The gift of Fae

Today, the 22nd of September, seven days before my 18th Birthday.. The day I realized my Birthday is actually going to happen, no matter how much I pray that it doesn't.  The day that I seemed to have a sudden need to figure out how I am going to deal with the new expectations of me in just seven days time.   Laying in bed, looking around my bedroom, the delicate sky blue curtains with lace underside that makes the sun shine through in the most magical way, lighting up the dark timber furniture that I've found around the castle over the years and sanded and stained, each piece giving off that feeling of utter bliss I felt while working on them.  The wooden trinkets I made from chunks of wood I've found on my trails through the forest all nestled upon the windowsills, all my beautiful bright colorful dresses hanging on one side of my room ready for a fashion parade at any moment.  My room really is my special place and I just cannot accept that in a week I have to accept that this could cease to be my space at any moment, well not any moment, but that moment I find my 'mate'.  While deep in thought snuggled in my layers of pale green doona's, there a melodious knock on the door, signaling none other than my best friend, who also happens to be my cousin, and also happens to be the princess of the Royal Edon pack.  I let out a "nobodies here" grunt and in she waltz's, Nicola's entire presence is consuming. She is so absolutely stunning, long black voluptuous curls hanging just above her perfectly peachy behind, lean muscular build from all her training, tanned skin and a face that just makes everyone in the family adore her and all the boys fall ass over whiskers for her.  She really is the 'complete' package, kind, compassionate, strong, empowering and the list goes on.. I suppose she is being trained to rule over the pack one day as Queen when her father the King Alpha Marcus either steps down or... Here's hoping that her 'mate' also shares in some of these qualities..  "Well good morning to you too Felicity, I can feel my welcome radiating off you" Nicola said with a giggle as she throws herself onto my bed. "I've just realized I actually have no idea what I'm going to do after my Birthday next week, it's all feeling a little too close for comfort" telling her how I was feeling as I bury my head back into my doonas. "Oh my sweet Felicity, try not to worry yourself about these things, it's all out of our control. You never know, you could end up like me, almost 21 and still no 'mate' in sight and I MUST have met every single eligible man in London" she said with a deep sigh and she too crawled under the doona with me.  Brings back memories from our childhood, we often spent a lot of time in my room, because my wing of the castle that was for the family of the Royals, but not the 'line of heir' royals was less guarded and we could have more fun and be ourselves without every little detail getting back to King Alpha Marcus. We would turn my four poster bed into the princess's temple, fairy lights adorned each post of my bed, so having all my blankets pinned around and the lights lit up, it was our own private safe haven. We told stories and played games, then as we got older it turned into lengthy discussions about boys and what it is to be a werewolf, especially a Royal one.  "But Nicola, I just don't even feel like a real werewolf, we are so different" I proclaimed, "We are different because I'm an heir to the Royal throne, my animal instincts are supposed to be greater than yours" she detested.  She had a valid point, her ability to see, smell, hear and her strength were all easily a hundred times more in tune and refined than mine. Nicola had also said way back after her first shift on her eighteenth Birthday that she felt much more in tune with her inner wolf after the transition was made.. So maybe next week after my first shift I would feel the same?  "Anyway Felicity, there is no point spending your last week of freedom cooped up in this castle, lets get out and do something? I'm sure Alice and Therese would join us" Nicola stated as a matter of fact, like it really wasn't up for debate.  She was right though, what was hiding from my impending Birthday going to achieve. "Ok, you win, as usual, what do you have in mind this time?" I asked emerging from my doona.  "Well, there is the Autumn harvest festival across town this afternoon, my father has stated that I must make an appearance, and well since I have to go I would rather do it with my best gal pals." Nicola suggested with a smirk on her face as if this wasn't what she had planned the second she walked through my door earlier.  Rolling my eyes and jumping out of bed I picked up the phone and began to dial Alice and Therese while curling the cord nervously around my finger, hoping that one of the girls would pick up and not their scary as hell father.  Alice and Therese were twin sisters from the Barron family, and while they were highly regarded in our pack, they were never going to be next in line for the throne, and everyone in the pack knows how much that pisses off their father Beta Jackson.  "Hello" Alice's friendly voice chirped through the phone allowing me to breath again, "oh good its you, I was so worried I would get your father" I snicker, as Nicola throws a pillow at me mouthing to me to 'not be rude'. "You and me both Felicity, he is in a mood today, please tell me your calling because of the Autumn festival?" Alice questioned. "That is creepily exactly why I am calling you, have you grown a new superpower or something since I seen you last week?" I joke back to her. "Gosh I wish, I am so jealous its almost your birthday so you get your special ability" she replied so excitedly it kind of made me feel uneasy and nervous all over again about my birthday. "Yeah definitely can't wait" I tried to say with as much enthusiasm as I could muster, "Anyway, the Festival, would you like to come with me and Nicola? We can pick you and Therese up in about an hour?" "An hour, Felicity do you not know how long it takes to get festival ready? I need to impress as many handsome boys as I can, it is only two months until our eighteenth birthday" Alice declared, as if that is even how it works. Surely she doesn't actually believe that you just impress a boy and then he becomes your 'mate', although with her mother and father it wouldn't surprise me, I may need to bring this up with them before their birthday so they aren't confused or let down.  "Yes Alice an hour, better hurry, see you soon, love you, kisses" I laugh as I hang up the phone and just imagine her on the other end screaming out to Therese and then scrambling to pick an outfit and throw on some make up.  "Well then Felicity, what are you going to be wearing to the festival, you have at least 100 of the most vibrant dresses in the city in here" she laughed as she walked over to my wall of dresses.  Hmm what am I going to wear, I am feeling very pink today, which is strange I know to be feeling a color, but this is why I have so much colorful clothing, I feel colors and I see colors of other people.  I have never heard of a werewolf having any abilities to see or feel colors on them self or others so I haven't mentioned this to anyone, ever. Not even my mother who I am very close with. I don't think people would understand. I barely understand it.  "I pick the dark pink dress, with the orange hem, very Autumn and fitting" I say with a big grin as I grad it off the rack, "feel free to wear one of my dresses if you want, yellow is so amazing on you and I don't think you even own anything yellow" I yell back to Nicola as I head off to the bathroom to get changed.  "Mmmm yellow, are you sure?" Nicola responds totally unconvinced of my advice.  Zipping up my dress, I take a look in the mirror, my build is soo different to Nicola's that' for sure. I have thick long light brown hair, a natural sun tan, decent curves but not great ones, I should probably eat more.  I walk out of the bathroom all ready to go in no less than ten minutes I might add, probably what my superpower will be, that I can get ready quickly. My jaw nearly hits the floor when for the first time ever Nicola took my advice and she put on a casual little yellow pin up dress, and she looks divine! "Nicola, my god, you are a vision in that dress, you must wear it!  Who knows, maybe even a 'mate' might be around when you are looking like the hottest babe in the city!" "Oh Felicity stop, your making me blush" she replied as she acted all shy and innocent.