Cursed with Two Mates

Seeing Red

As the weeks go on I start to improve pretty quickly. I learn about Xander - what it’s like to grow up in the pack and the pressure he faces being next in line as alpha. He’s not what I expected, he’s thoughtful and kind. He asks me about my life before and listens carefully to me.

Ms. Powell even stopped calling me out as I could keep up in drills. Still no wins sparring but I’m able to hold out longer and longer.

“Hey girl - we’re taking this weekend off!” Katie announces on Saturday morning when we’re supposed to get ready to train.

“What but I need the help sparring! I have to win one before the holidays or she throws me out!” I complain.

“You’re doing so good - I think you can take one day off Jade. Besides. We’re going shopping. It’s the big dance next weekend!” She’s clapping and squealing again. This can’t be good.

“Dance? Do I even want to know?”

“Of course! All the seniors from the nearby academies have a big party. We’re hosting this year - it really helps people find their mates, and it’s just fun to let loose! But I need a new dress and frankly so do you.”

I groan.

“Excuse me but I’ve been giving up my Saturdays to train you this is the LEAST you could do for me!”

*She’s right you know. Plus it could be fun?* Ruby joins in.

*I doubt it.* I reply and sigh.

“You’re right. Let me get changed and grab my purse.” I agree. More squeals.

4 hours and too many stores later I’m more tired than I am after training - but Katie assures me we’ve found the perfect outfits. I was so dead by the time she insisted I get the midnight blue backless number I couldn’t even bring myself to argue it’s too much skin.

Come Monday I’m itching to get back to my training and am thrilled to see Xander wants to start working on sparring. At first we work on a a few blocks and take downs together and then he suggests we spar.

We get into our stances and begin circling eachother. He lunges and I dodge, landing a punch to his ribs.

“Good instinct Jade,” he lunges again and I block, but he sweeps my legs out from under me and pins me down.

My skin lights up at the contact as I feel electricity building. I tighten and glance at his glistening muscles. He smells so sexy - earthy and woodsy, like sandalwood or cedar. My breathing and heartrate pick up. He has my wrists pinned above my head and he stills, watching me getting turned on.

“You like this Jade?” His voice is so low I’m barely sure I even heard it.

I bring my eyes back to his “Yes alpha,” I whisper and bite my lip.

He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath in. When he opens his eyes again he looks wild, like he’s un-hinging. He brings his face to my neck, inhaling my scent, stopping right at my ear.

I squirm a bit as his breath on my skin torments me.

“You smell so good Jade. The things I’d do to you if you were mine.” he rasps.

I can’t say anything more. My brain feels totally fried. He takes one more deep breath and releases me.

“That’s all for today.” He grunts and walks away from me still laying on the ground. I’m left both hurt and confused.

*What a head trip.* I say to Ruby who stays quiet.

He’s a no show for training the next day. I still practice but find my heart’s not in it. I turn in early to see if everything is ok with him. I hop in the shower and make my way to the caf to get more coffee and fuel.

I catch Harmony’s eye as I see her place her hands on Xander’s chest. He hasn’t seen me yet but I watch as she leans over and plants a kiss on his lips.

*WHAT. THE. HELL. Let me at her. Let me at HIM!* Ruby screams in my head.

I’m furious too but I try to calm myself. I focus on my breath for a few moments and rationalize this - he’s not mine and it’s not like he’s showing any interest in dating me.

*That’s not true. Look what happened yesterday.* Ruby spat out.

*Ok but he doesn’t even talk to us in public. Only when we’re training in private. He’s helping us, he’s not promising us more.*

I watch him cut the kiss short and he notices Harmony looking over towards me. I turn to leave before I have to see him - still fuming that she’s with him and humiliated that I have strong feelings for him. How did I let this happen?

I’m seeing red all through training and channeling my anger into my punches. I’m so ready when we get to sparring that I barely register Ms. Powell paired me with Harmony. Just like I wanted.

*Let’s do this Jade. Take this b*tch down* Ruby growls at me.

We take our stances and I attack as soon as Ms Powell counts us in. She tries to dodge but I hit her in the ribs with a roundhouse kick. She stumbles back but recovers quickly.

Harmony sneers “Something bothering you Jade? Do I maybe have something you want?” She taunts.

I take a breath and and focus on her movements - Xander’s training echoing in my mind. She tries for a hit but I dodge easily - I notice she’s not as strong on her left side and visualize a plan.

I glance up “no need to be jealous that your not-mate has taken an interest in me Harmony,” I taunt back.

She huffs and lunges at me sloppily due to her anger building. I take the opportunity to land a kick to her left knee - seeing her weakness.

She falls forward and before she taps out I hit her square in the face with a right hook. The lights leave her eye as she falls completely knocked out.

