Walking into school the next day my heart was in my throat. Dera wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me a little tighter towards her. I had explained everything to her last night and, apart from the hour long questioning I was subject to, she cheered me up and made me feel a little better about what happened.

That's what I loved about her, she always supported me. Even when we were eleven and I thought it was a good idea to melt a chocolate bar in the microwave. What I didn't do was take the wrapper off and ended up blowing it up and setting fire to a small part of the kitchen.

"Just remember what I said," Dera placed her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face her. "It's a scary thing to find your mate and even more so when it's a person you would never suspect." She's got that right.

Running her hand through her blond hair to move it away from her eyes, she continued. "He probably just didn't know what to do or say. He's had last night to think it over, you both have, and now he'll be used to the idea. You'll see." She said confidently.

Maybe things will be different, I told myself as I walked to first period. When I was younger my mother used to always tell me a bed time story of the two mates. How they were designed for each other by the ancestors and how much they loved and cherished one another. Ever since I was six years old I had always imagined what my first meeting with my mate would be like. Yesterday was definitely not how it was supposed to be.

No, I told myself. Dera is right, we're mates and nothing is as strong as that bond. Or so I thought.

* * *

The lunch bell rang and I couldn't have been happier. I had already decided not to say anything to him until after, when we were heading back to class. The last thing I needed was for his stupid friends to be there. Me and the popular kids just didn't get on. I was the quiet nerd with a few close friends and no intention of changing. They were, well... different. Dera waved me over to our usual table.

"So I hear you're Jock's mate?" Ray said with a playful smile. He along with the rest of my friends hated the popular kids. There was no real reason; we were just at opposite ends of the high school food chain.

"That's right." I admitted. Opening the wrapper of my burger I looked up to find all eyes on me. "What?" I asked them.

No one spoke, but they each gave me a look I couldn't read. "Maybe you should be careful Carlie." Jaxson, another one of my guy's friends said. "You know what he's like and we don't want you getting hurt."

'What he's like' was code for 'he's a player who only breaks hearts'. "Guys don't worry about me. I'll be okay." I said. "We're mates, of course everything will be fine."

Dera nodded. "Just don't go sitting at their table. Remember where your loyalties lie." She poked her knife in my direction and laughed. Dera was the mood lifter in our little group. No matter how serious the subject, she would always make light of it and take away the tension. 

I ran my finger across my forehead. "My allegiance is embedded in my head."

She nodded. "Good, because you've already got yourself a little attention from lover boy." She tilted her head to the side and sure enough he was staring at me.

I didn't have time to read his expression because as soon as my eyes locked with his everything faded around me. All the thoughts in my head were gone and I'm pretty sure if someone was to ask me my name I wouldn't be able to tell them it. I could feel heat rise up and spread across my entire body, it was a tingly feeling and it was amazing. His eyes never once moved from mine. I didn't know how long we sat there just staring at each other and I didn't care. I wanted this feeling to last forever.

We don't always get what we want though. Just as I was getting my breathing under control, a girl with a stick thin figure and short red hair wrapped her arms around his neck from behind before whispering something in his ear.

I wanted to staple her lips shut!

Our eye contact broke and within seconds our little world had crumbled causing sounds of the cafeteria to fill my ears. Shaking my head to rid myself from the trance I had just found myself in I looked over to where he was sitting, but he had already gone.

Where the hell did he go?

I stood from my chair and my eyes darted around hoping I would see him, but I couldn't find him anywhere. He must have left. Checking my watch, I knew the bell was about to go signaling the end of lunch so before I was questioned by everyone, I grabbed my bag and ran out.

Walking through the empty halls I checked the classrooms, but there was still no sign of him. Did he ditch? Is he looking for me? I had no idea. All I did know was that I had to find him and talk about what was happing between us. It's important for him to find his mate, isn't it? Of course it is, I told myself.

Every wolf is excited to find their mate, right?

I turned the corner and immediately stepped back, shielding myself behind the lockers. A sharp pain ripped its way through my chest, taking my breath with it. I grasped at the collar of my shirt pulling it away with one hand whilst the other pressed against my chest. Maybe he was telling her he'd found his mate? Maybe they're just friends? Either way I had to find out.

With each step I took closer to him, the pain in my chest got better and worse at the same time. My wolf was doing summersaults at the thought of being closer to him, whilst my eyes could still see how close he stood to her.

"It's rude to stare, you know." The red head said with a smirk on her face. I knew her from my English class, her name was Anna Gooden.

I cleared my throat. "Um... can I talk to you?" I directed my question at him, ignoring the girl hanging off his neck. I was afraid that if I didn't I would have made an Anna shaped hole in the wall. 

His whole body stiffened as if he was suddenly aware of my presence. "No."

No? That's all I get, no? "I think we-" I began.

"There is no we!" He growled. "Just back the hell off loser." There is no we? Is he freaking kidding me?

"Hey!" I yelled as I grabbed his shoulder. My body suddenly went into shock as the heat and sparks made their way through every inch of me. My heart sped up and my mouth went dry. What the hell is going on? I knew he was my mate, but these reactions are gonna kill me.

I know he felt whatever I did, because his body tensed even more, his breathing became ragged and I could feel his heart beat was faster than mine was.

"Go!" He growled. At first I was tempted to drop my hand and walk away, but I couldn't. I didn't want to.

"Anna, get the hell away from me." His tone was low, but dangerous. It was clear he was using his Alpha tone with her and she knew it. Giving a slight bow of her head and shooting daggers with her eyes at me, she ran down the corridor.

"Calm down, please. We can talk about everything, about us." I said soothingly in his ear. I felt him shiver and a small smile found its way to my lips. His body was still tense, but his breathing slowed as he inhaled deeply. My wolf was proud that we could calm our mate. The sparks intensified the longer I touched him, God only knows what it would feel like to actually touch his skin!

Our elated feeling was short lived.

Before I knew what was happening my body was pinned against the lockers on the other side of the corridor. I could feel the coldness of the steel on my back through my sweater and the heat radiating from him on my chest. His face was inches from mine and for the first time I could see just how angry he was. His eyes were the blackest I've ever seen and his jaw was clenched tight. He was pissed.