Alistair

Really, bitch? Trash?

We may be poor, simple folk who's not accustomed with what city people are. But we're honest, hard working werewolves who like to live in peace and unity just like everyone else.

None of us are trash. We are werewolves just like the rest of the 15 thousand pack members. I mean, aside from Bella and Lizzie who apparently are werewolf royalty. I knew she was different as soon as I saw her shifting on the day of her consecration. I may not have that much experience with other wolves, but I know enough to understand that red fur is very rare.

Anyway, we may not be royals but we sure aren't trash. I may have had some issues with Tristan in the past but he is like family to me. That will never change. And an attack on one of us is an attack on all.

"Let's run away together! Just the two of us!" - Tristan suggested, desperately.

"Even if you could get away with it, his parents will report him as kidnapped and you'd be arrested as soon as you're located. Evan is still a minor, therefore his parents are his legal guardians." - Ben informed him in a somber tone.

We're all shocked by this information. Both Evan and Tristan haven't stopped crying since he got here.

"I don't want you to reject me!" - Tristan cried out to his mate, holding him close. The desperation in his tone is making all of us tear up. I've never seen him caring so deep about anyone like this, outside of his parents.

"I don't want to reject you either! I waited seventeen years to find my mate! I've never been with anyone else!" - Evan exclaimed, sobbing in his arms.

"I'm sorry guys, but we need to head to school otherwise we'd be late. If we give any reason for the school to alert his parents it is gonna be worse." - Ben stated in a somber tone.

Some time later, we arrived at school. Lex and Lisa were told of the unfortunate news but soon enough the school would be buzzing about Evan's family being against his relationship with the former 'nomad'.

In the meanwhile, the new students are still getting the hang of school life.

"I need to choose an elective ASAP. What's the easiest?" - I asked my mate, sitting not far from him in class. It's the start of the second period, before the teacher enters the classroom.

"What's easy for me may not be for you. You have to figure out what would be easily adaptable to your reality." - He replied in a very polite manner.

"Pick spanish, it's an easy A." - Lena interjected, not much far from us in class.

"To you it is. I don't know one word in spanish." - I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Every time I look at her I'm reminded of our familial connection and by extension, of my biological father.

"What are you choosing, Chris?" - I asked him, who looked distant.

"What?" - He turned to me and asked as if I had awakened him from sleep.

"What are you doing for your electives?" - I questioned him.

"Spanish." - He replied, clearly bothered by something else.

Chris turned around to Lisa, who's sitting next to him in the classroom.

"Are your parents against us dating? Do they think I'm trash too?" - He looked at her like a lost puppy searching for a home. It's heartbreaking.

"What? NO!" - She replied, deeply saddened by his question. Lisa hugged him tightly.

"They would never think that of you, I promise." - She reiterated, comforting a clearly disturbed looking boy.

The teacher enters and starts the class.

"Alistair, Christian, Tristan and Elodie, I need you to start reading the books the class had already read in the last semester because they will be in the final exam." - Mrs. Carrera informed us in a serious tone, to which we nodded along.

Another person who reminds me of Bruno, but thankfully she doesn't mention him to me. Anymore.

Some time later...

"Hi, gorgeous. I heard your birthday is tomorrow, so I wanted to ask if it's okay to give you a present." - Roger approached Elodie, who smiled at the question (and him).

"You don't have to get me anything." - She blushed under his piercing gaze.

"Oh but I want to. Think of it as your welcome to school gift." - He insisted with a charming smile.

"Sure, if you want to. I won't say no." - She conceded, cheeks colored.

"Great!" - He smiled contently and returned to his seat.

"How did you hear about her birthday if she has been enrolled in just a few days?" - Christian asked him, peeved. Elodie is already glaring at her brother.

"I have my ways, young padawan." - Roger deflected with his smug grin.

"I don't know what that means." - Chris frowned, annoyed.

"It means he heard someone else talking about your birthday and since you're twins, he knows it's hers too." - Ben interjected in a matter of fact tone.

"I don't know what your intentions are with my sister, but if you disrespect her we're gonna have a problem." - Chris threatened him.

"My intentions are not any different than what Lisa has with you, unless you're telling me only you can have a relationship because you're a boy and she's a girl." - Roger spoke like a true player.

"Christian, shut up!" - Elodie intervened, angry at him.

"I'm not saying that at all! But you're not exactly known for having relationships." - Chris shot back, defensively.

