hey hey homies, imma just keep releasing this and if I forget PRESSURE ME 

as always, vote, comment!! I wanna hear everything you think <333

k

"Don't think about it Thea, just walk right into that school and carry on like nothings changed. It'll be fine, you've got this, you are a strong, talented, completely normal teenage girl and nothing is going to ruin this year for you, nothing-" I turn around and look at my little sister who erupts in a burst of laughter, making her twin brother run in the room.

"Thea's talking to herself again," she giggles out uncontrollably and her weird twin voodoo magic spells over Tristan as well and the two of them loose their minds with laughter.

"Hey! Get out of here you little," I say running after them both whilst they run in a scream of happiness, bouncing down the hall without a worry in their mind.

"Thea," my moms voice breaks me from my chase and I stand up straight, looking at the woman who raised me stood next to my school items with a look of seriousness covering her face.

"Where's Dad?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"He went to the docks early this morning, he didn't want you to go to school but we can't take you out now, it'd cause too many problems," she says.

"So what am I supposed to do now?" I ask, worry lacing each and every one of my words like poison.

"Lay low, from what you said yesterday he doesn't seem like he'll force the issue on you any time soon but you never can tell with wolves. Just go to school as normal, make sure Henry stays with you at all times and text me every hour to let me know you're okay. After school come straight home and if anyone has a problem with you doing that then tell them to call me," she explains and I nod, looking down to my watch anxiously.

"I better get going, Henry's probably already waiting," I say and she nods. I haven't talked to Henry about last night but I don't doubt that he already knows what's happened. Word travels fast around here and I'd bet Micah finding his mate is talk of the town.

"Stay safe," my mom walks over to me and holds me in a tight embrace, squeezing onto me like its the last time she's going to have the chance.

"Mom," I groan and she finally pulls back, holding my bag out to me and ushering me from the room.

"Text me every hour and don't leave Henry okay?" She repeats and I nod slinging my temporary backpack over my shoulder and sliding my fully charged phone into my pocket.

"I will, love you!" I yell as I walk out into the hall and make my way down to see Henry who will no doubt absolutely die when I tell him what has happened.

I rush down into the lobby, moving past the morning goers, mostly mothers tending to small kids before school and elderly returning from a walk and exit out the front door onto the side street. Henry stands up from his spot parked on the bench outside and I walk up to him, offering a small smile as my stomach does summer salts.

"You wouldn't believe what happened," he says before I can open my mouth and I decide to let him spill his story first, utterly surprised that he hasn't already figured me out.

"What?" I say nervously and we start to walk together.

"Micah Holt found his mate, a human girl. No one really knows who she is but isn't that insane? I never thought this pack would get a human luna, apparently she doesn't have many friends but I can't imagine who that'd be-"

I stop short in my tracks, making him look to me with brows furrowed in concern. He opens his mouth to say something but his eyes flick up to my hair and he becomes even more confused. "Did you... did you dye your hair blue?" He asks and I fidget nervously, shifting from foot to foot as I bite down onto my lip and shake my head.

"No," I reply, shaking my head more vigorously to get the point across. "I... there was an accident yesterday at school and some paint spilled on me," I explain and his lips turn up slightly as a dumbfounded look crosses over his face, the same one that appears every other time I do something stupid or reckless.

"Please tell me someone got that on film," he says tauntingly but the mirth on his face disappears when my mood doesn't shift to match his humour.

"I have to tell you something," I blurt and he instantly becomes serious, his hand reaching out to rest on my arm.

"What's going on?" He asks, pure concern in his voice.

"It's... it's honestly insane, okay? And I don't know how you're going to react, hell, I don't even know how I should react. I mean, it's like a dream, you know? One of those big crazy dreams like on adventure time with the- the big cloud serpents and-"

Henry's other hand takes ahold of my free arm and he shakes me slightly, stopping my blubbering rant. "Relax, slow down," he says calmly. "Just breathe," he instructs, sounding like a middle aged yoga teacher.

But I follow his command, inhaling through my nose and letting a shaky breath escape my lips. Henry smiles slightly, an obvious attempt to better my mood. "It can't be that bad," he says jokingly and I answer through maintaining my seriousness.

"Yesterday... when the paint fell on me..." I shake my head, no clear way of how to get around explaining this coming to my head. "It's me."

Henry becomes even more confused and assesses me like I might be mad. "What's you?" He asks and I hate how much of a good friend he is, one show of me being sad and the hot gossip of Micah's mate is a distant memory in his mind.

"The mate. I'm his mate," I say firmly and Henry laughs awkwardly, pulling his hands from my arms and relaxing like this is one of my many punks.

