River

That was crazy, right?

This dude I've never seen before in my life came up and told me I was his soulmate. And I'm not even gay!

I mean no offense, I'm cool with whatever. But I'm not. So that was bonkers.

But the worst part was to see how uncomfortable my brother was with all this. Poor Greg, he seemed really bothered by the situation. I wish I could've done something to prevent this, but I was really caught by surprise just as much as my sister was by her mate.

Except that was her mate indeed. There's no mistake about it.

Felix must've misunderstood something. There's no way I'm his mate.

The following day, things were awkward as hell. He just kept staring at me when he thought I wasn't looking. But I caught it every single time. It freaked me out.

I just didn't say anything to not escalate the awkwardness.

Over lunch, I see my sister set a date for her and Micah on Saturday.

I actually wanted to see the famous waterfalls too. If only I had someone to bring along... Or take me there.

"Greg, would you mind coming with me to this famous waterfall on Sunday? I want to see it too, even if not on a date." - I said, sideways grinning at my sister.

He looked surprised at the request. Everyone at the table did.

"Of course. It'd be my pleasure. Maybe we can bring your parents as well. Make it a family affair." - He suggested it, smiling at me.

"That's great! They're your parents too, you know." - I snickered. He laughed awkwardly.

"I know that. I'm not used to having parents." - He replied with an uncomfortable expression.

"You always had parents. You were just robbed of the experience." - Tisha told him with an incisive look.

"You're gonna love it there too. Just like Tisha on Saturday." - Micah chimed in with an enthusiastic grin.

After a moment of silence, I turned to Felix:

"I'd ask you to come too but I don't want you to get the wrong idea." - I said looking at him with a pained expression.

"I understand. And you're right." - He replied in a dry tone.

"I just hope one day we can laugh about this when you find your real mate." - I tried to defuse the tension, but he didn't like it. He glared at me fiercely.

"I wish with all my heart you were right. But the Goddess has never been wrong for thousands of years. I doubt she started getting wrong with lonely old me." - He snickered, though he clearly was hurt.

"Unless you have another twin who looks like you I'm not aware of." - He continued with a faint smile.

"I'm sorry. The factory stopped after me. Mom was so scared after us that she didn't have any more kids." - I informed him in a humorous tone.

"It happened the same with us." - Carol interjected with a smile.

"Right. You're twins too. There's a lot of that going around." - I spoke with a cheeky grin.

"Yeah. My mom is a twin too, so the genetic factor contributed." - Carol informed them looking knowledgeable.

"I could barely believe this mate thing when my mom told me about it. I knew Tisha was expecting it, I just never believed..."

"I understand your surprise. And shock. But it's best if you ignore it altogether. Every time you mention it's like you're twisting the knife on Felix's wound. If you don't believe you're his mate, that's fine. It's supposed to be consensual. But please let it go. At least in his presence." - Greg interrupted me with a very serious look.

We all gasped.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I promise to be respectful." - I shot him an apologetic glance. Felix too.

The bell rang. We returned to the classroom.

The following day, I just kept to myself the whole time. Only interacting with others and ignoring Felix. He still looked at me but I pretended not to see it.

I figured fake it until this whole ordeal passes. Or at least dies down.

That was easier said than done.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" - I asked Micah at lunch. He certainly looked very excited.

"You have no idea. I got this picnic basket almost ready. I'm finishing the baking later at night." - Micah replied with a wide smile.

"You're baking?" - Felix gasped in shock.

"Yeah, I am. I'm taking my mate on a date. I can't exactly order the kitchen staff like you." - He snickered.

"I know, idiot. But I never saw you baking before in my life!" - Felix exclaimed in an annoyed tone.

" You don't know everything about me. I got moves." - He smirked.

"Yes, apparently. Tisha, you're a miracle worker if he's baking for you. Just be prepared. Maybe take some granola bars." - Felix joked. But Micah didn't like it. He slapped Felix's head from behind. He winced.

"I'll have you know I'm an excellent baker. I'm not like you who never stepped foot in a kitchen before." - Micah jabbed at him.

"I'm sorry, okay? I can't believe you hit your Alpha!" - Felix grimaced.

"It doesn't sound like you're ascending any time soon." - Carol chimed in with a devious grin.

"Thanks, vulture. I appreciate the update. I just hope Nate ascends in my place." - Felix glared daggers at her.

"I just think it's crazy that you can't be Alpha without a companion. That sounds so outdated to me." - I remarked, perplexed.

