heyooo, its ya author palski. this chapter is dedicated to @overthemoon4books & @tayd410 for leaving so many amazing comments for me to read through!!! My introverted ass lives for the interactions. 

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The car ride home is far more tense than the one we took getting to the docks and I sit, tightly wrapping myself in his jumper as I stare outside the window, watching the city flash by.

"Have you decided on a day to visit the pack house for dinner next week?" He asks me, breaking the silence. I'd say I completely forgot but I think I just mentally blocked it out.

"Oh, um no actually. I hadn't thought about it," I respond. "Is it still completely necessary?" I ask and he grips the steering wheel tighter before releasing it.

"I tried talking with my Father about it and he asked if I'd prefer you to be at all pack events instead. I sorta guessed you'd be more against that," he explains and I nod.

"You were right," I say with a laugh before turning serious. "Will your parents eat with us again?" My chest tightens with the thought.

"Not if you don't want them too. My father made the terms in a moment of anger and while he never does anything without thinking it through, the speed at which it all went south made it possible for me to negotiate. Dinner lasts as long as you want it to, you can eat what you want, where you want, how you want but I have to be there."

"Isn't the whole thing pointless if we are going to see each other everyday at school?" I ask.

He clenches his jaw and lets out a deep breath. "Let's face it Athena, we don't really see each other at school, not if you can help it. And as much as I'm okay with that, with taking things slow, he isn't going to see it that way." The honesty took me by surprise, from someone usually tip toeing around my many sensitivities it came as quite a shock.

"That's not... I'm not." Avoiding him? It sounds too wrong in my head to even be feasible as a lie. That's exactly what I'm doing, I'd avoid the entire situation if I could.

He flicks his gaze at me, as if to read the lie so plainly written. "Athena if I so much as walk into the hall at school you find a way to be busy and not see me, every time I even consider coming to speak to you it's like you have some sort of radar that makes you hightail out of there," he says plainly with some relief, his words lighter.

"That's," I take a second to stop myself stammering over words. "I spoke to you the other day, and I came on this date, didn't I?" I ask, and he lets out a small laugh though I can't tell if he actually finds what I have to say funny.

"I literally had to run across a football field at a considerable speed to have that conversation before you could run off. Look as much as it pains me to admit it, I know you want nothing to do with this bond. I've coexisted with humans long enough, seen enough humans react to the bond similarly, if not worse, to understand why, but what my father says about me needing the bond to function is somewhat true. And if that means suffering through a dinner once a week he'll make that happen, for the pack more so than for me personally." I should be reassured, having a hint as to where he stands, but overall it makes me just feel sick.

"But it's not just the dinner though," I announce only to be met with silence. "He'll stop at nothing to make sure this bond works out, nothing, that's what I'm afraid of. And something tells me, no matter how much you say you don't want to, that you wouldn't either."

The silence hangs thick for a solid moment, the tension so high I feel like it could suffocate me. "Do I really have no chance? Isn't there some part of you that wants to get to know me, that at least finds me somewhat appealing as a partner?" He asks, dejected and I realise the situation I'm in, sat in his car with his hands on the wheel. Whats to stop him from just driving us straight to the pack house to keep me there? He shoots me a glance and a hard look passes over his face.

"I don't know," I mummer, taking a deep breath and looking at my hands in my lap. "This just isn't what I expected it to be like, at all."

"What do you mean?" He asks, more curious than pressing.

"I figured I'd maybe meet some guys and go on dates, you know see what options I had without committing to anything. Maybe get a prom date that wasn't Henry, even though he'd put up a fight, but all of that means nothing now," I nearly laugh at the idea of it. "No one is even going to think about talking to me the wrong way let alone ask me on a date."

I notice his grip on the steering wheel turn white, his jaw clenching like the mere idea of me seeing someone else has him seeing red. "I've asked you on dates." Is the only response he can manage.

"That's different," I point out. "You have too."

"You make it seem so simple, like I've fallen for you for no reason at all. The bond doesn't work that way, to me I know that we were made for each other, for mates it is like no one else in the world gets you but that one person, no one loves you as much, cares for you as much, makes you feel as much as your mate chosen by the goddess. Even though right now we are strangers we won't always be, that's what the point of these dates are, it's what my father is attempting to push with his dinners."

The inevitable. The foreboding sense of certainty that he holds for a future with me he couldn't have cared less for barely a month ago. It's insane.

"That's not really what I meant by dating, at all. But you do have a chance," I add, before even thinking about it and it's like those few words alleviate every tense muscle in his body, a slither of hope filling his eyes. I don't even know why I say it, guilt maybe? Stupidity? "It's just, not that simple for me. I don't want to sacrifice my life because of it, I want to keep this part separate for now, until I know how to deal with it all."

I see guilt begin to form on his face. "That's fair, it is and if it's more space that you want you can have that. But..." he stops himself, unable to communicate his words or not wanting to, I can't tell.

"What?" I ask as he makes a right, taking a deep breath as he does.

