Different Breed

Confidence boost

We all look at Taylor wondering what plan she’s about to reveal to us “What do you mean by that?” I raise a brow at her “well why don’t you ask your now dream friend. He’ll most likely have the answers we need and he seems to want to help. Also it will prove to you whether or not he can be trusted.” “That’s a wonderful plan and all but I have no idea how to get into contact with the man. He just appears when he wants.” She just shrugs “well I don’t really know what else we can do unless we go get the witch ourselves” Josh raises his hand “I’m up for a witch hunt!” Taylor and Davon shoot him a glare and he puts his hand back down. Like a child being scolded by his parents. “I don’t think a witch hunt would be wise right now. We have no idea what they’re capable of” Davon points out “we also have no clue where they’re at so it would be very dangerous to go running around looking” Blake states. We all think about what to do next then the bell rang for class. I was abit distracted for the rest of the school day but luckily no one called me out.

I return home and go upstairs to lay on my bed. Thinking about what to do about this witch problem and my “new friend” when my phone dings. It’s a group chat that Taylor made with everyone.

“Taylor: hey everyone! I made this group chat to plan on so everyone can get a say c:

Astra: I was literally just thinking about what to do XD

Davon: me too!! Taylor are you sure you can’t read minds??

Taylor: I’ll never tell ;)”.

We text for awhile but still come up with nothing and it’s getting late so we say our good nights and head to bed.

The next few days just slip by with training, school and planning. Haven’t had any more dreams and I’m not sure why but before we knew it. The Ball was right around the corner. I would have completely forgotten if it wasn’t for Taylor. “Are you as excited as me!?” She asked while bouncing in her seat “no” I said plainly. She stopped bouncing and frowned “and why not? You could possibly find your mate!!” I sigh and she realizes she probably shouldn’t have mentioned that. Davon chimes in “what’s wrong Astra? Do you not want a mate?” All the boys look super concerned now “it’s not that I don’t want one Davon it’s just...” I trail off and my eyes droop “look at me” I say with a sad smirk “I think you’re beautiful” Josh says surprising me “me too and you have a great personality. Dude would be absolutely crazy to reject you” Jake says which also surprised me since he doesn’t talk much. “Trust me. If he rejects you then we will just have to fight over you to see who’s the lucky guy to be your chosen mate” Blake winks at me which makes me blush and puts the biggest grin on my face “Awe you guys don’t have to say all that” “we know” Josh says while putting his arm around me “but like I said before. I’ve always wanted to get to know you” he smirks “Alright boys that’s enough” Taylor says shoving his arm off me “wait to flirt with her after she meets her mate and rejects her. Which isn’t gonna happen though obviously” we all start laughing at Taylor’s overprotective mom side and I can’t help but not feel scared anymore.

After school we go to the mall since Taylor is gonna bring Davon with her to the ball now that she knows she can since she asked Alpha Apollo before he left and he needs a suit. We find a nice dark gray one and a tie that matches her dress perfectly. We check out a few more stores when we bump into my “favorite people” Vanessa and her little group but this time she’s with her brother Aiden and his friends which is abit surprising since he’s always gone for training.

Vanessa spots me and a smirk spreads across her face “well look who it is! The wittle warrior girl” she says in a mocking tone which makes he brothers head snap in my direction “warrior? But dad doesn’t like women be warriors” he says confused looking between me and his sister “You can thank Alpha Apollo for that” I chime in and he c***s his head at me so I continue “he convinced your dad to let me train since he thinks I’ll be useful in the upcoming war” with that news his and his friends eyes widen but then quickly narrow “what do you mean?” At first I’m surprised by his reaction then remember he’s been gone for awhile “you should probably go home and ask your dad since he knows more then me” I say then go to walk away but then feel a hand grab my wrist. I turn back to look and I’m face to face with Aiden “why do you know more then me?” “Well for starters you’ve been gone for awhile and I’m sure your father didn’t want to distract you from training” I say nonchalantly “also I really don’t know anything about what’s going on except for that I am apparently a necessary part in winning” at that statement Vanessa scoffs “well they had to find something useful for all that muscle” she says which just makes me roll my eyes but suddenly Aiden sticks up for me “Yea and she could easily break you like a twig so you better shut it and maybe actually eat something and show up to training so your mate might actually want you. I’d personally be terrified if a skeleton claimed to be my mate” everyone’s jaw dropped at that and Vanessa almost started crying but instead got pissed off “at least I don’t look like a man in a wig!” “I swear that’s the only insult she can think of” Eve says and rolls her eyes “I rather that then you” Aiden mutters under his breath and glances at me. Noticing I heard him he clears his throat. “Anyways thank you for bringing this important topic to my attention unlike some people who dragged me out as soon as I got home” he glares at Vanessa who just hangs her head “Wasn’t exactly intentional but no problem” I shrug and walk away. Feeling a pair of eyes on me the whole time. “I think he might like you” Taylor elbows me and wiggles her brows “no way am I gonna try to get with Alpha Banes son. I would rather die then be apart of that family” I state “what if he’s your mate?” Davon asks “then the moon goddess hates me and I’ll reject him” I shrug. Everyone laughs and we leave the mall to head home.

