School came around faster than I'd hoped. I spent the remainder of my weekend sequestered in Gabe's shoe box apartment versing, and beating, both him and Henry in just about every video game imaginable.

I'd told Henry most of what went down and he'd promised not to tell a single soul. Micah... I hadn't spoken to him at all.

He sent me a message extremely late the same night we argued, almost like he couldn't sleep without doing so. The gang and I are having pizzas tuesday after training, do you and your friends want to join?

It was an olive branch, I knew that. But I couldn't bring myself to respond the following morning, or that afternoon, or the next day. And at that point it had been so long that I figured maybe no response was the best response. I saw three dots typing over his icon the following day when I'd been messaging my parents but another text never came through.

But Monday had returned as it always did, bringing back the hell of high school with it.

"You've got this." I mummer to myself, clutching the small piece of paper in my hand tightly.

Henry's finger snaps in front of my face. "We've got this," he corrects, like it's so obvious.

"You are going to debate class and I have to hand in a forged note to my sports teacher all on my own," I snap back, irritation boils under my skin.

"Hey, if it weren't for my forgery skills you wouldn't even have a note. And that bandage looks like it was wrapped by a professional." He points to my completely fine hand that is covered in gauze. It does look professional, maybe because it took him five online videos and nearly an hour to do.

"Remind me to never rely on your medic skills in case of an apocalypse," I mummer and his returning laugh is cut short by the blaring siren.

My heart starts to thunder again. Henry's hand wraps around my forearm and he forces me to look at him. "Hey, Thea. Being a criminal isn't light work, but you've got this," he says and I pull myself together. I'm a horrible liar, its not an easy thing for me to do but this should be fine. It will be cool. All will work.

I debated getting Henry to actually take a hammer to my hand this morning but he got as far as holding it in his grip. Such a wimp.

"Okay," I say through a sigh, pumping myself up. "I'll see you at lunch."

He laughs, pulling away with a quick wave and I make my way to the gym.

The moment I arrive in front of the gym, clad in my sports gear I suck in a deep breath, preparing myself, hoping. I can hear the squeak of shoes and a ball bouncing from where I stand - not a good sign. There was never any of that when it was just Mr Hogs and the misfits.

He could have taken today off, or maybe the teachers split our classes back up, I think of all the possibilities in which Micah isn't here as I swing the door open. I take one step inside, my eyes scanning the bleachers just as a body collides with me, knocking the air from my lungs and sending me sprawling to the floor. Pain erupts over my body as I feel the weight of a damn giant atop me as tingles instantly erupt over my skin, consuming all feeling.

The body rolls off me immediately and I groan, gasping for air like I've been drowned. I push my wrist down on the ground and cry out instantly as pain sears through my hand. My fake injury had transformed into a very real one and every joint in my hand throbbed.

"Thea?" Micahs voice fills my mind and somehow makes everything feel so much worse. Of all the people, he had to be the one to absolutely body me. He is kneeling next to me in an instant and I glance up at jersey and thick, corded arms that reach out, gleaming with sweat. He doesn't make contact with me though, his arm just hangs there as guilt utterly consumes every crevice of his face.

"Athena are you alright?" He asks seriously, pure pain coating his words like he was the once squashed by a super human being.

I take a moment before shaking my head. "Not really," I reply honestly, my words coming out in a sigh as I pull my sore wrist to my chest, grabbing Micahs attention instantaneously. "I think my wrist is completely fucked."

I try to quell the tears that form in my eyes but the agony forces them to slip free.

"Shit," he mummers before looking at me with pleading eyes. "Athena I'm so sorry—"

A whistle pierces through the air and I glance over to see Mr Friigs push aside the students that had gathered to inspect the incident.

"Back to your lesson!" He yells before squatting down next to me, in full military mode. "What has happened here?" He asks, inspecting my state before glaring at Micah pointedly.

"I misread the play and accidentally fell onto her," he replies stoically, the guilt replaced by utter shame.

"Let me look at your wrist," he demands, holding his hand out expectantly. I resist the urge to comply for a moment, not wanting an inch more pain to enter my body before I cave, giving it to him.

He doesn't hold even an ounce of sympathy as he presses down, causing me to let out a cry of pain. "Fuck," I say, a little to loudly. I heave in a breath through my nose and hold it, releasing it through my mouth before repeating.

"Thats a clean break," Mr Friigs confirms and Micah puts his head into his hands for a moment, completely rethinking his life. Great, this is a true girl who cried wolf lesson. "Was it already sprained?" He asks and I nod, glad that my face is already bright red so he won't read the lie.

