The Fated

Chapter Two

MAVERICK

Blair is really quiet, which is making me panic even more.

Why did I even do that? Why would my brain tell my body to do that!?!?!

Nova is my best friend, and other than Blair, my only friend. She and I have been glued to the hip our whole lives. She knows me better than I know myself, and vice versa. My heart is pounding.

I know why I'm panicking. I was scared of this happening. We always talked about finding our mates... deep down, I think we always sort of wondered if we would end up being each other's... but we never said it out loud. We've always been such great friends, what would happen if we became mates, or worse, if we didn't?

My heart hammers against my ribs as I ponder this last realization: I would be sad if Nova's mate turned out to be someone other than me. I never let myself feel anything more than friendship for her because, well, I was scared of losing her to someone else when the time came. All this crashes down on me while I sit in Mr. Garrett's homeroom class, dazed and sweating. Finally, Blair speaks up.

"Mav, stop freaking out, I can smell your stress sweat and it's gross. All you did was grab her hand so just relax. Plus, you can't tell me you didn't see this coming," I can practically hear him rolling his eyes from his seat directly behind me.

I angle my head slightly towards him, irritated.

"Of course I've thought about it. But, it's like you said, I just grabbed her hand. That doesn't immediately translate to "mates". Who knows what will happen tonight," I mutter. Internally, my feelings and thoughts are all over the place. Excited, regretful, nervous, guilty, jealous... I don't know what I want, but I do know that I would be crushed if the Ceremony takes place and we end up alone, or worse, she ends up with someone else.

First and second period pass by in a foggy blur. I don't think I heard a single word that either Mr. Garrett and Mrs. Helms spoke of during their classes. Second and third period are worse because I’m alone. I can’t rely on Blair for his annoying yet helpful distractions. I have absolutely no notes written from this morning and I can't stop thinking about Nova and the ceremony. Fourty minutes into my third period, I sigh with relief as I realize this is the last class before lunch. The relief lasts about a second or two before utter dread consumes me. I left in such an awkward rush after the incident this morning, I never even gave myself a chance to think about our hour-long lunch period.

I can't face her, I decide. Or can I? Maybe I can laugh it off, like it was just a friendly gesture. I mean, girl friends hold hands all the time. We're friends too, it doesn't have to mean anything more... just because I'm me and she's her doesn’t mean we can’t be friends that hold hands. Even as I try to reason with myself, I know that it sounds like (and is) complete bullshit. I felt that impulsive and intensive pull to reach out and grab her. I wanted to touch her, hold her hand... but the whole idea of romance between us has been ignored or avoided. I have no idea what to do. In a panic, I start to realize I need a plan. I can't be here, I need to be gone before lunch time hits. I realize all the sweating and jittering I've been doing all morning could work in my favour. I raise my hand and interrupt whatever Mrs. Kinsley is saying.

"Yes, Mr. Brisbane?"

"I don't feel good, I need to go to the nurse's office," I mumble.

"Yes, you do seem quite pale. Go ahead, and make sure you walk straight there!" Despite her mild concern for my well-being, she remains stern and doubtful.

I respect it though, considering I am one hundred percent doing exactly what she fears I'm planning on doing: leaving.

I stand and collect my belongings before scrambling out of third period. I can feel the curious stares, including that of Kiera Trinity’s, who has been in love with me since the first grade. I rush through the door with my head down. Quickly, I stop at my locker to grab my books and keys. As I rush through the hallway that leads out to the parking lot, I hear the bell go off. I'm outside and racing to the truck before anyone even steps foot in the hallway for lunch.

Yikes, that was close.

***

My whole body hits the mattress and my breath comes out in a huff. I am a bundle of anxious nerves. I know this was a total cop-out. Running away to hide, seriously, Maverick? I sigh, annoyed and frustrated. I need to clear my head, I haven’t been myself all day. Today is supposed to be special, it’s the day every single werewolf looks forward to for eighteen years of our extremely long lifespans. So then, why am I so messed up? I’m normally so calm and collected. That’s always what my parents raised me to be like. I’m a thinker, a strategizer, an asset. I am the one who fills in when the unthinkable happens and we are without an Alpha, my Alpha. I will become Beta someday… at least that’s what I was always taught. Slowly, another whopping realization hits me.

If I get what I, deep down inside, truly want; I will not become a Beta... Being Nova’s mate would make me the next Alpha. The stress sweats return and soon I am hyperventilating. I need to get out of this room, with the sun shining in, it’s becoming a sauna. I feel itchy all over. Within seconds I am bolting out of my room. The second my door swings open and I step out onto the landing between mine and Nova’s bedrooms, I run straight into a wall. Nope, not a wall, worse. My father.

