My Secret Mate

Chapter Two

It was the most boring day of school ever. For some reason, I could never find him anywhere I looked. We didn't have any classes together, not even the same lunch period. It was surprisingly frustrating. The tests results were in by the end of the day, and somehow Trent had gotten the highest. It was unbelievable, but I was also relieved I'd have an excuse to be drunk. Maybe then I could curb this attraction to my mate, that I didn't want.

I pushed Trent playfully, "You only scored high 'cause you cheated on that girl besides you."

"Sure, I did." Trent scoffed as I leaned against my truck. "So what time does the party start again?"

I shrugged, "The flyer says seven, but I'm prepping for it as soon as I get home. You got the alcohol?"

Trent grinned, "Heck yeah. I'll bring it around six, okay? The kegs can be tough to bring in."

I nodded and looked to Lindsay. "You coming to my house right now or later?"

She nodded, "Yeah. Can we swing by mine so I can get a change of clothes?"

"Yeah, for sure."

Bella pulled me to the side, "Hey. So, where did you run off to this morning?"

I pursued my lips, not really knowing how to answer. I decided honesty would be better, I didn't wanna hurt her. "I found my mate."

"Oh." Her eyes widened a bit, "Did you... reject them?"

I shook my head, "It's... complicated."

She nodded, "Um, so this thing between us..."

I felt guilt prickle at the edges of relief. After meeting him, the thought of being with her in that way somewhat repulsed me.

"I'm okay with it. As long as you're not... involved with them."

I looked at her incredulously. "Are you serious?"

She blushed, "Of course. I mean, as long as we aren't hurting anyone, it's fine."

It was hurting me! I was going to flat out refuse her, but then I thought about how I might reject him. I might need all the comfort I can get at one point in the future, so maybe I should utilize this. "Maybe, yeah. I'll let you know what happens with them, okay?"

She smiled, reaching up to peck my cheek. "See you at the party."

I gave her the fakest smile of my life, and went back to the car. I got into the driver's seat, shaking my head at Lindsay.

"I don't wanna hear it."

"You're gonna hear it, asshole." I reversed, then began to drove out of the lot. "You know you're just leading her on, right?"

"I told her I met my mate-"

"But you promised the possibility of being with her. You're giving her false hope-"

I felt myself burst, "It's not entirely false, okay? I just... my mate is human. And I can't exactly reject them without an explanation."

Lindsay huffed, "Sure. That's the reason. You know what-"

I turned the radio up, tuning her out as it played I Belong To You by Muse. It was a good song, and I loved it. But for some reason, it reminded me of the very thing I wanted to forget about. My hands clenched around the steering wheel, suddenly thinking of him, even though I didn't want to.

Lindsay shouted, "Hey! This sounds different!"

I smirked as I yelled over the music, "It's the New Moon remix!" I didn't wanna say much, but it was my favorite movie series to binge-watch, though it wasn't without its faults. The writer could be controversial, and so could the storyline, but the Twilight Saga just hit me different. It was like a weird coping mechanism, I'd watch it over and over whenever I could.

"It's good!" She smiled at me, knowing she's the one who dragged me into her twilight craze. I remember watching it with her every time a new movie came out. I even had the book collection, as well as the new one that just came out.

We pulled up to her house, Monsè and Lindsay running inside. I rested against the seat, turning off the car as I thought about what tonight would bring. What if he didn't feel anything for me? Didn't he? He had to have felt something for me. He did blush when I was flirting, so maybe he did.

I looked down at my hands, annoyed at my chipped and black nail polish. I started peeling them off, not wanting him to think it was trashy. Since when did I care what he thinks? I suddenly felt self-conscious about the way I looked. My somewhat wide shoulders, and I was muscular but I felt like I looked scrawny compared to my friends. My tan skin was sprinkled with freckles here and there, and the rings on my hand made my fingers look a little fat. Were my fingers too long? My hands were maybe too big too.

