1. Not again

~Aliyah's POV~

“It’s been months since I’ve seen the sunrise. For the moon goddess’s sake, lift your lazy ass and go outside. I want to breathe in fresh air,” Lizzy, my wolf, growled in my head.

I growled back at her in annoyance, “If you two had chosen to let me sleep on time at night, then I wouldn’t be sleeping so late in the morning… For the Moon Goddess’s sake, be quiet and let me sleep.”

I sighed while trying to fall asleep again, but just like every other day, I started twisting and turning again.

“Trust me, it won’t stop until you do something about putting an end to your awful breath,” Ellen, the vampire inside me screeched in my head.

“I swear I’ll drag you out into the sunlight for a ‘sun bath.’ And you very well know that you won’t be able to handle the sun on your own… So shut up, Ellen!”

I hate this… I hate how every single second Ellen tells me to self-slaughter myself… I hate sharing my body with her… I hate how she makes me feel around my family, about them, and for them…

God… I wish I were only a werewolf. Why did I have to be a vampire, too?

I don’t want to! I hate her the same way she hates Lizzy and me.

They never let me eat, sleep, walk, work, or even bathe without any argument. Ever since I became one with these two, my life has become beautifully awful.

I threw the sheets away and sat straight on the bed. Stretched my muscles for a few seconds and then walked to my bathroom to have a shower.

If I don’t reach the solution before my twenty-first birthday, then these two will make my life so difficult that even breathing would feel like a crime.

A hungry growl from my stomach reached my ears, and I groaned; I had started eating so much these days that I am sure if I hadn’t been working out daily, then I would have gained a lot of pounds.

“What’s for breakfast?” I asked Mom in the mind link.

“You are up already? Baby…” I heard her long sigh in the mind link. I shook my head.

I don’t know how long it will take me to ease the tension in my parents’ hearts.

“Mom, you know my sleep pattern. There is nothing new about it… Anyway, I am hungry,” I said as calmly as I could.

“Crepes and pancakes with your favourite fruits and juice.”

“Can you send some to my room? I want to eat and then go to bed again. I don’t feel like joining everyone.”

Even though it’s been months since I have had trouble sleeping, my family still hasn’t gotten used to it.

Whenever they see eyebags under my eyes, their small smile drops, and the shine in their eyes disappears. This breaks me more than tolerating the vampire inside me.

“I know why you want to be alone, and it’s fine; I’ll send the breakfast to your room, but… In case you forgot, I want to remind you of your cousin’s birthday."

My cousin’s birthday?

Not again!

How could I forget Carter’s birthday? What the heck was wrong with me?

I always went to his place to wish him his birthday, but I have been so disturbed in the past three years that I always tend to forget his birthday.

Every year, I promise myself that I won’t repeat the same, but… I always end up doing things that I don’t want to. Not only with Carter but with Damien as well.

I quickly washed off all the soap from my body and ran into my closet. I need to go to the Dark Moon pack right now!

Quickly getting dressed into a black off-shoulder top and beige pants, I put on my black flat slippers that had a bow on them, and jogged out of my room, straight to the living room.

“Your breakfast, sweetheart,” I heard Mom’s voice from my right, but I didn’t stop.

Last time, I promised Carter that I would throw the best birthday party for him on his next birthday, but I failed to remember his birthday… Again.

“Aliyah…” My brother, Damien, grabbed my hand and turned me around, “At least have breakfast. I know where you are heading, but even he won’t like you skipping your breakfast. Eat first and then leave.”

“But I-“

“No… Princess, eat before you leave. You are already troubled… I don’t want those two to bother you for not giving them proper meals,” Dad said while shaking his head

I nodded to him without arguing and sat at the dining table with Mom beside me

She gave me a spoonful of pancakes and smiled, “Just like always, we will have people from different packs in the Dark Moon pack tonight. Who knows, maybe you will find the solution to all your problems tonight?”

“You've been saying this for every party, Mom,” I shook my head.

She smiled, “There is nothing wrong with hoping...”

Yeah... I know I don't have much time...

And I hope to meet my mate soon. Now, only his blood and bond can save my life.

**************************

“Don’t worry, he is not mad,” Stella smiled as I sat on the couch, a heavy sigh came out of my mouth.

I was glad Carter was not home… At least now I can make all the necessary arrangements for his birthday with his mate, which I thought about last year.

Eiden came running to me and hugged my knees, “Aunty!”

Seeing his chubby cheeks and twinkling big blue eyes, a huge smile appeared on my lips, and I kissed his cheek, “I missed you!”

“Missed too… Happy happy,” He said while clapping his soft, tiny hands with a big, beautiful smile on his face.

“He gets excited on everyone’s birthday,” Stella laughed.

Eiden was the prettiest baby I have ever seen. Though he was a carbon copy of his handsome grandfather, he still had those beautiful, big blue eyes of his mother and his father’s light brown hair. I feel like having a kid of my own whenever I look into his beautiful baby-blue eyes.

“Only if that was possible… Oh, that is… But the kid would be suffering just like you,” Ellen hissed in my brain.

This leech will never let me think about something good…

“What’s with that face? Did she say something?” Stella asked.

“She always does…” I rolled my eyes.

“Shut her out, and let’s prepare for the party! We have so much to do,” She excitedly said while grooving her body as if there was some music playing in the background.

I laughed.

No matter how many years pass, she and Carter will never change. They have been together since childhood, and ever since they mated, they've become inseparable.

I wish I could meet my mate super soon and become one with him and my wolf for once and all.

“Aliyah, give Eiden to me, and you both go and check on the preparation,” Aunt Anna said and took Eiden from my arms.

I poked Eiden’s nose for the last time and sighed. Time to start with the preparations.

But as I walked away with Stella, something about tonight felt different.

And I can’t tell if it’s hope in my chest… Or a warning I’m too blind to see.