Eleven years later. . .

I wake up clutching my pillow. It was
stained with tears. I try to remember the dream I had last night but give up. Looking at the electric clock next to my bed, I see it's only five in the morning. I sigh quietly. "Another dream?" My wolf, Raven, asked. "Yep." "That's too bad, Winter. I'm sorry you can't remember it." She said. "I'm not. I woke up with tears on my pillow this time." I tell her. "Maybe it was about your mom?" Raven offered. I glanced over at the picture next to my bed. Even though it was dark, I knew what was on it. A picture of my mother and I, eating chocolate ice cream. I was five in that picture. It's still hard to believe that she's been dead for ten years now. Sighing, I pull up my covers and close my eyes.

"SISSY!!!" I was tackled by a squirmy sequely thing. "Oof! Hey Emmy!" I say, pushing myself up. Emmy was my little sister. She had just turned four. Like my father, she had plump peachy skin and brown hair. Like my mom, she had brown eyes. She was wearing a white nightgown, and pink slippers. I rub her head. She giggled and rolled around on my lap. "Daddy said that sissy needed to get up! It's eight o'clock!" "What?!" I say, shocked. Turning to the clock I saw she was right. "Oh shoot! Ok Emmy, go eat breakfast. I'll be down in a bit." She nodded and jumped off me and ran out of my room. I fling off my covers and rush to my bathroom. After taking a five minute shower, I race out and sit down in front of my desk, grab the blow dryer, and start drying my hair. In the mirror, I regarded myself for a second. I had dark brown skin, brown eyes and shoulder length black hair speckled with silver. In my opinion it looked like someone sprinkled stardust on my hair. Or shiny dandruff. But my mom thought it looked like the first snowfall of winter. So she named me Winter. Cliche, I know. Turning the dryer off, my hair puffed out making me look like a frightened cat. I grab a hair tie and tie it back, not caring if a few strands got loose. Thankfully my room wasn't big, so I could quickly get to my closet. I fling on some clothes, grab my hat, and rush downstairs. Dad was setting down a plate of bacon when I walked in. "Hey, Daffy!" He greeted. Ever since I told him what I thought my hair looked like, he's been calling me that ridiculous nickname. "Hi dad." I say, grabbing a fork before it hit the ground. "Oops," Becky said. "Sowrry." Becky was my other sister. She was three years old with peachy skin, my fathers green eyes, and my mothers black hair. She wore her favorite onesie of a wolf. Oddly enough I was the only one in our family to be born with brown skin. "It's ok, Becky." I say, putting the fork on the table. "You better hurry," Dad said, looking at the clock. Even though I know I shouldn't, I looked at the clock. "Oh Goddess, it's eight fifteen! Only fifteen more minutes until school! And it takes me ten minutes to get there! Oh no!" I chug a glass of milk, wolf down a couple pieces of bacon, and grab my black backpack. Stuffing my shoes into my sneakers, I straightened my hat and grabbed a bit more bacon and a chocolate chip pancake for the road. "Bye dad! Bye Becky! Bye Emmy!" I call as I go out the door. Bye Sissy! Becky and Emmy said. "Bye hon, see you later!" Dad replied. Running down the sidewalk, I stuff my breakfast into my mouth. "This is the third time this month." Raven commented. "Yeah well, it's not my fault I wake up crying." I retort. "Just saying." "Hey, Winter!" I turn and see my bestie Patty running by my side. "Hi Patty!" I greet. Patty was a human, but she knew about werewolves so it was ok I was friends with her. Patty was, in my opinion, extremely cute. She always wore her silky chestnut hair down, with a black glossy bow. She had pale skin, green eyes, and a light pink blush on her cheeks. Today she was wearing a yellow tank top with a white skirt, knee high black socks, and white shoes. A pink polka dot backpack bounced on her shoulder. "Cute outfit, as always," I say when we stop at a crosswalk. "Thanks!" She twirled. "Why are you friends with me?" I ask. Patty and me were complete opposites. I look down at my outfit. I was wearing a black shirt with three yellow hearts and green shorts. "Are we going through this again?" Patty groaned. I smile. "We're friends because you're awesome! And a werewolf! So you're even more awesome!" "Thank you." Raven said happily. "Raven says thanks." I tell her. She nods. As we walk across the street to school, I look at her and say, "You know you're awesome too right?" "Oh you know it boo!" We laugh and run into school.

