.

School was tomorrow.

We had to carry on our everyday life like normal. Except now it wasn't normal. Now, there was a looming threat in my pack, the Challenge I have with Silas and last....

I am in love with my mate.

Ava had to peel West off me saying we were going to see each other in less than 12 hours.

"You think Dad could go without you for 12 hours?" West pouted at his mom, who winked at me, given our secret talk when I woke up earlier than West, who slept on his futon. I blushed at the conversation, but didn't exactly hate the idea. And if the parents want it...

West have his car keys to me, saying he'll ride with Wyatt to school tomorrow and will just get his car back tomorrow. Even though I'm on my way driving now, West is sending me text messages and snapchats mainly of him saying he misses me.

Entering Penelope's pack, and driving to her house, Penelope and Blaine were already outside, waiting for me.

I didn't even get a chance to park the car before Penelope opened the door and hugged me, shrieking, "I missed you!"

When I saw Blaine smiling at me, my throat clogged, "Hey," I told my cousin, not realizing exactly how much I missed him. Blaine was always a constant in my life. More than cousin, he's a brother to me.

"How was the break?" Penelope looked at Blaine, "no mark yet, bro."

"Aw, I really thought West would make his move," Blaine said.

"You owe me ten bucks," Penelope humphed.

I opened my mouth in fake anger, "You bet about the marking?"

"Well...yeah," Penelope shrugged. "Who wouldn't want to get marked as soon as possible by West Stryder."

"Obviously Edith," Blaine sighed.

"Wha- you think he wants to-"

Penelope and Blaine just stared at me, causing me to redden. I've been blushing a lot these days.

"Uh, so how is my mom?" I cleared my throat. "Thanks for taking her in again."

"I forgot how much of a great baker she is. You know she's welcome to my home anytime." Penelope wrapped her hand around me on my right, and Blaine came to my left, hugging me.

"I really did miss you guys."

"We did too," Blaine said to me, smiling happily. I loved these two with my whole entire heart, it hurt.

Penelope went straight to the point, "Whatever. Now! Spill! Tell us about West."

Penelope and Blaine left me alone at my locker in the morning, actually having things to do than hang out with me. I got a text from West saying he'd meet me there.

I didn't know how popular West really was.

He really really downplayed it.

Every step he took closer to my locker the next morning, wolves were stopping to talk to him. He had his own fangirls that talked to him, on the same level as Abby, looking up at him in admiration because West Stryder was just good. Straight up, plain genuine good that you don't see often.

It's like he's shining and gives people a lift of spirits as he talks to them. Then the flip side to that happy and cheery side is the dangerous undercurrent. The scary Alpha inside him.

Pretending like I'm looking for a textbook at my locker, one of my classmates, I forget his name pops up at my locker, blocking my view of West.

"Good morning Edith how was your break?" the tall, almost scrawny wolf asked me, smiling as he placed his hand on my shoulder in a too friendly way. Why does anyone think they have the right to just freely touch you?

The break was a roller coaster.

"Pretty boring, and yours?" I awkwardly nodded at him too, wondering where West-

"Good morning my love," speaking of the devil, my mate stands in front of me, his eyes flickering over at Garrett like he's a pest, and I noticed the way they narrowed so slightly at the sight of Garrett's hand on my shoulder.

I held my breath because knowing West, he could either resort straight to his fists at any given moment now. Was he bothered at all?

"Hi West, how are you?" Garrett might have sensed something, and quickly removed his hand, looking up to West.

West met his look with a harsh glare of his own that caused Garrett to scramble off. I've never seen West be mean to anyone just because. It was actually quite intriguing.

Finally, it was only the two us at my locker, and I was fully aware of West's presence. His scent, the powerful aura exuding off of him. His impressive physique filling my view. I would know- I've seen him half naked at the springs. But my mate was absolutely and painstakingly handsome. He probably didn't even notice how much. Which made him even hotter.

"Hmmm?" West mused, his eyes a more amber today than green. "Is there something on my face?"

I cleared my throat, "Nope just admiring-"

I stopped myself. I just told him the truth.

"Admiring me?" West cracked a grin, both his arms splashed in front of him, "you already know I'm all yours."

Startled by his admission, I quickly closed my locker, making way to go, and West casually slips his large hand into mine. I never understood why couples loved to hold hands. Or the concept of it. Never even thought much about it, actually. Until now. I feel the thrill of it- him, my mate- looking at me in a way I've never been looked at.

West makes it seem like he's never going to let go of my hand.

When the school warning bell rings, he pouts and brings my hand up to kiss the back of it.

"I already miss you."

