Sometimes I wish that, just once, I’d think something over before I act. Like now for instance. I was mad at Vincent for scenting me without my permission…and partly for scenting me in the first place because it just sounds frickin’ disgusting. Therefore, I decided to strip down to my bikini and go outside, where Vincent went psycho.

As soon as I was outside, I felt arms wrap around my body, pulling me into him. He was trying to shield my body away from the unmated wolves, who still hooted and hollered for me to take my top off. Vincent started to walk into Danni’s house, and because he’s like so much stronger than I, I was practically dragged.

Once indoors, Vincent pushed me back at arm’s length, keeping me in his clutches. His eyes were bright yellow and his body was shaking a little from his anger. He just stood there, staring me down for what seemed like an eternity, before he decided to speak up.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he snarled.

I had to clear my throat and swish some spit around my mouth to get it wet so I could respond. “It’s uh, hot and I didn’t want to overheat,” I lied. Well, sure it was hot out, but I highly doubt I’d overheat.

“Then get in the pool,” Vincent growled.

This one I really had a legitimate excuse for. “I don’t know how to swim.” I never learned. The main reason for that is being that since our territory is located in what used to be called North Dakota, there’s not really any large body of water nearby where I could have learned. Plus pools were a luxury, which is amazing that Reed managed to get one. Well, then again I suppose he was compelled to please Danni, who always talked about swimming and junk like that. I’m fairly sure I could have learned if I was allowed to run away to Florida!

Before Vincent could say anything, the back sliding glass door opened and Jessie walked in, wearing a small black bikini. She could pull off bathing suits better than me, that lucky bitch.

“Dude Nora!” she gushed. “I know you don’t wanna hear it, but Kyle can’t stop talking about how sexy he thinks you look. I heard from Veronica that he wants to ask you to Prom!” She looked all giddy until her eyes landed on a very pissed off Vincent.

His grip on my arms tightened and he let out a low growl. He had taken his shirt off earlier, so I saw how his powerful chest muscles expanded and contracted with every deep breath he took. “Who’s Kyle?” he demanded, looking at me like I had wronged him somehow.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s some loser who’s had a crush on me since you guys revealed yourselves,” I scoffed. Seriously, Vincent doesn’t need to worry about me and…eww, Kyle. Just the thought of Kyle made bile rise up in my throat and my stomach twist with nausea.

Vincent’s face physically relaxed and he stared at me for a little while longer. Jessie stood in awkward silence, wondering whether or not she should leave. Vincent finally smirked and turned to her.

“Jessie,” he barked, “bring Kyle in here.”

She nodded and literally ran out of the house and into the backyard.

Vincent looked back at me, his smirk still dominating his features. “I told you Mate,” he said in a velvet voice, “I need to protect you from everything: vampires, dangerous people, yourself, and now even horny werewolf males. However, it seems to me that you don’t like to listen, so I’m gonna show you the reason why I’m so protective of you.”

That didn’t sound good at all. “Are you going to feed me to a vampire?” I whimpered, my heart speeding up with fear. I’ve never seen one before, but I was told that they were even more frightening than werewolves, particularly because they eat humans. I heard that when a vampire mates with a human, there’s some kind of method that they use to feed from them without turning them into one of them. Hence the human basically becomes a blood bank.

A look of horror passed over Vincent’s face. He pushed his face closer to mine. “Listen to me Nora,” he whispered, “I’d never hurt you. Ever. But this…you need to learn. If he tries to hurt you, scream and I’ll come save you.”

That sure as shit didn’t calm me down! “What?” I whimpered, my legs getting shaky.

Jessie came back into the home, followed by Kyle. He was wearing a pair of tight board shorts and that was it. His chest was muscled, but not as much as Vincent’s. Plus, he appeared to be about a half-foot shorter than Vincent as well.

“What is it Beta?” he asked, in a voice that didn’t sound at all like the pervert he usually was. This one was all respectful and mature.

Vincent straightened his posture, looking bigger and put his muscular arm around my tiny shoulders. “You’re going to teach my mate how to swim,” he said. “You have my permission to talk to her and to touch her.”

