Chapter 2

I slowly stood up, keeping my blue eyes zeroed in on him. He was threatening, that was a given. But it wasn’t just that. After looking at him—I had to take a few moments to gather my thoughts. I felt mesmerized by him.

“My mate,” he repeated. His grayish blue eyes were swirling with black. Looking at him—it hit me with a force, I couldn’t explain it. He was beautiful. He was gazing at me with adoring eyes, and he extended his hand in my direction.

He was almost a foot taller than me; I had to look up at him. He was standing close. Even if we weren’t touching, I felt the electricity between us—it made me want to reach out to him.

God, he was gorgeous. He was tall, intimidating. His skin was pale, smooth, and flawless. He had an athletic build, looking sharp and strong.

My Wolf caught on to it before I did, although I had been ignoring her. His Wolf wasn’t just a regular shifter. He was exuding power, the kind I had only experienced around my father, Alpha Jackson, and occasionally with Jake.

He was looking at me to, checking me out and it was making me feel self-conscious. I could feel my face warming. That made him smile. I smiled in return, and looked down, feeling shy.

“Umm… Leila,” Jake called, snapping me out of the moment I had been having with the boy standing in front of me.

I turned to face Jake, and when I looked around, I finally remembered that we had a crowd. I had completely forgotten they were all there.

“Leila?” the boy, my mate, asked.

I turned back to him and nodded.

“I like it,” he said.

That made me smile wider. I was all smiles, and he was looking at me with a look—I couldn’t describe it. It made me feel warm all over.

“Dylan,” another guy walked towards us. I remembered him. He had been there the night we arrived. “She can’t be your mate.”

Dylan. That was his name. Dylan was the Alpha of Midnight Moon. Now I knew why his Wolf felt so powerful.

Dylan growled at the guy who approached us. I was completely caught off guard when he took me in his arms and pressed me against his chest.

“She’s mine, my mate,” Dylan growled at him. He looked defensive.

I could hardly concentrate on anything but him, and the fact that I was in his arms. One of his arms was tightly wrapped around my waist, pressing me flush against his body. The other was lightly placed over my shoulder. He was encasing me in his arms.

“Dylan, she already has a mate,” the same guy said. “Jake and the girl are mates.”

Dylan growled so loud, I felt the vibrations from his body. Everyone there had been staring at us before. Now they all just looked between tense and shocked.

“She’s my mine!” Dylan snarled at him, taking a few steps away from them all and bringing me along with him.

“Dylan, you have to let her go,” he continued.

“Jake isn’t my mate,” I said, only looking up at Dylan.

Dylan looked down at me and just smiled, lovingly. He smiled how I pictured someone who cared for you would smile.

“I know. You’re mine,” Dylan said to me, running the outside of his hand over my cheek. I liked it. His touch was electrifying. 

“You have an audience,” Jake said, clearing his throat.

“I thought you said she was your mate,” the same guy, the only one who had been talking, said to Jake.

“I never said she was my mate, Jace. She is the future Beta of Staten,” Jake shrugged.

“You’re a Beta?” Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged just like Jake, not really sure what to tell him. I looked at Rainen for help. He was frowning at me.

‘Step away from him,’ Rainen told me through our mind-link.

‘But,’ I tried to protest.

Rainen shook his head. ‘Come here to my side.’

I sighed, and nodded. Dylan had been looking down at me. He was frowning. When I tried to pull away from me, he didn’t let me.

“What did he say to you?” Dylan asked, his eyes shifting towards Rainen.

“I am responsible for Jake and Leila,” Rainen replied.

“Not for Leila, not anymore,” Dylan told him.

His words—they weren’t what I expected or wanted to hear. My Wolf definitely liked that Dylan was already talking about us together. But I knew my responsibility to my pack. I had no idea what to do. I kept looking at Rainen for help on what to say.

“I should go with Rainen.”

“I’m not leaving you here. Who are you here with?” he asked, his eyes scanning the area.

