Guys, I am sooooooooo sorry for taking so long to update! I recently changed jobs and I have been working so many hours, it's ridiculous. I don't get home until after 11 and by that time, I just want to sleep.

Ugh.

In any case, I finally got the chapter up for you. The next chapter isn't ready yet and it will be a while until I can get it written up and posted. Until then, I will be putting this story (unofficially) ON HOLD. Hopefully I can get some more of this written on my crappy laptop. I don't know why, but it only wants to stay connected to the internet for about 15 minutes before it disconnects, and the only way to get it to reconnected is to shut my laptop off and turn it back on. I hate it...

Anyway, on with the chapter!

-M12

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30

Emma

I... hate... school work... I hate school. I hate going back to school after not knowing what the hell was going on. I hate the mountain of work that my mom received for me and the fact that I still have tests and quizzes to make up on top of everything else.

This... sucks...

"Done..." I placed my pencil on the last paper for the last class of the day and laid my head on the table. My eyes burned and I had a royal headache. My hand is throbbing and it feels dead. I never want to do anything like that again... I swear I will never get kidnapped again so long as my life depends on it. I will prevent this from happening!

A hand rubbed my shoulders. "Just so you know, there's a test on what you just studied and did work for..."

I slowly sat up and glared at Gaven. "I swear to fucking god if you're joking I will kill you a million different ways and make it to where you will never know what it's like to be reborn. I will condemn you to an ever living hell."

"I'm not joking!" He raised his hands in defense. "There is a test! Though, since you did just get back and all, you might not have to take it. Just explain what went on and you should be able to sit it out."

"You better hope you're right." I growled. "Otherwise it's your pelt I'll hang on my wall." He gulped and moved away from me.

With a heavy sigh I gave a soft apology and looked over to Soran's table, finding it empty. He hasn't returned, and I hope he doesn't, even though he said he would after a while. I'm not ready to see him for the rest of my high school career.

As I stared at the empty table, my mind wandered. Will he actually stay until graduation? He can't leave his pack for that long. Going back during the breaks wouldn't be enough. Sure, he's not Alpha yet, but he has the title and he needs to be there for the transition to go smoothly when the time comes.

I slowly shook my head and started to put my things away before the bell to end lunch rang. I bet he has a mountain of homework to do, too. He most likely will if slash when he ever gets back. If he does come back, though, I have to tell him my thoughts. I have to let him know that he can't be away from his pack for two years. That will seriously hurt them and the transition will not go smoothly.

He has to be there for them. He can't sit around and wait for me. He has to stay with his pack and be there to help them in anyway he can so things will go according to plan.

Maybe if he stays away, the Connection will begin to fade. I smiled a bit as the bell rang and we started heading for class. If the Connection fades, I won't have to go with him! He could find a new mate, one that he can shower with love and run the pack with and-

Why the hell am I getting jealous over an imaginary girl?! Why is my heart hurting at the idea of the Connection fading?! This is not supposed to be happening!

I gave a heavy sigh and sat down to wait for class to start, only taking out a pencil. I had no intentions of doing my work today. Any of it. Not a single word will be written down for the rest of the day and-

"Alright, class," I looked up to the teacher. "We have a written exam today." I slammed my head on the desk.

