Beck

I am shocked.

Quentin, who doesn't even have a car, is having our first date in a city 4 hours from Ruckerford Falls? Damn...

I'm all for ambition, as long as this doesn't turn into some sort of competition between the twins. I adore the enthusiasm, but I abhor anyone trying to one up the other in terms of our mating.

This is already confusing and awkward as it is, I don't need to add competition to it.

That is without considering the obvious competition for the Alpha position, but that has nothing to do with me and we're not there yet. Not without the marking on Quentin's neck.

And despite what I said about sleeping in the same room with him, we're not there yet. Not even remotely. I meant it in the sense of us sharing a two beds room.

It's Thursday, the eve of Layla's birthday.

Tensions are running high between Owen and Elaine in anticipation of the event. Blaine is also sweating in nervousness, not that he talks to any of us about it. I'm not inside the wrestling locker room or am a close friend of his to know his feelings.

But from the longing glances being exchanged inside the classroom, I'm going out on a limb here to say he wants her. He wants Layla badly, I might add.

He's still hurt because she sent that infamous email to Owen's parent, but that didn't change how he feels about her. Not by a long shot. Even I can gather that.

Elaine has already asked Owen to skip Friday's class, but that would actually make it worse, in my opinion. I much rather know my second mate when I did than be homeschooled for the rest of the year and never have to face him.

Of course, this is a bad example because even if I never stepped foot inside the school again - which is virtually impossible - I still would have to face him when I'd go to his house since I'm still mated to his brother.

Though my example is terrible, my point remains the same. There's no use skipping classes to potentially skip her mating. I'm praying for her to be paired with Blaine, but there are other sixty or seventy boys she could be matched with.

That's without considering the college boys.

Like we say time and time again, you can't fight the moonlight.

In fact, that song is the soundtrack of every single one of our lives.

Especially mine, at this point. I can try to resist, try to hide from his kiss, but I can't fight the electrifying attraction I feel for him. Most of all now that he's behaving like a choir boy. *giggles*

"You look so good today, mate. I wish our sleepover was today." - Quentin flirted with me as soon as I entered the classroom with his brother, though he waited a few seconds until he was no longer next to me. Our seats are not particularly close inside the classroom, though mine and Quentin's are even further apart because he sits at the back.

But werewolves are very good at hearing anything but a whisper inside this close space. Even outside voices carry inside the busy classroom.

"Thanks, mate. I hope you know that the fact we're sharing a room doesn't mean anything by it. I'm just saving your father's money before he calls me a gold digger." - I snickered. Quentin and Jude laughed at my statement and so did our classmates.

"I know that, Beck. Relax. But if you are in the habit of sleeping in the nude, don't let me stop you." - He flirted, eyes nearly glowing in lust for me. Jude gasped at his boldness.

"Not even with my other mate. Much less someone I never saw without a shirt on." - I refuted, raising my eyebrow at his bold attempt.

Quentin then took off his shirt like we're not in the middle of the crowded classroom and looked at me flirtatiously. There were some people gawking at the hot boy, but I was cringing.

"There. Now you saw me shirtless." - He stated, seconds before putting it back.

"Dude, chill out! You're practically begging for it!" - Jude reprimanded him fiercely.

"I already did, now I'm just ready for more." - He shot back, defiantly.

"Jude, my love, leave him be." - I addressed him in a stern tone. - "Quentin, down boy. I'm your mate, not your conquest. No matter how hot you are, that's not what's gonna persuade me. That's not how this works and don't take your shirt off inside the classroom. Other people don't need to see it." - I chastised him.

I'm pretty sure some girls weren't mad at that display, but I don't wanna talk about it.

"Hey Lay, so are we gonna celebrate your birthday tomorrow evening, right? You'll text me when it's time to meet up with you at the restaurant?" - Jude asked his best friend, sounding thrilled for her.

"Yes, we are. As soon as my mother arrives, we are going out. It's gonna be a family affair. I mean, my mother and my father's family." - She replied, awkwardly.

"Aren't you gonna invite your mate too?" - I asked her, curiously.