Silvi wasn’t there. Only Jake and Rainen were. Rainen looked upset. I wasn’t sure if it was because I wasn’t listening to him or because I had found my mate. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to make him angry. I didn’t want for him to tell Alpha Jackson or my father that I wasn’t following orders.

“I traveled here with Jake. Rainen is taking care of me,” I replied.

“You don’t have another girl watching out for you?” Dylan asked, frowning.

I shook my head. Rainen was getting more upset. I could tell. He wasn’t happy that I had ignored him. I hadn’t done it purposely. Dylan had me in his arms and he wouldn’t let me go.

“Why?”

“Jake and Leila are visiting the packs. They are our future leaders. Alpha Benjamin promised protection. Alpha Jackson trusted that the kids would be safe in Midnight Moon,” Rainen replied, putting emphasis on the kids part.

“How old are you?” Dylan asked, focusing his eyes back on me.

“She is fifteen Dylan, still a little girl,” Rainen replied.

“I am the Alpha here. It would do you good to remember the title,” Dylan told him in a low, threatening voice.

Rainen bowed at him, but his green eyes were turning dark. “Alpha Dylan,” he said. His voice sounded stiff.

“I want to go with Rainen,” I told Dylan, or Alpha Dylan. I wasn’t sure how he wanted me to address him. He had been mean to Rainen. I didn’t like that.

“Dylan.” We all turned towards the booming voice of Alpha Benjamin, who was making his way to our little group.

The more time we spent there, the larger the group got. No one seemed to be in a hurry to move along.

“I found my mate,” Dylan told Alpha Benjamin.

Alpha Benjamin was frowning, looking between Jake, Dylan, and then me. “She is Jake’s mate.”

“She is my mate!” Dylan growled at him.

“Actually, Leila isn’t my mate. She is Saul’s daughter—she’s our Beta,” Jake clarified, finally, and apparently, too late.

“I thought Silvi…” Alpha Benjamin started to say.

I felt awkward just standing there, in Dylan’s arms, saying hardly anything. Rainen was still looking at us in disapproval.

“I want to go with Rainen,” I repeated, louder.

I tried to pull away from Dylan, but he wouldn’t let me go.

“Why do you want to go with him? I am your mate!” I was not expecting the demanding tone in his voice. Everyone around him was looking at me like I was crazy for wanting to leave his side.

He was my mate, I wasn’t disagreeing with that. That didn’t mean I hadn’t just met him, and I wasn’t going to just forget how he’d spoken to Rainen.

“I just need to talk to him,” I replied.

“Dylan, let her go,” Alpha Benjamin said, his voice firm.

“Leila,” Dylan whispered to me.

“There’s nothing to see here. Go home or continue on your way,” Alpha Benjamin said aloud, to everyone who was just standing there, enjoying the show.

I didn’t know where Silvi had run off too, but he arrived just as we were walking into the guest house. I kept smoothing down my white dress, but I still felt uncomfortable. It was dirty and wrinkled from when I had been messing around with Jake.

Rainen walked in ahead of everyone. Jake followed him. Dylan and I walked in next, with Alpha Benjamin and Silvi trailing behind us.

‘Who’s the guy--Jace?’ I asked Jake.

He had been the one who told Dylan that I was Jake’s mate, and the one who had been here to receive us the night we arrived.

‘He’s Dylan’s Beta,’ Jake replied, wiggling his eyebrows at me. That explained why he was there, and why he had a voice. Most of the other Wolves had just stayed quiet and observed.

I should’ve felt how the power emanating from him. It wasn’t as strong as Dylan’s, but definitely of someone with a rank. I cringed to myself because I hadn’t noticed it until Jake told me. It was very careless on my part, and something my father would’ve disapproved of if he had been there.

“You’re mind-linking with Jake?” Dylan asked me. I nodded. I had no idea how he kept catching on to it. It probably had something to do with how much he was focusing on me.

