Oh, how he wanted to punch something.

No, not something. He wanted to punch himself.

"Why are you back up here again?" Bree asked. "What happened?"

"I'm a fucking idiot," he paced on the roof again. "That's what happened."

"What happened?" Alex climbed up there with them. "Did his girlfriend come over?"

It looked like Blake was climbing up as well. Great. He might as well just have a damn party on the roof at this point!

"No," he rubbed his face, his body moving faster than before as he walked back and forth along the peak of the roof.

"What did I miss?" Blake asked.

"Jett found his mate," Alex said. "Long story short; it's Shiro, he was supposed to talk to him today about it; and now it seems he's fucked up."

"Wait," Blake looked shocked. "No one told me that he found his mate! When was this?!"

"Why are you all up here?!" Jett snapped at them all. He was already losing his mind, and all of his friends were too busy celebrating the mate that had just ran from him.

"I mean," Blake pointed his thumb behind him. "I could always get Manny to bring the beer and we could just sit and drink or something."

"Bree's husband would kill her if she kept him on baby duty as long as she did yesterday," Alex said.

"I wouldn't drink anyway," the woman shook her head. "Knowing my luck, I could easily be pregnant again."

Oh, how Jett wished that he had all of these problems to worry about rather than the one that was paining him at the moment. He'd much rather be alone so he didn't have to explain why he was such a fool.

"So, what exactly is going on now?" Blake asked. "I mean, I know that Shiro's your mate, which is a little weird, but I'm not quite sure how you fucked it up. The guy doesn't seem like he'd go against a mate bond."

"Oh yes he can," Jett muttered. He didn't even have a chance to talk to him about it. When he felt just how strong the bond was, it took control of him. He hadn't known just how much Shiro was hiding, or how he was able to hide that much at all. It was addicting, even his smell. That scent that he had kept hidden came so strong that it took over his senses. He absolutely loved it. It was like a midnight spring.

"Wait," Bree stopped all of them from talking. "He didn't reject you, did he?"

"No," he shook his head. "I mean, he didn't say it. It just felt like he did." It hurt seeing the absolute fear in his eyes when he grabbed his throat. Jett wasn't sure what he was afraid of. It seemed like he had wanted it. The power of the man's kiss was enough to make him bend to his every will. He would do everything that princely man would say just by that kiss alone.

But why did he look so afraid? Why did he look so upset when he pushed him away? Those dark eyes held so much pain in them. Pain from the past. He wished he could have asked what had happened. He wished he could have simply talked to him about this. But he had been a dumbass and let his instincts take over. He should have approached the situation better.

"Jett," Blake shook his head. "For Heaven's sake, would you please stop pacing? You're making me dizzy just watching you!"

"I fucked up so badly," he told him, continuing his pacing.

"What happened?" Alex asked. "Do we seriously have to play the guessing game with you?"

"I tried to mark him," Jett rubbed his face.

"And?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "That's kind of what mates do, dude."

"Not on the spot usually," Blake said. "I mean, take Manny for instance. When he tried doing that with Sophie, not only was that right in the middle of a party with that pack of hers, but her mom went absolutely bonkers!"

"People forget that omegas are a lot stronger than you think," Bree laughed. "I remember she threatened to hit him with a stick to get him off her. He was lucky that the Alpha of that pack was there to calm everyone down."

"So, you tried to mark him in public then?" Alex looked confused as he tried to grasp onto the situation.

"It was deep into the forest by the school," he said. "I had made sure that there wasn't going to be anyone there. It was just supposed to be so that we could talk through it and I could figure out why he was hiding from me."

He had tried to follow him. He wanted to apologize or say something to him. He would have said anything to get the man to stay. After having him in his arms after so long, he never wanted to let him go. He would have chased him for as long as he could, but the werewolf was faster than him, and could weave through the trees better than him. Without even his scent to be picked up on anymore, he easily lost him in that dense forest.

"Well," Blake said. "It could just be that he doesn't like doing it in the woods. I mean, I know we're all part wolves and all, but there's a reason why they invented beds."

