His Unobtainable Mate

Chapter 2: Art of Fear

Chad immediately stood in front of me as he looked fiercely at the other werewolf, he signaled me to go, and so I did. Without looking back, I ran as fast as I could.

I am a brave person but at that exact time, I was scared. I mean, who wouldn’t be? I was almost eaten by a werewolf, was that his sister? Why was she so mad at me? By this time, I was starting to have my doubts for Chad, whether it is still safe for me, for us, for the whole town.

As I reached my home, dinner was served with my mom sitting and waiting for me at the other chair. I knew that time, a lecture is served.

“Where were you? It is past seven, don’t tell me you were wi…”

“I was not Mom, I am with Feya.”

“Really?”

“Call her if you want.”

“Will do while you eat.”

She then stood up and left me to have my dinner first. I knew Feya would cover for me, she always did. Even though my Mother is very hard to lie to, I was able to pull off some stunts a couple of times. She seemed to be on the phone with Feya, she’s that kind of persistent.

“So you were with Feya at the Caleb’s Diner?”

“That’s what I told you, Mom.”

“How about Cha…”

“Mom it’s been a long day, I am tired, can we talk about it tom?”

I gradually went upstairs to my room and buried myself in my bed. I don’t know what is happening or what am I feeling, maybe I am still shocked about what transpired earlier. Just by then, I received a call from Chad.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I don’t know Chad, I’m out of words.”

“Let’s meet tomorrow again, I’ll fix everything.”

“We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Tomorrow is Friday, it’s our traditional hang out.”

“I see, maybe right after?”

“I can’t afford to go home late, Mom’s getting suspicious.”

“So you’re really leaving me?”

“No Chad, never, I’m just tired, let’s just sleep for now.”

I ended the call by then. I don’t really know where this is going anymore. Almost feels traumatic but hell, his love is therapeutic.

The next day when classes are over, we all cheerfully proceeded to that abandoned building where all our school memories exist. Chad and I have to pretend nothing’s between us when we are here, but that’s not a problem, it just left us wanting each other more in solitude. El-Jay stands in the center holding his freshly opened beer.

“Hey, guys, so someone asked me yesterday if she could bring her special someone today, and since we are such a nice group I said yes, I hope that’s not a problem for you guys?”

“Who is it?”

“Well, Feya is not here yet, so was it her?”

Oh no, don’t tell me Feya is actually going to bring the mayor’s son here. That is going to be a disaster, he’s a varsity, from a boastful family, I warned her didn’t I?

“As we wait for Feya and her secret companion I guess, I have something to say too.”

Lylia stood up, but she looked happily sad?

“What is it Mama Lylia?”

“I was offered a scholarship to study abroad, and I know you know I have to take it.”

Lylia is one of the very hardworking and smart students in our class, she deserves it.

“Oh, congrats Lylia! But why do you look so sad?”

“The thing is, I have to leave in the next month or so.”

Woah, s**t I will surely miss Lylia.

“What? That fast?”

“It is take it or leave it, I don’t want to leave you guys so early but I have to do this for my family.”

Thinking about it, Lylia’s family is not that rich, that is why she grew up to be so kind and humble to us. El-Jay looked so upset.

“You said, we would graduate together. You said that Lylia.”

“Yes, but things happened, things that we don’t expect, and in one second, it can affect everything that we have been building, it happens.”

The atmosphere became so gloomy, everybody was so sad that we only have two months to cherish this remarkable friend of ours. Looking at France, he was already crying. He’s part of us since then but he was always silent, still, we enjoyed his company because he has been so easy to get along with. Remembering it, Lylia was the one who brought him along into our group.

Lylia walked to France and gave him a warm hug. Geez, I felt so sad looking at them, well, this view is just so breaking. Who said you couldn’t be depressed because of overwhelming friendships?

“You didn’t me tell this was a gay club.”

We all turned our heads as we saw Feya with Finn. Nice first sentence i***t. Feya tapped him because of what he said, but no, he already went there, I will stand up for myself.

“Oh Feya, you didn’t tell us you were going to bring a jerk.”

“What’s that gay man? You and your lousy mouth better watch out.”

Things shifted from sorrowful to intense as El-Jay tries to settle the situation.

“Hey, you’re new here, can you show a little respect? Dexter here is our friend.”

