Evangeline

Hair.. check

Makeup.. check.

Outfit? I do a Twirl, stopping facing the mirror. I'm wearing washed out blue jeans that shape my hips beautifully, a simple white turtleneck under an oversize ivory green crewneck sweater. Drawing attention to my brown eyes.

A bit basic but approachable, just what I'm going for.

Ding!

I walk over to my phone to see a text from Jonah.

Jonah: Sorry I couldn't pick you up today my dads making me shadow him during his meeting

Jonah: Ill see you at school. Happy birthday.

Evangeline: Its okay, I understand I'll see you at school!

I smile down at my phone before placing it back on my night stand. Focusing back on my appearance.

I nod at my reflection in approval. I do this every morning, making sure I look anything close to perfect.

When I first started dating Jonah I was super insecure because I originally thought he was only into blondes.

I ended up dying my hair, but in my defense I'm hot as a blond. plus the honey blond went beautifully with my deep skin tone.

Although I miss my brown hair sometimes…

I lift my thick hair as I throw on some gold hoop earrings, and a simple flimsy gold chain around my neck.

Perfect.

"Eva hurry up! I don't drive you to school as charity." My door slings open as a dark presence looms in the door frame . "Do I look like I have time to wait for you? I have things to do places to be!"

I quickly grab my bag, "I'm ready, I'm ready, sorry."

This uptight woman is my older sister Erin, she's always busy.

She's the lead warrior for our packs army and mated to the packs current beta Ronnie. Which makes her really popular in the town and of course with our parents.

I think our father almost had a cow when he found out. I honestly envy the attention she gets from them. They've always made it known they're proud of her successes, and rub it in my face anytime they get.

That's why when I announced I was dating Jonah, it was the first time I felt like they were proud of me. They told me to snag him right when I turn 18, they even helped me plan out our dates.

Of course I liked Jonah and his future had nothing to do with that, but them finally caring about me was a huge plus.

I walked down the curve of the stairs and into the kitchen, to my surprise a solid black note was sitting atop the island, I walk over to it and read written in white letters:

Evangaline it's your 18th birthday. Everyone is expecting you to mate with Jonah today, Make us proud. - Dad

I groan, of course I hope to mate with Jonah but this is too much pressure what if I see him and he's not my mate? All of the things I've worked for will be thrown out the window.

"What's that?" I didn't even notice Erin snooping behind me.

"Oh nothing, just dads words of encouragement." She stares down at the note and her mouth parts a little before she looks back up at me, "oh, Eva it's your birthday I completely forgot. I'm sorry. Happy birthday." She smiles sadly at me.

I know she has a lot going on with training and settling into her new house so I don't punish her with my words, I shake my head and tell her it's fine already walking towards the door. We head to the car and make our way to my hell hole of a school.

I thank Erin for the ride and walk up to the front doors. I get a few stares and waves which are normal since I've been dating Jonah. People just wave and say hello even though we've never spoken before.

I don't hate it but it all just feels so forced.

I head towards my locker pulling out an English textbook since its my first class.

I feel someone approaching me. I turn to see Savannah a bubbly short haired ginger who seems to always know my business before I do.

She shoved a mini mic in my face connected to her iPhone, "so Eva how do you feel to officially be 18?" Goddess, here we go.

Savannah is head of the school podcast here at our school because she always gets a juicy story. They shouldn't even call it a podcast, at this point they should call it gossip with Savannah.

"Savannah I don't have time for this." I sigh closing my locker.

"Oh come on, we have 4 minutes before class starts. Plus everyone's wondering if it's finally official with you and Jonah yet." Her eyes as big as saucers as she waits for my answer.

"I don't know yet." I shrug.

She cocks her head to the side, "did you two not come to school together? Trouble in paradise? Did he cheat? Did YOU cheat?"

I'm walking now as she walks backwards, the mic still all up in my face. "No. We just didn't drive to school together today I'll see him at lunch." I try to side step her but the brat is too persistent.

I feel an arm wrap around my neck pulling me back a little. I turn to see Brianna my best friend since diapers.

"Shows over Savannah, thank you for your time although we never asked for it." Brianna says sweetly. I snort, before I could muffle my laugh.

"Oh! I'm sorry I don't remember asking you for an interview must've slipped my mind."

"It's okay darling, I'll call you again when my schedules free though." brie smiles and winks.

Savannahs fake smile drops as we walk away, I hear her yelling "come to me right after you find out Eva! You know where to find me!"

"That girl seriously needs to mind her own business." She scoffs.

"Or find some of her own" we laugh together down the hall.

"So how's my birthday twins day going? You nervous?" She nudges me with her shoulder wiggling her brows. I scoff up smile.

Me and Brie practically grew up together, since we were kids we've been attached at the hip. Bri has pretty almond eyes and long blond hair, with a pretty button nose. She's popular without even having to try.

"I know you're giddy and ready to find your future mate. But let's make it to class first." Nodding her head towards our English class.

Waving bye to her, I head inside.

My first four classes went by so slow I kept staring at the clock in anticipation waiting for it to release that annoying- Riiiiiingggg!

I swiftly made my way out of the door backpack already in hand, mall walking towards lunch hall. People are watching as a hurry down the hall quietly following behind not wanting to miss whatever is to come. I wish they hadn't.

I turn to lunch rooms entrance, my minds buzzing. My hearts beating like crazy, my breathing is picking up I can't stop myself from shaking. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up but we are meant to be we have to be, we'd had spent every second together since we started dating.

He made me feel like I've been seen when others overlooked me—made me feel like an empty shell. And I loved him for that. And knowing that I continued into the cafeteria ready to meet my mate.

I looked around for him hoping to just know when I saw him. I noticed people were crowding around a table to the left. That must be where he is.

