The Nerd Is My Mate

CHAPTER 3

The next day at school felt like wading through thick syrup for Amber. Each minute stretched into an eternity. Her mind kept replaying the image of the ‘nerdy hottie’ – a nickname that had stubbornly stuck since yesterday. She’d even made several trips to the library, hoping for a chance encounter amidst the towering bookshelves, but he was nowhere to be seen. As she got ready that morning, a familiar sense of dullness had settled over her. It felt like just another ordinary day, and frankly, she wasn't thrilled about it.

Grabbing a bright red apple from the kitchen counter, she took a satisfyingly loud bite. “Good morning, Dad?” she called out, blowing him a playful kiss across the room, still wrestling with the crisp fruit. Her dad looked up from his newspaper, a warm smile gracing his lips.

“Morning, my girl! How’s the birthday girl preparing for her big day tomorrow?” he asked. A small, genuine smile flickered across Amber’s face at the mention of her birthday.

To be honest, the usual pre-birthday excitement was a little muted this year. Ever since her eyes had locked with the nerdy boy’s, a corner of her mind was constantly occupied. She tried to convince herself it was just a fleeting school crush, the kind that fades away within a week but it seemed to be growing stronger if that made sense.

“Hey?” her dad’s voice gently pulled her back to reality. He was looking at her with a questioning gaze.

“Dad, it’s tomorrow, and I don't know how to feel anymore.” she replied with a soft sigh, her thoughts drifting back to the mysterious boy.

“Yeah, well, by tomorrow we’ll find out what kind of celebration we’ll have,” he said, reaching into his pocket to hand her her weekly allowance.

Normally, Carlos, their driver, would take her to school, but today he had errands to run. This meant Amber would be taking the public bus, a prospect she secretly enjoyed. On the bus, she felt a sense of freedom, away from her dad’s ever-watchful eyes.

As she arrived at school, the shrill ring of the bell signaled the start of first period. She hurried to her locker, fumbling with the combination to get her books. Thankfully, the teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the classroom buzzed with the usual pre-lesson chatter.

Scanning the room for an empty desk, Amber realized with a sigh that all the single seats were taken. Reluctantly, she made her way to the back of the classroom and settled into the only available spot. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the slight rush of anxiety, when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned her head and her breath hitched. Standing there, looking slightly hesitant, was the nerdy boy she hadn't been able to stop thinking about.

For the first time, Amber allowed herself to really look at him. His eyes were a striking shade of green, framed by dark lashes. His hair, a little messy but in a charming way, fell slightly over his forehead. He had a quiet intensity about him that she found strangely captivating. “My bag?” he said softly, his voice a low murmur that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.

“What?” she stammered, a wave of confusion washing over her. He took a step closer, and suddenly their faces were mere inches apart. Amber’s heart pounded in her chest. What was happening? Was he actually going to… kiss her? Right here, in front of everyone?

Her ridiculous thoughts were interrupted as he reached past her and picked up a backpack that was lying on the desk beside her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. How had she not noticed it there all along? He didn’t say another word, simply took the empty seat directly opposite hers.

Amber sighed holding her thumping heart, boys never did matter to her but this nerdy hot bothered her to some extent. A wave of guilt washed over her even more. She must have unknowingly sat in his seat. A simple apology seemed appropriate. She was just formulating the words in her mind when the teacher walked into the classroom, signaling the start of the lesson.

The class felt particularly tedious, and all Amber could think about was the moment the bell would ring, giving her a chance to speak to him.

Finally, the bell shrieked, releasing the students from their academic confinement. Amber quickly shoved her books into her bag and followed the nerdy hottie out of the classroom. She still didn’t know his name, but she was determined to find out.

She noticed a pair of white earbuds tucked into his ears. She tried gesturing to him, waving her hand to get his attention, but he seemed completely lost in his own world, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He stepped onto a waiting bus, and before Amber could catch up, the doors hissed shut and the bus pulled away from the curb.