"I don't think that..." He pauses again and grips the steering wheel tighter. "You are free to live your life how you see fit, just like any other pack citizen. But I'm not okay with you dating other people." The admission comes out fast and the stillness in the air afterwards is palpable.

I coil my arms around my torso. Unsure of what exactly to say to that, I mean it was obvious but the solidity of his words, the clear message they hold. It just makes the fact that I won't ever find a love like the one I'd hoped for, like the one my parents have more true.

It's stupid but I suppose I had a small amount of hope that when he said things would be slow, and normal and that we'd go on a date or two like anyone else would that the same rules applied. That I could always end it and pursue someone else, that I wasn't fully limited to him, trapped purely because of his needs and desires.

My silence as a response only makes his grip on the steering wheel tighten, his muscles tensing. "I understand you having Henry as a friend and I've accepted that nothing more will happen between you two if it hasn't by now. But I just don't think it's a good idea if either of us see other people."

"You're asking me to be exclusive?" Is all I can manage as a reply. "Or are you telling me?"

He clenches his jaw. "I suppose that depends on your answer." It was like he'd punched me in the gut, though I know it isn't coming from a bad place, it doesn't erase the fact that he, a guy I barely know, has somehow placed a sort of ownership over me.

"I'm not your property." It was a low blow, one that made him stop breathing for a second like the words had actually hit him. Because this pack essentially considered humans that at one stage, at least the ones that disagreed with them, and mates apparently. I fold my arms, staring out the window. "You can't just lay a claim on me like that and expect me to be cool with it. You can't just waltz into my life and start playing dictator over who I can and can't see."

"There are laws, Athena. Laws that were created for a reason."

I don't know where my confidence comes from, but it hits me like the night with his parents, the adrenaline coursing though my veins and eluding my common sense. "You mean the laws that take away basically all of my rights simply because I'm mated to you and you have a title? Those laws? Because I doubt we have the same opinion on them."

It brings tears of frustration to my eyes, if he were just an ordinary wolf things would be different, if he was a gamma then it'd be complicated, a beta? Considerably worse, but an Alpha? I'm royally screwed and there isn't a pack in the world that'd have a law allowing me to leave without his permission, which I doubt I'll get.

"I'm just trying to explain it the best I can. Those laws are just a precaution, a legal reminder that being mated is serious and yes, being mated to me makes a difference in that."

"So what?" I let out a dry laugh at the insanity of it all. "I'm gonna get locked up if I kiss another guy? Sent to jail if I-"

"Don't finish that." He says seriously, not a trace of the soft understanding tone left. It's the first time he appears even slightly menacing and it does shut me up. "I want to be honest with you and maybe now isn't the right time to bring up the exact terms of what we have but I just don't want you to be blindsided if things become complicated. I'm trying to prevent issues in the future. It's why I want for us to go about this in the most human way possible, because I understand your different position, it's why I gave you those passes."

"I'm grateful you gave me the passes, Micah, but that doesn't make my reality any better. I have to rely on your goodwill to leave this pack whereas you can just waltz off whenever you want. Legally, you can stop me from leaving you, from getting a job, from living where I want. Even if you never act on your right, the fact that it exists—" I stop myself before my rage can consume me anymore and he is stunned into silence at that.

"The laws are just there to protect the bond, and the pack in case of any misunderstandings," he justifies, but his words hold less confidence.

"A misunderstanding? A potential misunderstanding is cause enough for me to have no authority over myself. You are a stranger to me, why should I have to conform to your ways? Why can't I live my life the way I want? Surely I know what's best for me, not some random with a claim."

His face twists like I have stabbed him in the gut. "Athena, I'm going to be the Alpha and you... you are the next luna. The goddess chose us both for this, the laws are only there to protect our bond and the pack. It's not random. There is a future for us both where we are happy and fulfilled, I know it."

"What if I don't want to be a luna?" I blurt, holding my breath. He had to have some inkling that my position on ruling beside him wasn't positive. "What if I don't want this?"

And in all honesty, I don't think it's even the fact that I don't. There is a part of me that tugs, that wonders what a life with Micah could be like. For all that I am against the idea, he is kind and insanely attractive and if he was just some ordinary guy from school pursuing me, maybe the story would be entirely different.

But the fact that if I didn't want it, my wishes wouldn't matter just drive me further from him.

"It's our duty," He says, after a lengthy silence but his words don't hold strength. "And there isn't an opt out button for this bond. I hate to say it, Athena, and in any other area of your life my position is the opposite, but what you want doesn't really matter. What I want doesn't matter, this is something that has been laid before us both."

"But it doesn't affect us both the same."

"Those laws are simply there to protect you against making an uninformed choice. From doing something reckless that would hurt us—"

"Choices decided to be bad by you, not me. Of course you are going to agree with the laws that solely benefit you. What if experiencing my life as a human is important to me?" I say and anger slips into his understanding.

He shakes his head. "I don't think now is the best time to talk through all of this. I don't want to argue, but these laws exist for a reason, they have stayed for a reason."

