Their Mate And Luna

CHAPTER 5

A Birthday Surprise

"Are you still planning on leaving us?" Mira asked as they walked home. Nicole had gone to meet her at her place of work, after leaving school. She worked at the catering shop of Nicole's Aunt. "Are you really going to leave us?"

"I'm still thinking about it." Nicole said .

"You're not serious, are you?" Her friend cried, pouting. "What about your family? And me?"

"I will speak to them about it. Besides my mate can be from another pack and not here. If I don't move away, how will I meet him?" That would be nice. Having a mate who isn't a member of the Firestone Pack would be a huge plus for her. No longer would she have to deal with the twin alphas' hostile glares or see the stupid Ashton twins.

Though she was going to miss Savvy, her uncle and aunt. The Luna and Alpha too. Of course, Mira.

"I pray the goddess gives you someone here so that you don't move away."

Nicole laughed, giving her a soft glare. "Not funny."

"It's not funny. I am sure your family will be as sad as I am when they hear your plan to leave. Savvy's going to skin your hide." Mira paused considering. "Maybe I should inform Savvy."

"No you won't tell her." Nicole sighed. "Of course I will miss everyone, but if I don't get my mate here, I am leaving. At least, I won't have to see Vince and Vance again."

"Ughh."

"What?"

"Can we talk about something else, like your birthday. It's tomorrow, a Saturday. No school, no work for you, for me. We could go shopping with Savvy or alone, today."

"Why do we need to go shopping?"

"To look good for your mate. He needs to see you looking sharp on that day. At least after you shift into your wolf and after...after," she trailed, wiggling her brows and winking.

Wolves often mated and marked each other when they meet. Some choose to wait to know each other well.

Nicole's brows sprang up. She had totally forgotten about that. She was going to get her wolf tomorrow! "I will shift into my wolf!"

"Scary, huh?" Mira said.

"From the stories I have heard, it is," Nicole replied.

"Not so scary. After the first time, it doesn't hurt anymore. Your body adapts to it. And if your mate is there, he would guide you through the process, make it less painful. In fact, his presence fastens the coming out of your wolf," Mira explained.

"Someone really listened during Mate 101," Nicole teased, nudging her friend's side.

"I did." Mira said in a resigned tone. "I was like you, looking forward to meeting him, but he's yet to show up, and my wolf and I are praying he will show up pretty quick."

Mira was a year older than Nicole, mateless, and done with school.

"I am sure he will show up...if you...maybe...leave the pack and search for him," Nicole suggested.

"No way, I am leaving this pack searching for my mate," Mira exclaimed. "He will come soon. My wolf is angry that you even mentioned me leaving."

"I am sorry, Clara. Am only trying to help," Nicole raised her two hands up in mock surrender for Clara, Mira's wolf to see.

"She will only be appeased if we go shopping."

"I have enough clothes to last two years and more," Nicole groaned. Shopping was not her forte. She would rather do housework than spend hours going through racks of clothes.

"No woman ever has enough clothes. Call Savvy up. We're going shopping."

Savvy concurred with Mira on the need for Nicole to look good for her mate. She reached them in a few minutes.

"Mom and dad are taking you out to a fancy restaurant tomorrow night. Hopefully, with your mate! I am so excited for you, Nikki!" She giggled and hugged her as they stood at the entrance of the shopping mall with Mira.

"Me too," Nicole's eyes shone with anticipation and joy. "I hope he looks good though."

"He will," Mira assured her as they walked in.

"In your eyes, he is going to look like a god. He's your mate. Come on," Savvy pulled Nicole along.

Nicole sighed inside her mind. She knew two guys that looked like gods. The hostile alpha twins.

"After your shift, you and him will...ughh...I think mom should be the one to tell you this." Savvy continued.

"Tell me what?" Nicole asked, looking up from a red dress she was holding to Savvy's face.

"Normally, when mates meet each other, they mate..." Mira started, but upon seeing the shocked look on Nicole's face, she stopped. "I think Savvy is right. Your aunt should do the talking."

"No. Continue, please," Nicole begged, curious to know as she hadn't finished the classes on Mating at school.

"After mating..." Savvy started to speak again.

"Having s*x, right?" Nicole's face turning red as she asked, images sprouting in her head.

"Yeah...and it's no big deal," Savvy chuckled together with Mira. "You can always decide to not mate with him till later. When you're ready."

"Stop feeling embarrassed. It's how we are. Mating is bound to happen," Mira unhooked a set of red lingerie from a hanger. "How about this under that red dress you're holding, hun?" She arched a brow at Nicole, winking. "Red is always best for the first time."

"Yep. I wore red the first time me and Tim did it," Savvy caressed the material. "Brought out the beast in him, when he saw me only in red lingerie, garters..."

"Oohhh...spill it all out for us virgins," Mira said, inching closer to Savvy.

"Will you two stop." Nicole's heated face was hidden behind some clothes as she spoke.

"Why? I want to learn since I haven't found my mate. So, that when he comes, I can show him what he has been missing." Running her hand over her body. "Go on, Savvy."

"The crotch area was bare," Savvy continued

"I will leave you two..." Nicole began to say and making to leave them.

"No, you're not," Mira pulled her back. "Listen, so you can blow his mind away."

"What?" Nicole huffed as the two pushed her in their middle forcing her to listen to Savvy's first mating experience.

At the end of the shopping spree, the red lingerie and dress followed her home along with some other items they bought.

Her aunt and uncle were all smiles when they got home. Savvy left after dinner to see Tim, promising to come before midnight. Mira stayed back, climbing upstairs to Nicole's room, immediately after eating dinner.

"Oh, honey. I can't wait to see your wolf." Her Aunt Mabel gushed, her soft brown eyes filled with excitement. She was her father's sister. She took her in after her mother's death. Her father had run off after losing his mate, and no one knew where he was or if he had gone rogue.

"Me too." Nicole wondered what name to give her wolf.

"I am sure it's going to be beautiful, just like you."

"Thanks Aunt."

"Now, hurry up and get some sleep. Sleeping for longer hours before your shift can help ease the pain too. Hopefully, your mate will come along as well."

"You don't have to mate with him immediately. Okay?" Uncle Oscar added gruffly.

Nicole's cheeks burned a deep red. She hadn't expected her uncle to give her the talk. "Okay, Uncle. Goodnight."

"Night, honey." Her Aunt smiled once again.

Nicole hurried upstairs to her room to join Mira, who was already snoring on the bed.

"So much for chatting before sleeping," Nicole giggled as she rolled her snoring friend under the covers.

She brushed her teeth quickly, washed her face and got into bed, her heart beating wildly in anticipation of what the next few hours would bring. Changes no doubt. Good ones, she prayed as she closed her eyes to sleep.

As the clock on the wall downstairs struck midnight, Nicole felt a sharp pain in her head, quickly followed by a series of painful pricks flowing down from her head into her bones. She swung the covers off her, feeling heat coming from inside her bones. Her clothes seemed to be housing this sudden heat which was increasing, forcing her to pull at them, wanting to be free of them. A scratching sound from the base of her skull broke out into her head, into her mind, in the form of a soft voice, telling her to go outside.

She tried to wake Mira up, but her voice came out as a croak. The heat continued building in her bones, and she could hear cracking sounds and feel her bones moving and twisting underneath her skin.

A scent suddenly wafted her way, a mixture of musk and cedarwood, followed by another scent, musk and sandalwood. Her brain cells roared loudly as these two mixtures flooded them, driving her forward to find them, or their owners. The scents were intoxicating, maddening, driving her to a frenzy. A growl escaped her lips as she proceeded outside.

Mates! The voice that broke through her skull, yelped.