Gregory

I woke up sweating again.

When I first arrived at the pack, I was scared to sleep alone, afraid of what that man might do to me once more. Of course, I knew he was dead. But try telling that to my [estimated 13 years old] subconscious.

Since I don't even know my full name, I also don't know my own age. But doctors did a full work up on me and my bone age placed me at 13 at the time.

I didn't want to trust an adult, I couldn't. So I ended up crawling into Felix's bed when I first moved into the pack house. I would never go to a girl's room and his brother looked younger than me. So Felix seemed like the obvious choice in the wing of the house we slept in. Especially considering he was always nice to me. Even when I wasn't, initially.

So he became familiar to me, his company kept me comfortable and he became trustworthy.

Many times Alpha Rosalyn caught us two together in bed and many times she would ask if I wanted to sleep with her instead, but I always said no. And she never pushed it.

Of course, she wasn't the reason I didn't want to sleep with her. I just didn't feel safe with any male adult. In fact, I barely felt safe with any adult for the longest time. Still don't, sometimes.

And yet 4 years later, I still wake up sweating profusely from the nightmares. I've discussed it with my therapist, but I don't think they'll ever go away. Or maybe whenever I'm mated, who knows? What I do know is that I feel safe with Felix, that's why he's the only boy I even tried anything with.

Or even made me feel confident enough to explore some sexuality outside of abuse. And for that reason and more, I'll always be grateful to him. So that's probably why he wasn't too worried about us being caught in bed together. It just became normal for us.

And yes, in case you're wondering, I initiated things with a peck. He never pushed for anything. It was my attraction for him that drove us to get more intimate in the first place. At least, initially. And not until this year.

As we grew more comfortable with each other, things were progressing naturally. But always at my pace and respectful of my boundaries.

Today I woke up sweating. I cried from the nightmares. If the bedrooms of this house weren't soundproof, I'm sure I would have woken somebody up.

Goddess knows how many times I woke Felix up when we slept together. And he always comforted me afterwards. Never complained about it to me.

However, today I was alone. After I stopped crying, I eventually went to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. That always calms me down.

Not long after, I was already dressed for school. More often than not, I'm always the first to go downstairs to the dining hall for breakfast. I sit back and watch as the maid sets the large table for the meal, all the while the cooking being done inside the kitchen flares up my nostrils.

Even though I can't eat anything until the Alpha arrives, I don't care. At least I wasn't alone in my room. And it wouldn't be fair to bother Felix in his room either, at least not this early in the morning.

He doesn't deserve to suffer for my sins.

When everyone arrived at the table, Alpha Rosalyn started eating. I served myself some pancakes as I was starving. So was everyone else apparently.

"Did you sleep well, Greg?" - Alpha Rosalyn asked me before drinking from her coffee mug. It's the one written 'boss bitch' that her mate gifted her some time ago.

"I did. Unfortunately I had a nightmare, but it's okay. I'm used to it by now." - I told her as I devoured my food hungrily.

She looked at me with a sorrowful expression.

"I hope you can stop having those one day." - She said with a saddened tone.

"Me too, Alpha. I will certainly try." - I shot her a hopeful glance.

"Any word on the mysterious mate, son?" - Luna John asked Felix, sounding intrigued.

"No, dad. Not yet. But I'm hopeful. I just don't get why I would dream about someone I know pretending they don't know me. That's throwing me off in a loop!" - He complained, looking positively puzzled.

"Maybe the person has an evil twin. Who knows?" - I joked. But he gasped at my words as if I was serious.

"Oh my Goddess!'- Felix shouted, gobsmacked.

"I was joking..." - I stared at him, perplexed.

"I know, but it's not that far-fetched! I mean, we don't really know anything about..." - He trailed off and then it hit me. And everyone else at the same time.

"Oh my Goddess!" - I gasped in shock. Then Alpha and Luna repeated after me, also with their mouths agape.

"Did you dream with me?" - I asked point blank, looking him dead in the eyes.

"I don't know that for sure. But he looked exactly like you." - He admitted, turning his gaze to me. Everyone looked surprised by this revelation. I excused myself and left the table in a hurry.

Felix didn't take long to follow me.

"Greg, I'm sorry for not speaking earlier. I was confused. I mean, still am." - He rushed after me to the entrance hall.

