She Wolf

2.

Watching him doing laps in the Olympic-sized pool made me feel calm. Every stroke is perfect. So, I decide not to disturb him.

This is how he blows off steam. Taking a break from the expectations that come with being Alpha.

I sat down on the lounger next to the pool soaking up the last bit of afternoon sun. Relaxing. I did not know how tired I was until I started feeling my eyelids getting heavier.

I woke up with cold drops on my face.

"Hi"

I looked up, scrunching my nose and adjusting my sight. I see Marcus standing over me.

"Hey" I say back, looking at my friend, shirtless with just a towel around his waist, in all his handsome glory.

"Did you have a nice nap?" he asks.

"mmm...the best." stretching, trying not to look like the drooling mess I suspect I am.

He takes my bag from next to me, giving me a mischievous smile and starts walking to the pack house.

"Coming?" he asks.

Without a word and a sheepish smile, I get up and quickly jog to his side.

Inside we are hit with the most delicious smell of home-cooked dinner. His parents, my parents and some of the other higher-ranking pack members are already seated at the dining table.

"Hi love" I barely hear my mom say as I walk past them. I am so lost in thought about this stupid dance that I hardly even noticed them.

"Hi guys" I greet my parents, giving my dad a quick hug and mom a kiss on her cheek.

"Alpha, Luna" I greet them. I get a formal nod and a kind smile from Alpha Stone.

"Hello dear," our Luna greet me. "Did you have a nice nap out on the patio?" she continued teasing me lovingly.

Ever since Marcus and I became friends, his parents have treated me like their own daughter. Our moms are also friends, and my dad is the pack Beta, the Alpha's right-hand man and in charge of the warriors. Hence, my early start to becoming one of the best warriors of our pack. An obsession from as long as I can remember.

Marcus went upstairs to change, and I went to sit in my usual spot at the dinner table. I sit staring at the big clock above the fireplace deep in thought. My mind is going back to the conversation I had with the girls at school. Considering going to the dance. Wondering if I should ask Marcus to go with me.

Will he go with me?

I'm sure it will be more fun with him there.

And I have dresses to choose from. The Luna loves hosting parties. My mom always helps with the planning and coordination. They are good at finding any excuse to celebrate - the opening of the new wing of the pack-house. A birthday. A graduation. The time when Aria lost her first tooth... OMW, I still can't believe they made that a thing. I smile at the thought of her little face when she saw all the balloons.

My mind keeps going back and forth with the idea of going, asking Marcus. The girls will notice that our relationship goes past being just acquaintances.

They know him from school. He was a senior when we were in our first year of high school. Because we lived in the same "neighborhood", they sort of understood why he drove me home most afternoons.

"What's up kid?" I am ripped from my thoughts by Marcus' voice. "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, uhm, it's just some school stuff." I say, not wanting to seem bothered by it.

Okay, I'll just ask him. If he says yes, then maybe it's a sign. They will never stop if I don't say yes. So, it's either him with me or some other guy from school or worse, one from Cara's long list of random guys she knows.

Oh please no!

I find Marcus looking at me, his eyebrows raised as he can clearly see there is something on my mind.

Just go Jo. You are being ridiculous. You have been friends for what feels like forever.

"There's this dance, my friends from school keep asking, or more like begging me to go."

"Yeah," he says, squinting, "that's not really your thing."

"That's what I said." I exclaim with exaggeration.

"It's one of the last of the year, right?" he asks.

"Yeah."

Still looking at me curiously, he gently takes my hand from the table and holds it under the table.

"Maybe you should go," he whispers. " You must have a line of guys, dreaming of having you on their arms."

I rolled my eyes at his comment.

"Probably," I say, trying to play it cool. Like the fact that he has now moved our hands to my thigh does not bother me.

"You know, it could be fun if you were to go with me?" I let go of his hand and playfully nudge him in the ribs.

He dramatically winces and holds the area pretending that it hurts. "Is this you trying to ask me to be your date?" pretending to still be in pain.

"Don't be an ass -"

"Apparently it will be fun...we can eat, drink, dance..."

Urg. I am trying to convince myself.

"I am sure you will enjoy basking in all the attention you will be getting from the girls." I continue.

"Oh yeah, that last part does sound like fun." he lets out a loud laugh.

All eyes suddenly turn to us. I become aware of the now awkward and curious vibe in the room.

We sit in silence for a minute.

"Hey... Will you go with me to the dance?" I ask in a whisper, not wanting to draw any more suspicious looks.

He takes my hand again, squeezing it lightly under the table.

"Of course kid." he whispers close to my ear. Ever so cool.

I give him a shy smile and continue to just sit quietly, waiting for the people sitting around us to lose interest in our seemingly shady behavior.

As soon as the food arrives, we both dig in while also chatting about training, strategies and planning our teams form tomorrow's obstacle course. Always competing, trying to one up each other.

After dinner, I excuse myself. It's getting late and I have studying to do. I greet the Alpha and Luna and walk over to my parents’ side to tell them I am leaving.

I catch Marcus looking at me. He is still sitting at the table having a conversation with a girl from our pack. She is beautiful. Clearly flirting with him. Flipping her hair. Laughing.

Wow! I widen my eyes at the sight.

As he sees me leave the room, I hear him cut their conversation short, leaving her mid-sentence. She protests with a "but..." but he gives her a side smile and walks after me. Trying his best not to look like he is following me.

"You know you don't have to walk behind me like some stalker, " I say looking slightly over my shoulder as I walk into the night. "It's weird."

He jogs towards me. "I'm looking forward to our date," he says leaning slightly down to me. I am quite short, so he towers above me.

"You know it's not a date," I say with a teasing smile.

"Yeah okay, but I'll call it that. It will be a first for me. Don't tell anyone." he says, putting his finger to his lips.

What?

"Somehow I find that really hard to believe," I say, c*****g my head to the side, eyebrows raised. "What with you and your parade of girls? " I continue, sounding more serious but still curious.

"I don't go on dates with them. We do..." he pauses. "Other stuff."

"I'm saving dates for you know, my mate."

Wolves find their true mates after they turn 18 and their wolves wake. Marcus and I both take the mate bond serious. He has not yet found his mate and I'm only turning 18 in little over a month. We both try not to get engaged with relationships, but having girls fall over their own feet in the hopes of being his Luna, is tempting for Marcus.

I don't blame them honestly. He is tall and you can see his muscles bulging under his shirt. He has bright green eyes and long blonde hair that he mostly takes up in a bun but lets loose when he is not in Alpha mode. His facial features are sharp, and he has full lips that is always in a smile or a smirk when he is relaxed.

I get it... There are times I find myself just staring at him. And when he catches me, I turn all shades of pink. So embarrassing.

"I'm not your mate." I remark. Waiting for him to elaborate why he sees this as a date.

"There's always hoping." he says leaning down with an adorable smile on his face.

I find myself blushing. Thank goodness it is dark. I just smile and tuck a loose strand of my long brown hair behind my ear.

We both are hoping to find that we are mates when I turn 18 but we try to not make our thoughts known.

Some often comment on how compatible we seem. Our parents have certainly made their opinions know about it. Our moms are practically practicing planning our mate ceremony when they plan parties for all those other occasions. It has become quite the talk in our pack.

As we reach the front door of my house, Marcus takes my hand and places a gentle kiss on it. "Miss White, always a pleasure walking you home." he says. So very formal and playful at the same time.

"Thank you kind sir," I say with a playful wink. "Your company was delightful." And I blow him a kiss before walking through the door then closing it behind me.