Benjamin

I had a blast.

Seeing Teddy explain wolf coded language to humans is always laughable, but watching a thirsty Lena trying to get her mate to push the envelope between them is a root.

I also know that my mate is trying to get us to go back to our nightly routine, but after his aneurysm, I was scared out of my mind that anything I do with him would rupture it. Now, I know he's been cleared by the doctor.

But it's taking me some time to get back to that mindset, not that I lost any desire for him. That's not what this is about. At all. I find him as hot as I did the first day.

I mean, not really. I find him way hotter than then. That's the truth.

Also, there's a small petty part of me that wants to punish him for that amnesia prank he pulled at the hospital.

But withholding sex isn't that much of a punishment. Because it punishes me too.

So no, that's not the actual punishment.

I have something much more fun in mind.😏

It's Thursday, the fourth week of March, I'm having breakfast with my family inside the dining room of the pack house.

"Your mother and I are going to be away this weekend for the Huntington's ascension ceremony. Beta Babcock is in charge. Please behave yourselves." - Dad informed us in his serene but suspicious tone.

"Wow, I was planning on throwing a party but now that you said that..." - I smirked.

Dad glared at me. Sasha giggled.

"What your father meant was: don't behave any differently than you would any other weekend. That's it." - Mom advised us, wisely.

"We know, mom. Rest assured I'll keep an eye out for Sasha." - I told her while my sister rioted.

"Me?! Girl, please! You're tripping!" - She sassed me.

"Sure, Sasha. Don't try to sneak Justin inside the house." - I warned her and she almost slapped me.

"I'm fourteen, idiot! The only thing I sneak into my bedroom is chocolate!" - She yelled at me, mad.

"Okay, settle down. Stop yelling, please. I only meant for you to behave yourselves, not start a sibling war." - Dad intervened, slightly peeved.

My sister and I kept on glaring at each other suspiciously and had our breakfast quietly.

To me, it makes no difference whether my parents are here or not. It doesn't change anything or derail my plans. Fortunately, I'm good to go with my revenge plotting.

After I arrived at school with all the mated teens - I still struggle to believe how all the rogues found their mates in our pack - I greeted Lex, all the while the others greeted their mates.

"Hi, bitch. One week and counting." - I winked at him, referencing his upcoming birthday.

"Don't remind me. I'm so nervous about it. I'd bribe the Goddess if I could to mate me sooner, legitimately." - He told me in a low tone.

"Don't sweat it, my friend. I'm sure he'll be great." - I reassured him.

"My parents are going away for the weekend. Do you want to do anything?" - I asked him, making our way to the classroom.

"Really? But don't you have plans of your own with Ali?" - He questioned me with a raised eyebrow.

"I do, yeah. You're right. But I meant like on Sunday." - I clarified.

"Sure, it's better than to stay at home alone. Maybe we could go to the mall and catch a movie. I'm a little envious of #Lenian having gone for the first time last weekend, I'm not gonna lie." - He admitted in a vulnerable tone.

"It's a date, my friend." - I winked at him, pleasantly.

"Can I come too? I liked watching film with glasses." - Ali interjected.

"If you go, then Lex will feel like he's a third wheel on our date." - I explained to him, remorsefully. Lex gulped awkwardly.

"Not if we invite another person to go with us." - Ali surprised me with the suggestion.

"What? Who?" - I questioned him, baffled.

"Teddy!" - Ali shouted to him across the school hall as he was about to enter the classroom.

He stopped in his tracks and turned around to greet us.

"Would you like to go to the movies on Sunday with me, Ben and Lex?" - Ali shocked the hell out of everyone with that surprise invite.

Teddy kept looking at us nervously, too gobsmacked to react.

"Sure, why not?" - He gave in after an uncomfortable silent minute.

"Great. It's a friend date, then." - Ali smiled contently at us.

"Okay, then." - Lex gulped uncomfortably.

We all make our way into the classroom.

"I'm sorry, did I hear correctly and you're going to the movies with your ex boyfriend, his current boyfriend and Lex?" - Lisa asked Teddy, who gasped at the awkward clarification of facts.

"Yes, Elisabeth. It's called being a friend. You should come too, bitch!" - Teddy snapped at her. Lisa glared at him for a moment.

"First off, don't call me bitch. It's not a good color on you. Second of all, I'm traveling to Austin this very weekend to meet up with Zach, but if I weren't, I'd definitely take you up on that offer." - She sassed him with attitude.

Teddy lowered his head for a second.

"I'm sorry for the b-word. I'm a little nervous." - He confessed, embarrassed.

