Jake's POV
I see her as soon as I enter the room. Damn. She has a stunning appearance. Her long, sandy golden hair is still midway down her back in curls, but it's not the same as at the hairdresser. Her gorgeous face is visible as the hair surrounding her cheeks has been pulled back. She has a long, sparkly, dark green dress with delicate shoulder straps. Her back is nearly completely exposed due to the cut of the dress. She seems flawless.
She says, "Are you just going to stand there?"
"Oh, sorry. I was trying to burn this image of you into my memory. You and this beautiful shiny green dress." I responded.
She laughs and says, "Damn, Jake, that's smooth." "It's called silk."
I remark, "You look beautiful."
As I approach her, she says, "You clean up pretty good yourself." She touches my chest with her hands.
I glance down at her and remark, "Lovely necklace."
She looks down and adds, "An early birthday present from my parents."
I put my finger under her chin, pull her head up to meet mine, and lean in to plant a kiss. "Well, they have good taste."
She says, "Jake," and starts to back away.
"But what if we're not? She looks worried. "AN, we've talked about this so many times. If we aren't, we'll still be friends," I replied, hopeful. "I don't want you to be angry or disappointed."
But if we're not, I know I'll be devastated. I have loved Anna my entire life, even if I tried not to show it when we were younger.
"I know. I can't help it. You are so important to me, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you. It sucks that this is out of our control." She appears distraught.
"If you could choose, would you choose me?" I ask, and then I regret it right away. Perhaps it wasn't the best question to ask.
She whispers, "If I could choose, I would." With renewed want for her, I lean in to give her another kiss.
"We're going to be late for our party." She responds.
I chuckle as we leave the room. Her folks are here to greet us. They have always encouraged our relationship, and I'm sure they want us to be together as well.
Dad says, "Ready to go, kiddos." With a nod, we leave for the pack house. Holding hands, we stroll across the field on the sidewalk. We ascend the steps and halt in front of the main doors.
"We'll go in first, and then you both can follow." Her mom adds.
Anna embraces her parents and says, "OK, mom. I love you." She leans toward me and whispers, "My mom has always had a thing for the dramatics." As they enter, we stand off to the side, enjoying our final quiet minutes before heading into the celebration.
I said, "I like it." I inquired, "How long do we wait?"
She adds, reaching for the door, "Oh, this is dumb; let's just go in." I seize the other handle, and we simultaneously open them to reveal a room with people applauding as we walk in. First, a few lads from the football squad met me. A few of Anna's school pals greet her. We are drawn to different corners of the space. Anna and I are called onto the stage two hours into the celebration. Alpha James, my father, speaks to the assembly.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming out tonight to celebrate two wolves connected at the hip since birth." Everyone is chuckling.
My dad makes a motion toward us as we enter the platform and say, "I know that my wife and I, Beta Max and his lovely wife, are proud of these two and look forward to all the great things to come. Lady and gentlemen, Anna Rivers and Michael Blackwell!" As everyone applauds, balloons start to drop from the ceiling. My father approaches me and touches my shoulder.
"Everyone, please enjoy the night, and at midnight we will have a pack run." My father declares. Everyone claps once more. I head back down to the crowd with AN. After an hour, Ethan shows up beside me.
He says, "Happy birthday, bro." I turn to hug him.
"Oh man, I'm so glad you could make it. When did you get in?" I say.
As a random female approaches him and puts her arm around him, he replies, "I got in half an hour ago."
She says, "Hey baby." I merely glance at him.
"Oh, Candy, this is Jake, my brother. This party is for him." He replies.
"And Anna," I continue.
I ask in the mental connection, "Candy?" He only grinned, shrugging.
Ethan looks around and asks, "Yeah, speaking of AN, where is she? I want to wish her a happy birthday, too."
"She's over there getting a drink," I say.
He adds as he unwraps from her and walks toward AN, "Sweet, hey babe, I'll be right back."
Ethan's POV
I beg Jake over the mind link, "Dude, just keep her busy for one second. I'll be right back. I need a break from this cling monster."
"Fine! Be quick, it's my birthday. I don't want to babysit." says Jake.
I move over to where Jake pointed, but I only see one person at the drink table. It can't be her. Her girl has long, wavy sandy blonde hair and she looks stunning in her outfit that bares much of her back. When she turns around, it's her—Anna—and she's an adult. She sees me and grins. She exclaims, "Ethan!" I approach, hug her, and turn around. She has a wonderful scent. She throws her arms around me and laughs. I set her down.
I twist her around to get a good look at her. "Look at you all grown up."
