Shelby's POV

After Amanda drove me back to my house, she took me up to my room and sat with me while I cried. Then she got up and went to my bathroom and I heard the water turn on. Why was she filling the bathtub? I managed to get up and walk to the bathroom, she was putting my lavender bubble bath into the water, it was my favorite. "What are you doing?" I managed to choke out, my throat was dry from crying.

"You need this, water has always made you feel better. I remember when your mom first went missing you were so sad then you were frustrated. You wanted to go after her, I remember coming over with chocolate and a movie to keep you busy and you were tying sheets together to escape out of your window. Though we did sneak out and rode our bikes to the beach and you did not even put your bike up correctly before you rolled up and you were standing in the water. When I got up next to you, your eyes were closed, and your breathing had evened out. Every time after that when we would go to the beach, I noticed that as soon as you touched the water you relaxed. Then there was our trip last year, may I ask you a question?" Amanda said. I was shocked that she had noticed this much, but then again, she was my best friend for a reason she always knew what I was feeling without having to ask.

"Of course, you can. We don't have secrets from one another,"

"What color is your wolf?" She blurted out.

"I don't know... I got into a fight with James before I saw myself," I only kind of lied, I don't know if I could tell her. James was clear he did not want many people knowing.

"I bet you are a white wolf it would make sense; you are strong, water calms you down. I bet James is an all-black wolf too," Amanda said leaving me completely shocked.

"Umm he has a white tip of his tail," I said trying to take the attention off myself. "What color is your wolf?"

"She is.... I cannot discuss it," she realized. "Alpha's orders," she seemed hurt having to keep a secret.

"So, you are also under orders not to talk about it?"

"You should take a bath before the water gets cold," She sighed and walked out. "I'll see you in the morning. Pick me up at 7:00?" She asked before leaving.

"I'll be there," I called after her. Then I went into my closet and grabbed a swimsuit I didn't not trust my future Alpha not to show up in my room again. So, I changed into my black stripped bikini and went into back to the bathroom, putting my hair up so that it won't get wet, to take a nice long relaxing bath. I feel every muscle relax when I get into the water. I rest my head back and look around for a minute, my dad really went all out on my room after my mom died. It was all tiled and the shower was behind a grey and silver wall and the shower head just hung from the ceiling, there was not a door or anything just a wall that had a little window to hold soap. I suppose it was practical for if anyone came in the wall would be better than glass, but it was still a little weird. The tub was like a hot tub, it had jets and was deep, I know exactly why my father did this, he is rich and believes that I will never leave him if he flexes his money and buys me everything a girl could want. "I never asked for any of this," I said to myself and closed my eyes letting the heat from the water take away every worry I had. My mind drifted off to sleep.

"Mom?"

"My dear child you know I would never leave you; I apologize but I could not contact you without your wolf and you just got her,"

"Mom? Is it you or am I dreaming? Are you alive?" I hoped this wasn't just a dream.

"Listen my child, I do not have much time. I can talk to you but only when you are in your element though you are a rare case. As you have figured out that you are a white wolf, but what you don't know is that your wolf holds the ability to have more than one element due to having angel blood from both sides. My mother, your grandmother was a pure angel one of the last that was on earth. Your father's grandmother was a half angel not that your father would ever tell you that because it would put you in danger. Oh, my child, I miss you so much," the dream of my mother explains to me.

"Mom, how? What? I'm so confused," I ran to her and hugged her. Even in my dreams I remember what she smelled like, cinnamon and home.

"My dear you will learn all of these things in time. For now I must go, I am so proud of the woman you are becoming," as soon as she said that I woke up to my bedroom door being opened, the perks of finally having my wolf is all of the heightened senses that come along with the new form. I drain the water and dry off, realizing I never put my robe back into my bathroom I wrap up in a towel. Walking over to the door and pressing my ear to the door, listening to see who is there. I hear footsteps over to the chair next to my bed. I recognize those footsteps; must he always catch me in compromising situations. I grab the door handle and walk out, with the intention of just going to my closet to put on some sweatpants and a tank top to sleep. He turns to face me, and his eyes widen then darken, his hand forms a fist and he turns back around.

"Get dressed short stuff," He 'ordered' me.

"Was planning on it Alpha," His muscles tensed after I used his future title. I walked into my closet and grabbed my grey school sweatpants and my black tank to sleep, hopefully he doesn't stay here long. I slipped out of my swimsuit and into a new pair of matching underwear and then pulling my sweatpants up. "What did you need James?" I asked as I slipped my tank top over my head to meet my sweatpants on my waist. I turn around realizing my closet door did not shut 'it's a good thing he turned around'. I walk out and see that my shopping bags are still out, I ignore them and walk over to the chair by my bed where James was at. As soon as he notices me his eyes lock on mine, shifting between brown and black. 'Why is he having trouble containing his wolf?' I wondered to myself.

"God, Shelby," He muttered almost in audible to my wolf ears.

"Hey is everything ok?" I asked and reached out touching his face. He leaned into my touch like he had been craving it forever. "James?" I whispered. Within seconds my back was against the wall and we were in a similar position to this morning, my hands pinned by my head only this time his grip was tighter, he did not want me going anywhere. He put his head on my shoulder breathing in my scent. "What are you doing?" I asked starting to get scared his birthday was so soon I did not want him to accidentally mark me as his instead of his mate.