"Sex in the woods is great though," Alex said. "There's always that thrill of someone potentially finding you."

"Some people don't like that stuff," Bree said. "I mean, I tried that once, and, boy my back ached for a whole week."

"I did not need to know that," Jett rolled his eyes. "Look, the whole point is that he ran from me and I have no way of telling him I'm sorry or trying to talk to him alone now."

"What about using what happened with Wiatt?" Alex asked. "The whole bully thing?"

"Alex, how do you think I got him to come to the forest in the first place?" Jett sighed. "That was the only thing I had that would actually convince him. That and his own sense of honor."

"Okay," Bree put her hands together. "So, we need a plan B."

"There is no plan, Bree," Jett told her. "I'm doomed."

"Did you actually figure out the thing about his scent?" Blake asked. "I was kind of wondering why it was so faint when I saw him last."

"He was hiding it somehow," Jett told him. Just the thought of that scent was driving him mad. "It's at least ten times stronger than I thought it would be. He knows how to control it or something."

"How do you control a scent?" Blake furrowed his eyebrows. "That just doesn't make sense."

"I have absolutely no idea," he said. "All I know is I'm completely fucked."

"Just try and catch him after school tomorrow," Alex said. "I can find a way to distract his friends."

"I don't even know what I would say," Jett sighed. This was all so complicated. Everyone else had easy mates. They could just sweep them off their feet and have them right then and there. Jett? No. He had to get the complicated prince with endless mysteries.

"That your sorry," Alex started counting on his fingers. "That you didn't mean to fuck him in the middle of the forest - don't say that if you actually were by the way, just in case of the whole alpha thing where they could tell if you're lying."

"That you love him, and would do anything for him," Blake continued. "Don't be afraid to make it sappy. That worked on my wife. She absolutely loves sappy."

"Shiro is not your wife, Blake," Jett shook his head. "But, fine, I'll see what happens tomorrow then."

They all got off the roof, much to Blake's dismay. He was still wanting to have a few drinks up there. That was one of the things that they had done when they were still teens. Jett was surprised that his father never found out. He would have gotten the beat down of the century if that ever happened.

"Hey Jett!" he turned to see Wiatt getting out of his mother's car. "I have something for you!"

"What's up?" he asked. Wiatt seemed way too happy that day.

"You're Shiro's mate, right?"

"Shh!" he pulled him into one of the rooms that were empty. "How do you know that?"

"I may have overheard what you were talking about on the roof last night," Wiatt ducked his head low as he said that. "I have something for you though."

"This better be gold for how much trouble you're going to be in," Jett said. Wiatt should know better than to be snooping around. That boy had the same issue that Bree did of being an absolute gossip.

"I found something in the forest at school," he pulled out something from his backpack. "It reminded me of the necklace that Shiro was wearing today."

"Did you go to the spot that we were talking?" Jett slitted his eyes at the boy. He gave him a guilty look, but an adorable one nonetheless. He was lucky he was so cute.

He didn't even wait for an answer as soon as he saw what was in his cousin's hands. It was a leather necklace with a pendant on it and a gemstone. Jett grabbed it from him as soon as he saw it. He remembered that necklace. It had been practically glowing on Shiro with the little bit of light that the forest had in it. And every time he bowed the necklace fell from his chest just a little bit.

It smelt just like him. That scent was just what he needed to calm him down at the moment. It was just as soothing as his voice.

"Now you have an excuse to see him again!" Wiatt smiled.

"You're doing this for me, even though you have a huge crush on the guy?" Jett asked. "You're a strange cousin."

"I think he really likes you," Wiatt said.

"And why do you think that?"

"Because of how he looked at you when he walked me out of school yesterday," he answered. "I haven't seen him look at anyone that way, not even his girlfriend."

Not even his girlfriend? That made his day.

"Alright, Worm," he ruffled his hair. "You get one free pass to not get in trouble for snooping."

"Do I get to help you get him?" Wiatt's eyes got big. "Is this going to be like a romance movie?"