"I'm also not known for disrespecting any girls. You can ask your girlfriend, if you want." - He countered and both Lisa and Chris glared daggers at him.

"Stay the fuck away from my sister!" - Chris is nearly glowing with rage right now. This has escalated fast.

"Shut the fuck up, Christian! Who asked you to meddle?" - Elodie yelled at her brother, livid.

"You don't know his reputation, El!" - Chris turned to his sister, worriedly.

"So you think I'm defenseless? That I can't handle a boy, is that it? Or are you the only one who can be happy with someone? Don't I have the same right as you?" - She shouted at him, seriously mad.

"Of course you have the right to be happy. I just don't like him for you!" - Her brother argued in a raised voice.

"It's none of your business who I like or not! I didn't treat your girlfriend badly when she came to talk to us, even though none of us knew her. But I gave her the benefit of the doubt. The least you can do is afford me the same opportunity." - She ranted, pissed off.

At this, the girls in the class all applaud Elodie. A teacher reprimanded them both for yelling and cursing inside the classroom. Both of the twins got detention. Another thing they're unfamiliar with.

During lunch break, we're trying to keep ourselves entertained with lighter topics while the star crossed lovers moped in another table.

"Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow? Is there gonna be a party?" - Lisa asked her boyfriend, sounding excited for him.

"Party, not so much. But my mom is probably baking me a cake if she's allowed to use the pack house kitchen." - He replied with a modest smile.

"Baking US a cake." - His sister interjected, still angry at him for before.

"Yes, of course." - He gulped awkwardly.

"Are you worried about him aging into consent tomorrow?" - I asked Lisa, who is baffled by my question - and the implication. Chris is too.

"No, why should I? There's no one turning 18 in January except for Roger and I don't think Chris is his type." - She snickered.

"You know the entire senior class birthdays?" - Elodie questioned her, gobsmacked.

"No, but there are only 21 seniors like us. And yes, I do know their birthdays. We've been going to the same school since elementary." - She replied, mildly awkward.

"Roger is turning 18?" - Elodie questioned her, sounding excited at the prospect. Chris tried to hold back his disapproval, but failed.

"He is, later this month. And now that you're turning 17, you're going to be eligible to be discovered." - Lisa smiled at her, despite Chris' annoyance at the topic.

Elodie smiled radiantly at the idea. She didn't even hide it, not that she should. It's about time she gets some. Girl power.

"Unless his mate is Lex." - Chris joked, getting an otherwise unusually quiet boy to rise up at the prospect. I laughed at his joke, but the girls aren't having it.

"No offense, but I seriously doubt his mate is a boy. Even one as beautiful as you." - Lisa stated, receiving a smile from him. But we all know this by now. It is what it is.

After classes ended, my mate dropped us off but not before making a crazy - and obvious - suggestion to Evan and Tristan at the school parking lot.

"I don't know what else to say about this, but the only option you have right now is to complete the bond, Evan. Before they whisk you away." - Ben suggested in a somber tone, looking at them both near Evan's car.

Tristan and him got wide eyed at the suggestion, but it does make sense.

"I know, but my parents will hate me if I do it." - Evan spoke in a sorrowful tone.

"Yeah, they might. But at least you won't be shipped off to another country." - Ben stated, a smirk hiding in the corner of his mouth.

We got inside his car after that, while Evan drove Tristan.

It's the simplest but effective manner of keeping him here and bonded with his mate. Once they complete it, Evan can't be separated from Tristan for a long period of time. Especially in the beginning of the mating.

I have no idea of the consequences for him if he does it, but if he wants to be with his mate there's no other choice to be made. Not really.

Evan and Tristan went upstairs to our room. Chris and Elodie got held back at school serving detention and I stayed in my mate's room. Ben went to his training as always.

NEXT DAY.

"Happy birthday!" - I celebrated the twins as soon as I stepped foot inside the dining room. I slept in my mate's room, so I didn't see Chris when I woke up today. I have been sleeping with Ben since Christmas.

I hugged both of them while everyone cheered them on.

"Thanks, guys. It's nice to feel loved." - Elodie thanked us, smiling radiantly. As was her brother.

"You're so welcome. I love you both and wish you the absolute best birthday ever." - I said with a wide smile.

"Are you celebrating with Lisa later?" - Gabriel asked his son as we began to eat breakfast.

