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"Surprise!"

Cara's squeal of delight can probably be heard in China, if not another galaxy judging by the way every werewolf in the room winces. There are roughly eighty werewolves standing around the Black Sun pack house. Most of them come from my pack, but there are around seven wolves that don't belong. There're either Cara's friends from school or their parents.

"Best birthday ever! Thank you, Annalise!" My recently turned seven year old cousin looks up at me with a massive grin on her round face. She throws her little arms around me and squeezes tight. She closely resembles my deceased aunt, with her round moon face and caramel coloured hair. However, it's in her mannerisms that really show how much of a resemblance they have to each other.

"You're welcome, sweetie. I'm glad you like it." I crouch and go down on one knee, as if I'm about to propose. "For a while, I couldn't decide whether to throw you a princess themed or fairy themed birthday. How do you think I did?" My voice takes on a worried tone at the end as I pull back slightly and place her on my bent knee.

She puckers her rose bud lips and furrows her eyebrows. "I think you did very well. I do like princesses, but not as much as fairies." Her voice takes on a definite tone as she nods her head seriously.

I can't hold back a laugh as I pull her back into my embrace. She's just the cutest. Placing a kiss on her head, I whisper in her ear, "Happy Birthday, baby girl."

"Thanks, Annalise." Her little arms tighten around my neck and I have to take a moment to check in the waterworks. My little girl is getting so big! After her parents, my aunt and uncle, died five years ago, I've been the sole guardian of Cara and her older brother Stanley, as well as Alpha of the Black Sun pack. Cara was only one years old at the time and didn't really know her parents. All she's ever know is Stan and me.

Giving her a slight shove, I push Cara in the direction of her friends. "I think there are some people who want to wish you a Happy Birthday," Cara grins at me one more time before kissing my cheek and running off. I straighten after she's gone and sigh.

During the first few months, I really struggled. I was only 23. Money and education weren't a problem-I finished high school when I was 15 and the government supplies all werewolf packs with money in order for us to remain quiet-but rather experience and a maternal instinct.

My parents left me on the doorstep of my uncles house when I was just an infant. They disappeared off to god knows where. It came as a shock to the whole of the Black Sun pack and my uncle had to hurriedly take his place as Alpha as his brother had disappeared.

I had a relatively good childhood. My aunt was nice to me, but it was clear that once Stan and Cara came I was always the last choice. My uncle was much better at hiding his favourites. He payed us all the same amount of attention, but I received a different kind.

My uncle was hell bent on making me perfect. He never went as far as cruelty, my aunt wouldn't allow it, but he pushed me beyond my limits and a few extra miles further. I was grateful to him though, for I wouldn't be the wolf I am today if it were not for him and his incessant training.

He brought in fighting masters and scholars from all leads of life. I never went to a normal school until I was thirteen when my uncle thought that I needed work on my social skills. I still had training during human school though; I would wake up at 4 in morning and train until 8. I would pack my bags for school the night earlier so that I still had time to get ready for morning classes that started at 8:40.

After school, I would run the 9 km's back to the pack house, the bus was a definite no-no, and get ready for my logic classes. My day would only end an hour before bed, where I was free to do anything I wanted. All in all, it was a strict, orderly life, but was a life nonetheless. I had friends and my cousins to help me, and my aunt was occasionally supportive.

"Annalise!"

My attention snapped to the sound of my cousins voice and I grinned as I saw Stan rush up to me. Between his sister and himself, he definitely looked more like his father, and in turn, me.

We both had the same shade of auburn hair, and his eyes were a stormy blue colour, his mother's eyes, but his face was an exact replica of his fathers. Pointed chin, high cheekbones and a straight nose. He was also short, an unfortunate family trait (it was a little disadvantage for males in battle. It worked nicely for me though.) but still lean and wiry.

Besides his height and hair colour, we didn't share much. I had an oval face, with large green eyes, a sloped nose and a porcelain complexion . My body shape was curvy, but still maintained a lot of muscle. Muscle that I used to crush my 15 year old cousin to my chest as he came barrelling towards me.

