***KATE'S POV***

After I had escaped first hour I had to ease the pain in my heart before I got to Math. I didn't want Miss Riley to see me upset, even though I knew she would already know because she had some weird telepathic teacher power.

So I was screwed either way.

I walked into class and saw Miss Riley's eyes lock with mine, she wanted to know if everything was okay since I had jet this morning out of homeroom. She whispered, "Everything's okay?"

I nodded, sitting in my desk and trying to hide the fact that Emily was still haunting my mind. I couldn't stop mourning over her, it still hurt, like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to talk about it to anyone because it only made it more real and even more painful.

Which I obviously didn't want.

Class started and I tried hard to pay attention, I had been working really hard to improve my grades, and it was starting to pay off. English had risen to a low C, I had a high C in this class as well, and Physics was actually my highest grade, with a B.

Studying and doing homework with the Pack actually improved my grades, and helped me pass tests without cheating, which was a good thing of course.

I worked on some problems Miss Riley had put on the board and even though I though I was understanding I apparently wasn't when I would get the answer wrong. It was frustrating, but I knew I would be back after school for tutoring.

My mind was wandering so much it was just nearly impossible to pay attention. I was thinking about Emily, Emma, the Pack, Michelle being pregnant, Miss Riley, the well being of my friends, who was out there watching me and so much more. It was hard focusing on one certain thing at a time when I had so much more to worry about now. I mean, I understood this is who I was and who I was supposed to be but... everything just got more complicated when I got bit. Even though I found out who I really was and found someone I was actually blood related to... it was still hard.

Then suddenly the bell rang, sending my alert signal on high as I nearly jumped out of my seat. I packed up my things and zipped up my booksack, wondering how I had day dreamed the entire class. I just had to much on my mind, it wasn't my fault.

I stood, realizing I had also taken my sweet time leaving the class as Miss Riley waited for me at the door. I passed her, smelling her perfume and body lotion, "Kate, you were absent. Did you listen to anything I said today?"

I scratched my head, "I promise it'll be better at tutoring, I just have a lot on my mind."

She sighed, realizing I was right and she couldn't blame me, "Ok, don't forget."

I smiled weakly, locking with her ice blue eyes and grazing her arm, "See you after third."

I listened to her heart accelerate inside her chest as her breathing hitched, it was funny how I could notice all of these things and think they were completely adorable. I never thought girls were adorable, just fuckable, but Miss Riley was different and I liked it.

I walked into Physics soon enough and took my usual seat next to Tess, who was already working on the bell ringer that was on the board. I sat and questioned, "Any news yet on the new member?"

She looked up, glancing back down at her paper as she replied to me, "Nope, not that I know of. If anyone knows it'll be Collin, him and Dean talk a lot about that."

I snorted in protest, "Well I'm a Blood Alpha, I should have a right to know too, right?"

She looked at me, sending me a weird look but smiling, "Don't get to cocky Kate, I can still whip your ass in a fight and I'm a Beta."

I smiled, realizing she was flirting but in a very violent way, "Bet you, you can't break my nose again."

She laughed silently, remembering the first time we fought and how she had cracked my nose in the process. It had hurt like a bitch but it repaired itself quite well, I could still smell everything from a mile away.

She leaned back in her chair as the teacher started her lecture, flicking her pen in her mouth as she silently pondered the information. I'm not gonna lie, Tess was hot, her dark hair and light eyes, her light but perfect skin...

It made her sexy as hell.

Then she dropped her pen, silently cursing as she leaned down, her hand finding my thigh as she retrieved it and brought her face back up, smirking in my direction. Was she touching me to turn me on? Because that smirk and that contact had made it very clear that she was interested in more than just friendship.

It was weird, I was attracted to Tess, I'm not gonna lie, but it just seemed weird being involved with someone through the pack. I whispered, "What game are you playing Tess?"

She smirked, "The one you're not used to."

I smiled, knowing she was exactly right, and it was actually kind of working, "If you're trying to get my attention, you have it."

She batted her eyes and tilted her head, "I already have your attention, but I know someone else does too, and I know it's dangerous."

I was taken back at that as I leaned back in my chair, wondering if Collin somehow slipped up and told Tess about my feelings with Miss Riley. I didn't like the idea of everyone thinking I was involved, even though I kind of was, because it made me look bad and it was dangerous.

Miss Riley was human, she was fragile, and she couldn't protect herself from the things out there in this world. Just like Emily, who had suffered because of me and my stupid, selfish ways...

Then the bell rang and I started packing up, realizing I was going to be spending the next hour with Miss Riley. I walked out of class with Tess, who gave me a weird look when I went in an opposite direction, "Where you going?"

I stated, "I have tutoring."

My face gave away the rest and her lips formed a tight line that revealed worry, but she shrugged, "See you later then."

Then she was gone.

I continued down the hall to my tutoring session, wondering about everything we would cover today. Miss Riley didn't mess around, she got down to business and I thought it was cute, she really wanted me to graduate. We didn't just cover Calculus either, she taught me how to take notes, she revised my English papers and explained the theory's given to me in physics.

She was extremely smart, but I expected no less from her. She was gorgeous and brilliant, and that was the sexiest thing about her.

I knocked silently on her door, opening it slowly as I saw her sitting at her desk, her dark hair draping around her perfect face. Her eyes found mine as I shut her door behind me, she spoke, "Glad you didn't forget considering you caught nothing today in class."

I smiled mischievously as I walked cooly to her desk, "I'd much rather one on one teaching."