I looked in my driver's side mirror, and sighed as I tried to fix my hair. It was too unruly, and my eyebrows were a little too unkempt. My eyes weren't exactly rare, just a dark and shitty brown color. My lips were looking a little dry, I decided to add some chapstick. It was cherry, one of my favorite flavors, and it made my lips have a tint of red, or maybe just hydrated.

I still hated my appearance, and just slammed the mirror away as I listened to the next song on the radio more intently. I muttered along to the lyrics, my mind involuntary thinking about romantic situations between him and I.

"I miss you, Berlin..." I imagined him showing up to the party, flirty comments being exchange between us. "The taste still lingers on..."

I imagined us dancing, drinking, playing games together. Maybe during a certain song, during a certain dance, we'd get closer and closer. Our lips would meet, and it'd be a desperate but sweet kiss.

The car door slammed shut, scaring me out of my daydream. I looked to Lindsay and Monsè in surprise, lowering the radio. "Hey, you guys got everything you need?"

Lindsay nodded, and Monsè just pulled out her phone. I turned up the radio, the same song still playing. After a couple seconds, both Lindsay and I sang as loud as we can, really jamming out into it. "Our lips touched beneath the stars! The lights flashed from passing cars! Your face melted in my heart, and it showed me who you are!"

Even Monsè got into it.

"I feel my heart explode, I can't explain! The sky is falling down!"

We pulled up to my house in a screeching halt, and we kept singing to the so until it ended. I turned off the car, spent from singing as much as I could. We got off the car, talking about what we'd prepare for the party tonight, and how we'd prepare for it.

It was six thirty now, and everything was almost set up. My parents had left, and Trent and Bella were getting the kegs off their brother's car. The lights and sound system was being set up by Lindsay, lent to us by her uncle, with some help from Lance. Monsè was preparing the snacks, plates, cups, and dips. I was in my room, wondering what I should change into for tonight. I wanted to impress him. Them, I meant them, everyone at the party, I wanted to impress everyone at the party.

I decided on a white tank top, with a charcoal short sleeve button-up that was unbuttoned, and changed into light blue skinny jeans. I put a chain on the right side of my jeans, changing into some vans instead of the doc martens, and a silver chain around my neck as well. I wondered if I should leave my rings on, and I decided maybe earrings would look nice. Just simple diamond ones would do, I decided.

I looked in the mirror, deciding maybe a small application of orange lip tint would do. No, garnet was a better color on my tan skin. Besides, it wasn't matte, but it was just a slight lip tint.

I shook my head, annoyed how I could be so overwhelmed about impressing some stranger. My inner wolf practically growled, which means I growled under my breath at the mere thought of regarding him as a stranger. He was my mate. But I didn't want him to be. But I did want him.

This was confusing.

It was eight now. The girls were dancing with their friends, and I was in the kitchen with Trent, Grayson, Raul, and Ethan. Most of the pack had come, all the ones in high school or colleges nearby of course, and it was refreshing to just be with the guys for a bit. Lindsay has been talking my ear off about Bella before the party started, and I didn't need to hear it.

I chuckled at Grayson and Raul as they wrestled. Grayson was your standard football player with a heart of gold, and he had a huge sweet tooth. Raul was more into soccer, and was very vain, yet somewhat kind but always spoke his mind whether it was dumb or smart or rude or nice. Ethan was the most sarcastic, even above me, and the most cynical, unlike me. I considered myself realistic.

Trent laughed, "Come on, Grayson! Beat his ass!"

Ethan rolled his eyes, "Raul obviously has the upper hand."

I sipped at my iconic red party cup, it was filled with this fruit punch alcohol. I wanted to stop thinking about the fact he wasn't here yet, I wanted to stop watching the clock tick as time went by, as I waited for him to show. Thank god, I couldn't taste the alcohol over the sweet punch, because I didn't like anything bitter.

Raul pinned Grayson with a triumphant laugh, and stood up with both arms held high. Everyone in the kitchen with us cheered, and I shook my head at the stupidity of the whole thing. Trent reached up in the cabinets, pulling out a bunch of shot glasses.