"You are going to have to try harder than that, Thea," he jokes but I don't smile, the grim look on my face not easing in the slightest.

"You're serious," he states and I nod grimly. His eyes go wide and he is stunned for a moment, at a complete loss for words.

"Shit," he curses under his breath, pure panic running over his face. "What are we even doing here then? Why are we going to school, Thea this is... this is bad," he says, slipping further into his panic.

"I know, I know it is," I say, clenching my eyes shut.

"Does he know who you are? I mean if you are here right now then surely he doesn't. God, we shouldn't even be out here. If he finds you..." he starts and I've never seen him so distressed in all of us knowing each other.

"He knows who I am," I say and more dread overcomes him. "He came after me, last night after I'd ran from school. He knows where I live, likely now knows most everything about me, I can't hide from it," I explain and he shakes his head slowly.

"Micah Holt..." he starts, running through the information in his head once more like if he thinks over it he'll find something else, like the outcome will be different. "The Alpha's son."

His conclusion comes out with dread and I wrap my hands around my waist in a firm grip. This isn't like some random wolf from my high school is mated to me, Micah Holt is much more than a jock with wolf genes.

"I know. I know," I say and he furrows his brows.

"Is he making you come to school? Is this some kind of deal, some arrangement made on his terms?" He asks, trying to make heads or tails of it.

"No, Mom is making me go to school. She thinks it's the best thing to do and I just want to continue on. He said... he told me he wouldn't do anything I didn't want him to and that we didn't have to rush into this. Whatever the hell this is," I explain and I see the shattered sadness in his eyes.

"But things aren't going to be the same now," he concludes and I look down to the ground.

"I know," I mummer, embarrassed, almost. "But can't we just pretend that it is? Maybe if we just continue on then it won't be such a big deal."

"You are the future Luna of the pack now, Thea. We can't just pretend ourselves out of the situation."

"Please," I beg, my eyes meeting his. He must see the fear flashing in my eyes because he softens his hard expression and pulls me in for a tight embrace. It feels strange being engulfed by his arms, what was once the most comforting thing to me in a time of need now tainted with fear.

But I don't think Henry cares that someone might see and thankfully, no one does. "Okay, it's fine. No one has ever noticed us before right? How hard can it really be?" He says optimistically and I give him a tight smile in return.

-

I felt like a fish out of water. I always did, even before all of this I never really fit into the scene. Just because I blended into the crowd didn't mean I fit in and now, it's like everyone has finally noticed my strange lingering presence and they aren't going to let me go by unnoticed.

Everything was different. I arrived late to my first class, something that I never do and my teacher didn't so much as reprimand me. She just smiled and pandered to my inability to turn up on time like it was a gift and made sure to make her extra attention known.

People turned and looked at me, most not even bothering to be conspicuous about it and suddenly, in a whirlwind, I was part of the class discussion. I couldn't get by with mummers for answers or careful avoidance of people. No matter what I did, what class I went to, I was the main focus of attention and it killed me.

I have never felt more nervous, more on edge and uncomfortable in my entire life as I have in the worst second day of my last year in high school. My plan, my carefully thought out heavily detailed plan had been ruined, crumpled up and just thrown into the nearest fire, then doused with gasoline for good measure.

And it wasn't even lunch yet, I was in my second class just trying to take notes and already my day had set the tone. The shift was palpable.

I hear the mummers of the two girls next to me and they echo what everyone else is whispering about too. Their thoughts, their shock, their comments- honestly I was just thankful no one had decided to grace me yet with their unwarranted opinions. But that would only last so long.

"Everyone please take out their copies of the texts. I want you to re-read through chapters ten to fifteen and annotate then record any notes in your work books please," the teacher announces and I reach down into my bag, shifting about the various items in there to find my book absent.

I didn't even think to stop by my locker and pick mine up, the thought completely slipping by my mind in the rush of this morning. I go to raise my hand, dreading the added attention it will draw just as the pa chimes, as it always does before an announcement.

"Quiet please," the teacher instructs again, eyeing out the people who still can't stop their gossiping.

"Good morning staff and students. Can Athena Mennison please report to the front office. That's Athena Mennison to the front office." I bristle in my seat, straightening.

I'm stuck for a moment, waiting in my seat for a follow up announcement taking it back. He said that he wouldn't push me into it. He told me that and what if now... what if they are waiting for me up there? Waiting to take me away? It can't be a coincidence and I doubt they are calling me up to reprimand me for getting paint all over the hallway floors.

