Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

**Alexandria**

Today is going to be a good day....it must be, Annie has already texted me to wish me a happy birthday. That’s right. Today is the day. I am finally eighteen and I will hopefully find my mate today. I hope it is someone who can love me and cherish me and show me the adoration a true mate should.

I make my way out of bed and into the bathroom to get my shower and get ready for school. I grab my towel and I turn to the shower to turn the water on hot and as I strip of my pajamas, I climb in the shower and wet my hair to use my best shampoo and favorite vanilla scented body wash, it’s not easy to keep my blonde hair as lush and bright as I do. So, I need to use only the best hair care products.

Once I’m done with my shower I step out and dry off with my super soft towel, this one is my absolute favorite, it feels like heaven and is super absorbent, once I am fully dried off, I lather my body in my hibiscus and strawberry lotion after I am lathered up, I make my way back to my room to get dressed in my light blue skinny jeans, and pink tank top with my heather grey zip hoodie, and I throw on some socks and my favorite sneakers.

I decide to add some curl to my hair, I heat up my curling iron while I do my make up, I add some natural eye shadow and blush and a bit of mascara and then I make do with my curling iron on my hair and when I am finally done, I have a lot of tight curls all throughout my hair and I look at myself in the mirror and I decide that I am happy with the way I look today.

Once I am ready for school, I grab my book bag and head downstairs to see what mom has made me for breakfast. Before I even make it to the kitchen, I can smell what it is, mom has made another one of my favorites: bacon, eggs, pancakes, hash browns, and sausage.

“Good morning mom, I see you made my favorite breakfast today, thank you.”

“Only the best breakfast for the birthday girl.”

I make my way to the table and see dad is there with his plate of food and his coffee and reading the paper.

“Good morning daddy.”

I greet him with a kiss on his cheek and a quick hug. I then move to my chair and sit to eat my breakfast before I head off to school.

“Good morning sweet pea, Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks, Dad, are you going to make it home for dinner tonight? I know you have been pretty busy lately at work.”

My dad has been pulling extra shifts on patrol around the pack borders lately, he hasn’t mentioned why but the only reason must be an increase in rogues around the area. I won't say anything because he doesn’t want to worry us, but I know the real reason.

“I’m certainly going to try and make it home. If I can't make it home, I will make it up to you this weekend.”

“It's okay daddy, I understand, you’re the head pack warrior and have to keep everyone safe in the pack.”

As we all sit down to eat breakfast, I begin to wonder what my mate will be like, what will he look like, will he be a part of this pack? Will he be a part of another pack? Will he be strong and handsome? Will he be tall? I’m beginning to drift, and I suddenly feel a tap on my forearm and come back to focus on my mother looking at me with concern.

“What’s up? Sorry I was thinking about…schoolwork.”

I lie, mom knows me better than that, but she doesn’t push the issue.

“I was just telling you to finish up your breakfast you don’t want to be late for school on a very important day.”

“It's not that big of a deal today mom, it's just another birthday.”

Dad feels the need to share his input.

“It's a very important day sweet pea, today is the day you find your mate and begin the next steps to the rest of your life with your mate by your side.”

“Dad it's not that big of a deal, who says my mate is even in this pack? He could be part of another pack. I may never find him. Some wolves go their wholes lives with never finding their true mate.”

Dad looks kind of sad at my thinking about not finding my mate. I don’t want to be a downer but there is that small chance I may never find my mate, with all the werewolves around the world, there are so many werewolves out there that never find their true mate, half the time the wolves that grow older and never find their true mate just end up with a mate of their choosing. But I am trying to remain hopeful that I will find my goddess given mate.

My dad looks at me with concern and a look of determination he is trying push into me. I too feel hopeful with his next words.

“Baby girl don’t talk like that; you will find him. He is out there, and you never know he may be closer than you think.”

My dad is quite the optimist. I manage to finish my breakfast and go to the sink to rinse my plate and place it in the dishwasher.

“Okay, guys I need to get to school. I’ll see you guys later, love you, have a good day.”

On my way out the door I hear them both say in unison.

“Happy Birthday, love you.”

I make my way out to my car and make my way to school. I park next to Annie’s car, and we make our way to the front of the school and walk inside, as I make my way to my locker, I get this weird feeling someone is watching me. I turn around and try to figure out who it is when this wonderful smell hits me, it smells like...the forest after a rainstorm, it's amazing and I can't help but follow it.

I quickly grab the books I need for my first class and close my locker and follow the scent, I hear Annie ask me where I’m going as I turn the corner but I’m too distracted to stop and answer her so I just continue on my way, I begin to walk down the main hall of the school when I turn one corner and walk down another hall to follow the scent but when I make it to the end of the hall the scent comes to a dead end, leaving me confused and frustrated.

“Where did he go?”

“Where did who go?”

I jump and scream because I wasn’t expecting anyone to be behind me, but when I turn and find Annie looking at me with concern, I manage to pull myself together.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

“Sorry girly, I thought you heard me coming, I called your name like three times.”

“Sorry Annie, I guess I was just distracted.”

“By what exactly? Did you find something?”

She says as she looks at me with interest and wiggling her eyebrows like she knows what’s going on but wants me to confirm her suspicions.

“Not really, well, maybe, I don’t know it was really weird, I got to my locker, and I got this feeling that someone was watching me and then I turned around and no one was there, then I smelled something like it was a drug, it smelled like the forest after a rainstorm, it was really weird.”

“Oooh! I think I know what’s got you all frustrated, I think you found your mate.”