Battle of Fate 25 Game of Destiny Chapter 1 I walked over the grass , carrying a pile of wool blankets . We were selling up for tonight's full moon celebrations . I love these monthly gatherings of the pack . We eat , laugh , tell stories of the pack's history and of the gods ' . Then those that can shift will run in the woods . The rest of us , we stay behind and pretend we aren't vious of the others . For eighteen years I have been part of the group who is left by the fire to watch the pups and make sure the fi stays in the firepit . It was getting old , I wanted my wolf to come to me , I wanted to prove I wasn't a dud , " Hi , pumpkin ." I turned toward the sound of my father and smiled . I had been out checking the woods together with the Alpha and Gamma in preparation for the night .. " Hi , dad , " I called as I placed the blankets down on a log and then took some of them and placed on other logs we used to sit on around the fire . They were more for coziness than for warmth , all werewolves ran hut . Even those like me who didn't have a wolf . Tet . I added . " Looking forward to tomorrow ? " the Alpha Mark asked as he , Gamma Jonas and my father walked up to me . " Kind of , " I said . been all of their friends , had Gamma "What do you mean , kind of , green bean ? " Gamma Jonas asked . He , my father and the Alpha were te best f lives . No one had been surprised when Alpha Mark had named my father his Beta and Jonas his Gamma as he took over the running of the pack from his father . That had been years before me and my brother were born . We grew up with the Alpha and to be families as an extension of our own . My brother , Elder , was best friends with James , the Alpha's son . Everyone expected best friends with Cindy , Gamma Jonas ' daughter . But we didn't get along at all . We just remained on friendly terms because of our Tamilies . " I think my pumpkin is nervous . Turning eighteen is a big step , " dad said , placing his arm around me and pulling me to his side . " That's right . She will be able to sense her mate and he will be able to identify her if they both are over eighteen , " the Alpha said with a big smile . " She's too young for that kind of thing , " my dad scowled and both of his friends burst out laughing . My dad and Alpha Mark were I had never partly right . I was nervous about being able to sense my mate . But there was more . My wolf still hadn't come to me , been able to shift and for each full moon that came and went 1 looked weaker in the eyes of other werewolves . You started to be able to shift between the age of sixteen and twenty - five . Everyone knew the younger you were when your wolf came , the stronger it ) and therefore you , would be . James had shifted for the first time a month after turning sixteen , my brother seven months after his sixteenth birthday . Cindy had been a little over seventeen when she shifted . I was almost eighteen and I hadn't even felt a slight tingle during a full moon . I was afraid that if I found my mate , he would think I was too weak . " You're not still worried about your wolf , are you , little one ? " the Alpha asked . I nodded . We had had this conversation many times in the last two years . " Armeria Rose Winstone , two years is nothing he will come to you , " he said . I flinched as he used my full name . My mother has a thing for all things growing and has named her only two children after her favorite plants . My father didn't object because he loves her too much to not let her have her way . " I know , Alpha , " I said . " You are perfect , just the way you are , pumpkin , " my father said and kissed the to the top of my head . " You have to say that , you're my father , " I pointed out . " And if some boy tells you anything else , you tell us and we will beat his ass . " " Thank you uncle Jonas , " I said . " Any time , " he told me and ruffled my hair . I objected and tried to get away , but my father laughed and kept me in place . I hated when people messed with my hair . It was hard to keep under control with its red curls at the best of times , but mess with it and it 1/3 Chapter Just became one big poof of Tangles and frizz . Okay , enough lazing around , Move your asses . I will see you later tonight , little one , and after midnight we will colebrate your big day , the Alpha told us . of them a " Fine , we're coming , " my father sighed with pretend annoyance . Son times I think the three of them are stuck in a permanent teenager mode , and it scares me a little to think of them running the pack . But they are good at it . Our pack is one of the strongest and most highly thought of packs in the world . It's a pride to all of As my father and his two friends continued their inspection , I got back to my tasks for the evening . Usually I would help my mother as she and some other women prepared the food . But I had been put on other duties and I'm guessing , and hoping , it's because they are working on a surprise cake for my birthday . As I walked over to Sally , Jonas mate , to get information about which games she has been planning for the pups , I tried to remember that I'm lucky . I have a good family , I have good friends and a good pack . So what if I don't have a wolf ? Three out of four isn't a bad thing , right ? And if I found my mate and he loves me as mates do , then I have four out of five . That would be fantastic . Unless he rejects you because you don't have a wolf , a small voice in my head lept saying . It's like the voice is a broken record , playing over and over again in my head . Hours later , I was sitting in front of the fire , laughing along with the others as Nick , one of the oldest warriors in the pack , was telling the story about how he had defeated a swarm of vampires . The number of vampires went up for each full moon . But we all loved listening to him telling the story . Most of the pack members were running in their wolf form in the surrounding forest . I still hadn't felt the need to shift , so as usual I volunteered to watch the pups and keep an eye on the teenagers . It was just after midnight when the pack started to return . In groups or pairs they cane walking out of the woods , they were all smiling and looked relaxed . I wondered why they were heading back so early when my mother and Luna Joy came walking with a birthday cake between them . I could feel my eyes grow big as I looked at the amazing creation that was put down in front of me . It was three ) tiers tall with white frosting and covered in sugar flowers , it looked like a flower meadow . On top two candles burned , a one and an eight . Happy birthday , sweetie , " my mother said . " Thank you , mom . " My mother hugged me , and then Luna Joy drew me into a tight hug as well . " I hope you will find your mate soon and that he is everything you hope for and deserve , " Luna whispered to me . " Thank you , Luna , " I said . " Time to blow out the candles and make a wish , pumpkin , " my dad said as he joined us . " Not yet . Elder isn't here yet , " my mother pointed out . " He is off with James and Cindy , " Luna Joy said as she snuggled up to the Alpha . " I can wait , " I offered , which earned me a smile from the Alpha pair " Honestly , the whole pack is here and we are waiting on our son , " my mother said and I could hear the impatience in her voice . I heard my brother and our friends before I saw them . My brother came half running out of the forest , closely followed by James while Cindy took her time . " Sorry , sorry , I didn't realise how deep into the forest we had run . You didn't blow out the candles yet , did you ? " Elder asked . " No , she has been waiting , " our mother told him , giving him a look at told everyone she wasn't happy . " Sorry , " he said again . Me ? I wasn't paying any attention to what my brother was saying . My full attention was on the scent of sandalwood and pineapple . Even without my wolf , I knew it was the scent of my mate . I turned towards it as I saw James standing at the edge of the forest , looking back at me with just as much surprise us I felt . James , the Alpha's son , was my mate ?