Third chapter in a day! LOL haha well please read. IK these are really long, but I wanted you guys to read it already! FAST! Read, Vote, Comment, tell your friends, etc.
We pull up in the driveway of a large log cabin. This cabin was technically owned by the whole pack, but it was really owned by Day’s parents. Emma and Stephen were really rich (as most Alphas are), and had this as well as their own house in town. I kill the engine and we all step out. I’m immediately swarmed by a bunch of people telling me happy birthday. I smile and nod, replying to some but not all. I spy my group of girlfriends: Amber and Crystal (they're feternal twins), and Elizabeth. Including me and Ria, we are all inseparable. They rush over to me and give me bear hugs, screaming happy birthday and complimenting my outfit and look.
“You look drop dead gorgeous, Laila.” Amber exclaims.
“Yeah, your mate will probably want to bind you the minute he finds out you’re his mate.” Elizabeth says bluntly. I blush, and smack her on the arm.
“Shut up, Elizabeth!” I say, scolding her. She giggles, and then Crystal tugs on my arm.
“Your dad just called for you, he wants you to come to the backyard.” She informs me, and we all go to the clearing in the back of the house. Almost everyone in our pack is there. I spot my dad immediately, talking to Stephen, and my mom to Emma. I rush over to them, and my dad gives me a big hug. “Hey Laila! Happy birthday sweetheart!” he says, grinning. I give him a Cheshire grin myself.
“Thanks Dad! I can’t believe you organized this all for me, Stephen. Thank you so much!” I tell Stephen. He winks at me.
“Anything for our little Laila.” He jokes, and we all crack up. Emma and my mom embrace me next.
“I’m so excited for you, Laila! This will be one of the best surprises of your life!” my mother exclaims. Emma nods right along with her.
“Yes, this is definitely something to remember.” Emma agrees. I smile at them both. They were best friends in high school, and have remained close ever since.
“Well, I’m definitely nervous, but excited too.” I confide to them.
“Don’t be nervous, just be yourself and you’ll find him.” My mom assures. I take a deep breath and nod my head. You can do this, Laila.
After mingling a little more, it’s time to find my mate. Everyone crowds around the entrance to the forest. How I’m supposed to find my mate, I have no clue. Sometimes it’s just seeing who emits a feeling out of me, other times they have a sort of challenge. It’s something the leaders of the pack make up, and I was bouncing with energy awaiting the verdict. Stephen steps up on a tree stump, and clears his throat. Everyone immediately quiets down, listening carefully.
“As you all know, today is Laila’s eighteenth birthday, which means that she will be finding her mate in the Shadow Moon pack today.” People clap for me, and I fight a small blush. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Once the applause dies down, he continues. “With careful deliberation, we’ve decided Laila can handle a little challenge to find her mate. All eligible boys who have no mates as of right now will be scattered around in the forest. They will find a spot and stay there. We will release Laila into the forest, and she will follow her mate’s scent until she finds him. Once she does, they’ll howl together, and everyone will return back here. She has two hours to find him once she shifts and starts running before we will look in the forest for her.”
I slowly let it soak in. This is one of the hardest challenges I’ve heard of. Finding your mate’s scent is easy, but sometimes if it isn’t something abnormal from the forests scents itself, then it can be confusing to pick it out. It will take a long time to track him down, but I was determined. I look around, and see that almost a fourth of the pack is gone already. The boys must already be in position. I don’t even see Day around. Stephen looks at me, and sends a message to me through our pack mind link. Are you ready?
Yes. I think back firmly. He nods, and then I go into the forest, and shift behind a tree. Luckily, when you get older, you learn to shift while keeping your clothes on, so you don’t end up naked when you change back. My dress melted into my white fur. I was pretty big as a wolf, and my inner wolf cried with joy for being let out. My wolf was white with black around the paws, and silver fur mixed in, making me unique. My green eyes stayed the same, but the silver flecks in them were more prominent as a wolf. I smiled, well as much as a wolf can smile.
Then I take off into the woods.
After running into the forest, I stop. I haven’t picked up a strong scent yet, but that’s because I haven’t been using my wolf senses. My wolf should be able to pick up her mate’s scent fast, so I let the wolf inside overwhelm me for a bit. I suddenly can smell the sharp scent of pine needles, mixed with another manly scent. Almost like a cologne. It’s so intoxicating at first, I sit stunned at first, then take off running. I take a bunch of twists and turns, sometimes getting confused on where the scent is coming from. I run for about an hour, and then I’m suddenly at a clearing. I can see the faint figure of a boy, and I slowly pad to a walk. Yes, the scent is getting stronger and stronger. This is it. This is him, my mate. I think to myself. I shift back quietly, and start walking towards him. I can only see the back of him. His tall frame and muscles define him, with brown hair that’s slightly messy. He’s wearing an evergreen top with khaki shorts, and then he turns around.
My jaw drops and I stare into his hazel eyes.
