Anna's Tale

The Plot Thickens

I have been staying at the pack house with Bryce for almost a week. Tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday and I am excited, but also very nervous. I have decided to tell Bryce that I love him and that I want the mate bond because it is the truth. I am nervous because it is a big step but I know it is the right one. I have filled a notebook with a bunch of my drawings and letters to Bryce that I have written every day that I have been here. I put in a box and decorated it to give to Bryce at my birthday party tomorrow. I wrote the last letter telling him of my love and willingness to be his mate this morning while he was in a meeting with Robby, his Beta and Jordan, his Delta. I know that he will be done any minute so I make sure that I look nice because he is presenting me to the pack as a new member and his mate. They will do a special ceremony after are mating bond to make me their Luna later on. I am wearing a knee length red dress with black polka dots. It is fitted at the top with a sweetheart neckline and black buttons that go down the front. I has a wide black ribbon at the waist that ties into a bow on the back. I have black high heels and my hair is done in a fancy braided bun. My makeup is a simple nude smoky eye and red lipstick. I love the way I look in this, it highlights all my curves and makes me feel beautiful.

"Little one, are you ready?" Bryce calls up the stairs. Showtime. I am so glad that my cuts and bruises are gone. I take a deep breath and walk to the top of the stairs. The look on Bryce's face is priceless. "Wow, you look, wow." He breathes. I beam him a smile and start down the stairs. When I get four stairs from the bottom, he grabs me around the waist and spins me around making me breathless. He sets me down and bows, "My lady" he offers me his arm. I curtsey, "Kind sir" and take his arm. We walk arm in arm out the back door to the pack stage area.

There are hundreds of people standing and waiting to see the newest pack member, it makes me a bit nervous. "Be calm love, you will do fine." Bryce whispers to me and I nod. "I can't wait until the party tomorrow, I have a big surprise for you, little one." The tone of his voice sends shivers down my spine.

"I have a present for you, too, my Alpha. It is nothing big or fancy, just something from the heart." I tell him with a smile. His answering smile is breathtaking, double dimples.

"Pack members of Moon's Hope pack! I am pleased to officially welcome the newest member of our pack. She is not only lovely, kind, compassionate, and intelligent, but she is also my mate. Please welcome, Anna Joline Clay!" Bryce commands everyone's attention as soon as he steps on the stage. Everyone is clapping, except a small group of women who look like they have been sucking on lemons. They must be Bryce's ex girlfriends. No, I am not mad he has had a few girlfriends, that's life. As long as they stay off Bryce, they may keep all their body parts attached.

A woman who looks about the same age as Bryce comes up and hugs him. This is interesting. "Bryce, this is just wonderful! Finally someone who isn't a Carla clone! I heard how she told her off. I think it's great you finally found your mate and she has balls!" The woman claps excitedly. She is tall and curvy. Very beautiful with the same black hair and hazel eyes as Bryce.

"Be nice, Izzy." Bryce says with a snicker. "Anna, this is my cousin, Izzy. Izzy, my mate, Anna." I beam a smile at her and stick out my hand, she bats it away and pulls me into a hug.

"Anna. Needs.Air. Anna. No. Breathe." I gasp and Izzy lets go. "Oh, I am so sorry, I'm a hugger and I forgot you don't have your wolf strength yet." She giggles, which makes me laugh. "Not a problem. I am a hugger too, but with wolves it's better to not touch until you know if you can. Are all of you so tall, geeze, four inch heels and even the kids are still taller than me." This gets a laugh from both Izzy and Bryce. Oh great, here comes the sour patch kids. I think as the group of sour faced woman walk towards us. Both Bryce and Izzy look at me and start laughing even harder. "What did I say that out loud?" I ask, confused.

"No, you are mind linked to the pack, you didn't block that and the whole pack heard it." Izzy says still laughing. "Man, you are going to be fun to have around."

Bryce sobers as Carla and her clones reach us. "Carla, Candice, Corey, Cadence, Cora, and Clair. How are you this evening?" He greets them in a polite but cool tone. I quickly throw up the mind blocks that Bryce had been training me on and link with Izzy.

"Oh shit they are all clones, it's like a cult!" I think to her. She snickers and thinks back, "I know, right."

"Bryce, come on now, is that anyway to talk to any old friend?" Carla purrs.

"Old is right, geeze, how often does she see the plastic surgeon, they must get a bulk discount." I think to Izzy. She can barely contain her laughter.

Carla glares at me then looks back a Bryce and starts to put her hand on his arm. "You sure you want to do that? Remember the warning my mate gave you the last time?" Bryce tells her. She freezes and looks at me and then back at Bryce. "You wouldn't let her hurt me, who would you call when you need a real woman in your bed?" She smirks at me and her hand is almost touching his arm when I grab her wrist and bend her arm all the way behind her back. I lean in towards her ear and whisper, "Don't doubt me, I keep all my promises."

"Bryce, baby, make her let go." Carla whimpers. Bryce just stares stone faced at her. He links with me. "Baby, you have to put her in her place. I understand you are not violent, but if you don't they will challenge you for your position as my mate and Luna."

I nod at him and wrench back harder on Carla's arm. I turn towards the pack. "To those of you who think you get between my mate and I, think again. Trying to steal a mate, is a very serious crime. A crime that we, as a pack, will not stand for. Carla already had her one warning, that is all you get. Her punishment for a second offence is one week confinement."

"NO! You can't do that, you little nobody!" Carla screams. Robby and Jordan take her away to the detention center. She is screaming a cursing the whole way there. Just before she is completely out of sight she screams, "You will pay for this, bitch."

Bryce growls and starts to charge her when I reach for his arm. "Let it go, she is just angry. We have a long day tomorrow." He nods.

"Ok, pack, tomorrow evening with will be celebrating Anna's eighteenth birthday, so let's all go home." Bryce calls out. Everyone cheers and claps as they disperse to their homes.

Bryce turns to Izzy, "Good night, Izzy." He swoops down throws me over his shoulder. I squeal and lift my head and wave at Izzy as Bryce marches into the house. I can still hear her laugh until we reach the top of the stairs. When we get to his room, he slowly slides me down the front of his body until my feet touch the floor and grins wickedly at me. I smile and grab his face, pulling him into a kiss. It starts out as a sweet kiss but turns hot fast.

"Wait, Anna, we can't. I'm sorry, love." Bryce says as he pulls back from the kiss. "I know, it's ok. Oh, by the way, your gift is under the bed so don't peek until tomorrow." I tell him as I gather pjs and head off to the bathroom.

Yes, I sleep every night in Bryce's arms and in his bed, but no sex. It just strengthens the bond and keeps the bad dreams away. Bryce is in bed as I come out of the bathroom in my yellow ducky pj boy shorts and white tank.

He groans, "Those shorts should be illegal." I giggle and crawl into bed and snuggle up to him. He wraps his arms around me and places a tiny kiss behind my ear. "Good night, little one." He whispers. "Good night, my big bad wolf." I feel his smile as I drift off to sleep.

As the new day dawns I find myself sitting in the kitchen waiting for the coffee pot to give up the gold. Then there is a blinding pain in my head and then darkness.

As I open my eyes I see the Carla clones all staring at me and they are all smiling like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Well, shit. Happy Fucking Birthday to Me.