Chapter two

Thanksgiving dinner was held at the pack house every year. My mom has been in charge of making sure dinner is prepared for as long as I can remember. Those few days before the holiday, the pack house is crowded and buzzing with activity.

It's mostly Omegas who prepare the feast and decorate the house. Not because we're treated differently or forced to, but because unsurprisingly that's who volunteers. Doing these kind of things give Omegas the satisfaction of doing for their pack. We're opposed to violence and conflict, leaving border patrol and really anything that involves fighting or muscle for other pack members.

The day before Thanksgiving, mom doesn't come home until early morning to make sure everyone is dressed appropriately. She usually sends Kai back up to his room to change. My older brother's idea of casual formal, is worn jeans and flannel shirts. Which is pretty much what he wears everyday. I once heard mom praying to the Goddess to bless him with a Mate who would pick out his clothes for him. By now I'm sure she's just praying for a Mate in general.

Kai’s twenty three now and after five years and no Mate, he's kind of given up. He's a loner and unlike me, he chooses to be. Kai could have moved into the pack house like most unmated wolves, but he chose to stay home. Even if mom has the tendency to nag. His reasoning was because it's quiet.

I know if I don't find my mate, I'll probably stay home too. Not because I don't like being around others but because others don't like being around me.

Mom stood by the door, dusting off dad's shirt and tapping her foot impatiently. She was dressed in a emerald green dress that fell just below her knees and her hair was down in soft red waves. Her face had turned a bright crimson when dad said she looked beautiful. Instead of thanking him, she slapped his arm and fixed his collar. Mom's a naturally beautiful female but it's rare to see her dressed up. Most of the time she's in her chef uniform with her hair in a messy bun.

Kai’s heavy footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs before he appeared at the bottom in khaki slacks and a ironed button down. Mom had prepared this year, already having the outfit laid out for him. He looked uncomfortable and wore a frown under his full beard. I was a little jealous of that, I couldn't even get a single hair to grow on my chin.

"See, now you're presentable. Let's go!" Mom said, rushing us out.

"I look like a Mormon." Kai grumbled as he slid in the backseat with me. I snickered even though he didn't. He looked like every other higher ranking wolf who was twice my size in muscle.

Self consciously, I looked down at myself and pulled on my navy sweater. I got away with wearing my converse this year but only because mom doesn't really care what I wear. Something usually ends up spilled on me by the end of the night.

"Wait!" I yelled out, making mom curse as she jumped in the front seat. "I forgot my apple pie." I really didn't mean to.

"Don't scare me like that, I thought it was something important." Mom sighed.

"But—"

"Sweetie, there'll be plenty of pie there." Mom said before telling dad how many beers he could have.

I pouted in the backseat, looking out the window. I've made an apple pie every year since I was twelve. I always had the kitchen to myself with mom at the pack house and everything was quiet. Every year I'd bring my pie and sit it among the many and every year it'd be the first one Jeon jeongguk would take a slice of. How could I have forgotten it?

Dad had to park the SUV on the side of the street with the many other cars. We were all used to such a big gathering, seeing as there was the monthly pack meet. The crowd just seemed bigger on holidays and sometimes it was. I wondered if the Alpha invited anyone this year. Last year he'd invited another Alpha family whose young pup played with knives. He was a little strange.

"Now," Mom said once we were all out of the car. Kai and I made eye contact, having heard this speech every year. "You both know I don't mind you wondering off to hang out with the pups your age but I want you both to remember who raised you." She said sternly, mostly to me. Last year it was a pitcher of sweet tea, the year before that it was the urn holding the Luna's grandfather. That was a horrible year.

After entering the house and greeting the Alpha Pair respectfully, mom drug dad off to greet the family and their friends and Kai went into the den to watch the game playing. I hesitated by the door, looking into the crowded room that was loud with males shouting at the tv and pushing each other around. Kai was the quietest male in there, sitting alone with his eyes on the tv.

That was definitely a room to avoid.

Knowing where I was going, I avoided the older Wolves who all stood around chatting and made it to the back deck. Pups were running around and playing in the back yard, and like I'd expected, the teens hung out on the deck.