"Athena," my teacher says softly in front of me and I hate the silence that fills the room. I break from my thoughts and my frantic gaze meets her soft eyes. "Would you like me to give you the work for today in advance? In case things take longer in the office then you expect," she offers and I nod, packing my things as she hands me the sheets I am missing out on.

I am somewhat relieved when I exit the room into the vacant halls but the fear of what is to come seeps into my steps and I walk towards the front office, trying to look as calm and composed as I possibly can. But in truth I am freaking out on the inside, every instinct in my body is telling me to start running now, before they get the hint that I'm gone. But I'd gather that if they had ill intent the perimeter to the school would already be secure and I'd rather face this situation head on.

I open a glass door into the main office, the Venetian blinds swaying upon my entrance and I make my way to the front desk, gripping tightly onto the straps of my bag. I nearly sigh in relief when I don't see Micah's face or an entourage of people standing ready to whisk me away.

I have to clear my throat to wash away the nerves as I come face to face with the receptionist.

"Athena Mennison, I was called up here," I state, announcing my presence and the face of the stout woman behind the desk lights up.

"Oh of course. Our school councillor would just like to talk with you for a few moments," she says and I furrow my brows.

"The councillor?" I ask, bewildered.

"Yes, her office is just over there. She is ready for you now if you'd like to go in," she answers with a sweet smile and I get the hint that it isn't really an optional meeting.

"Thank you," I mummer, not exactly meaning it. In all honesty, it annoys me that I'm just expected to go to this but then again, maybe the councillor- whom I've never met- might just be making an effort to check in with me. It'd be wrong to waltz in guns blazing if all she's trying to accomplish is being nice.

Then again, I have a tendency to be naive when it comes to expecting good from people.

I twist the brass handle of the door and enter the room without knocking, poking my head through first just to make sure the bold words SCHOOL COUNCILLOR plastered over the door weren't just there for the hell of it. I mean, you never do know.

"Um, you called me up here?" I semi-ask, semi-state to a tall woman who smiles largely, showing her glowing white teeth.

"Yes, please come in. Athena? Isn't it?" She asks and I nod, closing the door behind me and taking one of the two seats situated in front of her desk.

"I think you maybe made a mistake, you see I didn't actually book an appointment so there was probably like a blip with admin or something. Athena, I mean... it's a relatively common name so maybe they are confu-"

My rambling is cut short when the door to the office opens and Micah stops short in the frame, his attention fixated solely on me.

"Ah, Micah, nice of you to join us. Please, sit," she says, disregarding my faux attempt at getting out of here. If there is anything his arrival suggests it is that this meeting was no mistake.

Micah takes his seat and I look between the two, my brows knitted together. "Is this some kind of set up?" I ask, focusing my attention on Micah and trying everything I can to not tear my eyes away from his captivating orbs. "You said..." I start, almost hurt but I don't know how to finish my sentence-perhaps I do and I just don't want to.

"I called this meeting," the lady across from us says and we both look to her. "It has become knowledge that the two of you recently discovered that you are mated and so first and foremost I'd like to congratulate the both of you on your blessing," she says and I don't know how to respond to that. This entire thing, sitting so close to Micah, puts me so out of my comfort zone it's not even funny.

"Thank you," Micah acknowledges for the both of us, his voice gruff. I steal a sly glance in his direction and notice the tired look he sports on his face even though its been less than a day since we last spoke.

"Now I just called the two of you in to see how things are going. Of course human matings are more... complicated, than a regular bond and I have met with a fair few couples over my years. How are you both handling things, it must be a big shock," she asks and I tense.

"Fine."

My answer makes Micah turn his head to me in shock and at one glance of my expression he knows I am just trying to evade this entire thing.

The councillor lets out a hm, turning to Micah. "And for you?" She asks and he leans back in his chair, his muscles tightening as his arms fold across his chest.

"Fine," he reiterates, his tone notably more bland, like the lie is hard for him to force out.

"Right," she mummers, a somewhat displeased look crossing over her face before she glances back at me. "I've had a look through your records and you have attended most of your health classes concerning the mating bond, I presume you are familiar with what that entails," she asks and something about the condescending nature of her tone doesn't sit well with me.

"I've been to health classes, sure. They're sorta mandatory," I mumble, beginning to fidget with my hands once more.

"So you know of the importance of the bond, then? And what a great thing it is that the both of you are blessed with?" She asks and again, that condescending tone appears and I feel as though I am almost being interrogated.

"I'm not really sure what it is you are trying to get from me," I reply though I know full well. All three of us know what she wants.

