It was Monday after school, two days after Xavier's and my date. I was on the sidewalk outside the doors, about to walk home, when May came out of nowhere and leaped into me like she always does. Surprised, I barely caught her.

"April!"

"Hi May! What are you doing here?" I glanced around. If Xavier, Everleigh, Jacob, or Andrew saw her, questions were just going to flood from their mouths.

"I came with her." She pointed to one of our pack mates, Laura, I thought her name was. "Mommy said I could come see your school."

"May." I gave her a stern look until she collapsed under the pressure.

"Okay, okay! I followed her because she mentioned she was picking up her kids. I wanted to surprise you! Did it work? Are you surprised?"

I laughed and kissed her nose. "Yes, May, I'm very surprised. But I'm also upset." She hung her head. "You can't just run off like that! Mom is probably freaking out right now!" A tear escaped her right eye and I softened my face, pulling her close to my chest. "I'm glad your safe, and Mom will be too."

She sniffled and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, April." I melted as her big hazel eyes blinked up at me.

"I know. Lets go home, okay?" She nodded, but when I turned, something caught her eye.

"Hey that's my friend! Everleigh! Hiiii!" She squealed and I froze at the name. Everleigh? As in my friend Everleigh?

"Hi, May!" Everleigh called back, and I knew it would only take a second for her to recognize me from behind. "April? Is that you?"

"It is! Freckles, wait up!" I cringed and turned around to see Xavier, Jacob, Everleigh, and Andrew heading down the sidewalk towards me. I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing what was coming.

They caught up to me and Xavier looked confused. "How do you know May Anderson?"

I was about to say that I babysit her but May was a four year old who didn't know the importance of keeping her mouth shut. "April is my sister!" I flinched. Why did she have to say that?

"What?" Xavier and Andrew said at the same time.

"How?" Everleigh said.

"Um, I'm adopted...?" I said, but it came out more like a question.

May giggled. "No you're not silly."

"May, stop talking!" I hissed.

She widened her eyes, all threats of her previous tears were gone. "Why? They're my friends. They came over for dinner last week but you told mom you were sick so you didn't have to come downstairs."

Eight pairs of eyes burned into me. "Stop it, May!" I cried.

Xavier looked as if someone had punched him in the gut. "April? Is this true?"

I looked down at my feet, shuffling them as I held onto May tighter. That was the only answer they needed.

"So that's why I couldn't meet your family or pick you up for our date!" His voice was rising in anger and hurt. "And you've known we are mates this whole time and didn't bother to tell me? I've been going super slow for you and keeping my distance because I thought you didn't know about werewolves!"

"I know. I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Why? I thought you trusted us; I thought we were your friends?" Everleigh said quietly.

I hated that they were so hurt, but what else could I do? A few tears trailed down my face. "I have reasons why I hid this, okay? I just can't tell you. Not yet."

Xavier threw his hands up, "more secrets?!" Mates should be honest with each other, April. I can't believe this!" He stormed off to the parking lot, getting in his truck and slamming the door. I choked back a sob and May looked suddenly stricken.

I turned to the others, trying to ignore the fact that Xavier had just driven off. Andrew looked extremely hurt and Everleigh had a disappointed look on her face. Jacob was always quiet and held little emotion, but this time his eyes held curiosity under the sadness. I didn't know what to make of that.

"I'm sorry." I whispered again.

Everleigh shook her head and walked away, Jacob trailing after her. Andrew growled at me, his eyes hardcore something I'd never seen in them before now. "Why'd you have to hide it, April? What are you so afraid of?" He spun around and followed his sister to the parking lot.

That's when I broke. I burst into tears and sunk down to my knees onto the concrete, holding May close to me.

"I don't understand," May squeaked innocently. "Why are they so mad?"

"It's not your fault, May. It's mine." I told her. No matter how much I wanted to blame her, I knew it had been my fault from the beginning. I'd been hiding half of myself from my own mate and my best friends.

"April?" I heard someone run up towards us. "Why are you crying?"

I blinked the blur away and saw August staring at me in concern. It wasn't often I fully broke down like this. "I-I think I just lost my mate and my best friends all at once." I managed to get out.

August pulled me up off the ground and gave me a hug, squishing May between us. "I'm sorry. Let's go home. Mom'll be a better help that I'll ever be."

I chuckled through the tears a little, "Thanks, August." May wrapped her arms around my neck and I held her the whole way home.

We walked through the front door and May slipped from my grasp and ran up the stairs screaming for Mom. Several pack members started at the sound and I saw some poke their heads around doorways. I ignored the stares as I ascended the stairs more slowly to flop onto my bed.

Tears were still coming down my cheeks, but I wasn't bawling anymore. I heard a soft tap on my door and looked up to see Mom in my doorway, May peeking out from behind her legs.

I sat up and my mom walked over to my bed. "What happened, Honey?"

I sighed. "He knows. My mate found out I've been hiding the fact that I know about werewolves and now he's really upset."

Mom looked sorry for me, which is not what I wanted at the moment. "Give him time. I'm sure he'll come around."

I shrugged and collapsed back down, squeezing a pillow between my arms. "He stormed off and didn't let me even try to explain! I'm scared he'll never want to speak to me again."

Mom sat down and May climbed up to lie beside me. "He's just hurt and confused. He's probably more upset knowing he could've marked you before now and was instead forced to wait while treating you like a human."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know. But that doesn't change the fact that he's mad."

"Why don't you get some rest and sleep the day off." She patted my shoulder in a motherly gesture. "We'll leave you alone, okay?"

I sniffed and gave her a nod. She pulled May away from me and shut the door behind her. I couldn't stop the next round of tears that flowed from my eyes, and I muffled my frustrated screams with a pillow.

I didn't want to lose my mate forever! What if this was something he couldn't get over? What if he truly didn't want to speak to me ever again? What if there was some slut in his pack throwing herself at him and he finally let her now that he knew I was a liar and a fake. What if —

My mind reeled with possibilities until I was finally able to pass out.