Peytan's POV

The days flew by uneventfully until it was finally my birthday. I was finally turning 18 and, according to everyone else, I was finally going to change into my wolf. I was beyond excited to say the least. When we woke up Leigh made me breakfast and gave me a a small box, which turned out to be a carm bracelet with five charms already on it; a wolf, a heart, and angel wing, and the letters P and L. It was so beautiful. I was at a lost for words.

As the days had rolled by Brittney and I had managed a decent relationship. She wasn't my favortie person and I wasn't hers, but we put on happy faces for Brady's sake. Only Leigh knew how we felt. He could always see right through our acts. But we've been getting better lately. I don't know what it was, but Brittney seemed to try to avoid me and give me time to cool from about 10 years of abuse. I appreciated it, but I wanted to make a connection with her.

"Happy Birthday Peytan!" Kara said as she bounded down the stairs.

"Hey Kara, thanks." I smiled as I turned around to face her.

"It's my pleasure." She smiled and pulled a purple sparkley wrapped box with a silver bow tied neatly on the top.

"Oh Kara, you didn't have to get me anything."

"But isn't that what friends are for?"

"Ugh I guess so."

"Good. Here." She smiled and pushed the present towards me more. I hesitantly took the gift and set it on the kitchen table and then gently untied the bow from the rectangular box. The purple paper was very pretty and eye catching. I admired it a minute longer before peeling off the paper as gently as I did the bow. It was such a pretty paper that I wanted to keep it. Kara stared at me with a confused look.

"Why don't you just rip it open?"

"Huh? ohh. Umm. Well I've never opened a wrapped gift and the paper was so pretty. I wanted to keep it." I smiled.

"Oh." That was all she could say. She smiled at me again as I resumed opening the box.

I lifted the lid to see a pair of silver dangley earings that were in the shape of a heart, a neckalace that matched, and a  deep purple dress. I pulled out the dress to get a closer look. It was short probably about mid tigh, it was spagehitti strapped, and was glittery just like the wrapping paper. There was a silver ribbon wrapped around under the bus of the dress and a cascade of silver hearts of different sizes from the ribbon to the hem of the dress. It was beautiful to say the least. My mouth was open wide gaping at the dress.

"It's beautiful." I said in a whisper.

"Good. I want you to wear it tonight." I could tell Kara was smiling as she spoke.

"What's tonight?" I asked completely confused.

"It's your brithday party." She said like it was obvious.

"Party? I've never had a party." I muttered the last part to myself mostly, but they all heard. Every one was quiet when I said that.

Brittney had her head down with her hands behind her back. Then I was surprised when she walked towards me and pulled a small box from behind her back. This box was wrapped in red paper with a thin bow carefully tied around it.

"I was going to save this for later, but I guess I'll give it to you now." She looked ashamed for some reason.

I hesitantly took the small box and opened it as carefully as the purple one. I lifted the lid and almost dropped the box, but Brittney caught it before it could hit the floor thankfully. I couldn't believe what was in the box. I thought I would never see it again. I thought I had lost it. It had been so long since I'd seen it that I couldn't even remeber everything about it.

"You never lost it." Brittney didn't look at me as she handed the box back to me. "I took it from you when my parents brought you home, while you were sleeping. I'm so very sorry." She continued. I was so shocke I couldn't speak.

With a shakey hand i grabbed the the simple heart shapped penant. I can't believe I'm seeing this again. I flipped the heart over and rubbed my thumb over the inscription that was still there in the silver. It read 'family forever'. I felt the tears well up and they came to the brim of my eyes. I worked hard to hold them back. I mean I haven't even opened the locket. I turned it back to the front and very carefully, with all eyes on me, I opened the locket to see my parents on one side and me and my brothers on the other. These were taken a long time ago, the twins were babies. I was holding one in each arm in the picture I was about eight when it was taken. The picture of my parents was on their wedding day. The colors were worn so I couldn't see my mothers radiant blue eyes or blonde hair. My fathers hair looked as dark as ever, but his green eyes still had a glow. The tears spilled like a waterfall. I felt Leigh hug me from behind and look at the tiny pictures from over my shoulder.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." I cried and whispered at the same time.

"It was the least I could do after everything I did." Brittney said before returning to Brady's side. After I lost this I started to forget my family, I'm glad I got it back. I finally smiled through my tears. Leigh's hand reached for the locket and picked it up by the chain. He brought it up to my neck and clasped it in the back before slowly lowering it so it hung from my neck like it always did. I smiled.

"So when's the party?" I asked Kara to get things back on track. I was smiling. Happy I got my whole family back. She seemed shocked at first, but quickly recovered.

"Tonight at 6. And you should be changing later tonight. So just be prepared." I nodded then a thought occured to me.

"But if I shift during the party, won't a ruin the dress?" I t was so pretty.

"You'll only wear it during the first half of your party. I formal part."

"Formal?"

"Ya like a mascarde ball type formal. Then everyone will change and we go outside for a bombfire and your first shift and run as a wolf. It's like a tradition for our girl pack members."

"Oh I see." I smiled. "Sounds like lots of fun."

"Good. Now go get dressed. We have to go shopping." She had an evil grin on her face now.

"Uh. For what?"

"We still need things for the party." She said referring to the other girls who all nodded, including Brittney.

"Oh. Right." I laughed at myself.

The girls and I all got dressed then left. I rode with Kara and Marina had Brittney. She said she didn't mind, but I wasn't sure about that. When we got to the mall they were laughing and having a good time it seemed. I guess they hit it off well. We went through a bunch of different stores. Everyone looking for dresses, shoes, accesories, and masks for the mascarade ball. I found a beautiful white mask with deep prple swirls around the right eye. The lips were silver and so was around the other eye. A single purple gem was placed in the center of the bottom lip. The mask was bordered by silver gems and a deep purple heart lay on the left cheek. I t was so simple, so elegant, so me. The other girls agreed with me. I also got a pair of silver strappy heels.

Kara found a hot pink strappless dress that had a thin black lace over the skirt with black flowers sewed in the lace she found a pair of black pumps to match. Her mask was black with hot pink and black feathers on the top left, Hot pink swirls surrounding the eyes, hot pink lips, and hot pink gems around the outer border. The whole outfit screamed Kara. Marina found a midnight blue dress with the high-low hem. It was loose and flowing. She added a pair of silver flats and a silver moon pendant. Her mask was in the shape of moon and covered half her face. The main part was midnight blue, with silver lips and eye. Silver stars were placed randomly throughout the mask. Brittney went with the opposite of Marina and had a yellow dress which was also a high-low hem. Brittney's dress, though, had a black bow around her waist and a little black bow at the base of both straps. Her shoes were black flats. Her mask was the same half face that both Kara and I had. Her's was also black and hand a yellow sun around the left eye. The lips were yellow and had a small red gem in the center of the bottom lip. The right cheek had yellow swirls and there were yellow and black feathers in the middle of the top of the mask. Each outfit was beautiful and looked beautiful on each girl. I couldn't wait for the party tonight. I was going to be amazing.