"WHAT!?!"

The boy's sudden outburst reverberated throughout the parking lot. The other people who had been milling about all stopped and looked over in this direction. The silence that followed was quickly filled with murmuring and strange looks. Over to the right, a group of girls all in tank tops and miniskirts were pointing and giggling. One of them said something about the freaks being at it again. This caused a fresh round of giggles from the others in the group. From behind, I heard a guy mumbling about getting this on video and another reply that he should post it later with the pics from the fight. Rage started to build in my gut. These people acted as if this was some kind of TV show. Just then I was hit by a sudden wave of anxiety. At first, I didn't know where or more who it was coming from but then I looked over and saw the boy's face and I knew it was coming from over our bond.

Our bond. 

The boy - James - is my Mate.

That fact was so unbelievable that it threw me for a loop. The moment we made eye contact I knew. Time seemed to slow down and I felt our souls connect and a Mate Bond form between us. I can feel it buzzing all around me telling me what James is feeling. Our bond is even stronger and more overwhelming than the Twin Bond I have with Alex. I had never dreamed I would ever find my Mate. It's so rare and barely anyone ever does. Already being as gifted and powerful as I am I thought it impossible to be blessed with a Mate as well.

The bond was currently jumping all over the place and I had a sudden almost violent urge to take whatever was making James so distressed and crush it between my teeth so it couldn't get to him. Without realising it I was walking across the space separating us and coming to a stop beside him.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

He looks over at me and for a moment I'm struck speechless. I hadn't seen him up close yet and although I'm not vain enough to care about appearances his face still had me a little short of breath.

He had a strong, well-defined jaw with a little bit of stubble and an aristocratic nose. His eyes were big and soulful and such a beautiful dark brown with flecks of gold. His lips were plush and oh so kissable. I found myself focusing on those lips, waiting to see how they moved as he talked. His hair was short and fluffy, seeming to stick up in all directions and so black it seemed almost blue.

He was perfect. 

It was like he had been made just for me, to suit all my tastes and match my own personal idea of the perfect guy.

Instead of answering he simply points towards the front gates where a police cruiser with sirens blaring is pulling up to the kerb.

"I see . . . Don't worry I'll handle this."

I stride towards the cruiser with James and the teacher who was standing with him, hot on my heels. James keeps opening and shutting his mouth like a fish and the teacher is giving me these strange looks that I can't quite decipher.

Still feeling James anxiety over our bond I decide to try and calm him down a little.

It'll be alright. Just trust me and everything will turn out fine. Don't worry, I won't let them arrest you.

I sent that message to him over the bond, falling into mental communication rather than speaking out loud, forgetting for a moment that James is new to this.

His reaction was a sight to be seen.

His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open. He was so shocked that he stumbled and would have fallen over if not for the teacher catching him.

"Wow there James! Are you ok? You don't have another fever do you?" He asks as he sets James back on his feet, keeping a hand on his shoulder to steady him and looking into his eyes as if searching for something.

Fever?

James looks up at me with wonder and confusion plainly on his face. I smile weakly and give a little nod of my head.

"No Mr Coleman I'm fine. Just tripped." He replies seeing the worried expression on the teacher's face.

Mr Coleman nods and releases his grip on James's shoulder.

We turn and continue towards the gate.

A Latino man with a moustache and goatee in police uniform is getting out of the passengers' side door to stand on the sidewalk and look towards the school. 

As we approach a smile crosses his face and he relaxes his stance somewhat.

"Hey there James. How are you doing? What seems to be the problem here?" He asks going over and grasping James' hand to shake with.

"Officer Torres, nice to see you," James replies warmly, the rest of his anxiety fading to almost nothing. It seems like I won't have to interfere after all. "I'm doing fine thanks. You see there isn't really a problem, there was just a small fight but it's been resolved. Nothing the police need to get involved in."

"Oh is that so?" says a female voice from the other side of the car.

James freezes his shoulders going stiff and looking like a guilty kid just caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

I turn and look at the woman who had emerged from the driver's seat and understanding floods me.

She must be his mum.

Her hair and eyes were different from James and her face rounder with softer angles but it was still obvious. They had the same nose and their body proportions were similar; long legs and torso with slightly short arms and large hands, but it was the look in her eyes and the aura she gave off that really told me the truth.

This woman was James and Travis's mother, and she was mad . . .