Mating Ceremony

I watch as everyone around me transforms at 16, my face lights up in excitement because that will be me tomorrow. Gathering day, the day when kids become adults in one day! Hi, I'm Kaspersky.. yeah I know.. weird, but everyone calls me Kas. I jump around excitedly as my mom gives me a new blue dress with black flats "THANK YOU!" I shouted with a small squeal. My mom smiled "I just want you to know that no matter what.. I will always love you" she said with a small pain in her voice, I didn't notice as much at the time and rushed to my room to place it on the dresser beside my bed. The house is small, twelve feet by twelve feet to be precise. The bathroom is three by twelve feet; just big enough for a shower, toilet, and sink. My so called room is just a bunk bed with only the bed on top and the dresser is more like shelves beneath the bed. There is no separation between my bed, the kitchen, and my mom's bed which is like mine.

If you know Swans. You know Swans have five to seven ducklings, I know what you're thinking. Where are the rest of the ducklings in my flock? What about my father? Now now.. you can't rush a great story, I'll tell you later. For those of you who know Swans only live twelve years just know that we are Half Swans like werewolfs are half wolf, so we live longer than the average Swan.

Currently I have short bob red hair, freckles spread all over my body, round pink metal glasses, I'm about 5 feet and look more like a 10 year old than a fifteen year old because I'm a midgit. Everyone has looked similar to me before they shifted and then they become a completely different person, bigger body, some are toned instantly, glasses are thrown away.. no one has ever had freckles, I am always the odd one out. I am bullied by some and so I keep my distance but things always happen..

I've had gum stuck to my hair once (note the bob.. I had to cut my hair off really short to get all the gum out and there was alot.. I've been tripped multiple times, I've had food in my face from food fights that had me in the center and all the food being thrown at me (plus sometime my food gets slammed in my face) I've had lots of things knocked out of my hands, liquids being poured on me... anyways you get the idea, I'm the outcast everyone picks on. I've learned to keep my mouth shut, grin and bear it but not anymore. Tomorrow is my day! Everyone will go the the annual graduation ceremony to transform and find their mate, I will soon be beautiful like everyone else.

I've been smiling for so long that my mouth started to hurt but I didn't want to stop smiling, I've been practically squealing in excitement and bouncing around the space between the rooms like a maniac for the past 8 hours and now it was bed time. I grown at my pain in my cheeks and plop down on the bed, I completely forgot to do any of the basic needs as I fall asleep.

*In the morning*

*BUZZ* *BUZZ* *BUZZ* *BUZZZ* *BUZZ*

I wake to my alarm, my hair had a case of bad hair and I grumbled at the sight. I soon gave up seeing the time and pulled it into a half ponytail in an attempt to hide it "success!" I exclaimed proudly, hurriedly putting the clothes on that were made for my shift that were purposely way too big. I instantly tripped when I tried to walk, I huffed in annoyance and folded my dress and pinned it up so I could walk. Looking at myself in the mirror.. it was embarrassing, I had to fold the dress two times and twist it into a knot on my side in an attempt to make it look on purpose "fail.." I muttered.

My mom raised her head and gave a small chuckle at my appearance, I blushed in embarrassment "couldn't you just let me wear my own clothes?" I asked with a bit of anger, she shook her head "when you transform.. you will be double your size and I don't think you want everyone at the gathering to see you ***** because your clothes ripped, I grumbled but didn't protest "Alright, I took my shower, changed my clothes ate breakfast, brushed my teeth.. what else?" I asked her, she thew a duffle bag at me.

I searched it and gasped "MOM! why are giving me all my belongings?" I asked with a slight choak as I held tears in, she gingerly touched me "when you find your mate you will not be here anymore, you will be with him" she said with a big bear hug "I love you Kas. You can stop by anytime" she said with a small smile, I gave her a pout but sucked it up and nodded closing the door behind me. This is it, my new life.. I smiled with anticipation and ran to the gathering.

Everyone gathered as the king and queen stood "welcome unmated, ugly ducklings. I am sure you are all aware but my youngest son will be joining today's ceremony as he too hasn't transformed. When the transformation is complete you and your mate will have matching tattoos on your right hand, you will feel a pull called hormones that will make you want to stay close. In this time I urge you to move together in your own house.. I see all of you have brought your things, alright.. it's almost sunlight, son go out there" he finished as a boy with soft blonde hair and blue eyes came running out and almost tripped.

I noticed then that everyone was wearing clothes far too big and sighed in relief not being an outcast for once, when the sun rose up high enough that it covered the graduates.. everyone started to have pains as they grew and I waited patiently to feel pain. I heard screams and moans, I saw everyone double in size and then immediately compared marks and found their mates. My jaw dropped, why haven't I changed? Where's my transformation? all of the sudden again I am the outcast.. I never transformed when everyone else stopped and found their mates.. I almost cried. Then I noticed my mark, a crown 👑 I was confused.

Then I gasped as the prince looked at me "mate" he said and stopped in front of me, I looked up. He had a confused look and everyone around us started whispering, I blushed in embarrassment. The king saw everything and when the prince exclaimed that I was his mate he strode to me with a deep chilling voice "is this some kind of joke?" he scoffed at our un-tranformed bodies, I looked down. Unable to meet his menacing glare. The prince looked at me "how is this possible?" he asked me, I shrugged.

I starred at him wondering why he didn't transform "what now?" he asked, turning to his father and ignoring me. His father sighed a deep sigh "you have to complete the process.. " he said, I flinched. Since we didn't shift, we didn't feel the pull. I didn't even want to mate with him, and from the looks of it he was arguing with his father so as to not mate with me either.

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