Chapter 3- Tori's 14th Birthday

Tori’s POV

-6 years later-

“Fuck” I groan, my amber eyes now staring at my reflection within the mirror. A fresh new bruise making its way known just along the right side of my body.

Tentative fingers now moving to touch the tiny bruise. A hiss making its way past my lips as Dylan and Sam use me as their own personal punching bag. New recruits set forth by Lilyanna who seems to take pleasure in making my life a living hell. Especially Lilyanna herself, even though she’s been warned on multiple occasions by Jake, Zak and Alex to leave me alone.

Wincing at how tender my flesh was I move to pull down my shirt, as today was supposed to be special. For today I was officially turning 14 which meant I should be getting my wolf today as well, something I’ve been wanting since I was 8 years old.

At least, I hope I’ll be getting my wolf today. My thoughts going back to my friends and when they each turned 14. Now at age 20, the guys have started putting on more of an athletic build, filling out nicely while I on the other hand stayed the same in every way.

Sighing, I instantly hear my mother’s voice calling out to me.

“Tori dear, hurry up. Your about to miss your own birthday party.”

“COMING MOM! BE RIGHT THERE” I move to shout back to her, my eyes still on my own reflection. My hair neatly styled in a way that I always like while currently wearing a black V-neck t-shirt and a pair of dark wash jeans. A pair of black sneakers my new current look. My thoughts going back to Jake, Zak and Alex like always.

Oh, who am I kidding? There’s no way Jake, Zak or Alex could ever truly care about me. I’m just a reject, a runt without a scent to call my own. Plus, each of them are 20 and at the age of finding their mates, who am I to compare to that?

Sighing, I move to think back to a conversation that I recently overheard with my father and my mother. I wasn’t much older than 10 at the time so I wasn’t able to understand the concern behind their words but now that I’m getting older, I do.

-Flash back (Age:10)-

“Honey, are you sure about this?” asks Layla to her mate, unaware that their son was currently listening in on their conversation.

“I’m sure dear. But there isn’t anything else we can do. Alpha Dawson has done everything within his power to help Tori. It now falls on our Elders to figure this out.” explains Austin, equally defeated by what they had learned from Alpha Dawson.

“So, you're telling me that our son is forever doomed to be scentless? To never find his mate? That’s... That’s completely unfair to him. Tori has been nothing but kind and sweet and you're telling me that his fate is destined to always be alone? NO! I refuse to believe that this is the fate that our Moon Goddess has given him” cries Layla, her emotions running wild.

“I know my love, I know, and I promise, Tori will find his mate with or without the help of our Moon Goddess” whispers Austin as he moves to embrace his mate. Silently praying to the Moon Goddess for a miracle.

Please Moon Goddess, please let our son Tori find his true mate someday, please.

-End of Flashback-

Still lost in thought, I fail to notice another presence within the room until I hear a knocking at my bathroom door. My eyes now shifting towards the person only to see that it was my mother.

“Sweetie, are you sure you're okay? Jake, Zak and Alex are all here to help celebrate your birthday like always along with your father and I” replies Layla, her eyes still on her son as she speaks.

“Yeah... I’m fine. Just nervous I guess” I lie, knowing it was only partially true.

“Don’t be scared, you’ll get your wolf, I promise. And when you do, you’ll be one step closer to finding your mate.”

Snorting at the notion I move to leave the bathroom.

“Mom please... Don’t hold onto false hope. Face it, I’ll never find my mate ever. And after today, I’ll be lucky enough if I even get my wolf. I’m just a loser. A runt and not worthy of being Jake’s Gamma” I quickly say to her before she can rebuttal.

“TORI! Don’t say things like that. Of course, you’ll find your mate and get your wolf, your just special. Just because you weren’t born with a scent doesn’t mean we love you anyway less and whoever told you that you were worthless needs a new reality check.” explains Layla to her son knowing that whoever told him that was wrong, and she truly did believe he had a purpose within the pack.

“Whatever. Let’s just get this over with and when my wolf doesn’t appear I can tell you I told you so” I grunt as I move to walk away from my mother. A look of worry now etched across her face as she watches me walk away from her.

Jake’s POV

When making my way over to Tori’s home I couldn’t help but wonder about him. A piece of me curious about him as a whole since I hadn’t been able to see him much since starting my training.

Tori.... Sighing I move to look at the bracelet he had given me. A bracelet that I always wore around my wrist in memory of him. A beautiful black leather band that intertwined beautiful blue and green crystals. Almost as if Tori had modeled it after my eyes. A birthday gift that was given to both me, Zak and Alex during our 14th birthday party before Tori chose to ignore us for the rest of the evening.

And while neither of us would openly admit to it, Tori’s gifts were always the best gifts of all. In fact, all of Tori’s gifts were special, each one of them no matter what he gave us while all the others were just boring or plain.

‘You know... Tori will always be one of a kind’ whispers Vox as if sensing my thoughts and how I felt about Tori.

‘I know Vox. But he’s only 14. How can you be so openly calm around him. Especially when our mate is still out there, waiting for us’ I move to say back to him. Knowing that what I was saying was true, yet with Tori, he made everything feel easier. And while he might be scentless, each time I got to watch him in secret was something that always put me as well as the guys in a much more comfortable state of mind including our wolves, almost as if Tori could magically solve all our problems just by being present.

‘Yet here you are, 20 years old and still mateless. I’m telling you, it must be Tori’ admits Vox, his voice firm of determination.

‘And if your wrong?’ I ask, wanting to be sure first.

‘I’m never wrong. At least not when it comes down to Tori. Trust me. You’ll soon see when the time comes.’

Shaking my head, I move to look at my gift to Tori. A gift that held meaning in more ways than some and while I did hope he would approve of it another part of me was still scared he would down right reject it even as I got closer and closer to his house.

Zak and Alex also arriving with heartfelt gifts as well because after today the three of us would begin training even harder as we would soon begin preparing for our new roles as Alpha, Beta and Delta of our pack. And hopefully, someday soon Tori would take his place as my Gamma.

Tori’s POV

The moment I reach the bottom of the downstairs landing my ears instantly catch three familiar voices. A wave of excitement now rising deep within me even though I didn’t know why. My feet now guiding me as I quietly head towards the voices.

“Thanks for coming by boys. Tori will very much appreciate it, he always does” admits Austin to the boys who now stood before him.

“Of course, Gamma Austin. We love spending time with Tori” admits Zak, a smile dancing within his deep blue eyes as he did.

“And he loves spending time with the three of you as well.”

Blushing at my father's words, I move to shove my father’s comments aside as I move to enter the room. My eyes now on the trio as I do.

“Jake. Zak. Alex. You all came” I say, attempting to hide my excitement.

“Of course we came. Oh, and Happy Birthday! Your officially 14 and another step closer to getting your wolf” replies Jake, a genuine smile now on his lips as the three of them move to hand me their presents. Gifts that I always treasured with all of my heart. Even if they themselves never knew of it.