James's Pov

'Met me before the party we need to talk about this,' I contacted Amanda but not out loud I needed this to be a secret.

'Got it' She replied. "Shelby, I need you to focus on your wings, think about them being invisible as if they were not there. This is easier when I know their ability you know?"

"So, focus on them not being there at all like they never appeared?" Shelby asked.

"Exactly," I responded. Watching Shelby work on taking her wings down made me wonder when she won't have to hide such a gift. She is beautiful with her wings; Amanda was right we have never seen wings like hers before. They were so beautiful, I could not wait to see her fly with them, I bet they would be beautiful with her red hair in the wind. She would be so happy to be free and soaring above the clouds without a care. Unfortunately, my power would not allow for me to join her up in the clouds, as much as I wish I could.

"You are almost there just keep focusing," Amanda encouraged her best friend. I was often envious of her, she got to know Shelby on a deeper level than would take me time to earn her trust to do. I was willing to wait but I was not sure how much longer I could hold my wolf off.

Within seconds Shelby's beautiful wings were gone, Amanda had begun to pack up and I should have been heading home to start getting ready for my birthday party and induction to Alpha.

"How do they come back? Is it always that easy? What does it feel like to fly?" Shelby looked happier than I had ever seen her.

"We will cover that next time. Shelby, can I speak to you?" I asked.

"Yeah sure,"
"I am sorry about removing your title, you and Thomas are equally matched in strength. I just can not risk you getting hurt. I could never forgive myself if you did get hurt, with I want you to keep your distance from Trevor tonight at the party. Do I make myself clear?"

"You do not tell me what to do,"

"Do I have to use an alpha command on you?"

"Try me,"
"Stay away from Trevor, I mean it Shelby,"

"Whatever, I have to go get ready. See you later," Shelby walked away and got into her car.

"Did you actually command her?" Amanda asked.

"No, I want her to make her own choices. Anyway, Shelby's mother, what was she?"

"Angel, I do not think she was pure breed. Her ability helped her control water, her wolf was a light brown with bright blue eyes. I believe that the tip of her tail was blue. She was the one that taught me to use my abilities. That is all I remember,"

"Thank you, any clue on Shelby yet?"

"I can not tell, apart from the fact that she is obviously an angel or half-angel since you know her wolf. From my research every angel has a different ability so it will be difficult to tell hers, I will be in the library tomorrow trying to figure it out. I do not want to run the same test on her that we did for all of the others,"

"Neither do I," I said. "Need a ride home?"

"Nah, I have got my own ride," Amanda changed into her wolf and ran back to her house.

I walked down the path toward my house. I do not know if I am prepared for tonight, after the Alpha ceremony will I still be able to hold off my wolf and I do not want to hurt her. Hopefully, her power can help her see that I am her mate. I reach my house, walk up to my room, and get ready for the party.

Shelby's POV:

Once I got home from training, I could hear my dad in the kitchen, I went to the back of my house and climbed the tree next to my bedroom window. I was not sure if my window was unlocked or not, but I jumped anyway. I was not dealing with my father knowing that I would smell of James and well no not that, there was no way the two were connected. I reached the window and picked the lock with the kit I hid around my ankle. I went straight to the closet to get my robe before going to the bathroom, I did not want dumbass to get another look because who knows how he would use that against me. I turned the shower on to a hot setting and allowed the water to heat up while I set my makeup on the counter to get ready after my shower. I walked back over to the shower and allow the heat to ease my sore muscles. Dad would kill me if he had known about James kissing me, for some reason he did not like James, not that I was a big fan of his.

"He is just worried, especially after he had your future predicted. I swear that man will drive himself insane to keep you from it,"

"Mom?"