I hate everything...

~~~~

"I hate school. Why did they even invent it? Who thought it would be okay to make a building to house a bunch of kids and have them learn a bunch of useless shit that probably won't even use in life? Couldn't they have given us a book or something full of things that we will need in life, like, how to manage money, balance a check book, how to sew, cook, basically do life!"

"Would you even read it?" Kester asked me.

I thought for a second. "No, maybe glance at it, but that's not my point!" I smacked his arm.

"Ow! Easy there!" He rubbed his arm.

"I just hate school and school work." I pouted and crossed my arms.

"At least it's over with for a while." Gaven wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I shrugged him off and took a few steps ahead of him.

"Yeah, but tomorrow will be even worse." I turned and stuck my tongue out at him. He just rolled his eyes.

"Watch where you're going, or you'll trip." He warned.

I rolled my eyes. "I won't trip- EEP!" I quickly caught myself to keep from falling over a bush. I growled at the boys and glared. "Shut it!"

"Oh man, you shoulda seen your face! OW!" I'd punch Kester's arm, in the same place.

"Whatever. Let's just hurry up and get home. It looks like it's gonna rain." I turned back and started walking faster.

"How can you tell? It's pretty sunny." Gaven looked to the sky.

"Um, hello. Grandpa is a meteorologist. Taught me everything I know." I crossed my arms. "Besides, we're more in tune with nature, being who we are. You should feel it in the air."

We stopped for a second as Gaven tipped his head a bit. "Nope, nothing."

"I don't feel anything, either." Kester chimed in.

"Fine, don't believe me." I walked ahead again. "But when it starts raining, don't come crying to me if you get wet."

"Emma, wait!" They raced to catch up with me just as a strong wind blew, bringing the slight hint of rain with it. "Okay, now I smell something."

"Told ya," I rolled my eyes and picked up the pace. "Come on, we gotta move. I have to get home before it rains. Most of my books wouldn't fit in my bag. I hate studying..."

"Hey, uh, Emma?" I turned back to look at Kester. "I don't think we'll be able to make it in time. Look up." We all turned our heads to the sky to see dark clouds moving in rather quickly.

"Damn it!" I shoved my books toward Gaven. "Your bag is water proof! Take these!"

"Why me!"

"Just do it!" He quickly shoved my books in his bag and we began to sprint down the side walk. We can't shift; too many cars are driving by.

Soon, thunder rolled above our heads. I shook myself and pushed myself harder. As much as I love the rain, I don't want my work to get soaked. I've worked too hard on it and I'm not about to let it go to waste.

I about screamed when the first drop hit my nose. "Gaven why the hell don't you have your license?!"

"Because I keep failing the stupid test!" He exclaimed as the rain started to fall harder. "It's not my fault I can't parallel park!"

"Well, maybe you should just study harder!" I snapped as the rain started to soak through our clothes.

"It's hard to study parallel parking when you're stuck with pack business and school!"

"You have plenty of free time!" I growled back at him. "Emily has her license! Ask her to help you!"

"Leave her out of this!" He used his Alpha tone. I flinched, but shook it off like it was nothing.

"Guys, come on!" Kester cut it. "It's not worth fighting over when..." His words got drowned out as a huge roar of thunder crashed right above our heads.

Just then, tires screeched. We slid to a stop to see a car skid past us and fly up over the curb, past a post, and into a small ditch along the side of the road.

"Holy crap!" I shouted as we raced over to the car. We dropped our stuff into the mud and peered inside the windows. A woman laid slumped over the steering wheel, not moving.

"Gaven, call someone. Kester, you and I are going to get her out." Gaven stepped aside and pulled his phone out.

Kester and I hurried to the driver's door. I tugged on it, finding it locked and jammed. I shook my head and pushed my hair back.

"Stand back." I rubbed my hands together then knocked my elbow into the center of the window, shattering it instantly. I hit it once more to make a hole so I could reach in and try to unbuckle her.

Once most of her window was broken and cleared, I turned to Kester. "Give me your jacket." He took it off and gave it to me. I draped it over the bottom edge of the window and leaned in. "Damn it, the buckle's jammed. Got anything to cut it?"

"No, sorry." I huffed and grabbed the belt.

"This is gonna hurt later." I extended my teeth a bit and began to gnaw at it. As the fabric began to split, it started to cut my tongue and my gums. I grimaced through it and eventually got her unhooked from her restraint. As I pulled her out, a thought crossed my mind. Why didn't her airbags deploy?

Eventually, I was able to pull her out and lay her on the ground. "Get your jacket and make a mini tent over us." He quickly did as I said and stared down at her, not blinking.

"The ambulance is on its way, but it'll take some time." Gaven said as he got down beside us. "The rain is too heavy. How is she?"

I quickly checked her over and got her pulse. "She's stable, but unconscious. She has a pretty big cut on her head, but the bleeding isn't bad. Her lip is a bit swollen and I think she had a black eye, but nothing too serious."

"That could have been a lot worse." Gaven shook some water from his head. "At least she should be okay."

"Kester?" He barely spared me a glance. "You alright there? You haven't blinked and your eyes are turning red."

"She's... beautiful." I looked back down at her.

Then it hit me. "Do you think she's...?"

"I hope so," He whispered to himself. He bit his lip and his hands twitched.

"I've got it, man." Gaven took the jacket and held it above us. Kester slowly inched his fingers to her cheek, barely caressing it. A soft sigh of a moan left his parted lips.

"It's her." He gave a light chuckle. "After all this time, I've finally found her. But did it have to be like this?"

My ears picked up the sound of the sirens in the distance. "Here they come." I stood and began waving my arms so they'd know where to go. The police truck stopped on the other side of the street while the ambulance and firetruck pulled up beside us and quickly got out the gurney to get her inside. The men began to strap her up to some machines while the officer came over to us.

"Can you tell me what happened before the crash?" He pulled out a notepad and pen.

"We were running home from school to try and beat the rain," I explained. "Soon after it started pouring, we heard tires squeal. We stopped just as the car went by us, missed that post, and fall into the ditch." I pointed to where we were and which way the car had gone.

"And why did you pull her from the vehicle?" He asked.

"She's a friend from school," Gaven cut in before Kester could speak. "We couldn't leave her in there. She looked hurt."

"Her air bags didn't go off." The officer raised an eyebrow at me. "When I went to pull her out, she was slumped over the wheel. Her bags weren't out."

The officer nodded. "Alright. That's understandable. I'll have a tow truck come and get her car as soon as possible. He won't be available for a while, since there have been may accidents and the place is swamped with calls. In the mean time, can I offer a lift to the hospital?"

"Please," Kester jogged across the street to get to the truck. We followed behind him and took off after the ambulance.

The entire ride was quiet. Kester stared down at his lap, his hands in tight fists. He's worried, I just know it. What a way to find your mate, huh?

"Please be okay..." He barely whispered to himself. "Please..."

He never spoke another word the entire ride there.