The Magic of the Full Moon

Chapter 3

They had a wonderful breakfast and lunch together, with many extended family members dropping in to wish Amelia a happy birthday throughout the day. Now it was time for Amelia's birthday party. She had asked to have it in the garden where it was outside, yet allowed a bit more privacy.

Amelia felt anxious as she looked out her bedroom window and saw the garden filled with her family and close friends. She smiled when she saw her mother wearing one of her dad's sweaters with her leggings and was barefoot. That meant her mother was nervous and needed her dad's scent around to feel the earth under her feet to stay composed.

She and her mother were very much alike in appearance and personality. While Amelia was several inches taller than her mother, they both had the same long, wavy, dark blonde hair and similar gray eyes. The difference was Amelia's had blue flecks, the color of Nick's ocean-blue eyes. They both loved their art. Olivia was an award-winning photographer, and Amelia drew and painted. Both she and her mother hated to be around crowds. It gave them anxiety to be around a large group for very long. Olivia had learned to combat it by wearing a shirt belonging to her mate. Amelia wished she could do that. Instead, she had to try to push through it and escape for brief periods during the party to help combat it.

A soft tap at her bedroom door pulled Amelia away from her window. It slowly opened before she could reach the door to open it, and her dad, Tyson, peeked in. He smiled at her as he stepped in and studied his daughter.

"Hi, Daddy," Amelia grinned.

"How are you feeling, baby girl?" Tyson asked her as he gave her a hug.

Amelia stepped back, shook her head, and answered, "Not good. Something feels off, and I can't figure it out. Lily can feel it, too. She keeps pacing in my head so much it is giving me a headache."

"If you want, we can cancel everything and send everyone home. They all love you and will understand," Tyson told her.

"No. It wouldn't be fair to them if I did that."

"Lia, it is your birthday and your say. It doesn't matter what anyone else wants. Today is your day, not theirs."

"I know. I want to have the party. It is always fun when we are all together. I just wish I could shake this feeling."

"Your mom is feeling the same way today, which is strange because there are no strangers here, and that is usually what bothers her. She is wearing not only one of my sweaters but the T-shirt I wore yesterday underneath the sweater. I trust both of you and your wolves. Since you are all on edge, say the word and this party is canceled."

"I think it's because of Nick's parents," Amelia sighed. "Even though they are technically my grandparents, they have never acted like they wanted to be around me. From my first memories of them, I always felt like they didn't like me. Like I wasn't good enough for them. For them to be here now, for my eighteenth birthday, it feels like they are up to something."

"That is why we never made you spend time with them. To be honest, when you spent time with Nick and Emma at Dark Moon, we insisted that you were never alone with Nick's parents because we didn't trust them. We didn't think they would intentionally cause you physical harm. But we didn't know what they would tell you or if they would try to convince you to do something you did not want to do. Nick agreed without hesitation and made sure you were always supervised when they were around because he felt the same way," Tyson told her.

"I noticed that as I got older. When I did, it was about the same time they started telling me how I needed to be prepared to take over the pack when Nick was ready to step down. Nick and Emma would scold them and tell them that what I did in the future was my choice, not theirs."

"When they found out that your mom was pregnant with you, they told Nick that as soon as you were born, he needed to take you away from us and raise you in Dark Moon. He refused and said it was wrong to do that to you and all of us. He had your back even then, and he has it now. Remember that when we go downstairs to the party. Everyone there, and I do mean everyone, is on your side if those two start anything. OK?" Tyson assured his daughter.

"OK. Let's go before I change my mind," Amelia smiled at her dad.

"If you do, it's alright. Please remember that," Tyson told her as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her out the door.

"I will."

When they reached the garden, Olivia was waiting for them. She hugged Amelia, and when she let her go, she studied her daughter for a moment.

"Are you alright?" Olivia asked Amelia through the mind link.

Amelia answered, "I think so. Lily and I are both on edge. She is pacing so much she is giving me a headache."

"I feel the same way, and Raine is doing the same to me. All the wolves here feel it and have the same problem, even Nick."

"Good to know I'm not alone, I guess."

"You are not alone, and you never will be. And to warn you, Kevin has promised to end Nick's parents where they stand if they mess with your birthday. It might not make you feel better, but you might get a show if they are jerks," Olivia smirked.

Amelia glanced over at Kevin and tried not to smile. He was looking right at her, giving her a toothy grin. He pointed to his eyes with his index and middle fingers, then to her, and then to Nick's parents. That was his way of telling her he was watching her and everything the pair was doing.

Amelia sighed, "Let's get this show on the road. As long as Gwen and Ethan behave, this will be a fun evening and night with the family."

"That's right," Tyson agreed as he put an arm around each of their shoulders before softly continuing. "If either of you feel worse than you do now, tell me, and I will send everyone home. My mate and children are what matters, not the hurt feelings of others. Got it?"

Both women giggled as they smiled and nodded in response.

