June's POV

I woke up to screaming. I frowned, knowing exactly who the high-pitched dramatic scream belonged to. It was the same every year. I groaned, yanking my pillow over my head. Can I go one birthday without a performance from her?

My birthday.

The thought made me pause. I blinked and pushed the pillow aside. Today, I was 21. Officially. My life was going to change from here.

I stretched and sat up, but something felt... different. The room smelled sharper. My senses were heightened and I could see and hear much clearer. And then I heard her. A presence in my mind, calm but powerful.

“Finally. You’re awake.”

I gasped softly, clutching my sheets.

Who—?

“I’m Nya,” the voice said. “I’m your wolf. You’ve unlocked your inner wolf, June. You’re ready, I'm sure you know what this means.”

I knew what this meant. My father was the beta of the pack, and he had prepared Korra and me for this day. The day we would be officially welcomed into the pack as full Lycan. At the age of twenty-one, we would fully awake our potential and that also meant, we would be able to identify our mates

I smiled. For the first time in forever, I felt awake.

“Happy birthday,” Nya whispered.

I showered, dressed, and took one last look in the mirror before walking downstairs. I was a little nervous, I couldn't wait to see Seth. Seth was 25, and he already knew I wasn't his fated mate, but we didn't let that get to us. He promised to mark me as his on my birthday and the day was finally here.

Downstairs was chaotic as expected.

Korra was spinning in circles on the driveway, fake lashes fluttering wildly, one hand pressed to her mouth in exaggerated disbelief. “OH MY GOD, DADDY! You got me the Electra Nova?! The latest model? In pink?!”

The car glinted in the sun, obnoxiously bubblegum-colored with a giant pink bow on top of it and Dad stood by the hood, smiling proudly like he’d just saved the world.

I stepped out slowly. My presence barely registered, until Korra turned dramatically and squealed, “Isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, June? Daddy said I deserved it after the year I’ve had. Don’t you think it’s, like, perfect for me?”

I didn’t answer. I didn't bother to put on a fake pretentious smile. I was still upset over my ruined gift from yesterday.

Then Dad turned to me, almost as an afterthought. “Here, June," he said, pulling something small from his pocket. “This was your grandmother’s.”

A hairpin. Gold, a bit tarnished. Probably older than I was.

“It’s a family heirloom,” he added. “She’d want you to have it.”

I took it, my fingers cold. “Thanks,” I muttered, forcing a smile. But deep inside, the disappointment I felt was heavy.

A hairpin. For my twenty-first birthday. While my sister got a very expensive car.

Still, I nodded, because if I didn’t, it would turn into another lecture about me being “ungrateful.” Not even a happy birthday from my mother or father, they were busy showering Korra with gifts and love. I fisted the gifts in my hand and left without anyone noticing.

Ten minutes later, a soft knock came at the back door. I opened it.

“Happy birthday, June,” Beth said with a crooked grin, holding something wrapped in brown paper.

I stepped aside, letting her in. She handed it over and I opened it carefully. Inside was a photo album—handmade. Real photos glued to the pages, scribbled notes in her handwriting under everyone. We, at age seven, holding up muddy hands. Twelve, baking cookies and burning every single one. Fifteen, in matching hoodies. Every page was a memory.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked fast, refusing to let them fall. “Beth… this is beautiful.”

“I know things are weird with your family,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck. “But I wanted you to remember you’re not alone.”

I hugged her, hard. “You always know exactly what I need.”

“Of course I do,” she grinned. “Now come on. I booked us a spot at that new spa across town. Your skin needs some love before tonight. We’ve got a party to own.”

I laughed, at her words. “You’re the best.”

She raised a brow. “I know.”

********

I glanced at my phone for the hundredth time. It was unusual, I hadn't gotten a single message from Seth. It was my birthday, and a few hours had gone by since I woke up, and I still couldn't reach Seth. I was on the way to the spa with Beth and I couldn't help but look a little worried.

Then it buzzed.

Seth: Happy birthday, babe. Can’t wait to see you tonight. Wear that blue dress I love got you so we can match.

I smiled, but it was small but it was more than enough. I remembered the blue dress Seth had gotten for me on our fourth anniversary a month back. He always emphasized on how he wanted to see it on me on my birthday dinner night. A party was being thrown for Korra and I tonight, and this was the perfect opportunity to show off my gift from him.

This made me smile and I tried to enjoy the rest of my day with Beth. We ended up going shopping after the relaxing spa treatment as we wanted to get some matching jewelry.

Night time finally came and I got ready for the party that was being held in our mansion with Beth. The blue dress fitted like a glove and I had no doubt that I was going to be in the spotlight tonight.

When I finally made my way downstairs, the house was transformed. Music thumped low through the speakers. Glittery balloons floated near the ceiling, fairy lights wrapped the railing, and a massive silver banner read:

“Happy 21st, Korra!”

My name was on the bottom corner. In smaller letters. Faded gold. Like an afterthought. I frowned at this.

There were pink and white centerpieces. Sparkly placemats. Even the cupcakes were frosted in Korra’s color scheme.

“Miss June!” Someone said. “You look... amazing.”

I nodded politely. But as I moved through the crowd, all I could hear was:

“Isn’t that Korra’s sister?”

“I thought Korra was the birthday girl?”

"I forgot they were twins!"

“Wow, Korra planned this all?”

No one even asked me how I was. Or what it felt like to be 21 and to be a finally full Lycan. I was trying not to let it get to me when I saw him.

Seth.

He stood near the back doors, looking just as gorgeous as always, with a tall, sharp jaw and eyes that once made my heart skip.

But he wasn’t wearing blue.

He was dressed in silver. A perfectly pressed shirt, dark pants, and polished shoes. He stood out, and there were many ladies around him, fluttering their lashes and giggling, wanting the attention of the soon-to-be Alpha of the pack.

I walked up slowly, trying not to feel it, but the disappointment hit harder than I wanted it to. “Hey,” I said, brushing my hand against his arm. “Happy birthday to me, right?”

He smiled and kissed my cheek. “You look incredible. Like... unreal, June.”

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “You didn’t wear blue.”

His face shifted for a second, barely noticeable. “Oh. Yeah... sorry. My shirt got ruined earlier. Some spill, long story. I had to throw something together.”

I blinked, trying not to feel worse than I already did. “But you told me to match with you.”

He laughed awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. “I know. I really did mean to. Just... didn’t go as planned, I guess.”

An unusually awkward silence laid between us till I finally spoke up. "You don't smell any different," I mumbled, and he nodded, wordlessly. We both knew what this meant, we weren't mates. I knew that four years ago when Seth turned twenty but we both decided to ignore the fact. We were in love... We are in love.

Still, I asked quietly, “Do you ever wish we were mates?”

He hesitated. “June...”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Just be honest.”

He sighed. “Yeah. I do. But even if we’re not, that doesn’t mean we can’t be great together. We have something solid. Real. That’s worth something, right?”

I nodded slowly, my throat tight. “Yeah... I guess.” And then I turned to him and whispered. "But you will mark me as yours? Just like you promised, right?"

I saw what looked like hesitation in his eyes and he broke our eye contact and turned to the crowd before mumbling. "It's your birthday, June; let's enjoy the night."