Ariella
“You gonna talk to him, then?” Mom asks as she finishes off my hair for Harmony’s party.
She’s braided the right quarter of my hair at the front and left the rest loose in curls. I must admit, now that my makeup and hair is done, and I’m wearing this dress that Harmony picked out—a gold, Versacé, halter neck dress, covered in sequins—I actually feel like a billion dollars.
She looks at me in the mirror with her glowing gold eyes. She’s feeling good and it makes me feel good, too.
“I dunno. His girlfriend is definitely gonna be there, too, so...” I mean, I would like to talk to him at some point, but he’s never alone, never without Carisse, and I ain’t got one single legit reason to speak to him.
She sighs. “I ain't one to condone cheating, baby girl, but if that's your mate, he likes you, too.”
“That’s easy for you to say though, mom.”
“It's not. I spent ages admiring your dad at school. You’ve heard my story enough times, so I won't bore you with it again, but you know how much I liked him.”
“I know, but at least he was a ware. Davonyé is human. It's not just the fact he's got a girlfriend that’s the problem, it's the fact I'm different, too. I mean, what would he think of me if he knew I was a shifter? He'd lose his mind.”
“It's not like that for mates. Auntie Asha will tell you. Human’s that are gonna be a ware’s mate are set up differently mentally—”
“I know, I know.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Maybe you should speak to her.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I spin on my stool to look up at her.
She holds my shoulders. “Look, I know you’re scared, and it's okay to be. It’s natural to be. I'm not oblivious to that. I still remember how scared I felt when your great grandmother told me that I was a werewolf. I've been on the other side of this, too. I didn't even know I was born with the gene until I was almost twenty.”
“I know, Mom,” I say, understandingly this time.
“I’m not trying to get on your case about this, I just want to see you happy, sweetheart. Dad and I love you so much. It saddens me that I haven't had any visions about you. I want to. I've tried so much to bring one on but it's like you’re hidden. Maybe it's so that I don't get too involved with your life...” She shrugs. “…I dunno. I just wish I could help you to see things clearer.”
I stand up and hold her hands. “I know, Mom, but please, don't worry. You just focus on growing my little brother or sister in there, okay? I'll be fine. I know you and dad are here for me. You couldn't love me anymore, or do anymore for me.” I rub her bump and I feel my sibling kick my hand. “See, even the baby agrees.”
She wraps me in a hug, and I hold her back as tightly as I can over her bump. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” I say as she lets me go.
“Right, I'm hungry. Let's go downstairs. You need to go party, and your dad is waiting to drive you.”
***
Dad pulls up outside Harmony’s house. There's already a load of cars here.
I see Uncle Quis and Aunt Asha coming out of the house. They wave when they see us.
“Have fun. Call me tomorrow when you're ready to come home,” he says as I open the door. “Quis has stocked the fridge in the summerhouse full of meat for you, alright?”
I turn back around. “You asked him to?”
Dad smiles. “You’re my princess. Damn right I’m gonna make sure you’re taken care of. Even when I ain’t around.”
I really have the most amazing parents. “Thanks, dad.” I give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“You’re welcome. We love you,” he says before I get out the car to be hugged by my Aunt and Uncle.
“Don't do nothin’ I wouldn't do,” Uncle Quis says on the way over to his Escalade with Aunt Asha. “Which is pretty much nothin’.”
Now that I know. “Very funny,” I mutter. My dad’s brother, Uncle Marquis, got into nuff shit when he was a kid. He broke into banks but didn’t take the money, all sorts.
I wave them all off before going in search of Harmony. This jacket I’m wearing isn’t that thick and I’m freezing my ass off. I walk as fast as I can without tripping in these stilettos. Beautiful by Bazzi is blaring and as I walk up the steps to the five-bedroomed house, I feel the butterflies in my stomach. A few people nod their head at me as I make my way through the house, but that’s only because they know I’m Harmony’s cousin and this is her party.
I don't know many people cuz I keep such a low profile at school. I wish I could be more carefree like Harmony, but I’ve always felt like I've got some hidden weight on my shoulders because I’m the Alpha’s daughter. But now Aura’s told me about the magic I'll be getting for my birthday, it could’ve subconsciously been that.
God knows how I'm gonna be able to keep that secret once it kicks in...
“Ella!” I hear Harmony shout. I follow the sound and spot her over by the back door smoking a joint. She’s with a whole bunch of people. I guess her parents gave her the okay to smoke in the house. Not that it must bother them; they smoke like troopers themselves.
