Beaten, Bruised, and Kissed

Chapter 1

"Love is a promise delivered already broken."
-- Steve Martin

(edited by the amazing AkiMio)

14-year-old Tiana's P.O.V

I am immediately annoyed the second I wake up from my alarm. Monday. Oh, how I despise Mondays. Especially this one.

Today is not a normal Monday. No, no. Not only is it the first day of school, but it is my brothers' and my birthday, the day we all find our mates and my brothers shift into their wolves.

I used to love my birthday. It was the best day of the whole year, until slowly, all the attention shifted to my brothers. With Lexus as the soon-to-be Alpha, Asher as the soon-to-be Beta and Zakia as the soon-to-be Third, I have no real importance. Left by my family to be mostly alone. Sounds sad, but I don't let it get to me. I know everyone loves me and love is all I need.

I slug out of bed slower than I usually do and make my way to the walk-in closet. My walls are no longer pink, but a baby blue; my bedsheets no longer princess-themed but a deeper, more mature royal blue.

Unlike everyone else, I never got rid of my chubbiness, but that is a quality about myself that I don't want to change. Everybody knows me as the happy, slightly chubby Tiana. My body is part of what defined me and I love that.

One thing did change, though: my style. I am no longer so pink-oriented; hints of my old style remain, but far less dressy. I save dresses and skirts for fancy occasions. With it being the first day of high school and my birthday, I choose a pair of tight fitting jeans and a T-shirt with the words "Is it Friday yet?" If it makes me laugh, it could make others laugh as well.

On my way down the stairs, I hear faint singing getting louder and louder.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Richardson children! Happy birthday to you!"

I appear just in time for my brothers to blow out the candles without me. I would be lying if I say that doesn't pinch my heart slightly, but I take a few deep breaths, like my mother taught me, and calm down.

Speaking of my mother, I feel a pair of smooth hands cover my eyes and hear a soothing voice whisper to me.

"Happy birthday, baby," my mother congratulates me. I knew if one person was going to remember me, it would be my mother. I was always a mama's girl. Odd, but true. Kind of like a Gilmore girls thing going on between us... sort of. When her hands disappear, I find a mini cupcake with a candle sitting in front of me.

"Blow out the candle and make a wish."

I do as I am told and smile.

"I wished for my mate to be perfect," I whisper to my mother. She doesn't respond, but instead presents me with a box. I put my cupcake down so I can see what is inside, tearing open the wrapping excitedly. It is a mini globe of New York.

I look up at her, shocked, and hug her tightly.

"A beginning to a new collection," my mother tells me.

"Thank you."

She gives me a sad smile and tells me to get going to school.

~~~

"You excited for Sunday?" Ryder asks.

"Very. I can't wait to find my mate," I tell him excitedly. We are currently at lunch and I know I am nervous eating. Though there really wasn't a time where I wasn't eating. "I just want to know now," I sigh exasperatedly.