Good Mate, Bad Mate

2 - Estella and Jackson

Bethany POV

    My eighteenth birthday came and went, but I didn't find either of my mates in the Silver Moon Pack.  To make it worse, Jackson wasn't my fated mate, either.  I was crushed that I wouldn't be spending my life with him, after developing such strong feelings for him.  

    I had a few months to work through my feelings for Jackson, before I had to see him again.  I was hoping when I saw him at the party, I wouldn't feel sad.

    After Estella and I finished getting ready for her and my brother's eighteenth birthday party, we joined the rest of the family in the living room.  I did Estella's hair and make-up for her.  I wanted her to look beautiful, in case  she found her mate.  I had her long, dark blonde hair flowing down her back in waves of loose curls.  

    She was wearing a long, light blue gown, so I applied a light blue eyeshadow, with a thin line of black eyeliner, then I thickened her eyelashes with black mascara.  I highlighted her cheeks with a light pink blush, then brought the look together with a light pink lipstick.  When everybody saw her, they all gaped at how beautiful she looked, making my lips curve up into a satisfied smile.

    I was also wearing a long grown, but it was silver.  I pulled my long, black hair back into a french braid, like my mum always does with her hair.  She always looks so pretty with her hair pulled back, and I look a lot like her.  I figured if she can pull the look of so well, then so can I.  For my make-up, I applied a light silver eyeshadow, with black eyeliner and mascara.  I used a darker shade of pink on my cheeks, and a slightly darker pink lipstick.  

    My brother James locked arms with me, while Andre locked arms with Estella.  Once my mum and dad locked arms, they led us down the path to the pack house.  The party was being held behind the pack house, so when we reached the tree line, we walked straight to the party.  

    Right away, I saw Jackson sprint toward us, as Estella exclaimed, "Mate," then took off toward him.  As soon as they reached other, he picked her up and spun her around, as he cheerfully cooed, "I can't believe you are my mate.  I'm so happy."

    Tears instantly sprang into my eyes.  I looked over at my brother James, who was standing there, wide-eyed in surprise.  He was the only person who knew how I truly felt about Jackson.  I had never opened up about my feelings when it came to Jackson with anybody else.

    I pulled my arm away from his, then lifted my gown up off my feet, and ran straight back home.  I couldn't watch the guy I had dreamed about, falling in love with my sister.  It was just too much.  I was happy that my sister was mated to a good guy, but I needed some space at the moment.

    Once I got to the cottage, I ran to my room, and slammed door shut, then dropped face first on my bed.  I cried my eyes out for hours, asking the Moon Goddess, why she mated him to my sister, instead of me.  

    When my tear ducts dried out, and there were no more tears to cry, I walked to my bathroom, and gazed at my reflection in the mirror.  I was not happy with what I saw.  Around my eyes was red and swollen from all the crying, and my eyes were dull, carrying a look of defeat.  

    I splashed a few handfuls of cold water on my face, then gazed at my reflection for a few more minutes.  I pulled my shoulders back, and straightened my posture, then I stated to my reflection, "We are better than this.  We will not stay here and be sad.  It's time to be brave, and go search for one of our mates."

    Suddenly, I heard my wolf, Betsy, say, 'That's right, Bethany.  We are better than this.  It's time we take control over our life, and find our other half.'

    'Betsy, I would feel a lot better about leaving the protection of this pack, if you would let me shift already,' I whined to her.

    I could feel her eyeroll in the back of my head, before she sighed and replied, 'Fine, if it will help you move forward with your life, then I suppose it's time.'

    'Really, Betsy?  You're not just messing with me?' I warily asked.  

    I heard her giggle, before she answered, 'Yes, now change your clothes, then take us to the weeping willow tree.  It won't hurt so bad, if we shift there.'

    I squealed in excitement, as I ran to my closet.  I shimmied out of the gown, then I pulled on my pastel purple sundress.  After I slipped my flip flops on, I ran down the stairs, and out the back door.

    As soon as the moonlight hit my face, I stopped running, then gazed up at the moon.  After a few seconds, I sprinted across the yard, into the meadow.  

    There were more hyacinths, than lilacs, because the lilacs grew a lot taller, but it always smelled so good out here, just like me, Estella, and mum.  I knew I was going to miss this meadow a lot, so I took the time to enjoy the beauty around me, and walked the rest of the way to the tree.

    Once I walked between the leaves hanging down, I asked Betsy, 'Now what do I need to do?'

    'All you need to do now, is remove your clothes,' she nonchalantly replied.

    I pulled the sundress over my head, then I stood there, allowing the tree to replenish my strength and energy.  As soon as my body was fully replenished, Betsy asked, 'Are you ready?'