Recently, he had started to take an interest in pack matters, like international relations. Noticing his sudden desire for knowledge, I had asked his about it. He told me that he wanted to find his mate. So I let him go.

Mates were a difficult subject for me. In were-society, they were discussed with utmost respect. The origins of the mating process began with the Moon Goddess; our creator.

She had originally created werewolves to be the most powerful animals on earth. The Sun God, who created the vampires, was jealous of our kind. So he used an ancient spell to split the werewolves in half. Only when each half found each other could they reach their full potential. The Moon Goddess was, naturally, furious about this, but after the initial rage, she found the idea of mates practical. Power could corrupt, so you needed an anchor to keep the power in check.

In modern were-society, mates were regarded with a more romantic significance, rather than a power one. Yes, it was true that if you found your mate it would make you more powerful, but it would also feel as if you were complete: as if you had found the stars to fill your night sky.

The bond was instantaneous. It wasn't like human relationships. Werewolves didn't dawdle around, or date. It was in our nature to Mark what was ours, so after first finding your mate, you would take them to your Alpha for approval. After that, you would go to the Moon temple, a church of sorts, and lay before the Moon Goddess and ask for her approval. The next morning, if you woke up with a mark on your neck, you were allowed to continue the mating process, where you would have to Mark each other properly. After that, you were officially bonded. You had freedom to do what you wanted. You could join your mates pack, or start your own. You could get married. Or you could get straight on to producing more werepups. Mated life was wonderful.

Or so I heard.

Most werewolves found their mate between the ages of 15 and 20. It was more common to happen to then when they were 16 or 18- the Moon Goddess favours these numbers. You could find your mate at 15, but only if you went looking. The mate pull wasn't as strong as it would have been if you were older. Werewolves who found their mate at 19 or 20 usually wanted to experience a little more of the single life before they fully committed. But when they did, it was wonderful.

I would never get to experience that. I was over the maximum age. My mate was three years late. Although it was rare, like once or twice a millennium rare, it did happen occasionally. It was said that the Moon Goddess accidentally fused the two mates together, so the result was basically the original werewolf- one that didn't need a mate to reach its full potential.

That was me. It was said that the wolves who experienced it lead a sad and lonely life, or they were corrupted by the power they had. I was determined to not let either of those things happen.

"Stan my man! You've gotten so big! Look at you! Where did you go? Did you find your mate? Where is she? I want to meet her now!"

Stan just laughed at me before pulling me into a hug again. "I've missed you so much, Annalise. I love you."

I smiled into his hair. My eyes watered. "I love you too, Stanny."

I pulled back and cleared my throat. "So where is she? And have you wished your sister a Happy Birthday yet? She missed you so much, you know."

Stan laughed and linked his arm through mine. "Yes, I've seen Cara and wished her a Happy Birthday. And I did find my mate, in California," he suddenly looked nervous as he pulled me towards the kitchen. "Come, I'll introduce the two of you."

I couldn't understand why he was nervous. He should know that I would accept his mate no matter what. We passed under an archway that lead to the kitchen. On the way, we were stopped quite frequently by pack members. The majority of conversation included praising my party planning skills and questions regarding Stan's travelling.

By the time we got to the kitchen, almost everyone had gone to the family room to watch a clown I had hired for today. The only people in the place was a newly mated couple talking quietly, I remember them coming to me to get my approval, and a young man with an Afro I had never seen before standing in the corner of the room with a drink in his hand. When Stan and I came into the room, the young man's eyes lit up.

I glanced at Stan, then the teen, then Stan and the teen again. My green eyes narrowed, then widened. Stan's apprehension suddenly made sense. He was gay.

Stan let out an audible sigh before making his way across the room to the boy. Grabbing his hand, he stared into the youth's eyes for several seconds before tugging him towards my frozen body.