We both went to Crescent moon high school. Some of the students were werewolves and some were human. Not all the humans knew that werewolves attended the school, so we had to be careful. After history, Patty and I walk back to our lockers. I opened mine and put in some books. I heard a groan and turned to see Patty holding an envelope. I stifle a laugh. "Yet another crappy love note?" I ask, amused. Since Patty was so cute, she often got love letters and gifts in her locker. "Mmhhm." She nodded and opened it. After quickly scanning it she groaned and rolled her eyes. "That bad, huh?" She nodded again and tossed me the note. It was a ridiculous poem about how beautiful Patty was. In fact, it was so cliché and stupid, only one person could have wrote it. I look up at her, eyebrows raised. "Troy." We say at the same time. Troy was Patty's stupid athlete ex boyfriend. She dumped him immediately after she found out he was cheating on her with a cheerleader. Ever since then he wrote her a poem once every two weeks, hoping they could get back together. I look around the hall and see a him, talking with some of his friends and trying to see Patty's reaction. I roll my eyes and hand her back the paper. She takes it and suddenly an idea flashed in her eyes. She turned and looked straight at Troy. She held up the poem and smiled. After making sure Troy had seen the poem for sure, she ripped it in half. His expression turned from hopeful to shocked as she handed me one of the halves.

Catching on, I gleefully tear my half to shreds, Patty doing the same. When both our halves were in a thousand pieces, we threw them on the floor and stomped on them for good measure. Satisfied with our destruction, Patty blew a kiss at Troy and saturated off. As I followed behind her, I relished the expression on Troy's face. A few hours later, I sit down at our lunch table, my two other friends waiting for me. Frank was a really buff guy, but on inside he was the biggest nerd in the school. Frank was a human, but he knew about werewolves too. Mike was werewolf though. He had a skinner body then Frank, but was still considered to have a good build. Mike had dyed his hair a shocking pink, which I thought was a very bold choice. He had gray eyes that almost always seemed kinda distant. "Hey guys," I greet, sliding into the seat next to Patty. "Hey, Winter." Frank said. "Hi." Mike greeted.

I take a bite out of a turkey burger which was today's lunch along with some tater tots. "Hey, Winter, Mike?" Patty asked. "Hm?" I look at her. Mike looked at her as well. "Yea?" He said. She twirled a lock of her hair around her finger for a second, deep in thought. "Do you think you guys are mates?" She asked. I nearly choke on my food in surprise, causing a major coughing fit. Mike looked startled at this question as well, knocking over his water bottle. "Patty!" Frank hissed.

"You can't just ask someone that!"

"Why not?"

"Because! Werewolf reasons!"

"That's not a very good answer."Patty mumbled, popping a tater tot in her mouth. "Seriously though," She said after swallowing. I took a drink of my milk and hesitant, trying to find a way to answer. Mike was trying to explain it as well. "Umm, you see Patty," he began. "Werewolves, well, werewolves all have a mate. There other halves. Some spend their entire life looking for there mates. And when they find each other, they usually stay together forever. Because"- "Usually?" Patty interrupted. "What do you mean usually?"

"Uhh. . ." Mike shot me a "help me" look. "Well sometimes a werewolf will reject there mate," I explained. "And then there mate will be banished from the pack and become a rouge." "That's harsh." Frank said. I nod grimly. "Anyway, no Patty, Mike and I are not mates. If we were then we would know by now." Patty nodded, understanding. "So when do you think you'll find your mate?" Patty asked after awhile. "Don't know, don't care." I say, taking another bite of my burger. "But you said mates are important. And I've read a ton of werewolf fanfics about stuff like that." She said, confused. "They are, but that doesn't mean I want one." "But"- "Can we just drop it please?" I ask, slightly annoyed. She went silent, so we all ate our lunch in peace.