Permission to touch me?! Kyle needs to get that from me! Not Vincent!

I glanced over at Kyle, who fought to hide his smile. Vincent seemed oblivious to this as he pushed me forward. I looked back at him with pleading eyes. “I don’t wanna do this!” I hissed.

For a brief second, a pained expression crossed Vincent’s face.

“Relax Nora,” Kyle said. “I’m a lifeguard at the community pool. I’m the perfect candidate to teach you how to swim.” He held out his hand and I hesitantly took it, ignoring the low growl from Vincent. I was led outside and over to the pool. Vincent had followed us, standing about two feet away. The rest of the partygoers were acting as if nothing was going on at all; talking about this and that. Danni was even talking to Crystal, who looked bored out of her mind as she sipped at her red plastic cup.

I stood at the edge of the sidewalk where the pool was, letting my toes hang off the ledge. I looked at the ground to see fifteen feet spray-painted in black right where we stood. Great, Kyle led me to the deep end!

“Uhh, can’t we start over at the four feet point?” I asked, pointing in its direction.

“It’s too crowded,” Kyle said, “besides, there’s no one at this point, so we’ll have the water to ourselves.”

Vincent looked a little pained and he bit his lower lip and clenched his fists even harder. When he looked over at me, his posture visibly relaxed and he gave me a shy smile. I turned away from him. It’s his fault that I have to do this in the first place.

“We’ll jump in,” Kyle said. “Ya know, totally immerse ourselves, that way you’re forced to deal with the water head on. Now follow me.” He let go of my hand and jumped in the pool, sending cold water splashing all over my legs. I watched him submerge almost to the bottom before he kicked himself up back towards the surface. Soon his head bobbed up and he swam over to the edge. “Your turn.”

I hesitantly looked at the deep water. Now I heard somewhere, most likely from Jessie, that fat people float. Now I have a good muffin top when I wear jeans, so hopefully that will keep me afloat; however, if I start to drown, then it’s Kyle who’ll save me.

I sat down at the edge of the water and put my legs in. Then I slowly slid the rest of my body into the pool, feeling the water pull me. My hands clasped the edge of the walkway, keeping me above the water. Vincent chuckled.

“You weren’t lying where you?” he asked. “You really can’t swim?”

I shook my head, still attached to the edge. Kyle inched his way over to me and put his hands on my hips, which were only covered by the string of my bikini bottom. It felt gross, having his dirty hands on my bare skin, making me feel sick to my stomach. Shit, given the choice between him and Vincent, I’d pick the latter. Sure Vincent may be a pain the ass, but at least he’s not a sleaze.

‘’Kay now Nora, let’s move out into the middle,” he said. He was right up in my personal space, his face right next to mine. It felt disgusting and I wanted nothing more than to get out. Which was what I started to do.

I put my hands flat on the edge and pushed myself out of the water. I had my torso completely out when Vincent leaned down and pushed my shoulders back, making me fall back into Kyle’s chest.

“You wanted this Nora,” he growled. “I’m just giving it to you.”

Kyle laughed quietly and wrapped one arm around my waist and led me out into the middle of the pool. I frantically kicked my legs and waved my arms, struggling to keep my head above the water. This only made Kyle laugh even harder.

“You need to relax Nora, or else you’ll sink right to the bottom,” he chuckled. “Now fill your lungs up with air. Breathe in.”

I followed his orders, putting my hand on his beefy shoulder to support me. I sucked as much air into my lungs as I could, hoping that would help me stay afloat. Still, it felt as if weights were attached to my feet, seemingly dragging me to the bottom.

“Now Nora, I’m gonna let you go. And you just kick and moved your arms in a circular motion, got it?” Kyle said, grabbing my hand that was hooked onto his shoulder.

I shook my head. “Don’t!” I shouted. If he makes me let go, then I’m going to drown and that’ll be the end of me!

Despite my pleas, Kyle lifted my hand off him and gently pushed me away out into the water where I was by myself.

