Quinnie

As cliché as it may sound, I despise parties, especially the ones involving my parents and relatives. Because I know exactly what's going to happen when relatives are present.

But turning down a party offer on your own birthday isn't really an option...

Fuck my life.

"Oh my god! Quinnie! Is that you, honey? Holly Molly! It's been so long!" Aunt Hannah exclaimed, enveloping me in one of her bone-crushing hugs.

Awww, here we go, the affectionate displays.

"You've grown up so much!" She gushed once again.

What the hell are you talking about, woman? You literally saw me just last week. The only things that have grown in that time are my armpit hair and a slight mustache.

You see, I'm a brunette. So, my facial hair doesn't naturally blend with my skin. And being a werewolf, I have the delightful ability to grow body hair at an accelerated rate, which annoys me to no end.

Sometimes I wonder if my wolf ever gets jealous of the amount of hair on my skin...

"So, where is your mate?" She asked, scanning the room.

She knows I haven't found my mate, but she still likes to ask every time. Just to rub it in.

This little B for Bitch.

"Haven't found one yet," I whispered softly, the disappointment and sadness evident in my tone.

I've always longed to find my mate. After hearing those dreamy stories about mates, witnessing the unbreakable bond between my parents, and seeing my school friends fall in love so effortlessly, it's hard not to hope.

And I was hopeful.

I know my mate will love me, and I will love him. That's what mates are supposed to be like, right?

Right?

...

I excused myself to get a drink, needing a momentary escape from Aunt Hannah's irritating questions.

Don't get me wrong, she's not a terrible person. But she's far too proud of herself and her family.

Her son holds a prominent position in the pack army, and her daughter has ventured out of state for her studies.

Perfect, isn't it?

Well, at least that's what she believes.

In reality, her son is running an underground gang within the pack, and her daughter is too caught up in the streets of New York, getting high.

Anyway...

As I approached the drinks table, I opted for a simple glass of lemonade today, even though it's my 18th birthday.

While most people would get wasted on this day, I couldn't be less interested.

I'd rather stay sober and cherish the memories than get drunk and pass out.

Not that I anticipate anything memorable happening anyway.

Just a few steps away from the bar, the lights suddenly went out. I heard groans and shook my head, trying to find my way out.

Unintentionally, I bumped into someone, and they let out a hiss. Judging by their strength, it was clearly a man.

Also, when I collided with "the person," I felt a solid, iron chest instead of, you know, uh... breasts.

So, it's a guy.

Well, unless the girl is as flat-chested as me, then perfect! I've found my soul sister!

He hissed at me, and embarrassment immediately painted my cheeks crimson.

"Oh my god! I'm so sor—" I gasped as our hands touched, leaving me at a loss for words.

Sparks.

Sparks like never before erupted throughout my body, and I felt my wolf stirring within me.

I've just turned 18, so my wolf hasn't come to me yet. I haven't even shifted.

But within a fortnight of turning 18, you experience your first shift.

I shook my head, dismissing these unnecessary thoughts, and decided to savor this moment.

I've found my mate! Finally!

Instinctively, my hand reached out to touch his face. I was already yearning to feel those tingles once more.

When our skin made contact again, he inhaled sharply.

And so did I.

My fingers gently caressed his cheek, relishing the sensation of his rough stubble. I yearned to see his face so desperately. Why did the lights have to go off at this moment?

As I leaned in, attempting to make out his features, the lights suddenly flickered back on, and a part of me felt relieved.

I raised my gaze to meet the warm eyes of my mate, hoping to find love reflected in them. I longed for the same affectionate look I had witnessed my father give my mother throughout their lives.

But did I receive it?

No.

Instead, all I encountered was an icy glare and a disdainful snark from someone I had known my entire life.

"YOU?" he bellowed in anger, his Beta voice echoing through the hall.

I yearned to say something, to inquire what was wrong. I wanted to declare that I was his mate and that I would love him eternally.

Yet, he never allowed me the opportunity to do so.

With a forceful push, he sent me tumbling backward. I landed on the ground, sitting on my rear, my eyes fixed on him in a state of shock and bewilderment.

His hands curled into fists as he continued to glare at me. "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF ME, BITCH!" he spat before storming away.

The flicker of connection I had felt with my wolf in the beginning had vanished entirely, replaced by an overwhelming sense of agony and loss.

After lying there in shock for a few more moments, I mustered the strength to get up and hurried to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it, sliding down to the floor.

As the reality of the situation began to sink in, a strange pain in my chest intensified.

Soon, it became unbearable.

It felt as if someone was relentlessly stabbing my chest while I screamed at them to stop.

