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Acacia/Ciarán - Age 16

It was during the summer solstice that I left the Silent Stars Pack and the Crusaders Pack to travel with Grandpa Keir for the biannual council meeting. It was very disconcerting...the way I saw my mom speaking when the meeting was held. It's like how she was emotionless when sentencing me for a crime I didn't commit.

The way the entire council interacts with each other, they are trying to uphold peace and hearing different situations and possible instances where safety is at risk, they do act accordingly.

I will say this; my mom is an excellent ruler...

...but a horrible mom.

Lars had mentioned about what happened at Meliorist Sanctum and questioned my mom about the safety behind true born hybrids. It was difficult because she was protecting her son, but also weighing the genuine possibility of the very nature of a true born hybrid. She didn't dismiss the concerns that arose from the other council members once Lars opened the can of worms that stemmed many questions.

Dante had been quick to point out the Vindicator Wardens Pack and how they are all mixtures of hybrids, yet they have been the forefront of the world's safety. It was a hard argument, especially when Lars argued that nothing lasts forever and once an individual has had a taste of the power it can possess, it'll consume them.

Dad...I didn't even want to look at him...I can't face him.

He had been the one to question Lars, asking if not the Vindicator Wardens Pack, who else would help bring those to justice? Lars never had a response...

Before Grandpa Keir and I said our goodbyes, I tried to find Ciarán, but Dante had mentioned he was out with Cypher and one of his new friends by the name of Ryser. We left after the meeting as we also took the long drive back to the pack lodge. Grandpa Keir talked a lot about his thoughts, and it was nice to see different perspectives on common issues that come up more often than I believed.

After I returned with Grandpa Keir...everyone kept asking me why I left to go to the meeting, perhaps some of them believe I missed my family, but that apparently wasn't the case...instead, I finally came clean and told everyone that I was next in line and required to be present at the council meetings. Surprisingly enough, there weren't any mixed emotions. Everyone was happy for me because after the display they saw from Ciarán with Ridge, a lot of wolves believed that if he could so quickly reject his mate without even knowing him. He isn't fit for the throne because he showed signs of being able not to accept everyone as one should.

Tell that to my mom.

The months went by, and each day I saw Marcus growing more like the wolf Grandpa Keir is despite his age, I recognize the alter in his mere behavior. Jelena and Dexter were excited about their birthdays because everyone has claimed that they're mates. I wouldn't be around for that though, because Dexter turns sixteen after I leave, but I told Jelena that she needs to call and let me know.

This morning brings a different feeling, an aura settling around me as I slowly open my eyelids from my deep sleep. I dreamed of Uncle Keveon along with who I now know...Marc, though I can't remember most bits and pieces of it. Grandpa Keir told me last night that everything is already set up at the lake for my birthday party.

"Cacia!" I'm hardly sitting up in my bed when I hear Marcus slam through my bedroom door and run right at me. He leaps onto the bed and wraps his arms around me while saying, "Happy birthday Cacia!"

"Awe," I hold him close to me, snuggling with him as he laughs and giggles hysterically. I kiss the top of his head and say, "I love you, Marcus," before giving him one final squeeze, shooing him and saying, "go get ready, I'll be out in just a bit."

Marcus nods and heads out my bedroom door, and thankfully, he shuts it behind him. After taking a quick shower and tying my hair off in a braid over my shoulder, I head back to my bedroom. I put on the bikini that Jelena had given me to use during the summer, I then pull on jean shorts, a light butterscotch-gold loose shirt, socks and my sneakers.

Releasing a sigh, a smile forming on my lips, I'm thankful that I'm not dying this time around for my birthday at the pack lodge. Very quickly, I'm moving down the hallway until I'm down the stairs on the lower level. I see Jelena standing in the door frame of the main door, waving at me as my smile grows wider.

"Hey, birthday girl!" Jelena wraps her arms around me and giggles, the two of us pulling away a few moments later. She asks while arching a brow, "You ready to head over to the lake? Brunch is already set up, and Marcus took off with Ridge earlier."

Tilting my head to the side, I ask her, "Where's Taron?"

"Loverboy is talking with Alpha Chris, so I don't know how long that's going to take," Jelena waves her hand upward at the second story before she says, "we might as well get going."

"Alright," I nod at her, and we start walking the pathway toward the lake, the sounds growing louder as we approach the trees closet to the picnic tables. The food smells delicious, watching as Marcus is playing with the other pups at the shallow end of the lake, Ridge keeping an eye on them all.

Ridge does turn slightly when he sees Jelena and me, waving before his attention is drawn back to Marcus splashing him as hard as he can with the water. Their laughter makes my heart sing with happiness, everyone wishing me a happy birthday as I come close to a table Jelena has set up our things.

Grandpa Keir approaches me from the side as I take my shoes and socks off, feeling the grass beneath my bare feet. His smile is broad, pulling me into a hug as he says, "Happy birthday, Acacia."

