My Wolf Had Already Chosen Her.

-Greyson-

Earlier that morning

I hated mornings. Normally, school was the easiest part of my day. It was predictable. I knew what was expected of me, and I knew how to handle it. But this morning felt different, maybe because I was different.

"Are you excited about school?" My mother, Aurora, placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me.

I looked down at the food, but I wasn't hungry. "Not really." She studied me carefully.

"You've been looking forward to getting out of the house for a week." I shrugged.

"I guess it'll be nice to see Logan and Dakota again." Her expression softened slightly. "I know."

Before she could say anything else, the kitchen door opened. My father walked in.

The moment I saw him, my body tensed. Not because I was afraid of him. Because I was angry.

He looked between us before taking his place at the table.

"You should eat." I stared at him.

"Good morning to you, too." His expression remained calm. "Still angry?"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Are you surprised?" My mother's shoulders tightened. "Greyson."

"No, Mom." I looked at my father. "Let's not pretend everything is fine."

My father leaned back slightly. "I did what I had to do."

I clenched my jaw. "Did you?" My father remained calm.

"You were losing control."

"I was angry."

"You were more than angry." His voice hardened. "You were becoming dangerous." I looked away.

Because I knew he was right. That was the worst part. My father was always right. At least, that was what he believed. My mother slammed the pan down onto the stove. I looked at her, a little surprised.

"You locked our son in a cave, Grey." Her voice cracked. "You left him there for two days." My father didn't even flinch.

"Because he needed to understand what happens when he refuses to accept his responsibilities." I stared at him. Responsibilities. That was what he called it. Not a curse. Not a prison. A responsibility.

"It's okay, Mom." Both of them looked at me. I stood up. "I understand." My voice was colder than I expected. "I understand that Father did what he believed was necessary." I looked at him.

"And I will obey your commands." I gave a small, mocking bow. "My apologies, Alpha." My mother's expression fell. My father's eyes narrowed. I grabbed my backpack. "Greyson—" I ignored him.

I walked out of the kitchen before I said something I couldn't take back.

I slammed the front door behind me. Logan's truck was already waiting outside. He was sitting in the driver's seat. Dakota was beside him. The moment I opened the passenger door, Dakota immediately moved. She climbed into the back without saying anything. Like she always had. I got into the front seat.

Logan looked over at me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. "Good morning to you, too," I stared out the window. "Morning." Dakota leaned forward from the back seat. "Wow." I glanced at her. "What?"

She studied me. "You actually look happy to see us." I frowned. "I do?"

"No." She sighed. "That's the problem." I looked away. Neither of them said anything else.

They were waiting for an explanation. But I had nothing to say.

The past week had been the longest week of my life. I had ignored their calls, their messages. I ignored everyone. My father told them I was dealing with family matters. That wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the truth either. I couldn't tell them about what happened. How would I even do that? I was scared. Angry.

They had always been beside me. But for the first time, I felt alone.

School was the same. That almost made it worse. Everyone acted like their life was normal. But mine wasn't. I walked into the auditorium with Logan and Dakota beside me.

We sat where we always did, near the back. Then I noticed her. A girl I had never seen before. Blonde hair.

She must be new. She was sitting with Donna, Jackson, and Betty. I didn't think much of it. Not at first.

Then she looked over. And everything changed. My body reacted before my mind did. My chest tightened.

My heartbeat changed. The air suddenly felt too warm. I looked away. What was that?

I forced myself to ignore it. But then she looked back. And this time, I felt it. Something inside me recognized her. No. I refused. There was no way.

After the assembly, everyone moved through the halls. I was walking slightly ahead of Logan and Dakota when it happened. Someone bumped into her. She stumbled forward. Straight into me. "I'm sorry!"

Her voice stopped me. I looked down. Her eyes met mine. And the world disappeared.

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. My body felt like it was burning.

Then the anger came. Because I knew. I knew exactly what this was. And I refused to accept it.

I stepped back. I looked at her. Of course. She was the daughter. A Bergerone. I turned away.

"Greyson?" Logan's voice sounded distant. I kept walking. But something was wrong. My vision blurred.

My head spun. My body felt like it was fighting against itself. I stopped. "What the hell..."

Then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a familiar bed. The room smelled like herbs and medicine.

Rosie. Of course. I sat up too quickly. "Easy." Her voice stopped me. "You need to slow down."

I looked around. "Where are Logan and Dakota?"

"Outside." I frowned. "What happened?" Rosie studied me. "You already know."

My stomach tightened. "No." She sighed. "Greyson." I looked away. "No."

"You encountered your mate." The words hit harder than I expected. I stood up.

"I don't care what my wolf thinks." Rosie remained calm. "You should care."

"No." I pushed myself off the examination table and began pacing across the room, unable to stand still. Every muscle in my body tightened, as if  I were trying to outrun something that had already caught me.

"I don't get a choice in finding out I'm a wolf." I turned sharply toward Rosie. "I don't get a choice in

whether I transform when I turn eighteen." I laughed bitterly, throwing my hands into the air.

"And now you're telling me I don't get a choice in who I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with?"

Rosie didn't answer immediately, then she folded her hands in her lap.

"No one said you don't have a choice." I stared at her. "Didn't you?" My voice cracked with frustration. "You just told me she's my mate."

"I told you what I believe happened." I glared at her, "What you believe?" I scoffed. "No."

I shook my head hard.

"You're wrong." Rosie's expression softened, but she didn't back down.

"My family has cared for the Blackwoods for generations, Greyson. Long before this country had a name."

She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "I've seen this happen before. I know the signs, the symptoms." I let out a sharp laugh. "No."

"Greyson—"

"No!" I snapped, dragging both hands through my hair, trying to make it all go away.

I turned away from her, trying to steady my breathing. "It can't be her." Rosie remained quiet.

I laughed again, but there wasn't any humor in it. "Out of everyone in Canmore..."

I shook my head. "It had to be a Bergeron."

"I know." I spun back toward her. "No, you don't." My chest rose and fell rapidly. "My family has spent my entire life warning me about that family." I pointed toward the window, toward the town below. "They're the enemy."

"I know."

"So explain it to me!" The words echoed through the small examination room. "If mates are supposed to make sense..." I swallowed. "...then explain how any of this makes sense." Rosie lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back at me. "I can't explain why she is your mate." She paused. "But I have no doubt that she is." The certainty in her voice made my stomach twist. 

We finished up, and then Rosie spoke with Logan and Dakota. I knew what she was going to tell them. Nothing. Because they weren't ready. Neither was I. When they came inside, Rosie smiled.

"Greyson experienced a strong reaction due to hormonal changes." Dakota frowned.

"Like what?"

"Puberty." I looked at Rosie. She didn't even blink.

"Testosterone levels, stress, and his body adjusting to rapid changes." Logan looked relieved.

"So he's not dying?"

"No." Rosie smiled. "He's just sixteen." I almost laughed. Almost. Because none of this was normal. Not anymore.

On the drive back to school, nobody said much. Logan sat beside me in the front. Dakota was in the back. They believed Rosie. I let them, because the truth was too dangerous. And because I still couldn't admit it.

A Bergeron was my mate. And I hated that my wolf had already chosen her.