They all laughed at me.

"River, a wolf isn't complete without a mate. It's like a piece of your soul is missing. How can you lead a pack if you're not whole? Especially a pack this size." - Greg lectured me.

"I know. But I guess it's different for humans. I know I always said I wanted a mate like my sister and I guess you, but I'm not in any hurry. I prefer to date first." - I told him, mildly awkward.

"Mates date too, you know. Case in point. It's not like we meet and go straight to the altar." - Micah snickered.

"I get it. You're right. I guess I wouldn't mind dating a girl that already liked me." - As I said this, Felix excused himself and left.

Everyone stared at me.

"I'm sorry, okay? Don't need to say anything. But this is never going to be any less awkward." - I apologized, mortified.

The next day was Saturday. I almost envied my sister and her date. But it's not like I can ask a girl out after being at school for less than a week. Nobody even looked at me except in odd curiosity because of my brother.

I guess I'd like a mate after all. It'd certainly make things easier. But couldn't it be a girl? Any girl, I'm not that picky as long as she's hot.

Why did it have to be a guy? I'd take his sister gladly. She's attractive. She may be younger than me, but only by one year.

I wouldn't mind letting her bite me.

I take a walk around town to pass the time. It's autumn, but the weather is not bad.

I'm not much of a walker, but I drove downtown and parked the car in the area. Then I start walking around. Seeing the stores, it's just small town stuff but it's nice.

I grew up in one, so I'm used to it.

I wonder off for a while till I see Felix sitting on a bench at a park, looking at his phone.

I'm not a werewolf, but I know by now he already had scented my presence. So I go to him, it's better than ignoring.

"Hi, stranger. Looks like we had the same idea." - I started as I approached his bench.

"Good afternoon, River. It's not like there's much to do in this town anyway." - He replied with dry humor.

"Listen, I know this is awkward and I'm sorry. But I can't change who I am." - I told him point blank.

"I know. Don't worry about it. What I don't understand is why the Goddess would show you as my mate." - He pointed out in a sad tone.

"Me neither, to be honest. I think she got me confused, no offense." - I take a seat next to him.

He laughed.

"Of course. Leave it to me to be mated to a straight guy. Like my grandfather didn't suffer enough." - He rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Your granddad also got mated to a straight guy?" - I asked him, intrigued.

"No, he was the straight guy. He got mated to a gay guy, grandpa Felix, and took him a long time to accept it. And then he almost got blocked from being Alpha. It was a whole ordeal." - He explained.

"I see. Well, I'm really sorry for all this. I just don't want you to think I have anything against you being gay. That's not what this is about." - I clarified.

"I know, don't worry. It's punishment enough to be mated to a straight guy, but to a homophobic? That's cruel and unusual!" - He replied with an awkward smile.

"So, what's good in this town?" - I asked him, changing the subject.

"Well, you've seen it already if you're here. There's a diner over there if you're hungry. Or a park behind us if you want to walk." - He replied with a chipper tone.

"I guess I could eat. Would you mind joining me? Or is it too weird for you? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." - I tread carefully.

"I'm already uncomfortable. Don't worry, it's not like we're not going to see each other anymore living in the same town. Might as well get used to the idea." - He said as he stood up from the bench.

We went to the diner and ordered some food. I asked him what he wanted and he said he was fine with a milkshake, so I ordered him one.

"You were born here and lived in this city your whole life, right?" - I asked him as we took a seat at a table opposite each other.

"Yes, I did. We traveled to nearby cities, but nothing major. I lived here all my life." - He replied, politely.

"I grew up in a small town too. And you never thought of moving someplace else?" - I questioned him. He laughed.

"No, I was born to be Alpha of the pack. I can't live anywhere else." - He said with a beautiful smile.

I admired that for a second. I haven't seen him laughing like this since I met him.

"And what are you going to do if you're not? I'm sorry to suggest it." - I asked him with a curious tone.

His smile didn't last long, unfortunately.

"I have no idea to be honest." - He said with a peculiar tone. Like he realized something.

"I have never thought about it before. But I guess I could do anything, theoretically. I guess I should apply to some colleges like my uncle." - He continued with a faint smile.

"He was rejected by his mate too?" - I blurted. But I regretted it instantly.

"No, he didn't. He lives with his mate very happily in New York. I just meant cause he thought he was ascending over my mom but that didn't happen. No one has ever been rejected by their mate in our pack before." - He explained.

