My dad was very animated as we walked along the trail that led to the hot pool close to the border. Maybe it was because he was with Peter again. The other sub was even a bit more voca than usuall. My father was also doing most of the talking as he walked with Rupert. The dominant would nod or give a simple one-word answer every once in a while. I glanced at Archer. It was clear from his parents that he wasn't going to be the one who started the conversation.

"So how has the last year been? You're a full-fledged dominant now."

Archer shrugged. "Grunt labor, like all the younger dominants. I get to run my guts out every day."

Saigon chuckled. "You were always fast. Rupert was the same from what I've heard." I motioned to the brown werewolf in front of us.

"Hmm..."

"It can't be all bad."

Archer shrugged. "It's not. It's just a lot of work. You'll find that out for yourself soon enough."

"Yep." I took a deep breath. "Until I leave for college."

He scoffed. "Why the hell do you want to go to college?"

"Rupert has a degree."

"So?" Archer shrugged. "He got it online."

"But, he has one."

He glared at me. "You can get one online, too. There's no need to run off and pretend to be civil like everyone else around here." He shook his head. "When did everyone get so obsessed with education. We're werewolves."

"I'm not going to Midfield University."

Archer's ear twitched. "Then, where? Is there another werewolf run university?"

"There might be." I scanned the surrounding forest. "I'm going to a human school."

Archer's eyes grew wide. "Why the hell would you ever want to do that? I thought you were insane when you wanted to go to a human high school."

"I went to a human high school because I wanted to socialize with them so I could fit in better at one of their universities."

"You really are insane," Archer said under his breath. His ears splayed to the side slightly. "That means you're not staying. You're leaving again like Jagger."

I nodded. "I'll be leaving in August."

He sighed. "Well, I'll be here taking care of the pack because our so-called future leaders are too busy learning how to count to bother." Archer marched on ahead of me.

"It's a bit more than that."

Muttering to himself, he passed our parents.

My father looked back. "What's wrong?"

"I told him I was going to college."

"Oh." My father nodded. "Has Archer ever thought about going?" He turned to Rupert. "He could room with Saigon."

"No," Rupert said firmly. "I don't want him around humans. If he wants to go to college, he can do it online."

I joined my father as we fell back from the group. The subs hadn't even noticed that anything had happened.

"Does Rupert not like humans?"

My father shook his head. "It's not that. Peter is human. He's never had a problem with your grandparents, either. It human society he doesn't like. Peter had it tough before becoming a werewolf. I think he just doesn't want Archer to experience that."

"Archer is a dominant. A human can't do anything to him."

"Humans are dangerous in many ways." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Archer will be fine. I'd be mad too if my best friends shows up only to leave again."

Letting out a deep breath, I continued up the path to the hot pools.

***

Archer was still pissed. I could tell by the way he kept shoving food into his muzzle and glaring at the blanket we were sitting on. He needed to understand that if I was the next beta I needed to go to college, but I didn't want to leave on bad terms. My dream scenario would be that Archer decided to come with me. It would never happen, so I'd have to make the most of the time I had left. At least, knowing Rupert was anti-mating was making me feel better. I might have a chance next summer if I failed to convince Archer during the little amount of time I had left in Northern Ridge.

"Do you want a drink, Archer?" asked my dad. He looked rather concerned with how the light brown werewolf was eating.

"Sure." Wiping his face, Archer took a water bottle.

I moved around the pieces of meat in the container I was holding.

"Is something wrong with it?" asked my dad.

"No." I shrugged. "I'm not very hungry."

"You need to eat. You'll be apart of the hunting party and patrol. You need your strength."

My father laughed. "You sound like your mom."

The sub smacked his mate's side. "I do not."

Rubbing the spot, Titus laughed to himself. "It's finally starting to cool down. I think I'll test out the water."

"It wasn't too hot when I checked earlier," said my dad.

My father eyed his mate. "We run at two different temperatures."

"We're both werewolves, so shut up." Aden stood and went to the water's edge. "This poor me, dominant shit gets annoying."

Peter grabbed his bag. "Come on." He took Rupert's hand and led him off to the hot pools.

I placed my food to the side and draped my arms around my legs. "Are you still mad at me?"

Archer shrugged. "Should I be?"

"Come on. I know you don't get why I'm going to school with humans but if I am going to be the beta, I have to prepare. Northern Ridge isn't going to stay a small traditional pack. We keep expanding every year."

Archer clenched his jaw. "Whatever, do what you want. When has what I thought ever matter."

"Humans aren't that bad." I sighed. "We're both half."

"No, you're more than half."

"By a pathetic amount. Why are you being so technical?"

"Why are you so annoying?" He stood and marched off.

"Goddamit," I breathed, rubbing my face.

This wasn't starting off well. Standing, I wandered over to where Archer was sitting alone. Our parents were chatting nearby as Peter started his usual grooming routine. Stepping into the water, I sat down. I sprawled out and closed my eyes. Maybe it was better to say nothing.

Archer picked at the dirt under his claws. "I thought when you finally came back it would be for good."

"Hmm..." I opened an eye.

"After you were sent to Bloodhound, we barely got to see each other, and then you decided to move to Harper's Creek. Now college. What kind of shitty friend are you?"

I chuckled. "A pretty bad one when you put it like that." I squirted water with my hands. "You could come and visit me."

"Hell no, too many humans."

"All this talk about humans. You need to get out more. I could take you to Harper's Creek and show you around."

"No." He frowned at his reflection. "Darius banned all human parties and clubs. Some of the teenagers were getting into trouble so no one is allowed to go anymore."

"What were they doing?"

"The usual stuff. A huge fight broke out the last time." Archer shrugged. "I think there were some other packs there and some humans got hurt."

"Then, why are you scared of humans?"

"I'm not." He met my gaze. "I'm not scared of them or anyone else. Humans are unpredictable. They don't have instincts. I might be stronger than them but they're so stupid they'd still attack me."

"Alcohol can do that."

Archer sunk lower into the water. "So, you're only going to be here for the summer?"

"Yeah."

He sighed. "Well, let's make the most of it. Hey"—he slapped my arm—"maybe you can give me some advice. There's this girl I'm really interested in but I can't figure out if she's just teasing me or feels the same."

My chest tightened. "She's probably teasing you. Girls are pretty direct when they want something."

He arched a brow. "Since when?"

I laughed nervously. "I don't know. Maybe you should just ask her?"

"Yeah, and when she rejects me, then what? I don't want to be the punchline of every joke for the next year."

I shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you."

He sunk lower so the water was at chin level. "Yeah, because most of the girls would want to get with you. Give the rest of us normal guys a chance and pick your mate already so the girls stop sitting around, hoping to be the lucky one. Jagger finally did, so now it's your turn."

I tried not to smile. "I'll get right on that."

Archer sighed. "You're probably going to wait a couple of years before choosing your mate." He glanced at his parents. "My father keeps telling me I better calm it down. I'm not allowed to even consider it for a few more years. The whole mating at sixteen has him paranoid."

"If you find the right person"—I swallowed hard—"who knows maybe he'll change his mind."

"You've been gone for too long." Archer waded out into the water. "My father doesn't change his mind."

"There's one way." I shot him a smirk. "All you have to do is get a certain white werewolf on your side."

Archer grinned at me as he nodded. "That is very true." He kicked off the bottom. "I might be getting a mate sooner than I thought."