Jolene
We were in the middle of binge-watching Supernatural and I kept glancing at the clock from time to time. There were fifteen minutes left for my little Alpha’s birthday. He had one arm wrapped around my shoulders. The back of my head rested against his hard chest. I was so excited that no attempt to calm down would work. I kept fidgeting with his hands.
“I know you how desperately you want to be completely mine, my love. But, I was born at 7:05 PM. It would not be healthy for you to spend the whole day this nervous.” Lancelot whispered into my ear.
I scoffed. Just because it is almost his birthday, I will let this one pass. “I know! But still… I want to be the first one to say happy birthday to you.” I looked at him, pouting.
He laughed and kissed me on my temple. “Okay, gorgeous.”
When there were exactly four minutes left for 12:00 AM I turned to look at him. “Wait here for a moment.” I stood up and went to my closet. It had taken me a month to get the perfect gift. Thankfully, I had gotten it before Lancelot and I began spending every day together.
I pulled out the blue jewelry gift box from the hidden place between my sea of clothes and checked the time again. Two minutes left. I got the letter as well and clutched it against my chest. This is the first love letter I have ever written. I covered my face with both of my hands, feeling my cheeks burning up. I am dying of embarrassment before even giving it to him. I tried to pep talk myself. C’mon Jolene. Pull yourself together! You can do this!
‘Yes. You can! Mate will love it! I know it!’ Larentia said.
I sighed and checked the time again. One minute left. I cannot do this! I banged my head against the wall. It hurt. Larentia growled at me. I took a deep breath and sprinted out of the closet before I could change my mind.
Lancelot gave me a quizzical look as I walked toward him. Before he could make one of his hilarious remarks, I began singing happy birthday to him. He turned the TV off and his dreamy crystal blue eyes focused on me. The corners of his lips twitched and slowly arched upwards. I had never seen a smile so pure, captivating and alluring like the one he gave me that night. I would do anything to protect that smile of his, I thought.
After finishing singing, I sat in front of him and gave him the present and the letter.
“Today is the best day of this year, because eighteen years ago on this day, the most wonderful, sweet, charming, lovable person was born. I love everything about you and I hope to be by your side every year on this date and every day. Happy birthday, little Alpha of mine. I hope that in this new year of life your health, wisdom and happiness only increase.”
Lancelot put the gifts on the coffee table and enveloped me in a warm hug. Keeping his arms around me, he pulled away enough to give me little kisses on my forehead, temples and cheeks. I giggled at the warm tingly sensation his lips gave me.
He pulled away completely; Some tears were running down his cheeks. He gave me a soft smile when I wiped them off. “Thank you, my soul mate. This is already the best birthday ever. I am madly in love with you, you know?” he said.
He sniffled and blinked a couple of times. I doubt there is a person more adorable than him in the whole world. He took some deep breaths and got the gift box from the coffee table. My little mate opened the box and inspected the gold chain necklace before smiling brightly. It had a square charm with the engraving of an orange blossom flower on one side and a message that said: ‘I love you always -your mate’ on the other.
He saw the side with the message first and kissed my cheek. “I always love you too.” He turned the charm around and looked at the flowery engraving. “Orange blossom flower…”
“That is your scent. It is relaxing, sweet and rich, with a hint of citrus.” I said.
Lancelot tapped his chin and a devilish grin spread across his handsome features. “Orange blossom represents purity, innocence, fidelity, fertility, chastity and… eternal love. Sounds like the perfect flower to describe me. Don’t you think?”
I wanted to retort. However, before the words could leave my lips he leaned toward me, resting his forehead against mine and looking probably straight into my soul. I froze as his eyes filled my whole field of view. His eyes, clear as a spring, blue as the sky, innocent as grace itself, looked at me with so much devotion that my heart skipped a beat. I was dumbfounded. I had never stared at something so beautiful from so up close. It was hypnotic.
Being around him is like diving in a coral reef. After spending so much time surrounded by beauty, it is not surprising to forget to breathe sometimes. I love him so much that my body convinces itself that I need nothing but his presence to live. Maybe, this is just like a free fall. Euphoria flows through me as the wind blows against my face and body. I hope to never crash. And if I do crash, I wish for the opportunity to jump all over again.
He pulled away, snickering. Just as I was about to get my breath back, the takes it away all over again.”You are so cute. Remember when I said that I love hyacinths? I did not say it only because of their meaning. I love them because of their scent, your scent,” he said.
I leaned forward to him, staring into his eyes once again and feeling all self-restraining slip away from me. He caught me in a tight hug. “If you keep looking at me with that sexy look of yours, I will not be able to hold myself back. I would need to mark you and mate with you right now, which is just what I want. But, the birthday party my mom organized for me is tonight. Everyone will be there.” His voice sounded gruff and seductive.