"Now for the main event! Raul, go get Lindsay." He nodded and took off to the living room, amidst all the dancing swarm of teenagers. "The birthday boy, and my best friend Lindsay, are gonna have five shots. Anybody wanna join?"

The whole kitchen seemed to murmur about whether or not they'd want to. Bella appeared from the crowd with a grin, she seemed a little tipsy already, and stood across the island from me. Her eyes seemed to try to flirt with me, I looked away. I couldn't even think of trying to be with her right now.

"I'll do it."

Trent gave his sister a high five, "Heck yeah!"

Raul came back with Lindsay, her face etched with a scowl. She wasn't much of a team player, and hated losing at anything. Nevertheless, she marched next to me, raising a brow, "I can't believe we lost to him."

I snickered, "Neither can I."

The scent hit me, and my head snapped over to the front door. I could sense he was here now, but where? I caught sight of him down the hall, looking around for what I assumed was me. His hair was pushed back, and he was wearing a hoodie which was rolled up by its sleeves. His blue jeans and converse looked great, and the watch on his wrist made him look hotter somehow. He ran a hand through his hair before his eyes met mine, and a shy smile etched itself on his beautiful face. I walked over, placing my hand on his shoulder and leading him into the kitchen with us. It was like a small hum of electricity spread throughout my body when I touched him, and even when I let go, it was still there.

"We're doing shots, why don't you join us?" I placed him next to me, feeling giddy all of a sudden. "It's five of them, and it's not a race."

He raised an eyebrow, "Why? Scared you'll lose?"

Trent patted him on the back, "Don't challenge the master- you might just get schooled, dude."

I waved Trent off, grinning down at him. "You asked for it, pretty boy."

Trent set up the shots for all of us, including Lance, Grayson, Raul, and himself. Ethan and Monsè simply watched, for two reasons being that they didn't want to drink, and they made for good referees. In this case, they would shout who won.

Trent bellowed, "Ready?! Set! GO!"

I drank as fast as I could, the harsh but semisweet liquid of tequila going down my throat. I set the last shot down with a grunt, looking up as everyone shouted and laughed.

Trent looked at Ethan and Monsè expectantly, "So who won?"

Monsè chuckled and pointed, "The random guy next to Xavier."

Everyone started talking about how it had stung, or how it was rigged. Some even joked about how they had seen his jaw unhinge to drink faster. My mate had won.

I looked at him surprised, and he looked at me with a smirk. His face was flushed, which was a really cute look at him.

I leaned in, a little too close, but not close enough for my inner wolf to be satiated. "Hey, so I never got your name."

He cleared his throat, licking his lips, "It's Seth."

I nodded, "Xavier. Pronounced with an J, spelt with an X."

He nodded with a smile, "Cool." There was tension from the close proximity, but I didn't back away. He didn't either. "So, how's it feel to be a loser?"

"Well, it's a little bit of a bummer." I shrugged, "But I'm also in the presence of a winner, so. It's a win-win."

He laughed, shaking his head. "So what now?"

I looked around, seeing everyone talking amongst themselves, and everyone dancing to the music. I c****d my head towards the living room, "Let's go dance."

I grabbed my drink, along with Seth's wrist, leading him through the crowd of people. There was a couch in the back, filled with stoners and people who were entangled in hormones. Towards the front, there was music and different colored lights. I led him to the front, pulling him somewhat close as the music bumped. It was a mix of rock and alternative, and it was made up of my favorite music. We didn't necessarily dance together, but we didn't dance apart from each other either.

We danced for what seemed like ages, but was only forty minutes. I leaned in, putting my mouth against his ear. "Wanna get something to drink and maybe play some video games in my room?"

He nodded as I leaned away, and for a second we stood there before I led him away again. In the small lobby by the stairs, there was a table set up with the alcohol fruit punch and chips and other snacks.

