Caught Between Multiple Mates

Chapter 2: Haddon POV

Chapter 2: Haddon POV

I stared after her. After all these years I had finally found an opportunity to speak to her again and she was a sad shy girl. I felt my heart break a little for her. I had hoped my mark would protect her and keep her wrapped up in my love for her. It never occurred to me that she would turn out the opposite.

Five years ago after I marked her with my bite and took her to the hospital, I searched for her but I couldn't find her at first. I happened to sense her one day in town and began to keep a close eye on her. She rarely left her house and when she did she was escorted by a man who smelled like he was of the same family line so I never questioned it. Then one day I saw him touching her outside her house and she was visibly uncomfortable. That’s when I knew I needed to insert myself into her life somehow.

I was already in the math education course at the local university so I found a loophole in the senior year education program. Appeals could be made for a student teaching position at a different high school than the one originally assigned to them. Basically I begged my educational adviser to help me get reassigned to my mate's school for my teaching internship. He agreed because he knew how important mates were.

As a hybrid I have to adhere to the rules and laws of humans, vampires, and werewolves. There was just no getting around any of it, even the BS. So as a part of all three societies I had to behave. And now that I had found my mate I took no issue with the rules as long as they didn't keep me from protecting what mattered to me.

After my first run-in with Annalise I went to meet with the principal, a werewolf named Bruce, who sent me to the Teacher's Lounge where I was introduced to my mentor. He was a balding man named Garrett. He was a human.

Garrett looked me up and down, narrowed his eyes, and said, "The girls are going to go insane, don't you dare forget they are underage."

I laughed, “I'm spoken for, besides I'm not into kids."

He nodded, "Good. Now you should know there is one senior who is pushing 20 due to medical issues but that isn't an excuse or exception, not that you have to worry about her coming onto you."

I looked at him surprised by his bluntness but he must have taken it as curiousity.

“Annalise Pearson. She was held back once after an animal attack that left her scarred, then mute. They thought she was mental with her ramblings about red eyed monsters. Then she stopped talking all together. I think the poor girl is just traumatized."

I felt my eyes widen and my heart pang with guilt. What had my mate gone though?

I walked the halls hoping to spot her again. No such luck until the lunch bell rang. Students rushed by me to get to the cafeteria. Eventually I spotted my mate slowly making her way to the cafeteria where she sat down immediately instead of getting in line for food. I watched curiously as her red haired companion from earlier presented her with a tray of food and she finally smiled. No money was exchanged. No words. Just a nod and a smile. Why didn't she have a lunch of her own?

Annalise's eyes lit up when she bit into the sandwich as if she hadn't eaten in days. I decided I needed to look into her family life and financial situation. Something was wrong.

After lunch ended I finally had my first class with her. She sat in the back with her head down on the desk. Her red haired friend was not with her. I introduced myself to the class of students after the final bell. She barely looked up to acknowledge me.

"What should we call you?" One student asked.

I smiled and told them to call me by my first name. "Mister Marx sounds too formal," I joked.

“Don't expect Beast Girl to call you anything," a blonde-haired boy said. I looked up to see him pointing at Annalise. She looked like she may cry. I held back a growl.

"What's your name?" I asked the boy, a fake smile on my face.

He smirked and said, "Zack Westin, Donley High's starting pitcher and favorite for Prom King."

I popped an eyebrow at his overly boisterous introduction. "Well Zack, that's not particularly impressive so you shouldn't be talking out of turn. Do it again and you'll go to the Principal's Office." He stared at me with rage-filled eyes while Annalise finally looked at me. Finally.

When class ended I called Annalise to my desk. She stared at me with big green eyes. "Annalise, I've been made aware that you don't speak. Is that correct?"

She nodded at my question and fiddled with the end of her long brown braid. I wanted to beg her to speak but I needed to remain professional, no matter how badly I wanted to hear her voice. I held back what I really wanted to say and handed her a business card with my cell phone number on it. "Everyone in class has my work number that only takes calls but I want you to have my cell phone number so you can text me any time you need to. I want us to communicate in a way that would be comfortable for you."

She looked at me with sad eyes. What did I do now? She pointed at the mobile phone in my hand and shook her head. I thought she was telling me she didn't want to text me. Is that too unprofessional?

"Every student is valuable and should have a say in how they are educated," I said, repeating the words of my mentor, though the real phrase was "Every vampire is valuable and should have a say in how they are trained." I almost missed it but her lips turned up in a small smile and she nodded her head at me.

I smiled back and said, "Whether it be about homework or personal stuff you can come to me. I want to be here for you. Please send me a text message about anything you want to discuss."

Her smile dropped as tears filled her eyes. Before I could say anything else she ran out of the classroom. I sighed in defeat as I stared at the floor. She had dropped the card when she fled. This was going to be harder than I expected.