“I understand,” I whispered against his chest. Even trying to mask our scents would not hide the smell of a newly mated couple.
“I want to introduce you tonight as my mate.” Lancelot loosened his grip around me.
I pulled away and stared at his face, expecting him to break in laughter at any point but he looked dead serious. “Bu- but I am your teacher and you are still younger.”
He chuckled and shook his head slowly. “Don’t worry. I already informed my parents about this. I will just state facts. You are my mate and I want to be with you. You are going to resign your job as a teacher to be the next Luna. Also, we have not done anything ‘too scandalous’ yet and we will wait if necessary. I just want everyone to know that you are mine and I am yours.”
I gulped and nodded in silence. This could go wrong. I do not want people judging him or mocking him for being with me. “I thought that you did not want me to spend the whole day worried. Now, I do not think that I will be able to calm my raging heart.”
“What about this?” He pulled me in a hug and leaned back, pulling me with him, until he was lying on the couch; I was lying on top of him, listening to his heart beat.
Even though he appeared to be as calm and composed as always his heart rate completely betrayed him. Also, we had a silent agreement of ignoring the evident bulge in his pants. “What about we take this to the bed?” I asked sardonically.
He smirked and arched an eyebrow. “It depends. Will you behave?”
“Please. I always behave.” I supported myself on my knees and stood up. I pulled out a hand to him.
He took it and tried to pull me back down, but instead I pulled back making him stand up.
“Oh, so strong. I like it,” he whispered in my ear.
We walked to my bed, still holding hands.
***
I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was my mate’s dazzling eyes. He was looking at me sleep again. I glanced at the clock. 8:00 AM. Last night we stayed until late talking about the future. We have a full life planned together. We will have two kids, one dog, and at least twenty chickens. Paradise.
I took a shower and brushed my teeth. When I got out of the bathroom he was sitting on the bed his gaze flickering between the necklace and the letter.
“Remember what I told you. You cannot read it until after you officially turn eighteen,” I said.
He jumped a little in surprise and gave me a small apologetic smile. I am not sure what he thinks the letter says, but I actually kept it PG… mostly. It is just that I would die from embarrassment if he were to read it right in front of me.
“Would you help me with the necklace?” he asked me. That boyish smile of his was adorning his handsome face.
“Sure.” I walked up to him and took the necklace from his hand and slowly put it around his neck. Goosebumps formed on his neck as my fingers brushed against his skin.
I smiled and placed soft kisses on his neck before walking away. He groaned at the lack of touch and followed me to the kitchen.
After having breakfast, he told me that his mother had asked him to go home early to get ready for the party. Lancelot, then, asked me if I wanted to watch more episodes of Supernatural. I had a better idea, though.
We went back to bed and cuddled. The feeling of being in his arms was the best feeling I had ever felt. I was soaring. For the first time, everything made sense. I had never looked forward to the future, but with Lancelot I looked forward to every single day we will spend together. I was grateful we had so many years ahead of us because with him time seemed to stop and accelerate at the same time.
“Do you think we will be happy?” I asked him.
He laughed softly. “I know we will be happy, as long as we are together.”
Faster than I thought possible, it was time for him to leave. We agreed to meet in the pack house half an hour before the party. We would be separated for just a couple of hours, but something in me desperately wanted him to stay. It felt as if I would lose him if I let him walk out that door. I did not want to let him go. Soon, tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was sniffling and sobbing against his chest.
Lancelot took a step back and wiped off my tears. “Beautiful, adorable mate. I need to go. We will be together again before you even notice my absence.” He sounded like a parent dropping off his child in kindergarten for the first time.
“I will go with you,” I said.
He shook his head. “It is not necessary. You will ruin the surprise I have for you.”
“Surprise?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.
He nodded. “Let’s do something. You get ready and call me and I will come with Samuel to pick you up.”
“Okay.” I still do not want to let him go, but I am the adult. I should act like it.
I latched myself to him from behind, dragging my feet while he walked to the door. We both laughed the whole way there. I let go of him as he was opening the door. My love turned around, hugged me and placed soft kisses on my forehead and cheeks. He gave me a lingering kiss on the lips before walking away to Samuel’s car. I was left with a broad goofy grin on my face.
I waved both of them goodbye until the car disappeared in the horizon. I got back into my apartment. As I was about to close the door, an unknown man talked to me. The hairs on the back of my neck instantly stood up and my whole body tensed. He had been hiding his scent. He stood in front of me, tall and built; I could take him out in a second, though.
“Alpha Alexander James Hunter requests your immediate presence in the Blood River territory,” the man said with a cruel smirk on his face.
The blood drained from my face, a sick feeling appeared in the pit of my stomach, and my hands went numb; Not because of his words, but because of what the phone he was holding up to me was showing.