“I just need to brush my teeth.” I pleaded with my twin sister as she hogged the sink applying her make-up. She had false lashes and an array of brushes strewn across the marble countertops. We were completely identical on the outside but the complete opposite on the inside. Don’t know why she is trying so hard to impress the girls at school with all this junk as they couldn't care less about us.

“Wait Haylee! I need my lashes just right.” I rolled my eyes and reached past her and grabbed my toothbrush. Trying to figure out why she wasted her time doing this is futile. I think she covers up our natural beauty. We have olive skin and bright strawberry blonde hair, that we inherited from our maternal grandmother, and the lightest touch of brown freckles on the bridge of our noses and cheeks. Along with thick thighs and full breasts; I feel beautiful inside and out. I just wish she did too. Maybe she did this to try and separate our looks?

“Times up! You have monopolized the bathroom for over thirty minutes. ” Then I gently nudged Kaylee over to get to the sink. She was dressed in a white floral summer dress. I found it a miracle she didn't smudge any of this stuff on her.

“URGH ! I HAD IT!” You would think I killed her from her overreaction.

"I just need to brush my teeth. I had an onion bagel for breakfast. I don’t want to repulse Jake.” My heart fluttered as I said his name. My boyfriend, Jake, should be here soon to walk us to school. He spent the weekend and most of the week training with the other ranked members and guards over the last four days. It was a requirement for all ranked members and those who wished to be guards. Our school excused them from classes on Monday and Tuesday as a work study every other week. Excited to see him again after a long time apart, I chose a cute outfit. I wore a v-cut t-shirt that hugged me in all the right places, black leggings, and a blue jean mini skirt.

“I want today to be the day that Angela sees me and has me join her squad!” I rolled my eyes and proceeded to run my brush under the water then placed a dab of toothpaste on my toothbrush. My twin was desperately trying to get into the “popular” clique at school. Angela was the biggest hopeful to become our next Luna. She was the typical stuck up blonde stereotype. She thought the world should revolve around her because she came from Alpha lineage. She hung around Chase, our future Alpha, and the other soon to be pack leaders, except Jake. Thank the goddess. All her little sycophant friends just worship her. Amber and Amy were her blonde carbon copy sidekicks. They followed Angela around like lost sheep. Jake is the future Beta, but I am happy he can’t stand them either.

“Then use the vanity mirror in our room.” I started brushing as she glared intensely at her reflection. We still shared a room because dad needed the extra one as his office, and our house only had one and a half bathrooms. So the whole family shared this one for all hygienic and cosmetic needs. I had hoped to not deal with this when Kaylee got a chestnut vanity mirror for our 17th birthday a few months back. But no such luck apparently. It didn't have the fancy lighting she wanted.

“Haylee I have gone over this with you a million times. The lighting sucks.”

“Tuuu bass.” Kaylee huffed at me and then disappeared into the hallway. She came back with a step stool and used it to hover above me fussing with her eyes. I rolled my eyes again and did one final rinse and checked that I had no toothpaste in the corners of my mouth. I wish I could mind-link Jake to see if he was close and to hear his voice. I can only mind-link pack members who I am related to until I get my wolf. Then I will be able to connect to the whole pack.

Not wanting to anger the beast again, I stayed ducked down and exited the bathroom. I returned to our room and laid down on my bed. Each bed and dresser was pushed against the two opposing walls of our room. Since we had to share, our parents let us have the master bedroom of the house. Kaylee had an extra wardrobe on her side and I had a bookshelf on mine. She had flower decals on her wall and I had fabric anime posters. I had gotten anime bed sheets for my birthday gift this year. I laid across the face of the handsome swordsman from my favorite series Pirate Ships. Grabbing my romance novel off my pillow, I began to read to pass the time. I was almost to the end sadly, I was probably gonna finish it by 5th period study hall. Maybe another library run after school? Not that I didn’t always spend hours there after school anyways. Our pack has one of the biggest high school systems in the area, which means the largest book selections, and the pack library in town was pretty nice too. Wish they had a bigger manga selection. I often loved getting lost in the stacks unable to put my books down. That, and getting lost in Jake at the library. I thought of maybe texting him but then my mom yelled.

“Haylee, Kaylee! Jake is here, better get a move on if you don’t want to be late.”

“Okay mom, coming.” I smiled from ear to ear excited to see Jake.

“I need one more minute to fix my lip gloss.” Kaylee yelled from the bathroom. I sat up on the bed and grabbed my bookbag and rushed down the stairs. Jake was waiting for me at the bottom in our living room. He is wearing his black hoodie that matches his long black hair and a pair of dark tight jeans. Even from the top of the stairs I can see his manhood. I bite my bottom lip trying not to get aroused at the sight of him. Overjoyed at seeing him finally, I leap. He smiles, and with opened arms, catches me flawlessly. I nuzzled his neck, kissing his claim spot. He growled in my ear at the feel of my lips.

“Missed me that much, huh?” He pulled my head back and kissed me briefly on the lips. So glad I got to brush my teeth.

“Always. Why do you have to leave so much for Beta training?” He chuckled softly and I could feel his pecs ripple. My cheeks flushed and I buried myself in his neck not wanting him to see.

“So I can better protect our pack, baby. Next time I will leave you a souvenir to help you get through it.” His bright blue eyes sparkled and I melted into him.

“Please do.”

"How about I leave you my favorite hoodie so that way you can have my scent."

"Oh yes! Just a heads up, you may never get it back." Grabbing the hoodie in both hands I pulled him closer to my face and kissed him deeply. When we broke for air he smiled at me and my heart began to pound in my chest.

