Chapter 1 Seventeenth Birthday

Catherine's POV

"Kate! It is time to get up!" my mother called happily through the mind link. "You have class in one hour."

I moaned and pulled the blanket over my head.

"Please, five more minutes!" I replied over the mind link, still asleep.

The dream had been so vivid that giving it up now would leave me wondering what had happened next.

My thoughts continue to follow the same path, clinging to the last few minutes of the dream.

"Kate!" My father roared over the mind link and shattered the dream. I sat up, disoriented.

"You had better show up in ten minutes or..."

I got out of bed and dashed to the bathroom before I could hear the rest of his threat.

Exactly ten minutes later, I walked down the stairs, fully dressed and ready for school.

I didn't expect to walk into a dining room, full of wolves waiting for me.

"Happy birthday, Kate!" The group of wolves cheered, and my face flushed crimson.

Oh, goddess, how could I have forgotten my 17th birthday?

I will be getting my wolf today! And maybe, just maybe, I might find my mate...

Brian, my boyfriend, and the future Beta of the pack was hoping to be mates. We have been dating for almost two years.

My mother walked to my side and pulled me into a side hug. Her swollen belly, with the newest member of our family, was due anytime soon. Yet, even though she was in the last stretch of her pregnancy, she never complained, and her blue eyes sparkled in delight.

"Happy birthday, sweetie!" She said, smiled, and kissed me on the cheek.

"Thank you, Mother," I said, feeling embarrassed.

"Are you excited about meeting your wolf?" She asked, curiously.

"I'm a bit nervous," I answered.

I have heard stories that could raise the hair on any person's back. Receiving a wolf was a blessing, yet it could be just as much of a curse. It all depended on the wolf you were blessed with.

"Don't worry, dear," she said, "your wolf will be special; I just know it."

I smiled down at the pitied 5'6 woman and nodded my head. My mother was always right, and she has never been wrong before.

"Can we have a turn to wish Kate a happy birthday?" My father asked teasingly, "You can't keep her for yourself."

"And why not?" My mother challenged my father, raising a perfect blond eyebrow at my 6'4 father.

My father looked down at my mother and took a step back, and the room fell quiet, building tension between them.

The saying that the strongest poison comes in the smallest bottle crossed my mind, and a giggle escaped my lips as I watched my parents sizing up one another.

My mother might be small, but she had my father exactly where she wanted him.

A smile played on the corners of my father's lips, and he opened his arms for his mate.

My mother didn't hesitate and went to my father's side.

My father's gaze turned to me, and a mocking smile reached his lips.

"You're still scared of my threats, are you?" he asked.

"Uhm..." I hesitated, and he burst out laughing.

"I'm glad you listened, got up, and dressed; otherwise, everyone would have marched into your room to wish you a happy birthday," he told me.

My eyes widened, and a nervous giggle escaped my lips... That would have been embarrassing...

I didn't want the pack to see me half asleep and drooling over my pillow, and I let out a breath of relief.

My father let go of my mother and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

When my father let me go, Sarah, my best friend, and my younger brother Jimmy, peeked from behind my father.

"Happy birthday, sis!" Jimmy said, beating Sarah to it.

His messy brown hair was standing in all directions on his head, yet it gave him the look every she wolf admired.

At fifteen, he already stood over six feet and towered over my 5'7 frame.

"Thank you," I said, smiling, and Sarah was next to wish me a happy birthday.

"So?" I asked as I took a seat at the table with my plate of food, "Where is Brian?"

Sarah froze in her seat and peeked through her strawberry blond hair, not saying a word. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"He will meet us at school," Jimmy said, keeping his face blank.

I knitted my eyebrows together, a bit confused, but dropped the subject.

Breakfast ended, and my father called me aside.

"Yes, Father?" I answered and gestured to Sarah and Jimmy that I would meet them outside.

"I have something for you," he said. "Come on, follow me."

I followed my father through the pack house and down to the parking lot, and just before we came around the next bend, he stopped and took a blindfold out.

"Put this on," he said.

"Okay," I complied, yet a bit of worry spiked inside me.

"Take my hand," he ordered, and I complied.

He slowly started to walk forward.

I felt a bit silly walking with my eyes covered, yet, by some miraculous miracle, I didn't trip and fall.

My father came to a stop and let go of my hand. I could hear footsteps and a scuffle.

"Are you ready?" My father asked, and I nodded my head.

"As ready as I can be," I answered nervously.

"You can remove your blindfold," my mother said.

I did just that and blinked against the warm summer sun before I noticed the brand new cherry red Tesla S convertible.

My jaw dropped, and I blinked a couple of times to process what I was seeing.

"Do you like it?" My father asked.

"Like it?" I shook my head. "No, I love it!"

I grabbed my father by the neck, hugging him for dear life.

This was the biggest gift I ever received.

My mother walked closer and handed me the keys.

"I am glad you like it, sweetie," she said.

"Thank you, mom!"

"Drive safe," she said, moving away. "You better get a move on! The school day starts in twenty minutes."

I rushed toward my new baby, got in, and started the car.

She roared to life and then silently purred around me.

Oh, Goddess, this is going to be so much fun!

I reversed the car, waved at my parents, and drove toward the entrance of the pack house, finding Sarah and Jimmy waiting patiently.

I pressed the horn, which pulled a lot of attention toward me and my new car, and Jimmy's eyes widened when he saw me sitting behind the wheel.

"Come on guys," I called, "we are going to be late!"

Jimmy and Sarah rushed to the car, with Jimmy yelling "shotgun," to sit in front, and as soon as they were in the car, I sped towards the school.

The drive to school didn't take us long, and soon I took the turnoff towards school.

I found a parking lot and parked the car.

"Wow!" Jimmy yelled out as a group of admirers came closer to look at my new baby. I giggled in response, got out of the car, and started toward the entrance of Dark Moon High.

What I saw next when I entered the building had me in awe and frozen in my tracks.

****