This summer has been the absolute best...

...I don't want it to end.

"Thank you, grandpa," I hug him back tightly, though when he pulls away, he motions for Jelena to go on ahead to the lake. Furrowing my brows with confusion, he motions for me to sit down on the picnic bench with him.

Grandpa Keir holds a small case in his hand, his eyes containing mine as he says, "I wanted to give you your birthday present now before you get overloaded with those from the rest of your friends," he pauses a moment before he outstretches his hand and offers me the case. As I take it, glancing at him as he nods, I open the case, and he says, "This belonged to your grandmother, Laura Wood."

My eyes grow wide when I see a twisted silver ring with two stones that resemble each other. One appears to look slightly like the sun while the other, a full moon.

"The stones are Lapis Lazulite, the ring representing a balance of night and day. I gave this to your grandmother after we'd joined as one," Grandpa Keir explains to me, "your grandmother left her jewelry when we'd gone for the winter solstice, but when I was left no choice but to choose between pack...and self," he pauses a moment as I see the way these events bring back emotions he keeps left hidden, "it was the hardest decision I'd ever made and if I could do it all over again...I wish I'd chosen my mate."

"Grandpa..." my voice trails off at the way I see tears come to his eyes, but he quickly wipes them away.

Grandpa Keir clears his throat and says, "I love you very much, Acacia."

Tears spring to my own eyes as I move forward on the bench and wrap my arms around his neck, my chin resting on his shoulder when I say back, "I love you more, thank you so much for this."

The ring fits perfect on my right index finger, Grandpa Keir taking the case for me and setting it down with my shoes on the picnic table. He says, "Now, why don't you go have fun with your friends?"

Grinning, I give him one last hug before I'm off the bench, sliding down my jean shorts and taking my top off. While I walk over to the lake, seeing Marcus jumping up onto Dexter's shoulders, challenging others to a game of chicken, I see everyone else enjoying their time and socializing.

"Acacia!" Ridge smiles wide and hugs me tightly, "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks," I laugh while walking into the water, everyone else chiming in and wishing me a happy birthday.

Marcus attempts to crawl off Dexter's shoulders, only to run at me. I squeal and take off in the opposite direction, water flying up everywhere as we play tag with the rest of the pups. After a while, Dexter and Holden run off to the rocks, more than likely about to play a game of who can jump the furthest. Jelena dives under the water, surprising Marcus when she surfaces behind him, wrapping her arms around his stomach and lifting him into the air. A moment later, she tosses him closer to where Ridge stands, my little brother screaming with delight.

When we take a break for food, I eat waffles with bananas and whipped cream, Jelena snatching a blueberry from Dexter's plate. We all sit down near the rocks, though the pups are playing near the adults and out of the water when no one can watch them.

Holden points out after stuffing another piece of waffle into his mouth, "So what does sixteen mean for humans?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I don't get a chance to answer because Jelena states, "She can get drunk now."

"Ha-ha, thanks," I stick my tongue out at her, and she laughs it off.

Dexter also ponders this and asks, "Maybe you should ask Gabriel from the council," he nods at me and smiles, "he might know!"

Shaking my head, I release a sigh and state, "There's nothing special about my birthday, but thank you for trying to make it out to be something significant," I smile at each of them, Jelena offering me a tight hug before we resume eating our brunch.

"Hmm," Jelena tilts her head back and forth, her eyes remaining transfixed on the lake.

"What?" I ask, following her gaze.

"I wonder...since you're going to be the queen, you can make something fun happen for human birthdays," Jelena is talking out her daydream self and making no sense at all. Even Dexter shrugs his shoulders like he has no idea what his crazy girl is talking about.

Ridge shakes his head and replies, "Nah, Acacia is going to do a lot more than regulate human birthdays."

Now that he says it out loud and like that, everyone laughs while Jelena snaps out of her thoughts. She groans at her weird thought and admits defeat to everyone else and how it was a silly idea. When she locks her gaze with me, she nods, "Taron's finally showing up with Alpha Chris."

Ridge turns to his side and sees what I do when I glance over my shoulder. Taron's in his board shorts, kicking off his shoes while Alpha Chris says something to him. It's not a few moments later that Grandpa Keir also comes to stand alongside the alpha. They just...stand there, watching and I'm confused at the way their stare holds over everyone.

Perhaps it happens...the moment the light breeze shifts ever so slowly...but I see the way Taron's head snaps immediately in my direction. There's something...very different about him, the way his eyes lock onto me...the way he stops what he's doing and strides toward where we all sit.

With confusion, I slowly rise to my feet, turning to him as he approaches me with a very authoritative power. I'm left lingering in confusion, staring up into his eyes when he halts but mere inches from me, a powerful pull almost magnetizing our bodies together.

"Tar-"

I never get to finish that sentence...

...because my eyes widen when Taron claims for all to hear, "Mine."

💫--To Be Continued--💫
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