I arrived home to both of my parents in the kitchen. My dad was making lunch while my mom worked on her laptop, taking notes every now and then. They looked in my direction when they heard me come in.6
"So?" my mom prodded.
"Nothing happened," I replied, sliding into the chair next to hers. I picked up an apple in a bowl in front of me and took a bite out of it.
"What do you mean nothing happened?" my dad asked in the middle of stirring his food in a wok.
"Nothing happened," I emphasized further not wanting to elaborate how my mate had me pinned up against a tree.7
Just recalling the wild look in his eyes and the low, verbal warning growl had me throbbing between my legs. I have never been looked at that way before.
It was pure lust and sex.7
Just like that Liam has a hold over me and it wasn't just because of the bond. I knew even without the bond, I would be sexually attracted to this man. I am willing to bet my life on it. However, one good thing I learned from reading hundreds of romance books was that he wasn't all that unaffected as he had wanted me to perceive. As mysterious as he was, it only made me want to know him more.13
My dad made a sound and I looked in his direction. He hasn't spoken much since last night. My mom stopped her typing to look above her screen at my dad.4
"Jude," my mom said sweetly.
"Yes?" my dad replied.
"Is there something you want to say?"
My dad shrugged. "Does Sage have something she wants to say?"12
I huffed and knew my dad is questioning about last night. He wants to know why his daughter who has never looked at a guy and never felt any sort of attraction towards them had suddenly become aroused last night. He wants to know if he should kill Liam or keep him alive for my sake.33
"He's my mate, dad," I replied.
"What?" My mom's head snapped my way.2
I shrugged. "I just found last night."
"Let me get this straight," My dad turned to face me, "you had every chance to tell us this last night on the ride home and even this morning yet you just so happen to just tell us now?"19
"Honestly, I don't know if he wants me or not---"
"Ok, that's it. I'm killing him," my dad dropped his stirring spoon into the wok and attempted to remove the white apron from around his waist.119
"Oh, would you stop it, Jude. Don't you remember our first encountered as mate?" My mom scowled.28
"I did and I remember chasing you down, not running away from you," my dad smirked.
My mom rolled her eyes, "Well, I remember you not telling everyone yet that we are mates. Give them time, Jude."11
"Time?" My dad raised an eyebrow as if the word is foreign and completely out of his vocabulary.4
"I am saying this doesn't involve us. Leave them alone. Your daughter knows how to handle herself. She's raised by us and I think we have taught her enough for her to make her own decisions without us interfering."26
Hearing my mom's vote of confidence in me was reassuring. I gave her a smile before turning to face my dad who looked very grumpy. He muttered under his breath and returned to his cooking. My mom looked back down at her laptop and typed away.6
That was it?5
They were just going to leave me to find my own way with my mate. I thought about Liam and my gut twisted with anticipation. He's very intimidating but I was taught from my dad and we never back down from a fight.
After eating lunch with my parents, I headed back to school to meet up with Ellie and Tommy. I took a half day because of what happened yesterday.3
I arrived just in time for sixth period which was an elective class that both Ellie, Tommy, and I took so we can be together. Walking in I found them sitting in our usual corner. They waved me over when they saw me.
"So, what happened?" Ellie wiggled her eyebrows.
"What?" I knew what she was asking.
"Stop pretending and tell us the details. Did he kiss you? Did he confess his undying love?" I rolled my eyes. If he did, I wouldn't have believed it.
"So, you did find your mate?" Tommy questioned and I see an unfamiliar emotion crossed his almond-colored eyes.64
"I did," I told him.
"Ellie told me it is the Luna's brother?" Tommy asked.
I nodded my head just as Ms. Heinz walked into the room. She teaches Family and Consumer Education and Astronomy. Like my mom, I am not a big fan of cooking. So, we are in her Astronomy class.14
"Alright everyone, take out your textbooks and turned to chapter ten. Today we will be reading a few excerpts from the book about constellations," she announced as the last bell rung.
I turned in my seat to face the front. Opening my textbook to page ten, I took out a notebook to take down notes. I felt a nudge on my right thigh. I turned my head to see Tommy looking at me. He hands me a note. I unfolded the piece of paper.2
Do you like him?49
I frowned at his question before giving him a quizzical look. He gestured with his eyes for me to write my response. I rolled my eyes before I submitted and wrote down my answer.
He opened it and read what I wrote to him.
He's my mate. I have to like him.
Tommy smiled before he quickly wrote right below where I wrote. He hands it back to me and I unfolded it to read once again.1
So, you don't really like him? Do you just like him because of the bond?64
I stared at his question for a minute. I don't know the answer to this. I know I am attracted to my mate but do I like him? Shaking my head, I already knew the answer.
It's too early to tell. Why?
