Chapter 18

Freya Rose A few days had passed since I flew off ready to rip Amber a new one. Tristan kept mind linking me and I didn't have a clue how to turn it off. He was insisting that it wasn't Amber that he'd ‘sort of' slept with. I didn't believe him in the slightest, but his whining and begging was seriously getting on my nerves. I flew back home and threw, Aiden, Linda and Danny out of my house, before having it out with Tristan. We talked all through the night and both apologized for our indiscretions. We agreed to call a truce, wipe the slate clean, and start again. I couldn't take the moral high ground and neither could he. It hurt a lot, but I knew how it felt for him when I’d slept with Mason. We fell asleep in each other's arms just happy that we were both alive and together.

I awoke to an empty bed again.

This is becoming an unpleasant habit. I heard the front door close, followed by faint whispers.

Oh my God, it's too early for this shit.

I stretched and prepared myself to go and face whatever was happening downstairs. 

“Tristan?” I questioned while I was walking down the stairs and rubbing my eyes.

“Surprise!”

I stumbled down one of the steps in shock. I tried to catch myself, but my foot slipped off of the next step plummeting me onto my ass. Flailing around, I then bumped down every step, before finally landing at the bottom in a heap. All the people in my living room gasped and fell silent.

“Hahahaha!” I began laughing hysterically and they all began to join in.

Within seconds everyone was in stitches.

“Only you, could fall down the stairs on your birthday,” Tristan mocked while helping me up from the floor.

I giggled and shrugged while I steadied myself. I had completely forgotten that today was my eighteenth birthday. Exciting thoughts swirled around in my mind.

I am eighteen now. I can finally find my mate, well once I've had my first shift that is. I wonder if it will happen today? Oh, I hope it doesn't hurt. I wonder what I will look like as a wolf?

It was the first day of my new future and I was ready to embrace it all. I scanned around the living room and saw all of my loved ones. There was my mom, Tyler and Cassie. Aiden and Clara, and of course, Tristan. I glanced over by the door and standing there with giant smiles on their faces, were my dad and Evan.

“Evan!” I screamed while hurrying over to him.

After throwing myself into his arms, he spun me around and chuckled.

“Miss me, Angel cakes?”

“Yeah, I did actually. How have you been?” I asked when I finally let him go. 

“Yeah, all good babe. I have a girlfriend now, her name’s Ellie. I know, I know, you're disappointed, right? So many others are also devastated that this stud is now off the market.”

I slapped his arm and raised my eyebrows at him, the guy always did have a giant ego. 

“Yeah, I'm in bits over here. I'm absolutely heartbroken,” I proclaimed while dramatically holding my chest and pretending to cry.

“Oi, no need to mock.”

He began tickling me, so I hit his hands away, then jabbed him in the stomach. He exhaled while doubling over. I’d clearly winded him, because he was waving his hands around in the air in submission. I laughed and turned to my dad while Evan recovered.

“Hey, Freya. Happy birthday,” Damien spoke sweetly as he hugged me and handed me a gift. 

“Thank you. I can't believe you came all the way out here,” I replied while fighting back my tears.

I was so happy to see them both, it was an unexpected surprise. 

“Of course, I'd be here. It's my baby girl’s birthday. I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

His beaming smile was infectious and I soon couldn’t keep my own smile from growing. Well, that was until I heard my mom tut in the background and whisper sarcastically under her breath, “Well, you managed just fine missing the other seventeen birthdays.”

I could feel her scowling at him from all the way over the other side of the room. I ignored her and rolled my eyes. Today wasn’t the day for her drama.

“Thanks for coming, I love you dad!”

I made sure it was loud enough for my mom to hear. She needed a reality check; the guy was still my dad. If she didn't like me having a relationship with him, then tough, she'd have to get over it. He smiled and nodded his head in appreciation. I hugged everyone and thanked them for coming, before we were then all ushered to sit, by my mom, so that I could open my gifts.

I sat in the armchair and proceeded to open my gift from my dad. It was an old book, must have been centuries old by the smell of it. It didn't have any writing on the front but inside on the first page, it read,

'The History of Hunters.'

“I thought you'd like to read up about your ancestors and how we came to be. Sorry, it's a stupid gift,” he whispered while lowering his head. 

“No, it's not!” I shouted. He glanced up at me with his eyes wide open. “It's perfect. Thank you, dad.”

He smiled softly, but my attention was deferred when, Tyler stood up and gave me a bag to open. I opened it and blushed instantly.

I can't show this to anyone. 

“Show us what you got then,” my mom coaxed.

I shook my head and glanced at Cassie, who in turn giggled to herself and shrugged at me.

“Yeah let's see it, Freya,” Tyler urged.

I shot him a scowl and Cassie jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. He held his side while peering up into the air. When he finally looked back down, his eyes were like waivers. His face was beetroot red and full of embarrassment. I guessed that Cassie had just told him what they'd bought me. I chuckled and mind linked, Tristan.