"I don't even know if I'm gonna be mated tomorrow, Beck!" - She shouted as if I had just cursed her.

"Okay, sorry I asked." - I mumbled uncomfortably.

Did I mention she was tense as hell? Oh yeah...

In today's wrestling practice, the coach had to intervene before she choked a teammate to death. And it wasn't even Owen or Blaine - or my mate. She was positively about to blow off. Even Quentin was baffled by this. He offered her some comforting words before they broke for their separate locker rooms.

"My Goddess, I never saw her this much tense before! Even when she hit me with her talon she was less raging than today." - Quentin commented to Jalensky inside the male locker room. He too was taken aback by her aggressiveness today.

And it's not like she cuddles anyone during practice, naturally.

"I know, right? I'm glad this business is gonna resolve itself tomorrow or she'll be suspended from the team again." - He remarked with a worried frown.

"Yeah, one way or another... someone's gonna be mated tomorrow." - Quentin agreed, glancing at the boys by his other side. Both of them looked anxious as well, but Owen was beside himself apprehensive.

Jude spent the lunch break talking about past times where the two of them celebrated Layla's birthday together. Many sleepovers, dinners and trips to the mall or a nearby carnival. There aren't many options in a 25 thousand people town, unfortunately.

It served to cheer her up and to distract her from the upcoming mating, which he was smart enough to not bring it up. Yeah, good one. I wouldn't bring it up either if I were him. *laughs nervously*

After we returned to the classroom, my other mate was waiting for me with a flower he picked from the school garden.

"For you. It costs nothing so you won't think I'm trying to buy your acceptance. I'm just genuinely into you." - He flirted, unabashedly.

"Thank you, mate. You are very lovely when you set your mind to it. I hope you always remain this way." - I told him, taking a whiff of my flower.

I took my seat and Kingsley smiled at me naughtily. We always sit beside each other in class.

"This weekend promises to be bumpy." - He spoke with rare malice in his tone.

"If you managed to spend a three day weekend with the third hottest boy I've ever seen in my life, I'm pretty sure I can survive one night away." - I rolled my eyes, not giving into the hype.

"Third? He's my number one." - He retorted, smitten by Jalensky. Dragomir was feeling his oats as expected.

"I wonder who is the first and second..." - Layla spoke with a devious grin in my direction.

"Blaine and Owen." - I shot back in a snarky tone and watched her grimace.

If looks could kill... I'm glad I'm a strong boy now. Both the boys I mentioned gulped awkwardly at my statement.

"That was a joke, by the way. It's obviously a tie between my two mates." - I told Jude, mildly uncomfortable.

"We got that, Beck. Don't worry." - He acknowledged, awkwardly.

"I think I'm coming down with something." - Owen spoke, clearing his throat as if he was experiencing a cold or strep throat.

"Are you really that much of a coward that you can't simply face off the possibility of being mated to her? Really? I thought you were a warrior." - I snarled at him, angrier than I could've ever anticipated about this subject.

Owen was taken aback by my words and kept staring at me for a while, gobsmacked.

"I'm not a warrior, I'm only part of the wrestling team because my father told me it was a good way to make friends." - He spoke, sincerely.

"Be that as it may, man up, dude. She's not gonna talon you." - I challenged him, pissed off about this nonsense.

Enough is enough.

"If I can manage two Alpha mates, one of which I rejected, whose father is the Alpha of the pack, I'm sure you people can deal with a simple mating. Stop acting like it's the end of the world!" - I reprimanded the three of them with deadly stares all around.

"Calm down, mate." - Jude asked me, nervously.

"I AM CALM! I just can't stand this anymore! A beautiful girl is getting mated tomorrow. Her choices are twenty hot boys from her team or another hot boy from junior class. Either way, she's gonna do great. We don't need to treat this as if war was apparent." - I snapped at him, rabidly.

A very uncomfortable mood sets inside the classroom that wouldn't be lifted even after the penultimate class of the day.

Jude and I walked to our final class of the day together while I sniffed my flower given by Quentin. I have to admire the boy, he did come through. Despite a heartbreaking beginning for us.

