Once Upon a Mate

2

I can see the tears brimming behind my moms eyes as she pins the last of my hair into place. The dutch braided bun looks as flawless as every other hair style she had ever done for me. 

In another life, I could see her being a cosmetologist. She's always enjoyed helping me get ready for a party. Hair, makeup, nails, whatever it is, she's there and she has the perfect idea to go with whatever dress.

She even helps around the pack with the woman for whatever occasions they need it for. 

But I know that look in her eyes all to well. Any second she's going to start crying and blabbering on about how her little girl is growing up and turning into a woman.

I look at my dress. The dark plum color a nice contrast to my skin and the lace sheer neckline giving a perfect peekaboo to my cleavage. 

To be honest, I feel beautiful. More beautiful than I think I ever have before, but if I say that, the tears threatening to fall from her eyes will be freed. 

And if she starts crying, I'll start crying. She spent to long on my makeup to have it ruined. 

"You know I had thought," I stand, moving to look out the window to where I could hear my brother's laughter, "I bet Zander will meet his mate tonight." 

She gasps at my words, moving too quickly to stand beside me at the window. It's as if Zander senses us watching and turns to look at the house, his eyes meeting mine a second later. 

Why is mom staring at me like that? He mindlinks me and it takes everything in me not to start laughing. 

I don't respond with words. I just shrug with a small smile. His eyebrows furrow and with one more worried glance our way, he turns back to the men he's talking to.

"I see what you're trying to do, Zoey," my mom says after a minute, turning from the window and heading back towards my vanity.

I figured she would know it was a distraction, but it worked. I can't see the tears brimming anymore. Now all that sits on her face is a soft smile reflected towards me as she packs away her makeup and brushes. 

"I won't bet against though. To be honest, I'm kind of hoping for it actually," her voice turns whimsical before her light eyes meet mine through the mirror, "He is almost twenty one and that's older than your father was when he as born. And you're nearing twenty which is older than we were when we met." 

I would have to be blind to not see the twinkle in her eyes and to not be able to hear the words she's not speaking. 

She's hoping both her kids walk away with mates tonight. The future Luna by Zander's side, ready to lead this pack into the next generation and me... Well where does that leave me? 

Back to the same question I've asked myself for years. Will my mate be more excited about moving up the ranks or will I be enough for him, regardless of who my father and brother are? 

"Head downstairs and enjoy the party. Tell your father I'll be down in a few minutes," with a wink she moves out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. 

I stare at my reflection until all I can see is the knee length, plum colored dress that I fell in love with a few days ago. 

Where did all these butterflies in my stomach come from? 

Before I can psych myself out, I take a deep breath and leave my room, taking the stairs just slow enough so I don't fall. 

"So are you going to tell me why you and mom were being creepy and stalking me?" Zander waits by the bottom of the staircase, probably having heard me coming.