Chapter 7: Happy Birthday

Rose frowned as she felt something poking her cheek. So she pulled the blanket over her head to stop whatever was poking her cheek and went back to sleep. She then heard some rustling and couldn't bother to open her eyes so she chose to ignore it. As she was about to go into deep sleep when she felt someone laying next to her under the blanket with her. She tensed up but then smelled their scent and relax. She decided to ignore them for she was to comfortable to wake up.

The person laying next to her giggle and then spoke softly. "Rose wake up." Rose open one eye to see Jin laying next to her, smiling. She closed her eye and sighed. She felt relieved that he was OK and back to his old self. She then snuggled closer to her pillow and said, "Go back to bed Jin. It's still night time."

Jin giggled again, "Silly it's already 10 a.m." Rose was shocked but then shrugged.

"Is that so." She said drowsy. "Yes! Breakfast is ready that's why I'm here to wake you up." Jin said. Rose just hummed but didn't move. Jin huffed, "Come on Rose! Let's go! Don't you know what day it is?!" He said excited. Rose slowly open her eyes and looked at him and said, "Happy Birthday." Jin gave her a big smile. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small black box and handed it to him. "Here is your present." she said.

He was so excited and asked, "Can I open it?" She nodded. He quickly sat up, removing the blanket from both of them. Rose squinted as the bright light blinded her. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light and she saw Jin had already open his gift and was holding the necklace in his hand and stared in wonder. The necklace was a black thin chain but was sturdy as it won't brake easily and on the chain was a charm. The charm was an yin-yang symbol and it was made out of jade. Not only was it made out of jade but it could actually be broken into two pieces as one could wear the yin symbol and someone could wear the yang symbol. There was another chain in the box but was white so one of the pieces can be placed on it.

Rose sat up and said, "When you meet your other half aka your mate, you give them the white chain with the yin charm and you wear the black chain with the yang charm. It's to symbolize that you and your mate will always be together forever. One cannot live without the other." She grabbed the necklace with the yin-yang charm and placed it around his neck. She smiled, "But until then the charm will remain unbroken." He looked down at the necklace. "Sorry if you don't like-" She was interrupted when Jin hugged her.

"Thank you! I love it! I won't ever take it off!" Jin said happily. She patted his head and smiled. He then pulled away and asked, "Does it have to be my mate? Could it be someone I considered really special?"

"In my family it's tradition to give it to your mate because even someone you considered special or even important could leave you. But your mate will always be by your side. So it only makes since to give it to them." Rose spoke thoughtfully. Jin looked at Rose then thought, 'Then I hope your my mate Rose so that you will never leave my side.' Rose stretched and said, "Well I'm up now so let's go eat." Jin jumped off the bed with Rose and lead the way to the kitchen.

Time flew by as they celebrated Jin's birthday. Rose was helping them finish cleaning up the birthday party. She looked out the window from the living room to see the sun about to set. Jin's mother commented, "Oh it's already late I guess you should head home." Rose nodded and said, "Thank you for having me. I had a lot of fun."

"I did too! I wished you didn't have to go." Jin said sadly. "But at least I can see you tomorrow?" he said hopefully. Rose looked at him sadly. Jin noticed and asked, "What's wrong Rose?" His parents also stooped what they were doing to listen. "I can't hang out with you tomorrow Jin." Rose sadly said. "Oh. Well when will you be able to hang out with me?" Jin asked.

"I don't know." She said dejected. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I mean I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be back or even be able to come back." "WHAT!" They all shouted. "Why?! You can't leave Rose! You promised you will always be by my side! I won't let you leave! " Jin said as he clung to her as his life depended on it. Rose hugged him back, "Jin-" she tried to speak but Jin yelled, "NO! I don't want to hear it unless you stay."

"Jin I can't stay because if I do I will die." Jin looked at her in shocked and asked why. "I need to leave so I can train-" Jin interrupted, "You can train here. All you have to do is join the pack." "The training I need is something y'all don't have." He was about to refute and say they could offer what she needed but she continued, "I'm a Devour Jin." His parents gasped. Then his father spoke.

"That explains everything." Rose was shocked then looked at him. "You knew?" she asked. He shook his head and said, "I suspected it but couldn't be sure you hid it well. Don't worry Rose we don't think anything less of you and no else knows." Rose was shocked.

"You do know what a Devour is right? A Devour doesn't have a wolf soul so we can't transform into a wolf but have a wolf strength and speed. Unlike y'all who coexist with your wolf a Devour's wolf half ends up rejecting us because we devoured the wolf soul and without the soul the wolf can't coexist and by the age of 13 our bodies will deteriorate until there is nothing left." Rose stated.

Jin's mother spoked gently, "We don't care what you are Rose. We consider you part our family Rose. " Jin held Rose tighter and said, "You will always be my friend Rose." Rose felt so much warmth in her heart. She was so happy even words couldn't describe this feeling. Jin asked, "So if you train you can live?"

Rose looked at Jin and said. "If I do train I have a higher chance to live but it's not a guarantee." Jin let go of Rose and grabbed her hands and said, "Promise me Rose that you will live and once you are done with the training and your life isn't in any danger you will come back." Rose looked at Jin and thought, 'I really can't win against you.'

"I promise Jin I'll come back" Rose said. Jin nodded satisfied. Jin's father asked, "When do you leave?" she answered, "Tonight." "So soon." Jin's mother said. Rose nodded, "The sooner the better." They nodded in understanding. Jin was trying to not cry when Rose saw this she couldn't help but smile and said, "Jin live a life you will never regret. Have a long and happy life." She gave him one last hug and walked to the door and opened it. Jin said, "I will and I'll be waiting for you!" Jin's parents stood behind Jin and his father said, "You are always have a place here." Then his mother said, "Be safe." Rose looked over her shoulder and gave them a big smile, "Thank you. I will. See you later." Then she walked out the door and close the door behind her. Jin couldn't hold his tears anymore and cried. He cried until he didn't have any tears left. He wiped away his tears with his hand and decided that he will become strong and make sure when she comes back there will be a place for her so she can live along happily beside him.