"I know you're not too keen on my date with Quentin, but I have to give him a chance. I can't ignore the issue much longer. He did what was required of him. Now the best thing we can do is move on with our lives, however that may be." - I told him, feeling his apprehension in my core.

He took a big inhale of my scent before he replied.

"I know, Beck. I knew this day would come. I just hate sharing you, especially with him." - He spoke, sincerely.

"I know, my love. If I had a choice in a mate..." - I breathed out a frustrated sigh. - "But I don't, so let's roll with the punches." - I declared, as uncomfortable as humanly possible.

I'm not gonna deny the burgeoning chemistry between me and Quentin anymore.

I can't look the other way, it's almost getting the better of me. I'm done now. I wasn't built to deny my sexuality and it's craving my second mate as if I were still a virgin. Not that I think this matters in any way.

"I can't deny I'm also excited about our trip. I've never been to Dallas before, but I'm curious to visit it." - I told Quentin after the final bell rang. He smiled widely at me.

"Me neither. I'm glad to visit it for the first time with you, mate." - He spoke, both charming and vulnerable. It's a deadly combination.

I breathed out a lustful sigh that held me together from kissing him right now.

I turned away from my mate to glance at Blaine for a moment.

"Best of luck for you tomorrow. #TeamBlaine" - I told him and he smiled sheepishly.

"We're all team Blaine." - Elaine chimed in, surprising literally no one.

I glanced at her looking rather concerned. Same as Owen was.

"Wouldn't it be cool if she got mated to someone we never could've expected? Like Sam, for example?" - Kingsley suggested with a mischievous grin.

Sam glanced at him puzzled.

"I'm gay!" - He exclaimed and we all laughed at the same time.

"Really? You didn't see the way he looked at my shirtless mate before? I thought I had to stab a bitch! - I snickered. Sort of.

Sam gulped awkwardly at my words. So did my cousin and mates.

"I'm sorry, Luna. I'd never mess around with mated men." - He apologized quickly.

"I know. I'm joking, Sam. It's normal to look at a ripped six pack. We're only humans. For the most part." - I said in a humorous tone.

"Even I looked. And my mate is way hotter." - Kingsley snickered.

"Agree to disagree, cousin." - I rebuked him. Sorry, but Jalensky can't hold a candle to my mates.

We all laughed at the awkward conversation and silly propositions on our way out. Soon enough my mate is driving me back to the pack house.

On Friday, my mate and I entered the school and searched for a very apprehensive looking Layla.

"Happy birthday, Lay! I love you and wish you all the happiness in the world. And a hot mate to keep you warm in this winter." - Jude hugged and kissed his best friend in the courtyard.

"Thanks, J. I love you too." - She said, looking over his shoulder.

"Are they here yet?" - I inquired, as curious as my mate is at this point.

"Obviously not." - She replied, snarkily.

"Happy birthday, Layla. I can't wait for you to be mated to the best boy the Goddess could find." - I cheered for her, ignoring her tense mood.

"Thanks, Beck. I'm sorry for the comeback, I'm a little..."

She did not finish that sentence.

"MATE!" - She declared in a deep, husky tone, looking at a boy across the yard.

"MATE!" - He replied, mesmerized by her. Enchanted, even.

In this instance, just like in Quentin and Jude's birthday, someone begins to sob discreetly. It's not loud enough to distract the mates but I catch them tearing up quietly. I feel so sorry for them.

No matter what we do, someone always ends up with a broken heart.

While the two mates stare at each other in transe, the other person is there crying at this. It reminded me of Kingsley, who fortunately is now happier than ever.

I hope they can heal as well. I know they will. We are werewolves, this is what happens to us. And there's nothing else any of us can do about it. Aside from that, what a great looking couple. Hot damn!

"I, Layla Ann Hobbs, accept you..."

https://youtu.be/66QN5n64OoQ

A|N: Who is Layla's mate? And who is crying on the sideline?

Stay tuned!

Next is "I'm Your Baby Tonight".

Love,

Léo.