"You have not figured it out yet. My other half was an angel and I had the gift of water, I could change it into designs, I could breathe underwater and I could even talk to underwater creatures. It was amazing, I had tons of missions and adventures from my native pack. That all changed when I met your father and had you. Before you were born your father and I would team up for our missions, we fought side by side, but when we had you, we knew that we could not live life the same. We had to build a life that you could grow in and be safe. I only taught Amanda how to use her power because I knew that she could control it. When your father found out he was mad and went to a witch to see if I had altered the safe future that had originally been told for you. I had, we fought, and I ran, he should have found me by now. I am at the place where we met," My mother explained.

"Where are you exactly?"
"Do you remember the story I told you when you were little? The one about the island where the angels were flying above the sky..."

"And the wolves ran in peace. All creatures lived in peace until outsiders came and destroyed the island, robbing her of her resources. The creatures had fled to various parts of the world and hid among the natives,"

"There is much of that story that is not true, my daughter. However, a story for another time, if I am not wrong there is a party you need to get to. Look in my old jewelry box, the one you hid from your father under your bed. There is a gift for you to wear tonight. I will be with you every step of the way. I love you, my angel," now I understood why she called me angel, she must have seen my wings before I did.

I got out of the shower, drying off I put my robe on and proceeded to dry my hair. I braided my crimson hair back; the braid fell just shy of the bottom of my rib cage. I did a light smokey eye look with a pop of pink in the middle to show off my emerald eyes and winged eye liner with mascara. I tried to keep face makeup minimal because the party was going to be pack with people and hotter than... 'What the hell am I thinking? He is not that hot' I thought to myself. I left the bathroom to my closet and found my black off-the-shoulder sheath party dress, my dad had given it to me early this morning for my birthday. I slipped into the floor-length dress and noticed a slit up to the thigh, 'dad probably did not even notice it,' I laughed lightly. Going back into my room under the far side of my bed I found my mother's jewelry box, I had been through this a thousand times how had I not found it. On the side there was a hidden compartment I opened it and there was a necklace with angel wings and an emerald in the center of the wings.

"Thank you, mom," I said as I put the necklace on. I grabbed my black heels from the day before and thought it would be best to put on something a little more formal. I found my golden heals that had a flower on the outside of the heal and put them on. I grabbed my clutch and my phone and headed for the door. Hopefully, my father had already left. I called Amanda on my way down the stairs to see if she would need a ride.

"Hey Shelbs, what's up?" Amanda answered on the second ring.

"Hey Mandy, did you need a ride to James's?"

"Ummm, I am already here. Piece of advice don't bring your flashy car, bring the black cruise. It is pretty packed parking-wise anyway. See you soon. Got to get back to the family," Amanda hung up rather quickly for her.

I grabbed the keys to the cruise, swallowed my ego, and went to the party. After all, after today Angel wood will have a new Alpha, I hope this one stops being so hot-headed soon.

Amanda's POV:

"You know I hate lying to her. When are you going to tell her the truth? She has every right to know," I said watching James and Eric pace around the study. They were both dressed in their tuxedos, James was wearing an all-black with a white shirt and emerald green tie while, Erik was wearing a ruby red tie to match my dress. I had chosen to wear the floor-length V-neck mermaid dress that Shelby had gotten me for Christmas the year before.

"So, if she is a white wolf that means that, at least one of her parents could be an elemental," Eric said.

"Well, we know her mother was because she taught me to control my powers. She taught me how to read the genetic codes that I see when I met a new wolf, but with Shelby's wolf, I do not see anything. I see half-wolf and when I look for the other half I get blocked out, like someone does not want me knowing what she can do yet," I explain.

"Has she been introduced to everyone who knows about the crossbreeds? I mean maybe she has similar powers to Amanda," Eric tries.

"I am a wolf and healing fairy mix. Her wings defiantly point to Angel, I am just not sure what type yet. My wings are smaller and hers were huge, I do not know that I can teach her to fly James. It might have to be you," I look to James who was leaning on his desk.

"I can not. I mean I can fly but it would be dangerous for us to fly together. Especially when she does not know how to fly. Our wings could get tangled. Too many things could go wrong," James said.

