Tale of the Werewolf Alpha and His Mate

Chapter Nine: Partnered Up!

BECCA

I stare at my scribbled handwriting and jot down essential points while listening to Ms. Fiona’s lecture. It’s already the fourth period, and the next is lunch.

Ms. Fiona explains to us about our projects. “You guys would be making a portfolio in a pair of twos.” Some students protest incessantly while others stay quiet. She continues, “This will be 25% of your total grade value, so do a good job at being creative.”

I nod when I catch a glimpse of someone staring at me. I frown and then blink... wait, he's in this class? I didn't know that he was.

“A good design makes you look good, understand, students?”

I look away as she begins the roll call and announces partners for this project.

“Alex Weber and Georgiana Quinn.”

“Cynthia Rose and Peter Parker.”

A bunch of people snicker. I don’t know why. Inside jokes, maybe? I am too busy blushing at the thought of someone staring at me.

“Aaron Samuelson and Dylan Kale.”

“Saraswati Rai and Bhavana Rai...” I jot down almost everything until a name is called out which makes my hand freeze.

“Nathan Crawford....” I don’t know why but it feels like time has slowed down. Why isn’t the teacher blurting out the other person’s name? My heart pounds and my mouth feels dry when I look at the teacher. I don’t know why, but I eagerly want to know who it is…or could that person be me? Annoyed at myself, I sigh under my breath and scribble in my notebook. “...and Becca Simmons.”

There is silence for a moment. I look up to find a couple of my classmates and the teacher glancing at me. What? Ms. Fiona locks her eyes with mine and nods with a smile before she goes off reading other names. The news sinks in, leaving me slightly surprised before I turn my head and find him already looking at me with an unreadable expression. Our eyes lock, and I notice a faint smile playing on his lips.

I feel my heart skip a beat, my cheeks turn crimson, and I can't help but smile a shy smile. I have never had someone look at me in a totally electrifying way, giving me the tingles. I never truly connected with anyone to feel this way. Nathan might be intimidating and mystifying, but I want to know about him, I want to know the real person hidden behind those mysterious expressions. If possible, even strike up a conversation, maybe…I don’t know.

“...two weeks for the completion and submission of the portfolios, judged based on your creativity and presentation, and also following the deadlines for the project.” The teacher informs us. I find myself daydreaming about when he held me in his arms yesterday, and I was lost in his deep eyes. What if he had leaned down and kissed... But the bell rings, snapping me back to reality. My eyes flutter wildly at my thoughts as I look around, embarrassed. What the hell was I even thinking?

The entire class disperses within seconds, including the teacher. I find myself alone with... Nathan, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Nervously, I get up and almost fumble with my books as I push them into my bag.

I need to leave, even if I don't want to.

I don’t think I should be alone with him right now. Not when I am thinking of him in a completely non-platonic way.

“Becca...” Nathan whispers.

I tighten my grip on my bag and rush out before anyone can stop me.

I am at the cafeteria within minutes. I halt only to check whether he followed me or not. He didn't. A wave of disappointment washes over me, but I quickly shake the thought away and finally exhale deeply. I place my hand on my chest, feeling my heart still thumping so loudly like the thundering hooves of a thousand wild stallions. Did I just run away from him? Why did I? I don’t know this feeling, these unknown emotions I hold whenever he's around, whenever I am near him. I've never felt this way ever before, and I know I shouldn't be around him if I don’t want to start anything new. I already have a lot on my plate right now. I don't have time for romance in my life.

“Hello?”

A hand taps on my shoulder. Startled, I turn around and see Dakota with a worried expression. I calm down and sigh, “Hey...” “Are you okay, Becca? You look like you have seen a ghost.”

I grimace at the comparison and throw a look as I mutter, “Weird...but no, I feel okay.”

Dakota doesn’t look convinced but she claps and beams. “Well, something is going on, so, do you wanna talk about it?”

I raise my brow. “Uh…nothing!”

“Oh, what is it, then?” Dakota asks.

Slightly embarrassed, I scratch the back of my head and reply, “I was just surprised, that’s all.”

“Surprised?”

I nod and sigh, “I saw Nathan in my class today when I didn’t see him yesterday.”

“Oh!” Dakota seems to relax. She then grins. “Yesterday, Al...Nathan was busy in the morning, so he didn’t attend pre-lunch classes. He had informed the Principal.”

Oh! I understand now.

Dakota then clears her throat, “C’mon, let’s have some food now. I am starving.”

I blink back at her and nod. “Sure.”

We grab our trays and take our seats. Dakota is greeted by the people before the two of us begin to eat whilst we talk and laugh together.