He gives his firm attention to Micah. "She is going to need to go to hospital, it'll need to go into a cast and be properly examined. With a bit of your blood she might get away with a week of discomfort so I suggest you take your mate to the pack house, son." He says, somewhat sympathetic in his approach this time. The man is in full fucking war mode ninety percent of the time so even a slither of emotion doesn't go unnoticed.

Micah's blood? A shiver dances down my spine.

"Yes coach, of course." He says, standing up immediately. Before I can object, he pulls me up gently from the ground and I use my free arm to clutch onto him for support. My whole body feels like jello, orange jello too, not the nice stuff. "Are you okay?" He asks me again and my eyes lock with him but I don't say anything, I just nod.

I put absolutely all my efforts into avoiding him today only to literally run into him. Or vice verse. I guess, like everything else in my life, it was fate.

"Can you just take me to the nurses office?" I ask him, taking in how each muscle cell in his body shifts and tightens. "My siblings are in daycare today, mom can come and pick me up."

He doesn't know how to respond initially but resolves to shake his head. "You need my blood, and you need to see a doctor. It makes more sense that I just take you now." His blood.

The idea of his freaky shifty cells roaming through my veins doesn't illicit a large amount of joy from me. But the cords of my stomach don't form into a tight know as I expected—my body would likely love the idea, for reasons I don't and will probably never know. Like he reads my mine, the angular planes of his face twist, the guilt now sliced with an undercut of anguish, frustration and something else I can't place.

"Can you get my bag?" I ask him meekly. Deciphering the emotional turmoil that pillages his handsome features is useless. I doubt that I will ever truly understand what drives him to feel the way he does and I'm certainly not in the mood to try decode it right now. "It's in the second locker to the right as you walk in."

He nods firmly and goes to retrieve it, leaving me stood in the hall with a throbbing wrist. Fuck it hurts. It hurts horribly, like someone has taken an axe to it, like a full blown truck squished it.

It makes Micahs muscle packed body, his broad shoulders and insane height feel scarier than before. He knocked into me and snapped a bone in my body. What could he do if he put some thought behind the action? What could he have done to Gabe on Friday if his resolve slipped just an inch further?

I'd gather a lot, and I bet he wouldn't have faced any repercussions for doing so.

The minute he walks from the change rooms with my bag slung over his shoulder his eyes snap to the hand clutching my wrist to my chest, pure pain crashing into him. "I—"

"I should ring my parents," I cut in, his apologies aren't useful right now. Besides, I doubt the school will contact them if Micah is with me.

"Yeah," he agrees through a sigh, breathing deeply like he is preparing himself for that onslaught. "Is your phone in your bag? Or you can use mine."

"It's in the front pocket," I answer and he retrieves it promptly. "Hey mom," I say, trying not to let pain seep into my voice when she finally picks up.

"Athena, what's wrong? Aren't you at school?"

"Uh yeah, I am... there was just a bit of an accident and I'm okay, really. I just think that I broke my wrist," I say and wince at the silence on the other end of the phone.

"You broke your wrist?" Panic barges into her soft tone. Technically, no. "How? Are you alright, oh my god Athena you poor thing. Do you need me to come and get you to go to hospital? I can be there in just a moment—"

"No, no it's fine. Micah is taking me to the pack house, I'll probably just come home a little early," I tell her, met with an even worse silence.

"The pack house? What on earth would you go there for? You can go to the regular hospital and see a human doctor. Your doctor Claire has looked after you since you were a little girl, she'll know how to help you better than anyone there can." Micah turns to me with furrowed brows and I lock eyes with him, realising he can hear every word.

"Mom, I'm just going to get an X-ray and maybe get a cast. It's not a life or death situation. It shouldn't take too long anyway and I'll get them to send through the scans to Dr Claire so she can give a second opinion," I negotiate and she sighs.

"Okay, Athena. Just be careful, please. And text me if absolutely anything goes wrong, I can pick you up within a moments notice," she says and I nod.

"Yes mom, I know. I'll see you later."

"Bye sweetie, I love you."

"Love you too," I respond before tucking my phone into my pocket, just as Micah opens the doors to the car park for us both.

"She seems worried," he comments as we make our way to his car and I say nothing. "You know, the pack doctors are among the most highly trained medical professionals in the country. We have human doctors too, they are all very capable."

My stomach turns with the comment and the way he says it with such disdain, like my mothers prejudice strikes a chord within him. "My mom isn't worried about that," I snap, irritated that he would even listen in on my conversation. "She's just scared and frankly probably more concerned that I'll be at the pack house above anything. You're lucky I didn't tell her that you are the one who hospitalised me."

