Who Could Love a Monster

Chapter 2: To Find a Man

Riley’s POV

The last day of summer. I was planning on meeting up with Kyle for coffee to enjoy the last fleeting moments of our freedom.

Today my long, straight black hair was down. I loved that since it was so thick and long that it almost looked like a cape.

I put on some mascara to highlight my large green eyes and a slight hint of red lipstick on my lips to just give them some color.

I pulled on my black high waisted skinny jeans and paired them with a white spaghetti strap crop top and black converses.

When I finished getting ready, I ran downstairs and immediately bumped into my father. He was a stoic man, but I knew how much he loved my mother and me, he just had a different way of showing it, like teaching me self-defense and ensuring I knew my value rather than overtly saying he loved us. He was almost a giant, standing at 6’6. I inherited his black hair and slender physique but unlike me, he had dark blue eyes like the depths of the ocean. I know it’s weird to say since I am his daughter, but he was a beautiful man. He had a very angular face that looked like it was carved into pristine marble. We were exceptionally fair skinned, leading to jealousy when I was younger of all the other children in the area that looked like they were kissed by the sun but now I embraced it.

“Morning, Aed” I grinned. Don’t ask why, but I was raised to call my parents by their first names. It is just the tradition on Aed’s side of the family and Susan – my mother – just went along with it.

He gave me a small smile and a pat on the head before heading to his office. He was not chatty but that was okay because that was what I had Susan for.

Susan was sitting at the counter, reading a magazine and drinking coffee. She had soft wavy hair that was mousy brown in color and was significantly shorter than Aed to the point that it was almost laughable when they walked side by side. From behind, his 6’6 frame standing beside her 5’4 frame looked like a father and child.

She looked up when I entered, and I was met with the bright green eyes that were identical to mine. “Morning, honey” she greeted. “Coffee?”

“Nah I’m good, on my way to meet Kyle for coffee”. Susan’s eyes lit up at the mention of Kyle. She always loved him and saw him as the son she never had. Susan had desperately wanted another child but due to complications, wasn’t able to conceive again. It used to sadden me when I was younger, I had always dreamed of having a brother but in these dreams, he was my big brother who could protect me from bullies and would sneak me cake when I got in trouble.

“You tell that boy; I expect to see him at dinner tomorrow! Since it’s your first day back, I thought I’d make his favorite”. I gave her a small eye roll.

“I’ll tell him” I muttered as I leaned over and grabbed an apple, simultaneously giving her a peck on the cheek.

Before I could make it to the door Susan called me back. “Did you see Aed? Don’t want you to run out without at least a hello.”

“Already saw him. He gave me a pat on the head”, at this my mother burst out laughing.

“That man is a hoot!” she chuckled, running off to find him.

***

When I arrived at our favorite coffee shop, I saw Kyle was already waiting at our table. He was wearing a colorful geometric shirt with short sleeves, tucked into a pair of ripped black jeans. His hair was perfectly styled as always and even though he ran his fingers through his hair, he still looked good. The man was hot, and he knew it, but I still loved him.

I plopped myself down in the chair across from and without looking up from his phone, he slid my coffee over to me.

“Caramel latte” he muttered, engrossed in his phone.

“who ya texting? Wink wink”, winking was an ability I did not possess so I decided to say it whenever I wanted to do it.

“YES” he shouted, almost shooting up from his seat. “Riles, you will either love me or hate me but either way you’re going.”

I furrowed my brows in confusion and narrowed my eyes suspiciously. I have a feeling I won’t like where this conversation is going. He finally looked up from his phone and gave me one of his megawatt smiles, “I got us an invite to Tristan’s birthday! It was actually surprisingly easy but that’s neither here nor-”

“No” I spoke sharply, cutting him off.

“But Riles, basically the whole school is going. Wait no, not basically, literally. Literally the whole school is going as well as some other people not at our school.”

“I really don’t want to be around them more than I have to be.”

His face saddened, but not in the I-am-using-my-puppy-face-to-get-what-I-want way, this was a genuine sadness. “Please Riles. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the gay dating pool in our school is incredibly limited and there is no way I am dating Fish Lips. This could be my only chance of meeting hot available guys outside of our school.”

He was wrong I had noticed. But what I hadn’t realized was that he wanted something more serious. We had gone out loads of times in the nearby city and almost every night he had hooked up with someone new. Guilt turned in my stomach for not noticing that he wanted a legit boyfriend. I also felt a twinge of jealousy stab at my chest. It’s not that I wanted to date Kyle, it is just that I am worried when – not if – he gets a boyfriend, he won’t have time for me anymore.

