Neo

I've felt an odd buzzing ever since I woke up this morning. It was like an aura of electricity only I could feel. It was making me restless, I'd never felt anything like it before, not even when my wolf was awakened. I was fidgeting in my seat, my best friend Malcolm noticed, and leaned over the aisle,

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I feel like there's a live electric current all over my body...what would cause that?"

"Your mate is nearby." Malcolm whispered, 

Now, most wolves would be overjoyed at this news. Maybe if they were straight, or lived in a family that wasn't homophobic. I was gay...I'd known that for a few years now; but I was still firmly in the closet. My dad would kill me if he knew and I knew that my mate would be a guy and there's no hiding who your true mate was. I was pretty close to hyperventilating when the classroom door opened again, and the most handsome guy I'd ever seen came strolling in, his map of the school clutched in his hands. My wolf screamed in my head; fucking hell. The new guy was my mate, and he was hot...so very hot. 

I couldn't talk to him, couldn't let him know that he was my mate. From the looks of it, he hadn't turned eighteen yet so he couldn't feel his half of the bond yet. My only saving grace at the moment; I had to either reject him or find a way to tell my dad I was gay and I had met my mate. Until I figured it out, I had to resist him. That should be easy...right? How hard could it be, it wasn't like he had a deep voice that could vibrate my very soul...I still had a chance. It's not like he was spitfire, with a flair for the dramatic, and a heart of gold.

"New guy is looking right at you."

I looked up and sure enough, golden brown eyes were staring right at me. Good Gods he was beautiful, his toffee colored hair was messy in a very intentional way, and his skin was naturally tan; and his face looked like it was sculpted lovingly by angels. I was in so much trouble. He was the apple in my garden and I didn't think I had the same willpower as Eve.

"My name is Nate O'Rourke. I'm from the Purple Moon."

He was the transfer dad was talking about. He came from a strong family of warriors, and judging by his build; it wasn't a made up story for clout within packs. This guy was built like a brick wall, but was still lithe like a dancer. His muscles were well defined, hard, and coiled and recoiled with every movement. The only available desk was in front of me and I gulped. Please don't smell like pine sap and lavender. It was my favorite candle scent and all my restraint would be out the window if he smelled like it.

I glanced at Malcolm, he was the only soul who knew I was gay. I took out my phone and sent him a panicked message;

New guy is my mate!! What the fuck do I do??

Uh, say hi? Like a normal gay dude.

You are no help. No one knows I'm gay but you dude.

Maybe idk, change that?

I shot my friend a glare before pocketing my phone. Son of the Alpha or not, Miss Prim would take my phone and give me detention if she caught me with it out. Nate sat down, and his natural scent was unmarred by cologne, and he did in fact smell like my favorite candle. Fuck. Me. My wolf snickered,

That can be arranged.

Shut up.

For the rest of class I tried to ignore the hot new guy who happened to be my mate. I was doing great until he turned in his seat to pass back the new note packet we had to fill out. His fingers brushed mine, and the jolt of electricity was enough to make my wolf pur. Wolves don't pur. Nate seemed to feel it too, and his eyes widened when I jerked my hands back, taking the packets with it. I heard his sharp intake of breath, and then the scent of blood. Fuck, I'd hurt him.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

"It's fine, just a paper cut. It'll go away soon."

"Let me make it up to you?"

"For giving me an accidental paper cut? What do you have in mind?"

This was not avoiding him. Good gods I was in trouble. His voice was hypnotic; and his eyes were pools of honey.

"Let me show you around?"

"When?"

"This weekend?"

"Sure. I live on Crescent Drive. Number twelve. See you at noon."

The bell rang before I could say anything back and Nate was out of his seat and on his way to his next class before I could offer him my name.

"Don't you say anything." I warned Malcolm,

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Nate

The strangest part of my day was meeting the guy that gave me a papercut and an electric shock in the span of five seconds, and then making a date with him for Saturday. That had been the smoothest I had ever been. I didn't think my wolf took over for that interaction...but it was so unlike me that it was highly possible Dixon took over without me knowing. 

The rest of the day was not as amusing. Tacos for lunch, very cliche for a Tuesday. Standard classes, with a few werewolf and supernatural classes offered that couldn't be at my old human school. The day was over and I was climbing into the car my parents had guilt gifted me; when I spotted the guy I made weekend plans with. He was walking with another guy, equally as handsome. He looked panicked while his companion looked amused.

