Mine, apparently

Lena

It was early morning when Lio showed up at my door. As usual.

I opened it, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Well, good morning..."

I yawned, leaning against the doorway.

"Do you always have to wake me up at seven in the morning?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Come on, sleepyhead. I'll buy you breakfast. Even though my birthday is coming up in three days."

This time, I rolled my eyes.

"Alessio Moretti."

He grinned. "That's my name."

I grabbed my things, and we walked out to my car. I climbed into the driver's seat, and of course, he followed.

"So..." He looked over at me. "Got me a good present yet?"

I rolled my eyes again. "Not telling you."

I started the car and headed toward the diner.

""Sooo..." I glanced over at him. "What are we doing on your birthday again?"

He tensed beside me.

"Oh, right. It'll have to be the day after. We can celebrate together then." He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "My family kinda has this traditional thing they do for twenty-first birthdays."

"Oh! Can I come?"

For just a second, something flashed across his face.

Fear?

It disappeared so quickly I almost thought I'd imagined it.

"No, sorry. Strictly family."

I looked over at him, unable to hide my disappointment.

"Oh... I see." I turned my attention back to the road. "But we haven't had a birthday apart since we were eight. Like, we've literally spent every birthday together."

He rubbed the back of his neck again.

"I know, tesoro."

I pulled into the diner parking lot and parked. We climbed out, and Lio followed me toward the entrance, reaching past me to hold the door open.

We headed straight for our usual booth in the back.

"I guess we'll make it up the day after." I shrugged, sliding into the booth.

Lio sat across from me.

"Of course, bella."

Later that day

I'm at home wrapping Lio's gift—a small wolf necklace with a locket, our picture tucked inside.

I know he'll love it because it's his two favorite things.

Me and wolves.

I smile to myself as I finish wrapping the small box and put it away before starting to set everything up for the day after his birthday.

I know, I know. It's early, but I can't help it. He's my best friend, and I want everything to be perfect for him.

After checking everything about four times, I finally shower and go to bed.

The next day

I'm at work at the vet clinic when my phone buzzes with a text from Lio.

Lio: Hey, bestie. Meet me for lunch? Nonna's making her pasta and says she wants to see you.

I smile at my phone.

Me: I'll be there after my shift.

Hours later, I walk up the large steps leading to Lio's giant house.iI walk through the front door, kicking off my shoes before heading straight for the kitchen, where Nonna is cooking.

"Oh, Nonna, it smells amazing as always."

She turns around and immediately pulls me into a hug.

"Hi, bella. It's been too long since you came to visit." She pulls back just enough to pinch my cheeks.

"I missed you too, Nonna." I laugh, escaping her hands. "Where's Lio?"

Sofia walks into the kitchen.

"Bedroom." She hugs me warmly before looking toward the food behind me. "Now, out. No stealing snacks before dinner."

"I wasn't—"

She shoos me out of the kitchen before I can finish.

I head upstairs to Lio's room and walk in without knocking.

He's sitting on his bed, casually strumming his guitar. His long black hair hangs loose around his shoulders, and he's shirtless, the tattoos across his skin dark in the dim light.

I plop down beside him and throw my feet across his lap.

"Hey, loser."

He glances at me.

"Hey yourself, biggest loser."

I laugh.

"Your mom kicked me out of the kitchen. I hadn't even been there for two minutes."

He chuckles.

"She knows you well, tesoro. You always steal snacks."

I pout. "I do not."

"Do too."

"No way."

"Yes huh."

I shove him.

He shoves me back.

I shove him harder, and before I know it, he's got me pinned beneath him, his long hair falling around his face as his eyes gleam with amusement.

"Still trying to fight me after all these years, bella?"

I glare up at him.

"One of these days, Moretti, I'm gonna win."

His grin widens.

"Keep telling yourself that."

II push him off and give him the bird.

He just laughs before his mom yells from downstairs.

"Dinner!"

I shoot off the bed.

"I'll beat you downstairs!" I yell, already shoving him back onto the mattress before running for the door.

"Lena!"

His voice follows me down the stairs as I run as fast as my little legs can carry me.

I reach the dining room first, where everyone is already sitting around the massive table.

Matteo Moretti sits at the head, like always, with Sofia beside him. Nonna Cat is already loading her plate while Gianna and Isa argue about something across the table.

Nico is glued to his phone, and Dante looks like he's already stolen something off someone else's plate.

Then there's Lio's empty chair.

And right beside it, my spot.

I've sat there for as long as I can remember. At this point, I'm pretty sure the Morettis would notice faster if my chair were empty than if one of their actual children was missing.

I drop into my seat.

"I'm starving. I didn't eat lunch for this."

Sofia looks at me.

"Lena."

"What?"

"You were supposed to come here for lunch."

I pause.

"...Oh yeah."

Nonna immediately starts piling food onto my plate.

"See? Nonna understands me."

Matteo shakes his head while Nico snorts.

Lio finally walks into the room behind me.

"She understands that you're a bottomless pit."

I turn around. "Nobody asked you."

He drops into the chair beside mine.

"And yet, here I am."

I stick my tongue out at him before stealing a piece of bread from his plate.

Matteo looks across the table at Lio, his expression becoming more serious.

"È tutto pronto per domani sera? Gli anziani arriveranno prima del tramonto. Non possiamo permetterci errori durante la tua cerimonia, Alessio."

Lio glances at me before answering.

"Sì, papà. È tutto pronto. Non devi preoccuparti."

I slowly lower my fork.

"Okay, I heard tomorrow and Alessio."

Lio's mouth twitches.

I narrow my eyes. "What are you plotting?"

Matteo calmly takes a drink.

"Birthday preparations."

"Then why are we speaking in the secret language?"

Lio snorts. "It's called Italian, bella."

I point my fork at him.

"Not when you assholes specifically use it so I can't understand you."

Dante nearly chokes on his food.

Sofia gives me the look.

"Language, Lena."

"Sorry."

I take another bite.

"...But I'm right."

Nico mutters, "She's got a point."

"Thank you, Nico."

Lio kicks him beneath the table.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"Alessio," Sofia warns.

I grin at him.

"Language, Lio."

He turns his head slowly toward me.

"You're annoying."

"And yet, here I am."

"You know I'm literally your favorite person" I roll my eyes.

Dinner goes on with quiet chatter and I go home and pass out on my bed.

____

Alessio

Alessio

The party was about what I expected. It was a full moon tonight, so there was food, drinks, music, and a massive fire burning in the middle of the grounds.

Everything was great.

Except I wished Lena was here.

I sat near the fire, quietly strumming my guitar while everyone celebrated around me.

Nico came over and dropped down beside me, followed by Dante.

"Tonight's the big night."

I nodded. "Yep."

I didn't even look away from the fire.

Nico looked at me for a moment.

"You literally look like a kicked puppy because Lena isn't here."

Dante shoved him. "Shut it, dude."

He looked at me before shrugging.

"But he's right. I mean, I know she's your best friend, but you're literally about to become a fully grown wolf. You'll finally be able to find your mate." He paused. "You're probably not even gonna spend much time with Lena once you find her."

I shrugged.

"You don't get it. She's my best friend, man. She's been there for everything. I'm not just gonna drop her for some petty she-wolf."

Dante rolled his eyes.

"We'll see. Just enjoy it while it lasts, brother."

Before I could respond, Dad called me forward.

I set my guitar aside and walked toward him, meeting him in the middle of the grounds.

The chatter around us slowly died.

I looked up.

The moon had reached its highest point.

And I shifted.