ll eround ere omewhere, ading nto he ackground.

"Nora, I—" I start, but she shakes her head rapidly, turning away from me.

"No, No, Mike. I get it. You are her Mate. You have to be with her and rule her Pack and be an awesome Aleph. I understand. I'll just pine for a Mate somewhere, while watching my best and only friend pant after a girl, forgetting his friend who had his back for the last ten years. It's okay, Mike. I'll just get over it. Don't mind me, okay? I'll be around here somewhere, fading into the background." She snaps, each word a stab, poking my guilty conscience. She gives me a disgusted look over her back, shoulders her back pack higher, and stalks away.

I stand with my mouth parted, words caught on my throat, feeling like complete and utter shit.

What just happened?

'Your best friend bit your head off for no reason at all, That's what happened.' My Wolf answers, hurt just as I am.

"I'm so sorry, Nora." I whisper after her back, realizing how horrible I've been to her, in the two days I've found my Mate. In my excited, cloud nine mood, I've completely ignored her and talked about my Mate for the little time I actually spent with her, all the while she'd been wishing for a Mate as well.

Sigh.

I stand numbly, my mind revolving around the vow I'd made to myself to keep my best friend happy, no matter what. But now, she's hurt because of me.

I laugh humorlessly at that.

It seems like whomever I'm surrounded by, whoever I love gets hurt or saddened due to me.

First my Mom, now Nora, and in the future, it will be Seneca looking at me with the same hurt and disappointed eyes.

I don't know if I will be able to bear it if it's my Mate looking at me like that. It will truly break me.

I swallow a lump in my throat and look around, only now realizing that the parking lot is empty. Guess I'm late to Mr. Devon's AP Maths class.

With that as the last thought in my mind, I rush towards Building C, dreading his lengthy lecture on the importance of punctuality.

⇥⇤

Ten minutes later, after Mr. Devon making me regret ever coming late to his class with his infamous speech, I rush to an empty chair in the second row, with a small sigh. I pull out my textbook, a note, and a pencil, not meeting anyone's laughing glances as I do so.

Soon, the class forgets the initial spectacle our teacher created and starts dozing off, or secretly texting, as Mr. Devon drones on and on about the Applications of Integration. I silently observe each and every one of his words, actively taking notes and mulling over his words in my head,

So that's how you find the Market Equilibrium Price? Wow, Such a simple sum-!

Hit.

A paper ball bounces off my cheek and falls on my notebook. My fingers tighten around the pencil in anger, knowing that this is definitely from Chance or his friend/Beta Justin since this is a class we unfortunately share.

Yes, my dear friends, Chance Parker is indeed smart.

What an unfair life.

I push it off my desk and continue writing when another falls directly on my note. This time, I take it and open it hesitantly, because ignoring them and their stupid antics has resulted in pretty bad situations before. I stare at the word scrawled in Chance's loose penmanship across the crumpled piece of paper, feeling nothing at the insult.

I've had worse.

I shrug in indifference and crumple it, letting it slip down my fingers to the ground. A few seconds later, just as I'd expected, another ball of paper hits my head and falls on my desk and I don't wait a second to grab it off the surface and pull it out from it's crushed state.

This time I can't lie. It hurts. It has been hurting since the first time they spread rumors about me spying other guys in the locker room. I know it's silly of me to take their words into consideration when I have a female Alpha as my Mate, which says a lot about my real sexuality, but still, no matter what, the mean word meant in such a derogatory manner hurts.

I struggle to keep my face clear of any expressions, not willing to give them the satisfaction of getting to me. Instead, I crush it back and throw it away, turning my focus back to Mr. Devon, who has his back to us, his shining bald head and sparse grey hair, glinting in the fluorescent lighting.

Briiiiing.

The bell rings just then, signaling the end to this hell of a class. I slam my books shut and throw them haphazardly into my backpack, shoving the pencil into my jean's pocket in a hurry to get away. I hear Chance and Justin packing their things as well, their loud voices heard above the incessant chatter of other students. I don't turn around, keeping my eyes steadily in front of me.

"Did you hear about the 'It' couple, Justin?" Chance's purposely raised voice booms, drawing everyone's attention, and my ears automatically perk at that.

"Who do you mean, man? You and Emerald Richmond?"

I pick up the scale and eraser I'd used during the class, throwing them into the front zip.

"What? No! It's Alpha Seneca and her Mate — that loser we used to play with. What is his name again?" Chance asks with fake confusion, and my stomach drops, not liking the direction in which this topic is heading.

"Um, Micajah Rye?" Justin says, and I hear their footsteps, indicating that they have finished packing and are moving towards the door-or me, who's standing on the way to it, still fiddling with my bag.

"Yes! That guy!" Chance exclaims. I pull the zipper close hastily, but a thread from the worn out bag gets caught in it, making it get stuck in the middle.

"Lower your voice, Chance. Guy's standing there. Might hear you." Justin stage-whispers, and their footsteps are so close, I know they'll be crossing me any second now. I groan under my breath and yank the zipper hard, tearing it off the bag in the attempt.

Damnit, Damnit, Damnit!

"Oh, Let him hear, Just. We all know he's a fag. Sooner or later Alpha Seneca is going to realize what a loser he is, and move on to a real man." Chance whispers back just as they cross me, casting me a side-long glance, sizing me up and down with a poisonous smirk. I bite my tongue to prevent myself from yelling back at him, and throw the broken zipper piece on the floor, gathering my bag in my arms. The students burst into laughter, but I seriously don't know what's so funny about another person's misery. I push past a girl and run outside the classroom, ignoring the fading roars of laughter behind me.

