Shelby's Pov

I woke up to my alarm clock on the other side of my bed, 6:30, time to get ready for school. I could still smell him everywhere, but I knew that he had left at some point during the night. I guess I am not his mate because he would not have been able to leave if I had been his mate. I am not sure why but for some reason I was a little hurt by the fact. My phone buzzed letting me know that my best friend is up and getting ready for school just like I am.

'Morning Gorgeous, how was last night? He left pretty late,' I reread the message several times.

'What do you mean?' I replied as I slip out from under the covers. I quickly make my way to the bags that I had forgotten to put away yesterday. Grabbing my new clothes for the new first day of school, walking over to the bathroom turning the shower on as hot as I possibly can. For as big as my house is it is also cold and lonely. I slip into the shower making sure to rinse my hair at the end getting back out of the shower and wrap up in a towel. After drying off with my towel and changing into a fresh set of undergarments and putting my new skater skirt on. Standing in my bra and skirt I started to dry my hair, after drying it I brushed through it. Braiding it back into low ponytails then slightly curling the ends. I walk over to my makeup drawer pulling some out. I apply makeup lightly with a pink tint and a black winged eyeliner.

'Helloooo????' Amanda had texted me.

'I'm on my way calm down,' I replied. Throwing my shirt on and threw my schoolbooks into my backpack. I walked back over to my bed sitting down sliding my socks up and over my knee and then slipping my feet into my combat boots and tying them up tightly. I sent a quick text telling Amanda to meet me by the door, grabbing my bag, keys, and purse before heading down to the kitchen. Hopefully, I can get out without seeing my dad.

"Were you going to your first day of junior year without saying goodbye to your dad?" my dad asked as I had opened the door.

"Well... I figured that you would have beta things to do with the future alpha's birthday don't you have security detail or a cake to be preparing for tonight?" I asked sarcastically.

"Drop that attitude missy. I am still your father; you can blame me all you would like but your mother's death was not my fault. I love you and you are my only child,"

"But you are disappointed in me for believing she is not dead," I said softly as I slipped out of the door and walked to my car. I knew that my father had wanted a boy, but my mother 'died' before she could bear him a son, he thinks that if I were male that the beta title will still be in our family. I could not think about that now, I must show them all that my title was not the reason for my happiness nor my confidence. I wipe a tear off my face and walk over to my car setting my bag in the back driving down to Amanda's house and wait for her to get in. When she got in and placed her bag in the back with mine.

"Hey," I said as I put the car back into gear.

"Hey? Where is my answer? How did last night go? How many nights have you two spent together?" Amanda asked in a rush.

"Mandy nothing happened last night... well he kissed me but that's it. I think that its his second night over this week. I am starting to think he is regretting making Thomas his beta because he keeps coming over. Most times it is just him lecturing me about how Thomas is stronger than me," I said thinking about the previous night.

"Wait... HE KISSED YOU????? You realize that he left at 12:30. You can not tell anyone about that, people already think that you two are ya know getting busy," Amanda said.

"I don't understand,"

"For a genius, you sure are stupid. People think that the two of you are together and active,"

"Oh my God, are you serious? Who would ever want to be with him? He is so cocky and arrogant,"

"Well to answer your second question once upon a time it was you who wanted to be with him,"

"I thought we agreed not to talk about that,"

"We did but it is just you and I here,"

I could not come up with anything to say so I decided to just drive. We had about half an hour left. The school was the closest and best in the wolf world, the human world does have better ones however, it is better for us to go to an all wolf school due to newbies like myself not being able to control when we shift or find our mates.

"What classes do we have together?" I asked Amanda.

"We have homeroom, gym, and history together,"

"Not bad three of the six,"

"So, are you going to the woods tonight?"

"I cannot, I am expected to make an appearance at James's birthday party tonight and watch as he maybe finds his mate,"

"You sound jealous. What if it is you?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"
"I mean what if you are James's mate? What if that is why he did not make you beta because he knew that you would be his Luna?"

"There is no way that I am his Luna. It just is not possible,"

"You still like him don't you," She teased.

"No, I do not,"

"Yes, you do?"

"Believe whatever you would like we are here," I said shifting into park and shutting the car off.

"You are totally head over heels for him," She said getting out of the car.

"Head over heels for who?" A familiar voice pops up.

"Andrew, it's been forever," Amanda squeals hugging Andrew.

"Hey Amanda, but seriously who is she head over heels for?"
"No one," I grunt walking into school.

"It is James, isn't it? I heard he is throwing a party at a nightclub on Halloween. In addition, his after-party tonight. Also, I heard that there is a new teacher. History I believe," Andrew says changing the topic noticing that I am annoyed at the mention of James.

We walk into school together and made small talk on the way about the summer and seeing each other at the mall.

"Sorry about not saying hello, but James and I are at odds," I apologized to Andrew.

"I heard he gave Thomas the beta title," A voice from behind said.

