Micah

I was gobsmacked. I was floored. I could barely catch my breath.

After I was forced to watch the school bus literally driving away from my mate, I couldn't get her off my mind, even if I didn't see what she looked like. I only saw her from the back. She was wearing a cute skirt with a beautiful shirt, stockings and sneakers. She was walking with someone else by her side, I'm pretty sure. And she has a beautiful dark tone. She is either black or biracial. Maybe an Afro-Latina. Anyway, I don't really care about her ethnicity.

I'm just glad I saw my mate. My heart was pumping at full speed throughout the ride back to the pack compound.

As soon as I stepped down from the bus, I rushed to the pack house to tell my dad about it. I left my school bag at the front of our house on the way - there's no stealing inside the compound - and hurried inside towards the Beta's office.

Then, I barged into my dad's office and was shocked when I saw Alpha Rosalyn with him.

"Dad, you're not gonna believe..." - I shut up once I saw her and bowed my head, embarrassed by my own childish behavior.

"Good afternoon, Michael. Is everything okay?" - She asked me once I stopped talking, looking worried at me.

"Yes it is, Alpha. I can come back later, I'm sorry to disturb you..." - I blushed, trying to excuse myself out of the unnecessary intrusion.

"It's okay, Michael. It's fine. I was just talking to your dad for a moment before he leaves." - She explained politely, as if she needed to give me a reason for an Alpha to be talking to her Beta.

"We'll circle back to this later, Paul. Okay?" - She said, looking serious at him. He nodded and she left his office calmly.

"I'm sorry, dad, I didn't mean to barge in like this. I thought you were alone." - I explained myself, looking at him apologetically.

"It's okay, son. You can always come to me, you know that. Maybe knock next time?" - He snickered.

"I know, dad, I will. I was just so excited to tell you..." - I looked giddy.

"You found your mate?" - He interrupted me with the biggest grin I've seen in a long while.

"Yes and no." - I replied and he frowned in confusion. - "I was on the bus riding home from school today when I scented her. I managed to catch a glimpse of her from behind while she was walking. That's it." - I elaborated, barely containing my excitement.

"Oh my Goddess, son! She's here!" - He smiled and hugged me with enthusiasm.

"I know. I can't believe it!" - I was grinning so wide I thought I'd distend a muscle.

"I just hope you can actually find her. You know, talk to her." - Dad smirked.

"I know, me too. I didn't even get to look at her face. I wanted to see what she looks like." - I sighed and looked down, disappointed.

"Hey, you're better off than me. I had to wait months after 18 to find your mom. Hang in there, son. But now I have to go. I got an appointment I can't miss." - He informed me as he stood up from his chair.

"Of course, dad. I understand. I just wanted to tell you." - I spoke, excitedly.

"And you did well to come tell me. We'll talk later at home, now relax. Tomorrow we can cruise the town a little, see if you can sniff her out. How does that sound?" - Dad said and I shrieked.

"Really, dad? That would be great! I really appreciate it." - I exclaimed in a very cheerful voice.

"Of course, Michael. Any time. I'll walk you out." - He said and we left his office together.

We walked side by side till we reached our house, then he continued on to the parking garage near the gate. He kissed me in the temple and said goodbye. I was ecstatic. I would tell my mom about it, but she was at work right now. And that's not something you can text about. My sister already knew it since she was on the bus with me. We go to the same high school since she's only barely 2 years younger than me.

Later on, I decided to stop by the pack house again to talk to Felix, since we didn't have any homework yet. I needed to talk it over with someone I was so excited about my chance encounter. Even if I didn't have anything to go on.

We talked for a good hour at the playroom. Greg was there too, but I didn't mind it. He knew about it as well and is also my friend.

"I just can't believe it. Out of all places, you scented her on the street?" - Felix spoke with a surprised expression on his face.

"I know, right? But hey, at least I didn't accost her in the middle of the street. So, small blessings." - I snickered, nervously.

