Chapter 3 Dira’s POV - Happy Birthday to Me

The Mate Ball is finally today, and everyone is excited about it. The pack seems lively, with everyone enjoying the festivities, which means our borders are triple protected, even our Southern side since it’s mostly our beaches. 

Reneeira has been pacing around all morning, and quite frankly, she’s giving me a headache. I reach out to her, “What’s with you today, Reneeira?, You are digging a hole in my brain with all the pacing around you are doing”, I tell her, rather annoying. “Sorry, Dira, I just can’t help this feeling,” she said.

“What do you mean, what feeling? Is everything okay?” I told, my voice sounding a bit panicky. “Can you feel like something is in the air?” She asks. “No,” I answered. “Silly girl, you being a year older? “ she said mischievously. “Are you kidding me?” I raised my voice at her a bit.

“You have any idea how on edge you had me just now?” I demanded from her. Reneeira just rolled her belly up with her wolfy grin “ Silly girl is finally time to meet our mate,” she said with a lopsided grin. “What do you mean? What are the chances we will meet them today and on a full moon? I questioned her. 

She just shrugged and walked away, giving me a side-eye look and wagging her tail. I face palmed, shaking my head at the silly wolf I got. She knows it’s improbable that we will meet our mate today, is it virtually impossible for that to happen, or will it?

I am walking downstairs since I am staying home since my mom will help me get ready. I don’t want to go, but it is an order. It is also my birthday today, which means I am officially 21 and prepared for the possibility of a mate. The conversation with Reneeira is still replaying in my mind. I am worried I don’t want a mate, not when I am so close to my dream. Well is highly unlikely that will ever happen, I will keep telling myself. I will ask this to the universe, to our goddess, Selene. I stopped at rest stops on my way down the stairs, put my hands together, and silently prayed to our goddess, “Please, Selene, let me wait a bit before finding my mate. I want my dreams to come true. To become an Alpha/Luna Guard. I want to get farther than my dad ever did. Please” 

Maybe I’ll be a cougar or something since my mate will be younger than me. With my luck in men, I’ll be inclined to trust that. My mom knows of my sexual proclivities since it was no secret Allen and I pop each other’s cherry. I still make my mom cringe when I mention it and always laugh out loud. 

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. I come down the last steps and see Allen walking in with bags in hand and a Happy Birthday balloon. “Hey!” “You didn’t have to bring me anything,” I said, coming closer and helping him with the bags in his hands. “I know, but you are one of my favorite girls. I have to”, he said and kissed my cheek. “Where’s your mom? I got her something, too”, he said, sounding as sweet as always. One may think he is my boyfriend or lover.

I started to smell something coming from the kitchen. I follow Allen to the kitchen when we see my mom in her element. She was making breakfast enough for an entire battalion. We are wolves. Our metabolism is high.

My mom is starlet and slaps my arm playfully, “Seriously, Dira, can you be any more sneaky? You too, Allen.  I didn’t hear you or even smell you coming downstairs” I laughed and kissed her cheek, “What are you making Mom,” I asked her, having a slight idea what it was since she always makes me the same for my birthday every year without fail, “honey you know what it is, its roasted pork with yellow rice, come help me prep to make the salad for later,” I jump around happily clapping my hands.

I take the ingredients out of the fridge, the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and the avocado, “here ma, what else?” I asked her. “Go ahead and peel some garlic and get another tomato out. I am making a vinaigrette too”. “ Allen, get to work too. The lettuce ain’t chopping itself up,” my mom said, getting us both chopping veggies. I get to work helping Mom around the kitchen.

About 15 mins later, we finish a green salad with chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers chopped in tiny pieces. The vinaigrette is a not-so-secret recipe with a copious amount of garlic, tomatoes, avocado, and onions, all mixed with salt, Olive oil, and vinegar. My mouth waters just looking at the feast my mom cooked for us. 

Allen helps me with the plate settings on the table. And we bring all the food to the table while Mom finishes and takes out the pork. “Smells heavenly, and my mouth is salivating,” I told Allen. He nods. He loves my mom cooking.

I turned and saw my mom walking towards me with cake and a lit candle, singing happy birthday. I tear up because she got my favorite, tres leches cake. You haven’t lived if you never had a slice. I feel bad for you if you don’t like a moist cake, not drenched thou, there is a big difference in taste, I guarantee it. She finished and told me to make a wish before blowing the candles. I closed my eyes and made my wish. 

Allen takes the cake from her and places it carefully on the table. She smiled lovingly and kissed my cheek. “I am so proud of you, Dira. You are up beautifully. Even though Dad is not here with us today, I know he is watching over you, and I wish you the same as me, everlasting happiness and for your dreams to come true”. I start tearing up at her words, and a tear slips away.

She reaches with her hand and wipes away, cupping my cheek and smiling. “Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Mom said, and we sat down.

I was enjoying the feast she made for us for my birthday tradition. We eat, and I pat my stomach, fully satisfied. Now is the time to get ready. Allen leaves us while he goes back to his place to get prepared.  

I jump in the shower and wash my hair. Once I finished, I pat myself dry and headed to the bedroom. My moms already there setting the hair stuff, and I already have my makeup station. Not because I am a warrior means I stop being a woman and like woman stuff, and yes, makeup is included, although not mutually exclusive.

I dressed in a cami and shorts while getting my hair ready. My mom put rollers on my hair to create soft curls. I started applying my makeup. I am going for a smokey look. Since my eyes are brown, it doesn’t pop as much as another eye color, but I make it work with gold accents, soft browns, and darker ones to create the shadow look. I have fake lashes, but they are not heavy ones. They make a more natural look, and to top it off, I have my favorite red lipstick, a long-lasting matte aptly named “lady balls.” 

I put on my dress, and I look gorgeous. If the changing rooms looked like a rag doll, it looked good. Now that I am all glam up, I look ravishing. I grabbed my clutch bag and put in some essentials, including my phone. Even though we have the mind link, I like it because I can share my location if anything happens, and Mom can contact me. There may be safety in numbers.

I arrived at the reception area where the ball would take place. It's the same place where many guests were staying since it has a massive hall that can fit the 200+ in attendance, plus the Alphas and Lunas and rank members of the Packs in the Federation. Rumor has it that Highplains Pack will join. They had been recluses for a long time. We will see…