Veronica's P.O.V.

"I can't believe you're going to go surfing! This is awesome!" Addison said as she and I sat together in the library.

"I mean, he isn't so bad so far. But, I just got good vibes from him unlike his blueberry girlfriend. I've gotten pretty decent feelings from them except her." I explained.

It was then I heard some commotion coming from behind the shelves, making me stand up and check out what was going on. I noticed a couple of self-absorbed, popular girls named Sue, Britney, and Eva picking on the mermaid that Aaron told me was named Ariel Riptide. She's one of the ones that I felt were good people deep down.

Not going to lie, the mermaids had pretty cool names.

"What's the problem?" I asked, getting myself involved in this unnecessary conflict.

"None of your business, alpha girl." Sue replied. I chuckled as I rolled my eyes.

Eva pushed the mermaid to the ground before flipping her hair. "You wanna flirt with my boyfriend? Why would he want a freak like you?"

The mermaid glared at her. "He actually told me he's sick of you because you're nothing but a controlling, toxic bitch."

Before I knew it, she formed some kind of water orb and threw it at Eva, soaking her. She ended up throwing a temper tantrum before I saw her boyfriend, Blake, a fellow pack member of mine.

"What the hell are you doing now, Eva?" he asked.

"This bitch was trying to take you from me. Why have you been hanging around with her? You're my man." she told him.

Blake rolled his eyes before helping the redheaded mermaid up. "One, I'm not your damn property. See, Eva, not anymore. I've had it with your toxic attitude. I can't even talk to anyone, yet you go around, flirting with other guys when I'm not around. And don't think that I don't know about the little affair you're having with your boy best friend. We're over." he said, grabbing Ariel and taking her with him.

Eva began huffing before stomping her foot. She and her friends turned to me, but cowered since my moonstone and eyes were glowing.

"I'm going to give you two options. One, you keep picking on this girl and you will see the much ugly side of me or two, you leave her the hell alone and you won't have to have these babies slashing at those jugulars," I threatened, showing my claws.

They began backing away slowly before I snarled at them and they scurried off. I shook my head, getting ready to go back before I heard my name being called out.

"Great Alpha."

I looked and saw Ariel there with Blake.

"Thank you." she told me. I gave her a smile and nod. "Just doing my job."

Once the both of them walked off, I went back to the table to join my friend again. When I got there, she looked at me in amusement.

"I really hate those girls." she said.

I groaned as I opened up my book. "Their nasal voices and shrieks when they scream literally makes me want to rip their throats out."

Addison sighed before playing with one of her braids she had in her wolf look. "I know how hard that must be for you. You promised to never kill anyone."

"Don't remind me." I said as I went back to studying and working on my homework.

Addison decided to not talk about it any further before going back to doing her own assignments.

Maybe surfing with the mermaids might take my mind off the drama from earlier.

*After school*

I decided to go to the surf shop and buy myself some gear and what I needed for surfing. I got myself a surfboard as well and had contacted Aaron that I would wait for him at the beach.

I was wearing a purple rash guard swimsuit with some shorts. After some time, I saw him walking over with Tanya, Delta, and Jonah. They all had surfing gear on and seemed to make surfboards out of their powers.

"Well, well, well. She decided to take the offer after all." Tanya teased.

"Very funny." I said.

They gave me instructions on how to prepare my board before leading me into the water. It was very cold, but got warm after a few minutes. We all swam to the center of the water before we saw a couple waves coming our way. They showed me how to paddle and position myself before the waves finally hit. Before I knew it, I was surfing.

We surfed for a pretty good while before it was time for us to go to shore.

"Wow, for a wolf and first-timer, you rode those waves like a pro." Jonah said with a grin.

"We should do this more often." Delta said before they jogged away to the nearby locker rooms.

I looked at Aaron, who had an impressed look on his face. "So, we should do this more often. But, I'm getting hungry. Do you know anywhere to eat?"

"Um, why don't we go change first?" I said.