"Yeah, you don't wanna pull an Underwood and shift in the open street like my granddad." - Felix said in a joking tone. That actually almost happened with former Beta Nate and his mate Daphne, his grandparents.

"Tell me about it!" - I agreed, wide eyed and spooked.

"Speaking of which, is she a werewolf?" - Greg asked me, curiously.

"Good question, I have no idea. I can't pinpoint her scent, it was too faint. I only know she's my mate because my wolf went haywire inside my chest." - I replied, anxiously.

"I know, right? For a moment, I thought you were gonna shift right in the middle of the school bus and jump off." - Felix snickered.

"Me too!" - Greg chimed in with an enthusiastic laugh.

"If she was any closer, maybe. But can you imagine the scandal? The Beta's son shifts in a crowded school bus and pursues his mate at the center of the town IN WOLF FORM?" - I joked nervously.

It was not that far fetched, to be honest, wolves would do anything to stay close to their mate. But I'm glad that wasn't the case. I could never recover from the scandal. Nor would my parents. Not to mention, if my mate is human by any chance it wouldn't help me at all.

"Honestly, I think the council would make you the first person ever to be blocked from Beta in the pack's 140 years history." - Felix spoke in a somber tone. Greg frowned at this.

"That is if you don't get expelled from the pack altogether." - Greg interjected. I nearly cried at the thought.

"Oh my Goddess! If my dad had to expel me I think he would die. Don't even joke about it! I can take anything, but I wouldn't be able to look him in the face. Seriously." - I confessed in a dark, sad tone. That would devastate me AND my whole family.

See, werewolves take rules and laws of the pack very seriously. Dead serious.

If you break the rules, no matter who you are, there will be consequences.

But the consequence for exposing us to humans? Expulsion, if not worse.

The worst penalty for a wolf crime is death by combat. Yes, we still have medieval laws even in the 21st century. And pack law supersedes human ones. So, depending on the crime, yes you could die. That's why our parents raise us on these rules from birth. Especially if you live inside the compound, though most laws apply to all werewolves of the pack.

By the way, if you do get expelled from the pack, you have to leave town. To never return ever again.

Your family may want to leave with you, but they may not. It's up to them. Everyone is free to do as they please. But if you ever come back (without authorization), you'll be treated as a rogue and killed. No mercy.

And for me personally, expulsion would be far WORSE than death. At least, in death you can't miss your family. And I do love my family. Wolves are extremely territorial, but also very family oriented and loyal. That's what a pack really is in the big picture, a large family that will be there for you if you need them.

Lastly, let's be honest here, my father would never abdicate from being Beta. Especially since he only has 6 months on the job, assuming all goes well with Felix's ascension - and that's a big if. His dream is for me to succeed him in the prestigious position. That's what he's been planning since I was born. He raised me to be Beta after him. So yeah, thank Goddess for keeping my wolf in check.

"I wasn't joking. The first thing I learned when I arrived here was the rules and laws of the pack." - Greg commented in a serious tone.

"I know you weren't kidding, Greg. But anyway, let's change the topic so I don't stress out. How are you two gonna keep from looking at each other in the locker room and not get a boner?" - I asked them with a devious laugh. I knew it would make them uncomfortable, but I needed to distract myself.

Greg and Felix looked at me shocked. They gasped so hard Felix coughed.

"We never had any showers together before..." - Felix trailed off, glaring daggers at me.

"Yeah, Micah. Plus, I don't look at any boy in the showers, I'm more worried about going through it as inconspicuously as possible." - Greg admitted, he was so shy it was adorable.

"Sorry, guys. I needed to distract myself from thinking about my mate." - I confessed, blushing a bit.

"Way to drop an awkward bomb! Are you sure you're not related to grandma Daphne?" - Felix snickered.

"Probably not. But what are you gonna do about it if Greg is your mate? You know, when you two complete the bond?" - I asked Felix, dropping another bomb on his lap. Their shocked reactions are very good for distracting me.