When Rainen walked into the living room and motioned everyone to sit down, Dylan walked me to one of the seats. He was trying to pull me onto his lap—in front of everyone. I frowned, felt myself blushing, and pulled away from him.

“Don’t do that,” Rainen said to Dylan, looking like he wanted to say a whole lot more.

“She is my mate,” Dylan said, and I could hear the growling coming.

“She is my Beta, and she is a little girl. Don’t disrespect her,” Rainen told him.

I felt uncomfortable with all of the attention.

“I already warned you once,” Dylan told Rainen.

“You’re an Alpha—not my Alpha,” Rainen replied, quietly. I could hear the edge in his voice. He was definitely not happy.

“Dylan,” Alpha Benjamin said, trying to get his son to calm down.

“No, I won’t back down. You are in my pack. You do as I say in my territory or you get out,” Dylan retorted.

Rainen nodded. “I leave and Leila comes with me,” he said, getting up, like he was about to take off.

Rainen’s words offended Dylan, and oh was it obvious. He gently but swiftly sat me on the couch and walked towards Rainen. He was trying to confront him—to pick a fight.

“She is my mate. Her place is here, with me. You don’t have a say in this,” Dylan growled at him. He was standing so close to Rainen, trying to intimidate him.

What Dylan had—Jake was still missing, still growing into it. Dylan looked like a proper Alpha. He was intimidating, scary even. Rainen backed off, and he looked down. His eyes found Alpha Benjamin and he nodded.

“Leila is my Beta. We were invited here. If this is how your Alpha will behave, we will leave. I don’t care if I lose, I will still fight him,” Rainen said.

He respectfully kept his eyes down, but the words were still said.

When Dylan raised his hand in a fist—I knew he was going to try to hit Rainen. I ran towards them and stood in the way, blocking Dylan from Rainen.

“Why are you doing this? Rainen isn’t doing anything to you. Leave him alone,” I told Dylan.

Everyone was trying to intervene. Jake, Alpha Benjamin, Silvi, and even Rainen were telling me to get out of the way, or trying to get me to move.

Dylan only cocked an eyebrow. “Leila, move,” he said.

“No, Rainen is not doing anything to you. You’re bullying him just because you’re an Alpha. It’s not fair,” I told him.

Dylan smiled—he pulled me into his arms and then walked us away from Rainen like if nothing had happened.

I was stunned, and his bipolar moods were throwing me off. I had seen Alpha Jackson mad. When he was mad, he didn’t cool off just because our Luna said something—although she never really said anything. She never really intervened when Alpha Jackson was handing out punishments. I had nothing to base myself on.

“I don’t want anyone fighting because of me,” I told Dylan.

“Okay,” he nodded coolly. “No one is fighting. We’re just talking here. Come on, we can go somewhere.”

“It’s late,” Rainen said. He didn’t like the way Dylan was talking.

‘We have to inform Alpha Jackson. Get rid of Dylan,’ Rainen told me through our mind link.

I turned to face him, and then looked at Dylan. He was just staring at me.

“What did Rainen just tell you?” Dylan asked.

I either made it too obvious every time Rainen talked to me, or Dylan was too perceptive. I was leaning more towards the former, although the situation wasn’t helped because Dylan had kept his eyes on me most of the time.

“He told me to take it easy,” I replied.

I knew there was no way I could bring up Alpha Jackson—not yet. I didn’t know what to say. I remembered the reason Jake and I were there and it made me feel guilty.

Dylan gazed at me curiously, his eyes scanning my face for long seconds, before he nodded. “I found you,” he said.

Even though we had a room full of people, Dylan was leaning in for kiss me. Rainen approached us, and lightly pushed me back. Dylan growled at him and we were back to square one, with the two of them facing off.

“I need to be alone. It’s late and I’m tired.” I spoke up.

Dylan pulled out his cell phone and frowned. “It’s not even seven yet,” he said.

“I’ve had a long day,” I shrugged, distracting my eyes away from him.

“Leila has been sick,” Silvi added, speaking for the first time. “She was supposed to start school with Jake, but she hasn’t been feeling well.”