“And why would I do that? Feya basically forced me to come here.”

“Finn, I asked you to please be kind because I want you to meet my friends if we’re going to continue this.”

I heard stories about how jerk this man is but I never got to experienced it firsthand.

“Feya, you can’t expect anything good from that man.”

“And what could Feya expect from you? Lipsticks? Obsessive gayness? Low-class gay porns?”

“Wow, I’m sorry Feya but your man here is a real jerk.”

I was about to walk out, I love my best friend but I hate that man’s presence, I mean he arrived here then basically suggested that we’re all gay because we were sad about Lylia’s news. He doesn’t know anything, that was just a dumb move.

He grabbed me by my hand so I looked back at him.

“You know who’s the real town jerk? Your Mom, she can’t stop spreading false rumors…”

I slapped him, real hard. No one can do that to my Mom, I know she has a passion for the town’s issues but Finn boy, you’re in no hell of a position.

He was about to punch me but Chad instantly caught his fist and looked brutally at Finn. As Finn asserted himself to get distant, El-Jay stepped up again in the mess.

“Feya, I think this isn’t going to work out. Maybe he should leave.”

“No need to tell me, I don’t belong here in this loser squad anyway, my social status is far higher.”

Finn rushed off arrogantly as Feya was left scratching her head.

“Couldn’t you have been more friendly Dex?”

What? Really? Feya’s going to blame this on me?!

“Are you hearing yourself Feya? He called us a bunch of losers and called my Mom a jerk! Girl, he included my Mom, I won’t allow that. Plus, everybody knows in school about how trash he really is.”

“I actually like him Dex, couldn’t you have stayed silent just for me?”

Just by then Feya left to follow Finn, was I really to blame? I was only standing for myself, my friends, and my family. I was not in the mood anymore for this party, I was going to leave but El-Jay stopped me.

“Hey Dex, let’s fix this first, I know you love Feya.”

“Yeah, maybe some other time.”

I walked out to leave the building as everybody was still surprised about the sudden transition of emotions.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t notice that Chad was following me.

“Home, I guess.”

Suddenly, he hugged me tightly and calmed me. Yeah, I guess this is home but as I opened my eyes, s**t, Lylia was there. I hurriedly broke the hug and was about to go to her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything Dex, I am just going head back and text you later, okay?”

She smiles and awkwardly went back to the building.

“Shit.”

“I think she understands. Don’t worry Dexy. Lylia is a smart girl.”

I sighed as I continued walking.

“Do you want to feel better?”

“No, I’m not in the mood to see you strip and turn into a werewolf. Thank you.”

“Haha no, just come with me alright.”

He held my hands as we go deeper into the forest at the back of that old building. On the way, he seemed to be texting someone. We reached the mountain where the sunset is perfectly visible, I noticed the same girl in the restaurant, with the pink highlights, yes, his sister?

“Sis.”

The girl looked at us, she seemed really fierce or that is just her nature?

“You told me to come to the mountainside as fast as I can, to meet your boyfriend?”

Woah, he already told his sister?! I am very nervous right now, s**t.

“Yes, you also said you wanted to meet him right? Dex, this is my sister Xandra, sis, this is Dex.”

She looked at me, I think I am sweating blood.

“You, what did you do to my little brother?”

“Wha… I… All I did to your brother, was… was to love him…”

I saw the slight smile of assurance on her face, she looks better like this than an angry emo girl.

“Sis, I think you owe Dex an apology.”

“What? All I did was stare at him yesterday.”

“Yes, in your wolf form, he was scared, sis...”

So it was her, to think of it, that werewolf has pink streaks on its fur.

“Chad, it was fine, I wasn’t hurt.”

“See? Your boyfriend’s fine little bro.”

Xandra started to look so serious, and gaze at the sun.

“You two know I don’t approve of your relationship, you’re not going anywhere with that, I think you already know that. But I love my little brother too much and he said yesterday while explaining everything, that he is happy with you and I don’t want to ruin that happiness. I never saw him smile the way you made him smile. What you two have maybe something special but it won’t last.”

Woah, she is straight forward honest.

“I am ready to take just anything I can from Chad, even if this is our last day, our last hour together, I always going to be grateful for the memories he gave me.”

Xandra walked towards me.

“Then, take care of my little brother. If something bad happens to him I will bite you into pieces.”

