There are a few things in this world that scared me. Losing those I loved. Not being strong enough to challenge Silas for the pack. And spiders.

Customers at the coffee shop I worked at weren't scary. Humans were, at most, an annoyance. Sometimes their drink orders scared me- how can someone be okay with drinking that much sugar?

This woman in front of me stared at the menu for a long while. I knew there was only 10 drink items on the menu, but she's been standing there for at least 15 minutes.

My smile could only hold for so long.

"Hmmm....." this woman with long blonde hair and big red lips squinted at the menu for the hundredth time. "I think I'll just go to Starbucks."

Just like that, Joe's Coffee Shop lost a customer.

"Edith, you can leave now," my manager, Jerry said. He was a plump short human who tried his best to make everyone happy. In truth, I loved this job. I worked until night- 11 PM and Jerry and my other co-worker Linda closed until 1 AM- something I couldn't do now that I go to school. No matter what though, I needed the money. It wasn't like anyone was going to give me money. Whatever funds my father had, Silas took for himself. Whatever funds my mother had, is gone. The apartment is on my territory and already paid for- excluding electricity and water. Then there was food, internet, and any clothes I wanted to buy. In a month, for utilities and food was around 200 dollars. Joe's paid me a little more than minimum wage plus the small tips that I got. I paid for all the necessities and anything that Blaine needed too.

This had been such a long shift.

I walk inside the back to clock out and on my way out, grab an iced coffee for Blaine and say goodbye to Jerry and Linda.

The best part of working was that it was only a 15 minute walk from my apartment. I loved to walk at night where it was quiet and where I could reflect on the day. It was my favorite time of the day.

As I walked deeper into the woods, holding my iced coffee, I sensed the two wolves Silas had to always keep a watch on me. On my mom. Angrily, I walked to the door, pulling out my keys as I got near the apartment. I opened the door and was greeted by Blaine watching TV on my couch.

"Hey," I greeted, double locking the door and releasing a breath I didn't know I had.

"How was work?" Blaine asked me, his eyes glancing at me.

"Humans suck," I handed him his iced coffee. "The usual."

"If I wasn't so addicted to caffeine, I think I'd be addicted to wolfsbane," Blaine joked.

I shot him a dark look. Wolfsbane was the hard core drug for wolves- or any supernatural being. It messed us up in the worst possible way. When wolves got addicted, they turned more into a rabid wolf that can't control themselves. Usually, they'd shift and kill humans or anyone in their way. I wouldn't know why wolves loved it. From the little I heard, it was a nice high, but in the end it made you rabid.

"I'm kidding, Eddie sheesh," Blaine sipped his coffee, and when I stared at him a little more, I saw his neck. I stood up.

"Blaine what happened?!" I hissed at him, pointing at his neck. There's a faint scratch on it.

"Calm down, it's nothing," Blaine waved it off. Anger engulfed me. "Just a little scruff with Toby."

My voice raised, "Toby?"

I was going to kill Silas' Beta.

"Really it's nothing," Blaine's tone makes me want to hug him.

"Blaine," I sighed deeply, willing myself not to go to the pack house and strangle Toby in his sleep.

"Can I sleep here tonight?" Blaine asked sheepishly. I shake my head, sighing deeply. Blaine practically lives here, but goes to the pack house to check up on Rosie and if he is able to, his mother. Seldom does Silas allow it.

"This is your house too," I replied, my anger slowly dissipating. I could never get mad at Blaine nor Blaine at me. Things like this add up. Toby hurting Blaine. Things like this make me train harder.

I stop by my mom's room, and it's dark with the lamp on, so I step in the room.

She used to be the brightness of my entire world. My father used to be it too. What is the point of heartbreak like this? Why do mates have to do this when they live without each other? All she does is sleep. She doesn't even question the two guard dogs out in the front of her door. She just stays locked up in the little apartment, an empty shell.

I sigh deeply when I see the barely eaten toast and the plate that is still full of eggs. She used to love when I cooked. She used to love a lot of things, but it seems not there is nothing left to love.

Not even me.

I'll leave her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in case she feels hungry tomorrow morning. How long have I been hoping she would eat at least something? How long have I been hoping that she would just get up and tell Silas off? She would. The old Melissa Silva would have defended her sister who is married to a monster. Our pack would have backed her up in a heartbeat. This current pack is foreign. Silas ruined whatever my father instilled in his pack. Loyalty.

My only hope was to just be there for my mother. All I can do is not to give up on her and let her succumb to her heartbreak and ultimately death. She would've died if I let her, but I'm pushing her with everything I have to stay up. To live.

I want to tell her about West. I wish I could. She'd give me great advice, I bet. What would West even think about my mom if he saw her like this? Honestly, I didn't care. It's not like West and I would ever be anything. Why would I want to have a mate when you become an empty shell if they pass? Why would anyone take that horrid chance? You can die of heartbreak. Literally. Each and every day I see my mom dying slowly all the while I die inside watching her and unable to fix it.