“You’re sick?” Dylan asked me, and I could already see him looking worried. “We should get you the pack doctor.”

Jace, the Beta, was already walking out to go get him before I could answer.

“I feel better now. You don’t have to call anyone,” I quickly replied.

“Fifteen,” Dylan repeated, looking up at Rainen.

“I was thinking it’s her Wolf,” Rainen replied.

Dylan nodded, and then focused his eyes on me, his hands cupping either side of my face.

“I really am okay,” I told him.

“I should get the pack doctor anyways, just to be safe.”

‘They’re going to find out you’re not really sick,’ Jake told me through our mind link, but the little jerk was grinning.

“Dylan,” I said, placing my hand gently on his chest. That definitely got his attention. “I want to rest. Can’t I see the pack doctor another day? I feel fine—happy, I found you.”

I slowly slid my hand up his chest, until I wrapped it around his neck. I rested my head against his chest, and pressed myself completely against him.

“If she is ill, we should get that checked out as soon as possible,” Alpha Benjamin said. I saw him turn to Rainen and Silvi. “Why didn’t you say anything about it before?”

“Because I was sure this was her Wolf. It’s the transition,” Rainen said, not at all bothered with the accusation, although he kept his serious expression.

“I’m just tired right now,” I insisted, snuggling myself more into Dylan’s arms.

Dylan already had his arms around my waist. When I nestled my head in his neck, he tightened his arms around me. “Leila should rest.”

“Dylan, she-” Alpha Benjamin started to say.

“Leila is going to rest,” Dylan growled at his father.

I flinched at his tone, and Dylan apologized. He ignored everybody else in the room, picked me up in his arms, and headed for the stairs.

It was slightly awkward and uncomfortable. He was making sure I wasn’t exposed to anyone as we passed by. They all stared, but no one said anything. I was sure that Rainen was going to be in my mind soon. I was waiting for it. Jake was the only one grinning. He was happy, that was a given.

“Why were you wearing a dress while wrestling with Jake?”

“It’s easier to take off when I shift,” I shrugged.

“You take it off in front of Jake?” Dylan asked, and I heard the alarm in his voice.

I didn’t. But even if I did, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Wolves were naked in front of each other all the time. It was just how things were. I was used to it. I still got shy, looked away, and would hide before shifting. That didn’t mean I wasn’t aware of other people around me, or that I hadn’t seen them whenever they shifted back into their human form and they were naked.

“No, my father is too strict for that,” I replied, genuinely. It was mostly true. Hardly anyone in the pack was allowed to talk to me. Everyone still shied away from me when they were allowed to talk—mostly the girls, but the guys got intimidated soon enough. That was the main reason I was always left hanging out with Jake or Joel. They were the Alpha’s sons, they were always there, and my father approved of them.

“Good,” he said, and it made me shake my head at him.

He had no idea.

“I don’t think you should be fooling around with Jake like that anymore,” he said. We were walking into my room. Dylan placed me on the edge of the bed.

‘Benjamin is leaving. Get rid of Dylan,’ Rainen mind-linked.

I didn’t reply anything back, but I knew I had to listen.

“I’m not going to sleep yet. I need to take a shower. I’m all dirty,” I told him. I dismissed his earlier comment about Jake. I had gotten distracted with Rainen in my mind. Either way, I was sure that once Alpha Jackson found out Dylan was my mate, things were going to change.

“You are going to shower?” Dylan asked, and his eyes started roaming all over my body.

I felt weird—not exactly bad, definitely shy, but strange to be getting attention from anyone like that. I was young, but that didn’t mean I didn’t understand what that look meant. No one in the pack would’ve gotten away with looking at me like that if my father, Alpha Jackson, and probably even Jake, had been there. 

“I’m going to bed after that,” I said, although I didn’t think I’d be able to find sleep after the afternoon I’d had.

“I’ll wait here for you,” he said.

“While I shower?”

