Chapter 1: Independent she-wolf

I glared at my older brother across the breakfast table as he and his mate, my best friend Kaila, sang happy birthday to me in a child-like tune that I didn't care for. The last thing a twenty-two years old college student who still lived with her older brother and his wife in his house was for them to sing such a birthday song for an adult like me. 

It was bad enough that I still lived at the house my brother inherited from our parents after their passing and treated me like I was still the young sister he had cared for the past years. And Kaila, my sister-in-law, who happened to be the only child in her family, treated me like that, too made it much worse. I have wanted to move out for some time, but I don't have the money yet. Going to college plus paying my bills with my part-time job as a waitress barely got me through. I wanted to add another job, but it wasn't an option for me due to my busy schedule and time.

Zander and Kaila had been nagging me about why I should move out when the house was too big for us three. I told them I wanted to have my place and that I'd still crash in their home until I saved enough cash. Although they don't want me to move out, I am a grown woman who wants them to have privacy.

Zander and Kaila stood and clapped at the song's end before Kaila pushed the cappuccino birthday cake with two double-two candles in front of my face. 

"Make a wish, sis," Zander told me, grinning like an idiot, making me smile.

I stared at the cake, unsure whether to make a wish. I don't believe in wishing but seeing the happy faces of the two important people in my life, I could make one.

I closed my eyes, leaned closer to the cake, and thought about what I should wish for. Within a second, my mind instantly knew what to wish. 

"I want to meet my mate," I told myself

before opening my eyes and blowing out the candles.

It is funny because I have already reached this age but haven't met my mate. A female wolf usually meets their mate when they turn eighteen, but sometimes, finding a mate lasts up to forty. Or, the worse, never. This happens if a female wolf mate dies or chooses someone else to mate with. 

But I am not in a hurry to meet mine. 

Kaila cuts the cake and serves Zander first. My brother loves sweet things, and I'm sure he'll eat the whole cake if given a chance. 

"This cut is for you, my dearest Rain," Kaila said, serving me a plate of slice cake. "I know cappuccino is your favorite, so come on eat, birthday girl."

I mumbled under my breath. This woman is evil. She knew I was on a diet and wanted me to eat the cake.

"Come on, a slice of a cake won't give you an extra pound, girly," she urged.

I have been on a diet for two months now. My schedule at university and constant changes and extra shifts at work made me too busy to run. If I wasn't that busy, I'm sure I'll be out running every day, and I wouldn't be on a diet. I am a werewolf, and that helps me stay in shape. I could burn those extra calories in one run, but my schedule is hectic, and I don't have time to run.

I stared at the cake in front of me—my mouth watered just at the scent of it. Cappuccino is my favorite flavor not only in coffee but also in cakes. Ugh, why did cappuccino was invented and become my weakness?

I dug my fork into the cake as the scent of cappuccino intensified. I saw a layer of beige color inside the cake. The frosting and the filling were all cappuccino which I suspected that Kaila had planned this cake before my birthday, and she knew I was a slave to this flavor. 

I took a forkful of the cake and closed my eyes, making me savor the caramel and coffee flavor of the cake. Those flavors exploded inside my mouth, and they made me smile. Perfect.

"Oh, before I forget, sis, there is a pack meeting tonight," Zander told me. "Everyone is needed to attend as Alpha Killian requests. He said he has important news to announce," he added. 

I was enjoying my cake when I heard Zander speak and couldn't help but furrows my brows. I have a shift tonight at the restaurant, and my workmate Selena will cover it for me, which I know she won't like. Selena hated night shifts, especially weekends. Those nights are the worst because the restaurant will be full of customers and less desirable people. I mean those bossy customers that cannot wait for their food, plus those who don't leave any tips.

"Why does it have to be everyone?" I asked him, irritated. 

The night shift is great because I have a night differential from the morning shift. It means extra income for me. 

"Beats me," Zander told me, shrugging. 

"Can you do something about it?" I asked him.

"Sorry, sis but Killian specified that everyone needs to attend," Zander said before drinking his coffee.

I heaved a sigh. There's nothing I can do about it. I had to call Selena and promise her something in return.

"You never attended pack meetings after Killian took charge of the pack, Girly. It may be time for you to go and see what this pack meeting is," Kaila said.

"I prefer working to attending annoying meetings," I replied.

Kaila smiled at me, which made me uneasy. 

"Maybe you'll meet your mate there. Who knows? You know you need someone to take good care of you, and you don't have to work anymore," Kaila told me before pouring coffee into my cup.

"You sound like a mother again, Kaila," I told her. "I don't want a mate for that reason. I want a mate that would love me like my brother to you. And besides, I am not ready yet," I added. 

Kaila chuckled at me; when she did that, there would be a jinx. And I am nervous.