I exhale and look over at Ms. Powell. She looks pleased. “Good Jade - play your opponent’s emotions against them to get an edge. Good job - now I don’t have to flunk you!”

I grin and look over at Katie. She’s smiling but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. Somethings up.

I shower and grab some food feeling fantastic. Katie joins me at the table but stays silent.

“Everything ok?” I ask, worried for her.

“Sort of. Jade has anyone ever told you your eyes change color?” She asks quietly.

“What? No? What do you mean?” I try to check my reflection in my spoon but that doesn’t m really work.

“I dunno Jade. It was weird. When you got mad this morning your eyes I swear they were red. Then during your fight I could have sworn they flashed green. It.. wasn’t like something I’ve ever seen before”.

She looks pretty freaked out. I lower my voice “did anyone else notice?”

She shakes her head “I asked Toby if he saw anything strange but I think everyone was so thrilled to watch you take down Harmony that no one was watching your face.”

I nod “thanks for letting me know - I feel fine so I’m not too sure. I thought I saw Ruby’s eyes go red once, that’s how she got her name. Maybe there’s something weird with me? I’ll keep an eye on it but absolutely let me know if you notice it again.”

That seems to help calm her - she must have thought she was going crazy and was worried how I’d react. I smile, “thanks for looking out for me Katie - I don’t know what I would have done here without you.”

She bumps into my shoulder “love you too girl.”

I look up and see Xander standing from his table. He catches my eye but I turn to leave. I sigh - that’s not going to be a fun conversation we have to have.

I skip out on training with Xander for the rest of the week - imagines of him and Harmony kissing are still fresh in my mind and I don’t want to be too rash.

*Jade what if he’s our mate?* Ruby questions as I’m running drills alone Friday morning.

I sigh. The closer I get to the weekend - my 18th birthday- the stronger I suspect that might be the case. Why does he have to smell so good?

*I honestly don’t know Ruby. But we have to be prepared for anything. Harmony might be right he could reject us as we’re not exactly a poster for a good Luna.*

She whimpers but doesn’t say anything else.

Harmony is back in classes and I can feel her anger towards me all day. Whenever I glance over she puts her hands all over Xander, very obviously marking her territory. He seems indifferent to her but doesn’t stop her and certainly isn’t looking at me.

I get through the day and decide to turn in early. Katie and I agree we’ll sleep in and go easy for training on Saturday so we can get ready and be awake for the dance at night.

By the time we’re getting ready I remember how tiny the dress is and how much I hate organized school functions.

“Maybe I could throw a shall on or something? I look half naked!” I whine looking at myself in the mirror.

I do have to admit the smokey eyes and teased hair falling down my back does look sexy - just not very me.

“Nonsense Jade you look to die for - you can’t hide forever! Maybe one of these guys will be your future mate?” She calls from the chair - she’s finishing up her own makeup by applying mascara and touching up her bright red lips.

“Guess we’ll know at midnight.” I mutter.

She freezes. “Your birthday is tomorrow?!?”

Whoops. I forgot I managed to keep that to myself all this time. “Umm yeah. Sorry I forgot to mention that?” I studder.

“Omggg Jade you’re going to find your mate! I just know it! This is so exciting!”

She’s squealing again. Why is it whenever she squeals I’m in for a tough time?

“Me?? How about you? Mrs Beta daughter!”

She waves her hand in front of her face “I doubt it - I probably have met every wolf attending tonight already.”

I shift my weight “Every wolf? So does that mean non-wolves will be coming too?”

“Yeah a couple witch and vampire academies nearby come to. The more cooperation and friends we make between species the safer we all are from attacks and fights amongst ourselves. They started that maybe a decade ago.”

Wait for me angel.

The words assault my mind suddenly and I realize he could be there. My stomach flutters involuntarily. Katie stares at me puzzled.

“Are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She asks taking a step towards me.

“Yah I am.” I chew on my lip and decide to talk to her “I just met someone who I think is a vampire that day by the lake. He seemed to know me and has been popping up in random dreams.”

I glance at her nervously. She’s silent.

“Maybe he’ll be here tonight” she says just above a whisper. “You should know Jade I’ve never heard of a vampire/wolf mate. From what my mom told me Vampires have their own thing similar to mates - they are drawn to the scent of their partner sorta like the way we have a mate bond.”

I clear my throat “I see. Well he probably won’t even be there. Knowing my luck Xander will be my mate and he’ll reject me for Harmony”

“I don’t think he’d do that either. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’s pretty protective of you. He’s the one who noticed you were gone that first day you know. He was trying to stay cool but I could tell he was pretty panicked.”

*Serves him right.* Ruby sneers. .

I picture how different it would be to be mated to him - being able to touch him whenever I wanted. I smile.

The things I would do to you if you were mine.

I flush. “Let’s just get this over with” I roll my eyes.

Katie smiles “let’s have some fun!”