullied, but he stopped complaining and when I noticed her was becoming too silent about it, I taught him ways to defend himself, and ever since then he always thanks me. 

Greg's story is for another day, I just hope he doesn't misuse what I taught him.

I walked up the stairs and saw my parents waiting for me already. I greeted my father and sat on the couch next to my mother.

"I'm all ears mother, what do you both want to discuss with me?"I asked.

My father cleared his throat"You will be turning eighteen in the next two days, and once you do you will have to find yourself a mate." he said.

A mate? This is what I've been neglecting my whole life. 

"Is there a way I can be normal? I don't want to pass through the stress of finding a mate. I know I was born like this, but I just don't want to be like this."I complained.

"You are different darling, you should be happy about. Finding a mate isn't as stressful as you think."My mother said.

"It is mom. The book that dad gave to me says it all. I don't want to be like this, I just want to be human."I replied.

"You are turning eighteen and this is the time you get to find your mate. You hardly transform into yourself, do you want to get kicked out of the pack for this? I know it's hard for you, but you just have to understand."My father said.

He stood up from the couch and walked away, and I was left with my mother.

She stood up and walked to me"It's hard, I understand. You haven't been transforming into your other self because you don't want the humans to see you as a dangerous person. But no matter how you keep avoiding and neglecting yourself, you will remain who you are, and that's what we both want." she said.

"I need more time to think about it," I replied.

"You have until two days from now to think about it."She said and walked away.

I was now left alone. To think about my future with the pack. If anyone would have told me that I'll one day be thinking about this, I would have doubted.

Things just feel different for me. But I have no choice but to make the decision. If I do not find my mate I'll be kicked out of the pack, and if I refuse to find a mate to continue my life, It won't be easy for me to find who truly loves me.

What would be the essence if I refuse to find my mate and no one ever loves me? I'll remain single for the rest of my life, and I don't want to be single.

So I have no choice but to find my mate. I don't want to be kicked out, and I'm going to find my mate no matter how many weeks it takes.

 I sighed and went to the kitchen to see if there was something I could eat. I looked around and opened all the cupboards, but there was nothing.

I went out of the kitchen and headed to my mother's room. I knocked and I entered when I was told to.

She was putting her make-up on. "Mom, are we supposed to starve this morning?"I asked.

"No, you are not to. But you will have to eat what wolves eat."She replied.

"Which is?"I asked.

"Red meat. There are red meats in the lower part of the third cupboard."She replied.

"I can't eat red meat, you and I know that I can't, "I complained.

"Fortunately, you have to. You are turning eighteen, and a lot of things are about to change In your life. So you must eat red meat, it will help you when you transform."She said.

"C'mon mother, I don't like all this, "I complained.

"Have you concluded?"She asked.

"Yes, I'll find my mate so that I won't be kicked out of the pack," I replied.

"That's good. I knew that was going to be your conclusion."She said.

"You ignored my complaint, "I replied.

"I have told you what I have to. We are doing the needful Cassy. You can't keep eating Junks, red meats are good for you."She said.

I sighed"I'm only doing this cause I have no choice."I said.

"Of course, you don't. By the way, I and your father will be going out, and I need you to watch over your brother for me."She replied.

"You should take him with you," I said.

"Where we are going to, kids are not allowed to be there."She replied.

I sighed and turned, before walking out of her room.

I headed back to my room, and take my bath and prepare. I'm not going to stay at home babysitting my brother who can take care of himself. I'm visiting no other person but Patty. I want to tell everything about who I am, and the decision I made. 

Patty doesn't know what I am. I didn't tell them when we were in high school cause she's someone that's scared of animals, and telling her would stop us from being best friends. Today might be the last time I would see her, so I want to make it worthwhile.

Minutes later, I was fully prepared. My parents had gone out, so it was the perfect time to leave the house. I informed Greg about it and warned him not to do anything stupid. 

I walked out of the house and stood by the roadside. I wave my hands to every cab that passes.

I waved at two cabs before the third one waiting for me. I entered the cab and told the man where I was heading to. He turned on the ignition and began to drive, and stopped when I got to my destination.

I paid him, then alighted from the cab. 

Patty was outside her house, I was happy cause it saved me the stress of knocking at her door.

"Hey Cassy, it's surprising to see you here."She said.

"Yeah, I know. I want to discuss something with you."I replied.

"Anytime someone says this to me, it's always good news."She said, but little did she know what I have in mind.

"Do you want us to discuss it right here?"She asked.

"No, inside would be preferable," I replied.

"Okay, let's go then."She said.

We both entered Inside her house. Her parents were not around, and only her younger sister was.

"Let's go to my room."She said and we both went to her room.

Everything in her room has a touch of the color pink on it.

Despite me being a girl, not every one of my belongings has the color pink.

"Your room is too colorful," I said.

She smiled"Yeah, I love it that way." she replied.

We sat on her bed.

"So what do you want to discuss with me?"She asked.

I cleared my throat"I am a_

I didn't complete my statement before I got interrupted by my phone, which was ringing loudly.

I brought it out of my pocket and checked the caller id and it turned out it was my mother. I picked it up and placed it in my ear.

"I told you not to leave the house, didn't I? Greg transformed and tried killing our neighbor's child."She said, and my heart raced.