I took a deep breath, “fiiiine! I’ll go, but only for you. I have to make sure he isn’t an asshole”.

Kyle gave me a sly smirk, “oh, you know I like ‘em a little mean”.

We spent the next two hours talking about boys, outfits for the parties and how long I was obligated to stay. As I hopped onto my motorbike to head home, I shouted over to Kyle, “Susan is making your favorite tomorrow, you better be there”.

“You know I would never disappoint my Suzie” he winked. Damn I wish I could wink.

I took the long way home, needing the open air to clear my head. I knew I had promised to go but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this party is the last place I should be. I felt like something bad was going to happen, but I couldn’t place my finger on it.

***

I woke up the next more to my mom jumping into my bed.

“Susan?” I asked groggily. I rolled over to find her staring at the ceiling dreamily.

“I came in to see what you were going to wear for your first day back, but you were asleep and looked comfy, so I thought I’d join” she smiled, looking at me. Susan never did understand boundaries all that well. I rubbed my face in an attempt to wake up. “Oh, and you’re late” she chimed before hopping up and gliding out of my room.

Shit! I couldn’t be late on my first day.

I raced through my morning routine at breakneck speed. I pulled on a white t-shirt and tucked it into black high waisted jeans and pulled on my favorite green hoodie before running out of my house.

Tristan’s POV

The drive to school was intense. My knuckles were turning white because of how hard I was gripping my steering wheel. I was a few days from turning eighteen and I was getting nervous. Turning eighteen was a big deal since I was a werewolf and when a werewolf turns eighteen, they become able to find their mate. The soul they are fated to be with chosen by the Moon Goddess, the perfect person for them. It is a big deal because you become bonded for life and being the next in line for the Alpha position put even more pressure on me to find my mate. An Alpha needs their Luna to lead their pack properly.

This whole experience was not being made easier by my sister Cara. Like me, she has our father’s dark brown hair and mother’s amber eyes. She was only sixteen but usually hung out with me and my friends, mainly because she was a cheerleader like almost all other shewolves. We went to a school that was a mix of wolves and humans but needless to say due to our increased speed and strength, we made up all the athletic teams.

“She isn’t going to be your mate, Tristan” she scoffed, “so why don’t you get your head out of your ass and break up with her?”

I gave her a low threatening growl. Even if Chloe wasn’t my mate, she was my girlfriend, and I couldn’t let someone disrespect her.

“Cut that out” she said sternly causing me to flinch. Sometimes I forget how similar she is to our mom.

“You don’t know that. She could be” I argued.

“oh please! You would have noticed something by now if she was. Plus, you wouldn’t be inviting everyone to your party if you thought she was your mate. You are trying to increase your odds of meeting your mate” she punctuated the end of her sentence with a sharp poke to my ribs.

When we pulled up to the school and hopped out of my car, she raised one eyebrow at me. “You don’t want to have a girlfriend when you meet your mate, Tris” she wore a smirk on her face but also had a tone of finality in her voice. She flipped her hair at me before walking off towards the school doors.

I leaned back on my car waiting for Chloe to arrive but as I stood there, I couldn’t help but mull over what Cara had said. Maybe I should end things with Chloe. Alec – my wolf – yipped happily in my head making me growl in annoyance once again.

As I contemplated on what to do, a strange smell came through the air. At school, I usually smelt the woods, which was the wolves and vanilla, which was the humans. But today I caught a hint of lavender. I got off my car to follow the smell but just as soon as it came, it disappeared. I brushed it off as Liam – my second in command – and Cade – my third – came over.

Liam was accompanied by Alice, his mate. I felt jealous. Liam had turned eighteen last month and Alice was already a close friend, so they found each other instantly. I think that was why I kept Chloe around. I just wanted my mate so badly and it would be so much easier if she was someone that I already knew.

Liam and Cade chatted away about plans for my birthday, walking slightly ahead of me and Alice. I refocused my attention when her small hand touched my arm. She was smiling brightly at me. “I can’t wait to meet your mate. I am sure she will be at the party and be just as amazing as you”. Alice was going to be a healer like her mother, so she got a sense when someone needed help, whether it be physical or emotional.

I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. She was right, I was going to find her. She will be at the party. She has to be…