Chapter 2
Julia POV
I knew he was right, of course. It was known to happen. Not often. But it did happen. Where one child in a family would not receive the connection and reunite with their soul sharer. I was one such child. I begged Uncle Alec to keep it quiet. I could not get kicked out of the pack. I could not lose my job. Lucky for me Uncle Alec understood and promised to say nothing. I continued on, Gaining my nursing degree. Supporting my family financially. It was around this time that I met Billy. There had never been an attraction on my part, though I knew that at one time Billy had felt differently. We had dated for a while, but I broke it off, knowing in my heart that I just was not sexually attracted to him.
He had a kind heart and said that he understood and wanted to stay friends. It was about a year later, when I was nineteen and he was twenty-two; when he admitted that he still loved me and that he wanted to try a relationship again. He had hoped that we would be fated mates. That was when I opened up about not having a wolf. Billy was shocked, of course. But. Billy being Billy, he stood by me. Swore to keep my secret and made the decision to stay in my life as my best friend.
I often hoped Billy would find his true mate. The one that the moon goddess chooses for you, and only you. Because Everytime I looked into his eyes I saw love shining back at me. But a different one to the love I have for him. But I always try to look past this. I need Billy in my life, and however selfish that made me look. I could not lose my only loyal friend. Not when my sister was returning for college. And all eyes would once again be on her.
Evangeline had told my mother on the phone this morning that she was coming home with a surprise. Mom was so excited and was convinced that the surprise was a mate.
Of course, Evangeline had a wolf. She received her on her sixteenth birthday like all wolves are supposed to. Her wolf, who was called Ruby, was a beautifully sleek brown and red wolf. And just like her soul sharer, was loved by all who met her. I too loved Ruby, as I love Evangeline. I have never been jealous of my sister. I was happy for her. Happy that she did not have to carry the heartache around with her of not having her wolf. I would not wish that pain on anyone. Let alone someone I loved.
So, when Mom said this morning that she thought Evangeline’s surprise was her fated mate, I was truly happy for her. If it was in fact the case.
As I made my way home a though hit me. If my sister had met her mate, then this would mean she would move to a different pack? The usual thing to do after you met your mate is to join the He-wolf’s pack. How would my mom cope with that, I thought, frantically. Whilst my sister was away at college my mom was like a Shepard without a sheep. It was almost pitiful the way my mom had planned out her life to co-inside with Evangeline’s. Mom was planning to move to whatever pack Evangeline settled in. As a family, we had always been told this. Evangeline thought it was an amazing idea, to have her devoted mom close by. I would be left here, in this pack. Never was it mentioned that I should leave with them. It was always understood that I was not apart of my mom’s plans.
Although I am sure my mom and sister do not know my secret, I cannot help but wonder if my mom knows that there is something not right with me. Over the last eight years, mom has distanced herself from me. Focusing only on Evangeline and her prospects for life.
My mind zinged back to the prospect of my mom and sister leaving the pack for good and move on to a better life. I am sure my sister would be fated to a wolf of standing. Maybe a Beta? Or an Alpha to be. She could not be so beautiful, elegant, and charming to stay a mere omega.
But what would all that mean for me? It would mean freedom. I would be free to live my life only for me and no one else. I would no longer be responsible for my parent and sibling. I would no longer have to make all my decisions based on how they would affect my family.
The house we currently live in, a modest three-bedroom property that sat in its own lot. Was mine. When I turned twenty-one, Uncle Alec and Billy had both helped me buy the house. Living in a pack was different from living in the human world. There were different rules. Smaller packs had to enfold themselves into the human world in order to survive. They lived among and worked among humans to stop their packs from being taken over by a larger pack.
There was nothing hostile in this. It was simply a matter of logistics. A small pack, living off grid, could not sustain the level of care needed to be successful. When this happens, a larger, neighbouring pack would meld together with the small pack, making the packs stronger.
Our pack, the Moon’s wane pack, on the other hand was the third largest pack in the country. Our pack ran like a small town. We had small villages within the pack. Store’s, medical facilities. Everything you would expect to see in a normal human town. We were self sufficient. Our currant Alpha, Alpha Maximus Forester was a brilliant man. A great leader. A fierce warrior and a savvy businessperson. Like his father before him, Alpha Max was an extraordinarily rich man, due to an investment portfolio that would shame king Midas.
It was with the money he made from all his endeavorers, and a successful construction company, that allowed our pack to thrive off grid.
Our pack lands sit on over one hundred and forty thousand acres. It was a huge territory that had started out as a meagre couple of hundred acres. As each generation was more successful than the last, our pack lands grew. As did the pack members.
It was this success that allowed me to buy the house I grew up in. The late Alpha had set up a fund to help pack members like me. I had to apply to the trust that controlled the fund. They had helped me by paying for the deposit required; the first step to buying any property. All properties belong to the pack. But we can secure our homes for any future generations. Meaning that if I die the house would go to my next of kin. And so on. Some people chose to stay a Tennant in their homes. Upon their death, the house would revert to the pack, regardless of any family they leave behind them. The family can petition to stay. Which is what usually happens. But why risk it? I would rather have my name on the deeds to the house. I had wanted to make sure that if I did get left behind, I had somewhere safe that I called my own.
I entered my home and found a frantic Mom sprinting around trying and failing to sort out the dining table.
‘Mom, what are you trying to do?’ I said. A little sharper than was intended. That made my mom stop and spin around to face me.
‘Where have you been? I have been here all morning on my own because of your selfishness. I have had to prepare everything myself. It is still not sorted. I have not had a shower and change and to top it all off your sister has phoned and informed me that she will be here two hours earlier than she thought. TWO HOURS LESS, JULIA. And you disappear on me. Trust me girl, your pathetic excuse for a job is not more important than this family.’
My mom huffed out the little tirade she had clearly been storing up just for me. I held up my hand in a submissive gesture. ‘Mom, I am here now. Why do not you take yourself off upstairs and start getting ready for dinner. Leave everything up to me; Okay? I will finish what you have started and all will be well. I am sure Evangeline will adore anything you do for her.’
My mom sniffed and pursed her lips like she had an unpleasant smell under her nose. Nodding her head once, she spun on her heal and marched upstairs. All the while shouting out instructions for me to follow. I gave a heavy sigh and made my way to the kitchen. Only to find it in such a mess it was hard to work out what my mom had been planning on cooking.
It turns out my mom had planned nothing. As usual it was left up to me. No wonder she was so frantic this morning when I left for work. Oh well, I rolled up my sleeves and got stuck in. By the time my mom floated back down the stairs I had our meal in hand, the kitchen was clean, and the dining table set with our best china. I had only set three spaces, as I did not want to presume Evangeline would have someone with her. My Mom on the other hand frowned down at the dinner table and quickly started criticising my efforts.
I was tired, I was covered in cooking prep and my hair was clinging to my sweaty face. I was about to retort when we both heard a car door. My Mom looked at me then battered me away to the kitchen and out of sight. I hurriedly tried to fix my appearance. I could not change my outfit now my sister had arrived. So, I tried to do my best. I removed the tie from my hair and shook it out. Flipping it back and smoothing it down with my hands. I did not make a decent job of it. My light blonde hair was thick and wavy and hung to the middle of my back. I tried to look at my reflection in the kitchen window, grimacing when I saw the wild looking woman staring back at me. I was just debating wether I should wet my hair to make it more pliable when the most amazing smell hit me. It entranced me. I closed my eyes, trying to savour the scent.