Every muscle in his body stiffens at that, like his body is physically repulsed by the idea. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you or mean to fall on you like that. It wasn't intentional—"

"I know," I cut in, just as we approach his car and he unlocks it, placing my bag on the back seat.

He slides into the drivers seat as I buckle my seat belt and grips the steering wheel tightly, breathing deeply before starting up the car and pulling out of the parking lot. Silence floats between us as we glide down the street, no music, nothing.

He just grips the stringing wheel so tightly I see the white of his knuckles, his jaw clenching tightly only to go loose every so often, like he's debating what to say and frustrated he says nothing. "Athena... about the other day—"

"We don't need to talk about it," I interrupt and he glances at me, his brows knitted together before he turns his attention back onto the road. I try not to cringe at the memories of the entire weekend.

"I shouldn't have unloaded all of my feeling onto you like that." He means he regrets telling me how he was setting the pack resources onto investigating my friend. "I just think that these things are complicated and your friends—"

"If you are going to give me another lecture about how dangerous and violent Gabe is then I don't want to hear it. You don't exactly have much of a leg to stand on right now." Because Gabe hasn't shown even a hint of aggression towards me and I don't think he could break my wrist by knocking into me.

If he gripped that steering wheel any tighter, it would snap clean in two. "I don't want you to think I don't trust you, or your judgement." His tone is so firm I bite back the quick remark hanging on the tip of my tongue. "And I should have talked to you about him before I went and investigated his background. It wasn't my intention to be invasive, I truly would've looked into anyone that acted in a similar manner—but he's your friend and everything... everything is complicated."

The final words fall from him in a sigh and he releases one hand just to rub at his right temple. His gaze flicks towards my wrist for a split second before he focuses on the road.

But his smooth words help the nerves in my stomach — at all. I get what he wants, he wants me to assure him undoubtedly that I feel nothing of that nature towards Gabe, like Henry.

"I don't want to talk about this with you," I reaffirm, making him snap his shocked face towards me. It takes all of my effort to train my eyes on the road ahead and thankfully, he returns his attention there too.

"Athena don't shut me out, don't do this. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you, I shouldn't have let the conversation end like that, I regret it. It's just..."

Just what? That he didn't realise I'd come locked and loaded with the knowledge he kept so conveniently hidden away? "I think we should revisit the contract."

The silence that fills the car rings in my ears, a deafening hum that I am certain would roar should I glance over to Micah. To my surprise, the car doesn't crash and burn. "What?" He asks.

"You lied, or you were dishonest—same thing. But if you allowed me to sign off on a clause to investigate ending this bond knowing full damn well that I'd never get out of it, not because of your religious ideals, but because you'd stop it if I could... then I think we need to revisit it." Gabe's following speech to me winding up crying over a tub of ice cream in his living room sang like a choir in my mind. I told him about the contract that we made, that I signed and it was like he had to physically restrain himself from flipping out.

He said I should've made a lawyer be present, even one that was chosen by him and that it probably still didn't mean shit in the eyes of pack law based on some units he took back in college. Because pack law is a fickle, strained thing, hundreds and hundreds of years old and based off religion and the supreme word of whoever is Alpha.

He gathers his thoughts and lets the silence sink to the pit of my stomach. Would an outright rejection of the idea been better? Or instant assurance that I was wrong, that he hadn't lied. "We can revisit it," he decides. "I can get a human lawyer for you to join us, the one I told you about last time. And maybe a pack official to help on the bond side of things."

Like he knew exactly what was eating away at my stomach. Like he knew me.

"Okay," I decide, turning my attention away from him, from the planes of guilt marring his features. It'd be easier for me if he was a complete asshole, if he straight out said no and played right into the perception that all of my friends have of him. But he balances whatever primal nonsense this bond gives him on a fine line with being a decent person.

"I'm really sorry about your hand, Athena." His break in the silence is as pain-filled and guilty as I would expect. Like he'd do anything to reverse it, make things right. He lets out a deep sigh. "It's... this is all new for me, too. These feelings to protect you and I guess in a sense whatever jealousy I might feel—however dumb it might seem to you. I just don't know, I never expected... if you were a wolf things would be easier, that fall wouldn't have done anything and if it did you'd heal."

His ramble is doused in honesty and it makes a knot tighten in my chest. "But I'm not," I say, barely a mumble underneath my breath.