Tommy read my answer and I watched his eyes scan over it several times before he folded the paper and stuffed it into the pockets of his pants. We continued the next hour talking about certain groupings of stars and the beliefs and configurations.2
When class was over, I met my friends outside in the hallway. Tommy settled in on the right side of Ellie while I flanked her left.
"So, are you going to tell us what happened this morning?" Ellie began where she left off.
"Nothing happened. I returned his bike and he said thank you," I told her honestly.
"Well, that is a bummer," Ellie responded dryly.
"He sounds like a real douche," Tommy muttered.49
"What's your problem?" Ellie bumped him in the shoulder.
He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. His eyes connected with mine for a second before he turned away. He was acting different today. I wonder what was bothering him.51
"So, what are you two going to do about the mate bond?" Ellie questioned.
"Don't tell anyone. I want to talk to him first but it's hard to talk to him," I said.
We passed several pack members and headed outside to sit in our usual spot. It was resource hour and we usually spend our time sitting outside on the front lawn of the school. Walking to the maple tree, we leaned our backs against it.
"So, he hasn't rejected you?" Tommy asked, looking my way.9
I shook my head. "We haven't rejected each other. He just told me to stay away."
"So, he did reject you?" Tommy prodded further.36
I huffed and covered my face with my palms. "I don't know!"
"Well, he's that much of a douche than he doesn't deserve you anyway," Tommy stated.30
I removed my hands to look at my friend. "Thank you."
He smirked before digging into his bag and pulling out some treats for us. He got me my favorite---Reese's buttercup.19
"You know what?" Ellie said after a minute.
"What?" I asked.
"You shouldn't have to wait for him to tell you two are mates. If I was you, I would march my ass over to wherever he lives and demand an answer."
I don't think Liam wants to reject me. I don't know what it was but I can feel it. If he did want to reject me he would have said it when I brought his bike to him but all he did was thanked me for bringing his bike back.2
"I don't think he wants to reject me," I voice my thoughts out loud.
"And how can you be so sure?" Tommy questioned. He turned his head and his light brown hair glistened underneath the sun. It was cold today but with the sun it provided a little more warmth to the weather.26
I shrugged. "If he wanted to reject me, he would have done it when I was at his cabin this morning."
"But-"
"I really don't want to talk about it right now. Can we hold off on the interrogation?" I interrupted Ellie.1
She huffed before returning to her snack. Tommy looked my way briefly before continuing a conversation with Ellie. I drowned them out.
I leaned my head back against the tree and closed my eyes. As my wolf and I were on a similar thought path, an image of how Liam looked this morning appeared in the front of our mind. He has a tattoo that is large enough to cover his upper torso. I wondered what it was. I knew he didn't get it when he was in the pack. He must have gotten it after he left.
I want to say that I know Liam very well but I don't. He might be the Luna's brother but that's all I know about him. He was seven years older than me. We weren't in the same age group nor did we hang out together.
Occasionally, we will see each other because of events or dinners but our conversations consisted of 'hi' and 'how are you'.
I also wondered how he got so broad around his shoulders. The man was packing on muscles that can kill anyone very easily. Even with my intensive training, I couldn't have gained that kind of muscle. A small smile played on my lips when I sinisterly thought about running my hands all over his body.12
The hour went by quickly and we all went back inside for our next classes. I walked into Calculus II to find my usual seat by the window opened. I walked over and slipped off my backpack before sitting in the seat.3
The teacher began writing equations on the whiteboard. Like everyone else, I took out my notebook to take down notes but my skin prickled and I had an eerily feeling that I was being watched. Turning my head, I looked out the window. I scanned the football field and the edge of the woods. My eyes lingering at the edge of the woods for a minute because I thought I saw something but when I blinked it was gone.4
The teacher must have something funny because everyone chuckled which brings my attention back to class. Again, my skin prickled. I felt a sudden warmth spread from my cheek down to my neck. Placing my pencil down on my notebook, I raised my hand to press my palm to my cheek. It felt warmer than usual. For the second time, I looked back outside. My eyes doing another sweep.
I must be going out of my mind. It still feels like someone is watching me. Not liking that feeling very much, I stood up from my seat and walked farther away from the window to sit in another empty seat. The teacher didn't question me. He only gave me a brief look before returning to his teaching.9
The last bell of the day rang and I eagerly escaped the school. There was a tugging in my stomach and my heart was doing belly flops. I swear my systems are messed up right now because I wanted to go home. Usually, I would go hang out with Ellie and Tommy after schools on Friday and sleep at the packhouse for the weekend but not today. I am exhausted.
Today, I headed straight home. My mom usually works at the medical wing till late and my dad usually is out in the fields training right about now. They both didn't expect me to be home. I walked to my bedroom and dropped my backpack onto my bed before falling onto the bed and closing my eyes for a nap. I didn't get any sleep last night from all the tossing and turning thinking about my mate.