I served us both, handing his cup and sipping from mine before pointing upstairs. My words slightly slurred, "I lied. There are no video games in my room. I mean, there are, but honestly I just wanted to get out of that crowd. It was sweaty, and I'm hot-"

Seth nodded, "Yeah, me too."

"Yeah." I chuckled, licking my lips to taste more of that fruit juice. "So, what are your classes? I didn't see you anywhere today."

His mouth formed a small 'o', "Oh. Yeah, I left early because I had a doctor's appointment. I think I have you for the second lunch period, fifth and sixth period."

I felt excited at the prospect of seeing him everyday. I bit my lip, "So wanna hang around here or..." I scratched the back of my neck, "...maybe I can give you a little tour of my room?"

He shrugged, looking around nonchalantly before leaning in with a wide smile. "I think a small break from the party wouldn't hurt."

I smirked, walking upstairs. I looked back as he stood there with a blush, and I c****d my head. "You coming or what?"

Seth took a deep breath, downing the rest of his drink before following me to my room. He walked quickly, slowing down when he caught up to me. I led him down the small hallway, motioning to the room at the end.

I opened the door for him, allowing him to walk into my room. "Make yourself at home."

My room wasn't super big, or super small. The walls were painted a dark garnet, with small pieces of graffiti here and there.

Seth had noticed a particular one about a girl's profile with a pained expression by my bed, looking at me with his eyes shining in awe, "You draw these?"

I nodded as I closed the door, feeling sheepish. My bed was slightly messy, the blanket crumpled at the bottom and the pillows were ruffled. It was a subtle gray theme with black in the form of pillows and stuffed animals. The posters on my wall were just some bands and movies I had taken interest in here and there. I cleaned it when I got home, so the desk looked semi-okay with my sketchbooks open with papers full of unfinished sketches. My tv was on the opposite wall of my bed, with the entertainment center semi-okay. My dresser had a bunch of little nic knacks and small toys from shows I watched.

He scoffed, "These are amazing." He then walked over to my desk, seeing the papers thrown around. He looked back at me with a smile, "I saw how good you were in art class... but I didn't know... You really have a gift."

I shrugged, "Thanks. I spent years trying to perfect my skills." I plopped down on my bed, slipping off my shoes. I gave him a serious look, leaning against my bed frame with my arms behind my head. "So, you bring me a birthday present?"

Seth chuckled as he sat beside me, kicking off his own shoes. "Maybe. Why?"

I shook my head with a smile, "Just wondering." I glanced at him nervously, before grabbing a rubix cube from my bedside table. Him being so close was so... intoxicating. The door being closed made it worse. I bit down on my lip hard, almost enough to make me bleed, to make myself focus. "Ever done one of these?"

He took it gingerly, looking at it with peculiar determination. "I've seen them around, just never got around to getting one."

I laughed as he started moving it around, "So tell me about yourself. All I know is your name's Seth, and you're in my grade."

He glanced at me before refocusing onto the cube, "Well, I'm a Taurus. Very chill, but my moon is a Leo. I'm prideful. Stubborn. I like a challenge, but if it's too much and too costly, I'll quit. I like writing." He passed me back the Rubix cube with one side completed, it was the white side. "Your turn."

I went at the cube too, "You know I like drawing. I like parties. I know I'm a Libra, but not about moons and s**t. Um, what else?" I passed it back to him, the red and white side now completed. "I like rock and reggaeton. I can watch shitty movies all day, including the twilight saga. I'm a lazy bum, so lazy that even though I'm built like a god, I hate sports. Too much work, too much time spent away and not relaxing. I usually say what's on my mind, but sometimes I find myself keeping some things to myself. I'll eat junk food all day."

I looked at him in surprise, realizing I'd been droning on. He didn't seem bothered, just focused on the cube. I liked this banter, it was refreshing. The alcohol didn't seem able to curb the attraction like I thought, but it helped that I couldn't hear my inner wolf egging me on to jump him. Though, the smell was a nuisance. An attractive, fuckable nuisance.