He looks at me then, giving me his full attention. "That's not a bad thing. At all," he says firmly, frustration leaking into his tone. He really doesn't know how to handle this. "I know this is all confusing for you, but what I'm trying to say is that it is just as confusing for me. I probably shouldn't admit to this but I don't know what the hell to do, how to make this work. I know things are easier for me in that I know what I want, but this is new for me too."

He wants for this to work, desperately. So much is resting on this going the right way for him and I can see that. I see how he questions absolutely every word he says to me, each decision he makes because he doesn't want to scare me off or do the wrong thing.

"That's somehow comforting," I say, surprised at the humour in my tone given the situation. But he's apologised, again, for something that we both have to deal with. I bite down on my lip. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Gabe earlier, I should've. And the hand, it's not your fault, it could've happened to anyone. It's okay."

His shoulders sag with relief at my forgiveness. I smile before he can apologise again. "Could you turn the radio up?"

The pack hospital was more than accomodating to my wrist, they had me examined and x-rayed within twenty minutes. If I were to walk into any old hospital it would've taken at least an hour to be processed, another perk I guess.

And now I was sat hooked up to a blood transfusion machine with Micah sat in a chair next to me, wires poking from him also. The idea of his blood in my body was slightly unsettling but having a broken wrist for a month was far worse. The doctor, human, assured me that it was the best option for a painless, speedy recovery.

"I'll admit, I've never done this before. I actually haven't even been in this room," Micah says, staring around at the white walls.

"You've never injured yourself? Not even in sports?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Nope, I guess I'm just too skilled," he replies with a smile and a wink. I welcome the light conversion though, its a nice distraction from the odd sensation in my arm.

"Really?" I ask with a raised brow and his smile widens. "If you are so skilled in sports then why am I here?" I ask and he laughs, wincing from the burn.

"Ouch, Mennison," he replies, shaking his head. "That was incredibly bad timing, and if it makes you feel any better I made the shot from the half way line right before I fell on you."

"So it was worth it?" I ask and he laughs.

"I mean it was a really good shot," he admits honestly and I can't hold back the laugh that bubbles from my chest. "How did you hurt your wrist before training today anyway?" He asks genuinely.

I avert my gaze. "Oh, yeah that was a really bad sprain from, like falling," I reply and he raises his brows before laughing to himself.

"You're an awful liar," he states, shaking his head.

"I'm not lying!" I defend immediately, my eyes going wide with the accusation. Am I seriously that easy to read? How many of my other mistruths has he seen straight through?

He gives a look, challenging me. "Every time you tell a lie your voice raises a few octaves, not an obvious amount to some people maybe but it does. And though you avert your eyes I can still see them and your pupils give it away. You also fidget with the nail of your thumb, not your whole palm — you do that when your nervous," he says, matter of factly and I stop pulling at the nail of my thumb instantly.

I don't think I'm that transparent, he's just incredibly observant. Or maybe it's a bit of both. "Surely you get nothing out of telling me that." I'd wager him knowing when I lie would be to his advantage but he just shrugs.

"Well I figure you could use the help, you'll need it if you plan on faking more injuries to get out of sports. I don't blame you though, if I was in your position and had to play against me, I'd do anything to get out of it," he says with a coy smile, moving his arms up to rest his head, flexing his muscles in the process.

I narrow my eyes and scoff, folding my arms as I take in his calm demeanour. Unbelievable. "That's not why I did it," I retort.

"Oh yeah?" He asks, glancing at me before closing his eyes. "Then why did you?"

"If you must know, I did it to avoid hanging out with you," I reply, instantly regretting it. I wait in the silence that follows for the retribution of my blow but he just laughs to himself.

"And how's that working out for you?"

He finds this funny?

"Obviously—"

"Athena? My goddess are you okay?" The Luna rushes into the room in a flurry, concern covering her soft features. Her youngest, Charlie runs in behind her and pokes his tongue out at Micah. Rose lets out a gasp, her hand covering her mouth as she looks at my hand. "You poor thing. What on earth happened?"

"I'm okay, there was just an accident at school in sport and I broke my wrist," I tell her and her concern doesn't lessen.

"You broke your wrist? You must be in so much pain. The nurses told me you've been here for a few hours, have you eaten?" She asks and I shake my head watching more sympathy take over her. "Can I get you something to eat or drink? Micah why haven't you gotten your mate something to eat?" She scolds, glaring at her son.

He is speechless for a moment. "I have to wait here for the transfusions to go through, I didn't think to order something," he admits and she looks at the blood switching between us before shaking her head.