Without hesitation, Amber hailed a taxi. She knew she wasn't just following him to apologize anymore. A strange curiosity had taken root. Maybe becoming friends wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

The taxi followed the bus for a few blocks until it finally stopped. Amber watched as he stepped off and started walking towards a dense patch of woods at the edge of town. What was he doing going into the woods? It was already getting late, and she knew her dad would start to worry soon.

Keeping a safe distance, she continued to follow him. He seemed to have a sense of being watched, occasionally turning his head to scan his surroundings. Each time he did, Amber quickly ducked behind a tree. An idea sparked in her mind. Maybe if he thought she was just an animal, he wouldn't be so wary. In a swift, silent movement, she shifted into her wolf form, her brown fur blending with the shadows.

Padding softly through the undergrowth, she tried to keep him in sight. Why would he choose the woods over going home? As soon as she had fully transformed, she cautiously stepped out from behind a tree, but he was gone. Vanished.

Where had he gone? Had he somehow sensed her and hidden?

Suddenly, a solid body slammed into her side, and a startled, girly growl escaped her throat. Before she could even register what had happened, she was nudged again, harder this time, sending her sprawling onto the damp earth with a yelp of pain.

“Looking for me?” A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed in her mind. She looked up and her eyes widened in shock. Standing over her was a large gray wolf with piercing green eyes – the same striking green as the nerdy hottie. She was about to whimper a response when he moved closer, his powerful body pressing down on her chest.

“What do you want from me?” he growled, the words forming clearly in her mind through the unspoken connection of the wolf mind-link.

“I… I was going to apologize for what happened in school. But then I saw you… going into the woods,” she mumbled, completely taken aback by the revelation that the nerdy hottie was also a werewolf.

“Stalker much?” he retorted, his wolf snout coming dangerously close to her face before a large paw gently nudged her chin.

A strange tingling sensation spread through Amber. Instinctively, she pushed against him, scrambling to her feet before darting behind a massive oak tree. In a matter of seconds, her fur receded, and she was standing there in her human form, slightly disheveled but no longer a wolf. She noticed that he, too, had shifted back, standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

Hesitantly, she walked closer and picked up a book that had fallen from his grasp during their unexpected encounter. She opened the front cover, and a name was written in bold letters: “LUCAS?” she said aloud, the name feeling foreign yet familiar on her tongue. He immediately stepped forward, snatching the book from her hands.

Before she could say anything, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder as she was roughly shoved against the rough bark of a nearby tree. A startled yelp escaped her lips.

“Why did you open my book? For that, I might just have to punish you,” he said, his voice low and menacing, the fading daylight casting long, eerie shadows around them. Confusion clouded Amber’s mind. She pushed against his hard body, hissing loudly, and tried to move past him towards home, but he was too quick. He grabbed her arm and pinned her back against the tree, his grip surprisingly strong.

“Amber?” he said, his green eyes locking intensely with hers. Her heart skipped a beat. How did he know her name? A wave of surprise washed over her. He tilted his head, pushing her hair aside so he could sniff her neck. Amber’s breath hitched in her throat. “I know why you stalked me to the wood…You smell nice,” he murmured, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine before he gently pressed his lips to her neck.

“Why?” She tried to speak.

“Because of this…” He pulled back slightly, his gaze returning to her eyes before his lips found hers. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but then his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the connection. He broke the kiss momentarily, his lips teasingly brushing against hers again, sending a cascade of unfamiliar sensations through her. She couldn't believe this was happening. When he finally pulled away, a sense of longing washed over her.

He returned to her neck, placing another soft kiss, and then she felt a sharp, piercing pain, quickly followed by a strange wave of pleasure. Her hand flew to her neck, her fingers tracing the spot where he had kissed her. A mark. He had marked her. The exact place where her mate’s mark was destined to reside.

She looked up, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her, but Lucas was gone. Vanished into the twilight. All that remained was his book clutched tightly in her trembling hands.