"MINE!" with a growl. Jazmin jolts awake, panting and dripping in sweat. That dream was extremely vivid. Jazmin wonders what the drive means. One question in particular sticks in her mind. Is that wolf her mate? She gets out of bed and walks into her bathroom, turning the shower on in hopes of calming herself.
As she steps into the shower, she recalls how his eyes were full of dominance. It frightened Jazmin but, in a way also made her feel safe. She stands under the hot water for a few minutes before picking up her shampoo bottle. Once she has a fair amount of shampoo in her hand, she gently lathers her hair.
She rinses her shampoo, then she continues with her lilac conditioner. She combs it in carefully, removing all the tangles. Furthermore, she washes her body in her favorite coconut body wash as she lets the conditioner sit. After she finished washing her body, Jazmin steps under the hot water again, she rinses all the grime away along with her stressed mind.
Once fully put together, she shuts the water off and steps out, grabbing her towel. Walking over to her bathroom mirror, she wipes away the stream the best she can, looking at herself, "You can do this, Jazmin!" she says, trying to work up the courage she needs.
She opens the door to her bedroom and walks over to her closest. She pulls out a red t-shirt and jeans and grabs a new bra and panties. Once she is fully dressed, she grabs a pair of black sandals. She slips her sandals on and heads toward the door. As she opens the door, she is face to face with her brother, his hand ready to knock.
"Hey, breakfast is ready. Mom asked me to come to get you." Derek says.
She smiles, "Thank you, I was just about to head down." He steps back as she exits her room, closing the door behind her.
As they get down the stairs, she can hear her mom, dad, and a few other pack members chatting at the table. Upon entering the room, everyone notices her, halting all conversation. She freezes once all eyes are on her.
"Happy Birthday!" they all yell at once. Her father stands up and walks over to her, giving Jazmin a big hug and a kiss on her cheek.
"How does it feel to be 18?" Jazmin's father asks.
"Happy birthday, my not-so-little girl!" He says. Giggles bubbled inside Jazmin.
"You're embarrassing her!" her mom chimes in as she pulls Jazmin into a hug.
"Happy Birthday, sweet girl!" She's not feeling so nervous now.
"Thanks, mom" she feels a tug in her heart.
The realization hits her. There is no escaping the truth of it all. Jazmin can't run from this. No turning back time. The only way is to move forward with her life. Does she want to hold back her life out of fear of finding her mate? As she looks around to see how happy everyone is, smiling and laughing within their conversations at the table, Jazmin realizes she wants always to feel this happy.
Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of her growling stomach. Something always seems to save her from her thoughts. Inhaling, she catches the sweet scent of maple bacon. Jazmin dashes over, grabbing some bacon and placing it on her plate. She continues to fill her plate with eggs and toast. Next, she pours herself a cup of coffee, adding vanilla creamer and a bit of sugar to sweeten the bitter taste of Columbian coffee. As she sits down at the table, her mother catches her attention.
"Jazmin, I need you to be ready by noon to greet the packs that are arriving today" her mom asks.
Jazmin perks up at that, "How many packs are coming exactly" she questions—looking to her mom and dad for the answer.
"I invited a total of 8 nearby packs to attend," Her dad says. Whoa! She wasn't sure if she could handle the pressure of that many people seeing her.
Fear pooled in her belly at the thought of having to stand up in front of that many strangers. "Why so many, if I might ask," looking at her father.
"Well, we discussed it was the best possible outcome that you would meet your mate," her father says.
There's that word again, mate, what her wolf said dawns on her. Jazmin was uncertain if she should say anything, but she decided to speak up.
"I believe I now know what my mate's wolf looks like," Jazmin says. Her parents give her a surprised look.
Oh. Jazmin's parents must have known something Jazmin doesn't. "That's wonderful news," her dad perks up.
"Uhm, I would hope it is," Jazmin states confusedly.
"So what does he look like" her mom chimes in with a curious look.
Jazmin starts to feel butterflies thinking about how to describe the wolf. "Well, uh… He's black as the night sky, easily big as a horse, with memorizing ice blue eyes," she confesses.
A smile creeps onto her face instantly after thinking about him. Please wait a minute. Did she smile over a stranger, let alone a wolf? She did. Feeling embarrassed, she tries to hide that she is smiling. Only to meet the eyes of everyone staring at her. They just witnessed her smiling. Her brother giggles at her attempts to hide the smile. Surely, he isn't that dreamy in real life. How could he be?
Someone clears their throat, getting Jazmin's attention. She looked to see it was her dad waiting on her. "Yes," she says, unsure of what he needs of her.
"Are you love-struck?" he smirks. She quickly looks away as blushing creeps onto her face.
"It might be. Is that a problem?" he smiles, looking at her dad again. Shouldn't he be happy for her?
"Don't make her feel ashamed of it." Her mom says, playfully smacking her father on the arm.
She doesn't feel ashamed. It only makes Jazmin feel a little more excited about meeting her mate. Jazmin's one true mate was only meant for her. Jazmin starts daydreaming again about what her mate could look like in human form.
Claire mind links Jazmin pulling her out of her deep thoughts. Claire is always her savior.
'Hey, aren't you excited to see a bunch of hot single Alphas? I know I am.' Claire says.
'Are guys the only thing you think about these days?' Jazmin says rolling her eyes dramatically.
'Ouch. How rude, what are you trying to imply?' Claire says.
'I'm just saying you're hot and horny on guys more then me these days and I'm curious to know why that is.' Jazmin says.
'Well last I checked aren't you still a virgin?' Claire says.
'What does that have to do with it?'
Jazmin says annoyed.
'Lots apparently, because you should be just as hot and horny on guys as I am if you weren't a virgin.' Claire states.
'Give me a break, that has nothing to do with me not being into sex as much as you, that's just part of your personal opinion.' Jazmin says throwing glares at Claire.
'I call bullshit. And you know it, you just want to wait for your mate and that's why you don't seem interested.' Claire says stating facts about Jazmin.
Damn it how is she this good at figuring things out about Jazmin, oh wait they've been best friends for their whole life's. Jazmin continues trying to deny her true intentions of being virgin so long.
'Whatever I would rather be the only one of the four of us that hasn't slept around.' Jazmin declared.
'You're missing out on the sex life is all I'm saying.' Claire says.
'Yup and waiting won't kill me.' Jazmin says with a smile to shut Claire up in the topic.
Jazmin has a moment of clarity about Claire head over heels for alphas.
'You're hoping to get in bed with an alpha that's coming to my party. Aren't you Claire?' Jazmin says.
Claire fake pouts 'okay fine. You caught me, because who wouldn't want to have sex with an alpha.' Claire says with a naughty smile.
Jazmin internally facepalms at Claire's intentions.
'Claire one day you'll regret not saving yourself for your true mate.' Jazmin says with a huff.
'You can't be so sure of what I'll be regretting in the future now can you.' Claire says with attitude.
'I promise that you will be full of regret for sleeping around when you find your mate.' Jazmin says.
'Why are you so certain of this?' Claire asks with sarcasm.
'Because how would you feel if you found out how many girls you're mate slept with?' Jazmin asks.
'Honestly I'm not sure, but I don't think I'd be bothered by that.' Claire says thinking about it.
'So you wouldn't be bothered if those same exact females kept coming back intentionally to try and sleep with your mate again?' Jazmin says.
'Well when you put it that way I do suppose I would be pissed.' Claire says truthfully.
'See that's exactly what I'm getting at, there will always be another female that your mate slept with beforehand.' Jazmin says