Chapter 1
I was running through the trees, but I clearly wasn't human. I was on all fours, and my vision was great. I could see so much of the forest in my periphery, and I could hear the sound of my paws making contact with the forest floor. Each contact sounded so powerful. I must have been a large and strong beast.
I got out of bed in a sweat. The dream felt so vivid. I wasn't sure if this was another one of my visions. They were happening more frequently, and I couldn't control them. I felt like I should be telling my family, but I was afraid of my ability reaching ears that it shouldn't.
My thoughts were interrupted by my parents and brother knocking on my door. "Can we come in?" My mom asked.
"Yeah," I said with a groggy voice. I heard my brother laugh on the other side of the door.
"I told you she wouldn't be awake yet," He said.
"Oh hush," My mom said as she turned the door knob and came into my room.
I sat up, not sure what to expect. When they came in, my mom was holding a tray full of breakfast items, and my father and brother followed behind her. There was fresh buttermilk pancakes and orange juice and fruit on the tray. This was my favorite breakfast, and they knew this. That is what made it special. I tried to stop them from singing but that just made them sing louder:
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Dear Evelyn,
Happy Birthday to you!"
They cheered, and I laughed from embarrassment as they set the tray of food on my lap. They were looking at me in fondness, but my dad had a bit of a somber look on his face. "Sorry, it couldn't be a cake, my dear," My dad said, and I shut him down.
"This is perfect," I told him with a smile, "Best eighteenth birthday ever."
"And your only eighteenth birthday, stupid," My brother said with a chortle, and I glared at him. He is such a jerk sometimes.
"Hey now," My mom said and smacked him upside the head, "We are giving your sister the royalty treatment right now. It's her birthday." My brother had an annoyed look on his face from the scolding.
"Thank you, mom," I said with a smirk and began eating my delicious breakfast in bed, in sweet victory. The sweetness filled my mouth, and I sighed. I love all things sugar.
"After you are done eating, we have to get going, Eve," My dad said in a soft tone, using my nickname, "They will be waiting for us." I looked up at the time, and we had one hour before we had to leave. My mouth was agape. I had been asleep for seventeen hours!
"We'll leave you to your food. Enjoy, sweetheart," My mom said, and my family exited my bedroom.
I shoveled down what I could, and I set the tray aside to get ready for this day. This day didn't only celebrate my birthday, but it celebrated the peaceful treaty that was made among the supernatural.
I had to attend. My ancestors were among those who wrote the treaty, and therefore, my family was required to attend the binding ceremony every year. I have never been a caster in the ceremony because I was not of age. But now that I'm an adult, I have to go. I don't mind going; I'm just a little nervous.
I looked into the mirror, somewhat satisfied. My long platinum blonde hair was put up into a bun, and I wore a dress. This dress was floor length and black with lace. I love this dress, and I chose this dress because it's like I'm wearing pajamas. It was so comfortable.
"I'm so spoiled on my birthday, and it is great," I sang this as I left my bedroom and met my family who waited in a limo outside of our house. I would never get use to riding in a limo on ceremony day.
"Our little girl looks so grown up. Doesn't she, honey?" My mom said, nearly in tears, and my father refused to admit how grown up I looked.
"She is my little girl," He said, and I smiled. They were so sweet to me. My brother, however, could never just compliment me.
"The color looks good, but it doesn't distract from her dull, gray eyes," My brother said with a smirk, and before I could smack him, my mom did.
"Royalty!" She said as a reminder, and I laughed. Today was going to be fun, or so I thought.
"So, honey," My mom began nervously, "Do you feel any differently?" My mom was anxious to know if I had awakened my witch ability.
All witches and wizards have one. Most are able to make brews. Some are able to cast spells with a wand or staff. And some have unique abilities, like I do. All pure blooded witches and wizards awaken their ability near their birthday and before or at eighteen years of age.
I had awakened my ability about two months ago, but I hadn't told my family yet. I was, kind of, afraid to. My brother was a blabber, and my parents were terrible liars. I loved them for it, but I didn't feel comfortable about telling them my ability, not without a serious conversation first.
I gulped and looked toward the driver. Now was not the time to have this conversation. "Yes, but ... I will tell you it later," I said. I didn't like that I sounded so ominous, and that feeling worsened, after I saw the nervous look my father gave me.
"This is exciting!" My mom clapped, breaking the tension, "I remember when I first discovered my ability. I was making such drastic weather forecasts. It wasn't funny at the time, but it's funny to look back at it now!"
My mom was also a unique witch. The weather was greatly influenced by her emotions, like right now. The skies are absolutely bright because of her happiness for me. She has gotten better at controlling her ability, but it wasn't always easy.
