My Teacher, My Mate

2. Day One

Lucian

Today was my first day as a teacher. Even though I had majored in economics, I had enough credits to get my minor in Fine Arts, which is how I became the local public high schools' newest faculty member, taking over my own teachers job as an art teacher.

I loved art class in high school. Mrs. Walker was my favorite teacher too. It was weird taking over her old classroom and being in the school halls without her. She retired and moved to Florida with her husband.

If my father were still alive today he would be disappointed in me. He took me in as his own son and groomed me to be the next Beta of the Sentinel Pack. Teaching was for mated wolves and omegas. Being an unmated wolf, living in apartments that smelled like a men's locker room and Febreze, I was considered an outcast. My mom got pregnant, by the grace of the moon goddess, and my brother Grant was born almost a full decade after me. Alpha saw this as a sign and had my adoptive father groom Grant to become the next Beta.

I'd probably see Grant around the school, not that he'd want to be seen with me. He told me it wasn't cool to have his brother teach high school art class. But he was a freshman this year and I was the only art teacher so he'd have to suck it up.

Cleaning up the room a bit, I took one last glance over my schedule and wrote my name 'Mr. Knight' on the smartboard. Thankfully I didn't have a first period class, so when the bell rang I was able to calm my nerves and take off my suit jacket. Today was the only day I was wearing this because I had a few oil paintings I wanted to work on and there was no way I was going to be in a suit while painting.

But I wanted to make a good first impression and show my authority to the younger wolves. I'm the only shapeshifting teacher in this school. The elementary and middle schools had a handful of omegas teaching which was more common.

The second bell rang and I was ready for my first class. Grant was helpful in putting out an aura of authority during my class that kept everyone in line. By 5th period I felt exhilarated, like I could really do this.

And then it hit me. A scent that woke my dormant wolf up. It was like a fall scented candle but better. Like the best smelling apple pie with extra cinnamon and a dash of vanilla.

'Mate.' Noir, my wolf, stirred and said the one word I had been waiting years to hear.

I'm in deep s**t.

Tessa

Art with Mrs.Walker had been one of my favorite classes. But not this year. Just like the rest of my senior year experience this was screwed up too.

I walked in and took a seat with Mark. He was planning on applying to the top art schools. It was rare to see him without a sketchbook and pencil. The one today was large and he had a charcoal piece with him.

The tables were four architect-like desks that moved up and down. I chose one that still had all of its functions but most of them were broken and dirty. The art budget had been cut a year earlier. No wonder Mrs. Walker decided to retire.

I felt a jab hit my shoulder and breast, likely on accident, by Mark. "Look, the new teacher has been staring over here since we got in. Do you think Mrs. Walker told him about my art school applications?"

The new teacher was definitely a werewolf. I nodded at him but his dark hazel eyes were icy and unmoving. He was attractive in a suit, although why he wore that to teach art class was beyond me. He had brown hair with natural blond mixed in. Long, wavy and a tad unkempt, probably from how many times he'd run his hands through it. He had more than a 5 o'clock shadow which made him look older. As a wolf, I'm sure he was in great shape. I wondered if any of the other wolves going here knew about him. Was he in our pack? If so, how did I miss seeing him around?

The bell rang and his eyes finally blinked. Shaking his head he cleared his throat and got class started with an introduction.

He had to have been Grant's brother. He was a Knight. The Beta position was Grant's now that their father had passed away but to go from possible Beta to high school art teacher probably would have given his dad a heart attack anyways.

Mr. Knight stuttered and seemed flustered all of class but it was his first day so maybe he was just nervous. We were going to do oil painting during our hour and since we were seniors, we were also allowed to stay late in the art room and continue our work. The school trusted us to be responsible and respectful of the art room and school. Fools. By the end of class there was a whisper going around about using art supplies for senior prank night before Homecoming.

Mark seemed genuinely concerned about his application process by the end of class. He asked me to stay with him while he introduced himself and talked art school application strategy with the new teacher.