I tightly shut my eyes, threw my head back, and let out a scream.

Tears welled up and streamed down my face, one after another, until my visage was a complete mess of water and salt.

Suddenly, my entire body grew heavy and weary.

My heart ached to the point where I thought stabbing it would be less painful. I sniffled and whimpered, slumping further onto the floor.

I lay there with my head resting on the cool marble for a considerable while, contemplating the events of the day.

So much for wishing for a mate, right? So much for daring to hope?

I suppose that's how fate operates, then.

Happy birthday to me.

...

The next day was school. Of course.

It feels like this world has some sort of grudge against me.

First, my mate rejects me.

Second, I can't feel my wolf, which makes me question whether I'll even shift in a fortnight or not.

And third, my best friend isn't at school.

Julie Paxton, also known as the energy ball of the school and my closest friend, wasn't going to be here today. She texted me this morning, saying she had to urgently leave for Mexico to visit her grandma. Honestly, the fact that she isn't here is really getting on my nerves.

Yeah, she's Latina. Another reason why she's as energetic as HELL. And absolutely feisty.

Unlike me, she's gorgeous, and her accent is everything!

Her mate will be so lucky to have her. Well, unlike mine...

I shook my head, trying to shake off those thoughts.

I still haven't told her about what happened on my birthday.

And this damn pain in my chest just won't go away.

Letting out a sigh, I slammed my locker shut.

I refuse to think about him. He clearly doesn't care about me, so why should I care about him?

Hugging my books to my chest, I walked with my gaze fixed on the floor.

I didn't want to look up. If I do, I might catch a glimpse of him, and I don't want to see him.

I don't want to see him because I know if I do, I'll break down in tears.

Ugh, why am I so weak? I thought to myself when suddenly someone's arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me into yet another embrace.

Damn, so many unexpected hugs.

I turned around to find my other best friend, Jaxson Hastings, standing there with a grin on his face.

Jaxson, also known as... Wait, he's not known as anything. He's just ordinary like me.

Yay for us!

"Jax!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly.

"Whoa!" He whispered, but he hugged me back nonetheless.

"Where were you this morning? I checked your locker, but you weren't there," I muttered, my voice muffled by his shirt.

He began to respond, but his words were interrupted by a loud growl that emanated from behind me.

Fear sent shivers down my spine. The growl carried authority.

I immediately turned around to see Nicholas, looking furious with his black eyes and clenched fists, watching us.

His gaze focused on Jax's arm around my waist, and he growled again when Jax pulled me closer, as if protecting me.

At his second growl, I quickly untangled myself from Jax's embrace and stood there awkwardly. I didn't want to cause a scene.

Nicholas's expression shifted into one of satisfaction as he noticed the distance between me and Jax. Soon, his eyes returned to their normal color.

With one last menacing glare in our direction, he walked away as if nothing had happened.

My jaw dropped at his behavior, and I gasped.

Okay, what the hell just happened?

Quinnie

I tugged Jaxson along with me as we headed to our next class after that embarrassing encounter with the Blockhead.

Yeah, I called him that. Because that's exactly what he is. A Blockhead with a capital B.

My mind involuntarily drifted back to the party, and a pang of heartache surged through me as I thought about him and how he pushed me away.

I thought mates were supposed to love each other...

Shaking my head, I tried to focus my attention on the thermodynamics problem in front of me.

"Okay, so when the standard value of the equilibrium constant is positive... The standard Gibbs free energy becomes negative because it is -2.303RTlogK-"

"Pssssshhh, Quinn," someone nudged me from behind, and I brushed him off, knowing it was Jax.

I resumed working on the problem at hand when he poked me again, this time with a pencil.

I glanced back at him and hissed, gesturing for him to be quiet.

He jutted out his bottom lip and gave me a puppy dog look.

I wanted to burst into laughter, but I settled on giving him a stern look. He widened his eyes, and they started to dramatically glisten.

I snorted.

What a drama queen.

Ignoring his antics, I continued working on my question paper when a slip of paper landed on my leg, causing me to gasp.

Did he just pass me a cheat sheet?

Doesn't he realize we have a test going on? What if someone saw this?

Panicking, I decided to pick up the paper and throw it away, but it was too late. My teacher snatched it away from my lap.

Pray to the holy mother of macaroons.

I screeched and leaped to retrieve it, but he raised his hand, and, well, my 5'6 height was no match for my teacher's towering 6'3 frame.

Seriously, 6'3? Did he inhale steroids or something?

Eventually, I gave up my futile attempts to reach for the paper and huffed in frustration. He smirked triumphantly at me.