"Good," Tyson said as he kissed his mate and daughter on their heads.

Amelia was quickly pulled away from him by her grandmothers, Elise and Marie. Both women took turns hugging their granddaughter and doting on her as they wiped away tears. Turning eighteen was a milestone for most, but it was more for werewolves and dragons. It meant that someone could now find their fated mate. While it was rare to happen on one's eighteenth birthday, it was a possibility. Amelia's grandmothers were both gushing about that possibility and how they hoped she would find him soon.

"Grandma, Glammy, I hope I don't find him here tonight because everyone here is either family or like family. That would be weird and kind of creepy," Amelia laughed.

Marie giggled, "OK, we will give you that one."

"We just hope you don't have to wait as long as your parents had to wait," Elise told her.

"Or go through any of the things they had to go through to find one another," Marie added.

"Yes. That," Elise nodded.

"But it is OK to take your time and find yourself before you find your mate," Marie said.

"Yes!" Elise agreed emphatically. "And do not lose yourself once you find your mate. If he is not there for you as you are, fated mate or not, he is not the one you need. A mate should make you better, not keep you stifled."

"Exactly!" Marie grinned.

Kevin slid his arm around his little cousin's shoulders and gave her a quick side hug. "Do I need to rescue you from your grandmothers so we can cut your cake?"

"That last thing you need to do is rescue her from us, but cutting the cake does need to happen," Elise laughed. "We will go help Lucy make sure everything is ready."

"Thank you," Amelia called after them as they hurried toward where Lucy was readying the food and cake.

"I can feel something is wrong. You need to talk for a minute?" Kevin asked, barely above a whisper.

"No, because I don't know what's wrong. Mom feels the same way I do, and she said every wolf here feels this way," Amelia answered.

"Yeah, I've noticed. Julian and I have been working our auras overtime to keep everyone from crawling out of their skins. I blame it all on Gwen and Ethan. I blame them even if it isn't their fault," Kevin smirked at her.

Amelia could feel Kevin edging his aura around her. While he could force his aura out and overpower someone, he often used it to calm others, like now. She leaned her head over on his chest as he put his other arm around her. Kevin was intimidating to those who did not know him. He was massive and nearly the size of her dad. He stood 6'6" tall and heavily muscled. He had a short, scruffy beard, and his long hair was always up in a messy bun. He was covered in tattoos and piercings, which added to his fearsome appearance. However, to Amelia, he was just cousin Kevin. The constant protector of everyone he loved.

"Feel Better LiLi?" Kevin asked her when he finally released her.

"I do," she answered with a nod. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Kevin grinned. "I tried to do that for your uncles Jake and Eric, but they both threatened to shift and bite me if I hugged them."

Amelia laughed loudly at the thought of that in the middle of her birthday party. "Well, it would keep things lively. Those two as wolves chasing you around, trying to bite you."

"Heck, if you need entertainment, let me know. I'll throw some fireballs at Kyra and get things started right," he chuckled as he gave her a wink. "I'm here if you need me," Kevin added before turning and returning to stand beside his mate, Anne.

Amelia glanced over to the table where her birthday cake was and saw her mom and dad waving to her to join them. She hurried over to them to see the spread of food, which included several cakes and other desserts. Her birthday cake was in the middle of the dessert table, with a table on each side of it loaded with main courses and side dishes.

"Oh, Lucy!" Amelia squealed as she hugged their cook. "This is amazing! Thank you so much!"

"It is my pleasure, sweetheart. A young lady only turns eighteen once, so it needs to be special," Lucy told her. She pulled away and handed Amelia a knife, "And now it is time for you to cut your birthday cake."

"After we sing and embarrass her," Tyson grinned.

He held up his hand and cleared his throat. Everyone quieted as they turned their attention to Tyson as Amelia stood between him and her mother. Amelia could hear her dad speaking but wasn't paying attention. She scanned the crowd to find Nick's parents, Ethan and Gwen. When she finally located them, they were sitting in the back corner, away from everyone. They were whispering to each other and were wearing matching smirks, which set Amelia and her wolf Lily on edge once again. She forced a smile as she heard everyone begin to sing "Happy Birthday" to her and held it until they had finished singing.

"And now, it is time for Lia to cut her birthday cake for us," Tyson concluded his speech.

Amelia cut the cake as Tyson, Olivia, and Lucy plated the slices for everyone. As soon as she had finished cutting, her mom gave her a plate and fork with a smile.

"You get the first bite," Olivia grinned.

As soon as Amelia had taken her first bite, everyone cheered. She started laughing. She couldn't help but feel her family was cheering because they could finally eat.

"I have an announcement to make," came a female voice from the back of the garden. Gwen stepped forward, still wearing the smirk she had earlier. "Amelia, I know we have not always been the closest, but Ethen and I have arranged something special for you. On Monday, you will begin your training to take over as the rightful heir of the Dark Moon Pack."