In Heat

16

My name is Sage.

I have hair the color of dirt and eyes the color of trees. I'm sixteen. And I'm a werewolf.

➵

Yes, vampires do exist. They normally eat small animals instead of people now.

No, we do not just change under full moons. We can basically change whenever; after a certain age, of course.

You are born a werewolf, not bitten. Werewolves don't bite humans. I find that myth a little ridiculous.

No, we do not look like hairy humans. That is so insulting!

We have packs. An alpha, a beta, the luna.

Yes, we have mates. Mates are basically your other half- someone you can't live without. Once you find your mate, the male marks the female on the neck. Normally, you find your mate once you turn sixteen.

And I just turned sixteen.

➵

"Sage! Happy birthday!" My best friend, Brooklyn, shouted.

I groaned and rolled off of my bed.

"Get your lazy ass up! Your going to find your mate today!" She squealed.

Brooklyn helped me get ready for school. I changed into a white lace crop top and baby blue scalloped shorts.

"You look hot," Brooklyn whistled. "If I didn't already have Hawke, I'd totally mate you."

Hawke is Brooklyn's mate. She is a few months older than me, so she found him sooner.

I laughed. "Thanks, Brook. I hope my mate will feel the same way when he sees me."

"No. Your mate will make you change 'cause you look so damn gorgeous."

I blushed. Boy, do I hope.

➵

Our pack has this tradition where every time a she wolf turns sixteen, the whole pack and some neighboring packs come to the pack house, and we have this gigantic party.

Brooklyn and I got ready in my room.

We turned and stared into my full length mirror.

"Wow, is that us?" I whispered under my breath.

I wore a short sleeveless black dress with fabric criss-crossing above the sweetheart neckline. Below my hips, the dress flared out a little.

Brooklyn wore a deep blue short dress with simple jewels on her waistline and on the thin straps.

"Yeah," She whispered back. Why are we whispering? "I think it is."

I looked at my best friend. "Hawke is so lucky to have you. Your stunning. Be sure to wear protection." I winked.

She laughed. "Thanks, mom. But, your mate is going to pass out from how gorgeous you look."

I blushed. "Shall we go?"

We linked arms and made our way to the pack house.

Brooklyn and I found a few of our other friends and we began dancing.

"Happy Sixteen!" Cora shouted over the music.

"To Sage's birthday!" Brooklyn screamed, raising her cup in the air.

We all put our cups together and cheered.

"I'm going to get more to drink," I told Brooklyn. She nodded her head and I left.