"I'll get some food sent up for you both for once the transfusion is finished. You shouldn't eat during but you will be hungry afterwards and probably quite tired, its a side effect for humans unfortunately," she tells me as she moves to her son, administering the needle in his arm carefully. "You made the right decision though, don't get me wrong—I've seen far too many human mates suffer unnecessarily."

"Mom," Micah complains, putting his head in his free hand as she goes over the monitor once more. She glares at him harshly and he sits up straight.

"Athena, I am truly sorry that you have to go through this. You should be back in full health by the end of the week and I will personally make a call to the sports department at your school about safety measures," she assures me, stepping back.

"That's really not necessary," I argue, noting how Micah winces, rubbing his head with his hand like he is preparing for a headache.

"Of course it is, sport needs to be a safe space for all students, especially now that wolves and humans train together. There are increased risks," she tells me in her usual mothering way.

"Mom I was the one who broke her wrist," Micah admits in shame. "It was an accident, I was playing sports and landed wrong. You don't need to contact the school about it."

The shock hits her face like a ten tonne truck, rage billowing in her stare as she clenches her jaw tightly, turning to Micah with the lethal calm of a lioness. "You broke her wrist?" She asks, like she misheard and he nods. Guilty as charged. "Micah, you need to be more careful! You know that humans don't have the same ability to avoid serious injury, I specifically told you about it. The goddess gave you a mate to cherish and protect, to hurt your mate is disrespectful to her gift," she scolds and he nods, his eyes downcast like he's already had the same thoughts.

"Rose, really it was just an accident," I cut in, before she can tell him off anymore. I don't even know why I'm defending him, he honestly deserves to be brought down a few pegs. "I came into class late and he fell at that moment, it was just poor timing. He really couldn't have known I was going to walk in at that time."

Her eyes soften and she reaches out and holds my arm tenderly. "Of course sweetie, it's an unfortunate situation, my son would never intend to bring pain to his mate — or to anyone for that matter. But he will make it up to you, won't you Micah?" She asks and he just looks confused before nodding.

"Yes, I will," he promises solidly just as his younger brother Charlie starts tugging at her jeans.

"Mommy, I want to go see Dad now," he complains and she picks him up.

"I'll leave you both to rest and make sure some food is sent up. You shouldn't have too much longer to wait to eat now. And Athena if you would like to rest more comfortably you are welcome to sleep at our house, its a short walk from here," she offers and I smile, no way I'm taking that up but its the thought that counts.

"Thank you," I reply and she smiles again.

"Okay, well bye now," she says and Micah waves as they both leave, letting out a huge sigh once they are out of sight.

"Kill me," he groans, slumping down in his chair.

"Your mom seems to know a lot about transfusions," I comment and he nods, sighing again.

"Yeah, she's a nurse. Well she was before she became Luna, but she's does work in the hospital every so often," he says and I nod.

"How did they meet?" I ask and he looks stunned that I actually care enough to ask.

"They grew up together as friends in this pack and once they both turned eighteen it clicked. I think they always kind of knew, my mom says they were more like best friends before the bond came along and they've been together ever since."

It's crazy how natural it all is. I've seen many wolf mates meet each other similarly at school, in fact most mated couples that I have witnessed have been accepting and loving. The stories of opposition and horror are less and less common.

I think I might be the first human in a while to actually literally run after meeting my mate.

"So how are you going to make it up to me?" I ask him with a sigh, leaning back into the cushion supporting me.

"Would you like me to kiss it better?" He asks sarcastically and I gape at the audacity. I think his apologetic nature from earlier has disappeared.

"I think your blood is enough help," I reply.

"Well it looks like that's nearly up," he says, leaning towards the timer on the transfusion. "What do you want to eat? If my mom comes back in here and you are empty handed she will probably murder me. I'm already going to get it when I go home," he says, picking up the phone to dial some numbers.

"Uh, I don't know. Pasta?" I ask, I take it there is no limited menu.

"Any specific type of pasta?" He asks and it stuns me, the option.

"Carbonara."

He speaks to the operator on the phone and orders my pasta and a large amount of food for himself which arrives to the room within ten minutes along with the nurse who disconnects us. I half expect Micah to get up and leave after we are disconnected but he doesn't, he just sits and scrolls through his phone whilst eating an enormous amount of food.

My phone ringing cuts through the silence in the room and I see Henrys face covered in cake lights up the screen and I answer it immediately.

"Hey, I heard what happened—are you okay?" His concern makes my gut clench. "Do you need me to come and pick you up?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just at the pack hospital but I have to wait for another hour or so for observation and see then. Don't worry about the lift, I'll make my way home eventually," I tell him and he lets out a worried sigh.

