4. Our Birthday Ball.

Chapter Four – Our Birthday Ball. 

Rihanna’s POV

It was the D-day, the day I'd finally meet him, my mate. 

  The day I can show off my silver wolf, bar them all from coming near me and emitting intimidating auras. They’d all shudder in fear as I fulfilled the prophecy. 

  Long ago, there was a random prophecy that a silver wolf would bless the werewolf land. One stronger than any Alpha King could control. 

  He or she wasn’t to be feared as they weren’t born to cause havoc but to integrate the lands and fight off any Werewolves' enemies. 

 It was said to be the blessing of the Moon goddess to her people but the twisted werewolves assumed it was a curse to control them. 

  Hence, ostracizing and killing silver wolves. Many silver wolves were slaughtered and sent away from their packs. 

 The moon goddess kept on blessing her people with the silver wolf till she stopped and that was when an Alpha King rose up to stop the belief. 

  His mate had been a silver wolf and he didn’t want her dead. With the help of other Alphas, he silenced the strange curse. 

And with his mate, conquered all the enemies of the wolves' land. For integrating the lands, he became Alpha King. 

  That was the grandfather of our current Alpha King Wayne. Lucky enough, silver wolfs can’t be inherited but given only by the moon goddess.

  The werewolves were blessed again with a silver wolf and that was me. 

  But I had shifted while arguing with Raymond and had been scared to shift. When I did, no one cared anymore, and soon I was forgotten. 

  I snapped back to reality when Raymond danced into my room, flinging his black shiny hair tied in a ponytail around, I rolled my eyes. 

 “You’re gonna be a man today and you settle for a ponytail?”. Even I wouldn’t do that. I brushed it off, it was his problem anyway. 

 I swirled around in my red ball gown, admiring it. The maids at our mansion only just realized I existed and helped me into a gown I’ve never seen before. 

 It was annoying yet touching when my dad had shown me his mother’s wedding gown. 

  My mom didn’t care how I looked so didn’t buy anything for me. I had no savings either. I felt bad wearing my granny’s dress but it was pretty and I felt content. 

  Also, I had to wear pure diamond on her hand and neck. I felt more powerful and confident than I ever had.  

  And when dad said grandma only wore those once after her wedding, I shrugged. It was still almost new. 

 “Let's go!” Raymond yelped and ran out. 

 I flinched, had he been watching me the whole while as I was making dramatic poses and facial expressions.

  Compared to me, he was wearing a new suede red piece suit that screamed expensive. His hair was in a pony tail but he had a gold hair pin at his sides. 

  Yes, he did like using hair pins. His hair was almost longer than mine. 

 I tried to make a catwalk out, like our Luna Queen used to do, but I looked like I had pins on my thighs. I loosened and bounced out, still in grace.  

  There was something about my wolf Lana today. I thought she was being calm and nervous about finding our mate but she just seemed quiet. 

  I looked around for Raymond as I left to the big yard, some guards spared me a glance and I raised my head high. 

  I saw my twin going towards the ballroom so I trotted immediately behind him, due to excitement and trying to avoid coming in late. 

  “We are legal babies!” I said to Lana. I felt no energy and it dampened my excitement. Was she feeling something negative happening today? 

  “My wolf is angry with me?” I sniffed. I heard her chuckle so I smiled. She always found it funny when I called her a wolf, like she wasn’t! 

  “And my human is turning eighteen today, not really me. I’ve been with the Moon Goddess for long already.” she sassed back. 

  “Whatever. Today is your eighteenth year on earth. Loosen up. I think today will be magical” I swirled around. 

  “Whatever too.” she went back to her quiet state and fled to the back of my head. I ignored her, since she wasn’t worried about anything exactly.  

  I was out of the house and to the open field where ball room celebrations were held. No one was around or looked like they were there. 

  Raymond was standing outside. 

  “No-one is there?” it was almost a whisper.

 He suddenly smiled and placed a hand on my lips. In the twin mind link, he told me that they were hiding. 

  My heart beat increased and I felt excited. They planned a surprise birthday for me, and Raymond?  

  I know it was done more for Raymond than me but I couldn’t contain my excitement. I tried to act oblivious and walked into the hall.

   Raymond followed me, trying to hide his smirk, “No one here. They forgot. We dressed up for nothing.” he sighed, dramatically. I giggled. 

