Alistair

I got checked out by the doctor and am without any further symptoms or complications from the surgery. In fact, she told me my recovery was so speedy it was a darn near miracle. Of course, she's human.

I relished on the fact that I got a clean bill of health because I freaking deserve it.

I miss outdoor activities and other types of activities, if you catch my drift.😏

What can I say, I'm only 17 and have a hot boy on my bed everyday waiting and willing.

I mean, waiting.

Lately, he hasn't been willing to do anything with me apart from watching his DVD box set of 'Queer as Folk'. I don't know how he came across this show that aired before he was born, but I can't argue against the parade of naked men on display.

Still, I would rather he concentrated on the naked boy on display in his bed.

But I understand he was freaked out about my brain aneurysm and is still reeling from that deathly scare. I do, but come on mate. I'm good to go now.

As we spent our spring break inside binge watching, the newly mated couples spent theirs getting to know each other on various dates. I didn't see Lisa during this time off, but I heard she and Zach saw each other every single day during the week off.

Considering he's back to college now, I get it. Make the most of your mate while you have him. It's a concept I can really appreciate after my health scare. You know what they say: carpe diem.

But I can't seem to get my mate to 'carpe' my 'diem' anymore.

Chris and Lena have also been on dates every day of the week. They have been getting to know one another pretty well. I might even have seen them sharing a peck on occasion. It's not like I could leave the house anyway... * grunts in annoyance*

My mom is steady on her job, thankfully. I was fearful they'd fire her over the time she took off taking care of me, but I guess her boss has a heart after all. I mean, I am a minor. She is my mom. And it was a life threatening illness, so...

The men are going strong at their respective jobs and there's even talk about branching out from the pack house. Joe is saving up to rent a house somewhere in town soon. Gabriel and Allison are thinking about it too now that both their children are mated into this pack.

The only wild card is my mom. I still don't know if she's going to leave after school is over or not. Though school is not gonna be over to me any time soon with all the classes I'm yet to attend. Summer school, here I come.

Sarah, on the other hand, has made her decision after a surprise visit from her parents in law.

It's Wednesday morning during spring break. We're all gathering inside the guest dining room to have breakfast. It's one of the few moments where everyone is around considering most of the adults have lunch at their jobs.

I know momma and Sarah have talked after the visit from the Giordanos. But I don't know where her mind is or if anything has changed for her. Until now that is.

"Martha, I have been thinking about this for a while now. Even before my father and mother in law visited." - She started, looking at momma.

"You're going to return to your old pack?" - I questioned her, surprised.

"No, Ali. I won't. I will make my life here in this pack." - She surprised everyone with the announcement. Even the warriors gasped in shock.

"Me raising my daughters as rogues, living in the woods was never meant to be a permanent solution." - She elaborated in a somber tone.

"The truth is I met Martha during a desperate time in my life. And we have bonded over so deeply that it never even occurred to me living apart from her and her wonderful children." - She continued, dreading whatever she's about to speak next.

"But I have a teenage daughter now. I have to think of my girls. And that whole situation with those men coming to take our 'food' back at camp was eye opening to me." - She stated, reminding us all of the terror we felt that day.

Yes, she air quoted the word food for the sake of the children present. Goddess only knows what they would have done if not confronted. And what else would they have taken if they were allowed.

I know at least one of them had his sights on me. So, I take her point very well. Too well for my taste.

"No, I won't return to my old pack. That's not what they came here to ask me. They just want to be part of the girls' life." - She concluded, sounding concerned for my mom's reaction.

"I get it, Sarah. That was a scary situation indeed. Truth is I do understand your point of view. Especially after Mark's health scare, I've been thinking about settling down here too. It's not like I'm getting any younger. Not to mention Ali can't leave here anymore. And without the rest of you with us, what would be the point?" - Momma spoke, looking around the room to the other families.

"We're sorry, Martha. We didn't plan on settling down here. But without our children, what would be the point? I'm not abandoning my only son and daughter here. Though hopefully they go to college in the Fall." - Allison told her, glancing over at the twins who blushed.

