I thought long and hard about staying away from my mate and my home town and yes it would be a hell of a lot easier to do so but I promised my sister that I would be there for her. What kind of big brother would I be if I broke my promise to her? That isn't who I am, who I was raised to be so when I told daddy, he saw my point and Jaylen gave me meds to help with the pain when it becomes too much. Over the years he and Skylar worked on stuff to help with pain of what we go through if our mate's fuck someone else or reject us so things like what happened in the past don't happen again in terms of almost dying or going into comas. So with that to help me and my family to support me, I went home. 

Things were going good, Waylon and Sean came over as soon as I got home and we hung out all night, eating pizza, playing video games, and talking. It was nice. I had missed them a lot. Zane even popped in for a little while during a break from studying but he had to go back to get sleep but promised he would be back over the weekend. I miss my little brother so I have to plan a day out for us, just us two to do stuff together. Speaking of siblings, I wonder what Maya and Martin will think about me being back considering they think I'm in Oregon at the moment. 

Oregon was nice actually. I got to spend time with my family which is something I hardly did and even hung out with Mikael again. I really like the guy and am happy he's becoming a better man and things with his mate's seem to be ok for the most part but that's not my story to tell. 

"Are you ready for school tomorrow?" Daddy asked as he walked in my room carrying a basket of laundry so I got off my bed and grabbed it since it's my clothes.

"Yes, having Sean and Waylon here helped and the meds so yes, I'm ready. I just hope Gaelen doesn't make a scene when he sees me." I sighed and daddy put his hand on my shoulder. 

"If he does, just walk away. There is no point in yelling at him or anything like that because that will only make him happy to see you so worked up." 

"I won't cross paths with him, I have all AP classes and a different lunch than him and he's a grade lower than me so there is no way I'd see him much if at all. The school is pretty big so I think it'll be fine and if not, I have my friends to help so don't worry too much alright? I got this." It's hard to convince him when I myself have doubts but I can't let Gaelen dictate my life and make me stay home in my room all day every day. 

"If you are sure, ok I won't push it. Would you like some cocoa? I put milk on a few minutes ago and it should be ready. We could have a cup and a brownie? It’s a new recipe I tried to see if it’s good enough to put on the menu at the cafe.” 

“I would love some.” I smiled and he chuckled. I love cocoa so anytime he makes it, I’m up for a cup or three. 

“I hope you like it. Since it’s starting to feel like fall, I tried a few different flavors for the season and I came up with this.” He handed me a cup after he put the mix in, I’m guessing it’s already mixed so I took a sip and almost moaned at the sweet delicious taste of the vanilla with a hint of cinnamon with the chocolate.

“Now take a bite of the brownie.” He sat a plate with a light brown color brownie in front of me that had nut shavings on top with a thin layer of icing or something like it. I picked it up and took a deep breath to take in the scent of maple and took a bite. It melted in my mouth and it was so soft, gooey, and warm.

“Oh gosh this is amazing!” I groaned with my taste buds exploding with the amazing taste with the brownie and cocoa on my tongue.

“Ok calm down son, don’t need you popping a boner now.” He teased me and I rolled my eyes playfully and he chuckled.

“You should totally put this on the menu like tomorrow daddy, it is really amazing. Sell it as a combo, no other drink or treat should go with either.” 

“Well if it makes you this excited I’ll do it.” He grinned and I blushed at how excited I got over a brownie and cocoa but hey, I’m still a kid sue me.

“Once you're done, go shower and get to bed. It’s almost eleven.” Daddy said and I nodded, feeling tired so I didn’t argue and simply ate my brownie and drank my delicious cocoa as we made small talk.

“Don’t make plans for Saturday for us. I’m taking Zane out for the day. I miss him.” 

“Ok. It would be nice for you two to spend time together so I won’t. Is Sunday off the table?”

“No, just don’t make any too early. I plan on taking him to the fair in the evening and we will be home late.” 

“Oh goodness I can just imagine him coming home full of sugar and crash hours later.” 