"Well, well, well," he said. "Looks like Ms. Ackerman has something interesting for all of us." He opened the paper and cleared his throat.

No, he wouldn't...

"Dear Quinn,

I know you're upset with me for rejecting you last night. But you need to understand, baby, the neighbors have started complaining. They say they can't handle the noise anymore.

Our love must be too loud for this world, honey.

I promise you, I'll find a world that accepts us and our loudness, just as we are.

Until then, please forgive me.

Yours truly,

Caspar the Friendly Ghost."

My eyes widened, and a deep blush spread across my cheeks as I read the contents of the note.

Oh god.

"Hmmm," the teacher remarked, "looks like a love letter to me. You may proceed to take your exam."

He turned to me, an amused glimmer in his eyes and a mock frown on his face. "And Ms. Ackerman, I would advise you to save your lover's quarrels outside my class. I mean, I know this is a chemistry class, but this is taking it a bit too far."

Needless to say, I received a detention slip as well.

Fuck my life.

...

"Awwww, come on! Don't be like that!" Jax whined, but I continued to ignore him and briskly walked out of the room.

He jogged, almost ran, to keep up with me, and I couldn't help but smirk internally.

You see, Jax is human, and being a werewolf, I'm much faster than him.

"Hey! S-Stop!" He pleaded, panting as he caught up with me. "Why are you so angry with me?"

I came to an abrupt halt, seething with frustration.

"What do you mean? Why am I mad? How can you expect me not to be mad, huh? I have EVERY RIGHT to be mad at you!" I snapped. "You caused a scene out there! What was the need for that, huh? Do you realize how embarrassed I was? That note sounded so inappropriate. And not everyone out there probably thinks I'm some sort of sex-starved slut!"

I finished my tirade, breathing heavily, and looked up.

Jax's face had paled, and he wore an expression of hurt.

Regret washed over me instantaneously.

He hung his head low and mumbled, "I'm sorry, Quinn..."

My eyes softened, and I opened my mouth to say something, but he stopped me.

"It's just that..." He started, kicking a stone along the path with his foot, his head still down. "You weren't acting like yourself today. You looked so sad. I didn't... I didn't like seeing you that way. I-I'm sorry for what I did. I just wanted to make you laugh. And... and I thought it would be good-"

I cut him off with a tight hug, wrapping my arms around his torso and burying my face in his chest.

"Shhhh," I comforted. "Don't say anything more. Quinn loves you!"

He stood frozen for a second before relaxing and reciprocating the embrace, wrapping his arms around me too.

Chuckling softly, he said, "I know, Quinn-Bear. Jax loves you too."

He kissed the top of my head, and I closed my eyes, a smile spreading across my face.

...

Detentions can't be that bad, right?

Well, that's what I thought as I entered the room.

But then I saw the blockhead sitting there too. At first, my stomach fluttered at the sight of him, and I scolded myself for reacting to his presence so strongly.

However, when I looked around, I realized he wasn't alone after all.

His arm was wrapped around a blonde who was practically sucking his neck off.

My heart stopped, and the once-fluttering butterflies felt like they died a merciless death. The excitement I had felt earlier turned into a deep sense of hurt when I saw him with her. My stomach dropped, and a profound pain filled my chest. The wolf I could no longer feel suddenly howled in agony inside me, and I felt numb.

For some reason, I couldn't tear my eyes away from them.

This morning, I had cursed him and despised him with all my might. And now, here I was, feeling hurt and envious of him. How ironic, huh?

He must have noticed my presence because he lifted his head and smirked.

I ignored him, refusing to dwell on how devilishly gorgeous that smirk was, and looked away.

The last thing I wanted was to make him think I was jealous.

Because I wasn't. I was just territorial.

He's my mate, and I have every right to feel that way. But whatever. Screw it.

And how were the teachers allowing them to engage in such behavior during class anyway?

Oh, right. There was no teacher in detention.

Yay, high school.

They were occupying the last row, so I decided to sit in the front row. The farther, the better.

Even though I hated sitting in the front. It made me feel like everyone at the back was staring at me, and that always creeped me out.

I was about to take my seat when the classroom door swung open, and the great Jaxson walked in with a triumphant look on his face.

"GUESS WHO'S GONNA KEEP YOU COMPANY, Quinn-BEAR?" He exclaimed with excitement and hugged me tightly.

Only he could be happy about getting detention, I thought, laughing.

I hugged him back, momentarily feeling a sense of happiness before a loud growl echoed in the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Blockhead giving Jax a murderous glare.

Oh god. It was only the first minute of detention, and I had already managed to anger the Blockhead. Who knows what will happen in the next 59 minutes...