"Well, my turn." I nodded, my mouth suddenly feeling dry. "I'm also lazy. My favorite snacks are hot chips or sweet chocolate. And..." He passed me back my rubix cube, all messed up suddenly. "Yeah."

I looked at him in confusion, his small smile and the way he went off topic threw me off. I don't know how we had gotten so close, shoulder to shoulder. I noticed the hum from his touch, it was annoyingly addictive, and everything seemed to fade away. I leaned in slowly, and it seemed that so did he. Our lips grazed slightly, and I involuntarily shivered at the sensation. I pressed forward, kissing him softly. I closed my eyes, and I felt him tense up at first, but give in after a moment of hesitance. This was it, we were kissing. He moved his mouth slightly against mine, and it was like the most sensational feeling I've ever felt in my life. I couldn't begin to describe the way it made me feel, and I quickly took back everything I ever thought or said about mates before. This was like a gift, an amazing gift that I never wanted to take for granted. My body felt like it was slowly burning from the inside, and I wanted more. I felt sober now, suddenly very aware of everything that was happening between us. I could hear his heartbeat, feel his body heat, and hear his breathing.

I suddenly made the kiss deeper with a groan, suddenly wanting more. I tasted the sweet punch and the faintest alcohol. I heard his breathing stutter though, and realized he was out of breath. I pulled away, our noses brushing softly, and I heard Seth make a small whimper, and I suddenly developed a goofy grin on my face. He looked up at me, as if coming out of a daze, and his face flushed with sudden realization. He looked away, "Sorry. That was... Sorry. I've never really made that noise before."

I gently cradled his cheek, making him face me. "I didn't mind." He rolled his eyes, and I chuckled, "It was a nice birthday present."

He cleared his throat, twiddling with the hem of his shirt in nervousness. "Would you mind keeping that... keeping our kiss between us?"

I grinned, giving him a sensual kiss. He made a surprise moan as he kissed back, and it stirred something in me that I didn't want stirred. Not right now, at least. I pulled away, my voice suddenly feeling a little tight and restrained. "Of course. I don't kiss and tell."

He shook his head with a laugh, still blushing. "So besides luring innocent young men into your room to seduce them, what else do you do in your free time?" I smiled at his comment, leaning away and onto the headboard again.

‘Xavi, where are you? I was hoping to give you your present early.’ Bella's slurred words rang in my head, and I restrained a groan of annoyance.

‘Not now.’ My harsh tone earned a growl from her, her beta wolf wanting to tear me to pieces for the disrespect no doubt, but I blocked her and the rest of the pack out again.

"Well, I like to read sometimes. It has to be really interesting and consuming though. If it doesn't have me hooked from the beginning, it's hard to really get into it."

He nodded, "Yeah, I get you. I mostly read fiction 'cause of that, but I get a little attached sometimes. Especially in romances."

I smiled, "Yeah. I know what you mean completely. It's like you're there with them, and you wish you could help or explain, but you can't and it's really..."

"Frustrating."

"Yeah."

We talked. We talked about the most minuscule and unimportant things, but we talked. It was the nicest conversation, full of snarky remarks and small battles of wit. There was a point where he almost got up and left because of how I felt about Jacob from Twilight, but after hearing my argument about how his behavior in eclipse and being mates to an infant, he accepted my point of view. Didn't entirely agree, but accepted.

"So what? You want me to say that I would do the same if I were Ellie?"

I scoffed, "I mean, I don't know! I don't agree with the last part of the game, though she did kind of help them, she lost everything she cared about."

"She was doing it to avenge her family! Joel suffered, and Abigail was a b***h! You can't just blame her when she was in grieving-"

"Nah. She was being stupid, and you know it."

"It's more complicated than that, and you know it." He narrowed his eyes, I shrugged.

"Maybe."

He tensed, as if suddenly remembering something. "s**t, what time is it?"

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket, "Ten. Why?"

He winced, "My curfews in thirty minutes."