"You have nothing to be sorry. I completely understand it. Life in the woods gets old after a while." - Momma empathized, feeling the weight of her decisions.

"Well, I'm glad you're settling down here too, momma. I never wanted you to leave anyway." - I said with a loving expression to her.

"I don't want Mark or Laura to go through that situation ever again. If anything happens to any of my pups, then what's the point? Plus, I like running water." - She snickered.

I stood up from my seat and hugged her for a minute.

"I like running water too. Any water I don't have to fetch, I'm cool with." - I giggled.

As we used to say back then, we're pack animals. Our strength lies in being in bulk. If the rest of the families are not going to be with them, supporting each other, then what's the point?

If it's already hard with people backing each other up, imagine being a single family with two small children? I lived through the dangers of rogue life. That's not for the faint of heart.

And as my momma so eloquently pointed out, she's not getting any younger.

DAYS LATER, it's Monday and we're all back to school.

It's a sad fact of life, but there are no free rides for people like us. We either study or we earn. Though apparently, I will never have the opportunity to earn.

Still, it is what it is. And we need to get our diploma that isn't coming any easy.

"Good morning, bitch. How are you doing?" - Ben asked Lex as we met him in the school yard.

"Morning. I'm fine. My heat has subsided and I had a nice spring break alone in my house." - He replied in a sour tone.

"Poor little rich boy." - Ben snickered. - "Was it too much trouble with all the maids doing the work for you?"

"You have maids in your house too, bitch!" - Lex rebuked in an annoyed tone.

I laughed at this exchange of privileged boys who never had to fetch water a day in their lives. Lena rushes to greet Chris, kissing him on the lips. Though he looks a bit uncomfortable with the PDA.

"What?" - She questioned him, puzzled.

"Nothing, I'm just shy." - He replied, bashfully.

"Right. It's not like when you couldn't take your hands off of Lisa when you two were dating." - She rolled her eyes in annoyance. Chris gasped at this.

"It was different!" - He defended himself, mouth agape at the accusation.

"Yes, it was different. She didn't mean to you what you mean to me." - Lena argued, pissed off.

"She meant a lot to me, Lena. Still does." - He countered, which only aggravated her more.

"She's dated, Christian! Let it go!" - She shouted, then stomped out of the yard furiously.

Chris stood there alone, taking in the judging stares of the other students. I feel bad for him. You can't turn off your feelings like that. And Lisa meant so much to him, I guess still does.

"I'm sorry, my friend. Hang in there, it will pass." - I comforted him, who looked mighty uncomfortable.

"Thanks, Ali. It's not like I don't want to be with her. But I gotta pace myself." - He explained, embarrassed.

"I understand, my friend." - I hugged him and we went inside as the bell rang.

After the first period ended, I checked in with my cousin.

"Are you okay? I thought you too had a wonderful time during spring break." - I asked her in a low tone.

"We did, yeah. But I guess I'm used to a certain rhythm to these things and I have some expectations from our relationship." - She spoke, letting her intentions clear.

"I get that, but each person has their own pace. Look at Roger and Elodie, they took their time and now look happier than ever." - I argued, catching both of their attentions. They both smile as they look at each other from separate chairs inside the classroom.

"Yeah, I loved that Roger waited. But I can't afford to wait that long." - She refuted, wide-eyed.

"It's been two weeks, Lena! Calma-te!" - Chris interjected from his seat, annoyed at her.

She glared so many daggers at him that even I was uncomfortable.

Ironically, I can relate to her at this moment. My mate also doesn't want to correspond to my expectations. Not that I'm gonna tell her that, she'd probably slap me. I'm marked, she isn't. There's no comparison.

Needless to say, the mated couple remained estranged from each other the whole morning. In the meantime, I checked with another mated girl.

"How did your mom react when she found out?" - I asked Lisa, intrigued.

"First off, she laughed at me." - Lisa replied, annoyed at her mom's response.

"She said I fought so hard to not follow in her footsteps and now I'm stuck with a 'you know what'." - She continued, referencing the fact that she's mated to the future Beta.

"Other than that, she was happy for me. Though his family's reaction was something else. They threw a dinner party to celebrate and invited me over, of course." - She told me, grinning wide at the recent memory.

