I tried staying away from Tyler the best I could, but it wasn't easy considering I had every class with him. I kept my eyes open, always darting from faces I wouldn't remember to hands to see whether or not they had a weapon. It's been two weeks since I told him I couldn't be his mate, and I was still running.

I'd had a few run-ins with the occasional girl that had it in their head that they were his mate, the occasional girl he had made out with. One kept running back, someone named Starla that had an insanely annoying voice. The problem was, I couldn't hate her.

She kept clinging around Tyler, which pissed me off to no end, but she was so kind. She didn't scream or try to punch me, she simply asked me whether I was dating him, and if I wasn't whether or not I could talk to him about her. I didn't obviously, but I kept watching her, and that actually made it worse.

She had beautiful red hair and pale skin, with eyes that tried to match Tyler's, although they never came close. She had the occasional freckle dusted across the bridge of her nose, and had no visible scars on her body nor tattoos; unlike me. She was short compared to my height, and didn't have as big of a bust as me. But everything about her screamed beauty, while everything about me screamed run.

She was smart, and was kind to everyone. Even the nerds that would get picked on or the loners that had no friends, she was kind and always made jokes with them. She helped the elderly and read books to young children.

She was everything I wish I was.

Even with an annoying voice.

I was sitting in the back corner of the cafeteria, watching her laughing at a joke someone made. She sat at the same table with all of them, everyone had eventually migrated back inside when the air outside turned cold. I kept glancing over to the group of wolves sitting there, occasionally meeting the eyes of the Protectors integrated with them.

My eyes met her green ones, holding them for a few seconds before she turned and said something into Tyler's ear, giggling as she spoke. She stuck her tongue out and flicked it across the portion of skin under his ear, sending my skin boiling. I held in a growl, my fingers gripping on the table so hard it began to crack.

But then she turned his face and kissed him.

That's when I blew.

I growled out, whatever I had in the growl caused almost everyone to bow their heads. I had no idea what authority I had, but I was so pissed I was seeing red. Tyler looked confused, while Starla just looked smug as she bowed her head. I saw her finger trailing over the bench connecting them, before settling on his upper thigh.

He flinched, moving a few inches away from her, but that didn't stop her assault. He fingers firmly grasped his thigh, and even from here I could see them digging into his skin as an attempt at keeping him by her. I stood up and left the room as fast as I could, the cold air from outside blasting against my warm skin.

I swung up a branch before screaming in frustration, my fist connecting with the thick bark of the oak tree I climbed. The bark flew away from my hands, but I kept punching until the tree toppled over and my fists were bleeding.

I'd always had weird blood. It was red, like everyone else's, but in the light it shimmered gold. I'd always assumed it was the vampirism and the Protector genes inside of me, but when Ethan got stabbed a year or so back and his blood wasn't the same as mine, I had no clue why the hell it shimmered like that.

It was dripping down my hand right now as I made my way back to the school. As mad as I was, he was still my mission, and I still had to watch him. I ripped the bottom of a shirt I kept in my bag in case of emergencies, wrapping it tightly around my knuckles as I made my way to chemistry.

When I walked in, everyone's eyes turned to me. I couldn't blame them, I had growled in lunch and caused nearly everyone to bow to me, including the packs Beta and Delta. I had no idea why I had authority to begin with, maybe because I was Tyler's mate and by default, a future Luna, but he hadn't accepted me as his mate just yet.

I awkwardly waved before making my way towards the back, sliding into one of the desks that was clustered in four. Ethan sat to the right of me, with Alex in front and Tyler diagonal to me. I sighed as I pulled out my books, looking up to see Alex staring with wide eyes. Not staring at me, but at my bleeding and wrapped knuckles.

"What the hell happened?" He screeched, causing the other two eyes to snap right to my hands. I grumbled as I pulled them into my lap, a few droplets of blood splotching the desk I sat at.

I shrugged, Tyler looking very concerned as he leaned forward with Alex and Ethan just narrowed his eyes at me. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Again?" He mumbled under his breath.

Alex and Tyler raised their eyebrows, causing me to lift my hands up and slowly unwrap the damp fabric from my fists. My knuckles were red and bruised, an odd bow sticking up uncomfortably on the top of my hand. I knew I had broken one of the bones, but I just needed to reset it in place and everything would be fine.

"Lena!" Tyler almost jumped across the table as he saw my knuckles, reaching forward to gingerly touch them. I bit my lip as pain rolled through me, his touch sending shock waves of both pleasure and pain.

Ethan took my hands harshly, causing me to suck in air as I grit my teeth. Tyler's eyes turned black when he saw me in pain, a low growl leaving his clenched teeth. "Get your fucking hands off of her."

Ethan smirked before taking my hand that had a broken bone, looking up to me before he broke the bone again and set it in place. I cried out, throwing my head onto the desk as I tried to not show any pain. It was embarrassing enough the class had just heard my cry, but I wasn't weak, and I didn't want to appear as much. Especially in front of Tyler.

