Felix

What a week it has been. First, Greg finds his family. Now, Micah finds his mate.

To quote River: 'I'm jealous. I want a mate too'.

That's so ironic. Little did he know his mate was right next to him. I just didn't have the heart to tell him. At least, not until now.

After witnessing Micah tell his dad about his mate, I confess I was a little jealous of him. Yes, my parents know who my mate is. Everyone knows BUT River.

But I want the same excitement Micah felt. I want the pitch black eyes. But I'm not getting it, not from him anyway. He's human.

However, that's not even the point. I don't mind a human mate, I just want him next to me. Right now, if possible. Though I am as nervous as anxious about informing my mate of our connection.

The next morning, things settled down a little. Of course, Micah wouldn't shut up about (having found) his mate, but that's to be expected. Show me a werewolf who doesn't get excited about his newly found mate and I'll tell you: something's wrong.

Finally, after talking non stop from Micah for 15 minutes, Greg shouted:

"You know she's my sister's right? Treat her right or I'll give you a concussion. I don't care if I get expelled." - Greg threatened, peeved.

Micah looked at him scared, but mostly just baffled at the unexpected outburst.

The rest of the ride to school was silent after that.

"Thanks, Greg. I thought he wasn't going to shut up about it anymore!" - I snickered, laughing at this by his side.

"Hey!" - Micah whined, a few steps behind us towards the school gate.

"I know, right? You found your mate. She's great. We get it. Of course she is, she's related to me." - Greg smirked. We laughed together at this.

"Just wait until you find your mate, fucker. I'll remember this!" - Micah looked at him menacingly.

We laughed again. But he was right though, it's impossible to contain the excitement of finding one's mate. I can certainly relate. I mean, sort of.

As soon as we got to school, Micah found Tisha and they hungrily kissed each other. Afterwards, she greeted us and so did River, who's next to her. Though he looked away when the two mates were lip locked.

"So mate, what should I wear at your ascension ceremony?" - Tisha inquired. She sounded as excited as yesterday. It's annoying. And so damn adorable.

"That's not for another 6 months. Who knows if I'll even ascend as Alpha?" - I said in a joking tone. I'm really nervous about it, actually.

"I like to be prepared. I can sew my own clothes, you know?" - She shot back in a chipper tone.

"No, I didn't know." - Micah replied with a wide grin.

"Of course you didn't, you just met her yesterday." - Greg teased him. River and I snorted at this interaction.

"Pay them no mind, Tisha, they're just jealous because they're mateless." - Micah threw his arm around his mate as he said that. They both looked smitten by each other.

"But if you know who your mate is beforehand, why aren't you two together already?" - Tisha asked me, point blank. I gasped at this. River stared at me intrigued.

"Fair question, Tisha. But I didn't actually know who my mate was, I just knew what he looked like. I didn't know who he was until..." - I trailed off.

"Wait! He? You're gay?" - River asked me as he realized it, genuinely surprised.

"Yes, River, I am. That's why we laughed yesterday when you said 'she'." - I deadpan. My friends can detect the anxiousness in my voice.

"Oh, I got it. Good for you, bro. You should be happy with whoever you choose." - He said in an awkward tone. Greg and Micah exchanged a sideways glance, uncomfortably.

"Thanks, but it's not really my choice. If it were, I'd certainly make a different one." - I snickered.

"You mean you wouldn't be gay?" - He asked me all of a sudden. I gasped at the unexpected question.

"No, River. I was born this way. I meant I would choose a different mate!" - I nearly shouted, irritated at the implication.

"Got it. Why? Doesn't he like you for you?" - River questioned me, curiously.

"I have no idea. I haven't asked him yet. Like I said, I didn't meet him until recently." - I replied, as awkwardly as one can imagine. I know I have to tell him the truth, but I'm dreading this so much.

"Oh my Goddess! This conversation is so awkward! Can you please wait till I'm not here anymore?" - Micah snickered, uncomfortably.

River looked at him puzzled as to why he's bothered by this.

"Sure, Micah. Hey Greg, are you available for Beta?" - I joked. Micah glared daggers at me.

Greg couldn't even look at me after that, he was so uncomfortable.

"Low blow, dude. His heart nearly stopped." - Greg poked me when he said it after a moment.

"I know, I heard it too. Which was weird since it has been racing since he scented Tisha." - I said, humorously.

"It's so weird how you people can hear heart beats. I'm so jealous of my brother. I always wanted to be a werewolf. I wanted to shift like Tisha and..." - River started but I interrupted him, nervously.

"You're my mate!" - I told him and he stared at me, gobsmacked. Tisha gasped in shock. Greg got wide eyed. Micah tried to continue walking but Tisha stopped (them both).

"What? That's impossible! I'm straight!" - He replied in a dead serious voice. River kept staring at me like I was talking crazy.

"Yeah, it's not unheard of. My granddad was straight too before he got mated to a guy." - I informed him in a deadpan tone.

"I'm sorry, bro. I really am. But you must be mistaken. I can't be your mate. I'm into girls." - River said and continued walking towards the classroom.

I just stood there. The worst part is that I'm not even surprised. I wanted to cry but I couldn't. I'm devastated.

"Oh my Goddess! What's gonna happen to him?" - Tisha whispered to Micah, taken aback by all this.

"I can hear you and we're not ascending. Unless he becomes one of my siblings' Beta." - I replied as tears started streaming down my face. I'm gutted by this rejection, which is exactly why I was so nervous to tell him in the first place.

After a moment, Micah told Tisha to go ahead and so she did. River was already ahead of us. Micah and Greg stood behind and they both hugged me.

"I'm sorry, brother." - Micah told me in a saddened tone.

"Me too." - Greg said, feeling sorry for me.

