Jean's POV...
"I don't think we should go for the mating program," I blurted out.
"What?" Mom and Stacey screamed.
"What do you mean you don't think we should go?" Stacey asked.
"I mean..." I started, trying to find the perfect excuse. "It's just some lame program to lure youngsters out,"
"Did you hit your head somewhere?" Stacey asked as she touched my forehead.
"You've always been so enthusiastic to go for this occasion. You couldn't stop talking about it last night, now you're saying something different,"
"Well..." I shrugged.
"You're both going," mom said in finality. "I know why you're acting this way," she paused and looked at Stacey. "She's shy to meet Winston"
"Yeah," Stacey concurred. "She's growing cold feet,"
She came closer and held my shoulders. "I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad. He's a nice guy and it seems he likes you back to have asked to meet you. Who knows, he could be your mate,"
"Jean found her mate?"
We all turned around and there by the door, stood my dad. He was carrying two white bags.
"Dad?" I said, wide eyes. I couldn't believe he was standing right there.
"Dad," I said again, running into his arms.
"Hey birthday girl," he said laughing. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it on time before you woke," he leaned to my ear and whispered. "I wanted to wake you first before your mother, don't tell her I said that,"
I laughed and nodded.
"Here," he said, handing me the white bags. "I got them for you. I hope you'll like them,"
I looked into the bags and saw dresses in it. "Thanks dad. I'm sure I will,"
"Okay. Are you girls ready?" He asked. "We should get going if we want to make it there on time and grab the front row seats,"
"Yay," Stacey chirped as she ran towards the door and held my dad's hand.
No. No. No. I needed to do something to stop him.
"Are you coming?" Dad shouted from outside. He and Stacey had already started going.
The bags fell from my hand as I held my cheeks and watched in horror as they were leaving.
"Are you okay honey?" My mom asked from behind. "You look... scared," she pointed out.
I didn't say anything, so she brought down my hands and held them. "If it's because of meeting Winston or finding your mate, then there's nothing to worry about. I'm sure it'll be great. Also, your dad's with you,"
That was the problem. If I didn't do anything, then tonight, I was going to lose him again. I can't let that happen.
Wait... I got an idea.
"Hey dad," I shouted and rushed to the door. "Mom has something to tell you,"
He paused and turned around. "She does?"
"I do?" Mom asked from behind.
"Yes," I answered.
"Can't it wait?" He asked.
"No. No. It can't," I shook my head. "It's very urgent. It's about a visit to the hospital,"
"What? Hospital?" He asked, wide eyed.
"What are you doing?" Mom whispered. "How did you know about that?"
Too late. Dad had already reached the door.
"What's wrong?" He looked at mom. "Why were you at the hospital?"
"I'll give you two space to talk about it? And also, you should stay with her and sort it out, don't bother coming with us again okay?"
I didn't wait for him to answer. I sprang off immediately and left with Stacey.
At least, I was able to avert his death. He's going to be with us... or so I thought.
****************
We arrived at the ceremony ground and there were lots of teenagers there, looking anticipated to find their mates.
"Try not to get too red in front of Winston," Stacey said.
I scoffed internally. Feelings was the last thing on my agenda.
"There's Vera," she pointed to the left. "She's so domineering," she groaned. "I can't wait for her to see you and Winston together,"
Strange enough, I couldn't remember her. That was actually my first time hearing the name. Maybe I hadn't taken notice of her before.
"Can you tell me more about her?" I asked, as we moved to sit on the opposite bench. Everywhere was already filled up, so we had to sit somewhere else.
Stacey looked at me, her brows raised, but she still answered. "She's from the beta family, and that's probably why she thinks she owns the world. Because they're second in command,"
I nodded. "Her father is one of the Elk elders of the South and..."
"Her father..." I cut her off. "An Elk elder of the South?" I asked.
"Yeah," she nodded. "You sound like you don't remember. It was eight moons ago. That night was a blood moon as well and that was the day you were acting really weird and your wolf changed colour,"
I gaped at her, my mouth parted slightly. Why couldn't I remember that?
The sound from the drums signaling the start of the occasion, interrupted our conversation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are glad to have you all gathered here. It's our tradition every year for every wolf who has come of age to participate in one of these activities to find your mate,"
I looked around, searching everyone's faces. I hadn't seen Kael. We were supposed to meet for the first time tonight.
I looked up to the sky... it looked blue, then almost immediately, flashed red.
I thought I was seeing things and looked away immediately.
I couldn't focus on what was happening. I was feeling restless. I breathed into my palms. My breath felt hot.
I stared ahead at a large tree in the woods. Its branches were moving in the direction of the wind.
I kept staring at it for a long time, then I snapped my eyes shut.
The sound of everyone around made me open my eyes.
The tree was on fire.
What!
"Whoa" Stacey gushed. "What happened to that tree?" She said and looked at me.
"Double woah," she exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Why are your eyes red? Did you itch them?"
"My... my eyes?" I muttered and touched them.
"Everyone run!" Someone from the crowd shouted.
The tree had burned down and was falling in our direction.
Everyone started running, it felt like a stampede.
Just as we ran out, we saw a group of warriors approaching us, and stopping us.
"It's not safe there," one of the warriors pointed to the direction we wanted to run to.
"We were attacked and some families are missing. They must have been taken," he added.
"Attacked?" I muttered. That wasn't how it happened.
"Just stay here for now, until everything's safe," he said and they started leaving.
"Matina," Stacey called one of the female warriors. She knew my parents.
"What about mom and dad?" I asked her.
"We've not heard anything from them. Let's just hope they were not taken as well," she said and hurried off.
I faced Stacey. "This wasn't supposed to happen. We should be ambushed and I should have met Kael,"
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "But I really know that we should make sure uncle and aunt are safe," she said and shifted as she ran into the woods.
Why was the past changing? It shouldn't. If everything was different, how would I be able to avoid my death?
