Feral Mate

Chapter 3

***I apologise for the late update. Will make it up by doing a double update for the next two weeks.***

The first bell rang, signalling that they had five minutes to get to class before the second bell rang and you were considered late.

Ashling picked up her school bag and took it into the class with her. The boys from earlier came in a few seconds late and moved to take the seats to her left, right, and back. “You can’t sit there. Those seats are taken. Have been for the past two years.” Just then, the original occupants of said seats waltzed in laughing. Ashling knew that the new kids were going to get one hell of a fight. Her friends were more stubborn than donkeys, and when you put all three together… you wished you never pissed them off in the first place.

Mia was the first to notice. “Move.”

Mason, who had seated himself on Ashling’s left, simply raised his eyebrows. Mia let out an exasperated huff. “Fine, don’ say I didn’t warn you.” The next thing she did had Mason shouting out in confusion… she’d put her bag next to his and sat on his lap. Ashling couldn’t help but laugh, along with the rest of the class.

“Excuse me?! What are you doing?” came a soft but firm voice. Ma’am. “You three can’t just come in here like you own the place. Come sand in front so we can see where there are any open spaces. You don’t take someone else’s place just because you can. That’s not how it works.” A few ‘Ooo’s’ came out as the boys made their way to the front, while Dean, Mia, and Michelle—Ashling’s friends—took their seats. Mia to her left, Michelle to her right and Dean at her back, with the boys glaring daggers at them.

Not even ten minutes in their company and Ashling had a strong disliking for those three troublemakers.

Once they finally found seats the teacher asked who was who, and they introduced themselves with the same attitude they had with Mia.

Then the questions started. The first was from Michelle, who flicked her dark brown hair out of her face as she asked Chris a question that had everyone bursting with laughter. “Chris, are you on steroids, or were you created in a lab? Cause no one our age should be that big.”

The ass didn’t bother answering as he was too bust glaring at the tall, lanky blond sitting behind her.

“Fine, don’t answer,” muttered Ashling under her breath while rolling her eyes. Chris visibly stiffened, as though he’d heard her. “No, I’m not on Steroids. I’m on a strict routine for a… sport that I do. It’s also genetic. My siblings look the same.”

“There’s more of you?” blurted out one of the girls sitting closer to the front.

“Yes, why?” asked Chris with a hint of suspicion in his voice. The girl didn’t get to answer as the bell interrupted her before she got the chance.

Quickly pulling Mia to her side, Ashling whispered, “I think the manners skipped him and went to his siblings.” Mia giggled.

As it was the start of a new year, they got to choose where they wanted to sit in most of their classes, and-- surprise, surprise-- the newbs sat around her each time. In the same order. Every. Time.

Chris at her back, Mason on her left and James on her right. Dear Lord, what did I do to deserve this? I’m very sure I haven’t done anything to make you, or anyone else, mad. So please tell me: whyyyyyyyyyyy? thought Ashling. They’d even followed her to the cafeteria to her friends during both breaks, but she’d just ignored them, the same way they ignored her friends.

Across on the other side of the outside dining areas, she saw Keerin. Making her way over, Keerin was thoughtful enough to meet her halfway. “Hey—”

“I don’t like your friends.” Plain and simple. No point in hiding it.

“May I ask why?”

“They’re rude, act like they own the place and think that—for some reason—just because Iam acquaintedwith you, that automatically makes them my friends. Hell, they don’t even have a single once of respect toward other people!”

He folded his arms across his chest, making his muscled bulge. “First off, do notraise your voice at me, I’ve don’t nothing wrong. Second, they are the type of people that has their respect earned, not freely given. So just chill. Do they at least respect you?” He said with amusement shining n his eyes.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass if they respect me or not, they must at least respect other people that first showed them respect.” She said in answer. His face darkened at that, and he moved forward quickly enough to make Ashling flinch. “You should care, because one day you’ll be glad for it. You’ll be glad for their loyalty, and that comes with their respect. Otherwise you have nothing.” s**t. The dude was seething, and this time Ashling was one hundred percent sure his eyes were a different colour. They were almost…yellow. It creeped her out way to much. “Get your little guard dogs back on a leash, and you’ll never have to worry about having a conversation like this again. While you’re at it, tell them not to talk to me or my friends until they can do it with respect towards us.” And with that, she marched back with her head held high. When she got back to the table, she found Mason apologising to Mia—although a bit reluctantly—and Chris trying to make conversation with Dean who looked dumbfounded. Did they hear my argument with Keerin? She wondered. Ashling turned back around and saw Keerin and James in deep conversation.

Oooookay then?