"I'm sorry to say it like that. I know it's difficult for you." - I told him, sorrowful.

"It's okay. I trust the Goddess. Maybe there's a lesson in this I can't see. Maybe I needed to humble myself somehow. Or learn to be happy for Micah, which I am." - He said, humbly.

He actually isn't taking this as bad as I thought, especially considering he stands to lose his birthright.

"I'm glad to see you in good spirit." - I said this as my food arrived. His shake too.

"Of course, it's no use crying over spilled milk. I mean, I already cried about it plenty. Now, I just take what comes." - He stated before he drank his milkshake.

"I'm really glad. I hope we can be friends, if possible." - I declared with a smile. This food is actually good.

"I wouldn't go that far. This is still very hard for me. But I'm sure we can be civil. Especially considering your brother and sister will always be in my life hopefully.

"That's fair. I guess you're right. They'll be. I like this. So mature and civilized. I had this idea on my mind that you couldn't stay very near me without..."

"Attacking you? No, we don't assault our mates." - He spoke in a dark tone.

"No, I didn't think so. I just meant I thought you'd try to kiss me or something." - I said nervously in between bites of my food.

He laughed.

"No, I'd never kiss anyone without their consent. That's not what the mate bond is about." - He stated calmly.

"Really? Cause I saw my sister kiss a complete stranger just days ago." - I snickered.

"Yes, because SHE wanted too. That's what the mate bond is: wanting. She wanted to kiss him and so did he. That's why they kissed." - He explained, matter of fact.

"I see. So you want to kiss me. But because I don't want to, you don't. Even when everything in your body is telling you to." - I said, watching his reaction.

"Exactly. Basically like every other teenager in the world. We want to do plenty of stuff, but we still have impulse control. Welcome to the real world. It's no different for werewolves." - He snickered.

"This is very enlightening. Thanks for explaining. I wouldn't mind a kiss on another part that's not my lips." - I teased him.

That did not go well.

"I'm also not here to satisfy your urges. I'm an actual person with feelings. Not someone to be exploited. Excuse me." - He said and stood up.

I grabbed his hand before he left.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Please don't go!" - I pleaded. He sat back down and I let go of him.

"You're absolutely right. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry. And here I thought you were the one who couldn't keep it in your pants..." - I tried to use humor to diffuse the tension.

"It's a common misconception of the mate bond. People sometimes think it strips us of our ability to consent. It doesn't. It doesn't reduce us to animals in heat. It only helps to speed things along. And yes, some people complete the bond the same day they meet. But that has to be the couple's decision." - He lectured, dead seriously.

"You mean sex, right?" - My tone is nonchalant.

"Yes, but that's not all." - He spoke, annoyed.

"You mean the bite on the neck. That's so weird to me. So marking your territory." - I snickered.

"Yes, wolves are extremely territorial. And possessive. Loyal. That's why we mate for life. We don't like to share what's ours." - He smirked.

"I get it. You wanna pin me down and bite me in the neck." - I joked but flinched when his eyes turned pitch black.

He closed it for a moment after I recoiled.

"I'm sorry. This conversation is causing an effect on me." - He explained. I gulped.

"I'm so sorry. I got too comfortable. I forgot how this must be like for you. I didn't mean for it to happen." - I apologized.

After a moment, his eyes opened and were normal again. I felt so guilty.

"I'm so mortified. I can't believe I said that. I ended up behaving worse than I thought you would. Now I understand what hypocrisy means." - I admitted with an uncomfortable laugh.

"It's fine. Let this be a lesson on not judging people before you get to know them. I didn't think you'd proposition me either." - He shot at me.

"I apologize for that too. I never did it with a guy either. I don't know why I said that." - I was so distraught.

"I know why you said it, don't sweat. You're not the first straight guy to want to get off with a gay guy." - He jabbed.

"You're probably right. I hope you don't think less of me for it." - I don't know why I was worried about his opinion.

"I don't. You're just like any other guy. If I had someone to do it for me, I'd want it too." - He replied with a cheeky grin.

At least he's honest about it. Instead of just being there judging me. I laughed.

"I appreciate your honesty. I like you, Felix." - I told him with a smile. He grinned at me.

I will say this chance encounter didn't go as expected. I got schooled. I got a lecture. I even embarrassed myself on more than one occasion.

I admit I thought he wanted to make me his snack, pun intended. But I ended up respecting him more than ever.