Rubbing a hand over my sweater, I took a steadying breath before sliding open the glass door.

No one looked up from their playful banter but I didn't really expect them to. My eyes were stuck on the strong back of Jeon jeongguk. He was dressed up as he is every year, in navy blue slacks and a matching blazer. You see, we're meant for each other, we even unknowingly color coordinated.

Putting on a big smile, I ignored the nervous flutters in my belly and walked over to where everyone was standing.

"Hi!" I said way too happily and mentally slapped myself. Everyone looked up uninterested before going back to their conversations or their phones.

"Ugh, hey, Jimin."Yoongi said, making my slipping smile pull back up. I always loved when he said my name. I stood in front of him and stared dumbly, not really knowing what to say. Well, I knew what I wanted to say, or not say. I wanted to pull him down to my level and kiss him of course! That wasn't going to happen though. At least not until my birthday—fingers crossed—.

"Look at you runt, I see you haven't spilled anything yet." Jeongguk teased, messing with the collar of the shirt under my sweater. I swatted him hands away, my smile falling. Jeongguk is an asshole. That's the simple word for the manipulative, spoiled, jeongguk who is sadly yoongi’s best friend. Not that I know why. The earliest memory I have of him is when he chased me with a bucket of mud and threw it at me until I was covered. I had to go home in tears and explain to my mom what happened while she sprayed me down with the hose.

"Come on, leave the kid alone." Yoongi said with a light laugh. Kai flicked my nose before following my future Mate into the house.

I pouted and looked around at everyone who ignored my existence. Seeing as no seat was available, I sat down on the stairs leading to the backyard and watched the pups play. The only time I'd got to play like that was after begging Kai to play with me, and that was only in the privacy of our own back yard.

There was no point in trying to talk to anyone again so I sat there until it was announced that the food was ready. The pack is too big for everyone to fit in one room, so the food is served buffet style.

Everyone was rushing to get to the food and that's when the inevitable happed. A pup ran past me, bumping into my leg and sending me crashing into a table. I felt little pieces of glass cut into my side when I rolled to get up, accidentally rolling into the glass from a broken picture frame.

Luckily with the food waiting, no one stuck around to laugh at me.

"Clean that up." Someone snapped and I picked myself up to go get a broom.

By the time I cleaned everything up, everyone already had a plate and was sitting around in various rooms with friends and family. Mom was in the dinning room where the large table had been removed for the long tables holding all the food, she was huffing at a female about the stuffing.

Her eyes flicked to me but most of her attention was on the stuffing. When the female took the platter back to the kitchen, mom turned to me and she groaned.

"Really, Jimin ?" She huffed. "Go get the car keys from your father, I put extra clothes in the trunk for you."

I looked down at myself and finally noticed the dark spot on the side of my sweater. Blood had seeped through and I hadn't even noticed.

Dad was with the uncles guzzling down a beer when I found him, clearly trying to finish it before mom came back. He handed me the keys while shaking his head disapprovingly but I was use to that from him...well, from everyone.

Mom hadn't just put one extra change of clothes in the trunk but three. For some reason it made me sad. Maybe it's because I know no one really expects much from me. Unless it's to make a mess or break something. I'll eventually belong nowhere in the pack, not even accepted by the Omegas. Maybe I shouldn't be so eager for my birthday. If the Alpha decides to kick me out, I'll have no choice but to live with the humans because no other pack will accept me. I'm in no way beneficial. I'm not strong, I'm not all that smart, average at best. I can't clean without making a bigger mess and I can't cook in front of anyone unless they want me to start a fire.

Is there anything I am good at?

Pulling up my shirts to see the cuts on my side were still bleeding, meaning glass was still in them, I groaned. Of course this couldn't just be an easy shirt swap.

I had just pulled off my sweater and button up when the loud roar of an engine made me look up.

Cars weren't really my thing, but I had seen some of the shows dad watches and the sleek black muscle car was definitely one of the old ones people collect.

I held my shirt in front of my chest as it slowed down, coming to a stop beside me.

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