Twenty-Two

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I woke up with my brother and my father walking in with a red velvet cupcake, the icing looked like it was smeared on with a finger and the candle on the top looked already used.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to our Ketzia, happy killings for you!" they both sang walking towards me.

My father handed me the cupcake, "Make a wish sweetheart." my dad said sitting next to me on the bed.

I blew out the candle closing my eyes. Hunter jumped in next to me and handed me a poorly wrapped gift box, it was the size of my hand and was wrapped in black wrapping paper.

"You really didn't have to get me a gift," I said, looking at my father and brother. "Open it," Hunter said, gesturing at the box.

I unwrapped it, taking the wrapping off and opening the box. I found a small bracelet in the box. I took it out to find a wolf's face in the middle of two steel parts with a red ruby and a purple amethyst along the sides cutting into moons on both sides.

My mouth opened looking at both my father and brother, "You gave me mom's bracelet?" The tears began to fall down my cheeks as I gave my father and my brother a big hug.

"Thank you!" I said looking at them, my father took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to me, "You can read this now or you can read this later, it's up to you but on your thirteenth birthday your mom wrote this for you. It goes with the bracelet."

My father and brother got up and left my room leaving me to my thoughts.

I placed the letter in my bedside draw promising myself to read it after my birthday ceremony tonight. I got out of bed and made my way to the shower, I got out of the shower putting a towel around me and making my way to my bedroom to get dressed.

The ceremony was going to take place tonight but before that, I had to go into the shop to sort out a few things.

I put on black skinny jeans, with a purple crop top and headed out the door.

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"Thank you, sir, I hope you are happy with your purchase. Please make sure to clean your gun regularly and come back within the next seven days should you not be happy with the product." I hand the old gentleman his gun in the custom gun case as he makes his way out.

I walk to the back to go make myself when the door opens again, I groan softly screaming that I'd be right out in a second.

When I finish making the coffee I make my way to the front not focussing on the gentlemen waiting to be helped.

"Welcome to Fallon's blades and triggers. Are you looking for something specific or just shopping around?" I place my coffee on the counter before walking back to the man.

I can feel his eyes boring holes into my head, "Are you a new -" I start as I look up into a gun being pointed at my head.

I shriek as the guy places his finger on the trigger, "Hand me all of your unmarked weapons with the bullets as well as what you have in the cash register." he yells

I close my eyes as my heart starts jumping in my chest, "We only sell marked guns, the best way to not be marked is to get the arrows." the guy lets out an aggravated scream before shooting a warning shot next to my head.

I let out a scream feeling my hand tremble as they cover my face.

I grab everything that the guy wanted, handing it to him before he checks and runs outside, running into the woods.

I slid down behind the counter trembling as the tears ran down my face. I grab my keys for the car and the store before I make my way outside.

Looking back at the store as I rush across the street to my car, my body comes crashing down as I hit a hard object. Holding my head I look up to see a tall, muscular, dark brown curly-haired man staring down at me.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." I said, wiping the tears from my face. "Are you okay?" he asked, searching my face.

I nod looking down as I made my way closer to my car, climbing in I start my engine and drive towards the house, leaving the man behind.

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I walked towards the cupboard to find a dark green lace dress, the bust line was low cut and had a bodysuit underneath which allowed my legs to be revealed through the lace.

I put my hair up into curlers while I did my make up with a black and dark green smokey eye. I added a cat eye and paired it with a light brown lip gloss.

I took out the curls, setting it with hair spray before going to the next one.

I shook the curls out letting them hang freely while I styled my hair further.

I paired the dress with plain black thick heeled shoes with a belt crisscrossing from my toes to my ankle.

I looked at myself in the mirror, remembering what happened at the shop. I fought back the tears trying my hardest not to tremble. I could have died today.

I made my way downstairs to my father and my brother who were all nicely dressed up.

"Wow." my father and brother both said letting out a breath. "You're wearing mom's bracelet." Hunter pointed out. I smiled at him, seeing him recall how our mother looked wearing the bracelet.

"Shall we go? I don't want to be late to my own party." I said walking towards the door.

The drive towards the Crescent Hunters place, the car was still and I found myself thinking back to the guy I bumped into on the street.

I couldn't help but think to myself that I sort of knew him but from where. The guy from the forest looked like him but he had yellow eyes and not those luscious green ones.

The outline of his muscular body imprinted on my mind, I couldn't get him out of it. I felt the butterflies in my stomach every time I would think of him, he was making his mark on my mind and I didn't even know him. I shook the thought of him out of my mind as we made our way towards the venue.

My father parked the car outside of the venue as he walked around the car opening the door for me. "You look, gorgeous sweetheart."

I smiled up at my father as I got out of the car, "Thank you, father."

Walking towards the entrance I felt uneasy, my body constantly telling me to walk into the forest.

It was pitch black outside which made things worse because it is dangerous in the woods even though I am a werewolf hunter I don't have my gear and they would bury my body before anyone found it.

Trying to ignore my body's need I walk towards the entrance of the venue. My body feels dizzy as if I've been drugged. I feel my head start to spin and before I know it I am holding onto the doorframe to counter my off-balance body.

"Are you okay Ketz?" Hunter asks his hand on the small of my back. I nod letting him and my father know to give me a few minutes as I have a 'nervous belly'.

They both nod telling me that they will meet me inside but that I shouldn't take long. Willing myself I walk towards the forest feeling my dizziness slowly disappear, "Extraño." I murmur to myself. I look around the forest feeling my mind ease of the intense feeling when I am pushed against the nearest tree by a figure. {Strange}

My body lets out a scream for help as my body gets pushed harshly against the tree. I try letting out a scream but I'm not frightened my body feels at ease and with each touch lingering my body comes alive.

"W-who are you?" I asked looking up to meet the dark figure, but he didn't say anything.

I slowly move my hands up to the figure's face until I am feeling the slight stubble on my hands, and in an instant, the yellow eyes glisten at me in the moonlight. I jump pulling my hands away from his face, my heartbeat increasing by the minute."P-please d-don't hurt m-me." I plead as I close my eyes.

Instead, he pulls me closer into his embrace, nuzzling his head onto my neck, "I could never hurt you." he finally says and with that my body eases.

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