I don't even know her name.

I could have asked before I stormed off.

Her name. My mesmerizing mate's name.

"Dangit!" I yelled out loud to the empty halls. My safe place at this school was the small gym where usually no one is at. I needed to calm down before lightning hits the school and it'll be my fault. Only it was hard because rejection hurt. She didn't reject me, but it was like a rejection.

As much as I wanted to run my fists through something, I had to calm down. The only way would be if I worked out my emotions. When I headed to the small gym, I was expecting to be alone.

What I didn't want to see what a group of wolves, looking to be in the high ranking already there.

If there's anything I liked more than a fight, it was a fight with a bully. Since most Alphas and Betas wannabes are at the school, sometimes they think they can pick on whoever they wanted. Alphas always feel entitled. I should know, but with my parents drilling down that Alphas aren't anything, it humbled me a bit. 

So when I see a group of these wolves obviously pushing someone around and to the ground, I'm instantly irritated all over again. It's only the second day of school, but I think I've had enough with the no fighting. Who cares about football.

Who cares about anything.

"What's going on here, fellows?" I drawled out, crossing my arms. "You see, I'm in a really bad mood. And I'm really in the mood to hit something."

The five Alphas look a little stricken, and the body that was being kicked on the floor looked up at me, developing a black eye. He looked terrified.

My jaw ticked.

"W-we weren't do anything West, just fool's play is all. Isn't that right, Blaine?" one of the Alphas questioned. I didn't recognize any of them, so they must be underclassmen. How they knew my name will still be a mystery.

"Y-yeah," the scrawny guy on the floor barely managed to choke out as he stood up, trying to stand straight. I shook my head, walking towards one of the wolves who cowered away like the rat they all were. My fist clenched and I grinned at them like a manic ready to just hit something, but the beaten up guy stopped me. "Don't!"

I let out a deep breathe, trying to wind down. Mom's voice also stopped me. It's only the second day of school. Wouldn't want Mom or Dad to come to the principal's office again like last year.

"Alright," I relented. "If I see you guys do something like this again, just know that I am itching for a fight, and I'll gladly rearrange each one of your faces. Understood?" The group backed away from me like I was a loose cannon. In fact, I think I was. Who knew what would happen. "Now you ugly pups should apologize."

They hesitated making me growl. All of their faces paled.

"We're sorry," someone instantly shouted out.

"And?" I probed.

They all looked at each other. "And we won't do that again?"

I smiled. "Good. Looks like you learned your lesson. Run off like the rats you are and I hope to never see you guys again. Next time I might find you guys even more annoying."

I don't think I needed to tell them twice. The five of them run out of the gym like their lives depended on it. Two of them accidentally ran over the other.

I turned to this Blaine guy who was a tall but scrawny as he was fully getting up, offering him a hand. "Hey you alright?"

"Yeah."

"The truth?"

"Dude, I'm fine," the guy scoffed, brushing off his pants.

"The black eye is telling me you're not fine," I argued. The guy cursed loudly. "Here- there's some ice packs at the coach's office, I'll grab it for you." For a second, I thought he was going to argue, but luckily he didn't. Coach Reese, who taught gym usually didn't lock his office and he always had a ice pack in case.

I opened his door, flickering on the lights and popped his small freezer open, grabbing the large blue ice pack. Stepping outside the office, Blaine was leaning on the wall, looking gutted.

"It's not that bad," I told him, handing him the ice pack as I slide against the wall to sit next to him. "I'm West, by the way." I hold out my hand.

"Blaine," Blaine said, shaking it as he slid next to me. "Thanks for...helping me."

"Glad I could do something right."My gut wrenched thinking about what happened to me earlier. Whose mate didn't want them? Me. If this whole day could go right maybe this was it. My mate not rejecting me but not wanting me left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't know what to do because I couldn't tell anyone I was having mate issues. I couldn't tell anyone I have a mate. I forced myself from not growling and causing a thunderstorm again.

"You're not going to ask why?"

"Why what?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Why they were-" Blaine shrugged- "beating me up."

"Not really my business. No one should get jumped like that."

"I'm an easy target. The runt of my pack."

I cocked my head to get a better look at him. His head is shaved to the sides, sporting a mo-hawk look but less ugly. However, the determined look in his eyes made me instantly like him. "Nah, I don't believe in runts in the pack. Total BS."

