Chapter 5

~Natalie~

‘The nerve of that fool.’ I muttered to Zoe. 

‘Did you see how he was licking his lips like I was a piece of meat?!’ It was infuriating. ‘He was sniffing my hair, too! Prick.’

‘You sure kicked him hard, girlie! If I could hi-five you I would, so I’ll do it mentally.’ She snickered. ‘He’s cute though, Natie. Up close, the guy is hot and all muscles. I wouldn’t mind playing with his wolf.’ Zoe remarked. I could sense her smirking.

Ugh, this b! I mean she’s not wrong, we haven’t seen him in a while or close up. He is handsome, but he knows it and it makes him vain. “Traitor,” I mumbled.

‘Wench. Don’t act like he doesn’t tickle your–’ She was about to say and I quickly cut her off, ‘HELL NO! EWWW! He doesn’t tickle anything!’

I ran fast heading home. He cut my peaceful run short. 

Once I got home, I showered and changed. I immediately noticed it was past nine and I needed to call Evie. 

“Good morning, Natie!" Evie said cheerfully. “I woke up at nine thinking you were going to call me, but to my surprise, I didn’t have a missed call. That’s not you, Natie. I shouldn’t complain since you let me sleep more.” She giggled.

“Evie, you will never believe what happened to me. Come over so we can talk and head out!”

_____________

“No freaking way! Are you for reals?! Christian?!” Evie sputtered in shock at Christian’s behavior this morning. 

“The devil in the flesh, Ev’s,” I said in a deadpan tone. I then explained to her everything that happened this morning.

“Natie, I think Christian has the hots for you.” She said in a teasing tone. 

Christian is not a one-woman man. “He may, but it’s a no for me, Ev’s. I don’t see him like that. You know there is only one person who makes me feel things. One that I’ve set my eyes on and would like to get to know.” I replied with a stoic expression and sighed heavily.

I’m contradicting myself because this guy is also on the off-limits list. I frowned thinking about it.

“Who!? Ivan Carter?! He is an attractive male, buddy.” Evie said with fondness.

Yes, Ivan Carter. He belongs to another pack, the Midnight Pack. He is the son of Alpha Easton Carter. He also attends the academy and every time I sneak a peek at him, my body reacts to him. 

‘You ain’t lying, Natie, he’s a total package.’ Zoe breathed out. 

‘Okay, fool, make up your mind!?’ I barked.

I’ve never talked to him. I couldn’t. I didn’t know how or where to start. Well, it's partially my fault. I don’t like getting close to anyone and I was scared that he didn’t feel the same way. I can’t get my hopes up either because he’s meant to be an Alpha. 

We shouldn’t really mess around with Alphas and that includes Christian. Not that I’d mess with that ape anyway. 

I’ve heard Alphas can choose their mates, but a true fated mate can make a strong heir. So they must get with the person they're meant to be with. The one the goddess chose for them.

He also has this chic that is always around him, Camila Ares. My nemesis. She is next in line for Gamma in his pack. She is always with him and it irks me to the fullest.

‘He doesn’t look interested in her though, but they’re always together. Well, him and his posse.’ Zoe remarked, putting her two cents in. ‘Yup,’ I sighed.

“Evie, do you think this year will be different? I don’t know if I’m ready to see who I’m mated to.” I hate sounding weak. I mentally slapped myself and got up, shaking those unwanted emotions and thoughts away.

I’m scared of these feelings I have for Ivan, only to be hurt and rejected when he finds his mate. I have to do something fast and stop whatever this is before I get my heart broken. What the heck am I saying!? He probably doesn’t know I exist. 

“Natalie, you're gorgeous and anyone mated to you will be lucky as heck to have you because you are beyond compare, sista! To answer your question, yes, this is definitely our year!” She got up and gave me a warm hug. 

“You're gorgeous, too, buddy. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a mate. I’ll kick your mate’s butt if he thinks otherwise. I got your back, babe!”

We got up and headed for my car. On my sixteenth birthday, my parents got me a 2004 fourth-generation Camaro and she was red. I loved her so much.

I turned her on and rammed my engine, leaving our pack.

____________

~Ivan~

“Alpha Ivan! Hey, Earth to Alpha!” Jerry hollered. 

“I’m right next to you idiot,” I growled.

Jerry Scott is my Delta and he’s already taking charge since his Father relinquished his title. He’s of age and is our head warrior, who trains our pack members.

Training is about to start and I’m about to spar with him.

When I come of age, the current Alpha, my Father, Easton Carter, will step down and I will claim my place as Alpha of the Midnight Pack.   