I take her plate into the kitchen, leaving it to soak in the sink, too tired to wash it. Blaine already knows where all the extra pillows and blankets are. Making sure Blaine looks comfortable and is asleep is when I go to my room. I gently closed the door and plop onto my bed, not bother taking off my uncomfortable clothes from work.

Sleep is the only getaway I have to this all.

Throughout the school day, I noticed two things: one, West and I have the same lunch. Two, West and I both have our last period, gym, together.

Coach Reese gathered us together in the middle of the gymnasium. I stood in the back, not wanting to go any where near West. I crossed my arms, not wanting to be here especially with my mate just right there. The mate I wanted to avoid at all costs.

As Coach Reese is giving us directions, I can feel West's eyes on me. I looked towards him and our eyes met. There's a strange stirring inside me that I know it's the mate bond calling to us. His amber eyes drew me in for longer than I wanted, and I had to force myself to stop looking at him.

"Keaton, would you like to demonstrate?" Coach Reese was saying something. This blonde haired tall wolf smirked and a group of guys laughed at him like some inside joke.

Keaton walked over to the side, looking over at the group of us that were in gym. His eyes landed and lingered on this girl next to me who looked down, her long black hair encasing her face.

Weird.

Keaton got onto his four legs, in a plank position and did a push-up, then jumped up doing a jumping jack, going back into the plank position.

"Very good. We'll do those to warm up before we do some jogging," Coach Reese said. "I want this to be an experience. And maybe at the end some of you guys will want to do a marathon."

"I hate running," the girl that Keaton's gaze on earlier mumbled a little.

"What kind of wolf are you?" I joked. She met my gaze and smiled at me.

"I love it when I shift, but in human form?" she blanched.

I nodded, "Yeah it's different."

"I'm Callie," she said, extending her hand.

"Edith," I took her hand. At least maybe I'd know one person in this class besides West.

After the last bell rang, I met Penelope at our locker. She's still trying to convince me to join the cheer leading squad. Try outs were all this week.

"Please can you come?" Penelope is looking at me with her wide eyed which literally remind me of a doe.

"I guess," I sighed, knowing Blaine would be practicing basketball after school. He said he needed the extra practice, so I wouldn't mind staying for an extra hour or so.

"You're the bestest," Penelope said. She hates being in places or going places where she doesn't know anyone, and since usually my plans are free, she knows that I could come with her anytime. Why someone as gorgeous and talented as Penelope is friends with someone who's so broken like me will forever be a mystery.

We spotted the group of cheerleaders in the field that was across the footballers. I knew the main cheerleaders, only because Penelope literally knew everyone in this school.

The football players were really loud, and sometimes whistled, and the cheerleaders just turned around and let them bite the dust. Props to them.

Penelope joined the rest of the cheerleaders on the field as I got up into the bleachers, taking out a notebook so I can finish some homework.

"I think we need one more person to do this," Abby Reeves said, humming a little. To my complete horror- I'm just trying to do some math homework homegirl- she turned to me. "Uh what's your name? Edna?"

I just smiled tightly. "No, Ashley, it's Edith." I stand up. Penelope laughed out loud, which didn't go unnoticed by Abby or her squad. "What do you want me to do?"

"Dance with us," Abby answered, motioning. Dancing is easy. It's fun. I loved it before...before Silas didn't let me go to anymore practices. Before everything.

I looked at Penelope who gave me a wide eyes nod. Shrugging, I got onto the field.

I easily did a cart wheel and round off with two back flips, landing a little shakily- but I was rusty.

The entire cheerleading squad including Penelope just stared at me as if I had two heads.

"Uh..." I scratched my head. "I can do that again? I know I'm a little off-"

"Oh. Meh. Gawsh." This came from the other co-captain, Odette. Long auburn hair in a high pony tail. "Why didn't you try out for the cheerleading squad?!"

I glanced at Penelope. "Er..."

"You have to join!" Odette exclaimed.

"You have to be on the roster which you're not," Abby gave me a sickly sweet smile. "Too bad."

"Don't worry I didn't want to join anyways," I tell Abby who blanches. I've offended her.

Odette however, was having other thoughts. She clapped her hands, and turned to all her teammates. "All in favor of Edith joining our squad raise your hands." Wait, what?!

To my complete and utter shock, the majority of the girls raised their hands. Penelope raised both of them, hopping up and down. I don't think her vote counted because she wasn't in the squad, but her support meant a lot to me.

Of course, Abby and her posse didn't raise their hands.

"This is a democracy, Abby, not a dictatorship," Odette said.

"Edith said she didn't want to be on the team," Abby argued.

"She's right," I say quickly, thanking Abby for hating me for no reason. "I have a lot of things to do."

"She really doesn't," Penelope pipes up. "Really she's free 90% of the time!" I give Penelope my death stare, but she smiles at me sweetly. I really can't join the cheer-leading squad.

"She can totally be an honorary member," Odette waved it off. "What do you say?"