"I can tell, Theodore. You're not that guy. But I'm sure it's gonna be great. They're showing a remastered version of 'Titanic' this weekend in 3D." - She informed him. This really surprised us.

"Oh really? How cool! Can't wait!" - Teddy lit up at the prospect.

"What's Titanic?" - Elodie asked them, curiously.

"Wait, you never watched Titanic?" - Roger questioned her, baffled.

Elodie glared at him for a minute until it got too uncomfortable and he took the hint.

"Baby, I gotta take you to see it too. It's a masterpiece with Leo DiCaprio." - Roger said, enthusiastically.

"Who's Leo Dicaprio?" - She questioned him, curiously.

"He's a movie star. He looks a little bit like your brother, but less handsome." - Roger surprised literally everyone in the room by saying that.

"Wow. Then I gotta see this movie!" - She giggled.

"Maybe you two can go on Saturday?" - Teddy suggested it, blushing.

"Why? You don't want us to crash your friend date?" - Elodie inquired with a suspicious expression.

"No, no. That's not it. I just thought it would be better for you if you two went on Saturday, that's all." - Teddy blushed under both Roger and Elodie's intense stare.

"We'll see." - She winked mischievously at him.

"This day keeps getting better and better." - Lex giggled nervously.

"Hey, Lena. I know we just went to the movies last Friday, but–"

"You want to see 'Titanic' and the movie star who looks just like you but is less handsome." - She interrupted him in a bored tone.

"I do. Is it okay? I promise I will make it up to you." - He winked at her, pleadingly.

"Sure, Chris. Why not? I do like Titanic, so I don't mind. But you're buying it." - She demanded of him.

"I'll check with my dad and get back to you. Okay?" - He spoke like the true gentle boy that he is.

"No problem." - She smiled at him.

"How did our friend date turn into a group thing?" - Lex is gobsmacked.

"I blame Lisa." - Ben deadpanned. She gasped at the implication.

"And she's not even gonna come, that bitch." - Lex rolled his eyes.

"Are you deaf? Don't call me bitch or I'll do to you what you did to Tristan." - She threatened in a serious tone. Evan and Tristan both gulped at the recent traumatic memory.

"Fine, Lisa. Have a great trip getting to know your date." - Lex grunted, annoyed.

"Oh I will, thank you very much. Plus, I always wanted to visit Austin. Fingers crossed I get accepted into UT too." - She smiled gladly.

"What college do you want to go to, Lena?" - Chris asked her, curiously.

"Whatever I can get accepted, to be honest. I'm trying for a scholarship but I'm not valedictorian material." - She snickered. Lex glanced at her, but didn't intervene.

"Well, I hope you get it. I don't know if I can join you because my school situation is still up in the air. But even if I have to move to a new town to be with you, I will." - He pledged himself, she swooned at his words.

"Damn, is this the same boy who swore he would love Lisa forever?" - Mena commented, getting a lot of attention.

"I never said such a thing. I do love Lisa, but it doesn't compare to the feelings I feel for my Lena. I don't know you, so please refrain from commenting on my romantic life. Thank you." - Chris shot back and we're all baffled. Poised, polite, educated, I think he's Beta material.

"Damn, Chris. You do deserve to go to college. You're such an incredible boy. If I weren't already committed to Zach, I would train you for Lisa's mom's position." - I complimented him, really impressed with the guy.

Everyone is swooning after that. Chris was radiant at the compliment.

"Forget what I said, Chris. We're going to watch 'Titanic'. Wherever you wanna go, I'll take you." - Lena melted at her mate. I mean, it was difficult to breathe after she was exuding so many pheromones one might assume she's in heat again.

Though for once, I completely get it. That kid is special.

"Damn, cousin. You hit the jackpot in the dating pool. I mean, no one can compare to my man. But you really lucked out." - Alistair is impressed as he talks to Lena, who smiled proudly at her mate.

It's Sunday afternoon.

My parents traveled last Friday night as scheduled but the house is as busy as any other day. I guess it's different when you live with 40 other people. But Sasha and I took our meals in the guest dining room for the company.

It's too weird to eat just the two of us. The guests have way more fun.

After lunch, Ali and I get ready to go out on our friend date with Lex and Teddy.

"You surprised me the most by asking Teddy for the group date. I didn't think you even liked him." - I commented, changing clothes inside my bedroom.

"I don't dislike him, plus he has been nothing but polite to me even before we got mated officially. So why not? At least he's gay too." - Ali responded, almost nonchalant.

"Good for you. I actually thought it was a wonderful idea. You may be Luna material after all." - I winked at him, proudly.