Stopping in front of me, he held up his hand as he saw I was going to speak. "Listen, Annalise. I know that it isn't very common in Were culture for mates to be....the same gender, but you've got to understand that I love him." The boy gave me a nervous smile from behind Stan's back. "And, as is tradition, I've come to my Alpha to get your approval. But please know that if you don't support this, I'm going away with Dan anyway. I love him so much, and I can't bear to part from him. So...please Alpha Annalise, please, approve this Mate Bond. Do it for me, because I love him. Do it for-"

I cut him off roughly by pulling him into a bone crushing hug. Extending my arm, I also pulled Dan into it as well. Judging by the shocked expression on both their faces, it seemed like they were prepared to deal with the harsher option.

"You idiot, Stan. Of course I approve! I don't care if Dan is a Danielle, or if he's human, or a vampire. All I know is that he seems to love you, and you love him right back. And don't call me Alpha Annalise. Only old pack members call me that." I pull away from the group hug and instead turn to Dan instead.

"Hi Dan. Nice to meet you. I'm Annalise, this bozo's cousin. Welcome to the Black Sun Pack."

Giving me a warm smile, Dan holds his dark hand out for a handshake. Instead, I pull him in for another hug. "Welcome to the pack," I whisper into his ear.

"Thank you."

His voice is high and clear, like a flute. Enormous waves of sincerity and gratitude roll of the two simple words.

Pulling back, I hold my hands out.

Thye understand and immediately, I've got both their hands in mine. Smiling reassuringly at Stan, then Dan, I bring both hands up to my mouth and push my fangs out of my gums.

At the exact same moment, I bite into the soft piece of skin at the base of their palms. Both of them stiffen, then immediately after, go slack. After retracting my fangs, I press both of their bleeding wounds together, and speak words of the old language.

"Virtute lunae ad me detulisse putabo , concedo alterum inducere vinculo unionis."

"By the power of the moon bestowed upon me, I accept this mate bond and encourage their union."

Pulling back, I grin at both of them. They look at each other, and embrace. I can feel the emotions pulsating from the pair, and, with a quick grin, I slide out of the room. My heart almost bursts from happiness. Stan had finally found his mate. For a while, I was worried that the siblings were going to be like me; mate-less. Thank the goddess that Stan found Dan. It surely meant that Cara would find herself a mate one day. But not for a very long time, the maternal part of me said. A low growl tore it's way from my throat and, embarrassed, I glanced around before sighing in relief. Alpha's had to have utmost control over their emotions so as not to send their pack in disarray.

Biting my lip, I glance back at the kitchen, then to the main source of noise in the pack house. I decide to check on Cara. Strutting down the corridor, I cast a critical eye on the rooms I pass. The Black Sun pack house was one of the oldest in existence, the oldest being in the next town over. Our pack house was basically a mansion. Not everybody stayed in it though, only those higher ranking in the pack. The house was four stories high and had several underground levels. Back when it was first built, the Alpha at the time (my great-great-great grandfather) had enlisted the help of a witch to secure the house for many generations to come.

The layout of the Black Sun pack closely resembled the moon in the regard that I was round. The pack house lay in the middle, while clumps of houses surrounded it, rather like craters. The houses were placed far away, from a humans perspective, but for a werewolf, it would barely be 5 five minutes to run from the furtherest houses to the pack house and back.

Most of the houses were much like a cottage; homely, warm and small. Most of the pack spent their time in the pack house either doing their work or hanging out with friends.

The ground and second level was reserved  for the whole pack. The third floor was for my Beta, Andy and his family, while also available for my third in command; Jason. The very top floor was reserved specifically for me, as the alpha, but Stan and Cara stayed with me there. I had made sure that their rooms were face towards the Sun and were painted with cheerful colours. My room was almost sterile; it was cold and un-lived in. I spent most of my time in my office anyway. If only I had a mate, I thought sadly. With a start, I berated myself. No. No you don't need a mate. You can be a kick-ass bitch without a man to hold you down or tell you what to do. You can do anything, Annalise.

Shaking my head, I made my way to the media room where a movie was currently playing. All the pups eyes were glued to the screen. I spotted Cara near the front of the group, sitting with one of her friends. Deciding not to disturb her, I silently made my way through the crowd, stopping occasionally to greet a child when they called out.