"I just want to understand where you are at with all of this, Athena. How you are coping with it," she says and I give her an impassive stare.

"Really? Because I have watched enough crime series to suggest that you are trying to manipulate me like some... detective cop or whatever," I reply, attempting to sound as firm as I can.

"Athena that is not at all what I am trying to achieve here. I just want to ensure that the two of you are working on this sacred relationship in the right way and that you understand the various elements that come with being mated," she says, her tone remaining soft.

"My relationships aren't any of your business, you're a school councillor for Christs sake-not my parent," I retort and she nods.

"And how have your parents reacted to the great news of their daughter being mated to the future Alpha?" She asks and my blood begins to boil at the underlying threat hidden in her words.

"I don't think this is the best environment for my mate to be in talking about this," Micah intervenes, his reference to me as his mate making me flinch. "We have both already talked and are trying to sort things out together," he says and his hand moves over mine on the arm rest in what is supposed to be a comforting gesture but it makes me pull back instantly, my body jerking up and out of the seat, sending the chair toppling to the ground behind me.

I pick up my bag by the straps. "I've... I've gotta go," I announce to the two of them and I storm from the room before I can be stopped, ignoring the calls of the councillor behind me.

I walk past the office staff and into the vacant hall, my feet taking me nowhere in particular. "Athena, please, wait," I turn to the approaching figure of Micah as he moves down the hall, catching up to me instantly.

"You said you wouldn't force this on me," I announce the second he stops in front of me, my arms hugging my waist as unshed tears gather in my eyes as the realisation of my fate hits me. They aren't going to stop pushing this on me, no matter what.

"I'm sorry," he rushes out, pure hurt covering his face. "I didn't know that was going to happen- I had no idea."

His profession doesn't make me feel any better and the nerves that are festering in my stomach just continue to swirl around. "I don't want any of this," I manage, the words but a whisper from my lips.

"I can tell," he replies and I gulp nervously. "Look, how about we just forget that happened, okay? Trust me, it was as bad for me as it was for you- I'm the damn school captain and I had no idea that kind of stuff went on with mates, I figured maybe it might be helpful when we got in there- I don't really know how it works when its like this," he rambles and I realise just how shocked this makes him. There isn't any doubt in my mind that he has been waiting for this day like most wolves out there but I figure getting a human mate is more of a nightmare for most.

"I didn't really plan on it either," I mumble, glancing to my side at another careers poster stamped on the wall. I haven't planned on honestly anything.

"Look, I was meaning to speak to you today anyway- I was hoping for a less intrusive setting but now that I have you..." he starts, trailing off.

"What?" I ask, maintaining my distance.

"This Friday night, how about you and me go on that date, get to know each other?" He rushes out and it is the first time I have even seen Micah Holt open and susceptible to attack, his guards completely dropped leaving him vulnerable to my response.

"A date," I reaffirm and he nods.

"It doesn't even have to be that, just a friend hang out," he says cooly and I have to respect the shot.

"Where?" I ask and he scratches the back of his neck.

"Well anywhere you want, I mean we could chill on the beach, go to a restaurant, watch a movie in the pack house," I bristle at the suggestion of being at his house, with his people and my gut coils. I'm most likely going to have to meet his family-the Alpha, the Luna, the Beta- oh god.

"Or you could choose, I mean what kind of thing do you do when hanging out," he says, saving his skin at the fear on my face.

"I mean..." I think over the things I do; dungeons and dragons with Henry, playing video games about wizards and elves, reading comics, researching conspiracy theories about monsters walking the earth and plenty other insanely interesting and fun tasks.

And then I look over Micah, my eyes surveying the strong muscles and the bag plastered with football stickers, his aura telling me that what I like to do- definitely doesn't match his description of fun.

"Maybe we could like go to a park or something and I dunno... eat?" I suggest and he smiles at this, a smirk playing on his lips and a distinctive twinkle to his eyes.

"Best way to a girls heart right?" He jokes and I feign a fake laugh and he looks to his watch before staring back at me, a pleased look in his eyes.

"It's almost lunch," he says, sliding his hand into his pocket casually. "Do you usually sit in the cafeteria or..." he says and I shake my head.

"No, I mainly just sit out behind the arts block, my mom packs me a mean lunch anyway," I say, still maintaining my efforts to be nice.

His face lights up with an idea. "I can walk you there, I have practice and the field is on the way," he says even though we are both aware that it's a detour for him.

"Um, sure, why not," I huff out and he smiles falling in step with me as we walk down the empty halls together, both trying to ignore the tension that threatens to rear its ugly head with each long pause of silence.