He looked surprised, "You don't? I was thinking about joining the basketball team but these Alphas just laughed at me and I tried defending myself." Blaine laughed without humor. "But that got me nowhere." His jaw set.

"You're not a pushover. Which is a good thing in my books."

"Does it look visible?" Blaine asked, taking off the ice pack from his left eye.

"Eh, it- could look like a really bad dark circle," I tried.

"Man, my cousin is going to have a coronary about this," he mumbled. "It's no big deal, really."

"No, it is a big deal," I said. "It's wrong. And they can't think they can just do that."

It was silent for a moment.

"You think I can be in the basketball team?"

"Of course," I waved off my hand. "If you want to play any time, you can hit me up. I play on our team and try-outs are all this week, so we can decide what you're good at and work from there."

Blaine turned to me, and there was finally a smile on his face. "Wow that's awesome. I'll be sure to take you up on that offer! Anyways-" he looked down on his phone. "I have to go, but it was nice meeting you, West."

"You too," I said, "keep the ice pack." Blaine nodded, and left the gym, leaving me in the empty gym with an empty heart. Completely alone.

XXXX

I don't know how long I was at the small gym just sitting there, but the one who found me was of course Maddox. He always finds me when I need it the most. 

When he opened the gym doors, our eyes met he just shook his head at me.

He signed: Why are you avoiding us?

I'm not.

Liar.

I chuckled. Maddox sighed at me, extending out a hand so I can get up. Truth was, my phone has been blowing up. I've gotten a ton of missed calls from Theo and Abby. My coping mechanism is isolation. Sometimes even when I'm around people- which I am constantly- I feel the most alone. Which is the worst. But when I'm with Wyatt, I never felt that way. Ever. Now that Wyatt is avoiding me like the plague, I realize how lonely I get.

My mate rejecting me doesn't help with my situation at all. I want to keep isolating myself from everyone, but doing that makes my friends worry. Making them worry and explaining what happened to me is harder than just telling them I've been tired. That's an easy explanation. 

I need to put on my best front and poker face. I needed to get up and stop worrying my friends. How can I do that when I feel my heart slowly dying inside?

XXXX

By the time I get to my dorm and checked my phone, I had a missed Facetime call from my mom and cringed when it was 5 minutes ago. Shoot. I pressed her number to Facetime back but she didn't answer. Of course. So I went to talk to Facetime my dad. I plopped on my futon and waited until he picked up.

Dad's face popped up on the screen. "Hey old man," I greeted him. Dad gives me a wry look before greeting me back.

"Your mom is in a pack meeting," Dad told me.

I grinned, "So you're telling me you Mom willingly went to a pack meeting?"

"Meg and her will do just fine. Your mom usually cuts the meetings quick and takes everyone out to lunch." I held back a laugh.

"Unlike you who takes hours at the pack meetings," I reminded him.

"I take it seriously."

"You take everything seriously," I teased. Sometimes when Mom and I are sarcastic towards Dad we don't know if he gets the sarcasm or not which makes it all the more funny.

"How's school been? I know it's only the second day." I paused for only a second which picked up the parental instincts because Dad asked, "Are you okay?"

Not at all. "Yeah, I'm good. I just..." I sighed, leaning against my chair. "Dad how did you and Mom meet?"

"When she saw me, she ran." My uncontrollable laughter bursted out, and on the Facetime screen Dad is shaking his head, but the corners of his mouth is lifted. "She didn't totally accept me at first."

"WHAT?" I'm appalled that my parents, the picture perfect couple had problems. "Serious?"

Dad nodded, smiling, "Patience is all it takes, West. That's what you need in a relationship."

"So basically you're telling me looks aren't everything?"

"West," Dad scolded jokingly. "You know looks aren't everything."

"I guess you're right. I mean it explains why Mom wanted to be with you-"

Dad cuts me off, a smile on his face, " I was patient. Even though I was ready, your mother wasn't so I waited for her. It just took time."

I mulled over this bit of information that I was going to safe keep for dealing with my own mate. If she didn't want me telling anyone, I wouldn't. I'll be patient with her. For as long as it takes.

**********

Could West be patient? 

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