Chapter 3

Hazel Sleh

"Why? Am I banned or what?"

"This is not your alpha's pack house, darling. You can come here anytime and do anything. Except.. " I laughed.

"Ahhhh... You are so annoying. Anyway, what are you wearing for my birthday today?"

"I'm not coming."

"Why?" She looked shocked. "Come on, it's my sixteenth birthday."

"Yes... and last year was your fifteenth, and the previous year was your fourteenth. This has been going on since we were eight. You usually come and call me, and as usual, I'll deny it. Then why do you keep asking?"

"Come on, you are my sister."

"Look, that's the problem. Clayton, our own brother, doesn't want me to be there, and you, my own sister—my step-sister—wants me to be there. Without Clayton's permission, I cannot come, Cam."

"Aghhh. I hate this. I will shift today, and I want you to be there." she whined. "Please...."

"No..." How will I tell you that I cannot be there because even I'll shift today...

"What are you thinking? About not having enough clothes? I have; wear mine." She misinterpreted

"It's not that... I just don't want to be there." I said, as Chilli came with flowers. I squinted my eyes as he placed them in my palm. "Thank you, Chilli." I smiled at him. He was wishing me a happy birthday.

"Wait... Why are you thanking him?"

"It's nothing." I smiled, but Chilli whistled in a very high-pitched voice and flew to the small calendar near my bedside.

"Chilli..." I tried stopping him, but he picked it up and gave it to Camilla. "Chilli.. don't." I begged.

"Shut up, I am seeing." She checked the calendar and then gasped. "Babe, it's your birthday."

"It's nothing..."

"We both are fuckin twins from different parents... Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Cam..."

"Bitch, it's your birthday in an hour, and you will be sixteen with me. You will shift too. Why? Why would you not tell me?"

"Cam, dad, and Clayton never wanted me to tell anyone...

"Are you stupid? Just because dad or that fucker doesn't care doesn't mean I don't. You are always my first priority. You will always be my best friend... Getting it?"

"Cam... It's late, go home."

"Seriously?"

"Cam. I.. I killed your Alpha... I.."

"You didn't kill MY Alpha, Hazy!" she growled. "YOU KILLED A RAPIST."

"Cam.."

"I don't care. He deserved it."

"Cam... Just go home."

"Hazzy... I'll come back here in a while, and you are coming with me tonight. That's it." She left, banging the door behind her. Oh god, I don't want her to come back. I looked behind me at Chilli. Fucking hoe he is. I threw my fruit basket at him, but it missed. He whistled in joy. "I hate you, Chili." I groaned.

Will she come back? What if the others know? They promised to kill my wolf... Will they kill it? Please god... Please don't let them know.

I heard a knock on the door and went to check. It was Camila. I slowly opened the door, and she barged in.

"Take. You are wearing this." She gave me a dress.

"I.. I cannot take it."

"I'm not asking you to take it. I'm giving it to you." She went and sat on my bed. She looked behind her and saw a box on the bed. "Wait... a birthday present? Who gave it? Boyfriend? Wait. Why is there a name for me? Is this..."

"Shush... How many questions do you ask, women? Yes! This is for you." I smiled. She opened it and looked at the dress. "I know it's not great like the clothes you buy or anything, but... I.. I didn't have anything to give, so I just stitched this." I looked down.

"This is the best gift someone has given me to date."

"There is a limit to everything, including lying." I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, you tell me, what are the usual gifts I get?" She asked, making me think. "I usually get all these expensive gadgets, jewelry, clothes, cosmetics, and even expensive parties. Do you think any of them will make it to the top of the list?" She asked me again, and this time I was confused. Why wouldn't they? "Stupid... They all gave me expensive stuff, not something they made or gave me out of love. This one.." she showed me the dress. "This one... might not be of great quality, might not be of great color... But this one... this one is made up of love, no one... Not even my own mom made anything like this for me.. this is special for me... Very special." She had tears in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm wearing this today." She grinned.

"No!" I warned her, with wide eyes.

"I didn't ask." She said that before taking it and running away.

"Cam!!!" I tried running behind her but could not catch up. I went back and got ready; I have to be there for her. I locked my house properly and raced Chilli to the pack house. Well, he won...

There were ten minutes for twelve, and I know she spent the one hour of her party with me. But everyone still looked happy. I scanned for her and found her arguing with Clayton in a corner. By the look of it, he was asking her about her clothes, and that's when my eyes fell on them. I gasped once I realized they were the ones I gave her. I smiled at her when she looked at me and also waved. She left him hanging and came toward me.

"Finally... you are here." She smiled.

"But, why are you wearing this?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Okay, wear it anyway; it will tear when you shift. That's the best thing to happen to it."

"It's my gift, and only I get to decide what will happen to it." She made her typical fake-disappointed face. I rolled my eyes as I led her away to the small diase I made for her in the middle of the garden.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY We mouthed at each other as the clock struck twelve and her eyes turned from green to blue, showing her wolf was in control.

'Happy Birthday,' her wolf-mouthed me once more, making me very happy. After years of not being wished, today I got three wishes. One from Chilli, one from Camilla, and the last one from her wolf. This made me genuinely happy. Camilla changed her clothes before shifting. She was soon joined by others, and they all went for a run.

Wait... My wolf....? It was twelve, and my wolf had to take control of me. Where is my wolf? What happened to it? Did it die before it even awoke?