"How is everything otherwise?" He asks me and I know he's talking about Micah without directly saying it. I glance over to my mate, whose attention lies shamelessly on me and my conversation.

"It's fine," I say, turning over on the bed to face away from his prying antics. "Can you collect the work I missed today and bring it over tonight?"

"Yeah, we still on for video games? You are probably going to be way worse with one hand — and that's on top of your already lacking skills," he teases and I laugh. "To be fair it might be karma."

True, lying always does have a way of biting people in the ass.

"You are hilarious," I reply sarcastically. "We can watch movies instead. But I don't know how long I'm going to be here for, there is a chance I have to stay longer after my observation to rest and if I do go home I think I am going to knock out. This blood transfer thing is incredibly tiring."

I hear the loud ring of the school bell in the background as I let out a yawn. "That's fair, well I'll drop your stuff round and we can hang if you are feeling up to it," he says. "I've gotta get to class but text me if you need anything."

"Will do, bye," I say before hanging up. I roll back over and notice Micah back on his phone, scrolling through.

"You can leave if you want, you don't have to just sit around here for me. You've probably got other places you'd rather be," I tell him and he furrows his brows, like he's also contemplating why he's still here.

"If I leave you here I'll have a whole lot of explaining to give my mom. And I'll have to go and see my father after this, which I'd rather avoid," he admits, relaxing into his seat to close his eyes once more before the corner of his plush lip lifts. "Why? Don't you like my company?" He teases.

"It's not that," I blurt, clasping my arms over my chest like a vice. Though it could be that. It was.

He just laughs, opening his eyes once more to look at my defensive position. "Well, this is a rare occurrence for me so I'm going to relax and enjoy it," he says and he does look relaxed, which is probably easy without a broken wrist.

"Rare to get time off or hang with me?" I ask foolishly, not considering my words but he just laughs again, amused, before shrugging.

"Both, I guess," he admits. "Either way, the nurse might need me here to donate some more of my blood if you didn't get enough. I meant to ask you something too." The seriousness that seeps into his gaze makes my stomach roil.

"What?" I press, providing him my full attention.

"There's a school trip coming up in a few days, to check out a campus a couple towns over and I was wondering if you knew or if you planned on attending." A cool relief washes over me, I don't know what I expected but that wasn't it.

"This is the first I'm hearing of it," I tell him and he nods.

"It was announced at the last school assembly— I don't think you were there. But you should come, you can select some electives in different units for the day and get introduced to different classes. If you are still unsure about what you want to study it might be a good opportunity to try a couple things out," he suggests.

"That sounds fun, when is it?" I ask because it does sound fun, it sounds more than fun. Maybe it might offer me a bit of direction in my chaotic life.

"It's in two days, most of the spots are filling quickly but I can probably get you in if you want. It'll just be an overnight trip and everything's covered by the school."

Henry would also probably die to go and I feel bad that he missed on finding out because I made him skip school. I bite down on my lower lip nervously. "Can you maybe potentially book in a spot for Henry too?" I ask, wincing. "I mean its okay if not, I just know he'd like to come and if I go without him I'd feel horrible—"

"Yeah, I can probably arrange it," he replies, un-phased. "A few other schools are going to go too, it's a huge open day. Beta Samuel is also making Gia go and I presume Finn will tag along, so you'll have some friends as well."

"Do you think she'll actually turn up?" I ask and he shrugs.

"I honestly don't know with her. She'd probably enjoy it but it seems she enjoys any chance at irritating her parents more. And they are getting desperate, honestly if she doesn't come out of this trip with a bit of a plan for the future or a mate I think they will ship her off to boarding school," he says candidly and I grimace at the situation.

"So she doesn't want a mate?" I ask, confusion appearing in the creases on my face. "I don't get it. I thought that was every wolf's absolute mission in life to be mated and live within the pack structure." It makes no sense, for some people they are wired that way and others aren't.

"Not every wolf, I mean it varies and it depends — we aren't robots, we are complex beings and with that comes deviation. Prior to finding a mate I guess it comes down to personal belief, though most think the same way; there are some that aren't phased, some that obsess over it and then others, rarely, who oppose the idea. Like Gia. But there are barley any cases where a wolf opposes the bond once they find a mate, the few being due to illness of some kind. Hence why people ordinarily don't dislike it before hand."

His answer only leaves me with more questions. "So why does Gia oppose it? It can't just be because she's a rebellious teen. What did her parents ever do to make her the way she is?"

