CH. 4 - Tori’s 14th Birthday (Part 1)

Tori’s POV

~6 years later~

“Fuck” I groan, my amber eyes now staring at my reflection within the mirror. A fresh new bruise making its way known just along the right side of my body.

Tentative fingers now moving to touch the tiny bruise. A hiss making its way past my lips as Dylan and Sam use me as their own personal punching bag. New recruits set forth by Lilyanna who seems to take pleasure in making my life a living hell. Especially Lilyanna herself, even though she’s been warned on multiple occasions by Jake, Zak and Alex to leave me alone.

Wincing at how tender my flesh was I move to pull down my shirt, as today was supposed to be special. For today I was officially turning 14 which meant I should be getting my wolf today as well, something I’ve been wanting since I was 8 years old.

At least, I hope I’ll be getting my wolf today. My thoughts going back to my friends and when they each turned 14. Now at age 20, the guys have started putting on more of an athletic build, filling out nicely while I on the other hand stayed the same in every way.

Sighing, I instantly hear my mother’s voice calling out to me.

“Tori dear, hurry up. Your about to miss your own birthday party.”

“COMING MOM! BE RIGHT THERE” I move to shout back to her, my eyes still on my own reflection. My hair neatly styled in a way that I always like while currently wearing a black V-neck t-shirt and a pair of dark wash jeans. A pair of black sneakers my new current look. My thoughts going back to Jake, Zak and Alex like always.

Oh, who am I kidding? There’s no way Jake, Zak or Alex could ever truly care about me. I’m just a reject, a runt without a scent to call my own. Plus, each of them are 20 and at the age of finding their mates, who am I to compare to that?

Sighing, I move to think back to a conversation that I recently overheard with my father and my mother. I wasn’t much older than 10 at the time so I wasn’t able to understand the concern behind their words but now that I’m getting older, I do.

~Flash back (Age:10)~

“Honey, are you sure about this?” asks Layla to her mate, unaware that their son was currently listening in on their conversation.

“I’m sure dear. But there isn’t anything else we can do. Alpha Dawson has done everything within his power to help Tori. It now falls on our Elders to figure this out.” explains Austin, equally defeated by what they had learned from Alpha Dawson.

“So, you're telling me that our son is forever doomed to be scentless? To never find his mate? That’s... That’s completely unfair to him. Tori has been nothing but kind and sweet and you're telling me that his fate is destined to always be alone? NO! I refuse to believe that this is the fate that our Moon Goddess has given him” cries Layla, her emotions running wild.

“I know my love, I know, and I promise, Tori will find his mate with or without the help of our Moon Goddess” whispers Austin as he moves to embrace his mate. Silently praying to the Moon Goddess for a miracle.

Please Moon Goddess, please let our son Tori find his true mate someday, please.

~End of Flashback~

Still lost in thought, I fail to notice another presence within the room until I hear a knocking at my bathroom door. My eyes now shifting towards the person only to see that it was my mother.

“Sweetie, are you sure you're okay? Jake, Zak and Alex are all here to help celebrate your birthday like always along with your father and I” replies Layla, her eyes still on her son as she speaks.

“Yeah... I’m fine. Just nervous I guess” I lie, knowing it was only partially true.

“Don’t be scared, you’ll get your wolf, I promise. And when you do, you’ll be one step closer to finding your mate.”

Snorting at the notion I move to leave the bathroom.

“Mom please... Don’t hold onto false hope. Face it, I’ll never find my mate ever. And after today, I’ll be lucky enough if I even get my wolf. I’m just a loser. A runt and not worthy of being Jake’s Gamma” I quickly say to her before she can rebuttal.

“TORI! Don’t say things like that. Of course, you’ll find your mate and get your wolf, your just special. Just because you weren’t born with a scent doesn’t mean we love you anyway less and whoever told you that you were worthless needs a new reality check.” explains Layla to her son knowing that whoever told him that was wrong, and she truly did believe he had a purpose within the pack.

“Whatever. Let’s just get this over with and when my wolf doesn’t appear I can tell you I told you so” I grunt as I move to walk away from my mother. A look of worry now etched across her face as she watches me walk away from her.