Shit! Shit! I need to relax of else I’ll die! Yeah, that didn’t help at all. As soon as I was by myself, my head plopped below the surface and I sank all the way to the bottom of the pool, my butt touching the ground in a few seconds. Maybe I need to put on more fat or something?

I opened my eyes under the water, watching everyone’s feet at the other end of the pool. No one seemed to know that I was about to meet my death, my chest starting to ache without my precious oxygen. I glanced up at Kyle’s legs, which were swimming away and over to the edge where he got out of the pool.

That traitor! He left me here to die!

Well, I’m dead. That’s it. Nora Song: age eighteen, forced to be a stupid werewolf’s mate, only to die at a pool party. Wow, that’s the lamest obituary ever. I laid back, my back touching the ground of the pool now. The sky was bright and rippled with the little waves of the water.

Then the waves moved more rapidly and a figure blocked the sunlight from my eyes. I felt something grab me beneath my arms and yank me upwards. I was pulled all the way up to the surface where my head finally popped out of the water.

I gasped for breath and looked back to see Vincent, his arms securely fastened around me, keeping me trapped to him.

“I’m sorry Mate,” he panted. “I’ll never do that to you again! Just know that I love you and want you to be safe at all times!” He pulled me closer to him, if that was even possible, and laid a wet kiss on my cheek, making me internally gag. He then smiled to himself. “Now, I’m going to teach you how mates swim.”

Great, there’s another difference with mates of werewolves? Will it never end?

Vincent turned around, so that I stared at the back of his head. He held both of my arms and positioned them so that one went over his left shoulder and the other under his right, making me hold them together in front of his chest. It was a little difficult considering how broad his back was, but I managed to keep them together.

“Hold on tight,” he said, patting my hands. He then leaned forward and began to kick his legs and maneuver his arms so he propelled us to the side of the pool. The whole way, I just rested on his back, feeling his powerful muscles flex as he moved. When he reached the edge, he unclasped my hands and pushed me forward. He even put his hands on either side of my waist, lifting me out of the water and onto the walkway.

“See?” he smiled. “I can take care of you.”

I guess he can, but that still doesn’t change my mind about anything. I turned and walked off, leaving him as he struggled to get himself out of the pool.

Jessie walked up to me, handing me a towel. “So,” she said, “Danni told me about the thing you and Crystal are planning.” She kept her voice low so that no werewolf around could hear.

I looked over t Vincent, who, finally managed to crawl out of the pool. As soon as he was on his feet, he looked around, searching for me. I guess I was hard to spot, because after a while, he looked a little worried. It seemed weird. His black hair was wet and matted to his forehead, giving him a childish appearance, and his eyebrows were knit together. His chest heaved with his deep breaths and his eyes were darting all around the party. His teeth weren’t bared, but I could see them as he grinded them in desperation. Then to top it all off, I heard a slight whimper escape from him.

It was pitiful! He stood there, all dripping wet and alone at the edge of the pool. His head turning all fast trying to find where I wondered off to, whimpering like an injured puppy.

Finally I just couldn’t take it anymore. “Vincent!” I called. “Over here!”

Immediately he perked up and shot a glance in my direction. His worried face disappeared and his face broke out into the biggest smile I’d ever seen anyone where in my life. He hurried over t me, wrapped both his arms around me, pulling me into him.

He nuzzled me, laying a quick kiss on my cheek. “I couldn’t find you,” he whispered. “I was so scared.”

It was so odd to see a grown werewolf diminished to a child in a matter of seconds, all because he wasn’t by my side. The pathetic sight of Vincent whimpering, searching for me made me feel bad for the guy a little bit. That’s the only reason why I said: “I’m not going anywhere. Relax.” It was meant to make him feel better and to avoid seeing that creepy sight again.

Jessie smiled then, looking happy. “Good for you Nora!” she cheered. “I guess this means you’re not running away anymore.”

My heart dropped and Vincent unleashed the most blood-curdling snarl I’ve ever heard in my life.