Fated to a Human

Chapter 19

The next morning at school started off with a subtle tension buzzing beneath the usual Tuesday morning chaos. Nathan walked through the front doors with Peter and Rory at his sides. Rory looked amazing in a loose dark gray button over a tight black tank top, jeans that hugged her perfectly, and those signature combat boots that somehow made her look both intimidating and hot.

Nathan was trying very hard not to stare too much. Or think about his dreams. Or the fact that she still smelled like warm vanilla and lavender.

But someone was watching—and not fondly.

Skylar stood near her locker, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed like a hawk waiting to dive. When she spotted Rory brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and laughing at something Nathan said, something in her snapped.

She reached into her bag, pulled out a folded-up paper, and flicked it toward Rory. It sailed through the air and smacked the back of Rory’s head. Rory turned, eyebrow raised, looking directly at Skylar.

Skylar gave her a fake sweet smile. “Oops. My bad.”

Rory didn’t respond. She just turned back around and rolled her eyes, calm and collected. But Skylar wasn’t done.

As they entered second period, Skylar muttered loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, “Some people just don’t understand the social ladder. Climbing too fast usually leads to a fall.”

Nathan clenched his jaw, but Rory smirked, not even turning around. “Thanks for the life advice, Barbie.”

Peter snorted.

Skylar’s smile dropped into a glare.

In Health Class, the energy shifted.

The classroom buzzed with restless energy, mostly fueled by the posters around school announcing prom was just days away. Everyone was in full gossip mode—who was asking who, what people were wearing, and who was going to lose their virginity on prom night.

Rory took her usual seat next to Nathan, tossing her bag on the floor and crossing her legs under the desk. She leaned a little toward him, close enough that her shoulder brushed his.

Skylar, sitting behind them with Tony next to her, stared daggers through the back of Rory’s head.

The teacher, Mrs. Linden, entered the room holding a stack of papers and a remote control.

She sighed dramatically, already tired. “Alright, class. Look, I know you think you already know everything about s*x, but with prom coming up Friday, the school board has requested we go over the basics again. Risks, consequences, pregnancy, STDs, and blah blah blah.”

Groans echoed across the room.

Nathan leaned toward Rory and whispered something that made her laugh, her smile lighting up her whole face. Her hand brushed his thigh for half a second—innocent, maybe accidental—but it sent a jolt through him.

Behind them, Skylar’s fingers curled into fists.

Mrs. Linden narrowed her eyes. “Mr. Grey. Is there something funny about an STD?”

Nathan cleared his throat, sitting straighter. “Nope. Nothing funny at all, ma’am.”

A few kids snickered.

Mrs. Linden continued, clicking the remote. A PowerPoint popped up with “THE TRUTH ABOUT UNPROTECTED s*x” in bold red letters. She droned on about protection, statistics, HPV, herpes, and why pulling out was not a birth control method.

Rory covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.

Nathan gently nudged her with his elbow. “Stop,” he whispered with a grin.

Skylar nearly growled under her breath.

Then the lights dimmed, and Mrs. Linden turned on a video titled “The Miracle of Life”. The grainy footage showed a woman in labor, screaming as nurses yelled encouragement. The room went quiet except for the onscreen moaning and groaning.

Nathan leaned over to Rory and whispered, “That baby’s head is the size of a melon. I’m never looking at fruit the same again.”

Rory made a face and reached over to gently pinch his side. “Gross,” she whispered, but her smile said otherwise.

They both giggled.

Behind them, Skylar’s desk squeaked from how hard she was gripping it.

“Mr. Grey. Miss Rodriguez,” Mrs. Linden snapped. “Do I need to separate you two?”

Nathan sat up quickly. “No, ma’am.”

Rory muttered, “Maybe,” just loud enough for him to hear.

Nathan grinned.

Tony whispered something to Skylar and they both laughed, but Skylar’s laugh was fake, brittle. She couldn’t look away from them—how natural they were, how easy they looked together.

Nathan had never acted that way with her.

Not even close.

And Skylar wasn't the type to lose without a fight.

As the lights flicked back on in the health classroom and students began to stir, Mrs. Linden stood at the front holding a large fishbowl full of individually wrapped condoms.

“Alright, everyone,” she said with a forced smile. “If you take nothing else from today, at least take one of these. Be smart. Be safe. And remember—no glove, no love.”

There were a few chuckles as the class lined up to grab one on the way out. Rory casually plucked one from the bowl and shoved it in her pocket without a second thought.

Nathan didn’t even slow down at the desk.

“Too good for protection, Grey?” one of the guys joked behind him.

Nathan flashed a lazy smirk. “Nah, I just have... perks.”

The benefits of being a werewolf. Human STDs were useless against his supernatural immune system. And getting random girls pregnant? Impossible. Werewolves could only sire children with other werewolves and their fated mates.

Which meant the condom wasn’t necessary. Not for him. Not unless… Rory.

Nathan shook the thought away.

They made their way down the hallway toward the cafeteria. The scent of pizza, fries, and questionable meatloaf hit them like a wall.

As they entered, one of Nathan’s football teammates—Gabe—called out from across the room, waving him over.

“Yo, Grey! Come check out the prom prank setup we’re doing for Friday!”

Nathan glanced at Rory. “Go ahead,” she said. “Peter’s probably already at our table.”

“I’ll meet you there,” Nathan said with a soft smile.

Rory nodded and headed for the lunch line.

She had just picked up a tray and moved toward the serving counter when a hard shove knocked her forward. Her tray rattled, barely staying upright.

Skylar stood behind her, arms folded, a venomous smirk twisting her lips. “I tried to be nice,” she hissed under her breath, “but clearly, you don’t get it. Stay away from Nathan. He belongs to me.”

Behind her, Skylar’s two besties—Hailey and Brooke—stood like overgrown mall rats, nodding in unison.

Rory blinked, letting the words hang in the air for a second before she scoffed, “You can’t own someone, that’s slavery—and I’m pretty sure that’s still illegal.”

A few students turned their heads at the rising tension.

Skylar leaned in closer. “You think you're so clever, huh?” she sneered. “Walking around like you’re someone. Nathan’s mine, always has been.”

Rory’s jaw clenched. “Nathan can talk to whoever he wants. He’s a big boy. Try not controlling someone for once in your life.”

Skylar’s face turned red. She shoved Rory again, this time harder.

Rory took a slow breath and turned to face her completely. Calm, direct.

“Touch me again,” she said in a low voice, “and I will knock your plastic ass out.”

Skylar laughed, loud and fake. Her little crowd joined in.

“Oh please,” she taunted. “You don’t scare me.”

Then Skylar raised her hand and went to slap Rory across the face.

Rory’s reflexes kicked in—quick, sharp, precise.

She ducked under the incoming swing and slammed her fist into Skylar’s cheek with a brutal right hook. There was a loud, sickening crack as her knuckles connected with bone.

Skylar went flying sideways, crashing into the side of the lunch line with a shriek.

Gasps exploded around the room. Trays clattered. Conversations stopped mid-sentence.

Skylar hit the ground, clutching her face. Blood poured from her nose, mixing with smeared mascara as she let out a pitiful scream.

Rory stood over her, chest heaving just slightly, fists still clenched. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to.

The silence in the cafeteria was deafening. Every eye was on them.

Skylar’s friends rushed to her, panicking, babbling about how she “wasn’t breathing right” and “oh my God, she broke her nose.”

From across the room, Nathan turned just in time to see Rory standing tall, Skylar on the ground, and half the cafeteria in total stunned silence.

Peter let out a low whistle at their table.

“Ohhh shit.”