We laughed there for a second, realizing it was great to have a sibling, something I never got to have because of that accident my Mother had.

“I was only scared that Chad is forgetting his duty he needs to fulfill, and that you are taking him away from us. We need him Dex, if it’s only possible for me to take his place to be the next Alpha, I gladly would, so he can have this everlasting happiness with you, but a girl can’t be the alpha.”

Chad looks down, and for that moment, I am surrounded with sadness too. That’s why she looks so angry at me yesterday, the fear of slowly losing her brother. Thinking of it, the real art of fear is not how I was scared to death yesterday, but how it makes us remember how much we love the person at thought of losing them. Just like now, I love Chad so much because I know one day, I’ll have to lose him, and yes, I am so freaking scared for that day.

“There’s only one thing, our Father wants me to know what’s been keeping Chad from going home early. You need to meet him, Dex.”

What?! If Xandra is already terrifying as this, what more could their Father be?

“Wait, I can’t.”

“Chill Dex, we would only introduce you as his friend, he will kill us all if he finds out you two are actually dating.”

Oh god. Help me.

“It’s going to work out Dexy, just like with your Mom, my Father will like you too.”

“Don’t give him false hope little brother. You know Father hates humans in general. Just make sure to be respectful and someone who can be trusted and I think it’ll be fine. Let’s do it on Sunday.”

Their Father hates humankind? I am a human, geez.

“Are you in, Dexy? Please?”

“Sure.”

We left Xandra on the mountainside as she wanted to watch the sun dies before leaving. Chad then accompanied me near my home as we parted and said goodbyes. I still can’t let my Mom see me with him.

I am faced with overflowing problems right now, my Mom’s disapproval of Chad’s family, plus I think my best friend is a bit disappointed because of what happened earlier, then comes Sunday, I have to meet Chad’s Father, can this get any worse? Oh wait, there is still something, Lylia. I checked my phone to see if she has a message for me but there was none so I decided to initiate the conversation through a phone call.

“Lylia?”

“Oh hi Dex, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll keep my mouth shut if you two aren’t ready.”

“Well, I guess I can’t deny it anymore.”

“Actually, when Chad protected you from Finn, I had my suspicions but then I thought, friends do protect each other too I think.”

“It’s fine I guess, I know you understand us, anyway why were you following me? You have something else to say?”

“I was only worried about you, I wanted to console you but then I think someone already did haha.”

“You are so sweet Mama Lylia, I will miss you big time.”

“I will surely miss you too Dex!”

“If it’s okay, what are your plans? I mean you and Chad, you two look good together I got to be honest.”

“It’s far more complicated, Lylia if you can just forget about it, just to be safer.”

“Okay Dex, I understand, but can I just leave you one of my wisdom before we drop this?”

“Sure, I am thirsty for your knowledge haha.”

“Love is always too beautiful to be hidden.”

She then ended the call, as I was left staring at the ceiling of my room, thinking about that, silently wishing there was a world for me and Chad, where we can freely express our love for each other without hiding anything. Sighs.

It was finally Sunday and yes, I am sweating and secretly hoping to be able to come home alive this day. I told Mom as usual that I was going to go out with Feya, I’ve been kind of used to it.

Chad met me at Caleb’s Diner and together we head to his home, it was a bit far from the town’s capital and resides almost at the outskirts of town. It was nice and simple living, as we approach a humble abode, some were farming, chunking woods, and tending to their livestock.

“Are they all?”

Chad nodded at me, so this must be all his pack. They are living together peacefully here, I see nothing wrong.

Xandra greeted us on the way to one of the houses, theirs I presumed.

“You ready?”

I gave out my best smile, even though deep down inside I just wanted to go home, but no, I am going to do this, in the name of love, lol.

As we entered their house, a man in a wheelchair was watching television.

“Father, Chad, and his friend are here.”

The man looked at us and gestured us to have a seat.

“Xandra, go get them something to eat.”

“So you’re his human friend?”

“Yes, Mr. Andrews, I am Dexter Greene nice to meet you, Sir.”

“How do I put this? Oh first, you already know about us I assumed?”

“What do you mean Sir?”

“That we are werewolves, Xandra mentioned it.”

“Yes, I know about that Sir.”

“And what can you say?”

“Uhm, it’s cool? I mean I’ve been hanging out with Chad and he seems totally harmless.”