What an odd guy. 

I wonder if my parents would be mad that I made plans on my birthday to see the town. Probably not...we could celebrate later when I got home. I pulled into the driveway and wasn't surprised to see the SUV gone. Mom probably went out for supplies. Which meant, I had this huge house to myself. I dialed Beckham's number, hoping he'd be awake despite the time difference, or at least not busy.

He answered almost immediately; a good sign I guess.

"Hey man, what's up? How was your first day?"

"When you turned eighteen and figured out Bree was your mate, what did she feel on her end?"

"An electric shock when I touched her, but not the full bond until she turns eighteen, why?"

"I think I met my mate today. We shocked each other in class by accident and he pulled away so fast he gave me a papercut. He then offered to show me around on my birthday."

"Damn dude, you've only been in town, what twenty hours?"

"Barely that. He's hot, man. Like, so hot. I was so uncharacteristically smooth with him too, I think watching him gay panic helped a lot. Gods, I hope it's just nerves and he's not suffering from internalized homophobia."

"Will you stop being so dramatic? I'm sure everything will work out. It has to, you deserve to be happy."

"So do you. So you aren't taking over until Bree is eighteen?"

"That's the plan, even if you did find your mate."

"Well it gives us more time to plan how to get me back there so I can still be your Beta."

"What if your mate is the next Alpha of that pack?"

"Mr. Nerves of Steel? Doubtful."

"Call me Saturday for confirmation, alright? I've got some training to do."

"Yeah, talk to you Saturday."

After hanging up, I realized I didn't know my mate's name. Nor did I have his number. I'd hightailed it out of that classroom so quickly he hadn't had the chance to tell me anything. I was so stupid sometimes, and here I was thinking I'd been Mr. Smooth.

When I entered that classroom, he was the first thing my eyes focused on. There was just something about him; he was beautiful, yes, but there was something else that wouldn't let my focus wander from his form for very long. Saturday couldn't come fast enough.

***

Saturday morning was bright and filled with my nervous energy. I was literally buzzing with nervous electricity. I was watching the clock, tapping my foot as I chewed my toast thoroughly, my mother was watching me with curiosity but never said anything, besides greeting me with 'Happy Birthday' when I had joined her downstairs. My dad had already gone off for his pack duties. I'd see him later anyway. I think mom finally had enough of me watching the clock because she finally gave in and asked,

"What are you waiting for? A call from Beckham?"

"Uh no, I have plans with a guy from school."

"A guy?" Her curiosity was peaked,

"Um, I think he might be my mate; but I'm not sure."

"How exciting! Have fun today, don't worry about your father and I, we can celebrate with you tomorrow."

My mom did look genuinely excited for me, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Neo; I'd finally learned his name during roll call the following day. It had to be a nickname of some kind; no parent would name their kid after the protagonist of The Matrix...right?

"Thanks mom." The microwave clock finally changed to 11:50, that was a reasonable time to start waiting outside, right?

I put my wallet in my back pocket and made sure I had my house keys just in case, I dropped to sit on the top step of the porch, it didn't take long for the familiar black Jeep to pull up to the house. Neo looked ridiculously handsome, it should be illegal to look that beautiful.

Even from here, I could tell that there was something different in the air...I've never felt anything like it. I jogged towards the vehicle, trying to mask my excitement. I still had some doubts, like why did he pull away the first day like I had the plague? I climbed in, and buckled before turning to him; my wolf was going stir crazy begging me to claim the man beside me. I ignored the impulse; because Neo looked terrified. Like his entire world had been turned upside down.

"Are you okay?" I asked tentatively, "Are you planning on rejecting me?"

Neo looked horrified at the suggestion, but he didn't say anything to counter my assumption. Neo was still quiet when he pulled away from the curb, but his silence was due to him thinking...I hoped.

"Look, only one person besides you knows that I'm gay. My dad is pretty against, same sex anything human or werewolf...and I'm scared he'll take away the pack and everything I've ever known if he found out the next Luna is a guy."

"You're the Alpha's son?"

"You didn't pick up on that at school?"

"No...so what do you propose we do? You seemed horrified at the notion of rejection."

"Can we be friends? I just...I need time to tell my dad."

"Yeah, we can be friends."

I didn't think a friendship could break my heart so quickly...but I was wrong.