Chapter One: Mate

The cold and chilly breeze penetrating into Elena's body made her eyes snap open, she looked around for some seconds before sitting up, that was when she noticed she was on the floor.

She sighed softly when she remembered how she cried herself to sleep after getting bullied last night before standing up, she took off her clothes before moving to the bathroom, had a quick shower before coming out with a towel wrapped around her body.

Slowly, she walked to the small wardrobe in the room before opening it, scanning through the clothes briefly, her eyes settled on a white free yard short gown.

A small smile appeared on her face and she reached for the gown then closed the wardrobe, she pulled the towel off her body before putting on the gown, she packed her hair in a rough bun before taking her small black bag then she walked out of the room, immediately, a sweet smell hit her nose.

"Hmm..that smells good" her wolf, Lia said in her head.

"You are right" Elena mumbled before walking to the dining room, her eyes widened when she saw many dishes on the dining table.

"What's going on here?" She said, inwardly and at that moment, her elder brother, Liam walked into the dining room with a cake which made her brows furrow.

"Morning bro, what's going on here?" She asked.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Liam asked back with surprise in his eyes as he placed the cake gently on the table.

"Yeah...I mean...there is so much food when we are not celebrating anything" she muttered, gesturing at the food on the table with her hands.

"There is even a cake" she added.

"You really don't know that today is your birthday?" He shook his head in awe.

"What" she muttered and checked her phone, it was true, today is Saturday, 18th of may, her birthday, she is clocking 18 today.

"I can't believe you forgot your birthday" he scoffed in disbelief and she looked down.

"Lia, why didn't you tell me today is our birthday" she said in her head.

"Sorry, I thought you knew" Lia replied, Elena sighed and looked up.

"I'm sorry..I completely forgot"

"Of course you did and that's because you don't have time for yourself, you're always working" Liam said.

"I don't have a choice you know, I have to work, I have to earn money...."

"For what, how many times will I tell you that I will take care of the money aspect, all I need you to do is to study and be safe " he cut her off.

"You think it's easy...you think it's easy to watch you work hard to take care of me without doing anything? It isn't...okay, I want to have my own money so you won't have to bother about me!!" She yelled.

"I don't mind, okay, you are my priority so stop crying" he moved closer to her and started wiping the tears, she didn't even know she was crying.

"No tears, I don't want you spoiling today, it's your birthday so you have to enjoy it" he hugged her, he released her after some minutes.

"Happy birthday princess" he said.

"Thank you" she mumbled and he kissed her forehead.

"Come on now, let's eat" he smiled and drew out a chair for her.

"Thanks" she muttered and started looking around the table till her eyes settled on the cake, it was a white cake decorated with red.

"Do you like the cake?" He asked and she faced him.

"I do, it's beautiful" she nodded with a smile.

"So what do you want to start with?"

"Meat" she grinned.

"Sure mam" he bowed dramatically and she laughed.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

"Liam, I'm leaving!" Elena yelled at Liam who was doing the dishes in the kitchen from the doorstep, he turned to look at her.

"Where to? Don't tell me you are going to work" Liam muttered.

"Of course not, I'm going on a break today, it's my day so I will enjoy it" Elena smiled. Liam stopped doing the dishes and wiped his hands with a napkin before walking to her.

He dipped his hands into his pocket before bringing out a small box, he opened it revealing a silver necklace with a star pendant. Her eyes widened as she stared at it.

"Wha..what's this?" She mumbled, looking up slowly.

"Your birthday gift, do you like it?" He asked.

"I do, I love it" she nodded happily.

"Let me wear it for you" he said and took the necklace from the box, he went behind her before hooking the necklace around her neck.

"It's pretty" she muttered as she looked down at the necklace, Liam came to stand in front of her.

"I'm happy you like it, keep it safe, okay" he said and she nodded.

"Make sure you enjoy yourself and stay safe" He said and she nodded before hugging him.