His attention sharpens with my words, becoming firm. "The Beta's are good people," he clarifies. "She was completely different as a child, so friendly and kind and then she just changed, it was around when the integration between species occurred. I don't know, I mean we all feel a kind of guilt for how things happened and I think she took a lot of her father's involvement onto her own shoulders," he explains and it only makes more questions rummage through my mind. I'm also slightly surprised at how candidly he speaks, especially about a subject that is so touchy for wolves and humans alike.

"And what do you think about it?" I ask, if Gia is the Beta's daughter and feels so riddled with guilt by her dads actions against humans to turn her back against the pack — how does he feel?

His hazel eyes connect with mine and I can see the contemplation whirling behind the golden orbs. "I'm not proud of how the new world formed and I understand that the damage done can't be erased. But I also understand the nuance of the whole situation, the only humans to truly coexist with us before this were all wiped out in genocide by their own kind. A long time ago, sure, but their hatred only grew after that and the people of this pack suffered a long, gruelling history because of it." His explanation reminds me of his heritage, of the history we learned about the pack in school and how it was here long before America even existed.

"So you think it was justified?" I ask hesitantly, not in an accusatory way.

He shakes his head, turning his attention away from me. "No, I think that they acted out of fear. I think that the wolves responded with what they knew would work and in doing so, we went against the foundations of our faith. That's something that doesn't happen easily and I trust that the decisions made weren't made thoughtlessly." He sighs heavily. "I don't hate the pack system the way Gia does because she only see's it as it was in its worst, in the past. Not the way that it could be in the future."

So he's hopeful. Of a world that doesn't involve hate or prejudice and everyone exists harmoniously underneath the pack. And part of me yearns to agree with him, to hold the enthusiasm he emits in my hands and pray with it but I can't — not yet anyway.

"I guess it's the predetermined life path for me and maybe the rigidness of it all," I say honestly — not even meaning to bring my mated situation into the conversation. "It's like a pill that I can't swallow no matter how much cool aid I drink. I guess a life without freedom and liberty doesn't seem like much of a life at all, but then again— I don't know that ordinary people really had much of that before either."

He doesn't still at my words or at the underlying tone of rejection laced in them and simply remains relaxed in his chair. But he doesn't respond instantly either, not for a few noticeable moments. "There is freedom within the pack, just not outside the goddesses will. I suppose wolves have a lot of trust; in the path we are meant to be on, the people we are to be with and deviating from that means a life of freedom without purpose. And I guess for us a life with no purpose is a life without meaning."

I process his words just as a doctor saunters into the room, cutting our conversation short. She bows her head slightly in respect, a genuine beaming smile covering her face. "Hello! How are you feeling Athena?" She asks me kindly a bubbliness to her step as she examines my monitor.

"Good," I confirm, a yawn surpassing my lips in the process. "Tired," I clarify.

She laughs. "I am very surprised you are still conscious, most human mates knock out within the first hour. When I injure myself it takes me one good meal after a transfusion and I'm out in record time." she mummers. Another human mate I guess, an older one. "And you, Micah? How are you holding up?" She asks him.

"I've had better days," he mummers in response, making her laugh. "Is everything okay with the transfusion?"

She inspects the monitor a bit more closely and looks to my arm. "Yeah, I can probably take this needle out in about five minutes. I also received word at the front desk that your father wanted to see you at the earliest convenience."

I notice his shoulders slump ever so slightly before he turns to me. "Are you okay if I go and deal with this quickly? I can take you home straight after."

I nod opening my mouth only to let out a yawn. "Mhm," I mumble, my eyes feeling suddenly heavy.

"I'll see you soon," he promises before exiting the room, leaving me alone with the doctor. My jaw widens as a yawn passes my lips and she chuckles.

"I think that sleep is finally starting to kick in," she comments.

"I'm fine," I protest, another yawn threatening to expose me. "You're human?" I half ask, half state—I figure conversation has held me off a nap so far.

She gives me a warm smile as she turns to me, consequently revealing her mark. "Yes," she says. "This is all probably a bit different for you, isn't it?" She asks, taking a seat where Micah was, her eyes softening. My gaze flicks to the closed door and I let out a sigh.

"Yeah," I admit.

She nods again. "I forget sometimes what it was like initially, god it seems so long ago when it really wasn't," she concludes, relaxing a bit more. "I probably shouldn't say this but when I first met my mate I was shit scared. Like horrified."

Her comment pulls the slumber from my body. "Same," I mummer, almost ashamed. I didn't think I'd ever admit that in the pack house.

"It's normal, hell I've known human mates in my time that have seriously tried killing their wolf counterpart. Humans generally have a flight, fight or freeze mentality in times of severe distress and especially then when the world was so... dark, most did everything they could to escape the bond. Myself included."