"Thanks, guys. The worst part is that I'm not even surprised by it. I already expected it." - I admitted, still sobbing.

We head to the classroom so we aren't late. I dried my tears with my sleeve and pulled through as I must. Though inside I'm deeply wrecked.

Hours later, we are on lunch break. All the Westbrooks sit with us, naturally. But I remain quiet while eating my food, with my head lowered avoiding to gaze at River.

"So Tisha, can I take you out on a date Saturday?" - Micah asked her as he ate.

"Of course, mate, where do you want to take me?" - She replied, sounding excited at the prospect.

"I'd like to take you to the waterfalls." - He replied in a chipper tone.

"Oh..." - I gasped lightly. Micah glared at me for some reason.

"What oh? Why did you say that?" - She asked me curiously.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Tisha. It's a great spot for a date. I'm just a little jealous. You'll have a great time." - I spoke honestly, notably saddened.

"I'm sorry, Felix, I wish I could tell you sooner my brother is straight. I think you got the dream wrong. Maybe you confused brothers." - She started speaking in a serious tone, then snickered.

Greg gasped. So did River. Both brothers glanced at each other awkwardly.

"I know, right? But it's impossible to get it wrong. In the dream, I talked to someone who looked like Greg but didn't know me. And Greg has known me since he was 13." - I told her, nonchalant.

"Maybe he'll get amnesia." - She joked. Greg did not laugh. But I did and so did the rest that was present at the table.

"I like your mate, Micah. Damn, you're so lucky!" - I told him with a pleased smile. She grinned at me.

"I know, right? It's like the Goddess got me the most beautiful, perfect girl in the world!" - He boasted. His smile was wide and infectious.

"She's not perfect. Not by a long shot." - River snickered. She kicked him under the table. He winced at the pain.

"So, is that what you want to work with? Clothes?" - I asked Tisha, changing the subject. This whole thing was uncomfortable but there's nothing else to be done at this point except for trying to move on somehow.

"Good question. If I can, I'd like to go to college for costume design, but I'm not so sure of that as of yet." - She replied, pensive. Micah gasped at the information.

"What college?" - He asked, wide eyed worried.

"I don't know. I've applied to a few. We'll see what happens." - She spoke with a faint confidence.

"Yeah Micah, you thought you'd escape the curse of the Betas. Not so much." - I teased him, receiving an evil glare in return.

"What curse?" - She asked me, positively intrigued.

"I'm joking. It's just the last two Beta's mates studied outside of our city. And you'll be the third one." - I told her with a mischievous grin.

"I see. That's possible. But it's the sign of the times. Women can't be just left home alone baking and breeding anymore." - She said with a snarky tone.

"Agreed. Girl power!" - I cheered her on.

After we returned home, I wasn't in the mood to do anything. Micah texted me to meet up, but I told him I wasn't feeling it. He got it right away.

It didn't take long for Greg to stop by my room, though normally I'd kiss him till kingdom come, I told him I wasn't in the mood for anything and apologized for my broodiness.

Over dinner, my parents noticed my brooding mood and inquired about it like the good people they are.

"Are you okay, son?" - Dad asked me, sounding concerned.

"Sort of. When I told River he was my mate today he said it was impossible because he's straight. So, that's it." - I spoke in a matter of fact tone, sounding and looking defeated.

"I'm sorry, son. It's not like we haven't heard that one before." - Mom snickered, playfully.

"I know, mom. That's what I said too. But at least granddad was the one who was 'straight' and grandpa Felix was gay. The reverse is rough." - I complained, feeling the weight of the rejection.

"That's true. Hopefully, he realizes it soon enough that he can't live without you." - She commented with an unshakable smile.

"I wish I could share your enthusiasm, mom. But you didn't see his face this morning when I told him." - I admitted though it hurt a lot. My eyes are threatening to tear up at the recent memory.

"If Felix doesn't ascend, which one of us will?" - Carol asked mom. I flipped.

"Wow. That was fast, vulture!" - I barked at her, fuming.

"Felix, leave your sister alone!" - Dad chastised me, glaring at the both of us.

"Carol, your brother will ascend. No Huntington has ever lost on Alpha because of a mate." - Dad continued, self assured.

My parents' confidence in me is honestly very endearing right now when I feel like I have none. I couldn't have asked for better, more supportive parents. Especially for a queer kid.

"Yeah, you didn't see his face this morning, dad." - Nate chimed in, looking saddened. - "I mean, he looked so disgusted at the idea of being mated to Felix." - He spoke, dreadfully.

I grimaced. Tears are already dropping from my eyes. This is so hurtful.

"Thanks, son." - Mom spoke in an annoyed tone, sideways glaring at Nate.

"Excuse me everyone, I don't have much of an appetite." - I declared and left the dining room. Greg avoided looking at me so I wouldn't notice his pity stare.

I did. I noticed everyone pitying me like I was a sad reject.

But I was in so much pain I didn't want to see anyone.

I cried myself to sleep tonight. It was awful, I couldn't even bring myself to be happy for Micah setting a date with his mate. But I will, hopefully soon.

The following days went by the same. River avoiding my gaze. Everyone kept on pitying me.

I just stayed quiet, suffering, trying not to disturb Micah's happiness if possible. I truly am glad for him and his mate. He deserves it.

I wanted to feel better, but couldn't. I didn't even enjoy my evening make out sessions with Greg anymore. Not for days on end.

I just cried myself to sleep thinking why this punishment for me? Have I angered the Goddess somehow? What could I have possibly done to deserve this?

Why would you send me a mate who doesn't want me? Especially knowing I couldn't ascend without him?

Try as I may, those questions couldn't be answered. But I dwell on it. Why River, why don't you want me?

A|N: Ouch, that was rough.

Next chapter is rather... insightful. It's called "Piece of Me".

Love,

Léo.