Jessica POV
Some time ago, somewhere else
"Don't you dare open your eyes. Am I clear baby girl?"
My almighty brother also known as stupid Jay ordered. How dare he? I hated his guts but what I hated more was this old nickname!!
"Don't you ever call me that!! I'm exactly turning fourteen today!!!"
My shouting attracted useless attention to our fraternal argument.
"But you'll forever be labelled as 'our baby girl'."
An angelic voice that I could recognise among any other defended my stupid brother. Not fair at all.
"Mom, please!!!!"
Everyone laughed at my plea. A particular giggle annoyed me as hell and it all started because of that person.
"Jay, you shut up!!"
My complain was betrayed by the smile that was raising on my lips. I could never be angry at Jay, even though he was the dumbest person I had ever met.
"Okay, okay... Baby girl!"
He said while bursting into a laugh once again. Like I said; the dumbest person I had ever met.
"You should address your soon to be alpha with respect dear."
Still blind, I recognised my dad with his powerful voice.
"Then tell your son to stop teasing me!"
The comment gained a second round of laughter. To be expected I was the funny kid.
However, it was no longer amusing. Every single sound turned into an unbearable silence. What was happening, before having a panic attack, Jay's hands were removed from my face.
My eyes adjusted naturally because the only light that could be seen was the one emanating from the candles, placed on my -.
Wouah the cake... It was the most beautiful cake I had ever seen. The strawberries were nicely cut to form a rose and it was complemented with all kind of berries around it. Then an intense flavor of red berries invaded my nostrils. I couldn't keep my hands to myself anymore. As I tried to take the decorated knife, I heard the whole pack sing:
"Happy birthday to you!! Happy birthday to you!!! Happy birthday to you Jessica!!!!!!!! Happy birthday to you!"
I blew my candles and it generated a round of applause. Now, I thought to myself, like predator eyeing her prey, it was the time to catch this knife. I couldn't fail. However, my brother had decided otherwise when he took it right in front of my eyes.
"Why such a hurry, it won't disappear."
He whispered to me, well it was better this way; I wouldn't want the whole pack making fun of me all over again.
...
As everyone enjoyed the party, I directed myself to the buffet to take my second service... maybe the third; anyway.
When I went closer to the food, my wolf screamed in my head.
"Take the meat right now!! There are too many people prowling around it!!!"
Here we go again.
"Zaphira!! Stop it, there is enough food for a whole pack."
"But you just shifted this morning, you need way more energy-"
"Don't worry, I'm totally fine."
"But-"
I blocked her, if not, she'll make me devour the whole buffet-
"Ouch"
Bumping into someone, all I needed now, I should not be surprised: thanks to a certain Zaphira.
"Sorr- Hey Theo."
I take it right back, thanks Zaphira!!!!!
"Happy birthday!! Jess"
"T -Thanks, oh ah sorry I-"
Why the hell was I stuttering?!
"Maybe because you have a crush on him."
My wolf would never fail me right. Then why did she have a wicked smirk while she sing-songed.
"Shut the hell up Zaphira!!!"
Hadn't I blocked her already!
"No, it's alright. Not like it's the first time, every time you're near food you can't seem to focus on anything else."
"Hey, it's not my fault!"
"I know... Zaphira's?"
"You too you know."
As always, giggling after any ridiculous exchanges we had. We eventually stopped as he stared at me for a few second. It seemed like forever but he broke the silence.
"So Jess... I -I was thinking what ab-"
He just stopped what he was about to say to move his eyes behind me. So what had he exactly seen to lose his focus on me? Hence I turned around to answer my own question.
Seriously??!! Keep cool Jessica Gloria Rider, yeah it was okay, even if your dumbass of brother ruined our moment with Theo, everything was alright.
"Correction <<crush>>"
"Zaphira not now please."
Jay made his way toward us with his stupid smile plastered on his face. I had to make him leave as soon as possible.
"Jay, what do you want?"
I snapped with a fake smile.
"Hey stop assaulting me, I didn't do anything and what I want right now is you."
He put his hands in the air as if he wanted to surrender.