  But no-one popped up. We stood there for almost minutes. I was beginning to believe they actually forgot. I heard Lana whimper in sadness. 

  My hearing wasn’t at its best so I asked Raymond if he heard something again inside. He answered in the negative. My shoulders slumped. 

  “So they forgot?” it wasn’t really a question. It was obvious they did. Everyone’s eighteenth birthday was a joy, except ours, because of me. 

  “Let’s get out of here!” Raymond dragged me through the door. I felt my eyes wet. Couldn’t they have celebrated us, for Raymond at least?

  Lana was growing angry. What did we actually do to be hated?! 

Then I let out a shriek as an exploding sound snapped at my ears. And my blood ran cold. 

  “Surprise!!!” it was the whole pack, outside the ballroom. Mom and Dad had a ‘Happy Birthday' card. Our pack members had a ‘Happy Birthday Beta'? 

  Well, since Raymond was officially their only beta, I guess they’re just celebrating him, still I was shocked to my bones to know they came. 

  They were all dressed in red and white which were our official birthday colors. 

 I raised my legs to find Duchess Vivian but sadly she wasn’t around. I really was looking forward to a gem bracelet. 

  We all went into the ballroom again, and everywhere was lit brightly and showed it was decorated with red, white and gold. 

  The smell of perfumes was almost choking for me but the sound of music was calming. All eyes went on Raymond and I as they sang our birthday songs. 

  I felt loved for a while, though it dampened when it was dance time and no one asked me for a dance, not like I could dance. 

  “You look pretty Rih, I can’t take my eyes off you!” Jude, the pack play boy grinned at me. 

I rolled my eyes but bowed. I moved away before he asked for a dance. 

  He always bullied me as a kid, when I grew he stopped but sometimes threw sarcastic remarks at me, I didn’t know if this was one of them. 

  I was looking forward to someone seeing me, complimenting me. Prince Chris. But the Alpha King’s family weren’t here yet, their huge seats were empty. 

  I was almost tempted to sit at Princess Vanessa's seat, these heels were killing me. 

  I tried to smile at whoever smiled at me, and ignored the fact they only wished Raymond. Dad hugged me and said I looked pretty. 

  It seemed I really did. Me brushing my dark curly hair out, straightening it, and adding an eyeliner, popping by blue eyes, were worth it. 

 And then my eyes landed on it. A humongous cake, standing majestically on the center table. It had both our names. I was glad. 

  I didn’t really like cake after my experience with Princess Vanessa’s. Also, I rarely come to eat for others' birthdays but this one, I’d enjoy it.  

  “Where's the Alpha King? And Prince Chris? Please call them. Where are they?” mom enquired from my dad, with her usual impatient tone. 

   My dad was too busy straightening out Raymond’s suit that was rumpled by hugs of the pack members. I came closer to my mom. 

  “I’d go call them. Where can I find them?” I muttered, it would be wrong for a birthday celebrant to leave her party but I knew no one minded. 

  Mom gave me a disdained look and shrugged, “I don’t know. Just find them.”

  I didn’t let that dampen my spirit and hopped to find them, Prince Chris exactly. I didn’t need the Alpha King to celebrate me, he didn’t like me anyway. 

  I heard some yells at the Alpha King’s mansion when coming closer. Peeking, I saw Sasha and Princess Vanessa quarreling about an issue. 

  They seemed dressed for my ball party. They weren’t needed. I stared at their dresses, red silk handless dresses. Sasha's had one hand.  

 She stomped out and ran into the forest after Princess Vanessa slapped her. Princess Vanessa looked guilty but went back to her house. 

  A smile came to my lips. I liked when besties fell out. I crawled closer to the house. A sweet smell hit my nose and I shuddered. What's our Luna Queen cooking now? 

  I nodded at the guards as I crawled into their courtyard. A naught guard whistled at me but I kept on walking. I never minded them, they were just appreciating my beauty! 

  The sweet smell became intense and was of vanilla and it was surely not from the Luna Queen's kitchen. Lana began coming to the surface attracted by it. 

  I heard footsteps behind me. “Hey Rih, happy birth…” he stopped. It was Prince Chris. It was good he found me. I didn’t want to knock on the door.  

 Lana began jumping and screaming inside me. Attempting to shift. The sweet smell hit me strongly and I turned to Chris's confused face. 

  Could he smell it too?

 “Mate, Mate!” My wolf yelped.