Chapter 5
Riley
I wasn’t messing with Reid last night; I really had forgotten my birthday’s today.
I wake up early, too excited to go back to sleep.
It’s not just the fact that today is my birthday, though that’s exciting.
It’s that today I get to shift for the very first time.
I've waited forever for today. I have a full day ahead of me before that happens, though. My mom has my entire day planned out. We’re going out for breakfast, just the two of us.
After that, we’re headed to the nail salon for pedis and manis.
We’re meeting my dad for lunch, and then we’ll head to the house to get ready for the party tonight in honor of my first shift.
I’m thankful I have things to keep me occupied all day and hopefully help the time pass faster.
After a quick shower, I flip through the clothes in my closet and decide on a cute yellow summer dress that falls almost to my knees.
I pair it with a cute pair of sandals and work on blow-drying my hair.
I run a straightener through my hair and then leave it down for the day.
After spending a few minutes on my makeup and adding earrings, I feel ready for the day.
After checking myself in the mirror, I grab my phone and wallet and head out.
When I step outside, I see a certain male holding a bouquet of yellow tulips, my favorite flower and color. I can’t hide my smile. “Happy birthday, Sis.” Zane wraps me in a big hug.
“Thank you, Zane.” I look past him. “Are you my ride?”
“I am. I had to drop Evie off anyway at the coffee shop, so I told Mom I'd drive you over.”
“Thanks. Let me just run these upstairs really quickly, or wait, maybe I should take them to the house for the party.”
“Nah, take them upstairs, so you can enjoy them in your room. I’m sure Mom will have more flowers at the house.
” My mom breaks all the rules when it comes to being a shifter.
Most shifters can’t stand strong smells, but my mom has always loved flowers.
So, we’ve all learned to deal with the smell over the years.
Flowers don’t bother me, and they don’t bother anyone in our family.
For as long as I can remember, we’ve always had a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table.
I put the flowers on the desk quietly, since Ashley is still sleeping and head back out.
Zane’s waiting in his truck when I come back out.
“Thanks for the ride. Good game last night.”
He grins. “It felt good to win the first one of the season.”
“Be honest; it always feels good to win.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he says with a grin.
“What are your plans while Evie’s working?” I ask.
“I have a meeting with Dad, Joe, Coach Mitchell, and a few other pack members.”
Coach Mitchell, Zane’s football coach, is also the beta to our dad. And Joe is the enforcer. I glance over at Zane. “Did something else happen?”
“No. It’s just a regular meeting, nothing to worry about. There hasn’t been anything since we took out most of their pack, or whatever it is they call it, back in February.”
“Do you think they really won’t bother us anymore?” I ask, knowing Zane will shoot straight with me.
“No, I don’t.” I sigh. “But that is not something we’re worrying about today. Today is a day to celebrate.” He glances over at me. “You ready to shift for the first time?”
“So ready!”
“I think you’ve been ready to shift since you were like three,” he says with a laugh.
“Pretty much. Will you be there for the pack run?”
He gives me a curious look. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“I just didn’t know because of Evie.”
“Oh. She’s coming to the party; she’ll just stay back with whoever stays at the house.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I ask.
He reaches out and tugs my hair, and I smack his hand away. “I will be at the pack run; you won’t be able to see me though.”
“Why not?”
He smirks. “Because I’ll be so far ahead of you.”
I roll my eyes. “Ha, ha.”
When he pulls up in front of the house, he turns off the car. “You think you’ll meet your mate tonight?”
I laugh. “No.”
“You could.”
I level a look at him. “Do you know how many wolves meet their mate on the first night of their shift? Not many.”
He shrugs. “I know I didn’t.”
“Yeah; I’m sure I won’t either.” I pause before I get out of the car. “I just had a thought. What if my mate is human?”
He faces me, leaning against the door. “Would you be okay with that?”
I think about it for a moment. “I mean, yeah. If he’s my mate, then I won’t care, right?”
Zane laughs. “If you’re asking me, then no. You won’t care. I love Evie with every fiber of my being. It doesn’t matter that she’s human; it never has.” I stare at him a moment. “What?”
“I mean, if he’s human, then technically I’ll be stronger than he is. Is that weird? Like if he needs something opened and can’t get it, will he hand it to me?”
Zane laughs. “Don’t look so horrified?”
“I can’t help it; it’s a reasonable response. What if I’m stronger than my mate, Zane?”
“Riley,” he reaches out and puts a hand on my shoulder.
“First of all, let’s not worry about something that may not even be an issue.
Second, if your mate is indeed human, I promise you, it will be okay.
” He releases my shoulder and opens his door.
“Besides, wouldn’t it be great if you carried him over the threshold once you get married? ”
“Zane!” I reach for him, but he jumps out of the truck, laughing. I jump out of the truck and race after him, taking the stairs two at a time; but he’s too fast. I throw open the door he just closed. “Zane!”