"Thanks, mate. I'm the future Luna, so it's good to know." - He sassed me.

We meet up with Lex and Teddy at the entrance of the pack house. We greet each other and get in our respective cars towards the mall.

When we got there, we parked the cars and walked together to the entrance.

"Are you excited to watch 'Titanic'?" - Lex asked my mate.

"Yeah, I am. Thanks for letting me crash your afternoon." - Ali said humbly.

"It's my pleasure, Ali. Thanks for the suggestion." - He smiled at him.

"Thanks for inviting me too. I needed to get out of the house, to be honest." - Teddy confessed, with a touch of a brooding mood.

"It was my pleasure, Teddy. I want us all to get along. Gay people need to stick together in this world." - Ali said, wisely.

I'm like... who is this person and where's the rogue? I'm so impressed by him.

I kissed him on the cheek, he blushed.

When we arrived at the front of the movie theater, surprise, surprise, Chris, Lena, Roger and Elodie were all there too.

"Hi, guys. Fancy seeing you here." - I greeted them, not particularly surprised.

"Good afternoon, people. I guess we all had the same idea." - Teddy looked at his best friend, also not very surprised.

"Yeah, apparently so." - Elodie agreed, giggling like a little girl.

We get in line to buy the tickets and we can see the mated couples holding hands. Lex and Teddy stood side by side as Ali and I stood together. I feel less awkward for them to be here together. At least, it's not as weird as if Lex was alone with all the couples.

We made our way inside, got into another line to buy popcorn and refreshments, then went inside. Since each couple sat together, Lex and Teddy sat by our side inside the movie theater.

"I'm sorry if this feels a little awkward. I didn't mean to arrange a group date, I just wanted us to be together in harmony." - I apologized to Lex in a low tone.

"It's fine, Ben. I appreciate the invitation. Ali was right after all, at least with Teddy here I don't feel so awkward." - He replied. Teddy smiled nervously at his words, probably because he feels exactly the same.

"Great! Let's watch a classic then." - I smiled content.

HOURS LATER, we exited the movies and the twins marveled at the timeless classic. But both of them were crying at the end.

"Why didn't she make space for him in the wooden door? Why?" - He cried out.

"Oh, my dear Chris. That's the question for the ages." - I smiled at him.

We decided to grab some food since we're already here im the mall. So the couples and friends made their way towards the food court.

Despite the awkward beginning, I found this day to be actually surprisingly good. All our friends got along. Tristan and Evan didn't show up - no shade, but I can't stand Tristan. I already barely tolerated Evan, so it's a match made in heaven in my book.

We ate, we talked, we laughed. We had the best of times.

It's the first time in a good while that I see Lex smiling and having fun. Teddy too.

I think he puts up a good front but I know he took my mating badly. Even though we all knew we wouldn't be mated to each other, when it actually happened it hurt like a son of a bitch. For me too, I might add.

I didn't leave the relationship unscathed. I'm not Tristan, I actually liked Teddy. A lot.

Anyway, my point is both of them are now laughing and smiling and poking fun at the twins who are inconsolable about the ending of the film.

I guess in the immortal words of the great Celine Dion, the heart does go on.

And I can hardly wait to see who my best friend is gonna be mated to.

Fingers crossed it's who I think it is. *winks at the audience*

A|N: When I wrote "Topping the Alpha" (my most popular novel so far), I had to contend with A LOT of criticism towards the main character Elliot.

I wasn't used to reading so many people disagreeing (sometimes harshly) with him, but I was prepared to defend his point of view every single time, even when he was wrong.

But Tristan is a character that not only I can't relate to, I can't defend his actions. Except of course when he yelled at his mate afraid of getting his father fired. That I could understand.

Lex is also one of the least relatable characters for me in the novel, but I'm prepared to defend him until the day I die. In fact, I had so much to get off my chest that I wrote two chapters about him - a first so far.

Christian is just an angel with very little flaws. I love him. He does look a little like DiCaprio, doesn't he?

I also love that not every chapter has to be about some huge drama.

I love how my stories develop so naturally and in the end it feels like I planned for everything to happen the way it did, but I never planned at all.

I guess I like redemption stories just as much as the next person.

We're all flawed and can only strive to do better.

Oh Ben, when you smile I drool. I mean, smile. *swoons*

OFF: In case you can't tell by reading my novels, I was raised by a very strong single mother. I'm telling you she put the fear of God not only in her children but anyone she met. She is a force to be reckoned with, so that's why the mothers in my books are such strong women. That's the role model I had growing up.

Love,

Léo.