Scarlett

Something in my eyes must have told Blake what I wanted to do to him because he took a step backward and he was out of my reach.

Clever boy. I glared at him.

"You might not be happy with the way things work in the pack, but these have been the way things have worked for centuries and it isn't going to change," Cade informed me with a steely glare.

I swung my gaze to glare back at him.

"We'll see," I challenged.

Unable to stand being around the two idiots any longer, I stalked out of the gym. There was no way I would allow this to continue if I had to join Cade's pack. I was not going to sit back and be a helpless female that needed males to protect her.

I remembered from some stories that members of a pack couldn't go against what the alpha said. I needed to get some more information from Blake. It made me more hesitant to give up my freedom and join Cade's pack.

I didn't want to talk to Blake, but I had to if I was going to get answers to my questions.

It didn't take long for Blake, Cade and Gary to exit the gym. Gary gave me a look that said he was on my side, but unfortunately he wasn't in charge—dumb and dumber were.

I completely ignored Cade and walked beside Blake back to the main house. Cade trailed behind us with Gary. The heat of Cade's glare on the two of us as we walked couldn't be ignored and a glance at Blake told me he felt it too.

As much as I was dying to ask Blake some questions, I didn't dare do it within earshot of Cade. I didn't want him becoming suspicious of why I wanted to know about mates and stuff like that. I'd have to try and talk to Blake another time when Cade wasn't around.

My stomach was growling by the time I entered the kitchen.

Lunch was strained. The four of us sat at the dining room table. There were various sandwiches and salads spread out.

"Who made all the food?" I asked Cade. He'd been a little preoccupied and he was acting jealous.

"One of the ladies from our pack likes to cook so I let her have free reign in the kitchen," he replied tightly. He was still angry, but he was trying to be polite.

By the end of lunch, I decided to retreat back to my room for a while. I needed space and time to try and figure out how I was going to deal with Cade finding out I was his mate. I had just over one day left before I had to come clean.

That night I slept well despite all the things weighing down on me and I was relieved I was going back to school.

Cade was nowhere to be seen when I went down to the kitchen after getting ready for school.

"Hi, how are you feeling?" Gary asked. He was always up early.

"I'm good," I replied as I went to get some coffee.

Cade walked in and I felt the flutter in my stomach at the sight of him.

"Morning," he greeted as he grabbed a cup of coffee.

"Morning," I greeted, trying to keep myself from perving over him. He was gorgeous.

"You ready to leave for school?" he asked as he took a sip of coffee.

"Yes," I answered. The truth was I hadn't eaten yet but I wasn't going to make him wait while I had breakfast.

"Come on, let's go."

The car ride was quiet. I kept my gaze fixed on the scenery passing us by, trying to keep the flutter of excitement that came alive whenever he was close to me under control. I felt Cade's eyes on me a couple of times but I refused to look at him.

By the time he pulled into the school parking lot, I was frazzled and nervous. Quickly, I got out of the car and walked inside the school, leaving Cade behind.

I felt safe within the school. There were enough werewolves to keep me safe. Cade and Blake had gone through my classes and scheduled specific werewolves to keep an eye on me in each class. It was like a rotation of bodyguards.

I was at my locker getting a book when I turned to see Keri beside me.

"You're back," she said.

"Yeah, I was sick yesterday." The lie rolled off my tongue.

"I spotted you getting dropped off by Cade Presley," she informed me with a knowing smile.

"It's a long story and I don't really want to get into it right now," I said. I hadn't expected the question so I didn't have a suitable lie.

"Are you guys dating?" she asked, wide-eyed with excitement.

"No way," I answered, slamming my locker closed. I spotted Blake walking past us.

"I need to ask Blake something," I told her. "I'll see you at lunchtime."

"Sure, see you then," she said and walked away.

I caught up with Blake. He smiled at me when I grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Hey," I greeted, a little out of breath.

"Hi," he said. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just wanted to ask you some questions," I told him.

"Okay," he replied and started to walk to the parking lot so we had some privacy, away from busy hallways.

"Does the pack have to do what the alpha says?" I asked Blake as he walked beside me.

"Yes, all except the alpha's mate," he answered.

Yes!

I wouldn't have to do what Cade said and it was the best news I'd heard since I'd found out I was a werewolf.

We'd just exited the school and were walking to the parking lot when I saw something that I hadn't seen coming.

The moment I saw Cade sitting on a bench with some blond girl straddling him, it felt like someone had hit me in the chest. It fucking hurt! I was dazed for a moment, trying to get a handle on my emotions, but nothing could stop the tidal wave of anger that rushed through me.

I'd thought he'd been attracted to me, but I must have been wrong.

"You okay?" Blake asked softly from beside me. He was the only one who understood why I was angry and upset.

I couldn't pull my gaze away from them. Cade smiled at the slut and I felt like someone punched me again.

"Yes," I said with determination, but I couldn't stop the anger and hurt from overwhelming me.

"Hold this," I instructed him, giving him my school bag.

"Don't do anything stupid," he warned as he took the bag.

I ignored his warning. I was way beyond thinking before I acted and there was no way I was going to stand by and do nothing. It wasn't logical thinking that propelled me forward—it was the raw emotions flowing through me that made me throw caution to the wind and stalk over to the couple.

"Get off him," I demanded to the girl as I stood in front of them with my hands on my hips. Her skinny jeans were so tight they looked like another layer of skin and the dark red halter-top barely contained her massive boobs.

"What the hell?!" said the girl as she turned to face me.

Cade's surprised gaze found mine as the girl shifted off him. She gave me a confused look, but the look I gave her told her not to mess with me and she took a step back in fear.

I'd kick her ass if I needed to and at that moment I really had a need to hit someone.

"Get lost," I told her as I shifted my eyes to Cade. She hesitated for a moment before she turned and walked off in a huff.

Students around us began to watch the unfolding drama with interest.

"What is your problem?" Cade demanded as he stood up.

I knew he was trying to intimidate me with his height but it didn't work. The fact that he didn't know he was my mate and that it was something I'd kept from him didn't let him off the hook.

"You're my problem," I bit back angrily, struggling to contain my temper.

He was my mate, and he was about to play tonsil hockey with some random girl. That was a big problem. Before I could even stop myself, I stepped forward and I slapped him.

The instant my hand touched his face, I felt a bolt of electricity shoot through me. And in that moment I felt a rush of emotion for the boy in front of me and I saw my emotions mirrored in his eyes.

He knew.

This hadn't been the plan, but it was too late. He knew and I couldn't take it back.

Ah, crap! What had I done?