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Growing up, everyone always had to point out the difference between my twin and I. Wyatt was the calmer one, easy going, artistic and thoughtful. On the other hand, I loved using my fists, and was claimed impulsive. Unpredictable.Going to school with a bunch of sons of Alphas and Betas, they would always try to assert their dominance, and Wyatt would be an easy target because he was too nice for everyone's own good, so I'd always get in fights. All the time.

Getting older, it got better because they knew that I can hold my own in fights and not to pick on my brother either.

I usually never thought before I punched someone in the face.

But hey, no one's perfect. Except my mate.

When our eyes meet across the detention room, I smile at her but get a glare in return. I couldn't help but chuckle which made her pointedly try to ignore me again. She's so determined to hate me, but she hasn't rejected me. If I'm feeling the pull between our bond, so is she. If her scent intoxicates me, I hope mine does too.

It's been ages since my wolf has actually been this calm, and it's only because of her. On the other hand, my magic is going to combust. Emotions drive it, and with her, I feel off center all the time.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

"Like what?" I asked her lazily, trying to balance the pencil on my nose.

"Like-" Edith stopped when the front door burst open, revealing an all too smug Theo.

"I got you guys out of detention!" Theo announced, stepping inside the small ugly room and bowing at us rather dramatically. He missed school yesterday because he was still at his pack. "Thank you, thank you."

"H-how?" Edith asked, quickly looking at me then at my crazy friend.

"Oh you know, just that the teachers love me."

"Love you?" I scoffed. "More like they just want to get rid of your presence."

"Keep being jealous, my friend." Theo snapped his fingers and held the door wide open. "You guys are out. You're welcome."

Edith took no time getting the heck out of there, and Theo looked surprised, both eyebrows raised at me. "Guess she really doesn't like you?"

"Yeah something like that," I muttered. Theo inspected me for a little, and I avoided his gaze because if as dumb as he acted all the time, he can pick up on my moods as good as Wyatt does. Did. Whatever.

"Well come on, the team for soccer is posted in front of Coach Heath's office. We need to see if we got in."

"We?" I asked him, following him out of the room. Theo turned to me, with a huge grin on his face.

"Did you actually think I wouldn't join in on the fun too?" Theo replied in a wink. "I asked coach to let me get an extension."

"What is up with you and getting teachers to do your bidding?" I asked, flabbergasted. "Actually, don't answer that." Theo had some characteristics of his dad, Alpha Grayson, and sometimes it scared me. Theo could smile the sweetest smile, and tell you he'd kill you in your sleep.

Theo clucked his tongue, "Just call me the teacher whisperer."

A couple of other students were looking on the bright yellow piece of paper that was posted outside the soccer coach's office, and suddenly I felt nervous. It was really just a bet for my mate, but if this took what'll impress her, I wanted to be a soccer player.

Theo announced, "Move aside dweebs let us pass through." As if they knew better, the students parted, and I followed Theo to the front of the crowd. Squinting down at the small paper, I looked for my last name.

West Stryder.

I looked for Theo's name too- Theo Ronin and he was two names above mine.

Theo turned around and grinned widely, but he shook his head. "Dang I owe Jax 50 bucks."

"You bet against me?!" I asked incredulous.

"You never played a day in your life of course I bet against you. I forget that you're good at everything you do," Theo frowned.

"Congratulations you're on the team too," I grinned at him. I couldn't wait to tell Edith. I took a quick picture of it.

Picking out my mate the next day was easy during lunch because instead of being at the cafeteria, she was out hiding in the library.

I pulled up the picture I took on my phone, and set it in front of her.

"Well well well how the turn tables," I sat down in front of my mate, holding out her ribbon. It's definitely my lucky charm. "I fully expect to see you in every soccer game."

Edith almost gaped at me. Her eyes round as she looked from the phone to me. "You actually made it?"

"Why does everyone think I can't?" I think I should be offended.

"There goes my lunch," she muttered, but before thinking about it, I offered her to take her to Food Joy- a diner nearby the school that my friends loved going to in celebration. It looked like she wasn't going to eat anything today, so why not.

"What's the string attached?" she asked me, raising her eyebrow in full distrust.

"Jeez, I'm your mate Edith. Nothing. I just want you to eat."

Satisfied with the answer, she nodded at me. "Alright."

The walk to Food Joy was short, and the waitress, Karen, already knew me and her eyebrows raised up as she saw me with Edith.

"Oh wow you bought...a friend?" Karen asked, blinking a little too much. Suddenly I felt Edith stiffen.

"Yeah, my usual booth?" I asked, flashing a smile at Karen who only looked at me and led the way to the corner booth.

Edith chose no time to order, and the food came just as fast.

She inhales the two cheeseburgers, fries and the extra large milkshake. Her cheeks tinge pink and that is the loveliest sight I've seen. "What?" she demanded, casting her gaze down. Almost bashful.

"Uh..." for a second I'm speechless. I'm still finishing my first burger. "Do you want more?"

