5

Skylar

"Ebony, wait!" I grab her hand and try to get her to look at me. "Please don't go! I've loved you for a long time." I squeeze her hand tightly. "Why are you rejecting me?"

Ebony finally looks back at me, her expression strained, as if she doesn't want to say what she's about to. I have a feeling it's going to be worse than just a cold rejection, but I push on anyway. I need to hear this.

"Skylar... I do love you." My heart hammers in my chest at those words. "We've always been together, which is why this hurts me to tell you this... but you're like a brother to me."

Ebony's words cut through me, and I can't help but flinch. "W-why...?" I swallow hard and steady myself. "I've never treated you like a sister, nor have you treated me like a brother. I'd know, since I have little siblings."

Ebony pauses and seems to consider this for a moment. Hope flares in my heart. Maybe I can fix this! Then it gets crushed into a million pieces once she speaks again.

"Just because you never saw me like that doesn't mean I never did. Even Cierra finds this gross, and you know how wolves get with their mates." Ebony shudders and moves away from me. "I can't stay with you. I want a chance at a second-chance mate too."

I tremble, clenching my fists tight enough to make my knuckles white. "Ebony, please..." All my confidence fades away like it never existed. All I can do is stand there, silently pleading with her not to do this.

Why have my worst fears been realized? Those small, insignificant fears I always pushed away, believing everything would be alright... why is it like this? I wanted nothing more than to be with the woman I loved more than anything. So why doesn't she feel the same way?

Ebony only shakes her head and starts cruelly, "I, Ebony, warrior of the Crimson Moon pack, reject you..."

I shake my head and cover my ears as if I were still a child. This can't be real... none of this is real... yes... I open my eyes again.

I have to be right... there's no way around it. This isn't real! This is all just a nightmare!

***

I jump awake and look around, panting heavily. I'm back in my room. Relief washes over me, and I slip back into my bed with a sigh. I can't believe I had that horrible dream. I guess I really am nervous about my birthday.

'Congratulations!' Jaden cuts into my thoughts. 'You're officially 18. Now we can finally have them know the truth.' He hops around excitedly. 'I can finally be with Cierra the way it was always meant to be.'

I can't help but chuckle and stand up. As I walk over to the window, I see the moon is high in the night sky. My heart starts to pound with anticipation. No way my nightmares will become reality. I won't let them.

'Nothing can stop us now!' Jaden goes on. 'Let's go, go, go! I can't wait to see their faces! It'll still be so perfect, you know? Just so amazing!'

Jaden continues rambling, and it makes me realize he must have seen the same dream as me. While he's acting fine and cheerful, he also shares the same fears.

"Even Cierra finds this gross, and you know how wolves get with their mates." Dream Ebony's voice echoes in my mind, but I shake it off. I won't back down now.

Since I'm up earlier than expected, I decide to take a shower. I sweated a lot in my sleep thanks to my irrational nightmare. I don't want to be stinky and scruffy when I finally face Ebony later on.

After a nice hot shower, I get dressed in some nice clothes and run my hand through my hair while I look in the mirror. Isn't this too formal and stiff? Won't it make me look weird?

I decide to change clothes, and this time I find myself being too casual. Frowning, I continue trying on clothes, but nothing seems to fit the occasion. Why don't I have anything perfect to wear?

Once more, I stare down at the clothes I laid on my bed, feeling antsy and nervous. Do clothes even matter for this? I'm the only one who has been looking forward to this moment for so long. I doubt Ebony will be dressing up all that much.

'I'd say we don't need clothes, but that's a lie,' Jaden says, also sounding nervous. 'That would scare them. Mostly Ebony, but still. It's not right.'

I nod silently in agreement and finally just stick with some dark jeans and a button-up shirt. It's clean but not so formal in a stiff way. Not perfect by any definition, but it will have to do.

I let out a nervous sigh as I open the door and jump, seeing Lily and Davin about to push it open. I quickly catch the hyper girl, who stumbles hard into me, while the shy boy jumps back in surprise.

"Oh, you're already up and ready?" Lily looks surprised before smiling happily. "Great! We can eat early!" She grabs mine and Davin's hands and drags us downstairs. "Let's go! I'm starving!"

Davin bites his lip and sighs. "S-sissy, you're always in a hurry..." he murmurs and looks up at me. "R-right, big brother?"

I chuckle and nod. "That is the case, yes. I was the same way back then." I say, then look up to see Mother and Father waiting for us.

"There's the birthday boy!" Mother says excitedly and walks over to me. She gives me a big hug, making me groan in complaint. "You'll always be my baby boy, so no complaining!"

Father chuckles softly. "Sky thinks he's a big, bad adult now. Of course he'll think he's too old for mama hugs, especially when he's waiting to be with his mate."

I grimace at the mildly suggestive notion and shake my head. It's never fun to hear such things from parents. It's more gross than anything.

"I know, I know." Mother says and pulls back. "At least eat your birthday breakfast before you go out to see her." She pats my shoulder. "I made all your favorites, so come and dig in!"

I do feel conflicted, as I'd rather just go to Ebony and embrace the joy of her knowing we're mates, but I know Mother just wants to enjoy this time before I'm focused on adult stuff.

I smile and nod. "Of course. It all smells delicious!" I'll just brush my teeth again before I go.

As I sit down to eat with my family, I blush in embarrassment as Lily leads the charge in singing the good old birthday song. Even if I'm too old for it, I appreciate their enthusiasm all the same. I love them so much for it.