Mates Next Door

Party Guy

~ASTRA~

"Astra!"

I snapped my head from my textbook. Actually, I'd been reading the same page over and over again, all thanks to the fact that I was thinking of a nameless hottie who I'd kissed at the library.

My mate.

"What's up?" I asked in a bored tone.

Valerie slid in beside me, a smile on her face. She snatched my textbook and closed it with a thud. "Enough with the reading. Exams are in eight weeks."

I tried snatching my book from her but she pulled back. "C'mon, Valerie. I need to read."

"You look off. Is something wrong?" She asked, her voice laced with concern.

I wanted to tell her that I'd kissed a really handsome stranger and that he was my mate. But she had no idea of who I really was. Telling her was like setting myself up for danger.

"Nothing is wrong," I replied. "Professor Lee's course always gives me problems."

"I know, right?" She sat beside me with an eye roll.

"Why are you here? You're never at the library."

"There's a party tonight at the frat house!" She squealed quietly. "The frat boys are throwing a welcome party for the boys and everyone is invited. And you have to go with me."

I wasn't a party person so that was her issue to deal with. I had mine to deal with, and that was the encounter I had a few days ago.

The library guy was suddenly nonexistent. I never saw him after our kiss. I searched for him in every class I had and didn't see him. I was starting to think he wasn't a student.

It was even harder because I didn't know his name. But my body remembered him.

"Why do you need me to go with you?" I scoffed and burst into laughter.

"Because you need to have fun for once in your life!"

"I am a scholarship student, Val. I don't have the privilege you all have. I have to study or I'll fail my exams and get dropped out. No would do."

She sighed. "So you're going to forfeit one night of fun over this? You're one of the smartest students in the department, why should you be worried about one night of getting wasted?"

Because my parents warned me never to attend parties. It was for the sake of my own safety. Valerie would run in the other direction once she found out who I was.

My mother's warning rang in my head again.

"Valerie, the Argents are still operative. They will kill any werewolf on sight. Be careful out there, I beg of you!"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Valerie. But I can't."

"You can't? For crying out loud, it's just for one night. You can stay for an hour and if you don't like it, then we'll go home..."

While she spoke, it dawned on me that I had someone I wanted to see. Someone who seemed to have been avoiding me since that kiss at the library. And maybe he'd be there.

"Fine, I'll go."

She squealed and almost jumped into my arms but I moved out of the way, glared at her before snatching my textbooks. "C'mon, let's go find nice dresses in your wardrobe because I don't think I have any."

*****

About five hours later, Valerie and I were dressed up and ready to attend this so-called frat party.

I'd never been to a frat party or any party at all so I was feeling quite nervous and out of place.

I looked down at the very skimpy jean skirt Valerie thought was good for my tiny waist and the absolutely short cropped top, feeling almost naked and wondering if this wasn't too much for a party with a bunch of assholes who thought they were cool.

We arrived at the frat house about thirty minutes later and I followed Valerie up to the door.

The door swung open and a really tall guy who I didn't recognise poked his head out. He was about to send us out when his eyes landed on Valerie and I.

"Val, baby!" He called out and pulled her into his arms before looking at me. "Who's your pretty friend? I've not seen her around. Is she in another college?"

"She's actually a student of this college, Trey. Maybe if you attended classes, you would know." Valerie replied with an eye roll.

He laughed. "Education is for the poor people. Come on in! The party is just about to begin!"

The music was too loud, everyone here was either drunk and messed up or screaming at the top of their voice. The lights were too bright and the strobe lights didn't help matters.

I was just about to turn and leave when Valerie grabbed my arm. "C'mon, let's go grab a few drinks! She pointed to the kitchen.

I nodded and followed after her, my eyes scanning the room until we walked into the kitchen.

The first person my gaze landed on sent a jolt of strange surprise down my body.

Standing in the midst of varsity jackets was a guy, dressed in a black shirt and a dark pair of ripped jeans. He held a party cup in his hand, dangling it from side to side as he laughed with the others.

His fingers were adorned with silver rings, a contrast to his dark hair and almost similar to his mysterious eyes.

His beautiful, grey eyes.

And he was staring right at me, a smirk on his face. Like he knew who I was.

Valerie snatched my arm and pulled me to the other side. "That's Flynn. He's one of the three."

I was feeling so much that I pulled away from her and offered to get us drinks just so I could be away from that beautiful stranger.

I grabbed two party cups, went over to the fruit punch bowl and filled the cups. And just when I set the first one on the counter, I felt a presence behind me.

It was overpowering, more than I had ever felt. Goosebumps raised on my skin and my heart began to thud twice as fast against my ribcage. My hands trembled as I tried filling the second cup.

I turned, locking gazes with him, the dark haired guy.

I felt a jolt within me, strong enough to knock the wind off me and when I saw the guys from the basketball team hanging behind and watching me, I wasn't sure what to feel.

Fear?

Had they somehow found out who I was? Were they Argents? Oh, I shouldn't have come here. I should have stayed back home like my parents warned me to!

"Don't be afraid, kitten," He finally spoke, his voice deep and soothing. "I mean no harm."

I scoffed. "Scared of you? Why should I be?"

He shrugged. "It's the same question I'm asking myself. I wonder why your heart is beating so fast and why the hairs on your skin are all pricked up in alert."

How... How did he know this?

"Okay, you're crazy," I laughed. "I'll leave you to your shenanigans."

"You know I am not," He grinned and brought his hand to my face and brushed stray strands of my hair behind my ear.

Mylena suddenly stirred awake, whining and groaning like she felt a connection similar to the one we felt at the library. Knowing why she would do this, I immediately shut her off and walked away, while trying to keep my emotions in check.

Dropping the drinks off, I hurried towards the rest room and locked myself in it, clutching my chest as I tried to calm my beating heart.

What happened back there? Why did Mylena stir up and try to say something? She never did. So why now? And why again?

Immediately putting myself in order, I walked towards the door and pulled it open.

It all happened in a split second. One moment, I was standing in front of the door and the next, a hard body was pressed up against mine, pinning me against the wall.

"Where are you running off to, kitten?" He asked, his grey eyes narrowing.

"You just attacked me on my way out of the bathroom and you're asking me this?" I asked through gritted teeth, fighting the desire that slowly engulfed me whole.

His head lowered to my level and the tip of his nose grazed my skin, inhaling like he was memorising my scent.

"Good heavens, I smelled you when you walked in," He whispered hotly. "I haven't smelt a female wolf since I stepped foot into this place. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I caught a whiff of your scent yesterday at the lecture hall."

"Whatever the f**k you're talking about, I don't care." I replied in a whisper. "Let me go or I'll scream."

His arm snaked around my bare waist and pulled me into him, his lips grazing mine in a feathery movement. I found myself succumbing to his touch, inching closer to him and jamming my lips into his.

He returned it immediately, kissing me like this was his last. A moan escaped my throat and the door banged shut.

I had not idea what the f**k his name was but he already had me pinned on the wall, lifting me off the floor and wrapping my legs around his waist.

His kisses travelled down my jaw to my neck, leaving wet trails in its wake and just when he cupped my breasts, Mylena snapped awake and energy surged through me, strong enough to have me pushing him off me with brute force.

Mate! She cried. Mate! He's the second.

"No," I shook my head and gasped in shock, fighting so hard to block Mylena out. "No way!"

I looked up to see him staring right at me like he knew what I was thinking.

I pushed past him and reached for the door but he immediately grabbed my wrist and yanked me back, planting both hands on the wall and caging me in

"I am not going to let you out of my sight tonight," He replied calmly, his voice carrying a hint of possessiveness. "You are mine.”