Dark Prophecies: Second Chance Mates

Rayven's POV.

Fate?

Grrr....

Fate....was....a....a bitch.

A vindictive cruel bitch too.

A terrible truth that I, Rayven Vonyah Stanhope Carlisle have come to know to be the unfortunate truth. Forced to bear witness to the malicious cruelty and horror that fate could bestow upon the people who relied on it. As it'd been shitting on me since practically from the moment I came into this world, almost like it was tormenting me with the reality I was forced to endure.

Today was my birthday. My sixteenth birthday to be more precise. A day that was normally marked by joy and happiness, to begin my adventure into womanhood. At least these were human beliefs of the joyous occasion. Neither was the case for me. Today only served as a reminder of the complete failure that I was, the embarrassment I posed to my family. My pack. My goddess.

Muttering under my breath at the reminder of the cruel fate that'd been cursed upon my head, I almost didn't want to rouse from bed. Where I lived in the small town of Shadow Creek to be found deep in the Olympian Mountains, was pack territory. That's right. I wasn't born into a world of mortals, I was entrusted to the safekeeping of the powerful werewolf packs. Mine was Blood Diamond. The strongest, most powerful and fierce pack to be found in these mountains. Just the name of our pack had the ability to terrify the masses, sending our enemies running away like the chickenshits they were.

Especially him. A grin spread across my lips at the thought of the one that'd come to my mind in that moment. Our leader, Alpha Kadden Black. He was truly a terrifying sight to behold at a height of nearly six foot seven, with muscular arms so large it was hard to wrap my arms around them. His chest was just as massive as the rest of him. I couldn't touch my hands together the man was so enormous, making the rest of us feel like dwarfs next to him. Most especially me, the smallest cub in the pack.

When I'd been born everyone had rejoiced at the marking of my birth, honored to be presented with baby me. My parents were the Betas bloodline in the pack, the second most powerful bloodline in existence. My father had stood as Alpha Kadden's Beta for close to twenty years now, such a powerless he'd become legendary. My mom was no different, before her breeding had come on she'd been a warrior, the first female beta warrior in close to a hundred years. So it'd been rather embarrassing when two such great fighters were finally presented with their long-hoped-for child. The baby was so tiny I practically fit in the small of my father's hand, topping all of three pounds then. The den mother had shaken her head as she'd stared at the infant I'd been, having little doubt I'd even survive through the night.

Of course I had. There'd been a strength inside of me none of them could ever understand that'd given me the strength to survive. One day had turned to two and then suddenly I'd reached my first month, incredibly strong but persistently hanging on. While most people would've been overjoyed at the thought their baby survived, my parents weren't the delighted parents they should've been. Because as much as my parents loved me, neither could quite get over the disappointment I was for them.

Again, my family loved me. Especially my parents. I'd been the center of their world from the moment I was conceived, the child both had given up hope on. I was my parents' midlife crisis. After being mated for nearly thirty years without being granted a child of their own both gave up hope of having one. So it'd been astonishing to be faced with the realization they were being granted their long hoped-for child. Yes, my parents loved me, but neither could quite hide the disappointment they felt at being condemned to the weakened shell.

Barely half the size of the other cubs in the pack I was too small to join in their fun, constantly reminded how easily I could get hurt. I wasn't as strong as them either. When the rest of the cubs ran through the woods beneath the full moon I was forced to stay home, knowing I wasn't strong enough. By the time I was eight, no one could hide the shame I presented to the pack, experiencing none of my wolf like the rest of them. At five I didn't receive the first signs of my wolf like them, I wasn't marked by the fever, the call of the wild, the strange glowing eyes. I was bland, my soul lifeless.

And now that I was to be turning sixteen tonight it was my last chance to prove to them I wasn't completely useless. Because unless I shifted underneath the full moon tonight then I'd never be able to harness my wolf. No one was holding out much hope of my ability, confident my wolf had long since died of starvation. In their minds, if I was too weak to compare to the rest of them, I was too weak to harness my wolf spirit. And as much as I hated to admit it to myself, I'd lost hope of ever getting my wolf a long time ago. I was a wolfless girl. A failure.

"Rayven!"

Grumbling at the voice of my mother calling out to me I came to understand hiding out in my bedroom wasn't an option. Rolling out of bed as I came to this realization I stalked to the dresser, opening it up I looked for something to wear. I changed into the clothes I'd chosen for the day, but I paused as I caught my own reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at me from the glass barely topped five foot even, maybe a hundred pounds with mediocre looks. My best attributes were my eyes. The strangest eyes to be seen in Shadow Creek that's for sure. The center of the pupil was marked by a strange swirl of color of navy and turquoise blue, then rimmed by almost cerulean. Like I said, they're freaking weird.

"Rayven, you better be up," Mom yelled.