We went to our respective locker rooms and I used one of the showers in there to clean myself. After that, I got dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a simple T-shirt, along with some flip-flops. My hair was still slightly wet even after I dried it with my towel, so I decided to let it air dry.

I ended up getting a text that shopping for homecoming was going to be on another day because Eliza and Willa had gotten caught up in some stupid project including an upcoming presentation and Bree fell sick with a stomach flu.

So, I guess I can take this as an opportunity to spend more time with and get to know the mermaids more.

"Ready to go?" Aaron asked as I got my bag filled with my wet clothes as well as taking my rented board back to where I got it from.

After some time, we all ended up getting some food and sitting at a picnic table outside, close to the docks.

"Wow, it's been such a long time since I've had one of these." Delta said, taking a bite out of her burger.

"When was the last time you all were on land?" I asked, taking a sip from my drink as Aaron finished his fries.

"Oof. I don't know, maybe 5 years ago? I can't remember because we only came up to the surface to find the King and Queen's son, which is this boy here." Jonah said, pointing to the one sitting next to me.

"So, you all have lived your whole life in the sea whereas Aaron here has only been there for 5?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yes. He's the oldest and the only heir to the throne besides his twin. Also, Tanya isn't his only sibling. Myself and Delta here are his half-siblings. Same father, different mother. Our father was a big womanizer. After he had an affair behind Queen Thalia's back, who left him and never came back. He still is and he's cruel to the other mermaids, especially those who are lower ranks." Jonah explained.

"I'm so sorry. For all of you." I said.

"No worries. Once I'm King, he won't be able to hurt anybody else unless he's asking for a death wish. It's no surprise that he had something to do with my arrangement with Diondra." the older boy replied.

"Ah, yes. The blueberry that's been trying to mess with mine and Addison's boyfriends ever since she arrived." I said, making a face of disgust.

"She came from a royal family and my father is all about old traditions that are honestly so boring. He arranged for her to be my future Queen once I take the throne. I can't really stand her because before I met her, I was falling for another mermaid. Her name was Bianca and she was a commoner. I wanted to ask her to be my Queen, but my father found out and had her banished from the kingdom. He claimed and I quote, "He didn't want commoner blood to ruin the bloodline" and ended up setting me up with that witch. She's manipulative and constantly sleeps with all the other merman in our kingdom. Hopefully, I can find a way to get rid of her when I take over because the thought of her disgusts me." he said.

"Join the club." I remarked, making Jonah and Delta chuckle.

We continued eating before deciding to get milkshakes for desert. We ended up spending the evening hanging out and getting to know each other before it was time for me to go home.

First, I had to check on the pack, especially the pups. Wyatt decided to take care of them for the day earlier on today. When I got to the den, I saw them playing around with Wynter and Sadie.

I greeted them before I saw Wyatt come over and growl when he sniffed the air.

"You smell like mermaid." he said. I sighed before placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I went surfing with them. They taught me how to do it." I replied.

"You got close with them? They're dangerous! Especially to us!" he said.

"Babe, they're not that bad. They're not what we were told because if they wanted to fight us, they would've done it already. Besides, they're not so different." I explained.

"You don't know that, Veronica." he told me.

"Maybe I do. I could hear their heartbeats and they never once indicated they were lying. Maybe stop living in the past and focus on at least giving them a chance and I'm not saying this as an alpha, but as a person." I explained.

Wyatt growled before we decided to go back home. We arrived at the house and he decided to go to bed first as I decided to take a shower. Once I was clean, I did the rest of my night-time routine and later joined him.

"Night, babe." I told him.

I didn't get a reply from him. Only a huff. Really? All this just because I decided to give mermaids a chance to get to know me.

"Whatever." I said before I decided I wasn't having this. I was worn out and did not need my mate acting like a damn child.

At least tomorrow was the start of the weekend.

I grabbed my pillow before getting out and walking into the guest room, closing the door.

I got into the bed and pulled the covers over me before I turned around, taking off my moonstone and setting it on my nightstand. I turned off the lamp and soon, sleep consumed me.