Linden.

"So how are you feeling about our birthday, I know you're not in the least okay." Train was right, I wasn't and it was becoming prominent, what would I do if Em wasn't my mate.

Obviously drown myself in ice cream then cry my eyes out, after that drown in chips, spaghetti, and wine. I think after that, I would finally go through those bloody stages of grief.

I'm sure they would know me by my name if ever I would have a break down again because of heartbreak, I'm not looking forward to that.

"Honestly, and I say this in an honest way, I can't even think straight or sleep or try be my jovial self because I'm worried, it's weird I don't see a future without Em and if he's not my mate, it's going to hurt." I knew Train understood me because he had just experienced that heartbreak.

"Youll survive, I know I did, thanks to you." I smile toward him as we head out of the main school building. Emric was by the car alone, I could see from where I was how nervous he was and the pout on his face.

"I wanna come too." Train laughed at him and I hug my boyfriend. "I love you, but you can't come, you have a pack meeting to attend. Train told me, your mom is planning the party she will need help, and there is the issue about my mom's boyfriend, so no can do." The pout stayed on and I kissed him.

"Don't be a baby, I will see you tomorrow at the packhouse, Train is picking me up, that's the only way the surprise will work." He whines but obliged. "You're the boss." I kiss him again and reluctant as he was, he took time to pull out the car keys from his pocket.

"I love you so much." We hug and I climb into the car. "Take care of him." He instructs his brother who replied with a smile and a nod.

"Your mom has a boyfriend?" I remembered that I hadn't told Train about this morning and my mother who was dating a rogue wolf. "I found out my mom has a boyfriend, it's been going on for a while and he's a wolf, I don't know if my mom knows or how long have I been assuming my mom was at work when she was with him." I sighed feeling a slight pang of hurt.

Could my mom have lied all this time, leading me to believe something else, when in fact she had been hiding this from me, I felt betrayed and hurt.

"I'm sure she had reason for not telling you, I would vouch for her if she argued that she didn't want you to think the guy was replacing your dad, if not I don't think I can support any reason for not telling you, don't get yourself stressed, one problem at a time and right now it's your outfit." He was right, I had to focus on one thing.

"Thanks Train I appreciate it and I'm going to try not stress that much because of this whole mess, I just want to be happy for you and Em, then deal with mom, after would be school." He kept driving with a smile gracing his lips.

"I have options to go to North City University by the way, or Algiers and I don't know what to do." He gave me a questioning look and motioned to continue.

"I want to be a vet, and to do that I need to find a proper institute for it, my options are either the one here, Algiers or North City, with graduation in like a few months, I don't know what to do." He mouths an oh. "Before you ask, you're the only one who knows." I don't know how I could confide in Train, he was that person you would honestly just open up to.

He didn't need to coerce you into talking and letting it out, you just did and you always know you could trust him, he was never judgemental, always had something positive to say and at times the positive seemed negative but that's how shitty life was.

It would be bittersweet.

"You do know if you're mated to my brother, you'll have a duty as his mate, I'm not trying to impose it on you but that's the truth, the pack would need you, so my best advice is after tomorrow make your decision, if you're mated to Emric make plans that will balance out your life, and like I said before, one problem at a time." I sighed knowing he was right again.

I would make the decision after finding out if Emric was the one, I would actually make that plan so that I can balance out my life, obviously mom wouldn't want to leave St Maine, therefore my decision would have to work around that, but still being majorly about me.

I was glad I talked to Train, I had figure out what to do and how to do it, all my decisions depended on tomorrow or the day after and tomorrow was how I hoped it would come out then I had a lot to do.

Train finally found a good parking spot in town center, they should just give St Maine city status, you really couldn't call it a town anymore with how huge it was.

"Okay, let's get you an outfit." Train and I go by clothing shops one after the other. He pulls out a striped v-neck sweater and it was hideous. "Eww hell no, I'm not wearing that." He laughs putting it back.

"What exactly do you want?" I spot a boutique on the other side of the street and I grinned, nothing like boutique shopping. I had the money for it, when dad died he made sure we would have everything, I rarely used the money and my mom worked so there wasn't a real need.

So I dragged Train from the shop we were in, carelessly crossed the road and got into the boutique. "Hie Andie." I greet my former friend who was one of the helpers in the boutique.

"Hey Linden, you look great, you're Train right." The two looked at each other for so long until I cleared. "Sorry he's just intoxicating." Train apologizes, I chuckle turn back to Andie.

"I'm sorry about how they treated you, and I'm sorry I didn't stop it sooner." I knew Andie never meant to hurt me, his twin was the actual problem, Amie.

"Its okay, and I truly understand, it's hard going against family." I didn't expect him to hug me, it felt good. "Can we start over?" I nod and he smiles too. "Sure." I replied.

"So we're looking for an outfit for this loveable person here, he wants to drop jaws tomorrow, my brother's included and this shop seems to have what we're looking for." Andie nods and beckons us to follow him.

"It a bit pricey but I think I have the right options for you." Train was giddy, he was looking forward to tomorrow as much as me. We start going through outfits and it wasn't easy.

"I don't want to walk like I soiled myself and these pants are too baggy." I go back into the changing booth, put my clothes on and throw the pants at Andie and Train.

Then an idea hit me. "Train this is a semi outdoor party right?" He nods. "The outdoor part is when the ceremony is done." He nods again. He had explained that tomorrow, Emric was going to receive his title as alpha, but the pack and his parents had kept it secret.

"Then get me a plain white collar shirt, black slim fit pants, I want my ass to look sexy, and straps instead of a belt, Train find me grey lace boots." The two hurried to their tasks and within ten minutes I was changing.

I removed my glasses, made my hair wild like I just had sex, and walked out of the changing booth. Train wolf whistled and Andie squeals. "It's perfect, I love it!" My outfit was perfect.

I changed back, wore my glasses and paid for the clothes plus a few extras that I bought, never leave a boutique or store with less than one bag. Train helped me put them in the car and we were off to find presents.

"Stay here Train, it's your birthday surprise so wait." He obliged and I walked into the Tech store, I knew Train loved video games, so why not spoil him with Play station something, I could never keep up with the versions so I bought the latest one. "Can you wrap that up for me, I can't let him see it." The girl did it and I was out of the store.

"You're opening it tomorrow which means I'm going with it to my house." He sulks but obliged. We kept walking until I found the jewelry store where I ordered. "Hey Lee, got your order wrapped already." The lady who owned the store lived a house after mine.

It was easy to order what I wanted and I would just pay. "What is that?" Train asks and I put a finger to my lips. "Fine." He sulks again. We were done with everything when I got out of the store I could feel someone watching me but didn't know from where.

So I interlocked my arm with Train and we walked normally, I figured he knew we were being watched. A little while later we were in the car driving to my house.

"Tell your brother about it, it was odd being watched like that." He nods, I didn't like that feeling at all. When I got home Train helped me with everything and said his goodbyes after eating dinner with me.

My phone dinged and I checked the message, it was from Emric requesting an orange cake, I wasn't sleepy so I decided to bake. The house was silent except for the tv and my phone.

From afar I could feel something outside, I looked out and saw wolves running past, I recognized them from the day of our date, it made me feel better. I wasn't really all that alone.

+++

LMJ