Chapter 1 #2
The pack is holding celebrations for the seniors for finishing their last day of school. There are also celebrations for graduation on Friday. Really, the pack will use any excuse to get together and eat.
“It’s a wolf thing.” Parker holds the door open, motioning for me to walk inside. He holds my hand as we walk down the hallway, and I relax as I feel the peace of our mate bond.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way Parker makes me feel. Sometimes, I still can’t believe he’s mine.
“I am yours.” Parker kisses me on top of my head, and I melt into his side.
Will rolls his eyes as we approach my locker. “We should get to class. You two obviously could use some separation.”
Parker ignores his beta and turns to me. His blue eyes meet mine, and I melt. “I’m going to miss you.”
“It’s only two hours,” Will growls.
I keep my focus on Parker. “Maybe we could ditch class.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “It’s the last day. You can handle one more day.”
“Yes, but think of all the fun we could have if we left.”
Will groans. “That’s it.” He grabs my arm and tugs me away from Parker. “See you after class, Parker.”
Parker smirks and waves as Will pulls me with him. I wave to him and then dutifully walk at Will’s side. It’s probably best I don’t push the grump any further than I already have.
Will turns to me and narrows his eyes. “Stop smiling—it’s annoying.”
I try my best to stop smiling, but it’s difficult. “I have a lot to smile about.”
He points a finger at me. “If you say Parker’s name, I will vomit.”
“It’s the last day of school,” I point out. “We’re graduating. That alone is something worth celebrating.”
“And we’re leaving for Florida.” He motions for me to walk into our classroom first. “It’s going to be a fun summer.”
I walk ahead, lowering my head.
I don’t want to discuss Florida because I’m terrified of going there. I’m scared of what life will be like.
Will sits down at the desk to my left and watches me through narrowed eyes. “And now you’re not smiling.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I thought you told me to stop smiling.”
“Yes, but I didn’t mean it. Parker will be angry if I made you sad.” He drums his fingers on the desk.
I sigh. “I guess I’m just nervous about going to Florida.”
“Because of your parents, whom you still haven’t talked to King Ferno about.”
I gulp at my uncle’s title but nod. “And because my uncle is a freaking king. And I’m about to meet a bunch of other phoenixes. What if they hate me?”
“Impossible.” He pulls a notebook from his backpack. “You’re very likable—it’s why I hated you so much when we first met.”
I smile at the mention of Will’s hatred. I’m glad he’s grown used to me.
We’re not doing work today. All of our final assignments were finished last week.
In fact, only half of the seniors showed up for class today, judging by the mostly empty classroom.
I smile when I spot the redhead at the front of the class.
She glances over her shoulder at Will and sighs.
Maybe today will finally be the day the girl is brave enough to approach Will.
Eh, I hope not. He would have to turn her down gently, and I don’t want the poor girl to go through the rejection.
I’m about to ask Will why he’s got his notebook out when the bell rings. The teacher comes in and tells us to do whatever we want. I turn to Will and see that he’s writing something down. A moment later, he passes the notebook and pen to me.
I see you smirking at that girl.
Stop it.
She’s human.
I smile and glance at Will.
He’s nostalgic, too. He is going to miss us passing notes in class.
I jot out a quick response.
Do shifters ever have humans as mates?
His reply takes a little longer.
Never. The only supernatural beings that have ever had a human soulmate are vampires. And most vampires don’t have soulmates.
But I mean it, Henley. Don’t encourage her. Because I would turn her down. There is only room in my heart for one female, and I haven’t met her yet. I probably won’t until I’m in my early to mid twenties.
I take a couple of seconds to digest his words. I know he’s right, but it still makes me sad for the redhead.
Then again, she’s in love with the idea of Will. The man she imagines him to be in her head isn’t the Will I know.
She probably wouldn’t like you if she knew how grumpy you are.
That’s sad about vampires. I can’t imagine not having Parker as my soulmate. I’m incomplete without him.
I pass the notebook back to him and look at the redhead at the front of the class. She is turned sideways in her seat, reading a book. But she never turns the page. And I notice she’s sitting at the perfect angle so she can see Will.
Her thoughts hit me before I can block them.
Just talk to him. It’s the last day of school. I’ll never get another chance, she thinks.
Ah, poor girl. She’s got it bad.
I block her thoughts, not wanting to hear anymore.
Henley, Parker says through our mate bond. You have to block others during school.
Of course he heard.
Parker hearing my thoughts was half my motivation to learn to block the thoughts of humans. Because I knew that he would get hit by the same loud voices as me. I didn’t want to hurt him, so I learned fast.
Sorry, I think back.
Will puts his notebook on my desk again. “Are you talking to Parker?”
I tilt my head to the side. “How’d you know?”
“Because you get this love sick expression that makes me want to vomit.” He groans and holds his stomach, like he’s going to be sick.
I roll my eyes and look at the notebook.
Barf.
I laugh and give his notebook back.
Everybody else in the classroom is quietly speaking to one another, so there is no point in writing notes.
“When you meet your mate, I am going to tease you endlessly,” I warn him in a whisper.
He raises an eyebrow. “By the time I meet her, you and Parker will have at least three kids, and you’ll be too busy raising a family to bother with me.”
My face grows warm at the mention of children.
Before Parker and I got married, I was assured that birth control didn’t work with wolf shifters, but it has done its job so far. The last thing I want is to be pregnant in high school, and I have made it. It is the last day of school, and I’m not pregnant.
“I don’t want three children before I’m twenty two,” I say, knowing that is the average age most supernaturals meet their soulmates.
He stretches, not bothering to respond. He relaxes into his desk.
He’s Parker’s friend. I can’t stab him, I think, like a mantra. Then again, he is a supernatural. He heals quickly. One little stab won’t hurt that much.
Before I can even reach for Will’s pen, I hear Parker in my head.
Don’t stab Will in public. Wait until we’re on pack land. The humans will freak out if they see a stab wound heal by lunch.
Good idea.
Yep, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll wait until tonight and stab him. Besides, a knife would be easier to stab with than a pen.
Will’s eyes widen as he sits up. “Stop thinking about stabbing me, please.”
Traitor, I think to Parker, knowing he can mindlink with Will, as he’s a member of his pack.
I love you, Parker thinks back.
Yeah, yeah. I love you, too.
“It’s not fair that Parker tells you what I’m thinking.” I pout.
“You can always block him,” Will suggests.
I do consider it, but Parker hates it when I block him, especially when we’re away from each other. It’s hypocritical considering he keeps me blocked most of the time. He says it’s for my benefit since I have enough trouble keeping others out of my head, but I still don’t like it.
“Are you okay?” Will asks, his eyebrows turning down in concern.
I didn’t realize I was frowning. “I guess I’m just kind of sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that high school is over, but we’re getting older. Life will never be like this again.”
“Growing up is part of life,” he says with a shrug.
Uh, boys. They just don’t understand.