Tale of the Werewolf Alpha and His Mate

Chapter Six: Maybe It Won’t Be Bad

BECCA

The mandatory gym class is the last class of the day. I follow the signs and make my way to the school gym. Then, I briefly introduce myself to the coach and march toward the locker room to change into a sporty white vest and black shorts.

Minutes later, I step out and join the rest of the student body when I notice two familiar boys nearby. Nathan and Ethan. I didn’t think they would be here.

“Hey, L…uh, Becca!” Ethan notices me first and waves at me. I blink and politely smile at him. I lock eyes with Nathan. I watch him look at me, and then his face contorts, suddenly making me conscious about my clothes.

But he looks too handsome to be a human; so tough and…hot. I blush and cough up, looking away. Nathan and I don’t say a single word except if you count that weird moment when he growls under his breath, “Mine.”

My face feels hot.

His presence and gaze seem to be affecting me already.

Coach clears his throat and orders us, “Okay, everyone, gather around!” Playing the cliché role of a new girl, I avoid the existing groups when I hear a couple of boys snickering. I glance and narrow my eyes at those creepy boys whispering among themselves when someone snarls, “What the f**k! Does anyone have a f*****g problem, eh?”

Nathan?

The boys gulp and look away.

“Alpha, calm down!” I overhear Ethan whisper to Nathan. I turn my head to look at him when he snaps at his friend, “How the f**k can I, huh?”

But before I can say anything, Coach whistles. “C’mon, students, you will be allowed to play after you finish running laps of this gym. As an incentive, let’s say anyone who does more than five would be exempted from the next class’s mandatory exercises whenever we have them.”

Coach whistles one more time and the so-called race commences. In my previous school, I used to be on the track team. I did win gold and silver. So, my stamina’s quite good. I leave most people behind and am halfway done when I hear him whisper, “Great pace.” I gasp and turn my head to find him running beside me. Nathan looks over at me and says, “Stay strong!” He makes running look so effortless.

“Woah, keep going, Lu... Becca!” On my other side, there’s Ethan with a big goofy smile. I finish my 8th lap when I come to a halt and meet up with Coach, who looks impressed. Nathan and Ethan join me.

“It looked like you were born to that, Lun…I mean, Becca.” Why does Ethan fumble with my name?

I pass him a faint smile as I take deep breaths when Coach makes his way to us. “That seems right. So, tell me, Simmons, were you on the track team or what? Or do you run for leisure?”

Huh?

Coach clears his throat, “I mean, I was watching you…”

Nathan growls, prompting me to glance at him before I blink and frown, “Excuse me, Sir?”

Coach defensively waves his hands and coughs up, “You didn’t give up and continued running. The students usually give up after 2-3 rounds, but there are always exceptions.”

I notice him glance at the guys beside me with a proud smile, and I can’t do anything except mumble, “Oh!”

Coach looks back at me and clears his throat. “I have been asking these two to join the team, but now that you’re here, do you mind giving the track team a thought?”

“Wow, that’s great! High five, Luna!” I glare, confused at a cheerful Ethan, who has his arm lifted high in the air. I frown and reluctantly slap my hand on his, only to earn a growl from the other boy.

Ethan steps away instantly.

“Mine.”

That word plays in my mind like a broken recorder and I blush. Not something I should dwell on. I look away as Coach brags about his track team, “There is a practice session this Friday after school. It would be good if you joined the team then.”

I press my lips in a thin line and half-heartedly agree, which gets him to beam and leave me alone with the two boys again. I take this as an opportunity to look up at Nathan. The aura around him isn’t sinister, but he is very intimidating and challenging.

“You were impressive. Wasn’t she, Nathan?” Ethan calls out.

I blink.

Nathan narrows his eyes and glares—that look, for some reason, feels painful. He glances at me and shrugs.

Disheartened, I sigh. I shake my head and smile. “I should go and change now. It was nice to meet you two.” I begin to step away when I halt as I feel Nathan’s presence getting closer, and he whispers, “Proud of you!” It shouldn’t mean anything, and it doesn’t, or maybe it does mean something because the moment he says those words, my stomach flutters, and everything feels breezy. I turn to look at him. Nathan tries to smile. I notice the crinkle in his eyes. I smile and nod, and so does he.

With that, I resume my steps toward the locker room.

Later, I change back into my clothes and grab my bag from the locker. Then, I walk to the entrance door and to the almost vacant parking lot. Finally, I open the car door and place my bag in the backseat when somebody calls me, “Becca!”

I straighten up and turn to see two girls staring giddily at me. They’re Dakota and Sarah.

“Hey?”

Dakota clicks her tongue, “The gang is meeting up in the cafe across the street. Feel free to join us?”

Sarah nods in agreement. “We can get to know each other better the more we hang out together.”

Oh. I apologetically smile and sigh at them. “I have to go.”

They look disappointed. I shake my head. “Uh, I have to pick up my sister from her school and I’ve even promised to bake a cake and play scrabbles with her in the evening. I’m sorry.” Not a clue why I explained, but I felt genuinely bad rejecting them.

“Oh, no worries! Family first, always. Trust me, we all know about it.”

Dakota waves a hand and beams as both the girls share a knowing look and smile at me. With that, I nod as I take my leave and hit the road.

It seems my first day at school was better than I expected.