Her tongue tickles my chin as she adds, "Haha, stop it. Look at you, scruffily man."
I quip, "Hey, it's *Mister* Scruffy, man to you." I pivot, positioning us with our backs to the crowd. "So, how have you been AN?" I inquire.
"I've been. Good. I'm graduating top of the class in a few months. And you?" She inquires.
Seems reasonable to me. An was always a bright child. Far more intelligent than Jake. That
thickhead is barely passing his classes. The only reason he will likely graduate is that he is the Alpha's child.
"I'm doing great!" I answer right away. "I've returned for good now that I've graduated.
"How has Jake been handling you?" I will continue.
"Oh, ''Jake has been the best.'" I nod in agreement with her statement, but I'm at a loss for words.
We are glad that Anna breaks the hush.
Glancing at her glass, she says, "I'm. I'm a bit nervous." I am aware that Jake and our parents have been promoting their relationship.
"Hey, don't sweat the fated mate stuff. I mean, I still haven't even found mine, and there's tons of pressure to find Luna. Mom has even been trying to set up for me to travel around to different packs to find her." I will continue.
With a cynical tone, she responds, "That sounds so fun." We both laugh agreeably, and I watch Candy approach. I think it's ugh. "Well, An, I'll see you at midnight for the run," I remark as I move towards Candy.
Anna's POV
Abruptly, Ethan turns to face an unknown girl. He often acts in that way. She kisses him and puts her arms around him. This must be his flavour of the week, I suppose. I'm dragged back into the dance floor by my dear buddy Kate. We dance together till Jake arrives to collect me at around 11:50. He leads me out into the rear, far from the crowd. With our backs to the full moon, we sit on the back stairs. I put my arm around Jake and leaned against him. We stay silent. We do nothing except wait till midnight. Jake glances at his phone; it is 11:59, and I
Inhale deeply. I'm not prepared for changes in the world. I do not wish for my friend to go. Silently, we both look at his phone. It reads midnight.
Midnight! And nothing. My feelings for Jake are the same as they were a minute ago. I shed a tear from my eye. Jake takes notice and removes it.
And that's alright. Just as I have been stating for months. Jake says, "You still have me." I released the breath I wasn't aware I was holding.
I look up to him and say, "I'm sorry."
He hugs me and says, "You have nothing to feel sorry for An." After a few more minutes, we hear the back door open, and the smell hits, giving me the chills all over. It smells like the forest in the springtime, with notes of sandalwood and musk.
I feel Sam, my wolf, snarling in the background of my thoughts. She says, "Mate," and I get up and turn to see Ethan standing there, looking bewildered.
"Where have the birthday children gone? "We have to prepare for the run," my mother inquires.
I hurry to the back door and say, "I think I saw them out back. I'll go get them." As soon as I open the door, I smell the wonderful scent of orange and vanilla.
Mate, Lucas growls in my head. Anna can also sense it, as I can see when my eyes land on her.
I reply incoherently, "Oh sh*t." Jake gets to his feet and appears perplexed.
"What is it? Jake asks, staring at me. Anna and I stare at each other without answering. Jake casts his gaze back and forth between us. Anna seems troubled, and I can't tell if she's pleased or unhappy.
"An?" inquires Jake. She gives him no glance.
"Ethan?" he asks, clearly becoming agitated.
"Mate," I say it unintentionally, unable to restrain myself. Jake's stance shifts. He's upset.
"What?" asks Jake in his head. Like everyone else, he's trying to make sense of what's going on. Jake continues to pace and turns to face Anna. "Seriously!?. Ethan?! Ethan IS YOUR MATE?!! You have got to be, I'm kidding." Jake says. At that moment, the rear door opens. It's my mother.
Sensing the intensity in the room, she pauses and says, "You guys, we're all waiting." Glancing between me and Anna, she says, "Wait, what's going on out here?" We continue to look at one another.
"Great! Mom! Let me introduce you to Ethan's mate." Jake nods to Anna. Anna breaks our gaze as she turns to face Jake. Her expression alters, seeming sad and wounded. Lucas, my wolf, snarls in the recesses of my thoughts. He objects to Jake, making Anna feel depressed. I twisted with him since I wouldn't say I like it either. "Jake! "Restrain yourself," I reply in a cool, collected voice.
My mother responds, "Ethan, give him a minute, he's upset."
I shoot back, "He's upsetting Anna."
My mother steps down beside Anna and shows her around the pack house. "Anna dear, maybe we can walk and let the boys talk for a minute." I can tell that Jake is upset.