“Mhm.” I smirked and he sighed but was smiling all the same. I put my dishes in the dishwasher and kissed daddy's cheek, bid him good night and went to my room to grab some boxer briefs to take a shower and get ready for bed.

The next morning came way too soon for my liking as I'm not a morning person so I hit snooze on my alarm three times before I finally had to get up or I would be late. Daddy is already at the cafe so once I'm ready in a pair of blue jeans, a rainbow t-shirt that says love is love with my red vans and jewelry on, I go downstairs to the kitchen to see a muffin, banana, and a bottle of orange juice on the island so I grab my breakfast and bookbag, locking the door behind me on my way out of the house. 

The morning is cool but not to the point we need a hoodie yet. I honestly don't need one since I'm a shifter but I like wearing them because they are super comfy and soft. I eat my food and drink my juice by the time I'm in front of the school and I stop to take a slow calming breath and Leo gives me a pep talk. 

"It will be ok Ry, we will get through this. Just have faith and keep your head up."

"That's easier said than done when it hurts but I will try." 

I started walking towards the doors and opened them once I got to them and slowly walked in, like I'm scared of entering Hell or something. I may not admit it out loud like ever but I am scared as hell to see Gaelen after all this time. 

He's my mate and he is my entire world whether I admit it or not, he has my heart in the palm of his hand and I'd do just about anything he asked of me. I just want to take him into my arms and hold him close, inhale his amazing scent and feel his soft skin and look into his beautiful bright blue eyes and kiss his soft plum looking lips. Is that too much to ask for, to want to be loved, to show my mate what our love could be like if only he'd give me the chance? 

The first person I see when I walk in the JR hall is Waylon, on Sean's back giggling at something and I smile at them. They are lucky they accept each other and are so sickening in love it's absolutely adorable and I envy them for that. That could be Gaelen and me but alas here we are.

"Ryker!" Waylon squeals and jumps off Sean's back and jumps into my arms and squeezes the life out of me. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him back but more gently so I don't crush the tiny guy.

"Hey Way." I kissed his cheek and he blushed, it's always happened no matter who shows him affection. 

"Hey Ryker. How are you?" Sean asked as he hugged me or at least tried to with a monkey still attached to me.

"One step at a time but so far I'm ok." I opened my locker and Waylon dropped down and I took my book bag off my shoulders and grabbed my tablet along with my phone and book for AP English Language and AP Statistics which is a type of math. 

As we turned the corner, I see someone who is a complete asshole holding my sister against a locker so I run over and throw him off her and push him against the other side and my claws come out and I can feel my teeth wanting to break through my gums but I hold Leo back for now.

“Who the fuck do you think you are thinking you could lay your feline filthy hands on my sister?!” I was angry seeing him on her like he was, I wanted to rip his head off his neck!

“The he she is your sibling? Are you also a freak?” He wheezed out and I squeezed even harder and people were trying to get me to let go of him but I wasn't letting him go. 

“Ryker, please let him go. I’m fine.” My sister tried to get my attention and I looked at her and looked up and down slowly, trying to see if she had any injuries which she didn't and I was satisfied for now so I looked back at the guy and punched him in the jaw and let him drop to the floor.

The guy took deep breaths and got to his feet, drew his hand back but I punched him again before he could even make a move.

“Leave my sister alone if you know what’s good for you. In fact if you so much as touch anyone in this school or town again, they won’t be able to find your body and if they do, they won’t be able to identify your remains.” I turned around and smiled at them and shrugged. The guy laid on the floor, not moving so we walked away.

“Not that I don’t appreciate what you just did because I do but what are you doing here? We heard about what was going on and were told you weren’t going to be here for a while.” Maya said and I sling my arm around her shoulder.

“I am not going to hide away and let him run my life. I have a life here, daddy, school, friends, and you two. One person is not going to keep me away from all of the things that are important to me.” 

“But won’t it be hard to see him? He is dating some girl.” Martin said and I tensed for a second but I can't let it get to me so I played it off as nothing when they looked at me.

