Felix

I was livid.

Micah completely overstepped when he brought up subjects neither Greg nor I were ready to face. He really passed the mark on that one. This is the angrier I've ever felt about him since we first met as children.

However, it pains me to admit he raised a few valid points. And we do need to talk about it. Especially now after the dream. So, we went to wash up for dinner and later I'd stop by his room for us to talk privately.

"Are you okay, Felix? Your dad told me you argued with Michael." - Mom asked me while we ate dinner. My siblings perked up their ears at her question while dad still stared at me in disapprovement.

"I am mom, thanks for asking. He was just being a brat because he almost shifted in the middle of the bus today and jumped off to go after his mate." - I said casually and watched literally everyone at the table gasp in shock.

"What?!" - She shouted at me, shocked.

"It wasn't like that, Alpha. Felix is exaggerating. Micah did not come even close to shifting. He just caught his mate's scent out on the street today and wanted to get off the bus to pursue her, but the driver wouldn't stop the vehicle for him." - Greg downplayed it. He is such a people pleaser. Though technically he didn't lie. He would never lie to my mom. She 's his hero.

"Well, I understand his plight. I mean, I can't relate to it, but I can definitely empathize with being eager to find one's mate. And he has no idea who she is at all?" - Dad asked, taking a drink of his juice. Both mom and he looked at me with curious eyes.

"No, he doesn't." - I answered, preoccupied. - "He just hopes he can find her again, preferably soon." - I said in a hopeful tone.

"Well, I understand mate talk can drive people crazy sometimes. But that's not an excuse to shout at your best friend." - Mom reprimanded me, she was not looking happy.

"I know, mom. I just flipped over something he said." - I spoke this and my dad whispered something in her ears.

"I understand, son, I do. And yes, you shouldn't be talking about completing anything without knowing the truth." - She declared with a serious expression on her face.

"Of course, mom, not like you and dad at what? 15 and 17?" - I shot back at her with a cheeky smile.

"Those were different circumstances, son. Plus, we are mates." - She rebuked, not missing a beat. My dad was already pissed at the implication.

"Of course, mom, I know. You just didn't know at the time either." - I retorted. Then my dad lost it.

"Felix, go to your room!" - Dad shouted at me, livid.

"Dad, come on! I didn't even finish dinner!" - I whined, reluctant.

"I have loved your mother since we were teenagers, for you to cheapen our relationship like we had some sort of meaningless fling is incredibly disrespectful. Go now, or I'll take you myself if I need to." - He threatened, looking really mad at me.

"You're right, dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I know you have loved each other since before you were even mated. I was trying to..."

"I know what you were trying to do, I'm not stupid! You think it's hypocrisy to tell you to not think about completing the bond before you're mated if we did. But what your mom implied is that you need to be sure about it. Otherwise you might hurt someone's feelings." - He stated, confidently, then it hit me. He isn't wrong. Damn it!

"At least, when we were involved, we knew it couldn't last. We were not blind about it. But we just loved each other so much that we continued on dating for as long as she wasn't mated. And the rest is history." - He continued with a hint of pride in his tone.

"You're right, dad, I'm sorry for my words. You're absolutely correct. I'll take my leave." - I said as I stood up and left the dining hall, though not before I saw my mom kiss my dad passionately. Those two were so in love it was difficult for single people to witness. Not me though, I'm cool with it. Plus, I grew up watching them all together, so I'm used to it.

My dad is 6'5 tall and had the build of a warrior. Though I'm not scrawny, he could totally take me down easily. He is an intimidating figure, for sure.

He never hit me, of course, nor my siblings, but yeah, he's fearsome.

I went upstairs, brushed my teeth, changed my clothes and waited for Greg to arrive in my room. Since he never came, I went to his bedroom instead.

We never lock rooms in our house. Not unless you needed some "real" privacy. Plus, no one would ever enter any room without knocking first, unless you were real intimate like me and Greg. We may not have had sex, but I've already seen him naked plenty of times. Just not in a sexual way.