"I think she might take me to some place tomorrow to celebrate. Tonight I want to eat momma's cake." - He replied as the nice country boy that he is.

"Don't worry, there will be a cake. Luna Alicia has already ordered one to the kitchen staff." - Sophia informed us as I detected a sour mood in her voice.

"Can't you bake, momma?" - Chris asked her, surprised.

"Apparently, they don't let the boarders mess around in the kitchen." - She replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, momma. But I'm sure it's gonna be great no matter who bakes it. The important part is that we'll be together." - Chris said and his parents smiled at him.

When it's time to leave for school, Evan wasn't there to take Tristan. I didn't ask him how the bond completion went because it's a bit weird for me, but we all celebrated him yesterday evening during dinner. Though everyone is apprehensive about the possible aftermath of their actions.

"It's fine. I'll ask Sarah to drop me off at school." - He downplayed it, trying to make it sound like it's not a big deal.

"Did you talk to him last night?" - Ben asked him, worriedly.

"No, he said he'd talk to me today when we meet for school." - He replied, sounding concerned, though he's trying hard to mask his anxiousness.

Some time later, we're at school and Evan is nowhere to be found. Tristan is starting to get desperate, thinking they shipped him off despite having completed the bond. Honestly, that would kill him.

We tried to calm him down saying to give it time, but after the third period there's already talk of calling the police. Or Alpha / Luna. But Ben affirmed that Tristan can't show up at his house unannounced and uninvited. Or call the police because a student skipped one day of school.

"Happy birthday, princess!" - Roger greeted Elodie inside the classroom, carrying a gift as promised. She smiled at him, naturally.

"I hope it's to your liking." - He said in a humble tone as he handed her the present.

"Thanks, Roger. I'm sure I'll like it." - She replied, blushing lightly. But when she unwrapped it, her eyes shined with happiness (not literally).

"Oh my goodness! A cell phone! I loved it!" - She's gobsmacked at the present. None of us ever had a cellphone. It's not exactly useful in the woods, neither our parents would spend money on it.

She jumped to hug him tightly.

"Thank you so much!" - She's radiating right now. Roger looked pleased at her reaction, which is exactly what he wanted.

"My number is already programmed in it. You can call or text me anytime you want." - He said, flirtatiously.

"By the way, would it be alright if I take you out tomorrow?" - He continued, getting an immediate yes from her.

Chris didn't have time to sulk in disapproving frown because he too got approached inside the classroom.

"Happy birthday, baby! I hope you like your gift." - Lena hugged him under Lisa's furious gaze. She gave him a present as well.

"It's not as cool as a cellphone, but I hope you enjoy it." - She spoke as Chris opened his gift.

His eyes widened at the sight of a smart watch. Lena explained some of the functions to him, including the possibility of texting her simply by commanding it. The boy is mesmerized by the gadget.

"Gracias, Lena. Realmente me gustó." - He said and I'm genuinely baffled at this.

[Thank you, Lena. I really liked it.]

"Since when do you speak spanish?" - I'm gobsmacked at him.

"I don't, but I know some words." - He replied, getting a rise out of her.

"You're welcome, baby." - She said, radiantly. Though not nearly as radiant as he is right now. Lisa is fuming in jealousy.

"Wow! Damn, the gift is so good Chris is speaking in foreign tongue. I hope Lisa's is something else because the competition is fierce!" - I snickered, though she's not laughing at my remark.

Meanwhile, Tristan is looking distraught, sitting next to an empty seat. I'm dreading whatever the outcome of this can be.

And Evan's absence is really bothering him. He doesn't deserve this. Not in the slightest. Neither of them do.

We may never be royals, but we are worth it just the same. We are proud, dignified people. We really are worthy. Of having a mate and them accepting us.

This cannot. Will not stand.

https://youtu.be/LFasFq4GJYM

A|N: Tell them, Ali!

It's funny, usually I write many chapters ahead of publishing, but since I got stuck inside the house for a week, I got lazy and posted the ones already written without writing anything new. Now, I'm catching up to the lost time.

On the other hand, I had a completely different direction for the last two chapters but somehow a comment about Tristan got me thinking he did get away with hurting two different people (even if one of them accidentally). He should suffer too.

Bonus points that I got to use this song that otherwise would never fit in the book. And I do love it. <3

I wonder whatever happened to Evan...

Love,

Léo.