“Wow, today must really be a special day if even the humans working in administration at your school are celebrating, I can’t see any other reason why you'd already be home…”

I shrink back at my father's disapproving frown and stare down at our shoes, chewing on my lip nervously. I hear my Dad let out a sigh.

“Maverick, come with me, and take a deep breath… you’re practically shivering with anxiety,” Dad turns and walks back down the stairs he came from. I follow obediently. We reach his office where I knew he was taking me and I collapse onto the couch in the corner. He pulls up one of the chairs.

“Okay, spill. I can smell your nerves and fear. You reek,” Dad chuckles.

“I grabbed Nova’s hand today as we walked into school,” I hear myself blurt, cringing at how stupid it sounds now that I've said it out loud.

Dad barely reacts, just lifts his eyebrows and shrugs his shoulders slightly.

“So?” he prompts.

“I didn’t even think about doing it, I wasn’t thinking about anything. I just did it, out of nowhere. The worst part is, I didn’t think it was weird until she reacted, and then I panicked. It felt so natural, until I realized it shouldn’t,” now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop the words from spillling out.

“Why shouldn’t it? What’s so wrong with holding Nova’s hand?”

I fumble for a moment, unsure how to respond. He’s so casual, leaning back in his chair, breathing evenly, genuinely intrigued by the whole ordeal. This is what I meant when I said my parents raised me to be cool, calm and collected. Which, right now, I am definitely not.

“What if she’s my mate? I’m freaking out Dad, she’s been my best friend my entire life, what happens when we suddenly realize we are bound to each other, fated as one by the Moon Goddess herself. Everything I’ve always known would change. What happens to me after, when we mate and are given our ranks. I become Alpha, and my best friend becomes not only my Luna, but my entire world. My reason for breathing. I wouldn’t become a Beta, I’d be choosing one for myself, someone to help me lead an entire pack,” I am nearly at my wits end.

“I don’t quite understand, son. Nothing you’ve mentioned really changes all that much for you." I'm about to protest when he cuts me off.

"Listen, I can relate to how nervous you are. The day of my Ceremony, I was so worked up. I hadn’t slept a wink the night before and I could hardly stop all the doubts and fears from creeping in. I was scared of being ranked. My whole life I was prepared to one day become a Beta, but you never know what the Moon Goddess has decided for you until the moment your ranking is made official during the blood oath. It’s rare, but there are cases of Alpha, Beta and Gamma born children falling from rank and someone completely unexpected is given the role, because the Moon Goddess knows the worth of every single wolf in existence and even those who have yet to be conceived. You were born into the possibility of leadership. An Alpha could never function seamlessly without the help and support of his Beta. A Beta steps in when the Alpha cannot continue to lead. You are essential, no matter your role… but if anyone could handle the role of Alpha, it’s you. You’ve been taught to lead and think, not just to act. As for Nova…” Dad continues. “I, too, felt a pull towards your mother prior to the Ceremony. This often happens to higher ranking wolves. Think about it, you and Nova have been linked to one another your whole lives. You say she’s your best friend, that means you already love her unconditionally regardless of intimacy and romance. If we were attacked right now by rogues, hunters or even an enemy pack, you’d put your life on the line and fight to the death to prevent Nova or any of the pack members from getting hurt, yes? You already, quite literally, love her to death. So, becoming her mate, if anything, simply solidifies what you already feel for her: true love.” Dad nonchalantly makes his point, unfazed by the weight of this conversation. I am stunned. Unfortunately, I am not speechless. Before I can think it through, I blurt out the first thing that crosses my mind.

“What if the Moon Goddess has chosen someone else to be her mate and our Alpha… what if I never get the chance to tell her how I feel before I lose her to someone else,” tears pinch at the back of my eyes, threatening to fall.

Dad gives me a small, knowing smile. “Then she was never yours to love... not in that way, at least, and you too will find the one you were meant to be with. The Moon Goddess makes no mistakes, you remember that today.” Dad pats me on the back as he stands to leave, letting me sit for a while longer and mull over all that we discussed.

“I’m giving you a free pass because of the importance of today, but if I ever catch you skipping school again--you’re getting up at four in the morning every day for a week to run thirty miles with me before you catch the bus,” Dad gives me a sh*t-eating grin and walks out.

Ah, fathers, ever encouraging, always intimidating. I just hope the free pass includes keeping this quiet from my mother…