"Fine, but only because I love you and I hate math." The metal stools sounded like nails on a chalkboard as we got up. The school really didn't care about anything but sports and having all students pass the state exams.

I stood behind Mark, about a full two steps back while he held out his hand to welcome the new teacher. More like scope out if the new guy was capable to help Mark get to where he wanted to be this time next year.

The second bell rang signalling for us to already be in our next class and Mark was still talking but I hadn't heard Mr. Knight's voice at all. Mark was shy and not a big talker so I looked up to see what the issue was and saw Mark flipping through his sketchbook unable to capture the teacher's attention. He was staring at me. I felt it but didn't want to intrude and I really didn't want to go to math class, so I just stared at the floor until I couldn't anymore.

When our eyes met I felt like I couldn't breathe. I watched his tongue dart out wetting his lips. I shouldn't be staring at him like this. He's my teacher! But why was he watching me so intensely? Did I have something stuck in my tooth? Maybe a break-out right on my forehead. That would be my luck.

It had been a full five minutes of Mark talking and we were late for class so I stepped in to help my friend.

"Hi, Mr. Knight. Mark is a talented artist and I know he had already done some portfolio submissions with Mrs. Walker last year but he's just asking for you to give him a hand with the application process. Do you think you could help him?"

"No." He growled.

Mark jumped back, dropping his sketchbook. When Mark bent down to get it I begged Lana to come forward. Once my eyes lit up he would know I'm a wolf too and we could work this out.

My eyes flashed yellow, I couldn't believe Lana was back. But even after that Mr. Knight asked us to leave with his jaw clenched.

"What a douche." I knew he could hear my insult even though I had whispered it to Mark after we had left his class.

Your move, teach.

When I got home from school I dashed through the packhouse den and into my home. We were a lower level status family but with my father being a war hero we were lucky to not have to pay for housing.

I ran in, dropped my stuff, and got my duffel bag. "Mom I'm going for a run!"

She had been waiting for me with freshly baked cookies but I couldn't eat, I needed Lovett to come forward and shift.

"Honey, are you sure -" Before she could finish that sentence.

When I reached the shed by the oldest oak tree in the forest, I knocked and unlocked it to change. I didn't want to leave the shed n***d if Lana wasn't going to come forward and leave me vulnerable for any other wolf to come across.

Stuffing my sundress into my duffel I stood in my underwear.

'Lana?'

Nothing.

My body was starting to shake out of anxiety and not from shifting.

'Come the f**k on!'

Still nothing.

I closed my eyes and let the tears run down my face. My hands making fists at my side. Without my wolf I felt the weight of my dark thoughts. I'm not worthy. I'm not lovable. I'm not special. I'm not enough. I don't deserve to have a wolf.

It wasn't until I heard a twig snap did I realize I had been crouching with my arms over my face sobbing for hours.

"Are you okay?" I knew that voice although his voice only deepened recently.

"Grant? Can you look away? I need to put my dress back on."

"No worries. Let me know when you are all set." I stood up and could see his back to me. I rushed into the shed and pulled the sundress back on, grabbing my duffel bag and ran off.

"Tessa!" I heard Grant yelling at me as I ran home.

I didn't stop until I got into the packhouse, to my room, with my lock turned. Even though he's younger than me, he's my Beta.

'f**k you Lana! Way to embarrass us!'

I could feel her anger and my eyes glow.

'Of course anger brings you out.'

'I'm a beast, duh.'

Fuck you too. I rolled my eyes and turned my shower on, stripping myself once again of my sundress.

I need to burn this dress or rip it to shreds or something. It's really cute but bad luck. I should have thrown it out the day of Luke's 18th birthday. Luke found his mate, Lily, and immediately regretted sleeping with me. He told me that I needed to go because Lily would smell him on me and he couldn't hurt his mate like that.

But he was fine with hurting me.

The hot water hit my burning flesh. I cried until I had nothing else to give and the water turned cold.

Maybe I should just end it or become a rogue.