"I love you" she muttered.

"I love you too"

They stay like that for a minute before she pulled out.

"Bye" she said and he nodded before going back to the dishes. She smiled lightly and went to the door, she was about opening it when the doorbell rang.

"Who could that be" she said, inwardly before opening the door.

"Happy birthday!!!"

A large smile appeared on her face when she saw her two friends Cecelia (CeCe) and Carina who are both twins.

"Hey girls, I didn't expect you here" Elena said.

"What do you mean by that? It's our friends birthday" CeCe said.

"Yeah baby girl, happy birthday" Carina smiled and handed a shopping bag to Elena.

"Awwwn thanks" Elena smiled.

"Here is mine too, happy birthday girl" CeCe said and gave her another shopping bag.

"Thanks girls, I really appreciate...I should check what is inside" Elena said and made to check it but CeCe held her hand.

"You can do that later, let's go have fun"

"It seems you were about leaving the house, where are you headed?" Carina asked.

"The orphanage home" Elena replied.

"Seriously, you want to work on your birthday?" CeCe scoffed.

"No...I just want to stop by to see the children" Elena said.

"Do that some other time but right now, we need to go have fun, today is your day" Carina said.

"But..."

"No buts baby girl, let's move!" CeCe yelled excitedly.

"Fine, let me go and keep this" Elena said, referring to the shopping bags.

"We are waiting" CeCe replied and Elena nodded before going to her room.Liam walked out of the kitchen.

"Oh, you guys are here" he said.

"Hey Liam" CeCe waved.

"Hi Liam" Carina replied with a blush.

"Hi, where is Elena?" Liam asked.

"In her room" Carina muttered.

"I am back" Elena walked into the living room.

"Are you leaving with them?" Liam questioned.

"Yes, see ya" Elena winked and walked out of the house with the girls.

"Carina, don't tell me you still have a crush on Liam" Carina said immediately.

"What! You are still crushing on him?" Elena shouted.

"I know right but he is just too cute, I wish he can like me" CeCe said, dreamily. Elena and CeCe shook their head before walking away from her.

"Hey, wait for me!" CeCe yelled and ran after them.

"So where are we going to?" Elena asked.

"Amusement park, the cinema and game house" CeCe replied.

"Seems you both got it all planned" Elena chuckled.

****THIRTY MINUTES LATER, AMUSEMENT PARK****

A cab stopped in front of it and the girls came out of the cab, the driver drove off immediately.

"Come on now, it's time to have fun" Carina said and they ran in.

"Let's have ice cream" Elena said, pointing at an ice cream stand.

"Let's go" CeCe said and they went to the stand.

"Morning sir" they said to the man.

"Morning girls, what flavour of ice cream do you want?" The man asked.

"Chocolate"

"Vanilla"

"Strawberry"

Elena, CeCe and Carina replied, respectively and the man nodded before getting to work.

After two minutes, he handed their ice cream cones to them.

"How much is it?" Carina asked.

"The three is thirty dollars" the man replied and Elena made to pay for it but Carina held her.

"You are the celebrant here so relax, we are paying for everything today" she said and Elena chuckled before withdrawing, Carina paid for the ice creams and they walked away from there.

"What should we do next?" CeCe asked.

"The Ferris wheel" Carina replied.

"Let's go for it then" CeCe muttered.

"Yayyy!!" Carina yelled childishly and Elena laughed.

****EVENING, 6PM****

Elena was walking on a silent road, she was going back home after spending the whole day with Carina and CeCe.

As she was walking, her phone beeped so she took the phone out of her bag, she checked and saw it was a message from Liam.

When are you coming back home?

She smiled and made to type her reply as she walked but she bumped into someone, she looked up and her eyes widened when she saw it was the Alpha Princes; Prince Leonard and Prince Donald. She quickly bowed.

"I'm sor..." Her words were shortened when Lia started chanting Mate! Mate! Mate! in her head.