"Oh my Goddess, Micah! I have not thought that through! You're so nasty!" - Felix scolded me, looking so uncomfortable I could smell it. Greg was blushing so hard, his dark completion was showing shades of red.

"Neither did I, actually. Though you're being a bastard about it, you do make a good point." - Greg admitted, but he was also very uncomfortable with this topic.

"Yeah, but there's no rush, Greg. I'm not required to complete the bond to be Alpha, I only need to find my mate. Micah is just being an asshole because you told him he could be expelled." - Felix barked, clearly irritated.

"Hey, that's not what this is about. I know you didn't mean any harm by telling me that." - I told Greg with an apologetic look on my face.

"I know, Micah. And you know I'd never. But this just came out of nowhere!" - He looked beside himself. I could hear his heavy breathing.

"He's already dreaming about you. What do you think will happen in 6 months?" - I shot back at him. He looked displeased. They both did. But I wasn't saying anything that wasn't true.

"I know, okay? Shut up about it. This is not up for debate, especially not with you." - Felix shouted at me. Now he was really angry.

"I'm sorry, Felix. I didn't mean to cause any drama. I just wanted you to think about it sooner rather than later. And yes, you're not required to complete the bond on the day, but you'd be the first Alpha in history NOT to do so. And that's including Alpha Casper and Luna Lauren who got mated on the day of your granddad's ascension." - I stated with conviction.

"Yes, Micah, I know all this. But can we change the subject? I don't want to trigger Greg." - He spoke and I looked down in shame. In my eagerness, I forgot about his state of mind. I feel guilty now. For a moment, I forgot about all the abuse Greg survived.

"I'm sorry, Greg. You're right, I should have not said anything, Felix." - I shot an apologetic look at them.

"It's fine, guys. It's not triggering me. It's a completely different situation." - Greg reassured us, his expression humble and his eyes softly glancing at Felix.

"Good. Plus, you know there are two ways this could go down, Greg, in case you're not comfortable with..." - I spoke with a mischievous expression before I was rudely interrupted.

"Micah, get out of my house!" - Felix barked at me with pitch black eyes. Now he's REALLY mad. He even stretched out his arm and pointed to the exit of the play room.

"Are you okay, guys? I heard shouting..." - Luna John came to the door. He looked shocked at Felix with dark eyes.

"It's fine, Luna. We're just having some heated debate and Felix threw me out." - I snickered, turning to look at him.

Luna John did not like that at all.

"Son, do we need another lesson on how this is everyone's house not just yours?" - Luna chided him.

"No, dad, but he doesn't live here." - Felix rebuked, annoyed.

"Micah, you're more than welcomed to stay for as long as you'd like, despite what my son said." - John assured me with a firm gaze.

"That's fine, Luna. I'm late for dinner anyway. But thanks." - I said as I moved to the door.

"Bye, guys. I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries." - I apologized. Felix was still pissed but his eyes turned back to normal. Greg looked okay, fortunately.

"Bye, Micah." - Greg said. Felix just glared at me. Luna saw me out.

I know I said too much. I didn't mean to drop a bomb on them and make them face choices they were not even thinking about. I was just nervous and anxious. And the whole bus situation messed me up badly.

See, that's why it's good to have a mate in these situations. They'd calm you and keep you from oversharing. And after today, I wished she was here more than ever before.

I never even met her but damn if I didn't miss her, I wanted her to be near me right now. I just hope I can find her as soon as possible, to be honest. I need my mate by my side.

Also, something tells me this whole mate situation with Felix is gonna be much more complicated than we expect it to be. The dream is too cryptic for us to presume anything just yet, but I can tell a storm is brewing on the horizon.

A|N: Wow. That was uncomfortable!

I had to change the title at the last minute because I had already used the original song I had in mind in my previous book. I almost forgot about that...

Truthfully, I have written this way before "The Rogue's Mate" or "Topping the Enemy" but have been putting off posting it. Don't know why exactly, but I don't plan on doing that ever again.

Love,

Léo.