I did not expect the conversation to take this route, at all. "Are you still with him?" I ask, though the answer is obvious.

"Yeah, I think it really took the reforms to make me realise he was still a person. He's a Gamma and the moment reforms were a discussion he rallied as many pack members on the committee as he could and voted to create change. And now we are happy, we've got three children and there are always challenges but it's worth it."

I wonder if that is the point in this whole conversation, but like she's reading my mind her eyes snap to me. "I'm not trying to push you or anything!" She declares immediately. "I mean Micah is a good kid, a great kid honestly—I've known him since he was a boy and his family for years, but that's not why I'm talking to you about my experience. I hated it when wolves would lecture me about mates in the start and I barely knew any human mates — most of them were struggling too much to care to chat. I guess I wanted to see how you are feeling mentally, for me, talking really helped to work through my feelings and I know some really great psychologists that can help."

My thoughts take me to the first shrink I went and saw with Micah but I resist the urge to shudder at her proposition. "I guess it has been pretty mentally exhausting," I admit, I mean being hooked up to a blood transfusion machine sort of proves my point there. "It's just all really confusing but also pretty clear at the same time—I know that doesn't make any sense," I blabber, hating myself for not forming the words correctly in any way shape or form.

"Do you have a phone? If you don't mind I can give you my number and if you ever need to reach out and chat or get a reference from me for a professional I would be more than happy to help out," she says and I nod, taking the phone she extends towards me before plugging my details into it.

A yawn escapes my lips and my vision double takes as lethargy consumes me. "Thank you," I manage, holding back another yawn and she smiles, standing up.

"It's no worries, I think it's time you get some rest, though. I'll turn the lights off on the way out," she says as she moves the bed I'm sat on down using the electronic foot pedal.

The light didn't even matter because once my body wasn't elevated sleep hit me all at once.

authors note

Hey everyone, I have returned to the land of the living!! So much has happened since my last chapter, new job, a trillion assignments, LIFE but I am so happy to post this update (7000+ words, mind you). So I really hope it was enjoyed, please please please go through and comment! It makes the hours spent writing mean so much to me [and makes my morning coffee so much better than doom scrolling socials].

I have put the q&a (as promised) below! Please note that some questions weren't answered to avoid spoilers so the answer if its not on the list is that you'll have to wait and find out!

Q & A timeeeee!!

How many stories have you written and how many more do you have planned?

I am writing two other stories at the moment and have a whole series planned out! + some serrrrious edits of TLH

Is TLH finished and just going through edits or will there me major changes?

TLH is going through the editing process [bare with me here, life is HECTIC]. The overall story will remain very much the same but editing has made me rethink the structuring and world building. So it will be the same but different in some aspects! (better, I hope)

Might you publish any of your stories?

That's definitely the goal, I just need to sort so much out. I want to publish books that I am 100% proud of and so need to edit first! And I'd love to start getting more consistent with my posting on socials and engagement with readers too! (she says as she answers questions from her own q & a 2 weeks late)

Are you in college?

Yep! I am studying full time as well as working at the moment so lots of my time is taken up with my head in books. But I write every spare moment I get!

Do you have a specific update schedule?

I'm supposed to haha! I would like to post twice weekly but in releasing the new story I have found myself editing and adding/removing content for the greater story. So ideally at least once a week but it's not set in stone.

Surprising fun fact about you!!

I read my first full book wayyyy later than I should have. And then the written world became my whole personality.

What's your favourite writing snack?

Pretzels and carrot sticks, I love the crunch.

What's your favourite book?

Tough question but currently A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara bc it depressed me so much and I love that words on paper can bring so much emotion out of a reader.

Do you have an idea how twos will end?

Yes!

What's the mathmatetcial wizardry in the background?

The lovely world of statistics haha

How do you want tsos to stand out, as it takes place in the TLH universe?

Great question! This story takes place at a different time, when all the work of the rebels and reforms have started to manifest in society. So I really want to explore like the healing relationships and the future for the two species in that setting.

Wolf's healing abilities question

This was a long one but in a nutshell: they heal faster and better than humans. They can't grow back limbs and depending on their status, certain deaths would kill them too (getting hit by a truck, stabbed repeatedly etc.) so they are not invincible but some are harder to kill than others.

How does wolfsbane alcohol work?

So this is more a play on words, the brand of alcohol is 'wolfsbane' so its not actually poisonous to wolves but its deadly in a drinking, fun way. Essentially it has a much higher potency as it takes more for wolves to become lit.