Once I was at the other side of the room, I glided to the next room over. Here I found most of the teenagers. There were large amounts of alcohol, it seemed to be beer, in large basins filled with ice. I raised a brow and made my way to the closest one. One by one, every werewolf in the room turned to look at me with varying expressions. Some with guilt or shame, but others with dopey smiles and hazy eyes.
By the time I got to the beer, the entire room had gone silent.

Dipping my finger in the amber substance, I sniffed it. I didn't detect any hints of wolfsbane or sliver, so I grabbed a large bucket and pulled it to the faucet. Once it as full, I dumped the entire thing into the beer to weaken it. I went to the other basin and poured the entire contents of it into the sink. I ignored several groans throughout the room. Placing the basin back on the table, I grabbed some ingredients from the fridge and began to make a non alcoholic punch. Once I was done, I finally strode over to the final basin. I could feel the confusion in the room when I began to make my way to the door leading into another room with it.

I could feel curious stares stabbing into me. At the very last moment, just before I opened the door, I turned around and gave them all an innocent expression. 

"What? Even the adults need to have a little fun sometimes!"

I left the room with a grin on my face and the hoots and delighted yelps of teenage wolves following me.

Making my way into the lounge room, I saw that the remained of the pack had gathered here. Placing my basin on a nearby table, I walked up to a few ladies and initiated a conversation.

This was how the majority of my night was spent. Either exchanging pleasantries or talking politics with the adults, dancing and singing along badly to songs with the youths, or helping a pup with a game or acting as a pillow for a pup watching the movie.

By the time the last pack member had left, I was exhausted. My feet were sore from the heels I had been wearing and my makeup had all but melted off. With a sigh, I began to look for my mischievous cousins.

I found them in the theatre room, where Stan and Dan has curled up on the couch together and Cara was yawning loudly. Grinning sleepily at them, I made my way to the couch adjacent to the one Stan and Dan were on. Trying to hold back a yawn, I mumbled, "so Cara, sweetie, did you enjoy your birthday?"

Pulling herself up beside me, she nodded sleeping and tucked herself into my chest. Wrapping my arm around her, I looked at Dan and grinned. "I know you enjoyed it very much," my eyebrows wiggled followed shortly.

Dan flushed, though it wasn't that noticeable against his dark exterior, and pushed his head against Stan's chest. Throughout the night, I had learnt that Dan was a werewolf of very little words. I had also learnt that he loved to make out with Stan.

Glaring mockingly at me, Stan gathered Dan in his arms and mumbled, "poor baby. Never mind, don't let the nasty Alpha Annalise scare you. She's really a big softie, I promise."

Glancing at him, I couldn't get my words to form properly. My eyelids were already at half mast and they began to drift completely shut as I snuggled against Cara. I managed to let out a slurred 'good night' before exhaustion overcome me.

The last coherent thought I had before I drifted off into my slumber, was 'mate or not, I'm happy where I am now. With my family. Happy Birthday, baby girl.'

----------

Hello everybody!

How is everyone this fine day? I'm sweaty, hot and satisfied. I just spent two hours in the 39 degree Australian heat outside climbing rocks at a freshwater river thing with my best friends. I got some mad tan lines.

I also did a 2K ergo, for all those rowers out there. My results were pitiful. It's also my friends birthday today, so Happy Birthday to him! The lucky buggar is going to California to visit his grandparents. He gets to miss around 1 and a ½ weeks of school. I'm so jelly!

Also, I just watched season 5B of Teen Wolf and holy Putin! It is amazing! I absolutely LOVE Stiles. Like, actually. He's my Bae.

And since this is a new book, I thought I'd try something different and maybe start asking questions whenever I write and post a new chapter. So, let's start with something simple.

What is your favourite colour?

Mine is green. Specifically, mint green. A love love love it. My second favourite colour is probably either an orchid purple, sky blue or dusky pink.

Yes, I am a colour snob, get used to it.

That's all I can stand to write at this current moment in time because I think I'm melting. Shout out to all my fellow Aussies out there suffering in the summer! May you have plentiful amounts of Golden Gaytimes and mossie spray!

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Ally xoxo