Soon after graduation I had been pushed into working straight away at the offices at the packhouse, they wanted the filing system modernising and my Dad knew I would be able to do that with the computer knowledge I had., I had seen Deyton and the guys a couple of times since graduation, we went for a couple of BBQs up at the waterfalls and had invited Indie, they had been fun, just chilling out enjoying ourselves in the sunshine, trying to forget all the s**t going on in my life., We had gone to town shopping a few times, and hung out at each others houses, but all four of them had started their main warrior training now, they had been expected to be warriors after their Dad’s, trained from being younger, took intense training sessions specific to young warriors during high school, knowing that once graduation was done they would then go on to do the final warrior training., It was an honour to be one of the pack warriors, as they were the best of the pack fighters if something were to happen, hopefully that would never be the case but it was always good to be prepared and all packs had teams of warriors that were well trained and regularly practised for all eventualities., I knew Deyton and the guys had waited for this since being young pups, they look up to the other warriors, it was what their Dads had done so it was only natural, and the warriors are people the Alpha depends on to help protect and defend his pack. Often playing a vital part in arranging patrols and defences., I was really proud of my friends and had no doubt they would do amazing at their new roles, as this is what they were meant to do. However, since they went off to training I had certainly seen less of them…., well actually I hadn’t seen them at all, which I cant be selfish about as I known the training is full on and they may not have time to hang out with me the same, but then the messages began to fizzle out too….., it kind of made me wonder if they were avoiding me, or if they had finally fallen into the traps of the rumours that seemed to be flying around pack about me… it was hard to not think that considering the things that had been said so far, and hard not to think that maybe more had been said…., Then when I heard about them out partying on multiple occasions with a group of people from school I realised it was just me they were avoiding, and it wasn’t the training keeping them from arranging things with me…. So it seemed like I had lost even more friends now……. Thankfully Indie was there for me, unfalteringly so I wasn’t entirely alone….., So with time with her, and work that was pretty much how my life went now…. Certainly not what I had hoped or expected for approaching my seventeenth birthday…., I was at the office with my Dad, he had set up an extra desk and computer for me in his own office, with my own passcodes to everything so I could access all files I needed to, I had spent the first week or two going through the paper files to see exactly what was there and to begin ordering them for me to put them into place for processing onto software., I couldn’t believe that none of them had already had this set up… I am sure they were just lazy, they could have hired someone to do it for them…. Instead it was down to me… but I guess it was mindnumbing work, and relatively easy, plus I was being paid quite well so I shouldn’t complain., The work would take a while, and once this was done I had other plans for other new software systems that could help the pack for finance, filing and ordering etc. My Dad loved it, he said it saved him so much work, so yeah he was just lazy and had clearly been avoiding paperwork as much as possible in his 20 something years as a Beta., I was busy inputting information off some of the paper files when my Dad came into the office with coffee for me ., ” Hey Sweetheart” he said putting the cup down for me “me and your Mum were speaking, wanting to find out what you want to do for your birthday. We want to throw you a birthday like usual, but know you don’t really do much with anyone around pack since leaving school, so wanted to check….” Hmmmm so they had noticed…. I wonder if they know why?……… or if they know that people actually avoid me?………….. I doubt people would actually want to celebrate my birthday considering the s**t being said about me….. be easier to avoid any awkwardness…., “Actually Pops, after everything that happened I’d kind of rather have a quiet birthday with you and Mama if that’s ok?” I explain., “of course Lilah, we can do that if that’s what you want sweetheart” he smiles kindly at me., At least that should avoid them arranging a party and nobody turning up, or everyone feeling forced to accept invites to a party for someone they have spent the last few months doing their god damn hardest to avoid….. besides I didn’t feel much like celebrating… the only thing I was looking forward to was the fact I would finally get to meet my wolf……., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.