Reason being if I try to leave on my free will, he will be legally able to drag me back kicking and screaming. He can legally lock me up, bite me, make me into something I don't want to be.

It makes dread seep into my very bones and goosebumps raise over my skin.

It makes me afraid.

"I agree, now isn't the right time to bring it up," I reply curtly, as we approach my apartment building. "If you want to negotiate terms, Micah, or rather just serve me with them then it can wait until I have to be at your house for dinner."

"Athena," he says, slowing down the car. "I didn't mean to upset you, there is no easy way around any of this." He turns to me as he pulls the car up, his face so handsome and perfect, not a single thing wrong with him, the ideal man with a look of exhaustion on his face.

I begin to take off his jacket and he notices. "All I'm asking is for you to respect the bond between us, just so we are on the same page with everything."

"Respect is a two way street Micah. I'm not going to respect your anything until you respect my rights, rights that I'm going to pretend haven't just dramatically changed all because I'm a human and I'm tied to you." It stuns him, to hear me being so assertive.

But I don't care. I open the car door, stepping out before he can stop me to chuck his jumper back on the seat. "Athena—"

"I'll see you later." I close the door, cutting off whatever statement he was going to spit out next.

I don't dare look back at his car as I walk inside, holding onto the small satchel I'd brought along, my hands hugging at my waist as I bit down so hard into my lip that I tasted blood. It was only when the sound of his car retreating down the street with a loud roar filled my ears that I released it, along with a broken sob.

I made it back to the door to my home, worn in places and so familiar to me in record time, pausing at with with a shaky breath, trying my hardest to pull myself together. I didn't want to open it, like the action would drag my family even further into this mess. I wanted to just turn around and go make things right with Micah, lie and tell him what he wants to hear to keep them safe.

Every reckless decision I make affects them, even if they won't be harmed directly in the process. I want them to just be left out of this entirely, move packs and have a life that won't have me and all my drama hovering over them.

But I take out my key and open the door, finding my parents snuggled up together on the couch watching movies, both of them turning instantly at my arrival. "Sweetie?" My mom says, noticing just by my basic body language that something is wrong. She untangles herself from my dad and they both stand.

"I'm just gonna go to bed," I say, miserably failing to conceal the emotion in my voice.

"What happened?" She asks, rushing over to me as more traitorous tears slip down my cheeks. "Thea, baby." She pulls me into a hug and I grip onto her tightly, not wanting to let go as a sob escapes my body and my sadness comes crashing down.

I pull back and notice my dads worried expression, his eyes finding my moms, silently asking what's gone on. "I'm fine," I say, wiping at my tears. "It's nothing," I lie and neither of them believe it.

"It doesn't look like nothing, talk to us Thea. Let us help you," he says and I turn to my right, taking a seat at the table.

"It was just," I let out a shaky breath. "I got into an argument with Micah and nothing happened, it was just a disagreement but it's all a lot to deal with. I wish things were different." My words come out cracked, pain lacing them.

"You spoke with him? Athena we spoke about this, until we've got more of a plan together—" My mom cuts him off by placing a glass of water of the table, shooting him a harsh look.

"He's the captain of the football team," I reply, maybe with a little too much sass for someone lying to her parents. "We ran into each other and then everyone went out to eat together afterwards so I joined and... it all just happened, okay? It was bound to happen at some point anyway, I can't just avoid him for the rest of my life, he's made that clear enough," I comment, taking a sip of water.

"How so?" My dad asks, getting more agitated by the moment.

"Maybe let her breathe a bit," my mom suggests and he looks at her.

"She won't be able to at all with him around," he comments but doesn't continue to push, knowing wiser than that.

"He just reminded me of the law and what I legally can and can't do now I suppose. Which lets face it, is whatever he wishes, we all know how it works when a human is mated to someone so high up, it's the exact same as before all the changes. Whatever he deems best for me goes and his word is final." I hate the way my admission makes my parents look, so depleted and fearful. Expressions I only vaguely remember from the times where we had nothing.

"We've already started looking into it, Athena," my mom says and it's my dads turn to silence her. "She deserves to know, it's about her after all."

My dad looks at me and I swallow the emotion in my throat. "We've been looking into getting some legal representation, just so we know where we stand with it all. If there's some fighting chance." That fear come creeping back. Micah might leave them out of it if they have harsh words of disapproval but this...

"You want to go head to head with the Alpha family?" I ask, fully shocked.

"We are trying, Athena, we are not about to just let them take our daughter without a fight," he says, conviction in his tone.

"But... how are we even going to afford a lawyer? If one will even take us-"

"You leave all that to us, we are your parents and it's our responsibility to keep you safe. All you need to do is enjoy your senior year, have fun and leave the rest to us." My mom says, nodding her head assuredly.

I nod, rising from my seat. "I think I need to get some rest," I say and they both give me a hug, saying goodnight and allowing me to retreat to my room. Things... things just got a whole lot more complicated. 

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