"Great! How were the Matsunagas?" - I wondered, curiously.

"Honestly, the best. His parents were so welcoming to me. And they said their son couldn't have found a more perfect date for him." - She was practically radiating as she told me this.

"My mom already calls her daughter." - Lisa M. interjected from her seat, a tad jealous.

"Wow! I'm perplexed. Good for you, Lisa. You deserve happiness after #Lenian happened." - I told her with some dread in my tone.

"First of all, that's a terrible ship name." - She laughed at me.

"But thanks, I do. I just wish he wasn't already in college." - She commented, now feeling some dread at the realization.

"It'll be June in no time. Plus, you can visit each other over the weekends. UT is not that far from here." - I argued, cheering her up.

"How do you know where UT is? Have you been looking at colleges for yourself?" - She surprised me with an unexpected question.

"No, but the guidance counselor wants me to. She's relentless." - I replied, mortified by Ben's surprised gaze.

I guess I have some talking to do with my mate. Though there's no way I can afford any education. The pricing is ridiculously high.

Over at lunch, Chris was sulking. Lisa wasn't present. And my mate kept staring at me quizzically.

"I'm not going to college, Ben. There's no way I'd be accepted nor could I afford it." - I declared, mildly annoyed.

"I think you could look at some community colleges nearby. Or take some tech courses, who knows?" - He tried to cheer me up.

"I don't know. But I'm open to it. I just don't want to put any financial pressure on my momma. It's not like she's making bank at her part time job." - I rolled my eyes, not wanting to get my hopes up. Plus, she has two more children to support.

"I understand. But the guidance counselor is right. You should pursue a higher education if that's what you want. I won't stand in your way." - He smiled, then kissed me.

"Thanks, Ben. You're the best." - I winked at him contently.

At night in our bedroom, I caress his face sweetly. I notice the goosebumps that I cause because that's exactly what I'm feeling too.

"I'm ready to get back on the horse, so to speak." - I told him suggestively.

"Are you sure you don't need more time?" - He double checked, anxiously.

"Not really, no. I don't. I want you. Badly." - I stated, proudly.

"Good. But not tonight. I had a full day and I'm tired. Maybe Saturday." - He told me and I gasped in shock.

"Maybe Saturday? Today is Monday!" - I shouted in horror.

"Yes, so we should sleep because it's a school night." - He shot back, turning around on the bed and turning off the night lamp.

I'm like... Saturday?

Really, bitch?

I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons now! I want it now!

On Tuesday, as soon as we arrived at school, Chris sought out his mate.

"I'm sorry for yesterday. You're right. I'm self conscious around school because I think I'm cheating on Lisa. I know she's dated now. And I also know you're my date. Please bear with me, I promise you I'll get to wherever you need me to be." - He humbled himself before her.

"It's fine, Chris. I know you're still getting over her. I don't want you to rush into anything you're not prepared to. I'm okay with waiting." - She smiled at him and he kissed her gently.

"Thanks, Lena. You're the best." - He grinned at her.

"Also, you're looking hot in this skirt today. You're making it very difficult for me to control myself around you." - He flirted and I'm gobsmacked by his attitude.

"Thanks, Chris. Whenever you want me to lose the skirt, let me know." - She flirted back and people were like... damn, girl!

Even I am hot under the collar after this exchange. Straight people, am I right?

Though if my mate wants me to lose my pants, I'm there for him. If only he'd ask me to...😏

A|N: I hope people know that when they say "date / dated" they mean "mate / mated" and can't say because they're among humans.

I always want to maintain a modicum of deniability when I'm writing my novels because I don't believe when people write werewolf novels like they can do whatever they want and humans remain clueless about it.

My brain doesn't comprehend this, I need to make it as believable as I can. As if they lived among us right now. Wouldn't that be cool?

Unless of course, I'm reading an AU. Then, it's fine.

You are not gonna believe whose p.o.v. comes next. I'm like rebelling in this bitch and I just don't care. I love it!

Oh Ali, when you smile, I swoon. *drools at his picture*

Love,

Léo.