Brennon's smile never went away.

It was almost concerning.

"Brennon?" I softly called out to him as we walked down the small town's downtown.

"Yes?!" He head whipped around, looking eager to please. "Did you see anything you want?" Brennon insisted we go shopping, a sort of girly-thing in my opinion. I still agreed to go with him, seeing how school doesn't end for another 10 minutes or so. I was also terrified of what he might do if I refuse. He might be only happy because I've been agreeing to whatever he says.

"No," I respond with still the same timid volume, "I was just-," I cut myself off, feeling foolish.

"What?" Brennon slowed down his already slow strides until the two of us came to a stop.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, "I was just wondering, why are you being so nice to me?" I found the crack in the sidewalk fascinating, how the moss was growing out of it with a few small yellow flowers poking through the green mass.

Brennon's smile faltered for just a little, but my heart stopped. "Well," he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, "It's something I just can't explain quite right. My wolf was going crazy about you when you entered the courtyard, but not in a way that would signify that we were mates." He sighed, whispering to himself about being a psycho, "But I just had this overwhelming sense to protect you."

I finally got the courage to look straight at him, seeing how he was just a few steps ahead of me. His tan face had just a tint of pink, especially on his cheeks, and his eyes were looking at the moss I was just looking at moments ago.

"Huh." I didn't know how to react. No one has ever spilled their guts to me like Brennon has and I just met him little under an hour ago.

"Soo, what are you going to do for Thanksgiving break?" He asked, trying to get over the awkward atmosphere.

"Nothing much." I answered, because I'm not invited to the pack dinner so I might as well do nothing. "What about you?"

Brennon gave me a raised brow but started going on a tangent on what his pack has planned. Games, a grand dinner, a whole party involving all sorts of packs and magical beings.

"Hey, this might sound cliche but do you want to play 20 questions?" He started down an alleyway that lead to a part of the forest shared by almost all the packs.

I just nod, not sure where this was going.

"Cool! I'll start." He was definitely trying to go somewhere with this. "When is your birthday?"

I bite my lip for a moment, "I'm actually not sure, around this month I guess."

Brennon almost face-planted after tripping over a protruding tree root. "Wh-what?" He stuttered, looking back at me with wide eyes.

"I never really celebrated my birthday, so I don't really remember it." I whispered, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"When was the last time you did?" He asked. This suddenly felt more like an interrogation than a game.

"Maybe 10 or so years ago?" I furrowed my brows. I guess the last time I celebrated it was when Boras was still alive. He would always bake me a burnt-cake and we would laugh and eat it then joke about how bad it was.

"That has to change." Brennon took out his phone and started furiously typing away at it.

"What are you doing?" I don't like this at all. What does he mean this has to change.

"I'm grabbing some of my friends and we are all gonna celebrate your birthday." He finished typing and looked straight into my worried eyes. "Don't worry, these people are people I trust with my life."

"Who are they?" Please don't be the alpha and luna, please don't be the alpha and luna.

"My alpha and luna." He smiled, looking proud to call those two his friends, "It'll just be us three since when the alpha is with our luna, she doesn't need her bodyguards."

I gave him my best lopsided smile. I don't think I'm ready to see my ex-mate, I can already feel my stomach churning at the thought of him. Besides, school has to be over by now giving me an hour before I should go.

"You didn't have to."

"Well I believe someone's birth is worth celebrating." He beamed, "And besides, we'll just probably go back to the diner and have some cake." He already turned around and started heading back the way we came. This boy is rather energetic.

"Okay." I whispered, following him. I can feel my heart rate increase with every step, my lungs felt tighter and I couldn't breathe. I felt so dizzy, black spots filling up my eyes. Brennon's retreating figure got darker and blurry.

"Mable!"