~Portia~

I’ve been dreading today for weeks now. I hate that I have to go back home, but I have no choice. My name is Portia Colby, but I go by Tia. I’m a member of the Emerald Lake pack, where my father is the head warrior, and my mother is a pack doctor. I have older twin sisters who are the apple of everyone’s eye. They are four years older than me and my father’s favorite. He dotes on them and spoils them. They are everything to him, and I’m just a mistake.

No, he literally told me that I was a mistake. He said he didn’t want any more pups after my sisters because they were already perfect. He and mom have gotten into many arguments over this. She says that’s an ugly attitude to have. She loves all of her kids, though I think she likes me better. I’ve never asked because I don’t want to put my mom on the spot like that.

My sisters have always been indifferent to me. They only acknowledge me when they have to, never going out of their way for me for any reason. I honestly think if I were to die right in front of them, they wouldn’t bat an eye.

That describes the rest of the pack as well. It seems as if I’m invisible to most. My Alpha, Alpha Paul Attwater, is usually kind to me, though I bet that’s just because he’s the Alpha. Then there’s the Beta family. I have spent so much time with Beta John and his mate Celina. Their kids, Lynn and Mark, are my only friends. Lynn is my age, 21, and Mark is 22. He treats me as if I were his other sister. I’m grateful for them because I would have been lost long ago without them.

As soon as I graduated high school, I went straight to college. There was no point in staying around. I knew I would miss my besties, but they understood my need to go away. I started college at 18 and have been gone since. I would meet up with Lynn and Mark over the years. We would meet halfway between the school and the pack. Now I’m being called home, and what’s worse is that I can’t say no. It’s an Alpha command; if I ignore it, there will be serious consequences.

My phone rings, and I know it’s my mom before I answer. I was supposed to leave the night before but didn’t, so now I’m a bit late. “I’m making my way to the car now, mom.”

“You were supposed to be home last night. You know that all pack members have to be at this ceremony. We are welcoming the new Alphas.” Ah, yes, the new Alphas. While Alpha Paul was always nice to me, Luna Kimberly didn’t spare me a second glance, nor did their sons. They are identical twins and the next in line for the pack. They are my sisters’ age, 25, and they never really paid any attention to me. There was no reason for them to anyway. We were never in the same grade and didn’t have the same circle of friends. Being a pack member, it’s vital for me to be in attendance for all major events, and this classifies as a major event.

“Mom, I will be there, I swear. There was really no need for me to make it home last night. The less time I’m around dad and my sisters, the better.”

“Speaking of your sisters…….” My line beeps, and I notice it’s Lynn. Since I’d much rather talk to her, I quickly tell my mom I will see her when I get there.

“Hey girl!”

“How far away are you, Tia?” I chuckle.

“I’m just now getting on the road.” Lynn whistles at that.

“You’re cutting it very close.”

“You know that if I didn’t have to come, I wouldn’t even bother.”

“So did your mom tell you?” Since I cut my mom off, she probably wasn’t able to tell me whatever it is that Lynn is talking about.

“I barely spoke to her. What’s up?”

“Well, the word is that your sisters will be named Lunas at the ceremony today.” That’s interesting. My sisters and the Alpha twins started to see each other in high school. It was the talk of the pack: two sets of twins together. The Alpha twins are identical, whereas my sisters are not. One has a birthmark under her right eye, while the other does not. It’s pretty easy to tell them apart in other ways.

Everyone thought they might be mates, which would have been kind of weird. It has always been that identical twins share a mate. My sisters will be blessed with their own mates, but not the Alpha twins. When they turned 18, the age at which we can find our mates, they realized they were not fated mates but stayed together. I always thought that was weird. Why put yourself in so much potential heartache? If they find their mates, the relationship will be like it never existed. “So, did they even try to find their mates?” Lynn laughs.

“Much to your sisters’ dismay, yeah, the Alphas did try. They traveled all over training and trying to find their mates, but nothing came of it. I guess since they want to take over so badly, they have quit looking.”

“I’m not sure if I could do that to my fated mate. What if I were to meet him down the road? Do I give up my chosen or my fated?” Had my sisters and I been close, I would have told them my opinion on the matter. As it is, I didn’t even know they were still dating, so I guess it doesn’t matter what I think. Lynn and I stayed on the phone most of my drive back to the pack. It’s a 4-hour drive from school. I really should have left last night or at least super early this morning, but I really, truly didn’t want to have to come back.