“I will have a Wolf bring over some of my things. We’ll spend the night here while everything gets sorted and you can move into my home tomorrow.”

“Umm…”

“Go on,” he said, pulling on my hand to help me get up.

“Maybe you should go. It was a… an afternoon full of surprises. I think I need to take a moment to breathe.”

My words made him frown. “You want me to wait for you downstairs while you shower?”

“I think you should go home. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow at school?”

A growl was rumbling through his chest. He was mad. His grayish blue eyes were shifting to black. “I am not leaving you alone, in a house filled with male Wolves. You are my mate.”

I needed a guide on how to tread carefully after that. He was looking at me like I was a traitor for even suggesting that idea.

“I need time to think,” I told him.

“I will leave you alone. You can think all you want. I won’t disturb you. But I am not leaving.”

“Alpha Dylan,” I said, and I soon realized using his title was not the way to go.

He growled, and took my hand in his. “Dylan, just Dylan. You are my Luna now.”

I swallowed audibly—he must’ve heard it, and nodded at him. “Dylan, I need time think on my own. You’ll just distract me if you’re here. I want to—talk… to my mom.” That sounded like a normal plausible thing. If my mom were any other type of mom, she would definitely be excited that I had found my mate.

Dylan grinned. “Girl talk?” he asked, shaking his head.

“Sure,” I offered. I never in my life had had girl talk before. But I had seen movies, and it was perfectly normal. If anything, I expected a long night of boy talk with Jake, and getting interrogated by Rainen or Alpha Jackson.

I knew I had to listen to Rainen. I had to send Dylan home. Rainen had to contact Alpha Jackson. I was scared that someone else would tell him I had found my mate before we did, and then he would be angry. I had seen Alpha Jackson angry, and it was something I didn’t want to witness again.

“I want to stay here with you,” Dylan said, kneeling down next to me, and circling his arms around my waist, while nuzzling his nose against my lap. “You feel so good.”

I softly placed my hand on his head, and started running my fingers through his hair. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dylan.”

When I tried to kiss his cheek, Dylan tilted his face and caught my lips. I wasn’t expecting it. At first, I wasn’t moving. My first kiss was happening while I was dirty, sitting on a bed, and with my mate trying to snuggle himself between my legs.

Dylan was trying to deepen the kiss, although I probably wasn’t much help. I was going with the flow, moving my lips with his, but I froze when I felt his tongue in my mouth.

I felt too aware of the moment. His arms were pulling me closer or he was pulling himself closer to my body and spreading my legs—one of the two. Since I was wearing a dress, it all felt too intimidate, like we were doing something else and not just kissing. His lips continued to move against mine, and I couldn’t help but giggle against his lips when he squeezed my waist.

“Dylan…” I whispered, pulling away from him.

I was wondering if it was possible to have an awkward but lovely first kiss. Dylan was trying to lean in again when I pulled away from him. I had opened my eyes, but his were still closed. He kissed me a few more time, just pressing his lips against mine, before he finally pulled away, but only to nestle his head against my neck.

I definitely felt aware, tingly and warm all over. My Wolf was howling on the inside, wanting to come out, wanting for Dylan to claim us. It took all of my self-restraint and a deep breath to push on his shoulders.

“You should go,” I told him.

“Now I just want to stay here with you,” he said, shaking his head.

After some convincing, persuading, and a few more kisses, I finally got him to go. It wasn’t easy. I had to walk him downstairs and once we were at the door, he kept looking at Rainen distrustfully and asking me if I wanted to go with him.

Rainen was the only one who hadn’t cleared the room.

“I’m sure. I want to rest, and to think. But thank you for the offer,” I told him, kissing his cheek.

Dylan wrapped his arms around me, and planted another kiss on my lips. “Call me if you need me, for whatever. Jake has my number. Or have him go find me. He knows where I’m at. Whatever you need,” he said.

I nodded. He squeezed me in his arms, kissed me again, and finally took off.

