The Shadows 12

Book1 Chapter3 

“Hey Katrina,” Hayden said putting his arm around my shoulder. “I hear you’re sixteen as of today. You know that’s the legal age of consent.” 

I elbow him in the gut and moved away from him. “So not interested. I will never be interested. I have these things called standards.” I eyed him disgusted by the prospect of him touching me. “And only someone without any would sleep with 

you.” 

“You can suck my dick, Katrina,” Hayden sneered not taking the rejection very well. 

I huffed. “You would have to grow one first, Hayden.” With that Alex and I turned our backs to him and started towards 

first period. When he was out of range Alex shuddered. 

“I don’t think there’s a living thing that Hayden has tried to sleep with,” she said. 

I agreed. “Can you imagine the STIs that he probably has? His gentiles are probably green!” 

“That is not a mental image I want to have, Katrina,” Alex sputtered. 

“Then why did you picture it?” I asked smartly. 

She narrowed her eyes at me and I smirked back. “You think you’re so cute don’t you?” 

“Nope. I know I am. There is a major difference between the two.” A strange smell reached my nose just as I was saying the last part. It was familiar almost but I couldn’t figure out why. I almost turned to go hunt down the scent it was so 

alluring. 

My mind dredged up the one word that could stop me. Mate. I recoiled mentally and shook my head. The scent was gone now anyways and Alex was staring at me expectedly. “Sorry, what?” 

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked concerned. “You just sort of zoned out. What happened?” 

“Nothing,” I lied knowing if I told her the truth she’d want me to go hunt down the owner of the strange scent. “Come on we better hurry up before we’re late.” 

I know my mate must attend the school. Which means my chances of avoiding whomever it is for the next few years are pretty low. Hell, my chances of avoiding him for the rest of the week are probably pretty slim. I have no delusions of that. 

Still, for some unexplainable reason I continued to actively avoid my mate, going in the opposite direction whenever his scent drew near, sometimes having to go out my way to avoid him. My friends clearly noticed this but known of they asked about my rather odd behavior. 

If only my birthday party were as easy to avoid. The moment I parked my truck in my driveway Alex dragged me upstairs 

and shoved me into the shower. 

I took longer than necessary to shower hoping to delay or even stop my attendance at the party. 

No such luck. When I finally did step out wrapped in a towel they were waiting. Alex and my mother. They spent a good twenty minutes just forcing me into the dress. It was black. The dress was a high-tie waist, off the shoulder loose sheer sleeves down to my elbows with black lace trim, and it stopped just above my knees. 

Book1 Chapter3 

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I couldn’t believe my mother condoned me wearing this, let alone was forcing me too. “I hope you both know that I hate you right now,” I grumbled as Alex clip the front locks of my freshly curled blonde hair in a silver clip in the back of my 

head. 

“I’ll live,” Alex said chipper, “and you look amazing.” Alex herself was wearing a red mini-dress. “Also it is for your party.” 

“A party that I specifically asked, begged really, to not be thrown,” I replied bitterly. 

Alex huffed while my mother dutifully finished the last of my makeup. “Would you seriously rather spend your sixteenth birthday all alone up in your bedroom rather than go to a party that’s being thrown in celebration of you?” 

“Yes!” 

Mom laughed but Alex shook her head. “How are we friends?” she asked. 

My mother answered. “When you were babies your mother and I agreed that if we forced you two together often enough you would entertain each other and we could take turns sleeping.” 

Did I believe that story? Yes, I did. It sounded very much like something our mothers would do. “Huh,” Alex said to herself, she believes it too. “Well anyways you’re getting the party, Katrina.” She forced me into a pair of black sandal wedges and dragged me downstairs and into the backyard where the party had gotten into full boom while she and Mom worked their 

evil magic. 

Alex left me in the middle of the crowd to go hunt down her next boyfriend. She said she was getting a drink but I know 

the truth. Everyone wanted to talk to me. It was exhausting. An hour later and Alex still hadn’t return, my feet hurt from the 

shoes and I was tired of talking to people. 

I was waiting for the moment the back door was clear so I could escape to my room. My chance had finally come. I darted 

towards it. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” I jumped at the voice. 

“Tyler!” Dammit. I was so close! 

My little brother smirked at me. “Nice try Katie, but a couple of friends would like to wish you a happy birthday.” Hadn’t 

everyone already done that? I feel like I’ve talked to the entire school at this point. “Come on,” he said pulling me away 

from the door. 

“Why do you hate me?” I asked as he dragged me along. 

I didn’t really hear Tyler’s reply. The scent was here. My mate was here. It must be someone I know. I quickly flipped through everyone I’ve seen today. 

“Tyler,” I said. The scent grew stronger as he led me. My mate must be one of the friends he was taking me to. “I just want to go upstairs and get out of this dress.” 

Book1 Chapter3 

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