Your Man IS NOT My Mate

"Great job back there." I smile as I slump unto the couch as Alaric grabs the remote and sits beside me.

"It was nothing." He modestly replies flipping through the channels.

"Hmmm, so now you decide to be all humble. You weren't so modesty when you had those guys eating grass." I chuckle causing a smile to spread across his face.

"You saw?"

"How could I not, you definitely had my attention."

"I was hoping so." He whispers, quickly clicking play on a random show, possibly to deter me from making any further comment.

I just amusingly shake my head as I turn my attention to the screen.

Soon an advertisment interrupts the show, coming on way too loud which forces Alaric to lower the volume. I quickly become intrigued by the alluring astatic of the Shanell Purfume being advertised.

"You like it?"

"Huh?" I ask, finally peeling my eyes from the screen to look at him.

"The perfume."

I nod, "looks like it would smell amazing."

"Cool." is all he says as he returns his focus to the television.

The night progresses, small talk here and there as the tv soon begins to watch us more than we watch it. T

This had actually started to become our usual routine for a week and a half now which groomed the gradual blooming of our friendship.

Eventually I retire to my room and as I lie on the bed, I begin to reminisce on how far Alaric and I have come in our friendship. I remember being pleasantly surprised when I heard Mr. Uptight crack a joke in the living room; he actually had a funny bone. I remember when I was too lazy too cook and was about to order fastfood but he stopped me and opted to cook; he was quite caring and genuinely thoughtful- granted he can still be a pain in my butt sometimes but nothing I can't handle.

A memory of us playing flour war in the kitchen emerges and a smile spreads across my face as I recall each detail, especially his hilarious expression when I sprayed him with water turning the dry flour into a dough paste against his body, then he chased me and soon we were laughing and panting, though he never actually caught me- not because he couldn't but I guess it had something to do with his no touch phobia or whatever it is. Nevertheless, that was a good day.

"Night night." Alaric calls out just before the lights once streaming in through the creases of the door, blacks out. I smile even broader, contented with my life right now as it is.

*****

"So, I'm going out with Adrian after school today." I tell Alaric as we head to school together. "I've got to boost his ego after a newbie like you put him to shame on the field yesterday." I laugh.

Alaric glances over at me with a smile, but it quickly fades. I turn to see we've entered the school's parking lot already and students are around. I guess back to screw-face Alaric until we're back home. I wave him goodbye making my way inside the building where Adrian stands waiting for me.

We exchange our usual greeting- my daily hug and cheek kiss before we part and the day commences. During the day's lesson, my eyes dart to the door and I get a glimpse of Alaric as he passes. He glances into the class, locking eyes with me and I swear I saw a faint smile on his lips. Suffice to say, that was enough to be my distraction for the rest of the day.

*****

Finally, the day of the much anticipated match arrives and I can't be more excited knowing it's also supposed to be the day mom and dad hopefully returns home.

I smile with a big stretch as I rise from bed happy to be up which has started becoming the case lately.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Alaric smiles over his shoulder as I descend the stairs.

"Couldn't be better." I beam, pulling out my chair to sit as he places a plate of croissant with egg and cheese in front of me.

"Well eat up, you've got a big day ahead, water girl."

****

The game begins, a fierce battle to the finish, I'm exhausted, a bit wet thanks to a player who crashed into me causing the water to spill on y clothes.

The game ends.

Skylow, my school, unfortunately looses to Horhay High, but we take our defeat in stride, maybe next time would be ours. The boys are down and in dismay and I know all too well that they'll be heading out tonight, not for celebratory reasons but to drown their sorrows.

I comfort Adrian as best I could before bidding him farewell sincere I'll be going home to welcome my parents back.

It not the dead of the night, but darkness has already begun to overshadow the sky. I shiver at the thought of walking home alone especially with the knowledge that the search for my attacker came up empty.

"Hey, you weren't planning to leave without me, were you?"

I turn to see Alaric walking beside me. "Aren't you going with the boys?"

"That isn't really my style.... Plus, I don't feel like a looser when I'm walking away with the trophy."

"Huh?" I glance at his empty hands then at his zipped up backpack.

"Did you snag the peoples trophy and escape?" I laugh causing him to chuckle as he simply shakes his head. I guess that statement was meant as a joke... Unless he meant - no nevermind.

"Wait, why are we walking if you have a car?" I find myself asking as soon as we turn off the main road unto the foot track.

He shrugs. "Maybe I just wanted one last night alone with you before I leave since your parents will be back."

"But we still would have spent it together even if you drove."

"But we would reach there a lot quicker and honestly, I just want to stroll with you." He looks over at me and something about his words, his voice, the way he looks at me, the way he's being now- the way he has started acting lately- unknown feelings begin to stir and I'm having a hard time placing them.

It's not quite love but definitely not hate.

I think - I think I might..... like Alaric!?

I blush at the thought, quickly turning my head away to hide my face from him.

"What, did I do something?" He asks with such concern that I can't help but look back at him.

But maybe that was a mistake.

Stella suddenly becomes restless, fighting to control herself but yet desperately wanting to surface as his eyes hold me captive.

The night, the way the moon shines upon his face, the way his eyes bore into mine, it's as if he's trying to get a glimpse of my soul. It's overwhelming yet intriguing. My heart pumps with a fervent rhythm. My pulse quicken and I find myself unable to breathe as his gaze slowly moves down to my lips.

"Don't do that." I breath.

"What?" He whispers back as his eyes trail back to mine.

"Don't look at me... like that." We've stopped walking by now and he's facing me. We are in the dark alley where fear usually grips me, but here, now, with him.... where I am suddenly ceases to matter.

"Like what?" He takes a slight step forward and the proximity accelerates my heart rate.

I find myself biting my lip which draws his attention back to them. It wasn't intentional but now, I want nothing more than to-

Suddenly, the bushes shake and a feral growl shatters the silence of the night sky. I freeze.

What the hell is going on?

I should be scared, petrified but Stella is in a frenzy, at the edge of herself.

The bushes shake again and out emerges a white wolf. My fingers instantly tingle and my entire body hums to life. Tiny sparks zap though my arm causing a pleasurable shiver to overtake me. My eyes widen as those familiar blue and purple orbs lock with mine. The wolf releases a deep low growl generated from the back of his throat, snarling and bearing his teeth. I should step back- run perhaps, but instead I find myself unable to look away as he makes slow calculated strides over to us. His paws are large, and the pads on his front legs are thick. The rest of his body is bulk as if sculpted of pure muscle. As he draws nearer, my breath catches as I see a furless patch over my heart with a familiar scar- an X.

Adrian?

I instinctively take a step forward but suddenly my body jerks back as it registers the tightening grip of a hand that had apparently latched on to my arm the very moment the wolf appeared.

However, before I can retaliate Stella growls with excitement and unwavering certainty that one word 'MATE.'

Overwhelmed by the pure feeling of bliss, my eyes flutter close. "Mate" I whisper, audibly for him to hear.

Who knew he was my mate all along