"Dad I'm home!" I call, walking in the house. "Hi Daffy, how was your day?" "Fine!" I answer, walking upstairs to my room. Becky and Emmy were watching dragon tales in the living room, so I left them be. When I went to my room, I flopped on my bed and checked my phone. After putting on some headphones I watch one of my favorite YouTube videos: Dubstep cat.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

After spamming the video a couple of times, I just switch to my favorite anime (Princess Tutu) and roll on to my back. I look at the posters around my room.

All the posters in her room.

"Really?" Raven huffed. "Ok fine I admit it! I have a ballet problem, but you already know that Raven!" I shoot back. I hear her chuckle. It was my dream to dance ballet. I studied how to do it, and practiced at a dance studio every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And yes, I truly love Princess Tutu. Is that a crime? That reminds me that I needed to get some pink ballet shoes. I get up, take off my headphones, and walk to my closet. I pull out my white ballet slippers and put them on. Standing up, I lift my feet so I'm on my toes. I had graduated to pointer shoes a few years ago, and I've been practicing every time I can. Immediately, a dull of stab pain goes through my feet, causing me to wince a bit. I hear Raven let out a snort of laughter. "Oh shut up!" I tell her. My ballet teacher told me that it might get some getting use too before I'm able to dance on pointer shoes without much pain. When I first tried it, it hurt me so much I had to wrap my feet in ice packs every night.

(Just go watch the video above, it shows what she's doing.)

I decided to dance a little so I began the preparation for a pirouette. I place myself in fifth position with my right foot in front. Next I place my right foot out to second position, and my arms open. Then I put my right foot back into fourth position, both feet turned out, both heels on the ground and my right arm curved in front. Then preparation done, I pirouette. It still hurts a bit when I dance, but not so much anymore. "Sissy!" Emmy popped her head into my room. "Sissy, daddy says that we're getting Burger King for dinner, and wants to know if you want a chocolate milkshake or a soda." "Milkshake." I say. She nods and left the room. After doing a few move ballet moves, I take off my shoes and put them away. Just then, my phone rang.

The lone prince, in love with the princess. Gun powder mixed, with the sent of perfume!

The ring tone meant that it was Patty. I answer the phone and put it to my ear.

"Hey boo!" Patty said.

"Hi."

"So have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"Are you kidding me? All the girl werewolves are talking about it!" She said, shocked.

"And you know this how?"

"Because I have other werewolf friends silly!"

"How you know more information about the werewolf community then me, I have no clue." I sigh.

"Because I like juicy gossip!"

I groan.

"Anyway, the werewolf Prince is looking for his mate!" She squealed.

"Ok."

"Ok?! How can you just say, ok?!?" She yelled.

"Well, how exactly does this concern me?" I ask, confused.

"Duh! You might be his mate! He's holding a selection and inviting fifty girls from across the world! You might be one of them!"

I roll my eyes.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"I mean, no I'm not his mate. Seriously Patty, what makes you think that out of the thousands of other girls, I'm the one who's his mate."

"But it might be fate!" She whined.

"Please, the prince probably has girls falling at his feet." I retort.

"Well. . . Probably but-"

"I'm sure he's also had so many one night stands, he can't even remember how many."

"That's not fair Winter! He's looking for his mate, so he must want her!"

"Yeah well, I'm happy that he wants his mate but there is no way in hell that's me!"

Patty sighed.

"See you tomorrow," I say.

"Yeah. . . See ya. . ." Click.

I put down my phone and sigh. Patty was always a romantic. "She may be right." Raven said. "Ha! No way." "But"- "Raven." I cut her off. "There is no way I'm the werewolf Prince's mate, got it?" I hear Raven sigh.

"Got it."