Right when I get to school and make the mistake of going to the bathroom to make sure my hair isn't too messed up because I didn't get a chance to fix it, I get cornered by Abby.

Not something you want to happen first thing in the morning.

"What are you to West?" Abby demanded at me. Her tone wasn't friendly. Her face was contorted in nothing but anger at me. Accusing me. Like I did something wrong to her.

Nor did like I her tone towards me. "I don't understand what you're-"

"Don't think I'm stupid!" Abby vehemently cuts me off. Right there, I pinpointed the hurt in her. Except she's looking at me in disdain. "You think that he's going to actually like someone like you?" 

I was taken aback. I could easily ruin her whole argument by just telling her we're mates, get used to it. I could say that and I was the winner here. But I knew this wolf in front of me was sad. Sad that West rejected her. But another part of me, the Alpha that comes out from time to time, is a bit protective of West and that yes, only I can have him since he's my mate, not hers. And how she got rejected by him because of me.

"Someone like me?" My tone was calmer than I felt. I gripped the straps of my book bag tighter.

She began, "I've known him forever." 

So did I. We grew up. But she didn't need to know that. I had the satisfaction and that only mattered.

"Okay," I shrugged. The thing with having Silas in my life is I knew how to reign in my anger. He taught me self-control. If I fought him, I knew I'd die. My mother would die. Sometimes you had to be unbothered. Let things like this not get to you.

"He's my best friend. I don't know about all the weirdos he hangs out with, but clearly that's you. So I just want to tell you he's nice to everyone. Don't get it twisted in thinking he actually might have any sort of feelings. You're no one. Not in this school. Not to him."

"Then why is it that you're not talking to him?" I asked her politely. "Since you're best friends, you guys must be close, right? You guys haven't been talking to each other. Obviously you're the delusional one here. He only sees you as a friend. I know you're hurt about him rejecting you."

"He did not reject me!" Abby exclaimed hotly, crossing her arms. I couldn't believe how in denial she was. "He's just misguided right now and a little lost."

Now this made me defensive. I knew that West felt like he was lost and misguided all the time. But not in the romantic sense.

I told her coolly raising my chin slightly, "West can make his own decisions. It's time you understand he's smarter than you give him credit for. Which you should. Give him credit for being his own person than follow you around. Yes, you're very beautiful, and you probably get whatever you want in life, but just because you can't have one thing doesn't mean you should ruin a relationship that you've had for years." I cleared my throat because the petty side of me added, "As friends."

When I met up with Penelope by her locker, one look at m and she asked, "What's wrong?"

This was the thing about having a best friend who knew your facial expressions too well.

"Nothing. Just that Abby cornered me into telling me West doesn't care about me."

Penelope slammed her locker shut and began to move, but I grabbed her hand tightly, "Please don't, it's not worth it."

"If she even tries to look in the same direction as you, I will beat her up. Maybe I can trip her during cheer practice..." Penelope trailed off, probably thinking of a million ways to sabotage Abby.

"Penelope, she's heartbroken. I would want to blame someone too." I pushed my tray away, drinking some water.

Penelope stared at me. "Sometimes you amaze me of your maturity."

"Yes, it's the years of trauma."

"Ugh," Penelope rolled her eyes at me, shaking her head. "Edith can you be serious for one second?"

"I thought Edith was serious all the time," Blaine joined in our table, and Callie followed suite, just roasting me like usual.

I smiled at my table, enjoying how happy those who I loved were.

Penelope tried studying with me because she said she needed to pass her final exams, and I tried helping her, but she was too busy rummaging through my closet.

"P, what are you doing?" I closed my textbook, wondering what clothes could interest Penelope. She always could borrow things from me, but my wardrobe wasn't anything compared to hers.

"So I knew I got you this outfit as a gift, and now I'm wondering something. It's a test."

"On...?" I trailed off, but when Penelope held out the black short sleeved crop top and flowy taupe colored pants. I gave her a warning look. "It's winter!"

"We don't get cold!"

"It's weird!"

"Let's see what West thinks."

I groaned. "Penelope..."

"Hop to it. We'll see if he says something."

I frowned for a second. "He really hasn't commented on my appearances," I shrugged. Truthfully, I'm grateful for that. I didn't need any male tell me how I looked or how I dressed. I liked me just fine.

"He...hasn't?" now Penelope is frowning.

"Isn't it great."

"I'd like to think West is more of a romantic than that." By the way Penelope is slightly smiling and her eyes narrowed, I don't like her look of scheming something.

"Whatever you're thinking stop it."

Penelope laughed a little like a villain. "Oh Edith, West will sweep you off your feet. Just wear that."

I looked at the crop top and flowy pants. Sighing at the expectant look on Penelope's face, I took the clothes and put it on in the bathroom.

When I walked out Penelope exclaimed, "They look so cute!"