"Cuz, you would be so mad being tangled up with Shelby," Amanda said. Then there was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" James called and his mother, the Luna walked in and Eric and I lowered our heads in respect.

"The party is starting you all should be downstairs. James, may I speak with you?"
"Of course, Mom," James nodded to Eric and I giving us the all-clear to head downstairs.

"Shall we?" Eric asked holding his arm out.

"Let's go, see you soon James," I said, taking Eric's arm letting him lead me downstairs.

"How long have you been working with James?" Eric asked as we walked down the hallway.

"Since my first shift into my fairy form, so for almost two years. I had help controlling my abilities thanks to Shelby's mom, she taught me to control everything. I would have done some serious damage if it was not for Shelby's mom," I explained.

"Care to elaborate on serious damage?"

"I have the mix of a wolf and a fairy, more specifically a healing fairy. So, I can read genetic codes to see what a person's makeup is. I also can heal others, but I can also harm others. Without focus, my power fluctuates depending on my emotions. So, if I am upset, the person I try to heal will get hurt," I said stopping and looking down.

"Hey, you are amazing," Eric said lifting my head, to make eye contact with me. "I am excited to get to know you. All of you, the good and the bad. I am sure I will love all of it,"

"Thanks, Eric,"

"Come on we have a party to get to," We proceeded to walk to the stairs.

While walking down the stairs, I could tell that people were talking about us. How could they not, Eric was my teacher and they did not know that he was my mate.

"So, that is how she skipped a grade," Sara commented to her friends who just laughed.

I turned away and tried to keep my head held high, Eric's hands were tied too. He was still a teacher, but he was also angry.

"Don't worry about it," I whispered to him.

Shelby's POV:

I walked into the mansion and waited in the grand hall where members from Angelwood and Black Heights, Trevor's pack, were talking waiting for the guest of honor to show up. I looked up as Amanda and Eric descended the stairs, they looked so happy. They would live a good life; Amanda would graduate at the end of the year. I stopped looking at them when a high-pitched voice caught my ears.

"So, that's how she skipped a grade," Sara's snake mouth said.

I walked right up to her knowing neither of them could do anything to Sara, so I would. No one ever bad talks my friends. "Sara? Didn't your mother ever teach you to watch your tongue? If not here is the crash course," I said before I gave her a good old fashion right hook straight to the jaw and watched as she stumbled backward into a table.

"Bitch!" Sara screamed then lunged at me which was easily avoidable by stepping to the side.

"Gee I bet you are probably a better lover than a fighter with all of those boys who rave about how good you are," I antagonize a bit.

"You act like you are better than all of us, but the truth is that you pine for our alpha in the same way we all do. Don't think that we have not noticed you constantly smell like him and how much of a fit you threw when he took away your title. You walk around with your head high, but you just crave power and attention like a child. Though it is probably due to the loss of your mother, so you never grew up," Sara spat as she got in my face.

"This fight is pointless. We all know who would win so back off now Sara or I will have no choice, but to wipe the floor with your ass," I say backing up.

"You couldn't win. I will be the Luna of this pack, so I am stronger," Sara sounded so confident.

I turned back around and looked at her, "You really want to do this?" her eyes told me the answer, she was too far in to back down now. I put my fists up, if this is what she needed to be put in her place I would gladly do so. She put her fists up too, her eyes darted to the staircase then back to me and she had a new smirk on her face. I did not have to look, I knew he was watching, and I knew that he would be proud of me... not that I cared.

"You are going down," Sara went for a right punch, I caught her fist and twisted her arm back kicking out her knee.

"I do not want to hurt you, just tap out," I tried to reason not wanting to completely ruin the party.

"You do not command me," She said clawing at my arm that was restraining her. "At least my Dad did not buy my spot in the pack,"

After that comment, I was done talking. I let her go and she got to her feet just in time for me to punch her jaw one more time and a quick knee to the stomach had her out like a light. I pick her up by her arm and took her over to her parents. "I am sorry," I apologized to them hoping they would understand why I had to fight her.