“Riley Alyssa, why are you yelling in my house?”
Drat. “I was yelling at Zane.”
My mother arches one eyebrow; I’ve never been able to perfect that move quite the way she has. “Yes, I caught that. Why are you yelling at him and chasing him like you two are three and six instead of eighteen and twenty-one?”
I sigh, knowing Zane won this round. “I was telling him my worries that my mate might be human and how it would be terrible if I were stronger than him, and he proceeded to say how great it would be if I carried my mate over the threshold.”
My mother doesn’t react in the slightest. She carries a basket into the kitchen; I’m assuming she’ll use it later for something. “You have nothing to fear, Riley, even if your mate is human. The mating bond is sacred; fate wouldn’t have given you a mate that’s not compatible.”
“Did you say combative because that sums our Riley up in a nutshell?” Zane says, walking into the kitchen and snagging an apple.
My mother whirls around with a wooden spoon in hand, wet from whatever it is she’s cooking on the stove top.
“No more from you, either. This is Riley’s special day.
” I smirk at Zane behind my mother’s back.
He stares back, not remotely impressed. “Now, just for that, you can drive Riley and me to our appointment.”
I cackle at the look on my brother’s face. Busted, I mouth to him. He picks up his keys. “I have to be back to pick up Evie this afternoon.”
“We’ll be back in plenty of time,” my mother assures him as she grabs her phone and purse. “Ready?”
I’m not sure which of us she’s asking, but I respond anyway. “Yes.”
“All right. Let’s go.” My mother leads us out of the house, regal and poised as always.
We follow her out to Zane’s truck, and I can’t help my grin when he hurries over to open my door, so I can climb in the backseat…
and so he doesn’t get in trouble with my mom.
Then he waits until my mom is fully settled before he walks over to his side of the truck.
“Where to?” he asks, once he’s inside. My mom gives him the address.
“Riley, I made us an appointment at the new nail salon in town. Stacie said they give the best pedicures.”
“Sounds good. What all needs to be done for tonight?” I ask, knowing she has a lot on her plate for the party tonight.
Since I’m the alpha’s daughter, there will be more pack members than usual that show up.
That doesn’t bother my mom, though; she has the gift of hospitality.
She can whip up a meal, put out some fresh flowers, and set the table like a pro, making someone feel so incredibly special when they come over.
I used to think everybody’s moms were that way, but then I learned differently.
I’ve never taken my mom for granted; she’s the best mom a girl could ask for.
I want to be like her when it’s my time to become a mom.
“I was able to get a lot of it done yesterday, so I didn’t have as much pressure for today. The meat is all marinating in the fridge for the grill. I prepped as much as I could for salads. The cheesecakes are in the freezer, ready to be pulled out when we’re ready.”
“Mmm. I’m hungry.”
Zane’s eyes meet mine in the rearview. “You’re always hungry.”
I don’t even bother arguing, not when it’s the truth. “Zane, since you’re with us, are you going to breakfast with us?” I ask.
He snorts. “If I have to drive, I get to eat.”
I laugh. “It’s Riley’s special day, so she gets to decide,” our mom chimes in.
“She gets to decide what? Whether I get to eat or not?”
I laugh at the expression on my brother’s face. “You’d better be glad I took my nice pills today,” I say flicking his ear.
He knocks my hand away. “Stop it; you know I hate it when you do that.”
Which is precisely why I do it.
Zane pulls up in front of the breakfast place. “So, do I get to come eat with you both, or do I have to stay in the car and starve?”
“Come on, Mr. Dramatic, you can eat with us,” I tell him as I climb out of the truck.
We head inside and are seated at a table next to a window. “What are you getting, Riley?” my mother asks.
“One of everything; I’m starving.”
“I thought we already established that you’re always starving,” Zane butts in.
“Are you not eating enough at school?” My mother asks, looking worried.
“I’m fine; I’m just being dramatic.”
But she has her mother’s claws hooked into me now. “You never eat enough when you’re playing sports.”
“Well, I’m not currently playing sports,” I counter. “So, I’m good.”
“But you’re probably running every morning and doing weight training, am I right?”
It’s Zane’s turn to grin smugly and repeat my own word back to me. Busted.
I smother the urge to throw something at him. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m eating enough.”
The waitress comes to take our drink order, and we each order a coffee and a water. “Everybody know what they want?” my mom asks. When we both nod, she closes her menu. “So, my dear daughter, are you ready for tonight?”
I sit back against my seat. “I think so.”
“You know you have nothing to worry about, right?” she continues. “Fate will have chosen well, no matter what.”
“Besides,” Zane adds, and I almost don’t even want to hear what he has to say. “If he’s weak, we’ll have Slate whip him into shape.”