FYI, our house was more well guarded than the City Hall. So, it's not like we had anything to fear from outsiders. Not with our giant walls and only one point of entrance, a very fortified gate.

I entered his room and he was just finishing putting on his pajamas.

"Hi, Greg. I'm sorry to barge in." - I was not sorry. If anything, I wish he was naked. But I never had such luck. Not in his room at least.

"It's okay, Felix. If anyone can enter my room unannounced, it's you." - He snickered. This much is true. Goddess knows how many times he entered mine when we were younger.

"Thanks, I wanted to check in with you about today. Are you okay?" - I asked him with a sincere concern.

"That's so sweet of you. I am, thanks. I really wasn't triggered by Micah's comments. I mean, it's not like I haven't thought about it myself." - He admitted with a cheeky grin.

"You have?" - I asked with a completely surprised expression.

"Sure, Felix. That is not to say I'm ready for any of it, but of course I've thought about it. I'm still a hormonal teenage boy just like you." - He snickered. That put me at ease.

Because of the trauma that he has survived, I was always fearful of pushing any boundaries between us. If he hadn't kissed me earlier this year, I simply would never have the courage to do so myself.

I do find him very hot and am utterly attracted to him, but I couldn't bring myself to act on it, save if he were actually my mate. I was pleasantly surprised by him kissing me and am totally on board to take this as far as he wants to, but I'll never push him to do anything whatsoever.

If anything I do could potentially harm or trigger him in any way, I'd feel devastated. I'm just glad we can talk openly about our (potential) issues.

"That 's good. I say it because I wanted to ask how you would like to handle a potential you know what?" - I inquired him deeply shyly.

"Wow! That's a good question. I mean, we might as well face the odds." - He smirked. I gave him a moment of silence, just looking at him while I took my seat on his bed.

"I guess I should ask how YOU would like to handle it?" - He flipped the script. I could tell he was uncomfortable about this topic, but so was I.

"That's not fair, I asked you first." - I whined. - "I'm cool with whichever way you want it. I'm good either way." - I answered him, honestly.

"That's perfect, so if the occasion arrives, we can decide on the spot. Is that okay?" - He inquired with a shy glance my way.

"Of course. It's perfect. I just wanted to put you at ease and reaffirm that regardless, I'm not in any rush." - I reassured him. That's a (white) lie, sure. But I needed to say it.

Of course I do want to complete the bond with him, are you kidding me? Look at him! My eyes are nearly pitch black just imagining the scene.

"Thank you, I really appreciate it. What a day, huh?" - He said, sighing in relief.

"I know, right? Micah certainly knows how to gut punch us." - I joked. Sort of. Not really.

We laughed together at our awkwardness and before the night was over, we enjoyed ourselves a little more.

Before I was forced to go back to my bed, we kissed each other and enjoyed the warm feeling it brought to us. I slept fine that night. All's well when it ends well. Or so I thought.

"Stop looking at me!" - He demanded as he approached me.

"I wish I could help it, but I can't!" - I defended myself as he came really close to me. He was in my face, but not in the way I'd want him to be.

"I don't want you! What part of that don't you understand?" - He barked at me, sounding mad.

"I do get it. But I want you, it's in my nature!" - I replied almost in tears.

"You and your nature can go fuck yourselves!" - He shoved me aside and left the space at school where we were. There were students near us that laughed at this scene, all the while tears were flowing through me desperately.

I woke up crying. Why is my mate rejecting me? Or why did the Goddess want me to see it that way?

Is she showing me my mate or preparing me for rejection? I don't get it. But I feel awful.

I cried by myself in the shower to wash off the scent of heartbreak that was all over me.

By the time I was taking my seat in the dining hall, I looked at least presentable. Greg was the first one to arrive, as usual. Mom came in guns blazing.

"Good morning, Felix. What is the single most terrible threat werewolves face and how would you handle it if it happened to us?" - Mom greeted and quizzed me. She was preparing me for the Alpha challenges and asked me a different question every single day. It was exhausting, but unfortunately so needed.