“He’s actually not, we’re not harmless, we all can be the most vicious beings, but only if we are being disturbed.”

“Well, we got to protect what matters to us, Sir.”

“I told all of my pack to never tell anyone about our real identities in this town, except if they are sure they can trust the person.  I suppose my son trusts you then.”

“Yes Father, Dexter has been so kind to me ever since we arrived here, he even toured me around town.”

“Well, your son is also an awesome friend to me, more awesome than my casual human friends.”

“Then I’m glad that Chad is not having a hard time settling in. But this I tell you, our secret must stay only with you.”

“Yes Sir, I promise.”

“I hope I can count on that Dexter, humans have hurt my family so much I won’t let anyone compromise us ever again.  I don’t want to rule out that your entire race is cruel, but every time I woke up alone in my bed, without feeling my legs, I can’t help but remember that night where…”

He almost dropped a tear but he was fighting his emotion to assert his strong figure.

 “Anyway, I must leave you two here for a while, I remember I got something to do, Son, will you assist me to your uncle.”

“Wait here Dex.”

I nodded at them as I was left in the living room, after a while, Xandra walked in carrying some food.

“How did it go?”

“Uhm, fine?”

“At least he won’t bother me again when Chad goes home late, he knows his son is with someone who can be trusted.”

“Xandra can I ask something?”

“What? You want pink dye?”

“Haha no, but I was just wondering, were you at our University last week, and did you howl by any chance?”

“Silly, why would I howl near your school grounds, I would be risking everybody here if I do that.”

If it wasn’t her, and it wasn’t Chad, who the hell was it?

Chad got back then we three had small talks while we watch a documentary about how trees help the ecosystem, well, actually I was not watching at all.

When lastly, Xandra left, I wanted to ask Chad what occurred that night his Father mentioned, the reason he despised humans.

“Chad, is it okay if I ask about that night?”

“It was one night, Father was training me to have the strengths of being an Alpha. We were with my Mother, we had a little race but then suddenly… a car crushed us, my parents were both badly hit while I wasn’t because they were able to push me away from the crash. It was an accident yeah, but those people didn’t even bother to help us, they rushed to leave the scene as fast as they could.”

That was just so tragic, people could really be nasty sometimes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Because of that accident, my father wasn’t able to walk anymore, and my mother… I lost my mother that night.”

Chad wasn’t able to stop his tears, well come on, that’s his mother, I gave him a small tap on his shoulder, hugging him is too risky here.

“It was a hit and run, they were able to run that night but I looked closely at the car plate, to make sure I will remember it until the day I avenge my parents.”

“What will you do if you see it again somehow?”

“God knows what.”

We walked around their open field to transform the mood. Two kids were playing and according to Chad, they go to the Arcade Elementary School, he also said their kids aren’t able to transform into a wolf at an early age. In short, Chad is really the only one who goes to Starcade University, since Xandra already graduated last year at their homeland. But then I noticed another girl who looks the same age as us talking with Xandra on a swing.

“Who is that Chad?”

“That’s Tanya.”

“Oh, Tanya your future wife.”

“Drop it, Dexy.”

“Why isn’t she studying?”

“She doesn’t want to, she likes working here, helping out in the crops and such.”

By now, I am still intrigued about the howl Feya told me about, was it only really a stray dog? Should I leave it like that?

“Do you want to meet her?”

That would honestly be painful on my part but I was willing to just when I received a text message from my Mother.

“Home, now.”

What is it now Mom? I told Chad I have to go home now, I don’t want to give more suspicions to her so I should just probably obey her. I let Chad’s family know that I am leaving for now, whereas his Father said that I am welcome to visit anytime. Sweet. Chad was going to accompany me back to my home but I stopped him.

“I know the way now, you don’t have to go with me.”

“But I want to.”

“You’ll only be giving doubts to your Father about our relationship, I promise I can handle myself.”

“Text me when you get home.”

 “Will do.”

On my way home I came across that bastard Finn, strolling along with his bunch of dumb friends. He gave me an alarming stare but I just stared back at him fiercely. I am not scared of you boy.

As I got home my Mother was all over me.

“Where were you? The truth this time.”

“I told you, Mom, I was with Feya, we ate at…”

“I called Feya earlier.”

 Oh s**t.