Chapter 5

AVERY'S POV

The ray of the sunlight shone on my skin and it was something I would love on normal days but not today.

I opened my eyes abruptly due to an aching sensation in my chest, my wolf clawing at me. It was as if I needed something or someone to take that ache away. "What is it, Kira?" I asked out loud.

It had been days since I met Xander and I knew my wolf had been restless since we found our supposed mate but then she had been incredibly calm afterward. However, Kira didn't care to say anything else apart from the word, "Mate."

And that was when his incredibly enticing scent hit me again, realizing why Kira was so restless.

"What is he doing here?" I asked myself immediately, trying to wrack my head for any possible reason. "Did he come to let my father know that I'm his mate?"

"Nooo..." I shouted, dashing out from the bed. I scrambled toward my walk-in closet, to get something to wear. Xander's scent obviously depicted that he was in the mansion, down in the common hall.

"I need to stop him from spilling the beans." I said to myself, as I put on a loose t-shirt and faded jeans. They were one of my comfortable clothes to slip into.

However, my wolf continued to whine as I walked out of the bedroom, the scent of our mate getting stronger.

"You should stop, Kira. You're getting nothing!" I declared while I pushed myself up from the bed. It was uncomfortable anyways.

I wondered if the Moon Goddess was really dealing with me at the moment as the ache in my chest didn't subside in the slightest. It only became more intense, it was obvious that it was due to Xander.

As I marched across the hallways, I started to hear numerous voices of people. It was obvious that there were more than fifty people in the common hall. I sped up immediately, wanting to know what was going on and why everyone was there.

In a few seconds, she was already at the common hall and her eyes were almost blinded by the decorations. It was my birthday! My eighteenth birthday!

I couldn't even comprehend how I was able to forget such an important day. "Happy Birthday, Avery." My father walked toward me, wishing me a happy birthday but then I wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Apart from the day being my birthday, it was the day I was expected to declare Erik as my mate.

'Oh noo!' I screamed in my mind before smiling at my father.

"Thank you, father." I said, giving him a light hug. My eyes caught on my mother who was still far away. She looked really busy, trying to get everything in order, for the main celebration which was to happen in the evening.

"Your mum has been all over the place." I heard my father say to me while chuckling lightly. The love he had for my mum, evident in his eyes.

"I'll go talk to mum." I said, pulling away from my father and then walking forward. A few steps forward, that tantalizing scent hit me again. My head whipped to the side to see Xander walking toward me.

"Shit." I cursed, knowing I didn't want to face him right there. I was too guilty but then my wolf had thoughts of her own. I proceeded to walk forward but then I halted.

"Happy birthday, Avery." I heard Xander say to me. With a comforting smile on his face, he stepped forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"T-thanks." I said, stuttering. My head turned slowly to look at my father who was still standing a few feets away. I could see a frown starting to form on his face. Obviously, he didn't like the way Xander was close to me.

On the other hand, I was greedily taking in Xander's scent as he moved away. His dark eyes bore holes into my body, and I didn't mind one bit. My eyes dart all over his body, taking in his appearance. He was like a breath of fresh air.

The emotions I feel bursting within me were way more than what I felt for Erik in my past life. I then heard my father clearing his throat from the side. I knew he didn't want me to have too much interaction with someone he thought wasn't my mate.

"I'll see you later, Xander." I said hurriedly, stepping forward to go to my mother.

"Sure." I heard him say in a deep and definite tone, sending shivers down my body. As I walked forward, I still didn't get to know why Xander was there at that time.

****

"Ahhh, you look so beautiful." Shannon's voice rang too loud in my ears. I was starting to get irritated by her shrill voice which I didn't consider to be a bother in my past life.

"I know." I answered curtly and sharply, not giving any room for further conversation. I was dressed in a light pink flowing gown, a color I didn't like. Shannon had insisted I wore that dress and I accepted because I wasn't in the right mood for the party, anyway.

However, Shannon turned to look at me, surprised at my response. Her eyes were narrowed at me. I could see the suspicion in her eyes. Of course, I wasn't acting like a puppet like I was supposed to.

However, I still couldn't believe that she had a thing with Erik. 'I need to confirm that from Xander or anyone else.' At the thought of Xander, my eyes fluttered close, reminiscing about the kiss he placed on my cheek. It was soft and pillowy.

"Back to earth, Avery." Shannon snapped at me and I felt like yanking her head off. She was incredibly annoying.

"What?" I snapped with a low groan.

"What? Why are you so irritated these days? You literally snap at me all the time." I heard Shannon say, her eyes starting to turn teary.

This was one trait Shannon had in my past life, which she used to get me to do her bidding.

"You should wipe those tears off. We need to be down in two minutes." I said to her, ignoring her statement about my irritation toward her. On the other hand, I saw her open her mouth like a fish in water in order to refute my reply but then she couldn't form any words.

I smiled lightly seeing the surprise in her eyes. She was just starting to realize that I wasn't so gullible anymore. I walked past her, toward the door.

It was time to face the next phase of my reborn life. "I have to find a way to reject Erik as my mate but then it will bring a lot of complications." I muttered to myself, careful not to let anyone else hear me.

If I rejected Erik as my mate, my revenge plan would not go according to plan. Also, my father would be terribly disappointed in me. Erik becoming my mate was what everyone wanted and expected.

As I walked down the hallway, I could hear the sound of music and happy laughter. Also, I could smell my mate which made Kira purr within me.

"Hey, wait up. We are supposed to go in together." I heard Shannon call out to me and I intentionally sped up toward the common hall. Why would she want to go in with me? It's my birthday after all.

I made sure I got to the edge of the stairs where I was supposed to descend majestically into the hall.

As soon as I appeared, all eyes were on me. The music stopped only to leave the soothing sounds of a piano. The laughter stopped as everyone took in my beauty while I had a big smile on my face.

"Welcome, Avery Halifax, the apple of our Alpha's eyes." The anchor of the party announced with a smile on his face and everyone burst into a round of applause.

Welcoming music started to play and I was all smiles but before I descended the majestic stairs in my, I turned my head a bit to see Shannon. Her face was red with anger and hate. Her expression shocked me to the core. Has she always been so bitter about me?

Taking my mind off her, I descended the stairs to see Erik standing at the foot of the stairs, obviously waiting to take my hand.

I halted for a moment, not even wanting to have any contact with him. My eyes searched for Xander in the crowd of people. My eyes met his, it wasn't so difficult to locate him as he had his eyes on me as well.

I wished he could come to save me from the predicament I was in but I knew I needed no knight in shining armor. At that moment, I wished a huge storm would just happen and I would get away from the birthday party.

Sighing lightly, I continued to step down the stairs and suddenly there was a huge thunderclap that shook the whole mansion.