5

Evie's pov

The world seems to stop and for a heartbeat, I couldn't seem to remember how to breathe.

Kim's face twists in disbelief, her eyes shadowing with anger and hurt. Her hand, which had been clutching Ryan's arm, drop to her side like she had been scorched.

My stomach flips.

"How how could you say that-

Kim started, her tone icy but Ryan cuts in. "Kimberly we are not mates yet and in fact we don't know if we are. We aren't even together,"

She gasped, flinching back like every word that came out of his mouth was a physical blow to her chest. "I am only mating to you because it is my duty Kimberly,"

I winced. Ouch. Even I felt bad for Kimberly.

"Evie and I have been best friends for years. Of course she matters to me most," he raised an eyebrow as if daring her to spite him.

But she doesn't, only flares her nostrils and with a humph, pries the broken necklace from my hold and stomps back inside the house without another word.

For a second both Ryan and I didn't move. My heart was still racing, not just from what he said but how he said it.

"Ryan..." I drawled.

Kimberly is going to kill me when he leaves.

He's never been so harsh with her. Sure he gets irritated by her but he could always control his frustration. However today it seem Ryan was done pretending to be polite.

He glances at me, his eyes softer now. " I couldn't let her talk to you like that."

I fiddled with the ends of my dress as I flush under the blazing sun. "You," I looked away and licked my lower lip. "You didn't have to defend me Ryan. Kimberly is going to be your ma-

He snorted and turn to me fully, his eyes string into mine deeply. "You don't get it do you, Evie?"

I stayed silent, confused. He sighs and locks his eyes with mine and then they drop to my mouth. I hold my breath. "You really have no idea Evie what you really mean to me."

I sucked in a sharp breath and watch his eyes soften so tenderly. "I should go now. I am afraid of what I might do if I stay any longer."

My brows furrowed. "But-

Ryan shakes his head as if trying to get out of a trance. "I'm needed back home. Tonight is a full moon after all," his eyes leave my lips to stare back into my eyes. "Can't wait to see you all dolled up munchkin."

Heat crawls up my neck and settles in my cheeks. Ryan had gifted me a pretty coral pink dress I would wear tonight. I had it steamed and ready in my room.

I try to force out a small laugh but it comes out shaky. "You probably won't even notice me," I joked.

But he didn't laugh and his jaw tightened. The laughter dies out on my tongue. "Out of everyone in the room, I will always notice you first. You always stand out to me Evie,"

My heart stuttered in my chest and my throat runs dry. His words....did he know what they do to me?

Before I could find my voice, Ryan exhaled lowly and rubbed the back of his neck. "You should head inside, get some rest before tonight,"

I nodded faintly. "Yea,"

He started to turn away to enter his car but pauses. "Evie?"

"Hm?" I acknowledge him as the flush still burned on my cheeks.

"Can't wait to see you in that dress," with a crooked smirk he enters the car and I watch him drive off after a few seconds.

Now alone, I stiffen as the air changes. Ryan wasn't here to protect me anymore and I was very certain a certain dragon was waiting for me inside.

With a sigh, I turn around and head for the house. Once I got in, I walked upstairs and walk toward  my room as I plan to look for my cleaning clothes. Mom did say I would have to clean.

But as I open my door, what welcomed me made me freeze in my place.

There on my bed, is now my torn dress Ryan gifted me clutched viciously by my sister who had an evil smirk on her face. "Only thought I'd return the favor sister," she snarls low and throws the dress to the floor like it disgusted her.

"Don't worry I have a pretty dress for you to wear since you don't own anything pretty," she smirks and reveals a dirty cream dress that she had hidden behind her.

My heart dropped. My once pretty dress was now ruined.

"Kimberly-

She stands up and I stop as she strides over, a sneer on her face. "If you don't wear it tonight I will make sure when I turn Luna, you will be banished from the pack."

I stuttered as my breath hitches. "Ryan would never let you-

"I'd be Ryan's mate by then you dumb bitch. Do you think he'd not listen to me? I'd be Luna. His equal," she tilts her head and the smirk widen. " You think him, the entire pack will go against me....their Luna?"

I froze. She was right. Even though Ryan made it clear that he'd defend me, he could not do it forever. Not when he got his mate and Luna. Especially when the Luna happens to be my sister.

I cast my gaze down.

"I can't wait for when I'm Luna," she snorts, her heels clicking louder as she draws near. Then she grips my chin between her fingers and pinched, hard. "I'll make your life a living hell."

I swallowed and she dropped her hold on my chin and with disgusted look on her face, she brushed her fingers down my clothes like she had touched something yuck.

"I got you something that suits you, don't you think?" She sneered and looked at the dirty dress she gave me. "Filthy just like you."

With those final words Kimberly leaves me all alone in my room. As the door shuts behind her I ran to my torn dress and hug it to my chest.

I hated her. I hated this family.

-

The party was already in full swing when I was finally done with cleaning the house and helping the cooks prepare some meals. The laughter, the cheers......drifted through the open windows.

Ryan wasn't here yet. If he was I'd know. Just like he said he'd spot me in any room....I'd spot him too.

Just a few minutes until midnight.....

My eighteenth.

I still had my cleaning clothes on which was some jean shorts and a huge oversized shirt. It was now dirty and wet from all the chores I had to do today.

I stood by the window in my room that overlooked the backyard. I watch them from the shadow of my room, hidden behind the lace curtain as the moonlight bathe the area in silvery light.

Everyone look so happy, laughing, drinking....celebrating...her. Kimberly looked radiant as she glowed under the fairy lights. She looked so perfect. So proud. So powerful.

Like a Luna.

My chest ached.

It should've been my night too but here I was covered in flour, soap stains and smelling like dishwater instead of my vanilla perfume.

My throat tightened as my eyes caught sight of him finally. Ryan...among the crowd. He looked handsome, his hair slicked back, his dark mysterious eyes looking around for someone or something.

My heart sped up.

In a few minutes Kimberly would turn eighteen which made it the age for him to finally claim her as his. It wouldn't matter if they were mates or not, it was written in stone that they had to lead together.

Tonight is my eighteenth too....which meant there was a possibility that I would find my mate. But could  wolf less werewolf like me even have the possibility of a mate?

As the countdown began, my heart sped with every number.

"Five!" They shout happily as Kimberly stood in the middle like she was some kind of queen. I guess she was. Well she would be.

"Three!"

Ryan's jaw clenched as his gaze swept among every head. What was he looking for?

"Two!"

And then as if feeling my eyes on him, he lifts his gaze finally. Our eyes clash and I gasp, stumbling back a little when I felt it.

No. It cannot be....

"One!"

And then I heard it, a loud growl. He felt it too. He knew it too.

We were....mates.