    'I have never been more ready,' I gushed in excitement.

    Betsy giggled, then chirped, 'It's time.'

    I waited a few seconds, before I felt a brief wave of pain shoot through my body, then I heard bones start snapping.  I closed my eyes, expecting to feel more pain, but I didn't.  I could hear the bones continue to snap and pop, as my body shifted into it's wolf form.  After a few minutes, Betsy happily exclaimed, 'Open your eyes, silly.'

    When I opened my eyes, everything looked so much clearer, like I was looking through a magnifying glass or something.  Yeah, yeah, I'm a nerd and I know it, but how else was I supposed to learn about the medical field.  Suddenly, I heard a squirrel run up the trunk of the willow tree.  I was shocked by how much better I could hear in my wolf form.  

    I looked down at my legs, and saw that my paws were a pure white color, while the rest of my legs were a dark silver color.  It was a beautiful dark shade of silver, and I was quick to praise Betsy, by saying, 'Betsy, your wolf is so beautiful.'

    She giggled for a second, before she replied, 'My wolf is just as pretty, as you are in our human form.'

    I was so excited, and I wanted to show off my wolf.  I mind linked my brother James, and told him to watch the tree line for me, then I pranced through the forest, until I reached the tree line.  Once I spotted James and saw that he was intently watching the tree line, I stepped out from the cover of the trees.  His mouth gaped open, as he stared at my wolf, then he mind link, 'Bethany, did you finally shift?'

    'Yes,' I squealed through the mind link.

    Instantly, he squealed like a school girl, then he shouted, "Oh my Goddess," catching the attention of everybody at the party.  Before anybody even looked in my direction, he sprinted to me, then knocked me to the ground, as he wrapped his arms around my wolf.  We rolled together on the ground a few times, before he released his hold on me.

    Right away, I stood up, then started licking his face, while he laughed and said, "Stop it, Bethany.  That tickles."

    Suddenly, I heard gasps behind us.  I looked behind me, and saw the rest of my family, as well as, Jada and her family staring at us with wide eyes.  My mum's eyes teared up, as she asked, "Is it really our sweet Bethany?"

   I pranced up to her, then I rubbed my side against her legs.  Within seconds, everybody started gushing about how pretty my wolf was, and how great it was that I finally shifted.  My brothers shifted at the normal age of twelve, since they weren't hybrids, but Estella still hadn't shifted.

    After everybody else returned to the party, James walked with me back to the willow tree.  Once we got there, I asked Betsy, 'How do I shift back to my human form?'

    She giggled, before she responded, 'All you have to do is, picture yourself in your human form.'

    I closed my eyes, and did what she said to do.  When I opened my eyes back up, I was standing there naked.  James had turned around, so I grabbed my sundress, and quickly pulled it over my head.  I grabbed James' hand, then I asked, "Did you find your mate tonight?"

    He dropped his head and mumbled, "No, apparently she is not in our pack."

    "I'm sorry to hear that.  I made a big decision tonight, and you aren't going to be happy about it, but it's something I need to do for myself," I warily told him, then waited to see what he was going to say.

    James stopped walking, then gazed up at the moon for a few seconds, before he whispered, "You're leaving to find your mate, aren't you?"

    "Yes, I can't stay around here and wait, but I promise I will keep in touch with all of you.  I just don't know how to tell mum and dad.  A part of me wants to just leave in the middle of the night.  I don't know if I can handle all of the waterworks, that will come with saying goodbye," I sheepishly admitted.

    "You can't leave without saying goodbye.  That would break everybody's hearts," James deadpanned, while still staring at the moon.

    I thought about it for a second, then I confidently stated, "I will write them a letter, and mom casted the mind link spell on all of us, so I will be able to easily mind link with her anytime."

    "Fine, but you better at least tell me goodbye.  When do you plan to leave?" he curiously asked.

    "Tonight, after everybody goes to bed," I timidly answered, then waited for him to start yelling.

    Surprisingly he didn't yell, but I watched a tear slip from the corner of his eye.  I stepped closer, then brushed the tear away, as I softly murmured, "James, thanks for being so understanding.  This means a lot to me."

    "I love you, Bethany, and I want you to find happiness.  Just promise, if you get in a bad situation, you will mind link mum, right away," he affectionately responded.

    I wrapped my arms around him, as I gushed, "I love you, too, James, and I will definitely get in touch with mum, if I have any problems."

    James wrapped his arms around me, and returned the hug.  When he pulled away, he mumbled, "Come on, sis.  Let's go get you packed, and ready to go."