My mom and I spend the rest of the morning pampering ourselves. We get mani and Pedi at the pack’s nail shop. We went to lunch at our favorite dive. My mom and I share a love of good burgers. My mom got a mushroom Swiss burger with bacon added. I got a cheddar bacon burger with crispy onion on top of the burger. It’s made with one beef and one pork patty. It’s not the healthiest lunch, but we enjoyed it, we don’t eat like this every day, but it is good to treat yourself every now and then. After lunch, we get deep massages to help us relax. We also get primed and waxed. We are flawless and silky smooth for the night. Spending the day with my mom like this was perfect. She knew that I needed to just relax and not think about tonight. We just went with the flow of things and did not talk about mates, birthdays, or the big party. After our massages, we went back to our house.
“Thanks, mom. I really needed this pampering day.”
“You’re welcome, baby girl. I’m glad I got the chance to have you all to myself for the day. I’m going to take a long soak before we have to get ready for tonight. I’ll have to leave a little early. I need to take your dad his tux. He linked me that the meeting was running longer than they thought.”
“Ok, mom. I think I’ll take a long soak myself. Talia and Mona will be coming over to do hair and makeup. I think Ben will be here to guard all of us. He can’t stand to be separated from Mona for too long.”
“Yep, that’s how it is to newly mated males when they have not marked their mates. He will calm down after the mating ceremony. The twins are probably having the hardest time focusing in the meeting since they are forced to be away from Talia. Now that I think about it. That might be why the meeting is taking so long. Let me go link your dad, so he can let the alpha know they may need to take a break so the twins can see Talia and calm their wolves down.”
“Mom, if it is like that with newly mated wolves, why was Trevor able to stay away from me?”
“I’m not sure baby. Maybe because you accepted his rejection and you let Tamaska work on breaking the bond. The weaker the bond got, the more he could stay away, but it also affected his ability to reason. Convel is still weak and Trevor is dealing with feelings he does not understand, so he is reacting in anger. If he had told his father the truth, he would have been able to help him through this time.”
“Ok. That makes sense. Thanks, mom.”
“Love you, baby.”
“Love you too mom.”
We both go to our rooms to soak and relax. Well. I’ll be relaxing. Mom will be linking my dad. The twins are not the only ones who don’t like to be apart from one another. My parents usually do everything together. Although they have been mated for over 20 years, they still act like a newly mated couple. I love seeing them together. I have always wanted what they have. I will not settle for anything less than that. My second chance mate better have his life together.
“Don’t worry Lettie, the moon goddess will not give us another mate like Trevor.”
“Thanks, T. I believe that as well. How are you holding up?”
“I’m good. The bond is almost completely broken. We will be free soon. I am sad that we had to do this. Convel wanted us, but Trevor blocked him. As much as breaking the bond hurt me, it would have hurt more to see Convel fade away. We are doing the right thing even if Trevor never appreciates our sacrifice.”
My wolf is so strong. Not many wolves would choose to go through with breaking the bond. Well, not many could actually break the bond without the help of a witch or special alpha. Because of who I am, the moon goddess gave me the option of releasing the person who was rejected from the consequences of the rejection by breaking the bond. That also means, once the bond is broken, we are no longer mates. For me, I will get a second chance mate. The one who rejected me will get to keep his wolf and his sanity, but he will have to settle for a chosen mate instead of getting a second fated mate. I guess he does get a consequence after all.
After getting out of the tub, I put on a robe and lie across my bed. I’m feeling inspired to write. Writing keeps me centered and helps me process and get through my feelings. I got so caught up in writing, I didn’t realize that hours had passed. I look up and the girls are walking into my room carrying their gowns.
“It’s that time already?”
“Yes, it is. Now get your pretty behind in the chair so I can do your makeup first.” Mona says. Talia and Rose just laugh. They know that I don’t really like wearing makeup, but I know there was no way either of them would let me go to this party with just lipstick and mascara.
“Lettie, are you still wearing that teal off-the-shoulder dress?” Mona asks.
“Yes, I am. I love the way it fits me. I am sweet and sexy. Totally different than how I usually dress, even to formal events. You know I never usually show my curves. For my 18th birthday, I wanted to be different. This is my coming-out party.”
“You know it has your right shoulder out. Are you ready to show the world that you are the chosen protector of our generation?” Talia asked.
The girls are the only ones, besides my family and the alpha who knows about the protector mark on my right shoulder. I always keep my shoulders covered. Even when I shift, I make sure I shift back behind a tree and away from others. I always rejoin the crowd with at least a shirt on. They guys just think I’m shy about nudity. I do it to keep my role as protector hidden until I come into my full powers. The council said I will get stronger on my 18th birthday. So far, I still feel the same, but I was already stronger than everyone else, so I may not notice anything.
“Yes, girls, I am absolutely coming out tonight as the chosen Protector. The council told my dad today that I will be called to go on a mission within the next week, so it is time to stop hiding who I am, at least from the pack. I know that most of the older pack members probably already suspect that it is me, Mona, or my dad. They know that the Protector remains with our family. So I get to show off my mark and look good doing it.”
We spend the next hour doing our hair and make-up. Mona is awesome at doing makeup. She had us looking like we were ready for the runway in no time. I decided to flat iron my natural curls so that my hair was hanging past my shoulders. I don’t usually wear my hair down like this. I did it tonight so I can use my hair to cover my mark until I’m ready to let it show. My mark glows in the moonlight, so I will uncover it when the moon is highest in the sky for dramatic effect.
“Are you ladies finally ready?” Ben yells upstairs. “I have been down here waiting forever. Send my mate down already.”
“Oh Hush Ben,” Rose tells her twin. “You were the one who wanted to wait while four shewolves got dressed. How did you think that was going to go? Beauty takes time. We’ll be down soon. Go get something to drink and be quiet.”
We could all hear Ben grumbling about us keeping his mate from him. He is so cute.
“Ok girls, we have kept him waiting long enough. Let's go put him out of his misery.” I say.
We all grab our bags and head downstairs. When we enter the family room. Ben stands up and looks at Mona with a smile.
“You ladies are stunning.”
“Yep, we would all take the compliment if you had even noticed any of us. You have not taken your eyes off you mate to see what the rest of us even look like.”
“If you all look half as beautiful as my mate, then I know you all look stunning. My mate is completely breadth-taking. Why would I want to take my eyes off her?”
“Oh boy, I think I am going to be sick,” Rose says. “Why did my brother have to mate my best friend? Now I have to witness him being all sappy. It is disgusting.”
“I think it's sweet,” Mona says.
“You would. Now let’s go before I literally throw up in my mouth at the googlie eyes my brother is making at you.”