Werewolves Rule (The Rule Series) by K. C. Blake

going on between the werewolf-girl and him.   “What do you mean?”
    “Jersey has this weird thing for you.   It’s like he thinks the two of you are connected in some way, like you were brothers in a different life or something.   He doesn’t want to kill you, so we can assume she’s not here to do the job.”
    “No doubt.   He’s really into destiny and believes his destiny is to kill me himself.”
    “If he sent her, it’s for an entirely different purpose.   But what?   What could he possibly want her to do?”
    “Maybe we should ask her.”
    Silver nodded, but fear glimmered in her deep blue eyes.   “Do you think she’s still at your house?   We could try to talk to her now.”
    Jack almost pulled the key from his pocket to start the car again and take off with her.   His eyes went to Silver’s home, the glowing windows and occasional shadows of the people inside waiting to celebrate with him.   They’d gone to a lot of trouble to put together this birthday party for him.   He couldn’t leave without a good explanation, and he didn’t want to tell anyone about Isobel yet.  
    “She can wait.   We’ll track her down tomorrow.”   He forced a smile.   “We’d better get back inside before your father comes looking for you.   It’s my birthday.   I’d rather not be shot today.”
    Her face brightened.   “That’s right.   I didn’t get a chance to say happy birthday to you yet.”
    Silver leaned forward and briefly touched her lips to his.   She breathed, “Happy birthday, Jack,” in an airy voice.   It sent a shiver of excitement through his entire body, making him wish they could be alone.   Then she asked, “Do you know what you’ll wish for?”

    ******

    Ten minutes later Jack blew out the candles amidst a small group of clapping friends.   He hadn’t told Silver what he was going to wish for, telling her instead that he wasn’t sure.   It was a lie.   He wished for a quick end to the werewolf problem.   He wished for a ‘normal’ world to live in.   The most important part of the wish—he wished that he could be with Silver forever.
    He lifted his head and smiled at her as the last candle flickered out.   They shared a brief moment before her father’s booming voice reminded them that they weren’t alone.
    Andrew raised a glass of punch.   “Here’s to Jack finally reaching eighteen.   May he get really, really old and gray like the rest of us.”
    His wife playfully jabbed him in the ribs.   “Speak for yourself.”
    “I am, honey.”   Andrew laughed, putting an arm around her.   “You don’t look a day over twenty.”
    “Right.”   Vanessa’s eyes rolled.
    Everyone raised a glass and all eyes went to Jack.   He inwardly squirmed under the scrutiny of family and friends.   It had been a long time since he’d been involved in such a celebration, a long time since anyone had cared enough to celebrate something with him.  
    “Speech!” Billy shouted.
    “Speech!   Speech!”   Vanessa joined in.
    Silver manipulated Jack to the center of the room before abandoning him.   His throat dried up, and his chest tightened as if several invisible steel bands encircled it.   He could hardly breathe.   What was he supposed to say?
    “I…uh…”   He cleared his throat.   “I guess I should start by saying thank you.   This was totally unexpected, and I can honestly say I was surprised.”  
    There were a few chuckles.   Looking at their smiling faces, Jack realized he did have some things to say.   He decided to do what his mom would have told him to do in this situation: speak from the heart.
    “I was seventeen for ten years, no hope of becoming a man.   I wish I could make you all understand what it was like, how empty I felt, how time became meaningless.   If you knew what it was like to be a vampire for a decade and suddenly get a chance to have a life again, then you would understand what this means to me.”
    A tear