"Happy birthday!" I yelled when I saw my friend. He has spent the morning with his parents then would spend the afternoon and night with me.

"Thank you baby doll." Karter smiled at me. "Officially an adult."

"Yep. Soon it be me. And I go out and make friends. We go together 'cause it's Nova and Karter always." I giggled.

"Sure thing doll. Whatever you want, wherever you want to go I'll take you." He stated.

"Y-you find mate yet?" I asked him.

"Not yet doll." Karter said after a few seconds. "Maybe they're not in this pack."

"Oh." I whispered. I want Karter to be my mate. He makes me feel safe and I can be myself around him. Karter holds me when I'm sad and he cuddles me when I'm happy. He catches me when I cuddle him, he reads to me to sleep and he lets me do face mask with him. I love Karter, he be my mate.

"I your mate." I pouted.

"I'm sorry Nova." Karter sighed a little. "I would have smelt your scent by now. I'm not your mate doll."

"B-but I love you and y-you l-love me. My mate." I cried.

"It doesn't work like that doll, I'm sorry." He said and held me to his chest. He picked me up and carried me to my bedroom where he laid down and cuddled me. Tears stained his T-shirt while I cried, no one but Karter can be with me, I just want him.

"Don't cry doll. We'll still be best friends." He told me.

"But mate. We kiss and cuddle, we have the sex Mika said. You my mate." I looked at him.

"We can't do any of that. We can cuddle, I'll cuddle you to the ends of the earth because I love you. But the moon goddess has other plans for us baby. I wish there was more I could do." He sighed at the end.

I nodded and buried my face back into his chest. His hand rubbed my back while my tears wet his T-shirt. Hiccups sounded as I calmed down, yet tears still fell. Karter is supposed to be with me, he cares for me like dada and papa, he loves me, Karter baths me and cuddles me when I'm sad. Karter is my mate but he's not, he's mine but I'm not his. I just want Karter.

No one looks after me like Karter, no one cuddles me, makes me laugh and smile, no one loves me like Karter. It's all him, and I just want that. I just want Karter to love me like I love him. But I can't have him. He's someone else's, why can't I have him. No one is like Karter, no one will ever come close to what he's like.

"Go to sleep baby doll." He whispered softly, his hand didn't cease to stop rubbing my back.

While I left Nova to sleep, I went downstairs to see her family there. A couple of the boys out with their friends but some of the kids there. They all said happy birthday to me which I gave my thanks and sat down. I let myself fall next to Ryan with Eli on his other side.

"What happened?" Ryan asked me.

"She asked me if I found my mate." I sighed. "I told her no and she got upset about it. I know she wants me to be her mate because I take care of her, but I guess there's other plans for us."

"I guess she's really crushed about it." He sighed.

"Yeah." I whispered and laid my head back on the sofa.

"She'll be okay. It's not the end of the world and I'm sure she'll find a great guy or girl someday. They might even be in this pack and she'll find out in a couple weeks." Eli spoke up.

"Maybe." I shrugged.

"What's wrong?" Both of them asked me.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"About what?" Eli questioned.

"What if she doesn't have a good person and they use her because she doesn't know right from wrong? I'm so worried." I explained. "I won't be there to help her because I'd be with a mate of my own and we'd both be caught up with them."

"Nova will be absolutely fine. I'm sure. And if she isn't, then we'll help her and tell her how to get out of it. It'll be the same for the boys as well." Ryan told me.

"I try to reassure myself that she'll be alright, but I know her. I know Nova won't have a clue what to do, I just hope our friendship doesn't get ruined." I tell them.

"Everything will be fine Karter. I have a feeling." Eli stated.

"I hope so." I muttered to myself.

After a couple hours, Nova woke up and clung to me. When she was to have dinner she wouldn't sit on her own chair so she ended up sitting on my lap. Like always, I had one arm around her waist while the other held a fork so I could feed myself.

"What have you got planned for tonight?" Eli smiled.

"Usual stuff. Face masks, nails, films, junk food." I replied.

"You excited Nova?" Jace asked her. All he got was a nod while she kept a stone cold expression on her face.

"Verbal answer baby doll." I told her.

"Yes." Nova whispered. I sighed and rubbed her thigh to give her as much comfort as I could.

We carried on with dinner with a light conversation about Nova's birthday party and what she'd wear. She wanted a normal teenage party where everyone could wear what they wanted so they didn't feel like they had to wear whatever. Casual wear is what Nova wants.

"Are you ready?" I looked at Nova who stood at the living room door with her bag on her shoulder. She nodded and said goodbye to her parents and brothers then we left.

The car was quiet, not even the radio was on to have some sort of noise, it was just silent. Nova was scarily quiet, she's usually bubbly and excited to stay at mine, but she's so silent. It makes me feel guilty because I know why she's like this, it's my fault because I told her we aren't mates. I don't know what to do, I have no clue on what to do because I'm not hers.

I hate that she feels like this, I can't stand my bubbly baby so silent and upset because of me. Soon enough, I parked the car and got out, going to her side and grabbing her bag as she got out of the car. Without saying anything, Nova walked inside, I most of forgot to lock the door, anyway, she walked in and went straight upstairs.

I followed behind after locking the door and went upstairs. When I got to my room, I saw nova laid on my bed simply ready for bed. Whenever she stays she's always in her pyjamas so when she gets tired I don't have to keep her awake to get her to put on her pyjamas.

I set the bag down and started getting ready for bed. After a quick shower and putting on some joggers, I dried my hair and sat down on my bed.

"Talk to me baby doll." I muttered not turning my head to look at her.

"Nothing to talk about." She said. Only she sounded grown up, something that I wish I could unhear. I've never wanted Nova to sound or act like she's older than she is, especially with her mindset I don't want it to make her into someone she's not. I love the small, child like girl who is always happy. Not this grown up who frowns and doesn't talk to me.

"There is because you haven't been yourself. Tell me what's wrong." I sighed.

"Nothings wrong, I just want to sleep." She growled a little.

"Now tell me what's the matter. I'm pissed with this attitude, tell me the problem." My voice coming out stern as I looked at her. Her back still to me so I couldn't see her face.

"I said there's nothing wrong Karter." Nova spat out.

"Bullshit. Tell me." I growled deeply. All of a sudden Nova was at me. Before I could comprehend what was going on, it happened.