Journey to Fate

Dani

"Dani, get up!" My moms voice echoes through my room, piercing straight through my subconscious and forcing my eyes to open.

I roll over onto my back and squint at my mother throwing the curtains of my room open. With a huff, I sit up and lean against my headboard. She walks toward me, delicately sitting on the edge of my bed, careful not to wrinkle her sink blue dress. She leans forward and places a hand on my forehead before speaking again.

"Mi amor, do you feel okay? I don't usually have to come wake you up, especially on such an important day."

I bring my hands to my face and gently push my mother's hand away. She grabs my right hand in hers and brings her other hand back up to my cheek.

"Mom, yes, si, I'm okay. I just didn't sleep well last night." Her eyebrows draw together in worry but quickly are replaced with a smile. My mother has always been unreasonably beautiful. With her dark brown hair and hazel eyes, she would cause nothing but envy if it weren't for how kind she is. She grew up as the oldest daughter of a Beta in a small Pack in Cuba. Her parents, my grandparents, had eight kids. Yeah, the Moon Goddess really didn't want my grandma to have a break.

Mom stands and walks toward my closet and begins scanning the contents while occasionally pulling items out and placing them on the empty side of my king sized bed. She begins rattling off about the week and my duties but I quickly zone her out.

My mind can't stay focused on the present so I do what I do every morning and I grab my journal and begin writing out my dreams from the night before. This time my hand shakes as I flip open to a new page and click my pen to begin writing. My current reality falls away as I transport back into my dream state.

***

I make my way through a now familiar looking home. It's much smaller than our place but in my dream I feel very at home. I almost run down the stairs and in the kitchen of the home I see a beautiful woman standing there with a coffee cup in hand and another under the kurig machine. As always I am a guest in my own mind and can do nothing but watch through what feels like someone else's eyes.

"Good morning, baby girl, do you have everything ready for the full moon tonight?"

I walk over to the mug in the machine, add some milk and kiss the woman on the cheek.

"Yep! Extra clothes, check! Cooler full of snacks for after, check! A sleeping bag and tent, check! And of course a fully charged radio so you can get in touch with me when I'm back in my tent."

I watch the woman that I am calling mom count off on her fingers as I am saying check and nodding along with me. I sit across from where she is standing at the island in the cozy kitchen as she turns back to the stove, flipping some bacon.

"Okay, okay. Your brothers and I will be just up the hill waiting for your okay to meet you at your camp."

"Thank you. But you know that you guys don't have to do that anymore. It's been a few years, I think I have this whole thing down."

She turns to meet my eyes before plating the bacon and eggs she has been cooking.

"We 're going to be there, end of story, okay?"

I smile into my cup of coffee and nod before she goes back to the task at hand. She begins add breakfast to two more plates as I hear what sounds like elephants stampeding down the steps and into the kitchen. I turn to see two very handsome guys turning the corner into the kitchen where me and the woman, I'm calling mom is. They both are tall, over six feet with the older one having kept wavy dark brown hair and the younger of the two with messy dark brown hair. They share the same blue eyes as their mom

"Gooooood morning ladies." The larger of the two says as he kisses my cheek and then his mothers. He turns back towards me, points to the window to my left and as I am distracted he steals my cup of coffee.

"Hey! You know I need that for my shift tonight." I stand to grab myself a new mug as the smaller of the two beats me to it by popping his own mug under the machine and starting the magical brewing process. "You both suck." I begrudgingly sit back in my seat and stuff a mouth full of eggs in my mouth as the larger one sits to my left, sipping my beloved coffee right in front of me.

"Boys." My dream mother scolds. "Take it easy on your sister. You know what today is for her." My older dream brother reaches over and attempts to steal a bacon slice before I grab his wrist and squeeze until he drops it back on my plate.

"Damn, little sis. I was just teasing, you don't need to go and use your freaky strength on me." He puts his thief hand back to the mug if coffee that was originally mine. I turn to the machine just as my dream little brother adds milk to the new mug and sets it in front of me with a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you, Austin. You're an angle as always." His cheeks turn rosy, which is a stark contract to his big shoulders and large frame. I turn back to the older of the two, now holding the new cup and stick my tongue out at him.

"Well maybe if you weren't such a breakfast kepto then I wouldn't have to assert my dominance like that." I sip my coffee, winking at my little brother then back to to my big brother before I break down with the biggest laugh with him. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and tugs me into a tough hug that causes me to giggle more.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, little sister. Okay, are we all set for tonight?" All three of them look to me as my little brother sits on my other side with his fresh cup and our mother stands across from us placing plates of food in front of them.

"Yessss, we are good to go. But as I already told mom, you guys don't need to come. I'll be fine, I promise." My dream little brother joins in the hug, causing me to be squished between them, I can't help but laugh.

"We got you little, big sister." I cringe at the nickname but smile wider.

"Easy there squirt, you may have surpassed me and mom in height but you'll always be our little baby Austin." I pinch his cheeks as mom and Matt laugh.

***

I finish scribbling down every detail I can remember. I want to sit here and digest what I just wrote but before I can my mom breaks through my focus.

"Mija, are you finished? I need you out of bed, showered, dressed and at the family table in 30 minutes." I snap my journal closed and place it back at its home on my nightstand. I throw back the covers, grab what my mom laid out for me before kissing her cheek.

"Thank you, Mommy!" She playfully shoves me to my in-suite bathroom before exiting my room altogether.

I finish getting ready with five minutes to spare, deciding to last minute throw on some makeup before beginning the longest week of my life yet again. I swiftly apply some blush over my golden skin to enhance my freckles. Then as quickly as I can, I blend in concealer to hide the evidence of my lack of sleep. And lastly I swipe on some black mascara to make my green eyes really pop in the lavender sundress my mom picked out for me.