Finally getting the nerve to look in the mirror, I tried to see what Penelope saw. My hair, which was cut to a bob cut outgrew a little and it looked nicer than it did. I tried not to smile when West did compliment me on my ugly hair. The crop top highlighted my collarbone and if I didn't work out so much, my stomach would be bothering me, but it was well defined.

"I wish I had your abs," Penelope sighed. "But I love carbs too much for anything to happen. Once I cut out carbs, it's over for everyone."

"Yeah yeah not like you're already the prettiest wolf I know."

"Now flattery...will get you everywhere."

As I'm walking in the hallways with Penelope, coming to the deal that I could wear a cardigan even though Penelope tells me that is a fashion fail, but I still looked hot, I tried to feel good about what I was wearing.

Maybe I was being paranoid, but I think I noticed more looks my way. Stares. At the male werewolf population kind that I hated. The leering that made you uncomfortable. 

"It's okay," Penelope whispered when she noticed me glaring back at a male wolf gawking at me. "West can fight, so I don't think he'll care."

My cheeks heated. "This isn't about-" I slowly trailed off when I saw West coming down the hallway with his friend Maddox as he was saying good bye to him, West's gaze snapped up at me. His eyes immediately darkened as he made his deliberate way towards me, only looking at me.

"I need to write a romance novel about you two," Penelope sighed. "It's really great how you guys just always meet each other. It's like the mate bond means something." The stares I got from random wolves were nothing but plain creepy. However, the look I got from West made my toes curl and butterflies erupt.

"Good morning West." 

"Morning, Penelope," West's eyes never left mine. "Good morning Edith."

"Morning," I mumbled, fidgeting at West's blatant appreciation at me.

Penelope gestured to me. "Don't you think Edith looks absolutely divine today?" 

 West's gaze didn't drip to my chest or anything, just searching my face. "Nothing new," his voice was low and a little throaty. "She's always looking divine."

Penelope grinned at me. 

"Er, thanks," I looked away trying to get away from him because I was too embarrassed looking like this. In fact, I liked that I could affect him like that, but it was bringing too much attention. To me. "I have to go to my locker." 

As I'm pretending to make my way to my locker, I heard Penelope ask, "Do you think she needs to cover up?" 

West replied, "She doesn't ever need to hide anything."

West and I got a text message from Nicholas to meet him at the coffee shop nearby, so after school we decided to go together.

I noticed West looking at me a little. "What?" I more like demanded at him. 

"Nothing," West cleared his throat. "You just...look really good like usual."

"Thank you," I said pleasantly as I could. I wondered if I should tell him about Abby, but that would make their friendship even more strained. I felt bad for both parties because they were good friends. I just don't think West will take it kindly if I told him what she said to me. "I got a ton of compliments today."

"From who?" West gripped his steering wheel a little tighter, and I rolled my eyes. "I just want to talk."

I rolled my eyes. "Everyone. But mainly females. The males only stared because they have no manners and lack decency."

West looked at me for a moment, wondering if that really came out of my mouth then laughed. "You're not wrong about that. It isn't fair that you can't look hot without male werewolves making you uncomfortable."

"You think I'm hot?" That's a new one. He parked the car in the lot.

"Oh yeah, but you're more than that," West told me softly. "I love the beauty within too."

Before I could say something, which I didn't know what to say, there was a rapid knock on our window. Nicholas grinned at us.

Moments ago where West looked all soft, his face hardened at him. Instinctively, I reached out and squeezed his calloused hand. He looked at it for a second, and nodded.

"For you," he sighed, getting out of the car reluctantly. 

Nicholas seemed excited, looking back and forth between West and I. "Isn't it exciting?!" he asked. "I found the location of where these rogues who are producing wolfsbane are and we can get them."

"You mean...you want to come with us?" West asked, unkindly. West's attitude towards Nicholas seemed a lot unwarranted. I shoot him a look, but West pointedly ignores it. His focus is on Nicholas.

"I mean..." Nicholas trailed off, looking at me, hoping I'd back him up. In truth, if I did West would support me, I knew he would.

"Absolutely not."

"It's my mission too!"

West's eyes narrow to slits, "Yeah, I wonder why."

"What does that mean?" Nicholas didn't take it too kindly either. "I've got a lead! I should come too." I felt bad for him, but I don't think West was going to budge. He could be really stubborn. "Only I know where the location is. So I'm coming or nothing."

"Fine," West nearly growled out. "Tell us where we should go and meet you."

Nicholas smiled, pleased. "Excellent. When are you guys free?"

"Final exams are this week. Our winter vacation starts this Saturday."

"Are you guys doing anything this vacation?" Nicholas asked, looking back and forth between us.

I shrugged, planning on working all break, and West shook his head too. "Probably not."

"Okay, I'll give you where we should meet."

West and I looked each other. This was it. We're finally closer to solving this puzzle.