Chapter 6

Jolene

Four Years Later

I'm officially a highschool graduate and tonight I'll be inducted into the pack's official warrior like my parents and siblings.

It isn't only that, the love of my life is finally coming back today and it will be a possibility for me and other girls who turned 18 and haven't met their met to find them.

Jess and I are still mateless even tho we turned 18 two and three months ago respectively. We both got in touch with our wolve on our birthdays and much to our surprise,they are siblings. Meaning we were destined to be together.

Today is also the day Seth returns from college.

Four years ago,Seth graduated and gained admission in Yale University and the whole pack was celebrated for his achievements.I as heartbroken he didn't want to stay in the town or choose a university in the city.

I accepted it with hope that he'll come back during the vacation or something,but nope. He never came back for vacation or holidays or even summer break.

Then eventually… I stopped asking Jessica when he was coming back because I hated the disappointment on her face whenever she said, he's busy again.

Still, I never stopped loving him.

Which honestly feels pathetic at this point.

But I know within me that he is my mate,my intuition is not wrong.

Both of my brothers have returned, Jacob met his mate while in his final year,she is human and it her alot of months to accept our world and understand things. They married a year ago and are expecting their first pup or baby

Jasper is still searching, hopefully he finds his today or he needs to go exploring.

"Jolene!"Mom calls from downstairs.

"If you don't come down now, your father is going to cry"

"I am not crying," Dad shouts immediately.

"You cried when she turned 18 , remember and got in touch with her wolf"

"She is my baby girl. I can't let her go just to some sorry sod male wolf" he replied

"Well ,now you understand how my father felt" mom chuckled.

I burst out laughing before grabbing my cap and hurrying downstairs.

Dad immediately pulled me into a hug the second he saw me.

"There's my graduate," he said proudly.

Mom took another picture and I groaned.

"Ma! You've taken like 60 pictures today. The camera memory would be full"

"And I’ll take like a hundred more." Sh grinned.

Dad wraps an arm around my shoulders dramatically,again.

"Our baby is growing up."

"I'm literally eighteen."

"And still my baby."

I roll my eyes but smile anyway.

............

Graduation passes in a blur of speeches, applause and blue caps.

The football field is packed with families while students chatter excitedly around us.

Jessica sat beside me the entire ceremony, occasionally whispering sarcastic comments that nearly made me laugh during serious speeches.

"If one more teacher tells us we’re the future, I’m jumping off this stage," she mutters.

I snorted.

"Did you receive any news from Idaho?"I asked

"Yes. I got in,so excited and sad you are not coming with me. Have you told your parents yet?"she said

"Nope, I'll tell them after the ceremony "

One by one names are called.

And then...

“Jolene Rachel Falls.”

My heart skips.

I walk across the stage while applause erupts around me. I spot my parents immediately.

Dad is standing.

Of course he is.

Embarrassing as always.

Ma is crying beside him while recording at the same time, which honestly isn't anything out of the ordinary. She did the same to my brothers.

I accepted my diploma with shaking hands and smiled at the cameras.

I feel proud of myself. I did this.

After the ceremony,I found my parents and dad immediately pulled me into a hug.

" My baby is now a graduate and an adult. I'm so proud of you"he says softly

" Thank you dad"

" Congratulations kiddo" and " congratulations kid " are from Jasper and Jacob respectively.

"Thank you but you all owe me 200 bucks each "I tell them sternly and they groaned.

Mom chuckled beside them.

" Hey mom and Dad.Well,ermm...I decided to take the year off and find myself before going to university. I should told you guys earlier and I'm sorry for that" I said.

Mom and Dad exchanged looks.

Then Mom smiled.

"That’s completely okay."

"Really?"  I blinked

Dad nodded. "You don't have to rush your life, princess."

Relief floods me instantly.

" Thank you."

Jessica suddenly throws herself onto my back making me stumble a little.

"She's abandoning me!"  she cries.

I laugh loudly. " You’ll survive."

" No, I won't. Who's going to listen to me complain every day in Illinois?"

"Your future roommate?"

"She won't understand me emotionally like you do."

Dad snorts beside us.

Then Jessica's expression suddenly shifts a little bit.

"Oh," she says casually. " By the way… Seth’s coming tonight."

My entire body stills.

"What?"

"He landed this morning," she said, watching me  "He'll be at the ritual tonight."

My heart starts pounding so hard it almost hurts.

" He's also apparently bringing some surprise or announcement,"  she adds with a strange expression.

Something about her tone makes me frown.

"What kind of surprise?"

She shrugged "I don’t know. My parents were being weird about it."

Before I can ask more, someone calls her name.