One final look into my standing mirror as I step into favorite my wedges. I push my crazy golden hair from my face and realize I have no time at all to tame it. As quickly as I can, I throw it into a braid over my shoulder and pull my bangs down to frame my face. Not too bad but here we are. As quicky as I can in these heels I make my way through the halls and down the two flights of stairs to our family dining room of the pack house.

There's no use trying to be quiet when everyone here has werewolf hearing. Unfortunately for me, without a wolf, I can't hear a damn thing. But as I walk into the room there is no mistaking the silence that falls upon it. Being born a human, surrounded by wolves meant getting away with absolutely nothing. The dining room table is filled with my family, like most mornings but this time I can't help the hair that stands on the back on my neck as I make my way to my place at the table.

My dad is sitting at the head of the table with mom across from him at the other head. My eldest sister, Fiona, to the left of my dad, her mate, Alpha Jaren, next to her. My dad's Beta, Uncle Marco, to my dad's right with his mate, Cassie by him. My younger brother, Tommy, by Alpha Jaren and my little sister Kayla by him and to the right of my mom. My older brother, Elian, to mom's left and of course the only empty chair between Beta Cassie and my already scorning older brother is for me.

I slip into my seat and begin to pile on mini muffins and fruit to my plate hoping everyone will continue their conversations. When has it ever worked out the way I hoped?

"Dani." My dad begins, staring into my eyes that mirror the same color of his. I choose that moment to stuff a muffin in my mouth so I nod my acknowledgement before he continues. "We were all just talking about the Mate Ball that is coming up." I nod again knowing where this is going. Goddess, I wish I could have gotten more to eat before this conversation had started.

When I don't say anything he continues but hesitantly. No one else comes to his aid and I watch as he runs his hand through his golden hair stiffly. Myself and Tommy have always taken more after dad in the genetic mashup of our parents. Whereas Fiona and Kayla look so similar to mom they could be twins. Elian on the other hand is the perfect mix of mom and dad with his light brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes with green on the outside.

After a few more seconds of awkward silence I look around one more time. The only people meeting my eyes are Elian and Jaren. Typical Alphas. I huff loudly.

"Okay, dad. Let's get this out of the way so we can all finish breakfast. I'm not going, I'm done with those."

"Well you see, sweet heart, actually you are going. We need you to introduce Kayla to other packs since this is her first Mate ball since turning 18." All previous signs of hesitancy are gone now and the all business Alpha dad is back.

"Why me, dad? Why can't anyone else introduce her to people? Plus, she already knows everyone, it's not like being the kid of the Alpha and Luna creates a sense of anonymity." I reach out to grab some bacon for my plate but shove it straight into my mouth instead.

"Because I said so and that's final." My jaw drops open and I look to my mother. Her hazel eyes are soft and distant and I can tell she is mind linking with my dad.

"Mom, come on. I thought you weren't going to make me go to these things anymore, what's changed all the sudden?" I try not to let my voice get whiney but I can't help but feel powerless like a child. Her eyes come back to the present and she takes a deep breath.

"Mija, our pack is hosting the Ball this year. That means we will all be busy and we will all have a job to do while the packs are settling in throughout the week." I think of arguing but decide against it. It's a losing battle, as always.

"Besides." My dad begins. I brace myself. "Maybe you could find your mate at this Mate Ball, there will be many more packs joining us this year." I smile tightly and avoid the pitiful stares of my family that surrounds me. Pushing my plate forward I stand.

"If you guys will excuse me, I'm going to go prepare for the week ahead." I turn to my mom. "Please let me know the other tasks I can help with for the ball." She nods and I retreat back to my room, ignoring the echo of foot steps that trail behind me.

My sisters and Tommy make it to my room before I can even attempt to close the door. Another perk of them having their wolves, they're faster than me.

I walk straight into my spacious room. My couch set is to the left when you first walk in with a TV hung on the wall. To the right when you walk in is my desk and bookshelves. And my bed in the middle straight in front of the door across the room. My ensuite bathroom on the left wall and my walk in closet to the right. They follow me toward my couches.

"Here, Dani." My little brother, the innocent age of 16, hands me my breakfast plate with more food on it than the way I left it. I take it from him in my left hand and pull him down next to me with my right. This sweet boy is always taking care of those around him. Especially his fragile human sister, they all are. He nods and sits by me as our sisters sit across from us on the opposite couch. I place my plate on the table between the couches.

"Eli is tuning in via mind-link." Fiona says before her eyes go glassy. "He said he loves you, oh and to eat your food." I roll my eyes but begrudgingly begin eating what is on my plate. Another thing I can't do without my wolf, speak to my family or the pack through our minds. I glance between my sisters, looking so much alike but only in age to they really differ. That and my sister's huge baby bump. Fiona is 25, Elian 23, myself 21, Kayla 18 and Tommy 16. Yeah, my parents really didn't take a break either.

"Dani, I told dad and Uncle Marco that someone else should escort me around and make introductions but they both insisted it should be you." She leans forward picking a muffin from my plate. I smile and grab one myself before offering it to Tommy who pushes it back toward me.

"I know, Kay, dad just... doesn't want to give up on me finding my mate. It's not his fault. He doesn't know what we know." They all nod solemnly. Tommy reaches over then to steal a muffin and tossing it to Fiona who catches it.

"Feed our niece, she needs to be big and strong to be the Alpha one day." Tommy says making us all smile. He's going to be such a good mate one day.

She eats the muffin as we all chat about the week ahead of us. Before too long they get up to go about their days and I find myself in my room alone thinking about my dad's hope for me finding my mate. I used to have hope too but that dissipated a long time ago.