"What! Why would you need me? and Theo was about to tell me some-"
I got cut violently.
"No, no it's alright, it wasn't important anyway... well see you later."
Theo said that quite uncomfortable. With a sad smile, he walked away. I wanted to know what he was about to say because it started like a proposition for a date but I knew that I shouldn't get my hopes up but I just couldn't. All this happened because of him!!
"So what do you want?"
I turned to my brother leaving my murdering thoughts behind.
"You have to get used to your wolf in order to control her better. So we're going for a run with mom and dad."
He looked serious and Theo was already gone so there was no reason for me to refuse. I sighed in defeat and followed him but he was going towards the house.
"Why are we going toward the house?"
"Mom and dad prefer to run in the woods behind our garden."
"You mean the one that leads to the waterfall."
I hoped it was there because it was my favorite spot and no other place in the world could change that. Remembering that tiffany blue lake formed by the waterfall and the whole surrounded by weeping willows that made that place unfindable unless someone guided you there. It will be the first time I'll go there in my wolf form, I was so-
"Excited?! Seems more like you're trying to make me deaf; the sound of your heartbeat is resonation in my ears as if someone was playing drums right in there, I'm only eighteen and haven't found my mate yet."
"Stop giggling!! and yes I'm excited, got a problem?"
Obviously, I was excited. I was going to live this to the fullest with Zaphira. My senses were going to be sharper, clearer and heightened, it was going to be thrilling.
"How are you talking to your big brother? Never forget that I was the one who carried you there since I shifted."
That was true, well even if he was the dumbest brother, he was also the sweetest one. Always taking care of me even if he teased me a lot it was never mean. I will never trade him with anybody but never I'll tell him that, never.
"Thanks"
"What just thanks?"
"What did you expect?"
"Well a <<you're the best brother that exist on this planet not only you're kind but also handsome and->>"
"Stop pestering your sister with these delusions"
Dad interrupted his speech with a smirk. He always had a way to piss him off gently. Mom came out with him as I looked at her, we chuckled seeing my brother trying to look upset and hurt by his father's words.
"Sincerely?! I'm your spitting image so-"
Jay started as he was cut off by my dad, dad was quite smart and he knew what my brother was playing at but he won't enter his game.
"Enough son, let's shift and get back to the party as soon as possible."
"Did you just cut-"
"Shift!!"
He said while smiling, he won this round and he knew it; poor Jay he couldn't even place a word.
The four of us shifted. We had to control the borders first before entering our woods. All of sudden a horrible scent hit my nose, seemed like rotten milk like really rotten. Soon after my dad started shouting in the mind link.
"Dimitri, Send reinforcement to the northeast border right now and keep the women and kids safe!!! A dozen of rogues entered the territory!"
A loud growl echoed through the pack. Now the warriors know our localisation and won't lose unnecessary time to find us.
"Red crescent Warriors you heard!! get to your battle stations right now!! the first group will follow me to the northeast border and the second will protect the pack house under Theo's instructions!"
Dimitri had his time to shout, well we were kind of under attack and neither my dad or Jay was there so the beta, Dimitri and the soon to be one Theo, had to take care of the pack warriors.
My focus directed on the pack link, I didn't notice these disgusting wolves surrounding us.
"Jessi, us three will try to create a breach and when you see an opportunity just get out of here" My dad mind linked me.
"But-"
"There is no but, you are only going to slow us down sweetie, you only shifted this morning!"
He was right, I didn't even blink that a rogue aimed his claw towards me. Jay caught one of his paw between his teeth and snapped it in two, I was-"
"Now!!" Jay shouted in my head
I ran off even if I was getting out of the territory because I knew that warriors will find me. Then a whimper escaped my mouth as a sudden pain erupted from my paw. I turned around to see some rogue teeth on my flesh before I could react my dad jagged his body in so many pieces that I lost count.
"Get out of here sweetie."
Dad pleaded, I could only listen. I didn't want to get in their way. I tried to run but my leg hurt like hell, it might be broken actually.
"Let me take over, I'll get us as far away as I can."
"Thanks, Zaphira."
Those were my last words as I completely lost control of my wolf and fell into a deep sleep.