Chapter 3

Periods... Time... Dates... Those things were what mostly weighed down on me. Usually around this time of the year i always make sure not to lose my head by trying my best to at least remain optimistic. Look at the brighter side of things.

But today being The Mate Picking Ceremony, I didn't want to go outside. I just wanted to stay locked up in my room and pretend as if I was sick. Nobody would blink an eye if I said I was sick.

But with this Ceremony being a very important one and whether be you sick or disabled you have to attend, so I had no choice.

Oh did I forget to mention that today was also my birthday, the day I was born into this terrible life. I didn't even know that today was my birthday till Dennis brought me a cupcake with a small candle. He lit it up with a lighter that he brought out of his pocket.

He handed it over to me, I took it in my hand, and he said in a soft whisper: "Make a wish?"

I closed my eyes, what I wished for was nothing, i didn't know what I wanted to wish for cause I didn't have any hope or dreams anymore.

I opened my eyes and blew out the candle. Dennis had a smile on his face, he removed the candle and kept it on the table that was some few inches away from us.

I took a bite out of the cupcake, it tastes absolutely amazing.

"Where did you get this?" I asked out of curiosity.

"The cafeteria lady gave it to me. Apparently she remembered that today is your birthday."

My heart warm on hearing this, I have never received such a nice gesture before in my life, I made a mental note to show my gratitude to her later on.

"Tonight is the night of The Mate Picking Ceremony." Dennis said, and it took everything within me not to let out a frustrated sound.

"I wish I didn't have to go, why did I even turn twenty today," I grumbled while taking another bite of the cupcake.

"Well it's a mandatory event. Unless you want to be fined?"

I rolled my eyes at him when he said this. Of cause I don't want to be sanctioned. I mean where in the world would I find the money to even pay for the fine. I would have to work for the rest of my life if that's the case.

"I am just not interested, I mean who gives a shit about who they spend the rest of their lives with anyway."

"Apparently everyone in Nightfall Pack," he says as a matter of fact.

"Everyone is stupid," I had already finished up the cupcake and it was just the wrapper in my hand. I gave it a squeeze and released it only for it come out looking squished.

"Everyone? Including me and the cafeteria lady that gave you a cupcake for your birthday?" With the way he said it, he sounded hurt that I would utter such words.

"Not everyone I guess."

There was this silence that engulf us, aside from the sounds of the soldiers training outside. Even though it has been quite peaceful around this parts for years now, doesn't mean they should ever let their guard down. So they always train in case another pack decides to attack them, or a rogue wolf come along looking for somebody to eat.

"Hey Alexa, there is something I want to tell you before the ceremony tonight."

"What is it?" I asked still looking at the cupcake wrap in my hands.

"I..." Dennis wanted to speak, but it looks like he was finding it difficult to say anything, which made me look at him.

"Dennis." My voice was soft. "What do you want to tell me."

"I... I have always liked you. And i just hid it from you cause I thought that you might not really like me like that."

It took a while before my brain could process what he just said, and when it did I thought I was going to be surprised... But I wasn't.

"Dennis. I have always knew that you like me."

Dennis looked at me dumbstruck. "You always did," he croaked out.

"Yes, I mean it's pretty obvious. Probably when we enter our awkward teenage years."

Then there was Dennis going quiet or probably he didn't know what to say and was trying to get his words out.

"Well, since you know about me liking you, then what about you? Do you like me as well?" He asked, his voice sounding hopeful.

The question was something I didn't expect him to throw at me so suddenly. I rack my brain to know if by any chance I like him. I mean I liked him as someone I could always lean on, it was somewhat of a platonic relationship that I choose to share with him.

I opened my mouth, then closed it back. If I say these words I would definitely hurt him badly, but if I keep quiet he just might think of it as my answer to him and he might never want to talk to me ever again.

"Dennis..." Before I could talk, I felt his lips on mine. Which completely took me by surprise, however my body reacted to it by kissing him back as well.

His hands was softly wrapped around my waist, his tongue roaming around each and every single corner of my mouth. He probably tastes the ruminates of the cupcake that I just finished, but it looks like he didn't care.

He removed his lips from my mine, as we both breathed heavily while staring deeply into each other's eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly, as he let go of my waist and sat at the edge of the bed. His hands were interlocked with each other.

"I shouldn't have done that, I am so sorry," he stood up and ran out of the room before I could say anything.

I sat there on my bed with a confused expression on my face. What the actual fuck was that?