Viraai: (Book 3) Resistance.

| 5 | Vincent.

V I N C E N T

I stand in the middle of the room, a table placed in front of me with a large chocolate birthday cake laid on top of it. My birthday cake. Everyone around me smiles and cheers as the happy birthday song sounds in the air. I'm more than happy and grateful for all them, and even more excited that I finally get to turn 18.

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Vinny! Happy Birthday to you!" They sing and after that begin hooting and clapping as I try not to blush at the kindness. I never really did like being the centre of attention.

Everyone is here, the Crescents, Greyshades and of course most of Red Dawn. We decided to celebrate my birthday at the Crescents territory since it was sort of at the centre of all our Packs so it was easy for all of us to get together and also because Alpha Miles' birthday was a while ago so everyone is still in a celebration mood.

"Make a wish." Mackenzie smiles at me as she takes a video of me using her iPhone, Nate smiling beside her along with Eric, Tierri and Lena, Ethan, Shannon, Miles, Andrea, Thalia, AJ, Jasmine, and some of my other closest friends.

I smile as I try to think of what to wish for. So many good things have happened to me in the last year and I couldn't think of anything else. Although, one thing still stands out in my head, especially now that I'm 18...

My Mate.

I want to find her more than anything, and I have a feeling I'm going to soon... Even though I'm with Jasmine, I know it isn't going to last, she is eventually going to find her Mate so I also want to find mine as well. We both agreed to leave once one of us found our Mates, but in the meantime, were just having fun...

I smile and bend forward slightly over my cake, blowing out the candles. They all go off and everyone begins to cheer around me, clapping and hooting for me.

"Our baby is finally 18." Shannon coos with Lena, resting on her fists as they both smile at me.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not a baby," I mumble, trying to hide my embarrassment, with a smile still playing on my lips.

"You are the youngest amongst us so that makes you the baby," Lena retorts, making the group chuckle. I decide to just let that one slide, knowing that her comments are coming from a good place. Besides, I know better than to argue with Lena, especially now that she's going on baby number two. Somehow she always wins.

"Fine, fine you got me there." I chuckle. "Now can someone get the music back up and let's dig in, I'm starving," I say and just as people begin to agree with me just as the music begins playing and people go back to having a good time. Shannon offers to cut the cake and picks up a knife to begin serving everyone, handing me a large piece of cake before she continues serving everyone else. It’s a huge cake if you ask me, and I wonder how they managed to get it through the front door.

I'm glad to see everyone enjoying themselves, there's dancing, laughter and of course the enjoyment of my delicious birthday cake. I even notice Alpha Nate and Mackenzie dance together while Mackenzie attempts to feed Nate a piece of cake but ends up going all over his mouth instead, making her laugh at his misfortune as he tries to kiss her with cake still plastered all over his lips. It's nice to see that they could mend their relationship after all that's happened to them...

"Vinny?" I hear someone say, making me look around to see where the voice had come from, only to find Jasmine standing in front of me and looking up at me questionably.

"Yes?"

"Did you hear a word I said?" She asks with irritation.

"Oh, no. I sort of zoned out. I'm sorry." I apologise to her, making her sigh and step a little closer to me, making me frown at her in confusion.

"I said, why don't head upstairs to go have a little fun." She speaks 'seductively' while placing her small hands on my chest and slides them down my body. At any other time, I would've approved her request without a second thought, but it's different today... instead of turning me on, it makes me slightly uncomfortable. It could be the fact that I'm 18 and my focus is on finding my Mate rather than stick with her... or that we are still in public and she is in no way being subtle with her advances.

"I'm not really in the mood Jas, I kind of just wanna celebrate my birthday with my family and friends..." I tell her hoping, that she will understand that part...

"Seriously? You're going to turn me down again?" She scoffed dropping her hands to her side and staring at me with annoyance. It's something that been happening frequently... We've been together for almost 6 months now and I've only ever slept with her twice or 3 times. I wanted to save myself for my Mate and I've ashamed to say that I gave into temptation...

"Jasmine, I've told you why, can you just respect my decision?" I respond to her, becoming irritated with her persistence. She just doesn't get it...

I watch as her hazel eyes flash gold at me and she shakes her head at me.

"Whatever..." She huffs and walks past me, but not without shoving me in the process, making the plate I'm holding hit my chest, smearing the chocolate cake on it all over the white fabric of my shirt.

Everyone immediately stops what they're doing and turns towards me, staring at me in confusion, until they notice Jasmine storm out of the room.

"Jasmine, what the hell?" I say to her but she instead continues to walk away. She definitely did that on purpose...

I look down at the complete mess on my shirt and look down at the floor to see that some cake had also dropped onto the floor.

I look up again and notice people looking at me with sadness, pity and anger. Talk about embarrassment.

"Vinny, go get cleaned up, we'll take of this..." Shannon says to me as she approaches me and takes the plate from my hand, staring at me sympathetically. I give her a small nod of gratitude before I turn to walk away quickly, away from prying eyes.

Once I get out of the living room, I rush up the stairs, but once I reach the top I heard someone call after me.

"Vinny!" I turn around to see Mackenzie running after me. Boy, she's fast.

"What happened back there? Are you okay?" She asks me as soon as she catches up, looking at the giant stain on my shirt.

"I'm fine, Jasmine and I just had a little bit of a disagreement that's all," I tell her, letting out a small sigh.

"That doesn't give her the right do that you, it's not right. She can't just embarrass you like that, and on your birthday." She tells me, the anger and annoyance prominent in her voice as she crosses her arms. Though Mackenzie has scared me at times, I've always seen her as an older sister, one that's always looking out for me...

"Mackenzie it's okay, you don't have to worry about me." I chuckle at her for being overprotective.

"I always look out for you kid." She chuckles as well before she steps closer and examines my shirt.

"I'll be fine. It's just cake," I say to her just as she chuckles again and nods her head at me.

"Alright, I would hug you but... Your shirt." She speaks, pointing to my shirt and moving her wrist in a circular motion.

"Doesn't mean I can't hug you," I say and open my arms wide with a grin, getting ready to hug her.

"Ah-ah. Not happening. Go get changed." She snaps giving me a 'no way in hell' look, raising her hand to stop me before she steps backwards and away from me.

I laugh and began to walk to Jasmine's room where I had left some of my spare clothes, hopefully, I don't run into when I get there... I just want to forget about what happened and go back downstairs to continue with the rest of my party. There is no way I am going to let this little argument ruin my whole day...