I have to skip lunch to catch up on some work so I couldn't see him. I told him before not to skip any classes to see me which he belatedly said yes. "I'll see you in gym."

"That's too long."

I smile at him, this beautiful Alpha wolf that I couldn't have asked better for. How did I get so lucky? "Seriously, West-"

"I think I'll die of heartache from missing you."

He didn't let go of my hand yet.

"Go on we'll get in trouble," I laughed at him. How could he be so endearing?

West shrugged. "Worth it. Not like Principal Greer can do anything else to me."

"I'll see you at gym," I repeated smiling with each word at how endearing West is, slowly backing away from a pouty looking West, so I did the only thing I felt like- kissing his cheek quickly which surprised him, causing him to momentarily let go of my hand.

"Gym!" I swiftly took a few steps back, grinning at his dazed look, him touching his cheek for a second.

"You can't just do that, Edith!"

Even though it was only the first day back from our Winter Break, the teachers did not care. They swamped us with work, and some even had tests next week.

West was sending me texts throughout the day which I told him to pay attention in class.

Instead he sent me a picture of him winking and then he sends me another selfie with his teacher looking fake mad and captioned:

By the time gym came rolling around, I was probably the earliest one to the locker room, and after changing my clothes, I took a little extra minute to make sure I didn't look horrible. I opened the door to exit the locker room, inside the gym and I heard a commotion from the corner of the gym.

What made me freeze is when I hear West's voice, "I suggest you remove your hands before I break both of them."

Oh shoot! I jog over there quickly, not wanting to see West go through that suggestion.

Through the crowd, I saw it was Keaton. Of course. And Callie! West cracks his knuckles, all theatrical, but the intense glare he's giving out means he will do it.

"Do you think I'm scared of you?" Keaton sneered. He did, however, take several steps back from Callie.

"Not yet," West shrugged, taking a step forward.

"Whoa! Stryder go do 20 laps!" the teacher shouted, butting in the middle before I could make it. The rest of the class dispersed quickly, not wanting to be involved in the consequences. "You guys can pick whatever you want to do today- basketball, volleyball or walking."

West sighed, not even looking back anywhere, exiting the gym to take his laps in the outside field. Callie followed him out there too.

Keaton was sneering at them as Coach was talking to him.

When I got outside, West was already well into his way to the field.

"Edith!" Callie ran up to me and hugged me, asking me how my break was. Her reaction to West coming up to me and giving me a full bodied hug, enveloping me completely to him was priceless. "I see..." Callie raised an eyebrow.

"Missed you," West presses a kiss on my forehead, not letting me go.

"What happened back there? What did Keaton do? He totally deserves to get punched."

"I agree," West said. "He was about to."

"Keaton was trying to talk to me, and he grabbed me," Callie replied. "West was being helpful."

"As usual."

"West! I need running! Laps!" the coach yelled. I laughed, motioning him to run. West gave me a real time wink- okay fine it looked hot on him- and broke out in a easy job.

Callie and I opted to walk. Whenever West passed us, he always brushed my shoulder. I think we'd walk one lap and West would be done with his 20 laps.

"I'm glad it worked out with you both," Callie told me. "It was pretty funny watching West just stare at you all class though and try to get you to look back."

"I should probably continue, don't you think?" I asked as West was back with us. He walked backward, looking at me.

"Okay my last lap- let me race you," West's eyes glinted one a challenge. "I'll buy you a cheeseburger if you win."

"You're on." I smirked at him, readying in position. Callie took the role of counting, standing a foot away from us, in the middle.

"Okay on a count of three," Callie said, "one...two...three!"

We both sprinted. Granted, West was probably already tired, but he sprinted nonetheless.

Callie cheered us on.

As soon as I was a little further than him about to win, West tackles me into the grass playfully, making sure I landed on him, his strong grip on my waist steadied me above his large frame. My hands were on his hard chest, and the feel of him, all muscles made my entire being warm in this chilly day. For a long moment we just stare at each other, my chest heaving a little from running.

Usually, I hate public displays of affection, but with West, I didn't mind it at all.

"I admit defeat," West told me breathlessly, his eyes gazing up at me softly as he gently tucked back a strand of hair that was covering my face. "You get all the cheeseburgers to your heart's desire."

"What was the condition if you won?" I asked him.

"Wouldn't you like to know," West replied, tightening his hold on me.

"Guys Coach is about to be out!" Callie warned us. I got up, jutting out my hands to help him up. West took them, propelling himself upward.

There was a reminder of the Student Body meeting that we both had to go to after gym which we both forgot.