"You already did your part, brat," he teased him. "I don't need my whole pack trying to help me get him."

"I can ask around to see which places in the city he goes to!"

"How about you focus on trying to pass your classes so your parents don't get a heart attack when they see your progress report?"

"But I wanna help!" Wiatt bounced. "This is going to be like the best love story in the history of the city! We could all be famous by the end of it!"

Jett sighed. He swore, this family was going to drive him postal.

"Just study for your exams, Wiatt," he told him. "I can handle the rest."

He left him before the boy could try and talk more about snooping around. If there was one thing he wasn't going to do, it was let his pack act like spies for him. That was ridiculous. That would be like a kingdom trying to woo a princess.

Well, this case would be a prince, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he was going to do this by himself. Because it was his mate, even if his family was trying to butt into every part of his life at the moment.

He went to his room at that point. Other than keeping their defenses up around their borders, there wasn't really too much to do. All of his paperwork could get done when he had figured his mate out finally. For now, he simply tried to get some sleep. He really hadn't been getting much of it. He hadn't for a couple days now. And, even with it being early afternoon, if he didn't try now, he knew he wouldn't get enough for what he had to deal with the next day.

He was surprisingly able to with that necklace in his hands. The leather strap had broken. It must have when he shifted without thinking. It looked rather new too. If he had time, he would have gotten it fixed for him. It was his fault that it broke after all. But there was no way he could get it fixed before tomorrow. It would take a few days at least.

That smell lingered on the necklace. Shiro's scent really was strong. He would absolutely love to have him in his bed for the rest of eternity. Just to sleep with him in his arms. It would be the most blissful thing he could ever imagine.

He dreamed about him all night. Thankfully he didn't feel any pain from the curse. It seemed as if the little gem helped keep the pain away. He would have to ask him where he got it. It would make for a great gift.

He woke before the sun even came up this time, too awake to try and get anymore sleep. There was one thing on his mind, and that was the one person that he had been dreaming about all night.

But first, he probably should try and get some of that paperwork done. There was no way that he was going to catch Shiro again this early. He could pass some time by being productive. The only thing that was keeping him sane at the moment was the hope that he would at least see him again.

Hours flew by at his desk as he consumed himself with work. Pretty soon the sun came up and started to rise in the sky. It was only morning, though. He was going to need to wait until that school was almost over in order to catch him at the right time.

"So," Alex walked in, Blake tailing behind him. "What's the plan?"

"What plan?"

"I told you he wasn't going to have one figured out," Blake shook his head and looked at Jett next. "You were almost as bad at asking people out as Alex when we were all freshmen."

"I just need to get him alone," Jett said, rubbing his eyes. Paperwork was always so time consuming. "That's all."

"It's going to be difficult if he has his friend with him," Blake said.

"His girlfriend too," Alex pointed out.

"Can you stop mentioning her?"

"He's got a girlfriend?!" Blake's eyes went wide. "This might be a little more difficult than I thought!"

"I'm so glad Bree's not here," he muttered to himself. She was probably taking care of her kids at the moment. Those babies always got up bright and early.

"I can take care of his friend at least," Alex smirked. "That's going to be fun."

"This is one of those things where you have the hots for someone and are trying to use every excuse to see them, isn't it?" Blake gave him an all-knowing look.

"Will both of you stop?" Jett said. "Look. All I need you two to do is grab his friends and distract them so I can talk to him by himself."

"Right!" Alex smiled. "So, here's what I'm thinking-"

Before he could continue, Jett's phone went off. No one usually called him around this time. He pulled it out of his pocket to see a strange contact. Not strange in the sense that it was a new contact, or one that he didn't hear from in a while. Just strange in the fact that they shouldn't be calling him at that moment.

"Wiatt," he answered. "Why are you calling me at school?"

"Because I wanted to tell you something," Wiatt seemed a little nervous when he talked.

"Are you getting bullied again?" he swore he was going to have those kid's heads by the end of this week if they kept this up.

"No, no!" Wiatt said. "They stopped, thankfully."

