Rejected, Redeemed, Royal

I'm Hunter

Still chuckling I reach down and offer ("our mate!" My wolf cries happily) a hand. He's dorkier than I am, the Goddess did me a solid. "I'm Claire." I'm trying to be on my best behavior, but its just been the worst/best day, and I'm not sure I've got the emotional resources to handle not jumping him and/or running out the door.

 "I'm Hunter." He smiles as I haul him to his feet, which is no small task. Hunter may have looked on the smaller side when he was sprawled out at my feet, but he's got a good 2 or 3 inches on me which is rare, and the guy is *built*.

He looks me over appreciatively. "You…ahh…you didn't have much trouble helping me out." He doesn’t seem put off by it. First Sam, now Hunter. I'm positively *loving* college life right now.

"Yeah, I'm from an agrarian pack, we do a lot of manual work." I shrug, but I'm a bit nervous still. If he wasn't getting the vibe from the flannel and jeans, I'm sure the callouses on the hands gave it away. We’re decades past the 'dumb hick' jokes in our society, but there are still a lot of people, were and human alike, who look down on farmers.

"That’s awesome! Are you hear for the crop sciences courses? Oh, oh s**t, I shouldn't have assumed." Hunter may have started our encounter as a bit of a dork, but once he got his feet underneath him (literally and figuratively), he was confident and sure, even when correcting himself.

"Nah, that’s ok. I'm not though. I got accepted into the BioSciences program, I'm hoping at the end of my second year to get accepted into the WerePharm research program.

"My mate is a f*****g genius! Oh, I shouldn't have said that too loud." He looks around at the students still streaming past us in the hall, like he's making sure no one heard. I'm not sure what to make of this.

"Do…do you not want people to know?" I'm trying to keep my chin up, but I just can't, not with today's emotional rollercoaster.

"Hell no!" Hunter exclaims. One look at my face and he starts to backtrack "nonono, its not like that! Its just, this place is really weird about mates. They either separate you to make you "focus on your studies" or move one of you to a different university. Unless you're already mated, then they make you live together and get super weird the other way. There's no, there's no taking it at OUR pace. I'm really excited I found you, but, we both just got here, we just met, we deserve to take things our way, to date, to get to know each other, without compromising our studies or having our bond used to influence us."

"Yeah, yeah that makes sense. I didn't know. I didn't expect it, you know, so I didn't check." We both just stare at each other for a while. I'm absolutely lost in his vibrant green eyes. He starts smirking at me "Oh, we're in trouble" Melanie sighs at me. "Yes, yes we are."

"HUNTER!" A bellowing shout is all the warning we get before someone grabs Hunter's arm and yanks him around.

"What the hell man??" Hunter jerks his arm out of the strangers hold and scowls at him. I figure he must not be a threat, Hunter looks pissed, his arms are crossed and he's glaring at the guy in front of him, but it doesn't look like a fight is about to break out.

"I woke up this morning and you were GONE! We were supposed to drive together, remember? I've got a job to do, and I can't do it if you're just going to take off! Do you want me to get fired, is that it?"

My mate immediately looks ashamed. "I'm sorry Kyle, I really am. I just wanted to get out on my own for a bit, you know? I'm under so much pressure, I just needed to clear my head. I lost track of time, and was running out to call you actually, when I ran into this enchanting creature." He gestures at me and gives me a wink.

"Enchanting, eh?" I pull my now uncomfortably cold shirt away from my skin.

"And who might YOU be?" Kyle frowns at me, like its my fault his day was ruined.

"Hello Kyle, I'm Claire, pleasure to meet you." I wipe my hand off on a dry section of shirt and hold it out. Kyle stares for a bit, then takes it reluctantly.

"Hello Claire. It was nice meeting you, but Hunter and I have things to do." He grabs Hunter and starts to walk off. I start to panic, "What??" Melanie cries.

"Wait! Hunter, I don't even have your number, what about…what about that coffee?!" I cannot believe today! I've got less than 5 till my first class starts, I can't give into my need to grab my mate, and now he's leaving and I don't even have his number??

"So, you'll let me take you out for coffee then?" Hunter looks at me over his should, straining against Kyle's hold. His eyes are gleaming with happiness.

"Of course! How else will I make you pay for this shirt?"

He starts chuckling, low and deep. "Oh, yeah, I should definitely get you out of that shirt". Kyle is tugging on Hunter's arm with more and more frustration, but Hunter doesn’t seem inclined to give in just yet.

I run up to Hunter and we exchange numbers, making plans to meet tomorrow morning. I watch him make his way down the hall arguing with Kyle, when I realize there are no more students in the hall.

"s**t! I'm late to class!!"