“It will but me being near him will make him feel the bond and I already know he feels it since he didn’t reject me so I’ll take that as a win right now. I won’t make him choose, that’s his choice.” At that moment we turned the corner and there was Gaelen with Faith. When Faith saw me, she squealed and ran over to me and she jumped into my arms and I laughed as she giggled.

“Oh it’s so good to see you!” She said after our moment of hugging and she let me go.

“You also. When did you get back?” I asked.

“A few weeks ago. I spoke to your daddy, told me you were out of town but that was last week.”

“Yea I’ll fill you in later. Maya, Martin, this is Faith, a fae. One of my good friends from grade school. We grew up together. Our moms were friends and we met when she and her mom came into the cafe one day.” I explained to my siblings and they shook hands. 

“Wait, you can do magic?” Maya asked and she smiled but nodded.  

“Yea I’m rather good at it. Why?” She asked and Maya gently grabbed her hand and pulled her away from everyone. 

"Well I gotta get to class, I'll see you guys later and Martin, if you or Maya need me, I'll be in the AP hall, just shout and I'll hear you." I told my brother and he nodded and surprised me by hugging me. I hugged him back and it felt nice. 

"Ok, thanks Ryker. Have a good day."

"You also." I started walking to my class and went in and took my seat and thought about how handsome my mate looked today. He was wearing a pair of light red sweatpants, a blue long sleeve t-shirt and his hair was styled and he smelt so good. 

My mind kept wandering to how he was doing in his classes throughout the day and it sucked because I have to focus on my classes if I want to keep my perfect GPA so I can get into medical school after college for pre-med. I want to be a surgeon, not just any kind, a brain surgeon so I have to do well in school and keep on myself all the time to focus and study, keep on a tight schedule for after school, a strict diet to help me focus and have energy, get enough sleep, and work out to keep my blood flowing. I have been doing this for years and I can't let meeting my mate slow me down and distract me. I'm already. Junior at my age and by next winter I'll be graduating which is early so I have to keep my goals no matter what. 

When the day was over I didn't even get to see Maya because according to Martin, Faith and Maya are going to their house after school so I invited Martin, along with Sean, Waylon, Jameson, and of course Gaelen to study at the cafe after school because I have a ton of homework and since it's Monday, daddy is closing the cafe himself so we'll have dinner there. 

We all arrived and sat in one of the huge booths and I took a corner so I can lay out all my stuff, my math book along with my two notebooks for the class and my supplies and started working on the problems, absorbed in my own world that I didn't even notice daddy had taken everyone's order and came back a bit later and walked behind me, put a plate of food in front of me and kissed my head and walked away. 

I ate as I kept working, not paying attention to the laughter of the guys around me because unlike them, I have all AP classes and I can't afford to waste time when I have so much work to do for the next day. People think I don't study and just have the brains to make good grades without the extra work which is true to a point but I do study especially when it comes to any type of math because that is a major part of pre-med and it gets harder in college so I need to learn all I can now so I'm prepared for when I go to college. 

"Hey Ryker." I heard my name and I hummed in response, not taking my eyes off my book.

"What are you working on so hard?" I looked up and realized it was Gaelen talking to me so I put my pen in the book and closed it so I could pay attention to him.

"AP Statistics which is a type of math I have to take." 

"I never heard of that class before. Is it hard?"

"Yea but it's nothing compared to what I'll face in college."

"What are you going to study?"

"I want to become a doctor." I said and his face was priceless, jaw dropped and eyes huge as he took in my answer.

"You? A doctor?" He was shocked but I could hear the judgment in his tone and that irked me.

"Yes, I will become a doctor. Why? Don't think I'll be good enough to be one?" 

"Not with your attitude towards people you won't be." 

"Hey you don't know shit about me. You won't ever know unless you stop judging shit you don't know anything about." I gathered my stuff and got out of my seat and left the cafe, not caring people were calling my name. 

He has no right to judge me when he didn't even give himself a chance to get to know me without judging me from the first day we met!