"Trevor, I see that even as Alpha you are attending school," I replied to him. Trevor was the Alpha of the neighboring pack. He is a couple of months older than James, but he got the title of Alpha a little sooner due to him being a senior this year while the rest of us are juniors. He and I have often been rumored to be together. Apparently, people like to see me with an Alpha.

"Well, I would like to graduate and appear somewhat normal to the humans,"
"Makes sense,"

"Get a room," Karissa said coming into the conversations by the lockers.

"We are not a couple," We said in unison.

"That was cute," Heather barges in.

"We need to get to homeroom; we do not want to make any bad first impressions, right?" I said encouraging everyone to get to class.

"Buzzkill," Karissa and Heather said. They were still sophomores so they would not be in the same homeroom as the rest of us.

"Shelby, could I walk you to homeroom?" Trevor asked. "I need to talk to you alone," He made that clear to Amanda who sighed then walked off to homeroom with Andrew.

"What's up Trev?"

"I just have something that I would like to ask you,"

"Oh, is everything ok?"

"Yea, well depending on your answer," Trevor seemed a little nervous and it was kinda cute. "You do not have to answer right away but I would like to know the answer soon. I know how you feel about dating before your mate and I do respect that but, Shelby Scarlet, would you be my girlfriend?" Trevor asked. His emerald eyes stared right into mine.

"Yes, I mean give me until the end of the day. I promise I will have an answer by then," I answered too quickly.

I heard a low growl coming from behind me that could only come from one type of wolf. Meaning that the other alpha of Angel wood Academy has arrived. I wonder what is in his britches this morning.

James's POV:

After arriving at school, I had already had about 6 or 7 girls who had asked me either on a date or to hook up. I have never understood the level that some of these girls would go to just to gain a bit of power or 'authority'. I have no intention of going out with anyone except for Shelby, I should have told her last night. She could have been hanging off my arm drawing the attention of every person in this building, but she is too stubborn for that to have happened. I am 18 now but I have known she is my mate for 2 years, it is getting harder to contain my wolf, it is even harder to contain my other magical creature. I had found Darren and we discussed the upcoming school year plus all of the parties that would be hosted or held underground. As soon as she turns 16 her mystery half should have recognized me as her mate.

"Hey man, talk to her yet?" Thomas jumped in as soon as he saw me.

"I have not seen her yet dude," I replied walking with Darren and now Thomas as well.

"What are you going to say when you do see her?" Darren asked

"I am going to say the same thing that I told her in the woods during her first shift. Except for the part where I told her that Thomas was a better beta than she could ever be,"

"Do you really think that I would be a better beta or were you just trying to make yourself feel better about removing her title from her?" Thomas asked.

"She does not care about the title; I mean she cares a little, but it is the validation of her strength trust me you don't want to be on the other side of her punch. I think she is truly amazing, and I do not want to wait much longer before I claim her as mine and show the whole pack," I explained. I do not know if I can hold my wolf back for much longer before he makes his presence known and claims her.

"I do not think a wolf has ever held out for two and a half years being so close to his mate without claiming her," Darren commented.

"Yea and with her body I highly doubt that it is easy," Devon popped up commenting briefly before his eye got caught by another female walking toward her to get rejected when he asked her on a date.

My wolf growled lowly then he caught her scent, we have the same homeroom again. Darren, Thomas, and I headed to homeroom. Same as last year Shelby and her friends were talking outside the room, only this year she was talking to the neighboring alpha, Trevor. He and I respected one another but I did not appreciate him being so friendly with my mate.

"Dude chill," Thomas said.

"Sorry," I had not even known that my claws were beginning to pop out. Then I heard her say that she would date him. I was so pissed that I could have ripped his head off, but I did not want to cause a war between two packs especially since the Alpha title will not be mine until later tonight. I really did not want to hear the lecture from my father about why I should watch my behavior.

"Hey Dave, good to see you. How was your summer?" Trevor said as soon as he saw me. He had a smirk on his face.

"It was good, what about you?" I managed to get out sounding sincere.

"While it depends on Shelby's answer, well I will see you later," Trevor said walking into the classroom.

Shelby's light giggle brought me out of my angry gaze at Trevor, back into the hallway. Her giggle was so adorable, if it had not been directed at Trevor's comment, I would have been so glad to hear her giggle. She looked so great, her skirt was short, and looking at her made me want her so much more than I had previously wanted her. She cleared her throat and her eyes were avoiding mine she was biting her lip.

"We should get to class," She said turning walking into homeroom.

"Yea," I said and followed her into class.

The bell rang and our new teacher walked in, Eric Evans, my friend and top warrior of my pack, this will be interesting.

"Good Morning class, I am your new homeroom and history professor Mr. Evans. I hope that we can have a good productive year," Eric said. "Now for an easy start let's just do some ice breakers, so form into groups of four and introduce yourselves.