Atticus threw the duvet off him, standing up. His leg was no longer painful, so he felt ready to go back to school. It’d taken slightly longer than anticipated, and he’d ended up missing the entire first week.

He had a lot of things to think about - would he get beaten as soon as he went back to school? Did telling someone only make things worse for him in the long run? And, who the fuck was Blake?

Riya flopped down on his bed, groaning. “Ok, I may have made a sliiight blunder.” Atticus rolled his eyes, sitting next to her. “What did you do this time?” Riya rolled over to face him. “I kinda made it slip to my friends that you broke your leg and they invited you into the group but I forgot humans take longer to heal.”

Atticus gaped at her. “Riri, it takes like 6 weeks for even small fractures in human bones to heal! It took me like what, 6 days? They’re definitely going to think that’s weird.”

Riya nodded, groaning into a pillow. “I know. I know. I think we can sort it, if we say it wasn’t actually a break, just a sprain and the shock made you unable to move it and thus we thought it was a break.”

Atticus massaged his temples. “Ugh. Ok. Ok. That’s fine. Or, I could just not sit with you guys, and they never have to know I’m back.” Riya gave him wolf-pup eyes, and he immediately gave in. “Fine fine. Are your friends weird? I hope not, I’m already the ‘weird kid’ without hanging around actual weirdos.”

His best friend slapped his arm, pulling faces at him. “No! They’re all super nice. Plus there’s a bunch of hot guys in the group for you to feast your eyes on.” Atticus rolled his eyes, thinking of only one hot guy he’d like to look at.

“Oh, by the way, what does it mean if you dream someone’s name?”

If Riya had a drink on her, she would have spat it out. “You’re joking, right?” Her friend only raised a brow at her, generally curious. “Why do you ask? Did you hear a name in your dream?” Atticus nodded, tucking one of his bangs behind his ear.

“Yeah, it was my voice that kept saying the name, but I’ve like never even heard that name before.” Riya clapped her hands together in ecstasy. “Oh my God Atti!! That means you’ve already met your mate!”

Atticus sat up abruptly. “WHAT?”

Riya dragged him into a tight hug. “That’s the mate dream! You were saying your mate's name!” Atticus pullback, frowning. “How do you know I’ve already met them though?”

“It’s different for different species, but for wolves, if you dream their name, then it’s only after you’ve met them! If you dream their features, you dream it before you’ve met them, and changes a bit after you’ve met them.”

Atticus nodded along, the realisation finally dawning on him. “OhmygodIhaveamate!” Riya squealed, clapping her hands excitedly. “Um, but Atti, that means I have a confession to make…”

Her best friend peered up at her, a massive grin on his face. “What is it?” Biting her lip, Riya took his hand gently. “Please don’t be mad ok?” Atticus nodded furiously, squeezing her hand back. “I could never be mad at you, Riri.”

Grinning brightly, she forged ahead. “Um, so. I actually had the mate dream already, but I didn’t tell you about it because of the promise.” Atticus froze, but thawed quickly. “Oh…I’m surprised you remember the promise, to be honest.”

Biting her lip, Riya continued. “You’re not mad?” Atticus grinned, stroking her hair fondly. “Why would I be mad my best friend found her happiness? I can’t believe you’ve had a secret boyfriend - when did you have the dream? What’s he like? Is he someone from the pack?”

Riya giggled, pulling him in for a hug. “Ok ok, so we haven’t completed the bond. I had the dream on my 16th birthday though, and I do feel bad for the guy, he’s been waiting even longer than that because he’s older than me.”

Atticus pulled back a little. “You didn’t accept the bond? Why not? Do you not like him?” Riya shook her head, running her hand through his fiery hair. “No I- I really like him. I just wanted to make sure you found yours too, before I did.”

Atticus made an ‘awww’ sound before pulling her back into a tight hug. “I love you sooo much!” Riya smiled, knowing she had to take the final step. “Careful, if you say that around Ceyden he might get jealous.”

Holding her breath, she waited for Atticus to get it. Apparently he didn’t, and just looked at her questioningly, before eventually, his eyes widened. “OH MY GOD CEYDEN????”

Riya burst out laughing, nodding furiously. Atticus squealed, flapping his hands around. “Oh my God I was so worried it’d be some dick, at least now you’ll finally be actual family!” Riya grinned, pulling him back in for another hug.

“I’m so glad you’re not angry.” Atticus pulled back again, after a moment. “Like I already said, I could never be mad at you. I’m kinda sad you didn’t tell me sooner, but also thank you for keeping your promise, even though it was a totally dumb and unfair one.”

She nodded, squeezing his shoulder before hopping off the bed. “I should go tell him right now that we can finally accept the bond, he’s been waiting four years!”

Atticus’s eyes widened with laughter. “Oh my God you were thirteen when he had the dream! What a cradle-snatcher,” he snickered. Riya only rolled her eyes, still grinning as she ran down the hall to find the man she loved.