“Babe you wanna come and take this upstairs for me? Otherwise, my mom is going to get it out and show everyone.” He frowned trying to work out what it was. “It's lingerie!” I shouted through the link.

We didn’t have time to dilly dally. His eyes widened and so did his smirk. He came over to me and peered into the bag. His winked cheekily, while mind linking me.

“This is going to be fun to unwrap later. I thought it was your birthday, not mine.”

I blushed and chuckled while he announced to the room, “I think I'll take this one and put it somewhere safe.” He casually strolled off and up the stairs. 

“What was it? Why couldn't we see it?” My mom asked in confusion, my dad face palmed himself, while everyone else began to snigger.

“Mom, it's an intimate gift,” I snapped at her.

She gasped and sank down in her seat, I guess hoping that it would swallow her up.

“Oh, um... never mind then,” she mumbled, barely above a whisper.

Everyone else cracked up again. I felt bad for her, she was pretty innocent, my dad was her first love and she hadn't really bothered with men ever since. I guess she never really got over what he did to us.

“Ours next,” announced, Clara.

She got up and handed me an envelope. She waited for, Tristan to come back down the stairs and once he'd walked over and sat on the arm of my chair, she said, “This is actually for the both of you. Your dad and I sorted this out months ago. I'm just so sorry I lost sight of the love you two share, and how perfect you are together.”

She sounded so sincere and I even saw a twinkle of a tear in her eye. I smiled at her and placed my hand on, Tristan's knee, before opening the envelope. I gasped when I saw what it said, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to read it out without blubbering like a baby. I handed the envelope to, Tristan to read instead.

“You bought us a frigging house?” Tristan shouted out in shock. 

“What!? I didn't get a house for my eighteenth. Why do they get one?” Tyler whined.

“Hush boy!” Aiden snarled.

Tyler lowered his head and Clara placed her hand on Tyler's shoulder.

“This is for Tristan's twenty-first as well. We will talk about your twenty-first another time.” Tyler's face lit up like a kid in a candy store. “We haven't bought you a house exactly. We have bought ourselves a new house, and you two will have the main house. It has been that way for generations. Each new Alpha takes over the main pack-house. I hope you will both be as happy there as we have been.”

She held on to Aiden's hand and he kissed his mate in reply.

“I don't know what to say. That is so generous of you both. Thank you so much.”

I got up, walked over to Clara and hugged her.

“I'm sorry, Freya. For everything,” she whispered into my ear.

“It's all forgotten,” I replied.

I let her go, then held my hand out for Aiden to shake, he looked me up and down and I froze wondering what he was going to do. He stood up suddenly and towered above me, before picking me up into a hug. He was so tall, that my legs dangled off the floor like a rag doll. 

“Welcome to the family, Freya. Happy birthday.”

He squeezed all the air out of me, making me wheeze a little. Clara hit him on the shoulder to let me go. 

“Oh, sorry, Freya.”

He gently placed me back on the floor and everyone laughed when his face grew bright-red. Tristan thanked his parents and my mom did too. I sat back down and was handed my present from Evan. 

“It's not much and it's a little corny but... Um, well... Here,” he stuttered awkwardly, then sat back down waiting for me to open his gift. 

“Aww, I love it Evan. Thank you.”

It was a goofy picture of the two of us in a beautiful wooden frame, that had a pink carved rose on the corner. 

“It's for the days that you miss me too much. You can kiss it, hug it, or sleep...” He was cut off by Tristan’s growl. He held his hands up and chuckled. “Okay, okay, calm down big boy. I was only joking around, I swear. Don't get your panties in a twist dude.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. I found him hilarious, but I could tell that the wolves didn't get his sense of humor. I knew he was enjoying winding them up. He shrugged and slumped into his seat.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Mason sent you a gift too,” he said as he tossed me over a black box.

Tristan snarled at the mere mention of Mason's name. I opened the box and inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a heart pendant. It had diamonds across the top and a diamond Angel wing. It was engraved with the words, Always on my mind, Forever in my heart.

It was stunning, and I was shocked that he'd sent it to me. I closed the box and put it on the table. I didn't want to rub it in Tristan's face. He was already wound up because of, Evan and his dumb behavior. 

“Aren't you going to put it on, Freya?” Evan asked in a provoking way.

He was beginning to piss me off now too.

“No! It's a kind gift, but I think it's highly inappropriate, don't you?” I snapped at him illuminating my eyes.

Evan smirked and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, 'I don't care'. Tristan placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “It's okay, Freya you can wear it. Here I'll help you put it on.”

He stood up and snatched the box out if my hand.

“What are you doing?” I asked him in our mind link.

I then glared at him, not having a clue what he was playing at.