"I don't know, cheering our losing football team isn't really my forte," I replied honestly, thinking back to what Blaine said about how our football team was bad.

"Didn't you hear we're going to be winning since West Stryder decided he wanted to play football?" Odette asked. "Isn't that right, Abby?"

"Yes, and with West we are going to win," Abby responded quickly. There was an agreement among all of them. My stomach twisted in knots. There is no way I wanted to cheer for West of all people. Those cheering outfits were really tacky too. However, the fact that these people actually wanted me to be in the squad made me feel good. Maybe my passion for dancing would come back...Maybe my passion for something would finally come back.

"She'll think about it," Penelope came to my rescue, standing beside me. "In the meantime, you guys need to practice for the pep rally."

Odette wanted me to be in the practice, and I tried to copy all their moves, but no one tells you that cheerleaders really do a lot of work. Since I'm so out of shape, I sit myself down on the lawn.

That's when the football players start to come file into the stands, watching the cheerleaders.

"Shake that!" one guy hollered. Odette gave the stands the finger. The guy I recognized from gym class, Keaton looked to be the main man to lead these group of unruly wolves.

I swallowed as I inhaled the oceanic scent. I dared to peek up from my math homework, and he drew in the entire football and cheer-leading crowd. Supposedly, he was in the team, but he wasn't there to practice.

Abby ran up and hugged my mate, like they were close, and the way she smiled at him...Gosh, that look means she has it bad. Watching him interact with everyone made me notice how everyone noticed him, wanted to talk to him. Fawning over him. He made conversation, and whatever he was saying made Abby laugh the loudest.

I looked away, and saw Blaine walking towards me. He looked at the crowd for a second, waving at someone, and smiled at me.

"Ready to go?" Blaine asked.

"You have no utter," I muttered, gathering my things. Penelope was still talking to some of her future teammates, and I told her to meet us in the parking lot. I just needed to get out of here ASAP.

Like a hell hound on my heel, I nearly sprinted to the parking lot, with a confused Blaine telling me to slow down.

I stopped for a second as Blaine reached me, but heard him.

"Wait up!"

Blaine and I turned around, and when Blaine saw him his face brightened.

"Blaine, we're still on for tomorrow?" West asked my cousin in a familiar way. Wait. How does he know Blaine? When I watch my cousin, he is all smiles. They even do a strange handshake that males do.

I can feel West's eyes land on me.

"How do you know each other?" I asked, pointedly looking at Blaine.

"I like to know too," West is asking how Blaine and I know each other because, oh gosh, he thinks Blaine is competition. Ugh.

"Oh, West is helping me with basketball," Blaine explained to me, and nodded at West. I think I even see a smile forming. "And West, this is my cousin Edith, Edith this is West."

West's smile is like the Cheshire cat. "Edith, huh?" Dang, I would have liked for him to not have known my name.

"West also plays football," Blaine is still saying. "And he's really helping me with basketball."

Then I give West a once over, and wrinkle my noise. "A football player? You couldn't be more cliche if you tried." West is a literal definition of a golden boy.

"Wha- cliche? What do you mean by that?" West questioned.

"You. A football player. Me. The one who dislikes football players. Besides that, I hardly call it fair if a werewolf plays a sport since we're faster and stronger than most humans."

"It's an all-American sport- everyone likes football!" West insisted. Then there's a cute frown etched in his face. "You don't like football?"

I shake my head, "I'm more of a soccer gal."

"S-soccer? That'll impress you?"

"I do love me some soccer players," my lips twisted into a smile as I watch his face fall.

As soon as I was way out of hearing distance of West, and Blaine sat down at the bench at the parking lot to wait for Penelope, I blurted out, "Blaine you shouldn't hang out with West."

Anything to keep myself and Blaine away from my mate is good.

"What do you mean, Edith?" Blaine scowled at me. "West has been one of the very few nice ones around this forsaken school."

"I didn't know -"

"That this school sucks? It does. Welcome to my life." Blaine crossed his arms.

"I'm sorry."

"West is probably the most popular guy in school out of 700 wolves and he actually is nice to me." I would have called West out for being nice to Blaine because we're mates, but unfortunately West met Blaine before he knew Blaine was related to me. And I feel horrible for thinking West would want to only hang out with Blaine because of me.

"Blaine, you're amazing," I said. "Don't worry about the basketball stuff." Come on, tell him. I needed to tell Blaine West is my mate. He'll understand then. Why he can't get close to him.

"They call West Hot Shot in basketball- he's pretty well known. He told me he'd train with me," Blaine is going on about how great West is, and I wish West was a jerk so then I'd have a legit excuse to be rude to him. "He's the best chance I have to maybe make it in the team."

Except he's not, and everyone seems to fall in love with West. Everyone.

"Who are we talking about?" Penelope finally arrives, in front of us narrowing her eyes at us.

"West Stryder," I grumbled out.

"Oooooooohhhh I love him."

Point.