The Mate

Chapter 5

I can't get what we did out of my mind. It's almost becoming a problem. I catch myself in bad times thinking of it, like church for instance. We only slept together two days ago, and since then it's been on my mind twenty-four-seven. My crush on Mr. Salvatore has significantly grown. I don't know why. 

Since my 'dream' smells have become more...different than normal. After I slept with Mr. Salvatore he a musky scent to him, when everyone else has a normal sweat scent to them. It's weird. 

Today I'm back at school and in Salvatore's class, testing the air. Everyone is talking and working on their oral report so it just looks like i'm sitting there doing nothing. Salvatore smells a musky scent, whereas everyone else here smells like sweat. 

I can't understand why. 

"I know what you are." I hear, but when i look around no one is talking to me, or even looking, but Mr. Salvatore is. "Look back at your desk."

I follow, staring at the wood. "How are you doing that?" I think in my head. Since i heard him in my head, possibly he can hear me too. Maybe? I'm crazy. 

"It's called mind linking. You think what you want for someone to hear, someone like us."

"Like who?"

"Wolves?"

How does he know? 

He's crazy. No such thing, what happened was a dream. 

"Wolves?" i mouth in his direction. 

He nods. "Look back at your desk." I reluctantly follow, picking at the chip at the bottom. This is the desk he bent me over, and my belt buckle made this chip; it makes me smile. "Not everyone is like us. We shift when we please to, but we have a different smell sometimes to humans. You smelt different to me when you walked in, but you acted human. And then when we had s*x, i realized what you were. You're a part of my pact."

I frown. "Pact?"

"We'll talk about it after class."

Great, now i have to wait. 

I hate waiting. 

But i listen, doodling on the paper i have, he said i needed to make it look like i was doing work so he didn't have to let others be excused. Most of the time i write what i want to tell Mr. Salvatore and then i throw it away. It looks like I've written someone. 

A hand slams on my desk, scaring the hell out of me and i lean back and glare at him. "Sorry." He chuckles, sitting on the chair in front of me, his front facing the back of it. "When did you know?"

"A few weeks ago. My bones broke and i realized my hand," i look down at it. "Was a paw, I thought i was dreaming, but my sheets were torn to shreds."

He nods. "Are you parents?"

I shrug. "I don't think so. They smell like the people here." He nods, looking over. "Your pact?" i mention again and he looks back at me."

"Right, right. As a wolf pact in wild, there is an Alpha, the Luna, Beta, then the others. I have an Alpha, i'm the Beta." he frowns some. "My Alpha is the blood of that pact, i was brought in when i was 10 and my parents died. The Alpha before raised me. The blood Alpha's of that pact have this mark." he whispers, changing the subject as he turns my arm where a light crescent moon rests on my wrist. 

"The crescent moon pact. Strongest pact there is. We take over the hills of Aspen Colorado."

"Really?"

He nods. "Who is your biological mother?"

I shrug. "I don't know her name. Or my dad's." My aunt and uncle make it their mission to never mention their names in the house. I did once and i was grounded for two weeks. 

"My Alpha, his brother disappeared with his mate, with my Alpha's son. You-you're age." He whispers. "He was 15 when he had his only child. His mate was 17 at the time and they had you, unfortunately the mother died of complications. His brother, Noah, took care of you, just until Alpha, Theodore, could get better. But when the kid was one, he and his mate disappeared. I'm very certain that kid was you. It all makes sense." he whispers, but it seems like it was to himself. 

"Mate? What the hell is that?"

"It's one true love. I haven't found mine yet." He looks at me weird, before he chuckles. "Believe that huh? We always find our mat when we're 18. I'm 21 and still haven't found mine."

"But you're husband..."

"He's not really my husband. I just told you that. He's kind of like my husband i guess. He and I have been together since i was fourteen. He always took care of me, when my parents died and the pact took me in, he was like a big brother to me." 

"So i'm not a freak?"

He lets go of my wrist and shakes his head. "No Miles. There are hundreds of people like you, like us. You just happen to be the one that grew up in a human household. Edward's brother, his mate was human, which would explain why your...parents aren't wolves themselves."

My real father might be an Alpha? 

Wow. 

"I want to meet him." i blurt out. "Just to see. I've never had a true family before."

He smiles. "Yes. I will have to drive you though, if you drive they will not register your scent as friendly; and they'll attack. Besides, i get you in a car alone. I quite look forward to it." He stands. 

I laugh at him. "Aren't you wolf married or whatever?"

He smiles. "In due time I will explain. Get out of my class." 

I laugh. "Okay, sir."

_____

I'm terrified. We're in the car on the way to 'his pact' so i can meet his Alpha. Who might be my dad. He told me the Alpha hasn't been the same, so maybe he changed so much he won't care who i am, if i am his kid. Instinctively i bounce my leg, it relieves stress. 

"Stop it." he sets his hand on my thigh. "It's irritating me." 

Fine. 

I bounce the other leg.