I felt like I had to pretend not to enjoy being in his arms because Rainen was there. I didn’t know what he was going to think of me, or what he was going to tell Alpha Jackson.

Once I closed the door, I was about to turn to Rainen and start talking, but he pressed his index finger to lips to keep me quiet.

‘I hear him outside, waiting,’ Rainen told me through our mind link. ‘Say that you’re going to bed.’

“I’m going to bed,” I repeated, and it sounded robotic and rehearsed.

Rainen shook his head, but he still nodded upstairs.

“Good night,” he said out loud. ‘I will call you once I’m sure he’s gone,’ he finished through our mind link.

I got to shower, change, and hang out in my room for a little while before Jake knocked on my door.

“Rainen wants us downstairs,” he said. He was still grinning. I was surprised that Jake had left me alone during all that time.

“Dylan left?”

“Silvi went to check it out and he’s gone. There’s only one problem but I guess he’s going to tell us downstairs.”

I nodded, and began walking along with Jake. Since I knew I’d be going downstairs, I was wearing pajama pants and a tank top. I still felt exposed, but not as much. Either way, I felt like Rainen and Silvi had other things to worry about.

“He is having Wolves guard the area,” Silvi said as soon as Jake and I reached the last step.

Silvi and Rainen had been waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. Jake and I followed them into the living room. Both Silvi and Rainen were wearing solemn expressions.

“I already spoke to Alpha Jackson and your father, Leila,” Rainen said to me. “They want us to stay here for now, but we’re going to leave sooner than planned.”

“What? Why?” I asked, and I could hear the panic in my voice.

“Dylan is here mate. I’m sure my father won’t fight against that,” Jake said, but Rainen and Silvi both shook their heads.

“A treaty with Highland benefits the pack more than a friendly relationship with Midnight Moon,” Rainen offered.

“What are you talking about?” Jake asked.

“We have a treaty with Highland that we cannot break. The conditions in the treaty are beneficial to our pack. Roderick practically gave us access to his pack as long as we support him if anything happens. Everyone knows how strong Midnight Moon is. Dylan would never agree to hand over control. Roderick already has.”

“But he’s my mate,” I whispered.

Rainen nodded. “That is why we are staying here for a few weeks. We will do what we came to do—we will just have to do it quicker.”

“You think Dylan is just going to let Leila go? He didn’t want to leave the house, and that’s because he knows where she’s at. Dylan is going to start a war with Staten if we hide her from him,” Jake said. From his frown, I could tell he didn’t like the plan any more than I did.

“We need time to figure out how we’re going to work this out. In the meantime, you two already know what you’re here for. Dylan is your mate, Leila. Your job should be easier now. Ask him what we need to know, and I’m sure he will tell you.”

Rainen made it sound so easy.

By the time our little meeting wrapped up, I felt depressed and my Wolf wanted out. I wanted to talk to Jake but he was mad. As soon as Rainen dismissed us, Jake stormed off to his room.

Rainen walked with me upstairs. I thought he was going to get after me. He still looked upset.

“I’m sorry for the way Dylan treated you,” I offered, hoping that would make him take it easier on me.

Rainen shook his head. “I’m sorry you’re going to have to give him up. It was not my decision to make, but it is an order I have to follow.” As soon as he said the words, he walked off to his room, and closed the door before I had a chance to say anything back.

I woke up the following morning to Rainen and Jake telling me that I was going to school, no excuses. Rainen had figured out that I hadn’t been sick. I expected to be punished, or at least warned. He didn’t say anything.

“Dylan is taking us to school,” Jake said.

“What?”

“He’s going to pick you up, and Rainen is forcing him to take me too. I’m the designated third wheel,” Jake shrugged.

“Someone has to watch over him,” Rainen easily added.

“I’m not even ready!” I whined, getting up from the bed. I had to rush around to get ready. It was too late for a shower, so I settled for changing. It still took me forever to brush my teeth, scrub my face, and fix my hair.