He hollered at me because I was a bit distracted with my thoughts. In a few weeks, I’ll be going back to school at the Blue Moon Academy. It’s our last year there and I’m a little anxious. See, there’s this girl that lives rent-free in my mind. I’ve never talked to her and it seems she’s not the talkative kind, pushing anyone away who tries. 

This year will be different though. I plan to get closer to her. I get giddy just thinking about it. When I envision her face, hair, and sexy body, I get too happy for my good and that doesn’t ever happen. Hiding and calming my erection has been getting difficult and a little annoying. Natalie Adams makes me feel things I’ve never felt for anyone. 

Striker, my wolf is already putting images in my head of us together and my shaft jerks every single time. 

‘I can’t help it; there’s something about her, Ivan, that makes me go crazy. She belongs to us, I can feel it. Her aura is captivating, especially when she gets angry.’ Striker growls lowly. 

It’s not common when one’s wolf feels infatuated with a certain person who is not their mate. However, it’s been said that Alphas get hints if a girl belongs to them, but I haven’t been close enough to her to sense any of those signs. Honestly, I wouldn't even know what those signs are.

Before, watching her from afar was enough for Striker and me, but it’s not sufficient anymore.

He’s right though, we’ve seen people piss her off from a distance and she doesn’t show emotion like other females. We can tell she’s angry because of her aura; it’s strong. It rolls off like a solar flare and scares them off, humans too.

I can’t put my finger on it though. Only wolves with high rankings have that type of power that demands respect and obedience. If I’m correct, her parents are only warriors from Christian’s pack; so that can’t be possible. Yes, I've done my research.

Speaking about Christian, he irritates the hell out of me. I’ve seen the way he stares at her and it sucks that she’s from his pack. He doesn’t hide it, especially when she steps into the lunchroom.

‘That arrogant d*ck needs to keep away from her. Perhaps we should do a bit more digging. Maybe we may find a reason why she has a strong aura.’ Striker’s indifferent tone blares in my head. 

‘Yeah, maybe we should. There has to be more to her. What if she has high-rank blood?’ 

If she does that would be absurd because that would mean that her parents may not be her biological ones or one of them isn’t. That could dredge up buried secrets. The only positive thing about her having high-rank blood running through her veins is that we could have a chance to be mates. I smiled at the thought.

You don’t understand; this girl is captivating. She’s not like the girls at school or my pack. She is gorgeous and that fierce, mysterious, and emotionless demeanor she gives out makes her more riveting. I would love to know her and what goes through that mind of hers. 

All other girls yearn for that attention and throw themselves at guys, but not her, she attracts unwanted attention without even trying. She ignores the males around her as if they don’t exist.

The fascinating strong beauty walks and lives in her world.

“Ay, what’s that on your face?! Are you smiling, Alpha? Wipe that sh*t off, Sir! Ain’t nobody got time for that when you're about to get a beat down!” Jerry yells out with a loud cackle.

…and just like that, my mood changed.

‘Alright, a*s, you're going down.’ I growl, mind-linking him. With a stolid expression, I turned around yelling, “BEGIN!” 

______________

After our training, I headed back to the pack house. As I open the front door and head for the stairs, I hear footsteps behind me and someone jumps on my back. I knew it was Camila because of her scent. It’s too flowery and strong for my liking. Striker growls.

She has everyone thinking we’re together, but that is far from the truth. We are more like friends with benefits. I feel nothing for her. 

Striker doesn’t mind our d*ck getting wet, but unfortunately, he’s beginning to dislike her scent and voice. The only way he allows her to be with us is if we imagine it’s Natalie.

“Get off me, Camila!!!” I commanded, baring my teeth. I felt her flinch and quickly get off.

“What’s wrong, baby, you've been distant lately? You don't want me anymore? It’s been weeks since you haven't invited me to your room Ivan.” She whines, sounding hurt.

She has forgotten her place. 

I’ve been completing Alpha affairs as I slowly transition into the labors of a true leader. I take my job seriously because leading is what I do best. 

Regardless of our history, it was nothing else but carnal hunger and she had overstepped her boundaries.

Striker snapped, ‘She better remember her place, Ivan! It’s Alpha to her and I’m about to lose my control with this female.’

I palm my face. “ALPHA!!! ALPHA IVAN, CAMILA!!! Don’t forget my title and know your place.” I barked.

Camila is a hot girl, 5’8, taller than most girls. She has chocolate brown hair, pretty hazel orbs, and long sexy legs. However, her ugly attitude and the way she takes claim over me when other girls get close is getting old. I can’t stand that sh*t. 

She’s not Natalie and I won’t have her messing up my plans of getting close to her this year.