“I don't want to seem like it bothers me. I know you chose me multiple times. So, I have nothing to worry about,” he replied in our link.

I nodded in agreement and got up. Tristan took the necklace out of the box, and undone the clasp. I moved forwards and he stood behind me. I lifted my hair up so that he could put it on for me. 

“Wait, a bit of your hair is caught in your t-shirt.”

He pulled my t-shirt neck down and I wasn't quick enough to stop him. He yanked it down so far that he revealed my mark to the whole room.

“What the fuck? That better not be what I think it is!” Evan yelled as he shot up out of his seat.

My dad pushed Evan aside, and faster than I could blink grabbed me and tugged the neck of my shirt down. His eyes began to illuminate when he ran his fingers over the mark. I instantly illuminated my own eyes in response, I knew he was about to ascend and Evan wasn't far behind.

“Mom, run!”

Her eyes grew wide with fear, but she obeyed me and sprinted for the front door. She made it out just seconds before Damien ascended. 

“You marked my daughter!?”

Evan ascended within seconds of Damien and I had no choice but to follow suit.

“She begged me to,” Tristan answered in a cocky tone.

He wasn't scared at all. I pushed myself between them, placing my hands on my father's chest while he nudged forwards to get to Tristan.

“You’re not helping, Tristan.” I yelled at, Tristan through our link.

“Dad please calm down. It's true. I did ask him to,” I tried to say it as calmly as possible.

“You asked to become a flea-bitten dog?” Evan scoffed.

I scowled at him. It was all his fault, he kept pushing and winding Tristan up. I wanted to run over there and kick his ass, but I knew the second I got out of my dad's way, he would kill Tristan.

“Shut the fuck up, Evan!” He chuckled at my anger. “Dad please I'm begging you. I swear this was what I wanted. This is what I have always wanted. I want to be with Tristan and I want to be this pack's Luna. This is my choice and my decision to make. I'm sorry if I have disappointed you, or made you ashamed of me, but I love him and always will. These wolves are my family,” I explained with tears streaming down my face.

He stopped pushing against me and stared into my eyes.

“We’re your family Freya. Me and the other hunters. You belong with us I have let this go too far. You need to come home with us right now!”

He tugged my arm and turned towards the door, but before he had a chance to drag me anywhere, I screamed at him, “Get your hands off of me! I'm staying right here with my real family, the ones that have been there for me, all my life. They have loved me and cared for me, looked after me when I was sick, held me when I cried. They have shared happy times with me and made me feel whole,” I paused to take a breath and saw that Clara and Aiden had soft smiles on their faces, clearly touched by my words.

“You of all people have no fucking right to demand anything from me! You abandoned me and my mother. All because I didn't have some stupid birthmark when I was born. Who the hell does that? I know you said it was to keep me safe, but safe from what exactly? Werewolves still found me, and vampires still found me. Maybe if you'd have stuck around, I would be the hunter daughter that you wanted and the Fianna that Mason wants,” I spoke honestly, finally getting it all off my chest. “But I am living this life, because of you. Now get the fuck out of my house and out of my life, I'm done with all of you!”

I ripped the necklace off of my neck and threw it at Evan, he caught it and thrust it into his pocket.

“Freya I...” Damien went to speak but I cut him off, I didn't want to listen to anything he had to say.

I loved him, Evan and Mason, but if they couldn't accept who I wanted to be with, then they could shove it.

“Get out! before I throw the pair of you out myself,” I screamed into his face while pointing at the door.

“I'm so sorry.”

Damien lowered his head and descended.

“What the hell? Are you just going to let him get away with turning our future Fionn into a fucking wolf?” Evan yelled at Damien.

“Enough, Evan. Let's go!” He ordered and wandered towards the door. Evan stood there just glaring at, Tristan and refused to move. Damien illuminated his eyes and screeched, “Now, Evan!”

He opened the door and Evan descended in a huff. 

“This isn’t over, dog! Mason's going to skin you and your whole fucking pack alive when he finds out what you've done to his Fianna,” he warned while glaring at Tristan.

Tristan growled in response and lunged forwards, but I managed to turn around just in time to hold him back. 

“Out!” I screeched as loudly as I could.

All of the werewolves whined and whimpered as they fell to the floor holding their ears. I turned back around and marched towards Evan. He stood firm just smirking at me, and that pissed me off even more. I grabbed him by his throat and lifted him into the air.

“If you, or any other hunters threaten my pack again. I will hunt down every last one of you, tie you each to a tree and let my pack eat you alive, you got it?” I screamed into his face while carrying him towards the front door. His face was turning blue, but he did manage to nod in agreement. “Good, now get out!” I yelled as I threw him out the front door.

He landed on the floor and skidded along the grass. My mom walked back into the house and Damien then left. He turned to face me one last time.

“Freya I...”

I didn't want to hear what he had to say, so I slammed the door in his face then strolled back over to join my real family.