"It is quite alright dear; you were only defending your friend. If I am being honest, she needed to be put in her place," Her dad said as his wife helped pick up their daughter to take her to the infirmary.

"Shows over," James called from the stairs. "Now let's try to have a civil party," He said looking at me. I could feel his anger, but his eyes also showed a hint of pride. "Shelby," I knew I was in trouble when he said my name.

"Yea yea I know," I headed to the office to be reprimanded. Amanda shot me a look of appreciation before turning her back going to talk to Darren, Andrew, and Eric no doubt. James's gaze never left me; I could feel him staring at me as I walked down the hall to the Alpha's office.

"Shelby," He said as soon as the doors had shut. "You know that I have to give you some form of punishment,"

"Can I at least explain myself?" I countered. He raised an eyebrow, looking at me intrigued.

"Let's hear it," James said leaning on the desk motioning to the chair in front of him.

"She was remarking about Amanda and Eric being the only reason that she got moved up a grade. Amanda can not harm people being an apprentice to the pack doctor and Eric is a teacher he could lose his job. Then she made comments about my mom and dad," I explained after sitting in the chair.

"I know, I heard everything. If it were not for our rules, we would not be having this conversation. You were protecting people whom you love, I admire that. However, if I do not give you a punishment my father will trust me you would rather have me dealing with this," James said.

"I understand," I said looking down.

"Look at me," He said with a gentleness in his voice. "I promise I won't hurt you. I will never hurt you,"

I looked up and his face was inches from mine, then it hit me all at once. All of the kisses and the denial, the hate, how I pushed him away. I could not contain it anymore, looking in his eyes. He was confused at the emotion in mine no doubt.

"Shelby?" James asked. The way he was saying my name. The look in his eyes. I did not even know what I was doing.

I kissed him. Every kiss until now was his doing, but this time I could not stop myself. His words finally hit me, he is my mate and I will yell about it later but now I just could not stop. The kiss was long and slow and perfect. It should have been our first kiss.

"Did you spell me?" I asked as soon as we broke apart. Avoiding eye contact.

"No," James answered confused. "Shelby look at me," James requested.

"I can not," I said.

"Why?" James asked.

"I am scared. The desire I feel when you kissed me yesterday, the way you read my thoughts, the feeling of sparks every time we touch, I can pick your scent out in a crowd. I know what all of that adds up to, but I have spent so much of my time convincing myself that I could never love you. I do not want to look at you and confirm my worst fears," I explained.

"Shelby, look at me," James gently took my chin and turned my head to make eye contact with him.

'Mate,' my wolf cried out in my head. "Mate," her voice left my mouth as soon as she cried it in my head.

"Did you just?" James started to ask.
"What is wrong with me? I should not be able to know my mate until October at the earliest. What is wrong with me?" I interrupted.

"Let me call Amanda,"
"NO!" I did not want to ruin the party for everyone. "We can deal with it tomorrow. Now you have a birthday to celebrate. I can wait,"

"Are you sure?" James asked. "The party can wait a couple of minutes," He countered.

"I am sure,"
"The Alpha Luna dance," James said. "That is your punishment for wiping the floor with Sara,"

"Are you sure? You are supposed to present the future Luna during that dance. What if this is just a spell or something?"
"It is not," he was so confident. "I have known that you were going to be my Luna from my 16th birthday. I have held back for two years, Shelby. I have loved you for two years and you did not even know it. Now that I finally have you, I want to show you off,"

"You do not have me. We are just potential mates, but fine I will dance with you,"

"I look forward to it, princess," James said, and we left the office to join the party that was happening.

"I'll see you on the dance floor," I said. "I am going to go make sure Amanda is ok,"
"Don't dip Scarlet," James jokingly warned.

"I don't even know where I would run if I did," I said turning heading toward the patio where I last saw Amanda heading to.