I was ready twenty minutes later. Jake had been hurrying me up the entire time, Rainen looked amused, and Dylan had been waiting for ten minutes.

I was wearing my hair down, with a thin diamond studded hairband as decoration. No one had told me that Jake and I were going to attend school. Thanks to that, the only clothes I had were dresses and jean or black shorts. I ended up going for a printed dress that was tight on my chest and waist area, but flowed down mid-thigh. I slipped on my black flats and was ready to go.

I was still mad that no one had warned me about school. I was carrying my purse, and in there, I had a pen, but that was about it when it came to school supplies.

Rushing around for school was the only thing distracting me from the conversation I’d had with Rainen the previous. I felt guilty and lonely. I didn’t want to give Dylan up. In those moments, I felt like I hated Alpha Jackson more than any other time.

Rainen stopped me before going downstairs. “Mind link if you need anything. I know school will be… different for you. If you want to come home,” he said, and he handed me a phone—a cell phone.

“For me?” I asked, hesitating before taking it from his hands.

Rainen nodded. “Don’t tell your father, please.”

I nodded in return, and couldn’t stop myself from giving him a hug. I’d never had a cell phone. Jake had a cell phone. Everyone in Staten Pack probably had a cell phone. My father didn’t approve of them for me, but even if I had one, I had no one to call. I still didn’t, but having it in my hands made me feel powerful.

“I won’t, I promise,” I told him, stepping away from his arms.

Rainen nodded, and shoved my back lightly to get me to walk. “They’re waiting for you downstairs.”

Dylan had been expectantly waiting for me. Once his eyes landed on me, he frowned. “You look…” he said, his eyes scanning over me. He looked mad.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

“Too tempting…” Dylan said under his breath. We all heard him, including Rainen, who had been walking behind me.

I didn’t dare turn to face Rainen. My face was burning, and I didn’t want to give him another excuse to worry or to get mad.

I shrugged, trying to be casual about it.

“We ready to go? We’re already late,” Jake said, looking down at his phone.

I still had my phone in my hand. When I shook it in front of me, showing it at Jake, Jake laughed. “You’re all grown up now,” he said.

Dylan had a really nice car. I had expected something like that, what with his title. Jake spent most of the time talking non-stop about how he was going to get one just like Dylan’s. Dylan listened to him, nodded here and there, but hardly said anything. I was quiet the entire ride.

I was nervous about school. It had been long since I’d been to one, and never to high school. I spent most of the way there wondering how it was going to go. I wasn’t good at making friends. Jake was good at making friends. I simply thought that I was going to stick myself to his side so that I wouldn’t have to be alone.

“Everything should be ready for you. Rainen and Silvi called ahead of time. You just have to pick up your schedule,” Jake told me right after Dylan parked his car.

The parking lot was packed, there was hardly any students walking out and about. Jake told me it was because we were late. The bell rang ten minutes before we arrived. Even with a full parking lot, Dylan had found a space near the entrance. When we got off, I realized that the spot had his last name—‘Thomas’ printed on it.  

“I’ll get her to the office,” Dylan told Jake.

Jake nodded, bumped his shoulder against mine, and was off.

“Come on,” Dylan said, reaching out to take my hand. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss my neck. I giggled, and pushed myself more against him. After all, it seemed like I had to enjoy all the little moments I had left with him. “But we’re going with jeans next time,” he casually finished.

“What?” I asked, taken aback by his words.

“Jeans, I want you to wear them next time. No more dresses for school,” he stated, firmly.

I frowned at him. When I tried to tug my hand from his, he held on to it tightly. “I didn’t want to tell you in front of Rainen. He gets defensive when it comes to you. I like that. It makes me feel like he’s doing a good job taking care of you.”

“Rainen isn’t doing it for your benefit,” I snapped. I was offended. I couldn’t stop from not being offended.

“Whatever the case, he’s taking care of you. I appreciate it. You look beautiful, but this is not a place where you can wear a dress and not attract attention.”

