The Unveiling

Chapter 2: Birthday Aches

Ashley's father planned a big celebration for their birthday, Ashley was helping to decorate the garden in backyard with fairy lightening, just like how Allison likes. Her father was inside kitchen, baking a cake. She never understood why people laughed and were very astonished when men cook, like it is something impossible and not normal. But above all her father was a splendid cook, he would always bake a cake on their every birthday, each year.

Allison came running inside, she was beyond happy was an understatement, she was gleaming. But there was something strange with her today, there was a weird scent coming from her. It was of a male wolf for sure, a little musky and definitely not someone from their pack. It was alluring and hypnotising, that sent a soft tingling feeling down Ashley's stomach. Her wolf was scratching at the back of her head, like it was confusing her. It made her head feel hazy and giving her a strange but attractive pull to no bound, bubbling different emotions in her heart and wanting to find the owner of it......

"Ash, I found my mate" Allison declared excitedly

Ashley was confused now; was this scent of her mate then why was it making her feel dizzy and tempted. She still smiled fully, hugging her sister

"Congratulations, oldy" Ashley teased her

She smacked Ashley lightly on her back, chuckling along with her. Their father came out singing the birthday song, they smiled back. Allison welled up, enjoying their family moment as they hugged. Ashley stood at a distance watching them, sneakily pulling her phone and taking their picture, secretly. They shook their head at her mischievousness and called her in for the family hug.

Ashley doesn't cry at moments like these or any to be precise. Her father teases that she might have sold her tear ducts in her childhood for a candy. They laugh about it now, though.

———-

I'm very convincing person when it comes to what I want, its either my way or highway. My motto is we live only once so, why not have what our heart desires. I can get whatever I want from whoever I want but there is line for it too, not at cost of my family's happiness. I can sacrifice anything for them, they are everything for me – Her thoughts assembling one by one in her mind

Though this was the happiest day of her life with her family but there was a constant ringing in the back of her head, like a warning before the storm. Werewolf instincts and vibes are very strong and that too of her, stronger like 'I told you so' one's.

Next day of school, Ashley was in the shower when Allison shouted from the other side of door that she'll be wearing Ashley's dress today too and running away before she could Ashley back. They didn't get to talk much yesterday about Allison finding her mate or that weird scent that she came home with but today she was going to find out what was going on. When Ashley came out of shower, Allison had indeed worn her ironed dress and her perfume too!

Come on, Ally, it cost me my whole part time job's money to buy that small perfume- she sighed

As a revenge today she decided, she was going to wear Allison's favorite clothes and her expensive perfume as well

'Muahahaha' yes, this is my evil laugh

———

Later on, Day by day Allison keeps coming home wearing that weird scent of her mate and the most horrible part was Ashley hated it. She felt like the most terrible person, she thought- shouldn't she be happy for her sister no matter how alluring her mate's scent is? it's not like she wanted a mate, or something, then why was she feeling all these things. She wanted to get rid of these thoughts but one sniff of this male's scent and her inner wolf was ready to pounce out. For Ashley, the biggest confusion was she never felt like this before then why now?

What was these feelings?

Why her?

What should she do?

Her mind jumbled up.

Allison told Ashley that, the day she met him was at her school.
Ashley and Allison both went to different schools due to their majors.
Allison also mentioned that he was from neighboring pack called Crescent falls and is pack's Alpha.

Yes, Ashley was stunned too, how can he be Alpha at such small age? but she knows the history of their pack. His father died due to horrendous cancer, making him ascend the throne at age of 14. Many other packs Alphas challenged him thinking a small boy wouldn't be able to defeat them and they can capture his pack. But ironically, he defeated them turning his pack into one of the biggest pack on earth. She did remember that he was around their age, maybe two or three years older than her and Allison. Allison mentioned that he came to their school for guest seminar, and they met there, he talked with her and said that she is his mate.

The pack was named Crescent falls because of the fact that the very first moonlight hits the beautiful waterfalls situated in his pack. Ashley have seen many photos of it, but no one has actually seen it, their pack worships it like a holy water. It was considered as a scared place so only pack members are allowed there. But Louis beg to defer, Louis is her childhood best friend and also one of Crescent falls pack member.

Crescent falls and Red Mountain are on friendly basis. Louis and his father Lionel, both carry on pack's Doctor's duties. So, whenever she gets wounded or is injured, she run to him, so her father won't know. Louis is going to practice medicine like his father.

Louis once told Ashley, that no body from their pack knows about this waterfall, its hidden in deep Dark Forest, only higher authorities of packs and border warriors know where its located but are prohibited to touch considering it to be pure.

——

Ashley's sister today came running to her, smiling like a lovesick puppy. She thought- not lying but I feel, I can literally see a rainbow as she bounces on every step. Too much brightness for my eyes- she sighed.

Allison bounces up on Ashley's bed and hugged her tight, Allison's cheeks flushed, and Ashley can literally hear her sister's heart pounding fast. Allison looked at Ashley with her adorable blue eyes and Ashley was excited to hear what have got her sister so happy, sending a small smile on her face

"He said he loves me" she exclaimed, her face turning a shade dark of red

"Who?" Ashley was confused

"Alarick" Allison replied with excitement

Yes, her mate's name is Alarick, Alpha of Crescent falls. He is a well-known businessman, a textile mogul. How many times Ashley wanted to search and see what he really looks like, but her hand stops every time she was about to, scared that something will go wrong that, she'll find something she shouldn't or would regret forever.

I don't care, I really don't.

If he makes my sister happy then I'll be happy for her, I'll get over this crappy feeling, maybe I need good hard-core workout, yes that's it- she keeps chanting in her head, with a supple smile on her face, inhaling deeply to gather up her courage

"Oh my god, Ally that so sweet, I'm so happy, sister" Ashley exclaimed happily