Spinning away from the reflection that belonged to me, I flew out of my room before she grew any more upset. I knew better than to make her wait. My mother wasn't a violent woman, as she'd never lifted her hand towards me a day in my life. Not violent, but not with unlimited patience either. If I persisted in remaining in my bedroom as I'd been hoping to do then Mom would come get me herself and I wouldn't like the outcome.

"Hey mama," I spoke in my best fake happy voice when I sailed into the kitchen, spotting her cooking at the stove. My daddy was already sitting down at the table with the paper opened up in front of him, looking like the typical husband.

Mom instantly relaxed at the sight of me sauntering into the kitchen, then her eyes scrutinized my clothes. She wrinkled her nose. "You're not planning on wearing that today, are you?"

I shrugged. "Why not?"

"Aren't you leaving the house?"

I scrunched up my face into a frown at the lingering doubt in her words, not really following her mind track this morning. "Um yeah, I guess. Lyla wanted me to meet up with her in town, so we can hang out before tonight. So?"

Sighing in exasperation as if she couldn't fathom the thought process of her daughter, she placed down the spatula. Mom moved away from her position in front of the stove, peering down at her daughter before her. "Rayven, please for once listen to your mother. Today marks the first day of your adult life, whether you get your wolf or not, after today you won't be a child anymore. Do you really want to begin the next chapter in your life dressed like that?"

Hearing her statements I glanced at what I was wearing this morning, wondering what could be the big deal. I'd chosen to wear a top while it was a couple sizes too large for me, it hung loosely off to one shoulder. Giving me a hint of the sexy appearance girls my age normally went for, I other hand found it annoying. I'm also wearing a pair of black leggings snugging tightly against my body, hinting at the possibility of curves. I shrugged helplessly. "I'm comfortable."

Mom wasn't pleased by my answer, her unhappiness showed her expression. "I left a bag for you on the trunk near the closest, I saw it in the store the other day and knew it'd be perfect. Please go change."

"Mom," I groaned.

"Rayven," my father's loud booming voice finally entered into the silence, the first time he'd opted to say a thing. Alex Carlisle wasn't a man of many words, normally reserving his voice for moments of extreme frustration. Like now for instance. "I don't want none of this childish whining anymore. You're an adult now, so start acting like one. Your mother purchased you something to wear so....."

"Yes daddy," I obediently assured him, knowing to continue complaining would only serve to disappoint him further. Offering him one of those sickly sweet smiles of mine he claimed warmed his heart, I spun around and walked out of the kitchen. Grown or not he was my daddy. I didn't dare defy him.

Rayven's POV.

Fifteen minutes later I walked back into the kitchen where I'd left them earlier, this time dressed in the outfit my mother had chosen for me. Now I understood the earlier distress she felt at what she'd seen me wearing, as there was a drastic difference between the two outfits which I found when I arrived back in my room and opened the bag containing the clothes she'd bought me.

A huge freaking difference.

I was now wearing the very outfit my mother decided would be perfect for me today, to start my first day of adulthood. The top consisted of a halter top in the color of red--one of our pack colors--held up by straps, though a half-buttoned top completed the article. Due to the longer-than-normal tail ends of the shirt, I'd be able to tie them together which I did. This caused the shirt to bunch up in an almost seductive way around my boobs normally invisible to the eye. The rest of the outfit consisted of a pleated checkered skit of red and, black and gold, I was forced to admit I liked it. Due to the change in my wardrobe, I'd changed into a pair of high heel boots that totally meshed with the outfit mom chose.

Though wearing such outrageously girly outfits wasn't something I was normally accustomed to, I allowed mom to have her way. If it made her happy to be able to see me dressed up in these clothes, then who was I to deny her wish? My mom was amazing, having taken on the embarrassment of a daughter and still loved me despite my faults. My daddy too. Both of them were so great to me, showering me with all the love I could ever crave and I could do nothing differently.

Mom nodded. "Much better."

Daddy finally glanced up from the paper occupying his attention this morning to give my new look a once over. His nose wrinkled. "While I am not a fan of seeing my baby girl dressed so flamboyantly, I definitely approve of the new look. You look very grown up, Rayven."

"Thank you daddy." I smiled.

Now that I had come back downstairs in the garments approved by both my parents, mom saw to setting the table. I didn't even attempt to offer my assistance this morning knowing Mom was very peculiar about her responsibilities. It was a mate's duty to take care of her soul wolf and their cubs, beliefs she refused to deter from. Ensuring she cooked every meal and set the table on her own, so that she'd be able to feed her mate and their cub. Me.

Understanding the time had come for us to finally have dinner I stalked across the room and sat down in my usual chair. Even though there were only three of us there were still five different chairs set at the table. I'd never understood the need for two additional chairs, but I'd long ago stopped asking questions neither answered. But neither did I attempt to sit in the chair between my parents on daddy's left side, aware it'd never be allowed. I took the seat directly on the right side of him, the same placement I'd had from the moment I joined them at the table.