"For kisses like that you can have all my clothes." He growled seductively in my ear.

"Oh my goddess shut up!" Hitting his chest just made him smile wider.

“Where is Kaylee?” He looked up the stairs.

“Trying to impress Angela with her contour skills. She is probably going to ask again. Please give in! I am getting tired of this week by week.” My sister hounds poor Jake constantly about an intro to the group since Chase is practically like a brother to him. Jake usually sits with me and my friend, Ava, instead of the main table. Even though he is a senior like the others, while Ava and I are just juniors. But we have been this way since we were young. Jake and I always find comfort in each other. We are very certain when his 18th birthday hits in two months I will be confirmed as his mate. If not I will truly be heart broken. Mom says if that happens once I find my mate it will mend my heartache. My parents aren't very fond of how close Jake and I are. They are worried that he will find a different mate and I will be depressed for a year till my own 18th birthday. And that is only if I find my mate that soon. Some wolves don’t find their mate for years after they became adults, or at all. Mom says she saw it all the time when she was younger. But his scent always comforts me and I love being around him. That has to be the mate bond right?

“But I hate sitting with them. All they talk about is getting mated and if they will be Luna. How many pups they will have.” He made a face at me mimicking agony. I slid down his body as he put me down. He was about 6"2 to my 5"2. With his wide shoulders and tall frame he easily towered over most boys at our school. But that was normal for him being a Beta.

“What if I sit with you and Ava then we just keep to ourselves at the other end of the table. Please?” I bat my eyes and pout my lip knowing he can’t resist me.

“Only for you sweetheart. But...You will owe me.” His voice took a deep tone. He leaned close, kissing and nipping at my ear. A light moan escaped my lips. Before I had a chance to respond Kaylee finally made her appearance at the top of the steps.

“Ready.” She came down and stood next to me.

“Finally," I growl. I push her teasingly and we head out the door.

“Bye mom, I love you!” We chime in unison.

“Bye, Mrs. Baker.”

“Bye, love you. And make sure to be home for dinner. Jake, as always, you're welcome to join.” Jake smiled at me and shut the door. He bent down and buried his face in my neck and teased my claim spot with his teeth. My body immediately tensed.

“I would rather eat you for dinner.” I grab him by his hair pulling him off me.

“No claims till we know for sure.” Jake was too rushed to lay his mark on me. I wasn’t sure how I liked his pushy nature as of late. We were only two months out. Why rush it now I wonder. He knew better than to bite me on my neck. The most I let him do was kiss me there.

“I don’t need my wolf to know you are mine and I am yours. I have known since I first met you when I was 14.” I smiled thinking of him following me around like a love struck puppy his freshman year. I had fallen off my bike and hurt my knee in front of him and Chase. He carried me all the way to the pack doctor. He stayed by my bedside till I healed. We have been smitten ever since.

“You think you know. I wanna know for sure, okay?” He scratched the nape of his neck as we walked down the road.

“Of course, princess.” I smiled and held his hand as we made our way to school.

As we walk the rest of the way to the school Kaylee regales us with her new 'beauty' routine that she has started. She overheard Amber talking about it to Angela and is sure it will get their attention. I smile as the morning sun shines on my skin. I love the feel of it’s warmth on my body with the light breeze of crisp spring air. Our pack, the Crescent Moon pack, was inside a nature preserve surrounded by wild trees and flower beds. The houses are all scattered in between and made from the same wood as the forest, like small cabins. As a wolf being around nature, like, this was the best feeling in the world. I soaked in the atmosphere as we walked. My sister snaps me out of my trance.

“But you know what would really help me?” She nudged me with her elbow. I eyed Jake knowing what my sister's next words would be.

“Fine but please be in the lunchroom on time.” Her head snapped to Jake immediately.

“Oh my goddess! Really?”

“Yes you have bugged me for months now. I will introduce you to them and suffer through lunch with them. Thank your sister.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” Kaylee beamed at me and hugged me tight.

“It was the only way I would get our bathroom back. Seriously dad should have Uncle Jason petition for us to get a bigger house." My uncle is the head Gamma of our pack, since he is the oldest, Third in command, and in charge of our Luna's security. My dad helps him train the wolves to be guards on the border and warriors for the pack.

“Or when I win over the heart of Angela and her friends, and they will permit me to attend the senior prom! I will meet my fated mate a year early. He will buy me the vanity mirror with the lights on it, then whisk me away to our own private home close to the pack house. Where we will live happily ever after. Goddess, I can’t wait till prom!” Jake stopped in his tracks and grabbed her by the shoulders with a deeply worried look.

“Oh my goddess, you really will fit in perfectly with them. Haylee, whatever will we do!” Jake loved to tease us. Kaylee paid no attention to his playful nature. But I saw her wrinkle her nose at him.

“Throw her to the wolves.” I chuckle.

“Haa, very funny.”

“I'm teasing sis, I swear. I hope you get everything you want. I only want the best for you.”

“Hey Jake, what cologne are you wearing? It smells really good.” Jake let's Kaylee go immediately and holds my hand again. He shrugs and wafts his shirt a bit.

“I’m not wearing any. It might just be my body wash and I don’t know what kind it is. My mom got it for me but I’ll ask if you want.”

“No, that's okay.” she shrugs and starts walking. Jake avoids eye contact with her which I find odd.

We continued walking down the path towards our school. The birds were chirping and the wind was blowing. It felt like a perfect day to me. In Ohio, where we lived, the weather could be so random. Good late spring days like this were rare. Jake held my hand as we walk and my sister trailing behind us, playing on her phone.