I continued ahead, just grabbed my school backpack and left to walk out of the compound to catch the school bus.

"Greg, come on! I'm sorry, please..." - He continued after me, also grabbing his bag and following me along. I don't give him the time of day. I'm mad at him and it's showing on my face.

Eventually, we passed by Micah's house and he joined us, but he thought it was strange I didn't stop to greet him. Neither did Felix. So, he hurried to join us by walking by our side.

"Good morning, what happened?" - Micah asked us as he came closer.

"He found out about the dream." - Felix replied to him. He gasped.

"Of course, HE knew. Why would you not tell me?" - I stopped and turned around to ask him. I was seriously pissed off.

"I'm sorry, I was confused. I didn't think the dream was about you. If I did, of course I'd say something. I'd love for you to be my mate." - Felix confessed with a faint smile. He almost disarms me with his endearing tone, but I'm too angry to calm down.

"Right, so it's not about me. Just someone who looks exactly like me, but you don't think it is me. You think somehow I have an evil twin and he's gonna be your mate?" - I snickered. I couldn't help but laugh at this nonsense.

"Well, you said it. Not me." - He smirked. Micah looked confused by this line of conversation.

"I was joking!" - I shouted at him, irritated.

"I know, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me." - He looked at me pleading.

"Only if you swear you'll tell me if you dream about me again. No matter what!" - I looked at him menacingly.

"I promise!" - He looked at me and raised his hand. - "Scouts honor."

"You do realize that only is worth something if you actually are a scout. Right?" - I snickered, looking at him suspiciously.

"Look at you, so knowledgeable." - He smirked. We all continued walking towards the gate.

"Good morning, Micah. I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier. I'm not mad at you." - I said as we went along.

"No problem, Greg. I would be pissed too if he dreamed about me and did not tell me." - He empathized, receiving a glare from Felix.

"Hey! I didn't dream about him. He just looked..." - He defended himself, before I cut him off.

"Like me, right. Have you ever heard of a metaphor?" - I teased him, playfully.

"Metaphor for what?" - He asked me, intrigued.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll hit my head and you'll have to win me over again and again, like in that film..." - I spoke, holding back a laugh.

"Goddess protects me! I think I prefer the evil twin story line." - He snickered, worriedly.

"I think I prefer to catch the bus before it leaves." - Micah glared at us.

Later, we arrived at school. It was nice seeing everything and everyone back like before. At least now everyone here knows me. When I first started school, Felix had to literally grab me by the hand and guide me through it. I was so scared of everything. It was a whole process for me to get acquainted with the routine.

To be honest, Felix is the only person in the world I want as my mate. I just never dared to dream it. Like I told Micah, I just didn't want to set myself up to fail when he gets mated to someone else. Still don't. But now I'm curious about it.

Speaking of curiosity, Micah enters the school tense. He's walking, sniffing around everywhere. Felix doesn't leave his side. We're all at the edge of our seats waiting to see if he finds his mate. I certainly hope so, for his sake. I know he wants it very much.

Fun fact: you find your mate by their scent. Actually, your wolf finds it. That's why humans don't have mates. It's our wolf that is mated, not us. And if you do, everything in you drives you to be near that person, you can't control it, you can't hold back. That's why Felix's grandfather lunged for his mate as soon as he met her. Because once you find them, you don't want to ever be apart from them.

We roamed the halls, some classes, still nothing. The bell rings. We go to class, but since I'm the one who shares the first period with Micah, Felix goes to his class alone.

When I arrived at Rutherford Falls, I didn't know about any of this mate business. They were shocked once someone was talking about it and I asked what it was. So, Alpha Rosalyn sat me down and explained everything to me, but what was more shocking is the part where I have no choice in the matter. That was really difficult for me.

Fortunately, over time, I grew used to the idea. I mean, literally I don't have a choice. But I thought to myself, maybe this mate will respect and heal me somehow. I just hope they're (very) patient, because I'm certainly not in any hurry to... you know, complete the bond. Especially with a stranger.

Hours later, still no sign of a mate. I was feeling sad for Micah. At lunch break, we're at the table with the twins and some other friends of ours from the pack.