Walking over I hear gasps, and muffled whispers. I push through people and finally see Jonah my blue eyed prince.

But he's not staring at me. I look over to see him looking at Brianna. Staring at her like he's found gold.

"So, Brianna how does it feel to be mated with the future alpha of our pack? What is our future Luna feeling?" My smile drops and my mouth goes dry as I realize what's going on, why they've been staring at each other so intently.

This cannot be happening. she's my bestfriend and he's my boyfriend. why would the goddess do this to me?

Was I not enough for him too?

I break out of my thoughts when I hear a clang of a chair falling down, Jonah's pushing past people to make his way towards Brie, still not taking his eyes off of her. he looks down grabbing her face, "I fucking told you it would be you."

Brie still in her trance he growls before leaning down smashing his lips against hers after a while she starts kissing him back they're full on making out.

I let out a sob i've been holding in not believing what I'm seeing.

Brie pulls back and glances my way finally noticing I was standing there, "Eva! I'm so glad your here isn't this amazing I find my mate on my birthday. what are the odds!"

she's beaming with joy and adoration as she looks back at Jonah.

beaming, can you believe that.

everyone is silent, I can feel their eyes boring into my skin waiting for what I'm going to do or say next.

"what about Eva, wasn't she supposed to be his mate?" someone whispered. "not a chance I knew the moon goddess wouldn't let our alpha settle for someone like her", "yeah I've only been being nice to her because of Jonah." everyone starts throwing out their own opinions and I swear I can see Jonah smirk.

Its happening again, everyone's talking about me like I'm not even there. the space around me feels small all of a sudden, the people around me feel to close I need to leave. I'm so pathetic.

"Stop it everyone, you know how sensitive she is." I look up to see bri staring at me, with an almost realistic sad face frowning back at me. Her words are a slap in the face.

she starts making her way over to me. she grabbed both my hands slightly squeezing them, "you'll be at our mating ceremony right? I already have so many Ideas-" I pull my hands away from her, I cant do this. Not in front of everyone.

"follow me." I turn on my heels and walk as fast as possible out of the cafeteria. the air feeling less suffocating now.

"what's up?"

I snap my head towards her, "what's up? that's all you have to say? WHATS UP?"

"what's your deal?"

"my 'deal' is that youre making this all seem normal, he was my boyfriend just a few minutes ago Bri! And to see my bestfriend making out with him-"

the words catch in my throat as I remember the scene.

"seriously? goddess you're so pathetic," she groans, "Eva it was never going to work between you two anyways. you're weak, fragile and to be completely honest, useless as a luna. our pack needs someone like me. it was bound to happen I didn't want to say it in front of everyone because I know how you can get."

What did she just say, I'm pathetic? Is that what she thinks? I'm weak? Useless?

That's funny because last I remember I'm the reason our pack had food last winter. I'm the one who came up with the packs food shortage problem during the decline in crops when our council couldn't come up with a strategy. Along with the financials of how to fund it.

To be fair its my job as a member of the packs accounting team, But seriously, even Jonah hasn't done as much as I have for the pack.

Thinking of him makes me a mix of angry and nauseous, the way he talked to her in the cafeteria- that reminds me. he said he knew it would be her he would be mated to.

"were you.. into Jonah before this?"

"me? into him, no. He wanted me before the start of your relationship, but I wasn't interested so the man went and started dating you to get closer to me. Honestly it was adorable but I saw how happy it made you and didn't want to ruin it." she shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. Like she did me a favor.

"hold on.. are you serious, like completely serious?" I'm taken aback. My breathing starts to fasten, there's a ball in my throat but I swallow it down to continue.

"what the hell kind of a friend does that!? You let me go on and on about how in love we were knowing he only had feelings for you?"

Brie looked at me dumbfounded.

"I did it for you! The least you could say is thank you, I basically hooked you up with the alpha."

I cant help but laugh, this is ridiculous, she's ridiculous. there's no way in hell she expects me to thank her. this whole situation was a huge reality check!

I glare at her frowning down on me with an irritated face.

"I am not weak." my lips are quivering from anger but it only makes her sneer.

Before I could go on movement in the corner of my eye catches my attention, Jonah along with his friends and a few Randoms who came to watch the show strolled up to me and Bri.

"you are though. And everyone but you seems to know it. So I used you to get to Bri who cares, its not like we were exclusive."

Is this asshole serious?

"How couldn’t I see it before? Youre such an asshole." everyone gasps from my attack at Jonah.

"how dare you!?" Brie screeches.

I don't care though, "What kind of decent guy doesn't know that when you're dating someone, as in you're a couple. it is exclusive!" I snap.

"Eva don't test me, I am your future alpha you will talk to me with respect! Don't think because we dated for a few months that you can talk to me anyway you want."

"You aren't the alpha yet. And you will never have my respect. If you are to be the future leader of this pack then..I want no part of it." I practically whisper the last part.

I decided in that moment that I wasn't going to take this anymore, the realization that no one respects me here, that I've been easily manipulated taunts me and my conscious cant handle it. My wolf agrees stirring inside me praying to come out and rip them apart as they beg for mercy. I am better than this I deserve better than this.

Standing in front of me now so close I can feel her breathe on my cheek Brie cocks her head to the side, "You cant leave, you cant even talk without me, you need me. you always have."

I know her, she's just projecting. Brie couldn't even function if I wasn't here, I'm like the brains to her bronze. I'm the only thing she can fall back on.

"Lets just see who needs who then."

Riiiiinnnng!

and with that I leave.

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If you made it to the end thank you so much for reading <3 Id to hear what you thought about this chapter and if you liked/disliked it. Please feel free to recommend to a friend or leave a heart (of course you don't have to)!