"Since when was the last meeting we came?" I whispered to him.

"I know we kinda had to volunteer but no one enforced it so," West shrugged, but we entered the classroom. Abby was the first one to see ya, her face fell when she saw West's arm around me.

"Hey guys make sure to sign in," Abby took the professional route. West signed us both in and we sat at a spot near the back.

As soon as everyone settled down, Abby being the Student Body President was at the front of the class, with her vice president, Tatiana. "As you all know we have the carnival coming up."

"I thought the carnival was before the Homecoming dance?" someone said from the back, voicing my thoughts.

Abby gave them a distasteful look. "Well, if you actually came to these meetings, you'd know we postponed it until the Friday after Winter Break as we all voted on. However, we still need help setting it up during the week."

"Trust me, no one wants to come to these meetings voluntarily," West muttered, but everyone in the room heard it and cracked up, causing Abby to look angry and West to wink at me.

"So sign up on what you want to do this week on the board and I'll take care of the rest," Abby said.

"Come on," I told West, heading to the front of the room and actually excited to participate in some school activities.

"Do we really have to?" West asked. It was unlike him not to want to be involved.

"I think it'll be fun," I found myself saying. We needed normalcy. Badly. West did the most. My mate turned his head towards me, looking at me looking at the board. His intense stare made me blush and my heart flutter. I don't think it's going to be good for my heart, him looking at me. "What is it?"

I accidentally looked his way.

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I just- you- I'm glad you're into it so I'll be too. Which one should we sign up for?" West grabbed a marker, looking at the dates and the volunteer list

"Let's set up some of the tents tomorrow."

"Works for me." West wrote in our names, both with stars next to it.

Even though I was mentally exhausted, I told West I needed to train, so I'm back in my athletic wear. West motioned to the training room where there was all the weights. "Usually on Mondays no one comes in the afternoons, so it's all yours..."

I think it was about an hour since I was using the weight training room.

"Could you spot me?" I asked him, moving onto the next thing. West was already on the bench.

"Hey, take it easy. You're volunteering at the carnival, you're training...and when do you have time for me?" West is literally pouting. He's like a plant. He needs attention. West pulled me onto his lap, pressing an open mouthed kiss on my neck, causing me to shiver in the most delightful way.

"Sorry," I blushed.

"I could think of a few ways you could make it up to me-"

"Okay cut!" that voice was ......

"Theo!" West almost growled out as we both stood up, and West held me to his side.

Sure enough, it wasn't just Theo that popped up from the corner wall. Penelope, Blaine and even Wyatt made themselves known.

"I told you guys to let them be," Wyatt, the most sane one out of all of them reasoned weakly as he gave a small wave.

"W-why are you guys here!" I exclaimed, completely embarrassed.

"We just wanted to see you guys as a couple being alone," Penelope explained like that was such a common answer.

"Are you satisfied?" I deadpanned.

"Nope. Did not want to see that," Blaine said, but he nodded at me. I could tell: he was happy for me.

"We should let them have their privacy," Wyatt said.

"But when is West going to have time for me!" Theo wailed theatrically.

"Edith needs to hang out with me too," Penelope added.

"I want to hang out with both of them," Wyatt cheerfully commented.

"Fine we can have joint custody of them," Theo said. "My lawyer will write up the papers."

West rolled his eyes. "Guys."

"Fine, fine we will let you guys have your little escapade in the weight room, but we are waiting for you outside." Penelope pointed at us and gave me two thumbs up as they exited- hearing the door shut.

After a pause, West said, "So, where were we?"

"Sorry," I said, frustrated and embarrassed. "I don't know how to do relationships. This is new to me."

"Me too," West smiles at me.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

"You."

"No! West! I mean in the relationship. What do you want from me?"

"I think you're overthinking it," West seemed amused.

"I don't want to mess it up. I feel like I did from the start," I explained.

"Yup." He raised an eyebrow. Glad he didn't have any arguments there.

"I don't want to mess it up anymore than I already have with you." The fact that we're mates help our very deep attraction to each other physically and emotionally. But personality wise? I can say or do something that West won't like or think is rude or mean.

"All I want is to be with you. I gotta say, every time I look at you, I want to kiss you." West shrugged. "Well if you didn't already know, I'm stubborn. And I'm so crazy in love with you..." he brings my hand to his chest, over his heart. "The other complicated stuff that's not so complicated- we'll figure it out. You're not comfortable with me doing something just tell me. I'll do the same with you. Communicate with me, sound good?"

"Yes," I agreed, nodding.

"Good. If that Garrett guy touches you again, I'm going to pummel him to the ground."