"Oh. Well, I guess we should do the cake then."

"There's cake, and you didn't tell me." He looked at me, almost aghast at the way I had withheld dessert from him.

I laughed, "I'll get you an extra big piece, okay?"

He seemed pleased at that, and followed me downstairs. I connected back into the mind link, slightly dazed as I walked towards the first floor of the house. ‘We're doing the cake, people. Trent, use your authority. Get everyone to the kitchen for the cake. Lindsay, get the knife.’

Trent's loud voice slurred in my mind, making me wince. ‘HOLY s**t! It's cake time! It's cake time, bitches! Get ready now! Come on! Get the f**k to the kitchen! CAKE TIME! And ice cream, yum.’

"Cake time, people! Move your drunk, sexy asses!" His out loud voice was worse, more slurred and more obnoxious, but still authoritative.

Seth laughed beside me, "He's drunk." I laughed with him, and he raised an eyebrow. "Did you text him or something?"

"Oh, yeah." I nodded, cursing myself that I forgot how humans couldn't mind link like us. There was no other human way Trent would've known about cake time. I had to be more careful.

I walked in with a giddy feeling, and sat on the bar stool by the island and right in front of the cake. Seth was beside me, and Monsè lit the candles carefully. I glanced to see Bella staring at me from across the island, and I looked away. Lindsay giggled alongside the boys, (Grayson, Raul, and Ethan) and Lance was alongside her.

Trent laughed, loud. "One, two, three!"

On queue, everyone started to sing as the lights turned off. All I could was smile and laugh at the drunken slur of everyone's voices, and feel awkward at being sang at. I looked to Seth, his drunken grin and his cheeky dimples. How had I not noticed his dimples before? They were killing me.

The song was over, and Seth raised an eyebrow. "Well? Make a wish."

I blew on the candles, thinking about him. Purely him. That was my wish.

We cut the cake in squares, it was red velvet and with Oreos on top. The cream on top was decorated with a bunch of badly drawn d***s and smiley faces, done by Monsè and Lance. It was obvious which one did what drawings. The ice cream, however, was rocky road.

I handed Seth his slice, and another cup of punch. I also got a slice and a drink, and we sat by the stairs eating and talking.

"Are you going to Uber? You shouldn't drink and drive."

Seth rolled his eyes, "I think I'll be fine."

"No, really. I'll order you an Uber."

He contemplated for a bit, before someone stumbled on the stairs by us, almost falling on his cake. "Can we eat in your room?"

I nodded, "Yeah. Let's go." I grabbed a couple beers for the road, for myself mostly. Mostly was a funny word. Most. Lee. Mostly. We were upstairs in a hurry, and I went in first, placing the cans and plate on the desk. "So, wanna watch something before you go-"

I gasped, his mouth firm on mine as his hands cradled my cheeks. I kissed him back, with more fervor.

Deeper. More. I kissed him more. Sloppy, even. I sighed against his lips, this was blissful. My body was like fire, a small and spreading fire that sent shocks everywhere.

He straddled me on my bed, and I bit at his bottom lip teasingly. My hands drifted to his thighs, slightly squeezing and massaging them. He kissed me again, placing his hands on my neck. I pulled away, looking up at him in a daze. He looked at me confused, and I smiled.

"You're really pretty like this."

"Like what?" His voice was a little husky, and it made me want to mark him then and there.

"On top of me." I smiled, again, at his wide eyes before finding his lips again. I travelled down to his jaw, kissing harder, even suckling the skin lightly.

He panted, pulling away with a light moan. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be doing this."

Seth laid on the bed behind me, and I sat there in a lustful haze. I was very confused now. All I could think about were the fireworks that went off in my head, and that it wasn't there anymore. As quick as the make out session had started, it had ended. I was frustrated. I looked over, about to ask what was wrong, but saw that he was asleep now. I shook my head with a laugh, and laid down next to him. He was cute.

I closed my eyes, wishing for him again. Again, and again.