The pain in my head hasn’t gone away all day. I took two doses of over-the-counter pain meds before my mom convinced me to take my prescribed meds. And just as I thought, they knocked me on my ass. I look at the clock on my nightstand and my party starts in less than an hour. I’ve been asleep for four hours.
“Mom, why did you let me sleep so long?” I shoot straight up.
“You’re the birthday girl. The party doesn’t start until you arrive.” She smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.
“My hair and makeup…” I gasp.
“Are just fine. We’ll touch everything up a bit and it will be good as new.” She walks to my closet and pulls my dress out for me.
“How can you be so calm?” I stand up.
“Well, we both can’t be freaking out now, can we?” She laughs. “How’s your head?”
“Better.” I nod and smile.
She helps me change into my party dress. This dress screamed at me when Jessi and I were shopping. It was love at first sight. I didn’t want something in my normal pink color. I wanted something… different. The dress is a medium bright blue color with a pink rose print all over. It has half puffy sheer sleeves and a plunging sweetheart neckline. It’s form fitting to my hips, then flares out in multi layers of the same sheer fabric the sleeves are made of and comes about mid-thigh.
“Oh, Kate. You look like an angel on earth.” My mom has tears in her eyes. She slowly breathes in and out while looking at me from head to toe. “You’re all grown up,” she sniffles, “and so beautiful. Your future mate is so lucky.” She puts her hands on her chest.
“Mom, don’t cry. You’ll make me cry,” I fan her face with my hands.
“Sorry, sugar.” She looks up at the ceiling and breathes. After she gains control of her emotions, she looks at me. “Look, all better. Ready to party the night away?” She smiles, then grabs my hands and does a little dance.
“Yes. I’m ready.” I laugh at my mom. “Did Kelsey make it back to the territory yet?” I really could care less about Kelsey. What I really want to ask is if Ian is here.
“Yes, all three boys made it back a couple of hours ago. But they’re in a little trouble, so they’ve been in Alpha’s office since they got back. I’m sure being yelled at by their fathers.”
“Oh. Sucks for them.” I laugh.
“Dad should be here in a few to pick us up for your grand entrance.” Mom walks into her bedroom.Dad.A wave of panic sets in. He hasn’t seen my dress yet. I hope he doesn’t get upset because it’s short and low cut.
Mom, Dad, and I arrive in the garden where my party is being held. They set the tent up in the middle. We walk the red carpet and have our pictures taken in front of a wall made of greenery with my name written in roses. After we pose for like five-thousand pictures, we continue down the red carpet into a tunnel of lights. This tunnel is probably twenty feet long and has thousands of sparkling and twinkling white lights. It’s so neat to walk through but seems to trigger my headache again. I ignore the pain behind my eyes. Nothing is going to ruin my night. As we make our way through the tunnel to the other end, I hear the music fade a little as the DJ introduces himself to the crowd.
“Okay, I’m going to need everyone on their feet.” The DJ announces, “Come on now, on your feet.” He waves his hands in the air. “Our guest of honor, the birthday girl herself, has arrived. She’ll be walking through the tunnel of lights any second, and I’m going to need you all to make some noise. Let’s hear it. Make some noise for the very special and beautiful Kate. Let’s hear you make some noise for my girl, Kate.” The DJ shouts into his microphone, pumping up the crowd.
As I walk through the tunnel followed by my parents, everyone cheers, claps, shouts, and howls.. I clap and wave to everyone. I’m so happy that there are so many from our pack here tonight to celebrate my birthday with me. It makes me feel so special. ThenIn da Clubby 50 Cent plays. Mom grabs my hand and we dance our way to the center of the dance floor. I’m all smiles dancing with my mom; she so good at it. I turn and see my dad walking up to me carrying two dozen white roses.
I can’t believe my dad surprised me with white roses. Even more surprising is the way he didn’t react to my dress. I thought he’d be upset with it, but he didn’t seem to be. With tears in his eyes, he told me how beautiful I am and how lucky my mate is. I found it odd that both Mom and Dad mentioned a mate to me.Do they know something?He squeezes me tight, kisses my forehead, and gives me a beautiful gold diamond tennis bracelet. Mom says every lady needs a simple yet elegant diamond tennis bracelet.
Everyone joins us on the dance floor, even my dad is dancing. Well, his version of dancing anyway. He’s so stiff, which is the complete opposite of mom. I’m having so much fun. I look around the tent… looking for Ian. My smile fades to a frown when I see some whore sitting on his lap. There are probably two dozen tramps surrounding him, Kelsey, and Zane. I stop dancing and just stare. My heart breaks. Any hope of Ian being my mate fades. I don’t want someone like him… someone who doesn’t care to give me two seconds of his time on my special day. I’m not too sure how long I stand there watching him with his hands all over another woman, smiling and laughing. Completely in his own world. The crowd moves around me, almost in slow motion. Then Ian looks up and our eyes meet, and his smile fades to confusion when he sees the hurt written all over my face.
After the bonfire, I have purposely avoided him. I’m not a confrontational person and seeing Nikki hanging all over him and hearing the gross things she did with him hurt so badly. Deep inside, I always knew he was not waiting for his fated mate. Most everyone I know doesn’t wait. I’m the oddball in the crowd. Even though I always knew, having it flaunted in my face just sucks. So, to keep from seeing him and his playboy ways, I’ve just avoided him. Seems he didn’t miss me at all.
“Party is over here, sweetheart.” Mom turns me away from Ian and back to my crowd of friends.
Chapter fifteen
Sasha
**February 2001**
Kate
EventhoughI’msadand frustrated, I don’t want my party ruined. My mom worked so hard on it. I push down all my feelings and continue to have fun with the people who want to be with me today. I dance for a while until I’m stopped by a guest wanting to wish me a happy birthday. This continues for a while until I hear my dad say, “nice of you to come talk to your sister.”Crap!I turn and come face to face with Zane, Kelsey, and Ian.Double Crap!
“Happy Birthday, Kate.” Zane greets me with an enormous hug. I squeeze him back; this is the second time I have ever hugged Zane; the first time was his eighteenth birthday.
“Thank you, Zane.” I pull away and smile at him.