Like I said, my parents were peculiar.

About everything.

"So," Daddy's deep voice disturbed the silence that'd gathered around the dining room, his intense focus centered on me. "What are your plans for today? Anything special in mind?"

Even though I knew Daddy had overheard my conversation with more not more than half an hour ago I failed to remind him of this. If my father was interested enough in my plans to ask me a second time, then who am I to deny his request? Without this man, I wouldn't exist, he deserved the right to know what I'd be up to today. I swallowed down the food. "I'm actually going to meet up with Layla in about an hour."

"Is Larken coming?" he asked.

Layla was my best friend. One of the few friends that I actually had truthfully. Most of the kids in town tended to avoid me like the plague, though all of them were friendly in their dismissal. As if somehow afraid of what would happen to them if they were ever caught being disrespectful to me. I was the Beta's daughter after all, second in charge, so probably not in their best interest to be mean. Or so I assumed.

Not Layla though. She was different. I was about six years old when one day at the park I was approached by a girl who introduced herself as Layla. She'd promptly plopped down in the sandbox next to her, grabbing one of the buckets I'd brought along. For the remainder of the day, she'd rambled on about whatever was on her mind, keeping up the conversation. That was the beginning of our friendship. She hadn't cared about the supposed failure I was; Layla had liked me and ignored the warnings of the other cubs.

Larken was her older brother. Though he was all of fifteen minutes older than her, often reminding his twin of the age difference. He'd often found himself tagging along with his twin sister, which served in spending a lot of time with me too. Over time our own friendship had blossomed, proving he wasn't averse to my presence in his life either. The three of us had been the best of friends since.

No one seemed surprised by the friendship that'd developed between us, as if it was somehow expected. Layla and Larken were the twin children of Alpha Kadden Black and his mate Luna Sara-Beth. Their only children. The Beta and Alpha's children always tended to hang together, their parents of the highest nobility. I'd often wondered if this was the real reason the twins felt compelled to befriend me, but was too afraid of what the answer would be. My heart wouldn't be able to take it if it turned out the only reason they did was because my father was the beta. I preferred ignorance.

Slowly coming out of my thoughts I noticed my Daddy staring at me, I blushed at allowing my mind to run away with me. I shook my head. "No, daddy. It's just me and Layla. Alpha Kadden wants him at home today, said something about he's going to begin his alpha training."

Mom finished laying out everything on the table and making sure the both of us had a bountiful plate, she finally sat down. Finally arranging her own plate and coffee to enjoy, Mom bobbed her head as she was deep in thought. "The boy is a little old to be playing around in town. It's time he begins learning his place in this pack."

"Your mom is right," Daddy felt to defend the accounts of his mate, although I'd never said anything against her claims. "At his age he should've been in training for four years, I honestly don't know what the hold-up was."

Larken was twenty years old, soon to turn twenty-one. The cubs in our town reached maturity the moment their wolves ascended, on their sixteenth birthday. Believing if their cublings were mature enough to experience a mate bond, they were old enough to step into the roles of their positions. Being the eldest child and son of the alpha it was his destiny to take his father's place when Kadden stepped down. A sense of responsibility he'd been running away from for the last four years, Larken not wanting to become the next Alpha leader.

"Yes daddy," I agreed. I didn't dare argue.

Thirty minutes later kissing both of my parents goodbye, I intended on leaving the house to meet up with Layla. "Don't forget tonight," my mother called out to my back. With promises to be home on time I erupted through the front door, a flurry of motion full of energy. I stalked off down the gravel driveway as I headed into the center of town, where Layla was waiting for me.

"Ray!," came her scream.

Layla raced across the distance screaming my name for all to hear, her auburn curls bouncing around her. My best friend was one of the most beautiful girls in town, with bright green eyes and caramel skin. She was freaking tall too at almost six feet, which made me so feel tiny when I stood next to her. Even it the most dowdy clothes she could make them look like a fashion icon without even trying. I'd often teased she'd been meant to be a model like all those we'd seen in the magazine, which often sent the both of us into a fit of giggles.

Despite her sheer size Layla wrapped an arm around my shoulder as she reached me, as if somehow to stamp her claim on me. Her friendship. "Oh Ray I'm so glad to see you," Layla was almost panting she was out of breath, strange for a girl who had an unnatural abundance of energy. "You were almost late."

"I was not," I protested.

"Uh-huh," she teased playfully as she tweaked one of my cheeks, determined to keep the play going between us. "I almost waited."

"Heaven forbid," I burst out laughing. "So what's the rush?"

She shook her head. "Ah no rush my lovey, I'm just eager to spend the day with my bestie in the world. Just the two of us."

Rolling my eyes heavenward at the response my question received, no different than what I'd been expecting. Layla was always like this, forever wanting to spend time together and often behaving as if each time were days apart. "So what's the plans for today?"

"You'll see," she hedged secretively.