Just then, I slam into someone and I quickly push myself off them, wanting to be as away as possible from the place where everyone seems to hate me. But, a strong grip on my forearms stops me, making me take a proper look at the person I'd clashed on.

Oh.

The sight of my Mate staring at me with a slight frown of concern is my undoing, and I let the bag fall to the ground, before I wrap my arms around her almost reflexively, seeking her comfort.

I can feel Seneca's shock and confusion at my sudden move, but I ignore her un-responsive and stiff posture, wrapping my arms around her neck more tightly. Finally, I feel her fingers touch my lower back lightly and I smile into her hair, burying my nose into the silken curls.

She smells so good.

"Um, I just remembered. I've gotta . . . um, clean my locker! See ya guys," Beta Ezra chirps, and that's when I notice him standing beside her. I turn my head slightly to see him giving us a small wave, and turning around, almost jogging away.

I chuckle.

"What happened, Cage?" Seneca asks brusquely, her tone all business. The question brings back dark thoughts, which I despise so much.

"I - I -" I start, but Chance obnoxious laughter cuts me off, just as he rounds the corner with his entourage, and I sigh impatiently.

I pull back from Seneca unwillingly and turn around, meeting the smirking eyes of my arch-nemesis. The group quiets down when they see us, shuffling behind Chance, hiding themselves. He takes in my arms still around Seneca and hers around my back, and seems to get angry for a second before he hides is surprisingly well under the usual cocky smirk.

"Aw, look at that! The 'It' couple!" Chance hollers and his friends let out another burst of laughter, this time nervous. Seneca glares at Chance, and the glare seems to still have it's effect, because his friends all look terrified, and their comical expressions almost make me laugh.

Chance raises his hands in defense, putting on an innocent expression, "What?! I just said, 'look at the couple!' I didn't mean anything by it, Alpha." He says, stressing the word, 'Alpha' yet again. I wonder why.

Seneca gives him a "Mind it," look, and he walks away, with his friends in tow, chuckling. My eyes follow his back till he disappears from view, feeling a violent need to push him against the wall and pummel my fist into his pretty face.

God, I hate him.

"I know," Seneca says, and I turn to her in surprise.

"You said it out loud," She answers with a small smile, lips pressed together to prevent it from showing. I flush slightly and look down, when I remember that I'm still having my arms around her. I quickly pull them back to my sides, and bend down, picking up my scattered books and open bag off the tiled floor.

"S-so, shall w-we g-go?" I ask, shoving the text back in and cradling the bag between my arms. I glance around, trying to keep myself busy, feeling embarrassed to meet her gaze. Seneca places her hands on either side of my face, and I freeze, finally looking at her.

"You know, I can't always be there for you. You've got to learn to be stronger, Cage. Don't forget that you're the Aleph. I know you can do it." She says with such conviction, it surprises me. She drops her hands and starts walking, leaving me following her a step behind, wondering about her words.

⇥⇤

The morning feels like it lasts forever, with each minute ticking by painstakingly slow. I almost throw my pencil at the clock twice, and barely control myself from grabbing a fistful of hair and yelling out in frustration.

I'm not able to listen to even one of my classes, my thoughts a jumbled mess of things, I can't quite sort out.

I'll just pine for a Mate somewhere while watching my best and only friend pant after a girl.

We all know he's a fag. Sooner or later Alpha Seneca is going to realize what a loser he is and move on to a real man.

You've got to learn to be stronger, Cage.

All these people's voices echo in my head, their words playing again and again in replay. Uh!

And when the bell rings, I almost jump out of my seat, and run out to the door.

Finally, some fresh air . . .

I go to my locker to keep my half-open bag inside it, and that's when I see Nora rummaging through hers. I don't know how she did it, but the moment I stepped foot into the hallway, her head whips to look at me. She throws me a nasty glare and slams her locker shut with unnecessary force, before strutting past me in her pointed heels.

Heels?! Since when is she wearing heels?!

This just shows how much has changed and how ignorant I've been . . .

"Ugh!" I cast a look upwards as if asking the Goddess for help, before going to my locker to finish my business.

⇥⇤

I go the cafeteria empty-handed, wondering if it's worth it to risk Nora's wrath by sitting beside her. Or if it's better to go and take a seat beside my Alpha Mate.

All indecision disappears when I see Seneca seated regally with her back straight—like one of those princesses in the 1600s—in The Table, which is the one in the middle of the cafeteria. Beta Ezra is seated beside her as well, scoffing down a big cheeseburger, with absolutely no shame. The two of them are so different from each other, anyone will wonder how they remain friends.

Ha.

She senses my presence and turns to me, raising her hand in a wave. I smile involuntarily, and grab a tray, rushing to the line to get some food.

After getting a sandwich and french fries combo, I turn around and hesitate for a second. I shrug off the doubts in my mind, and steel myself for all the whispers, then walk with my head high—higher than usual, if you ask me—as confidently as I can to The Table. Stares and whispers almost make me cower down, and my heart beats a thousand miles an hour in my chest, but I keep a neutral face on as I cover the distance between the line and the table in long strides.

When I see the small smile pulling the corners of Seneca's rosy lips up, I can say, enduring this was definitely worth it.

I place the tray on the empty space to her right, and sit on the chair, facing her with new found confidence.

"I wanna d-do it." I say, surprising myself.

"What?" She asks, confused.

"I want to b-become s-strong. W-Will you h-help me?"

⇥⇤

ANOTHER LONG CHAPTER!!!!!

HOPE U GUYS LIKE IT. THANK U PPL FOR THE CONSTANT SUPPORT!!!! I luv u guys!!