She stood and was now eye level with me, her crystal blue eyes piercing into mine as she smiled in return, placing her hand on my shoulder, "But in college it won't be like that, Kate."

I rolled my eyes, thinking she was going to say something sexier than that, "I think we should get to work Miss Riley, I have places to be after this."

I saw next to her desk as I pulled out the work from today's class, leaning over for her to better explain. She spoke, "Did you get anything from my lecture?"

I nodded, "Just the first couple of steps to solving the problems, I have trouble towards the end."

Her shoulder grazed mine as she leaned in to better see the paper, I felt a shiver run through her body as her breathing sped a little. She smelt so sweet, like fruit, and when I glanced at her desk it showed a fruit bowl, she must've been eating lunch when I walked in.

Finally she got to the part where I was having trouble and explained, watching her go through the steps and finally asking, "Understand now?"

I nodded, "Actually I do, thanks."

I wrote down the answer and looked at her, revealing a worried look as she tilted her head, "Are you ok? Like... emotionally?"

I hadn't expected that question to come from her considering we were just talking about my homework but I shrugged it off, trying to make it seem like I was fine. "I've been okay... I've just been having a lot to deal with, you know?"

She stared at me, "No, I don't know Kate."

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I realized she was secretly asking me what I meant. She knew there was something off about me, and she was curious, but curiosity always killed the cat.

"You're not supposed to."

"But you're my student Kate, and I'm worried about you and your safety."

It felt nice hearing that come out of her mouth, I watched her lips hungrily as I listened to her velvet voice ring through my ears. She was so sweet, I just didn't want her to worry about me, "Jennifer, trust me, I'm not easy to take down, mentally nor physically."

She leaned closer, giving me an odd look, "You sure about that Kate?"

She was getting to me, that's what she was being sarcastic about, and it was oddly turning me on. Her sweet breath tickled my nose, I wanted to taste her lips against mine, I wanted to wrap my hand in her hair and pull her into me...

"I'm positive."

She squinted, our noses only inches apart, "So if some weird man came in here and held you by your throat and threatened to take your life... you wouldn't flinch?"

I smiled devilishly, she was trying to see if I was human like her from her past experience with the vampire encounter. I replied smoothly, "I would've killed him the minute he would've taken steps toward me."

"Have you killed people?"

I could hear fear in her voice, mixed with wonder and awe. She didn't understand what she was getting into, the danger that came with the knowledge I was giving her. I shook my head, "No, but there are things killing people close to me and I'm not going to allow that to happen anymore. So if me killing someone to prevent death to innocent people, then yes, I will be guilty."

She nearly whispered a response, "So... you're not human. You're like that man that saved my life."

I nodded sternly, knowing I wouldn't have been able to hide the truth from her for long. She had seen the truth all those nights ago when Dean saved her life, and she knew I was involved... the truth was bound to come out eventually.

She touched my hand, grazing her soft fingers against mine, "So you're some weird wolf creature?"

It was weird how she knew, she didn't look like the type to believe in the supernatural, but then again she had experienced it. She had seen the movies, she had done the research after the encounter, and now she knew exactly what I was.

She smiled in humor, "So you grow hair all over your body on the full moon or something?"

I laughed, realizing she was way off about my appearance. I didn't grow hair on my face because I was a female, only males had that. I shook my head, "No... I'm not a guy. Jeez, I'm still sexy when I'm a wolf, Jennifer."

She leaned her head to the side, bringing her lips closer to my ear, "Can I see?"

I felt a nerve in my twitch, something about it was oddly sexy, and I wanted to show her. She was so attractive and persuasive... but I couldn't, not at school.

I looked at her, "I could get in a lot of trouble."

She raised an eyebrow in concern, "Since when have you cared about getting in trouble?"

I smiled at her sarcasm and shrugged, "Since I'm not the Alpha."

She rolled her eyes, "This is weird, I mean is this real? Like this world that I've suddenly started to think actually existed? All those mythical creatures and stories... are true?"

I sighed, I knew she was scared, she didn't want to believe that, but she had no choice now. She knew about it, and I was going to do my best to keep that world away from the ones I cared about.

Including her.

I nodded, "Yes, and it's extremely dangerous for a human to be involved. You can't tell anyone, please... it can put you in a lot of danger."

She smiled, "No one would believe me anyway, Kate. I mean werewolves and vampires? Those things only exist in fairytales."

I shook my head, "No, Jennifer, those things exist in nightmares."

She knew I had grown sensitive, I was powerful and I knew there were evil beings out there too. She grabbed my hand gently, attempting to comfort me, "You're not a nightmare Kate, you're a good girl."

I looked at her, feeling the want to close the gap between us again. I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to taste her again so bad... it had been so long. She smelt so sweet and looked so irresistible, I just knew I wanted her, I wanted her thoughts and feelings, her likes and dislikes. I wanted her to see me as someone who was loveable and not just fuckable, the way I thought about her. I wanted her to genuinely care about me, because I was convinced I genuinely cared about her.

Which was bitter-sweet, because caring about someone so fragile put you at risk of vulnerability. And knowing her life was in danger because of me was going to worry me to death.

***A/N***

I apologize to all my readers for the huge gaps between each update, I've been quite busy with work and whatnot. I'm trying my best to write as much as possible and post as soon as I can but life kind of gets in the way. Anyhow, hope you all enjoy the sincere moment between Jennifer and Kate, hopefully things will heat up soon enough now that Kate's secret is well out the way of her relationship with her math teacher! Stay tuned because 21 should be up soon!