"You smell so good," he said. Then crashed his lips to mine, it was slow but passionate, hot yet patient. His kiss felt like I had always imagined it would, intense just like him but soft and begging for more. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead on mine

"James," was the only word that I could think of after that kiss. He backed away just far enough to look at my face.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that, princess," he responded with his signature smirk.

Reality hit me like a truck, he was kissing Sara at the mall today. "Get away from me, you have Sara if you are feeling horny. Just leave me alone," I snapped and got out of his grasp and walked to my bed sitting down.

"She kissed me; I have only ever wanted you. I know you feel it to. The way we want each other's touch and we can not get enough of how the other smells. Don't think I did not notice that you have wanted me since we were young. I want you," he said. Coming over to the bed placing a hand on either side of me. "I love you Shelby," he said. I knew he was telling the truth his eyes were begging me to believe him.

"You will forget about me tomorrow or did you forget that your 18th birthday is tomorrow? You will be allowed to travel and find her. Since you could not have held back your wolf for a year," I said trying to get him to go away. "I am not your mate,"

"My mate has to be you, the pull we have toward each other. It is the only explanation. If you need me to prove it let me kiss you again and tell me to stop if you ever want me to stop," James started to lean in and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His eyes only leave mine for a second to look at my lips then back to my eyes and my eyes looked down to his lips. My brain wanted to stop but I could not get the word out of my mouth. He kissed me it was just like before except this one was more passionate and filled with desire. He was so intense; his feelings were so clear, but I was so confused. His kiss felt like home, but my mind was still telling me something was wrong, probably because he has a mate and I don't know if she is me. I felt selfish having him now knowing that in two hours he would turn 18 and find someone new. His kiss made me melt and forget all of my problems. His hand slid down the side of my face down to the bottom of my tank top. He leaned us back so that we were laying on my bed with him on top kissing me. His tongue slid across my lips asking for access, instead I broke the kiss.

"This is wrong," I breathed out.

"Then tell me to stop," he said so simply. I believe part of him knew I couldn't, because he just kissed me again but this time he wanted more. He tried to ask nicely for more by repeating the motion with his tongue. He got the same answer as last time, so he decided 'no' was an unacceptable answer, so he squeezed my ass causing me to gasp allowing him to slip his tongue in. We fought for dominance until we needed to breathe.

"We need to stop," I said finally being able to say the word.

"Come on princess one more kiss?" he groaned into my ear. Good lord he was so attractive, but we have school in the morning, and I don't need to be waking up late.

"We have school tomorrow," I said firmly.

"At least let me stay the next two hours to prove to you that you are my mate,"

"Leave James now," I said while getting under the blankets to go to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

James's POV:

I left out the window but stayed in the tree outside her room. She is so adorable when she sleeps, the way her crimson hair fell across the pillows. I wish more than anything she knew what she meant to me. I kept other girls around in the hopes that my desire for her would dissipate but each girl only left me wanting her more. She had never thrown herself at my feet like all of the other girls. She was strong and no one would ever tell her different. I knew the day I turned 16 that she was my mate. I loved the chase that she always provided, she thought that we had a rivalry, I had always appreciated her strength. Shelby had a similar way of looking at things, she was kind and a strong leader. She would have made the perfect beta but, I could not risk putting her in the same danger that I can put Thomas in. He can defend himself better than she can, she is ridiculously strong, but she is so hot headed.

I looked at the clock '11:59'. One minute until my 18th birthday, her wolf is still too young to recognize me as her mate. I have always had a soft spot for her, I know that she has a secret and I want to be the one that she trusts enough to tell me eventually. A quiet beep brings me out of my thoughts letting me know that it is midnight. I should go home, but I am not ready to leave her. She is sleeping so peacefully. I wish I could know what was running through that head of hers, hopefully one day she will tell me. In a few months, she will claim as her mate, I will have all access to her mind, but that isn't the same as her trusting me and she can shut me out whenever. I already have access to her current thoughts, but I want to know more.

I got up out of her chair and walk over to her bed, I brush a stand of hair off her sun kissed face. Tingles were sent up my arm as my skin brushed against hers, confirmation that she is indeed my mate. I could not hold back my urges and I leaned down and kissed her forehead; I would never kiss her without her permission. Though I suppose that I kind of did earlier, but I could not stop myself.

I walked to the window, then looked at her one last time before jumping out the window landing on the grass that was now wet and cold. The moon was high and full, it lit the path that connected our houses. The trail was through a bit of woods, Shelby, Thomas, Darren and myself would play hide and seek in. One-time Shelby hid in the tops of the trees, she was up there for hours before any of us had found her. I walk past the tree that she hid in; I still wonder how she had gotten up there, none of the branches were close enough to the ground to climb onto. I wonder if it has anything to do with her mystery half. I can only assume so.

I continue my walk down the path to my house, I had to get home before my mother began to worry. She knew that as the future alpha I would be in danger always because other packs would try to take over ours. My father had grown our pack to be strong and feared. I knew that I had to keep everyone safe, but I would not be able to do so without proper training. Choosing Thomas to be my beta would be risky because Shelby was the best choice, however she would have a different role to play in this pack when her wolf accepts mine as her mate. As I made it into the backyard without problems and snuck into my bedroom window. I took my shirt off and walked over to my bed, I collapsed on my bed and smiled at the memory of Shelby sleeping so peacefully while I made the hardest decision of my life.