“So?” I wasn’t trying to piss him off, but I didn’t see the big deal.

“What do you mean ‘so’?” Dylan asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I will get attention whether I wear jeans or a dress. So? I like wearing dresses. I am not going to stop wearing them because you say so.”

We were still standing beside Dylan’s car. A girl—she must’ve been our age, approached us in the middle of our argument.

“Alpha,” she said, looking down at the ground. She had a white shopping bag in her hands. Dylan took it from her hands without acknowledging her, waved her off, and turned back to face me.

“Let’s go.”

I followed after him because I didn’t have much of a choice. He was holding my hand tightly, and he wouldn’t let me go. Instead of guiding me to the main office, he walked me to the girl’s restroom.

“This is for you,” he said, handing over the bag that the girl had given him. I was frowning as I opened the bag. There was a pair of black tights inside the bag. “Put them on.”

“I’m not going to put them on,” I told him, shoving the tights into his hands. He had to take them, or else they would’ve ended up on the floor.

Dylan grabbed my arm in his hand and dragged me inside the girl’s restroom. His hold was tight, but not painful. Still, I couldn’t get out of it. There was no one inside, not that Dylan seemed to care.

“We’re not leaving until you put them on,” he warned me.

“I don’t mind spending my time here. I didn’t want to go to class anyway,” I shrugged. If he kept me there, I really wouldn’t have cared. I had been looking for any excuse not to go to class either way. If Dylan kept me from going, it was what I was going to tell Rainen.

“You didn’t?” Dylan asked. He seemed surprised by my answer.

“I don’t like school.”

“Well, you still have to go. Just because I keep you here, it won’t mean you’re not going eventually. Everyone goes to school, just like in Staten,” Dylan said, like if he had me trapped.

I chuckled, and shook my head at him. “I didn’t go to school in my pack. And I’m definitely not going to walk around wearing those,” I said, nodding towards the tights in his hands.

“You didn’t go to school?”

“Nope,” I said, shrugging.

“Why didn’t you go to school?” Dylan asked seriously, his eyes growing dark. The conversation about my attire seemed to be completely forgotten.

“My father is strict. He thinks school is a distraction. He can’t keep really an eye on me when I’m not home—it was an easy decision.”

More frowns from Dylan, and he pulled away from me, creating some distance between us. “Tell me more about your pack,” he said. The way he was looking at me, I felt like I was suddenly under interrogation. I could tell I had shared things I shouldn’t have.

I was looking around for a distraction. “Umm…” I mumbled. I took the tights from his hand and walked into one of the bathroom stalls. Dylan followed me, and stopped me from closing the door.

“This conversation isn’t over, Leila. I asked you a question,” Dylan said, standing only a few inches away.

He felt even taller than he already was. I was looking up at him, feeling trapped.

“You didn’t ask a question,” I told him, nervously, and he really hadn’t.

Dylan smirked, but he still looked serious somehow. “Was everything okay in your pack?” he asked, this time phrasing his words in a question.

“It was fine,” I told him, lightly pushing on his chest to make him take a step back.

Dylan took my wrists in his hands and pulled me up against him, and leaned down to kiss me. It was—not my setting of choice. We were in the girl’s restroom. But I couldn’t help kissing him back. Kissing Dylan felt really good. His lips were soft and playful, and he was biting my lower lip between his, before deepening the kiss. His hands released my wrists, and then he wrapped his arms around my waist and pushed me against the door of the stall.

We were both into the kiss—talks about packs and tights completely forgotten—when someone clearing their throat loudly brought us out of our moment.

A lady—I assumed a teacher, was looking at Dylan and me disapprovingly.

“Office, now,” she said, looking at Dylan and me with disapproval.

I felt caught and embarrassed. I did not like getting into trouble. In the pack, I had seen too many times what looking for trouble could get you into. Alpha Jackson didn’t like disobedience, and neither did my father.

I wasn’t sure how I expected for Dylan to react. But when I looked up at him, he was just smirking.

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