7 rings by Ariana Grande (OMG my fav!)

~

I woke up feeling drunk. I don't remember anything that happened last night except for me getting dressed for my birthday ceremony before going to the pack house and taking the Calentha Oath.

I let out a big yawn as I examine my dress from last night. It's wrinkled because of me sleeping in it. Vesta wakes up along me. She is oddly happy but at the same time sad as if someone has left us. I yawn again and realize that I made it alive through my eighteenth birthday. Let's see how long I'd survive next.

I crawl out of the bed and take a shower. Surprisingly, my pale blue eyes have some color in them today. They look vibrant and fresh, unlike other days. For the first time, my eyes aren't red and I look... presentable?

I don't know why and how these changes happend. Maybe it's because of Vesta. Who knows? I finish showering and dress up before heading downstairs for breakfast. Several cheerful voices echo in the dining room as I step off the last stair and head towards it.

I find that the Beta family has also joined us for breakfast along with Seth who is busy playing love-dovely with Grace. I roll my eyes at them as I sit beside dad who looks annoyed for the same reason. The cook instantly pours me a cup of coffee.

Everyone on the table is happily chattering while I am silently sipping on my coffee, listening to them. I bite back the urge to throw up whenever I see Seth and Grace looking at each other lovingly. To be honest, it seems ... odd. I don't know, maybe that's a personal preference. It's funny how we grew up together and now I am seeing her step into a new life while I am waiting for mine to be finsihed. Anyway, I am happy for them. At least, Grace would be occupied with him and spare me some trouble.

Both my sisters have found their mates. Grace's mate is with her while Phoebe's mate has gone to another pack for training. Her mate is the son of the head warrior of our pack who'll take over his father's position when Phoebe steps up as the Alpha. In just three months Phoebe will step up as the Alpha when she'll turn twenty-one. Previously when Alpha wolves turned eighteen, they used to take over the position but the werewolf council changed the age to twenty-one years recently.

Phoebe will become the Alpha, Grace will become the Beta female and me? Well, I don't know what will happen to me. Maybe, I'll die before that. Who knows? I might be cold in my grave.

After breakfast, I go to the school where the usual things happen. I get thrown out of the class, get yelled at and the usual stuff. Everyone is congratulating Grace on finding her mate. The whole day passes in a blur and finally, school is over. I start walking home but stop in the front of the road that leads to the Forbidden Ruins.

That's when I remember about Arles. I have completed two of his tasks. He must be coming back with the third task soon. I don't want him to come back. He's such an obnoxious, ignorant and arrogant god who deserves a flying kick in his balls. Surprisingly, Vesta stirs at the thought of him and a strange feeling bubbles inside me.

I need some alcohol, I think to myself as I proceed to go home. I'll sneak out tonight and go to the local pub. Maybe the alcohol will help me shake off these weird feeling inside me.

I reach home and soon as I step inside, I regret coming home in the first place. Grace and Seth are sucking each other's face on the living room couch.

"Geez, get a room!" I say while fighting back the urge to throw up.

"Geez, get a mate!" Grace says mimicking my tone after pulling back from him. Both of them smirk at me before continuing to suck each other's face. Vesta howls in pain while my heart aches. I grind my teeth in rage before fleeing upstairs.

I want alcohol.

~

It's midnight when I am climbing into my room through the window with an alcohol bottle in my hand and a live cigarette hanging down my lips.

"Fvck mate. I don't need one." I mutter as I place the alcohol bottle on my nightstand table and slip off my jacket, discarding it on the floor.

"I'll show them I don't need a mate. I don't need anyone to complete me." I mutter incoherently under my breath as I light another cigarette. Vesta shakes her head at me.

'I want to shift.' She says. I nod at her internally before stripping in my room and climbing back outside through the window. I shift midair. My bones crack and fur takes over my skin. When I hit the ground, I am standing on my four.

Vesta's fur is auburn and she's bigger than most of the wolves due to the Alpha blood in us. After doing a little stretch, she charges towards the forest, running without any restrains.

She's free.

I am free.

I let her run through the forest, exploring or sometimes playing. I sit back and watch her enjoy being on the surface for the first time. She rolls on the snow and acts like a newborn puppy. It looks odd seeing a full-grown wolf do that but it's understandable as she has been let out for the first time.

After an hour or two, she starts heading home but changes her route to the Forbidden Ruins.

'Where do you think you're going?' I hiss at her. She rolls her eyes at me before continuing to walk. Arles might be there and I don't want to see him. Not yet. I know that he'll be hunting me down soon for me to complete the third task. I don't want to go knocking on trouble's door even though that's what I do. Sometimes I could use some exceptions, right? But my wolf is hell-bent on going there.

It's like an invisible force is drawing her towards the place. She continues to walk towards the ruins and soon, we're walking past Arles' statue.

'Vesta, stop!' I bellow at her but she keeps walking. Soon, we're walking down the ballroom followed by the long corridor that leads to Arles' courtroom.

The doors to his courtroom are open but the torches are off as she walks in. the room is drenched into darkness. The throne in front of us is empty. His tall and hooded figure is missing.

Vesta keeps walking towards the throne and this time I don't stop her. As she climbs the stairs to the thrones, she pushes me forward, urging me to phase. I phase back to my human form.

Thousands of goosebumps erupt all over my naked body as the night air hits me. My eyes are fixed on the throne. There's something inside me, an unrecognizable voice telling me that it's mine. I am meant for this throne.

Without thinking next, I step forward and sit on it. An unfamiliar surge of power takes over me as I look before me. I feel regal and powerful. I feel above all. My chin is held high while my shoulders are pressed down. My chest is puffed out while I am sitting straight.

"I am the queen," I say, my voice echoes throughout the ruins as my lips curl into a smirk. Vesta howls inside me in approval. Power, that's what I want. I want to be powerful.

"Indeed you are."