Three | Graduation Surprise

Mackenzie

The time at the beach was amazing. We got to hang out with all our friends from The Crystal River Pack, another neighboring pack and an ally of ours. We played all the classic beach games, from volleyball to frisbee. We reminisced about our favorite moments in school, among other things. Now it was time for graduation and time to say our final goodbyes to everyone, as some would be going to college and finding their mates and possibly moving away.

I was currently standing in my walk-in closet trying to decide on what dress I was going to wear. I was going between a pretty pink, off-the-shoulder chiffon dress that rested mid-thigh or a purple-scoop neck dress that fell just below my knees.

“Go with the pink.” Rose piped up.

“Well, hello to you too.” I chuckled, since she had been a bit quiet since the incident yesterday.

I’ve only had Rose since I was 15 and I haven’t had an episode since she came to me. That was another thing that had mom worried. Most wolves get their wolf at 16 and shift at 18 for the first time, whereas I got my wolf a year early and mom began to panic, just like when I was eight.

“Pink suits you. Goes with your skin tone.”

“Look at you, little Miss Fashionista.”

“Just wear it. You’ll thank me later.” She snickered then retreated to the back of my mind.

Shaking my head, I took the dress off the hanger and slipped it over my head and down my body. It fit every curve perfectly and accentuated my perky breasts. I smoothed my hands down the dress then walked out of my closet just as Elena walked in.

“Damn girl.” She playfully whistled. “Who are you looking so hot for?” She laughed as she walked to my vanity and placed her make-up bag down.

“No one.” I rolled my eyes. She always thought I was dressing up for someone. That only someone would be my mate, wherever he is in this world. I was planning to travel the world after I turned 18 in hopes of finding him if he was not in our pack.

“Suuure.” She shook her head, clearly unconvinced.

“What about you?” I shot back at her. She had on a tight white dress with a deep V-neck that rested at her middle thigh. “Hoping to make a certain someone jealous?” I raised a brow. It was no secret she had a crush on my brother Mason. Growing up together, we were all always together, but she always had eyes for Mason, even as a kid.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She rushed out as she turned and opened her make-up bag.

“Suuure.” I mocked her earlier tone. She knew better than to lie to me since I saw through all her lies.

“Anyway, we’re running late so, we should get started.” She turned around with foundation and a beauty sponge in hand.

“I’m never late. Everyone else is simply early.” I laughed as I flipped my hair over my shoulder. I walked over to my vanity and sat down on the chair as she got to work.

Two hours later and a lot of hair pulling later, we were finally done. After Elena did my hair and make-up, I did hers. As we were pulling all the make-up away, I got a mind link from Mason.

“I hope you’re both ready. Mom is down here freaking out about being late.”

I rolled my eyes at my mom’s dramatics. “Tell her we’ll be down in about 2 minutes.”

“Ready?” I asked Elena as she was zipping up her bag.

“Yeah. I’ll get my stuff later.”

“Good, mom is freaking out.” I laughed as she shook her head.

We linked our arms together and left my room before heading down the stairs. As soon as we stepped off the bottom step, all the talking stopped.

“Nope.”

“Nu uh.”

We both looked up to see Mason and Erik staring daggers at us. We looked at each other, shrugged, then laughed.

“Mom, you can’t really be serious about her wearing that?” Mason all but whined as mom walked over and gave me a hug. I stuck my tongue out at him over her shoulder.

“She’s gorgeous.” Mom gushed as she held me at arm’s length. “My baby girl is all grown up.” She started to sniffle.

“Fine.” Mason groaned. “Dad!” He yelled and I froze. I was daddy’s girl, but he didn’t like that I was growing up, and having assets didn’t help.

“Mason, what’s wrong?” Dad asked as he walked in. “Sweetheart, what is-“ He started until his eyes landed on me.

“Daddy.” I smiled sweetly at him like I always do when I want to get my way. It always worked when I was younger and I was hoping it would still work.

“Princess.” Daddy sighed as I walked over to give him a hug. “I do agree with your brother on this one.” He said and I just knew Mason was smirking.

“I agree with Vin.” I heard Uncle Kevin from behind daddy.

“Daddy!” Elena whined as she stomped her foot.

“Let them be.” Aunt Nicole, our Luna, said as she entered the room. “This is their graduation day. Let them have this moment.” She smiled warmly as she came to hug us both.

“Thank you, Auntie Nicole!” We both said in unison.

“Since that is settled, shall we?” Uncle Nate, our Alpha, asked.

We all nodded and headed out of the door to the waiting cars outside. Elena and I rode with my mom and dad while everyone else was in other vehicles. The ride to school didn’t take too long as Elena and I were busy taking pictures in the back while mom and dad had a hushed conversation in the front. As soon as the car stopped, we both got out and ran inside to get our cap and gown. As we were in line, I felt a chill go down my spine. I looked over my shoulder, just in time to see Beckett walking in with Brittany and her posse.

“Barbie at your six.” I whispered to Elena, who scrunched up her face. We stood there waiting for our turn when her wretched voice met my ears.

“Ew! I thought I smelt something.” I turned slightly to see her waving her hand under her nose as everyone else laughed.

“Must be you. It was fine until you walked in.” Elena shot over her shoulder.

“Still fighting her battles, huh.” Brittany taunted, stepping closer and bumping me with her shoulder.

“I can fight my own, I just don’t want to waste anymore breath on the likes of you.” I sassed back and heard her gasp.

“She does speak.” She acted shocked. Why she acts like this, I have no idea. She thinks because she’s an Alpha’s daughter she is above everyone and that is what I hated the most about her. “Here I thought you were mute.”

“Did you forget how I put you in your place yesterday?” Now I was getting furious.

“When? I don’t remember seeing you?” She acted innocent, twirling her hair around her finger.

“Of course, you don’t.” I rolled my eyes at her pathetic attitude. I was done playing nice. We were out of school, and I could careless if we were on neutral grounds with their pack or not. We were only neutral because of an agreement made many years ago between Uncle Nate’s great-great grandfather and their Alpha at the time. No one knew what the agreement was.

Brittany stepped forward a bit too close to me and Elena stepped between us. Even though she was a Gamma’s daughter, she was my best friend and one hell of a fighter. We trained young in our pack, starting at age 10 for boys and 12 for girls. That was just how Uncle Nate did things. Now, you may wonder why I call my Alpha and Luna my Aunt and Uncle. It’s because my dad grew up with him in the same pack along with Elena’s dad. It was just custom when we were growing up, even though we were not related.

“Next!” We heard echoing throughout the auditorium, bringing out attention to the present.

“You got lucky.” Brittany sneered as I stepped forward to get my cap and gown. Once we had those in hand, Elena and I slipped them on as we headed out to the football field where everyone was seated. We walked over to our seats and sat down, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Once the ceremony began, Rose perked her ears up and started pacing around in my head. I tried to calm her down, but nothing was working.

“Will you stop? I’m trying to concentrate!”

“I can’t.” She practically panted.”

“Why not?”

“Something is going to happen; I can feel it.”

“Like what?” I asked, confused as to her uneasiness. Just as I was about to push her to the back of my mind, she howled in my head.

“Mate!”