"I'm sorry, Micah. I really thought she was gonna be here. I even brought a sedative just in case." - Felix told him with a straight face.

"You what?!" - He looked at him frightened.

"I'm joking! I can totally take you down." - Felix snickered with a mischievous grin.

"You wish, Felix!" - He rebuked with a weak smile.

"I'm sorry too, buddy. I think she hasn't come of age yet. There's time." - I conjectured, trying to make him feel better. At this, Felix and Micah glanced at Carol, who flinched at the insinuation. Mates can only be discovered at the age of 17 or older, never before. The only exception was the Luna of our pack, but that was just a one off. Carol and Nate are 16 years old twins.

"Ew! I don't want him to be my mate. No offense, Micah." - Carol said with a disgusted expression on her face.

"How can I possibly NOT be offended by that?" - He gasped in amused shock.

"But I take your point, Greg. That's what I'm thinking too. Or she's from another pack." - He continued, looking down at the realization.

"Yeah, like your mom." - Felix told him in a chipper tone.

"Please, don't bring my mom into this. I don't want my mate to be from another pack. I want her now!" - He raised his voice in a desperate plea.

There was a moment of silence that followed when everyone continued eating their food. Then...

"Felix, do you really think your mate isn't Greg?" - Nate asked him, curiously.

"I don't, Nate. But I very much wish he would be. He's great." - He replied looking at me affectionately.

"There have been a lot of different dreams over the years, but no one has ever dreamed about someone who looked just like your mate, but it's not your mate." - Carol chimed in. It sounded a little confusing, but I got it.

"Tell me about it! Even when mom dreamed about dad it was true. They just didn't know about it at the time." - Felix commented with a deep frown.

"Yeah, I'm with them on this one. I also never heard of a person dreaming with someone that is NOT your mate. Dreams can be cryptic, but they always tell you the truth. That's the whole point. Even when your grandfather dreamed about your namesake." - Micah observed in a serious tone.

"I know guys, but it's just... I don't know, something is off about this. I just can't put my finger on it." - Felix spoke with a suspicious tone, raising his eyebrow. He looked intrigued by it.

Hours later, we're back at the bus returning to the pack compound.

"I just want you to know: I'm rooting for you, Micah. Anyone will be happy to be your mate." - I comforted him from my seat inside the yellow bus.

"Thanks, Greg. I really appreciate it. But it's okay. The Goddess can't be rushed. It will happen when it's supposed to." - He said in a gloomy tone.

"On the bright side, you'll have a good story to tell your kids some day, hopefully." - Felix chimed in from his seat next to me.

"Maybe, but I'd prefer if she was here with..." - He said and stopped himself, spooked all of the sudden. - "Oh my Goddess!" - He yelled gobsmacked, shooting his eyebrows up.

"What?" - We asked him, puzzled by his outburst.

He stands up from his seat and follows a scent to the front of the bus. We all looked at him quizzically. After a moment, he turns back.

"I swear I smelled my mate just now." - He said with a shocked expression.

"Really? Who is she?" - Felix asked, surprised. We're all shocked at the revelation.

"I don't know. I have no idea. I couldn't see her except from the back, but the smell is unmistakable. I nearly jumped off the bus!" - He exclaimed. He looked very excited about it.

"Oh my Goddess! I can' t believe you lost your mate!" - I shouted, perplexed.

"I didn't lose her, Gregory, she's here in town. I just need to find her. And I will." - He glared daggers at me. But he looked confident and happy.

"Of course you will, Micah." - Felix smiled at him, glad for his friend.

I was too. I'm glad everything is back on track. I don't know what will happen with Felix's mate situation but regardless, I'm good. I'd be happy for him in any case, or so I hope.

But the important thing is that I'm in constant progress, evolving, learning and preparing.

I am too young to let myself be broken by that dead son of a bitch. I need to pick myself up and prepare for the future, come what may. I need to be ready to become a warrior.

One thing I'm not is weak. That'll not be my destiny. I may not know what's coming, but I'm certainly ready for it. I'm stronger than ever. So, bring it on!

A|N: Wow, so many developments in one single chapter.

Who is Micah's mate? Who is Felix dreaming with?

Will we ever know more about Greg? We should probably start with a last name, poor thing!

Love,

Léo.