Mates with Benefits

Chapter 2

NOLAN POV

After a 10 minute pep talk in the bathroom I was feeling less pathetic. I was determined not to let this mate thing affect me in the slightest.

I walked into my first class just as the bell was ringing. I sat in my usual seat and hunkered down. I was going to be battling my wolf all day. He wanted out, and to go claim his mate. I simply wanted this day to end.

The fourth bell rang, signaling the end of fourth period and the beginning of lunch. I stepped into the hallway only to be knocked back a few steps when Emery's scent hit my nose. My wolf compelled me forward until I found myself standing in front of her as she shoveled books into her locker.

"Emery." I breathed.

“Nolan.” The soft chime of her voice was like a siren call to me.

"You remembered my name." My wolf was pleased, and for some reason so was I. I watched as a light pink blush covered her cheeks. I wasn't sure how long I stared at her, minutes, hours, days maybe.

"So..." she said, breaking me from my daze. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, anything." I couldn't hide the excitement in my voice. She will ask us to mate with her! Mate with her! Here! Now! I tried to silence my wolf.

“Could you show me to the lunchroom?”

“Oh, uh… ” I tried my best to hide my disappointment, “sure. I could be your personal tour guide."

She smiled, "Thank you." I was dazzled. She shut the door to her locker and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Lead the way."

I lead her down the winding maze of hallways and to the cafeteria.

“Wow, this is huge.”

“Hungry?”

"I think I'll just grab a parfait." I walked over to the line with her. "Thanks for showing me." she said, grabbing her cup of yogurt and fruit. She turned to head outside.

"Wait."

"Yes?"

But I couldn't think of anything to say. My wolf was forcing me to try to keep her by my side. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see ya." She gave a small wave before walking outside.

I slammed my palm against my forehead. I couldn't to let my wolf continue to control me for the rest of the day. I needed to get a hold on myself, and fast.

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. I was battling to keep my thoughts from straying to Emery, and I was losing... terribly. I couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking about me too.

When the final bell rang I grabbed my things from my locker and headed out of the school with my friends.

"We're gonna grab burgers from Shake Shack, you coming?" Zack asked.

"Yeah, why not." I shrugged as I walked down the steps.

There was that scent again, causing me to stumble over my own feet. And there she was again, sitting at the end of the stairs. Go to mate! Go to mate! I was powerless. I had to approach her.

"But you said you would pick me up." She was frowning as she talked on her phone. "Fine." she said, hanging up.

"Emery?"

She looked up at me, "Oh, you again."

I smiled, "Are you heading home?"

"Yeah, I am." She stood up from the stairs, brushing off her pants.

"Do you need a ride?"

"No thanks, I'll walk."

Take mate home! "I insist."

"No, its fine. I on..."

Take. Mate. Home. "I'm not taking no for an answer."

"Uh... okay, I guess."

"Cool." I couldn't hide my smile. "My car is over here."

My friends stared at the two of us incredulously. They had never seen this sort of behavior from me before. "Rain check on the Shake Shack date, guys." I said as I led Emery to the passenger door of my car, opening it for her. Alright, now even I was shocked at my behavior. I had never opened a door for a girl in my life.

"So, where to?" I asked once I was seated behind the steering wheel.

"112 North Pine st."

We drove with the dull hum of the radio in the background. I could feel an electric energy passing between us, I knew she must have felt it too.

"Thank you." she said as I parked my car in front of her house. The smile on her face was doing something to me.

"No problem." I tried to reply coolly. Do it! Do it! Do it! My wolf was barking at me. f**k it.

I relinquished what little control I had over myself and pressed my lips to hers. Her lips felt so sweet against mine, they tasted even sweeter. Suddenly I was hungry for this, for her. My wolf was urging me forward. I needed more.

But abruptly she pulled away, bumping her head against the window.

"Are you alright?" I felt how my canines had extended.

“What the hell?” she shrieked.

“What?"

She smacked me across the face before getting out of the car and racing over to her door.

I sat dumbfounded, my hand touching my cheek where she had slapped me. Was I doing something wrong? How could she have not felt that urge too? Go to mate! My wolf had been steering me wrong all day, and here I was about to listen to him again.

I climbed out of the car and quickly walked over to her. I grabbed her arm as she was fumbling to put her keys in the lock. "Emery."

"f**k off."

I gasped. "Alright, I'm confused. Did you not feel that in the car?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you want me too?"

She scoffed, "What? No, I don't actually."

"I'm not crazy. I know you're wolf has been screaming at you that I'm your mate, just like mine has been yelling at me."

“You are not my mate!” she denied, glaring at me. "Leave me alone."

As she continued fumbling with her keys the door suddenly sprung open, a man in a blazer and a pair of slacks stepped into view.

“Emery, what's going on?" he asked, staring at the two of us.

"Dad, this guy kis..."

“No, problem here sir." I said cutting her off. "Emery brought me home to meet you, I'm her mate, Nolan."