Skinwalker - Completed

CHAPTER 30

Aly's POV

Aly looked around, and she suddenly remembered the tradition their family had when she had a birthday. They would go around the fireplace, putting her gifts there to be opened later.

A bittersweet smile made its way to Aly's face, and she shook her head. It was all in the past now. There's nothing else she can do about it. But remembering Rylie's face saying that she would make a present for Aly made her smile.

"Aly. The rogue wolf is awake." Hunter stands beside her.

Aly looked at Hunter and saw how uneasy he is. "What?"

"W-Well, the fact is.... I think she's my mate."

Hunter blushed really hard, and Aly stops herself from smiling widely. Hunter is a hopeless romantic, and he talks a lot about how he will propose to his mate when they met. Plus, he was also manly. Imagining him blushing before versus now makes a lot of difference. Aly realized he can really make cute faces.

And Aly wonders if she will also do that to her mate now that she's of age.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Aren't you gonna propose?" She nudged him at the side.

"I don't want to scare her. I can come off as scary sometimes."

Aly laughed because she remembered how Hunter glared at 'her' Rylie. But the Hunter must have interpreted it wrong and glared at her.

Hunter furrowed his eyebrows. "I'll just go and check on her."

Hunter walked towards the shack, and Aly shook her head before following the guy.

"You know. We can talk to her so she won't get scared."

Hunter didn't say anything, but Aly knew that he was grateful. He looked tense when they stopped at the door of the shack. He was staring at the doorknob, not turning it. So Aly took the initiative and opened it.

Aly had to stop herself and looked away in case the woman is naked. But thank God that the woman is now wearing a jacket, and she realized as she looked at Hunter that it was his military jacket.

The woman glared at them. But her eyes soften when they landed on Hunter. Somehow the mate pull is making it easy for them to interact. Aly smiled and looked at Hunter.

"I guess I'm not needed here."

Hunter threw her a grateful look, and Aly walked out of the shack. She wonders if Rylie will show up soon with her promise.

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Aly looked around. The bonfire is starting, and the atmosphere is now lively as the other pack members dance around the bonfire. Alpha Gab sits on the elevated platform arranged for that day, but Aly didn't see Rylie anywhere.

She put a hand to her chin and looked around.

"Are you ok?"

"Oh, hi." Aly looked up to see Kelly, who sat next to her. Aly lifted up the beer she was drinking and handed one to Kelly, but the latter shook her head off. So Aly brought down the drink near her feet.

"Aren't you enjoying the celebration?"

"I am, but it makes me nostalgic."

Kelly laughed at what she said. The woman next to her knows that it was also her birthday, but Aly doesn't celebrate it.

"Well. I have a hint for you. Just go behind your cabin. Someone is waiting there for you."

Aly's eyes widen in surprise. "W-Who?"

"Rylie asked me to tell you where she is."

Aly's smile widened, and for the first time in her life, she felt special. Rylie can go to extra mile for her. She got up and tapped Kelly on the back.

"Thanks. Kel."

Kelly closed her eyes and nodded. Then shooed her away.

Aly runs back to her cabin but stops herself from doing so. It would seem she was very eager to see Rylie. So she enjoyed walking and smelled the fresh air coming her way. She looked at her phone and saw that it was 1-minute close to midnight.

Finally, she will be 22 years old, and finding her mate will be much easier now. And as she was nearing the back of the cabin. Her wolf senses became agitated.

Aly first saw Rylie's back and when she stepped on a dried leaf. Rylie looked at her. It was the first time that Aly felt like she was shot to her heart. It was beating fast, and everything feels like its slowing down. Rylie's hair was framed in slow motion, and those lips quirk up in a corner.

Rylie is holding a beer bottle in her hands, and Aly has to stop to look at her properly.

"Do you still want to get drunk on your birthday?"

"U-Uh----"

Rylie smiled at her before picking something on the table. Aly shook her head, smiling. Rylie had set up a table at the back of her cabin. Some chairs must have been heavy to carry.

When Rylie turned around. Aly puts a hand to her mouth to stop herself from shouting. Rylie was carrying a white cake with a candle on top and walked towards her.

"Happy birthday to you.... Happy birthday to you.... Happy birthday. Happy birthday.... Happy birthday to you...."

Aly tried so hard not to cry as she swallowed the lump in her throat, but her eyes glistened with tears.

Rylie, happily, wiped away Aly's tears, but it kept on coming as she put her hands behind Rylie's hands that hold the cake.

"Oh no.... I don't want you to cry." Rylie said.

Aly shook her head. "T-This means so much for me, Rylie. No one had ever done this for me in such a long time. I don't know how to react."

"But first, you should blow the candle." Rylie nodded and smiled.

Aly looked into Rylie's eyes, and Rylie awkwardly shuffled her feet. Aly's mouth quirk up. Then she blows on the candle. But as she blows on it, the icing on the cake began to melt.

Rylie pouted and looked up. "I-I thought I made a good cake."

Aly threw her head back, laughing. She can't help it. Rylie's pouting face is so cute that she wants to pinch it.

"But this is enough for me, Rylie. Thank you for making me this."

Aly looked fondly at the cake and looked up. But as soon as she did that, something inside her started to howl. Her wolf is so happy it's jumping out of joy.

Mate!

Aly sniffed the air, and her nostrils flared when the smell of jasmine hit.

"A-Aly?" Rylie looked lost for a moment.

But before Aly could come up to Rylie. She stopped and looked behind her when Alpha Gab shouted Rylie's name.

"Rylie!"

There was happiness all over the Alpha's face, and Aly couldn't move when Alpha Gab. Made her way to a stunned Rylie and grabbed her by the shoulder to hug her.

"Thank God! I don't have to find my mate elsewhere. You are right here. Rylie."

"M-Mate? B-But---"Rylie looked at her, and Aly can't move from where she is.

Mate!

Her nostrils flared from trying not to harm the Alpha and when she found the strength to walk away. She started walking in the opposite direction.