The next day at training I notice that Aiden is there and he’s leading the exercises today. “Alright everyone. Today I’m gonna do one on one training with each of you to see what needs work on and how much potential each of you possess” as he looks around he locks eyes with me “starting with the strongest and working my way down” as he says that everyone looks at me and I walk up which surprises him abit “I guess we’re starting with me then” I state with a smirk and everyone starts whispering wondering who’s gonna win. “Are you really our strongest as of now?” He says looking around “it’s true” the one who spoke up was Goliath who used to be the strongest before me “she beat me on the first day she was here sir” Aiden laughed and while clapping “My, my, that’s impressive! Why don’t we start then?” We make our way to the field and stand across from each other. As soon as it starts he shifts into his big dark gray wolf and charges at me. I slide under him and grab his tail then swing him around and throw him a good few feet. He whines once he hits the ground but then quickly bounce back. Circling me before attacking again from behind. I swing my leg around and kick him hard in the snout making him holler in pain. I then grab his neck and put him in a chock hold and use my legs to keep his front legs at bay. “Do you surrender?” I ask as he tries so hard to get out but then he summits and shifts back in my arms. Being as he is n***d and I’m basically wrapped around him, I release him and cover my eyes. Blushing deeply. Aiden laughs at me “don’t tell me you’ve never seen a n***d man before. I thought you’ve been in training the past few weeks” “I have” I reply with my hands still over my eyes “but never this close” someone brings him some shorts and he puts them on “you can look now” I look up at him since I’m still sitting on the ground and he holds his hand out to help me up which I take “thanks” I say shyly still not able to look him in the eye and still slightly blushing “I have to admit” he starts out while rubbing his neck “I grossly underestimated you” I laugh “I noticed since you didn’t even bother to fight in human form” he chuckled nervously “I can now see why Alpha Apollo convinced dad to let you train” he gives me a pat on the back and continues fighting everyone. By the end I realize I was the only one to beat him which gave me a huge confidence boost.

After training I went home and got ready then went to school like usual. I get to the cafeteria and notice everyone surrounding a table close to the middle. I can already guess who is at the center since he’s still a senior but will be graduating very soon. Aiden.

I grab my food and head to my friends table when I hear someone call my name. I turn to see who it is and see Aiden waving at me with a sour Vanessa sitting beside him “Hey Astra! Come here a second” I look to me group who have the same confused look as me except Taylor who is grinning ear to ear. I decide whether or not to ignore him and decide it’d be better if I went over so I don’t get on the future Alphas bad side “what’s up Aiden?” I say once I get over and a skinny blonde girl who I see hang around Vanessa growls at me “it’s Alpha Aiden” which makes me roll my eyes “technically not yet but ok” she growls louder but Aiden just laughs “calm down Bree. She’s not wrong” the just scoffs at us. Aiden rolls his eyes and brings his attention back to me “I was wondering if you were going to the ball on Saturday? Since your dad is the Beta I figured you were invited” “Yea I’m going with Taylor and Davon” I say pointing my thumb at our table. He just nods “so you don’t have a date?” “Nope” I say popping the p “not like I don’t have options” I shrug. I hear a small growl leave him which makes my ears twitch “I see” is all he says and now there’s a awkward air as everyone looks between us “well I’ll see you at the ball and maybe if you’re lucky I’ll give you a pity dance if you don’t find a date” I say as I turn around and walk away “why did I just say that!?” I think to myself and Eve just laughs.