Oh, no.
She's with Carisse and Davonyé.
I nervously pull down my dress to my knees before I walk over to her. I can't even give her a screwface because she doesn't have a clue that I like him.
My heart is fucking me up so bad, but I manage to smile at Harmony when I reach her and swallow down my nerves. This is only the second time I’ve been this close to him. He smells so damn good.
Lordddddt.
“Happy birthday, sis,” I say and then give her a quick hug before I pass her the gold box in my hand. Dad chose this present, but it’s from all of us.
“Thank you,” she says with a massive grin. “You look soooo good. Here, have some.” She passes me the smoke so she can unwrap her present. “Oh my God,” she gushes. “This is beautiful, Ella. Make sure you tell Auntie and Uncle I said thank you.”
“I will.”
“That watch is beautiful,” I hear Carisse say, reminding me that my could-be-mate is standing right beside her.
“Oh, Ella, this is Carisse and her boyfriend, Davonyé. They ain’t long moved here from Ontario. I think you have a few classes with them,” Harmony says, introducing us.
I reluctantly turn towards them to see Carisse give me a weak smile. It’s definitely forced. She leans closer to Davonyé and it’s then that I realise that maybe she’s seen me staring at him. I want to frown, but I don't.
How awkward is this…
“Hey,” she says as she assesses me. She’s beautiful—no doubt about that. She’s petite, dark-skinned, and has hazel coloured eyes. Her weave is wavy more than curly, and the green dress she’s wearing wraps all around her curves like it was custom made. She looks good.
“Hey,” I reply, and then discretely take a deep breath before I look up from her to Davonyé.
Air refuses to fill my lungs once our eyes connect. His eyes are so fucking dark… They almost look like glass from how much they reflect the dim light in this room. He gives me a searching look, a look that tells me that something is intriguing him, too, but I suddenly feel uneasy as if I’m falling down somewhere dark and constricting, so far down that I can’t breathe...
Why am I panicking? Why can't I breathe? Like what the actual fuck is wrong with me?
I give him a slight nod and then basically float out the back doors and into the backyard. I feel like running, but I’m torn between wanting to run home and towards Davonyé at the same time.
I stand by the edge of the pool and look down at the glowing blue water, watching the steam rising from the surface while I will my body to stop shaking. I grip the lit smoke between my fingers and bring it to my lips to pull it, but I’m disappointed when I realise it’s gone out.
Fml…
I shiver violently. I can't wait until I change, just so I won't feel these extreme weather conditions anymore. Although, I’m pretty sure I’m not shivering from being cold right now. How will I ever be able to talk to him, let alone tell him how I feel, when every time I look at him, I swear I'm gonna die.
I wanna cry so bad right now, but I don't even know why. My emotions are so all over the place and so extreme. Maybe mom and dad were right. Maybe I do need to start staying at home now, cuz I am starting to feel different…
“What the fuck was that all about?” Harmony hisses as she appears beside me, making me jump. “I mean, I know you ain't a people person, but shit, you lookin’ ignorant as fuck right now.” She's whispering, so I look around to see who she's hiding this conversation from and see Davonyé staring at me while Carisse hugs him. I inhale sharply before looking back down at the pool.
Lawwwwd…
“Ella,” she pushes.
“I'm sorry,” I snap, suddenly feeling annoyed with her. “I didn't mean to look weird, alright?”
I hear her sigh. “Well, you did, so can you try to be a bit more welcoming? It is my birthday party y’know. We're like, hosts.”
“I know.” I finally look at her and feel bad for upsetting her on her birthday. “I'm sorry. My bad, okay?”
“It’s okay… I know you ain’t yourself right now. Are you happy I made you buy that dress?” She passes me a lighter, so I spark up the joint and pull the fuck out of it.
“Yeah. I told you I liked it.”
“You look hot, and I love your hair. Try get laid tonight, yeah? You can use my room. God knows you need it; you might loosen up at bit.”
“Harmony, please.” I sigh, trying not to get mad with her again. I wish she'd stop banging on about it. My mood can’t take much pushing right now.
“Whatever. Pull it again and pass that shit,” she snaps and crossed her arms.
I toke it again and almost choke from the burn to my lungs. My head spins for a second after I pass it back to her.
“We'll smoke this and then get a drink, yeah? Let's just get fucked-up and forget all about your life changing next week.”
“Maybe that’s a good idea.”
“My ideas always are, bihhh.”