He slaps that leg with the water bottle since he can't reach. I growl, and grab the rubber band and slap it on my wrist, leaving red marks where it connects with my skin. But he rips it off and throws it out the window. I reach into my pocket and he growls, instead of scaring me it makes me laugh. 

"If you pull out a rubber band from your pocket, i will throw you out the window." I tip my head back and groan. "Why are you so nervous?"

"My first parents beat me, my second parents just adopted me to get me away from my first parents and hate me for liking boys. Now this possible parent could hate me for...i don't know there's a list of reason to hate me, i'm not perfect."

He growls, whatever i said pissed him off but he doesn't answer to that so i just stare back out the window, watching the trees and occasional car pass by. I have to say Colorado is very beautiful, but i do miss Michigan. I miss walking out and seeing horses or cows. I miss Felix who let me go horseback riding with him. 

"Were here," he interrupts my thoughts, the car stopping. "Are you ready?"

I nod. 

He puts it back in drive and pulls in further, so i can slowly see a field of houses and people. Kids running around playing tag, others cuddling on the grass together. Once he parks everyone stares at us, the windows are tinted so you can't see me, but from what Salvatore said, they can smell. I must smell different. 

I watch someone whose very buff walk out, and cross his arms, a very angry emotion coming from him. 

"It's okay." Salvatore whispers, and he climbs out, another man with blonde hair, scrawny walks to him, being greeted by a kiss from Salvatore. i shove down the jealousy that runs through me and get out. As soon as i shut the door and look at the buff man, who i assume is Alpha, he walks to me. 

The closer he gets, his angry face turns into a shocked one, Mr. Salvatore preparing like he'll attack the Alpha. Which makes me happy for some reason. 

"Miles?" He whispers, stopping in front of me. 

"Y-yes?"

I'm suddenly in a crushing hug, and he's crying. Emotions flood me and i cry too, hugging him back. He's my dad, and i don't know if it's excitement that i'm feeling, or relief. Maybe both?

"I looked everywhere for you kid." he leans back and stares at me with brown eyes. "Where did you go? Where did they take you?"

"Weidman Michigan. Very, small town."

"Smart bastards? Where are they? I'm going to kill him!"

I shrug. "I don't know. i was adopted by my, i guess fake mom's sister."

He frowns. "Why?"

Embarrassment washes over me as i realize everyone is staring at me. Even Mr. Salvatore. Oh great, i'm the newbie, again. 

"Come on." He leads me inside, through a short hallway and into a very big living room, it's just us in here and my heart is hammering in my chest. He sits me down on the couch and sits down on a chair in front of me. "What happened?"

"They uh, abused me."

"My brother?" He asks and i nod. "Why the f**k would they do that?"

"Drugs." I whisper. "I always got in the way with drugs."

"I knew that girl was wrong for him. And now?" He asks, and i look down some. "What is it?"

"It's-it's nothing." 

If he knows i'm gay, who knows. I know Mr. Salvatore is, but that's not his kid. I've seen parents react worse when it's their kid who is gay. 

"Well it has to be someone, i can feel you in distress what is it?"

"Nothing. The last time i told, or anyone found out about this i was hit again. So, no." 

"Oh c'mon. There's nothing you can tell me that's going to make me hit you, or hate you."

"I-i'm gay."

He stares at me like i'm stupid. "Okay? So? I don't care. I have four people in my pact that are gay. My Beta is gay. I couldn't care less."

"Well my new parents sent me to straight camp because they caught me with a guy." i move my shirt up to show him the scar i received on my back. "That's where i got whipped because i refused to say i was straight."

He growls, his fists balled up and turning white. "I'm going to kill them, you have my words." He snarls and all i can do is laugh. He's really scary honestly. "How are you? What grade are you in? Are you good?"

"Sophomore year, and no." I shake my head. "i got a bad head injury kind of effects my motor skills. I'm not dumb or anything just...slow." i say softly. 

"My brother?"

I nod. "Threw me down the stairs."

"You have my word he's going to pay. Take my f*****g kid away from me and beats him. I lost 16 years with you, and sixteen of those you've had to face so much hatred." he whispers, and i smile some, picking at my fingernails. "Oh, your mother would be so happy to see you." He breathes. "Oh god i've been looking for so long. I never gave up. Not once. I just sent people to Michigan too."

I laugh. Too late, but it's a nice thought. 

"How do you know Blake?"

What? "Blake?"

"Blake Salvatore?"

"Oh! Mr. Salvatore? He's my English teacher."

He nods. "he's gay."

"Yes."

"How'd he see your birthmark?" he points to my wrist. 

"We shook hands?" I lie.

He bites his lip, chuckling and i don't know if he's actually amused or pissed. "I'm not an i***t. He knows your sixteen right?"

i nod. "Yes."

"And he's dating someone here."

I nod. "Yeah i mentioned that, and he just came with 'in due time i will explain' i don't know what that means."

His face drops. "Oh. Wow."

"What?"

Oh no what is it?

"Nothing." He smiles. "You'll figure it out soon. Come meet the pact." He stands. 

Figure out what soon? What the f**k does that mean?