Fifteen minutes of us debating the appropriate answer to that question later...

"You don't look so good, son, are you okay? And I mean that before that question." - Dad snickered as he looked at me concerned.

"I am, dad. I just had a horrible dream that my mate didn't want me." - I confessed and Greg looked at me surprised. Everyone was.

"Oh sweetheart, that's not gonna happen, you know that?" - Mom tried to comfort me by caressing my head softly.

"I don't know, mom, have any of your dreams with dad NOT happened?" - I inquired and watched her silent reaction. I knew the answer to that already. We have been force fed their star crossed love story since we were babies.

"Does he still..."

"Yes, Greg, he still looks exactly like you. At least, that part is consistent." - I deadpanned, cutting him off. I'm feeling sad and angry about this. I don't know what I'd do if I get rejected by my mate. No Huntington Alpha has ever been before and it would be completely humiliating for me.

"I'm sorry. You know that I'd never..."

"I know, Greg. Thanks. But I have a feeling that's not gonna matter because it's not you." - I insisted in a somber tone. Nothing could convince me he was my mate, no matter how hard I wanted him to be. It'd be so much easier if he were.

"Goddess, I'm glad I don't have to dream about my mate. I just need to find her and be done with it." - Nate chimed in, breaking the uncomfortable tense moment that lingered in the dining room. We laughed at this.

"I hope so, brother, for your sake. I'm already scared I'll be the first Huntington ever to be rejected by a mate." - I admitted in a saddened tone. Even my dad pitied me.

"You're not gonna be rejected, son, have faith." - Dad tried to comfort me. I smiled weakly at him.

Later, we stopped by Micah's house and he joined us on our way to catch the school bus. He was looking very remorseful.

"I'm sorry for yesterday, guys. I was so distraught by that bus incident, I ended up hurting the people I care about the most." - He spoke as soon as he started walking by our side.

"We get it, Micah. It was not easy for us either. We want you to find your mate." - I told him in a friendly tone. I can't hold a grudge against him.

"But I really mean it. I'm sorry, Greg." - He looked at him, remorsefully.

"That's okay, Micah. We'll give you a free pass just this once." - He grinned at him.

"So, what's the latest news?" - He inquired after we nearly reached the gate.

"I had another dream that my mate who looks just like Greg rejected me and nearly punched me." - I blurted, distraught.

"Oh brother, I'm so sorry! I can't believe anyone would reject you." - Micah said, sounding sincere. He looked at me heartbroken.

"Thanks, Micah. I do hope so." - I shot him a sad look.

Later, we arrived at the school. I whispered to Micah if he could scent his mate here, but he told me no.

He didn't look sad about this fact, if anything, he looked determined to find her. Good for him. That's the spirit!

After a little while, we were inside the classroom. Tuesday was the only day when all 3 of us shared classes. It was nice, especially if we needed to do a group project.

"Romeo and Juliet... the most famous love story ever told in the english language. Who can tell me the themes it touches on?" - The teacher asked the class.

There weren't that many hands lifted. But before anyone could answer him, the door opened and the teacher looked at the person on the other side strangely. Then, he looked at Greg gobsmacked. I could tell he didn't know how to react exactly.

But he let the person enter after a moment. That's when it hit us like a ton of bricks.

An exact copy of Gregory enters the classroom. He just looked skinnier. But all else was just like Greg. It was uncanny.

"Class, this is River Westbrook and he's joining us for his senior year." - The teacher announced, as perplexed as the rest of the students. There wasn't a single person in the room who did not look floored by their remarkable resemblance.

As soon as he entered, he looked at Greg shocked. And so were we, naturally.

But poor Greg, he looked so gobsmacked I thought he was going to pass out from the incredible shock. The two boys stared at each other for a good time. It was agonizing to watch. But I also couldn't take my eyes off of him.

So, this is the guy who is going to reject me. His name is River.

A|N: BOOM!

Life will never be the same after this. For anyone.

Love,

Léo.