"I bet her ability is lame," My brother said and avoided my mother's smack, "Mine, however, is awesome. I can brew whatever I want. Remember the time I turned you into a frog?"
"That wasn't funny," My father said, remembering how he set me free into the wilderness, only to find out that he had put his daughter in peril.
"I almost got eaten," I gulped, "What a terrible day that was." Being a slimy green thing by a pond was not fun! I hopped and hopped, and the grass was long. Everything was so big and vast for a small creature. I never wanted to experience that again.
"Luckily, I found you," My father grumbled, "Thinking about it makes me want to punish your brother again."
"Please do," I said and glared at him. I could have seriously gotten hurt that day, and he is till talking about it, like it was a grand accomplishment!
"Please don't," My brother said, not wanting to be grounded forever.
He was already grounded for being suspended from college for awhile. He tried brewing something in science lab, which he is not supposed to do, and the classroom got covered in green ooze. No one was seriously hurt, but the equipment was. I know because he told me about it in great detail. He was proud of the strangest things.
We were bickering all the way to where the ceremony was being held: The Alpha King's castle. His place was grand, and shut both me and my brother up as we pulled in. Our doors were opened for us, and in this moment, I really felt like royalty.
"Welcome," A beautiful lady said. She stood tall and had an amazing smile. I heard that werewolves were stunning, but I didn't realize they were this beautiful.
To embarrass me, my brother wolf whistled. "This is going to be a great trip," My brother said with peering eyes. This time, my father grabbed him by the head and made him look down.
"Forgive his disrespect," My father said in anger, "Thank you for your welcome, if you'll excuse us."
My mother deeply apologized when she got out of the limo, and she bowed for her son's actions. The lady appreciated her apology. "Thank you," She said, "But there's no need for such formality because you are our King's valued guests."
My mom thanked her for her understanding, nearly in tears. "Let's go, mom," I said, and in respect, bowed as well. I pulled my mom aside, and she sighed in worry.
"I hope we get through this night," She said, "The werewolves above her won't tolerate your brother's attitude. Oh, what am I going to do with him." She is biting her lip in worry, and I gave her a reassuring rub on the back.
"It's okay, mom," I said, "Father is taking care of him." This seemed to calm her a little. My father was scolding my brother this time, and my mother and I were following them from afar. When my father got involved, you best be afraid. He was a strong wizard, and a man you shouldn't mess with. Even my brother was afraid of him.
"You need to be careful here, too," My mom said, "Remember when I told you about how that lady tried to openly insult the Alpha King? She lost her tongue." She shook her head to get the image out of her mind. "What a gruesome day." I shivered at the thought.
"Don't worry. I won't talk much," I said to my mom.
We entered the ballroom, and I admired the detail. We stood on marble floors, and the ceiling had architecture that could be described as art. There was even gold accents that were made of solid gold. As I admired the chandelier, my shoulder brushed someone, and I began to have a vision.
"I swear I felt her, Allen, as I was running in the forest. I kept going and going. She felt so near, yet so far away. She was driving my wolf mad. I lost myself. I was running for hours."
I came back to reality, and I was face to face with this Allen. "I'm sorry for bumping into you," He said, and I gulped. He must have said several sentences before this one because he was giving me a weird look, and so was my mom.
"I should be the one apologizing," I said with a bow, "My name is Evelyn Rose, and you are?"
"Allen," He said, but I already knew that, "It's nice to meet you." We were about to engage in conversation when the doors to the ballroom opened loudly. I felt a rush of air come towards me, and I was suddenly pinned to the wall behind me.
My blurry vision began to focus. It wasn't air that came at me. It was a beautiful man. His golden eyes were staring into mine. His muscled and tanned body was against my smaller frame, and his dark brown hair was tickling my pale face. I was entranced.
He looked to be someone important. His garb told me so, but I couldn't focus. The shocks and tingles he sent through me made my reality distorted. Suddenly, he was surged off of me. My father held his staff in a defensive position, and my brother grabbed me. "Stay away from my daughter," He said and held the werewolf back with magic.
He growled ferociously. "SHE'S MY MATE," He said, voice booming, and I heard multiple whimpers at the sound of his voice. "I'll give you one warning, given that you are her father," He extended his canines, "Release me and give her here, or I will have your heads."
My mom began to tear, and my father hesitated. I tore from my brother's grip and ran towards this man because I wasn't going to let him hurt my family. "Don't hurt them," I said, my eyes glossing over as I sat beside his restrained body, "Release him, father! He won't hurt me."
I wasn't sure about my last statement, but even I knew how important a mate is to a werewolf. I was his other half. My father listened to me, releasing this werewolf from his cast, and I was pulled to the beast's chest.
"You're mine," He said, and suddenly bit my neck. I heard many gasps, and my body began to shudder and lose consciousness.
What was happening to me?