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No!" I almost shouted, scared she's going to leave. Since the time she drove me to my dorm, she's actually looking at me. We're actually having a conversation again. She's tolerating my presence. So what if it's just for food.

"Yes."

"What?"

"Yes," Edith said, her lips lifting a little, "I want more."

That's my girl.

"Are you calling me fat?"

"Nope," I shake my head vigorously. Leave it to Edith to ask me these questions. "A-and even if you were, it wouldn't matter to me."

"Really." Edith crossed her arms, leaning back on her chair.

"Looks aren't everything," I shrugged. "Beauty inside is more meaningful than beauty outside." I've seen beautiful people act cruel. I've seen handsome Alphas treat their mates like garbage. Treat their packs like they were lesser. "Just because someone looks good doesn't mean they have a lot to give."

I stare in her dark eyes for a moment before she looks away.

"It also seems to me that this whole mate thing is a sham." My smile dropped. "Why would two strangers want to suddenly just love each other? Why do you care so much about me- you don't even know me."

"Maybe we're supposed to figure out why."

She stared at me hard and long. "We're the generation that makes our own decisions."

"Then reject me." I'm bluffing. One hundred and ten percent, I'm going to die if she does. My other half is sitting right in front of me and she wants nothing to do with me. It feels like I already lost the half that shared a womb with me, but I can't lose half of my soul.

Edith gets up, getting her bag. "Don't- I'm not having this conversation with you."

I take a deep breath. It seems like we're never going to have this conversation. Dad's words keep running through my head: patience.

In science class, the counselor comes at the beginning having an announcement to make.

"He's been missing for a week now," the counselor began. "If any of you guys know the missing whereabouts of Jared Smith please let us know."

I saw a few wolves look in my directions. Even my friends gave me the side eye.

I didn't do it, obviously. But who else would want something bad to happen to the punk?

"West Stryder please report to the principal's office," one of the students said to me, looking at me with narrowed eyes. Maddox, Theo and Jax patted me in the back. Abby frowned at me, trying to decide if I really did do it or not.

Trying not to internally groan, I followed the student to the principal's office.

"Good luck," the student smiled at me, but his eyes were telling a different story. When I knocked at the door, I saw that Edith was already there on the seat. This is getting too repetitive.

Principal Greer was leaning back on her evil villain chair, looking at the both of us with an indescribable stare.

"Since news gets around too quickly, I'm sure you already know why you both are here." Principal Greer took off her glasses and looked at the two of us in a accusing way I didn't like at all. "Jared Smith has gone missing from the hospital. It's been approximately two days."

I shrugged, "What is he just went home?"

"No, he didn't," Principal Greer smiled like I said some kind of joke. "So I'm asking the both of you if you know what happened to him."

"I just punched him, I don't have some vendetta against him," I replied.

"Edith? And you?"

"I've known him for a few years now, I don't talk to him or care much about him."

"Yes, but," Principal Greer clasped her hands together, "the earlier incident that you both had a confrontation before West butted in."

"I was just telling him to stay away from me," Edith responded calmly. "I wouldn't really do anything that West didn't already do."

I held back my grin.

"So there would be no reason for you guys to have to do with his disappearance?" Principal Greer asked. Not believing us. Wanting us to be the ones to blame. Because it would be easy.

"You really think we'd do it?" I scoffed, trying to contain my anger.

"I'm just trying to figure out the possibilities."

"Did you try to figure out if maybe he left on his own?" I asked, clenching my jaw.

"There is nothing yet, West Stryder. You would do good in keeping your anger in check. We don't know for sure if you guys actually didn't do it."

"We're already punished enough for that as-"

"Enough!" Principal Greer snapped at me. "For now, I will give you guys the benefit of the doubt. But your behavior makes me want to think otherwise."

After school ends, I'm hiding away from everyone by the outside court near the lake. Since I told Blaine I'd help him, I told him to come along too.

"No matter what I do," Blaine sighed, "I'm not good I am just a runt."

"You're not a runt," I laughed at him, passing him the ball. Taking the ball easily, Blaine looked up at me, trying to assess me no doubt.

"I'm not physically fit like the rest," Blaine cut me off. "If you haven't noticed."

"So what if you can't play basketball perfectly- you need skills not what you think you are. There is no runt. You're not a runt."

"Everything doesn't get solved by fighting," Blaine said sadly. Then suddenly, "You haven't spoken about my cousin at all."

That surprised me, and the ball left my hands.

"Wh-what?" I asked him.

"I know, about you two," Blaine said. "I know the circumstances."

What circumstances?

"I thought you're only talking to me because my cousin is your mate, but I was wrong. You're a good captain. The only thing I want to tell you is...just she'll come around eventually." Blaine's hard eyes met mine, not in a challenge but in a more determined way. "If you really want to be together with your mate, then you will have to be patient and have what it takes to get her."

I crack him a crazy grin. I think Blaine is team West.