"Good," Jett sighed in relief. The last thing he wanted to deal with was Nir yelling at him for beating up some of his warriors. "But, why did you call me?"

"Umm," he paused.

"Spit it out, Wiatt," he told him. "I really don't have all day."

"Shiro's not here," Wiatt finally told him.

Shiro wasn't....?

"What do you mean he's not there?" he leaned into his desk some more. "Isn't this supposed to be a test day or something?!"

"That's tomorrow and Friday," Wiatt said. "I think he called out, cus he's not with his friends like he usually is, and I haven't seen him the whole morning."

Fuck.

Right when he had a plan going. Right when he was thinking that not all was lost. Right when he was starting to have even the slightest bit of hope.

He gets hit with another curveball.

He hung up on Wiatt and tried his hardest to not throw his phone at the damn wall.

"Well," Blake broke the silence. "There's always tomorrow."

"Unless he doesn't show up then either," Jett rubbed his face.

"There's no way he'd risk not doing his final tests," Alex said. "Not if he's an honor role student, like Wiatt said."

"This is ridiculous," Jett sighed. "I finally get my mate, only to deal with him running from me and having to strategize like a damn navy general just to try and see him again."

"The things we do for love," Blake winked at him. "Come on, Jett. You can do this. You've been through way worse before."

"Name one."

"The hunters trying to blow your brains out."

"The vampires that came," Alex continued.

"The one incubus that was trying to convince you that he was the one."

"Eww!" Jett shook his head. "Why did you have to remind me of that!" That was years ago, and he was not happy that the demon thought he could be tricked so easily.

Now Alex? You could definitely trick that man for sex. He was the easiest person to sway when it came to that. But him? No. He had been solely focused on his role as Alpha and helping his pack grow and be safe.

"Man," Alex pondered. "That guy was hot."

Point proven.

"Look," Blake blew the beta off. "All I'm saying is that you can handle this, Jett! Besides, mates are given to us by the Moon Goddess herself. If she wants you two to be together, you better bet that she's going to get you guys to meet again."

He certainly hoped so. Because he was going to lose his mind otherwise. Just one taste of that man and he was already addicted to him.

"Hey Jett," Bree's voice popped up in his head. "Someone from the Reverence Pack is here to see you."

He had never run so fast in his entire life. He practically jumped over his desk. Alex and Blake were completely confused as he pushed passed them and ran out of the office. He felt like a child on Christmas morning, though.

Would it actually be him?

Was he actually willing to come all this way to see him?

Did he actually put on deodorant that morning?

He had to check last minute to answer the last one. But that was besides the point. He quickly got to the door of the pack house and swung it open.

"Who are you?" Jett frowned. It wasn't Shiro. Instead, it was a taller man with medium hair and lighter eyes. He should have been more polite, but he couldn't hide the disappointment that he felt.

"You may call me Jin," the man bowed. "I'm just here to deliver something for you, Alpha Jett."

"What is it?" this wasn't like the Reverence Pack. They usually never came over unannounced. Hell, they never came over at all. Which made this all the more confusing.

"An invitation," Jin pulled out an envelope and handed it to him. "My apologies for it being last minute. Alpha Sakdah thought it would be a way of thanking you for helping us with the hunters last weekend. You may invite as many people as you wish, however, you must call the number to inform us how many guests we are to be expecting."

Jett looked at the envelope. It was white, but intricate. On the back it had his name written on it in cursive.

The handwriting was absolutely gorgeous.

"There's no way this was Sakdah's idea," he raised an eyebrow at the man.

"I'm sorry, Alpha Jett," Jin said. "That's all I was informed." There was a certain look in his eyes that shined when he talked. "Perhaps if you call the number, you might get some more information."

"Alright," he eyed him warily. "Thank you, Jin."

"The pleasure's mine, Alpha Jett," Jin bowed again. "I hope to see you there."

He watched the man walk to his car, all the more curious about this pack. Just what game were they playing now?

"Hey Jin?" he got the man's attention.

"Yes, Alpha?" the tall man turned around quickly.

"Is Shiro going to be there?"