6.

Sienna

"Papa isn't here. How can he give me a gift? Or even know that I would be here."

Anger and hurt by the appearance of this gift, brew inside of me. For my past birthdays, the gifts were only from mama, and Jovian now on my eighteenth one from papa just appears. For eleven years, they hid secrets from me, treating me like a fragile piece of China.

"¿Vas a abrirlo amor?" (Are you going to open it, sweetheart?) Mama asked. She looked at me with so much hope in her eyes but for what. They both acted like this was a normal occurrence.

"NO!"

"Si! Just open the gift stop being dramatic." Jovian said rolling his eyes.

"Dramatic? Really, Jovian? So you're not shocked that after eleven years of not seeing nor hearing anything from papa this gift shows up for me, We... well I don't know where he is, nor has sent a letter to tell me he's alive. I only get empty assurances from you guys that he's alive. You're family and I should believe you but how can I when no one wants to tell me the truth," I asked still not believing how calm they were.

"I got mine when I turned eighteen. He said to make sure you got one ...."

"Wait. He said? You are speaking of him as if....." I said cutting him off. I stopped when I noticed both of them looking at each other.

Pushing back my chair, I stood up and asked the same question I have been asking since I was seven. "Donde es papa?"

I waited for five whole minutes looking at each of them, they said nothing. My own family preferred to keep such a secret from me. They preferred to lie to me. I looked at my mother, "He's my father. What is so bad that I have been kept in the dark for eleven years? You brought us to this country in the middle of the night without any explanation. I watched our home being burned down. The humans wanted our blood but yet no one told me the reason why they rebelled against us and why Papa had to stay" Tears of anger and hurt rolled down my cheeks as I looked at both of them.

"We cannot tell you where he is. It isn't time for you to know. Everything isn't cleared up." Jovian said.

"Not the right time? My tenth birthday, my sixteenth birthday. When I first shifted. Now. My eighteenth birthday. Please tell me when will be the right time so I can make it a grand affair." I snapped storming out of the room.

What a way to spend my eighteenth birthday.

The rest of the day I spent it in my room, reading birthday wishes online from my past classmates and watching vines. I wanted a major distraction from the nagging questions burning in my mind. Releasing a deep sigh, I went on IMO and called the one person I longed to see. My calculations of time difference were really bad so I didn't know what time it was in England.

"Hello, sweetheart" Even his sleep riddled voice is sexy.

"Hi baby" I replied. Calling each other pet names came as easy to us no discomfort at all. I was staring at him blankly not seeing him at all, all I saw was the scene that played off earlier.

"Sienna? What's wrong? Did you not like your gift? You can always return it." Matthew's concerned voice broke through my reverie.

"Oh. Um... I haven't seen it yet matter of fact I haven't opened any of my gifts yet," I said feeling a bit guilty. I was so caught up in my own emotions I forgot the gesture my friends made.

"Why is that? Is something wrong with your pack? I can send sentinels in your area to help." he said rising from his bed.

"Matthew. Please. No. Nothing is wrong. Well, something is but not with the pack." Looking at him through the screen I saw how worried he became.

'Did we miss something? He and his wolf have this care for us, so much just like a mate. I never saw another wolf look at a female like this' Lana confided in me. I can tell that she too was questioning this attraction between Matt and me, even our wolves liked being around each other.

'We would have known if he was ours. This connection is somewhat frightening, I returned.

"Tell me, love. What is it?" he asked running his fingers through his brown-blonde locks.

"One of my gifts was from my father," I said bluntly.

He stared at me blankly opening and closing his mouth wanting to say something but the words weren't coming out. "Yes, my father who has been missing for eleven years and apparently my brother received one for his eighteenth but didn't tell me. You know what else they know where he's at but doesn't wish to tell me because it isn't the right time." I blurted out.

"That was a mouthful" he exclaimed. Rolling my eyes at him I was able to give him a little smile. "Maybe he bought it a long time ago and asked your mother to give it to you on your eighteenth?" he continued.

"That may be true but Jovian spoke as if they recently had a conversation while I was away." I mused.

"Do you still want me to look into his disappearance? My family is not for that territory but I can ask my uncle Angelo." he offered. I wanted to take that olive branch but my brother's words echoed in my head. I shook my head no."I will give them until spring. Well if I can wait so long." I said to him. He nodded in agreement then sent a smile my way. My face was turning red for sure, "Matt what you said in the video...."

"Yeah?" he said cutting through with hope in his eyes.

"I'm in. It can be a practice for both of us. I'm a virgin to it all and to share my doubts and feelings I won't choose anyone but you. Please note, nothing sexual, no matter how hot we are for each other."

His face lit up like the 4th of July causing me to feel ultimately happy. This boy would be the death of me. I always want to see the smile on his face. Whenever he's happy, I'm happy.

"So now I can boast you're mine? You're my girl?" he said with all the excitement. Laughing out loud I nodded yes, happy that I pleased him and myself.

"I just want to kiss you so bad my sweet Lily" His eyes were shining like jewels as he looked at me.

This isn't normal for two wolves to feel this much compatibility. Hopefully, this doesn't affect my future mating.

"I miss you," I said softly remembering his happy face.

"I miss you too. One more week baby. One more week." His tone has moved from happy to sad in a millisecond. We stayed in a comfortable silence looking at each other. Matthew was now back in bed under his covers smiling sadly at me. "Please don't be sad. I want happy Matty" I said pouting. He groaned playfully begging me not to ever call him that again.

"Well don't be sad" I teased.

He let out a very sleepy yawn causing me to laugh but I know I had to let him go back to sleep. After telling him good night and ending our video call I laid back on my bed thinking of how long our relationship would last before we each find our mates.

I don't think I want to find my mate anytime soon. I want to enjoy whatever that's between Matthew and I. A good distraction from whatever is going on in my family.

Jovian

I hate lying to my little sister, I saw on a daily basis how not knowing whether if Papi was alive or not was doing to her. Of all days, her eighteenth birthday, it was ruined by this secret we kept from her. Sitting in my office chair, I tried to concentrate on the pack issues but I couldn't. Unable to hold back I dialed the number that led me directly to the source of all this worry.

"What is it? Are you alright?" His voice still had a strong Spanish accent just as I remembered. I wonder if Si remembered how it sounded even worse yet how he looked.

"Yeah, we are fine. I mean no. It's Sienna...." I started to say but couldn't finish.

The silence was my reply from his end. "Papá tenemos que decirle. La está matando por dentro." (Dad we need to tell her. It's killing her inside) I pleaded with him.

"Cuando ella encuentra su compañero de entonces podemos decirle. No puedo protegerla solo. Vieron todo y nosotros les siga sus instrucciones. Asegúrese de que lleva el regalo." (When she finds her mate then we can tell her. I cannot protect her alone. They saw it all and we should follow their instructions. Make sure she wears the gift.) He said in a hushed tone.

Releasing a deep sigh I conceded with my father's order, hanging up I then made my way to my mother. She was in her office also, looking at a picture of herself and dad. "He said no didn't he," she simply said.

"Sí mama" I answered.

"We knew this would happen from the day she was born. It was like they knew beforehand. When they came to visit I knew our lives won't be the same from that day on." she said wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"What if it takes years again for her to find her mate," I asked pacing the floor.

"It won't. Trust me it won't" she quietly said looking out the window.

Whatever and whoever is after Sienna would be for a rude awakening if her mate is the one to keep her safe.