I heard the sound of skin against skin, causing me to look up to see Tyler straddling Ethan and sending punch after punch. Alex was trying to get him off, but had no luck. Tyler simply threw him off of him and continued to hit Ethan. I knew Ethan was just taking it, he could get out of this easier than almost anyone, but he just looked amused as Tyler hit him.

I leapt out of my chair and wrapped my arms around Tyler, pinning his arms to his side. He tensed at first, before relaxing and spinning around. He pulled his arms out and wrapped them around me, resting his chin on the top of my head. He was still shaking, but second by second he eventually relaxed. He tucked his face into the crook of my neck, breathing in my scent as I closed my eyes.

I was hit with a wave of pleasure when he kissed the curve of my neck, my knees almost buckling under me. My breath hitched, his hands tracing up and down my back as we stood in the middle of the chemistry room with everyone staring at us.

Guess cats out of the bag now, or should I say, wolf.

***

Word got around that Tyler was my mate faster than a rumor about someone being pregnant. I had girls glaring at me by the end of next period, the walk to and from my classes torturous. Tyler stayed by my side now, his touch grazing mine every so often, as if he was making sure I was actually there.

The entire class he stared over at me, his gaze suffocating me as I desperately tried to work out whatever math problem was on the board. I sighed before raising my hand, waving it after he teacher didn't call on me at first.

"Can I go to the restroom?" She nodded as I stood, sending a fleeting gaze to Tyler. He acted as if to stand when I did, a shake of my head sending him back into the slump of his chair.

I walked to the bathroom and breathed out when I entered the silent and empty room. I caught a flash of myself in the mirror, my black long sleeve shirt hiding the runes I had scattered all over me. I slid my sleeve up, revealing a small black tattoo I had on my inner wrist.

I pulled it down hastily when the door opened, Starla peeking her red head in. She smiled when she saw me, closing the door behind her before the distinct sound of a lock clicking behind her. I raised my eyebrows, turning away from the mirror to fully face her. She gave me a fake smile, her eyes glinting with something I couldn't touch my finger on.

"How can I help you?" I asked her, my fingers itching towards my knife just in case.

'Starla just came into the bathroom and locked the door behind her.' I sent to Mariah. I knew she had class with everyone right now, and undoubtedly would be here within five minutes.

"Look, whatever episode happened in chemistry was cute and all, but I need you to back off of Tyler. I have my sights on him, so back off." I rolled my eyes, my fingers tapping along the edge of the sink.

"Look, if Tyler was into you he'd do more than kiss you-"

"We did more than kiss, we slept together honey." I rolled my eyes again, obviously angering her as she began to tremor.

"I know you didn't so shut up. I'm his mate you dumbass, I would know if you slept together."

"You are not his mate!" I clenched my jaw, my fists curling together as I tried to control the rage that was burning inside of me.

"As great as this conversation is, I have class to get to. So if you'll excuse me..." I slid around her and unlocked the door, reaching for the handle when I felt pain on the back of my head. I turned and the pain radiated into my cheek, my face turning from the impact.

It took a moment to register what just happened. She just hit the back of my head, and then had the audacity to slap me. I growled, stalking forward to her retreating figure. Her smirk she just had on her face was gone, her back hitting the wall behind her.

I growled, my eyes flashing silver as I felt anger course through me. She gasped at my eyes, her hands shaking as she pressed herself against the wall. "What-, you're a-, you're a wolf! Your eyes-"

I reached forward and clutched her collar, lifting her through the air before throwing her through the door. The door crashed off the hinges, the sound of her body hitting the lockers sounding through the school as footsteps were heard on the linoleum. Mariah rounded the corner with everyone behind her just as I stepped out of the bathroom, my face bright red with the impact of her hand.

I crouched down as she tried to sit up, my fist colliding with the floor. The ground cracked under my impact, sending her to shriek and stand up. She limped as she ran, grasping onto Tyler as she stood behind him. I growled again, standing up as my neck cracked.

"That's not helping you little girl." My wolf came through, my eyes no longer my own. She shrieked before leaving his body of protection, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the hall.

"Lena!" I looked up to a fuming Ethan and David, and a very confused Alex and John behind them. Tyler looked worried, his eyes scanning over me looking for any injuries. He crumpled when he saw the handprint in my cheek, growling when Ethan and David walked forward and pinned my hand behind me.

I slumped forward, breathing in deeply as I tried to control the rage burning through me. I sighed as I pressed my forehead on the ground, my arms pulled behind me as I gritted my teeth. After ten minutes my arms were released, falling to my side as I pushed myself off the ground.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, running my hands through my hair as I attempted to cool my burning face.

"Are you okay?" I looked up to Tyler's concerned gaze, nodding as Ethan and David stood beside me.

"I'm sorry, we have to go." I looked up to Davids booming voice, his hand pulling me out of the hallway behind Ethan.

"Wait," I turned and ran back to the hallway, a very confused looking trio of boys staring at me. I bolted forward and kissed Tyler's cheek, eruptions of fire grazing my skin as I pulled away.

I gave him one last look as I rounded the corner, coming face to face with my boys. We left the school as the final bell rang, climbing up into the trees surround the school, where we truly belonged.