Chapter 5

In a war, a soldier never goes out to battle unarmed. 

It's suicidal. 

It's reckless. 

It's stupid. 

And obviously, no man would attempt to do something that moronic, much less a high ranking official in the military. 

As for me, I came prepared for my battle with a myriad of strategies... though I'm sure this would piss my mate off. 

However, in order to do that, there will be drastic changes, oh yes indeed. To say it was hard to drop something that you've grown accustomed to for years was an understatement, but when push comes to shove, you just have to do it and suck it up like a man. 

With this, I had to start from square one: a complete personality overhaul. I'd probably miss being arrogant, self-centered and a douche because it's part of my charm, but a little cockiness wouldn't hurt, right? 

With one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my backpack from my bed, slung it over my shoulder and got out of my room heading downstairs. As I went along, I yelled for Zoey and Marcus to hurry the hell up and when I finally reached the front door, my dad called out to me. 

"Keller," he said behind me, his voice a deep baritone. 

I turned around to face my father, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, dad?" I asked. 

He stood there, looking tall and proud like the great Alpha that he is. His piercing black orbs drilled intensely into my own and for a moment, I felt exposed under his penetrating gaze. 

It made me feel like a kid all over again - a vulnerable one at that. 

He cleared his throat. "I may not be good at giving advice on relationships but..." he paused, releasing his Alpha aura on full force. I may not be affected due to my Alpha inheritance, but when he does this, he means business. "I just want you to remember the Madsen men's code of strength." 

How could I forget? The Madsen men's code of strength was passed on to every Madsen son, from generation to generation, as a source of guidance in times of desperation. The words were simple but spoken with emotion. They give you the extra kick to the face whatever life has thrown at you. 

Six syllables, twenty two letters, that's all it takes. 

Dad chomped the distance between us and with swift movements, he grasped my forearm and grip it tight. 

"Never give up," he started, his voice hoarse and staring at me intently with glowing eyes - a sign that his wolf had come forward. 

Gripping his forearm back, I let my wolf come forward as well, and spoke the next phrase of the code. "Never give in." 

After a few seconds, we both let go and push our wolves back at bay. 

With one last audacious stare, he said, "Claim what is yours, my future Alpha." And with that, he turned around and walked away, probably looking for mom. 

Well, that was intense. 

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Okay, Keller. You can do this. Just take a deep breath and everything's going to be fine. Just breathe.... 

Inhale, exhale. 

Inhale, exhale. 

In-- 

Aw, who am I kidding?! 

My heart is pounding like crazy, my freaking hands are clammy and icky, and hell, I feel like crawling into a hole and die! 

What the fuck happened to being a little bit cocky, huh, Keller? What happened to your glorious game plan and at a crucial time like this, you managed to disintegrate your confidence level to non-existent! 

Just great. 

"Keller, you okay there, bro?" 

I glanced at my side to see Zoey on the passenger seat, looking concerned. "You look like you're about to hurl." 

I shook my head. "I'm fine, just give me a sec, " I croaked out. 

Just deep breaths, yeah, that's right. No need to panic - just breathe in and out then repeat the cycle all over again. As I did this, my heart rate became steady, the erratic thuds slowed to a normal pace and after a few moments, I was back to my normal self. 

"Okay, let's go." 

We all got out of my Audi and I clicked on my car's remote to activate the alarm system. I went around my car and stood next to Marcus who had his arm wrapped around Zoey's waist while I stood next to him. We started walking, heading to our usual hangout spot before the school bell rings. 

                                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Where the hell is she? 

I have been standing here for 10 minutes and there is no sign of her! 

Did she ditch school or something? 

"Hey Keller, you okay?" 

I glanced to my side to see Shannon, Zoey's pretty African-American best friend, frowning at me. Her hazel brown eyes were probing me for answers and I guess, judging by her obliviousness, she didn't know what happened on my birthday. She was out of town to visit her grandparents with her mate, and my other best friend, Victor. 

"Yeah, you okay, bro?" Victor asked, frowning. "You look frustrated." 

I sighed. "I'm looking for her. My mate." 

Shannon squealed. "You found your mate? That's great news!" 

Marcus snorted. "Too bad she denied him." 

Shannon gasped, not believing. "What? But why?" 

I grimaced, remembering the words she told me at the club. "She said I'm selfish, conceited, self-centered and an arrogant asshole." 

And it was true. I am those things, but only if she would look past it and accept the fact that the lunar goddess had paired us, whether we liked it or not. 

All of a sudden, my heart thudded erratically, feeling that familiar pull. 

Babump. Babump. 

I tuned in to that pull, sensing her. 

Babump. Babump. 

My eyes wandered around the school's entrance since the pull's concentration was particularly strong on that area. 

Babump. Babump. 

As my eyes landed on a group of humans mingling around the entrance of the school, my heart's erratic beat accelerated. 

There, standing in her sexy ass glory was my mate, laughing with the humans. Although she was wearing a form fitting white t-shirt with ripped skinny jeans and sneakers, she still took my breath away through that simple look. But when the guy standing next to her draped a muscular arm around her shoulders, a territorial growl escaped my lips. 

No one touches my mate like that - especially a human! 

Shannon gasped. "What's wrong, Keller?" she asked, touching my arm comfortingly. 

Scowling, I nudged my head towards the direction of my mate. "That's her. Over there with the humans." 

Victor's dark brown eyes wandered to that area and all of a sudden, he went on a laughing fit. 

What the hell? 

"What's so funny, Victor?" I growled. "Enlighten me what's so funny right now." 

"Oh... my... god," he chortled, gasping for air. "This is t-t-too m-much." And then, he guffawed like a donkey all over again. 

I turned to Zoey and Marcus for help, but all I got were sad looks on their faces. 

Now I've lost the plot. Am I in the Twilight Zone or something? 

"That's her?" Shannon asked, flicking her chin to my mate's direction and I nodded. "You want me to cut her?" she asked but didn't wait for me to reply as she spoke again: "Wait," she said then took her hoop earrings off and handed it to me and said, "hold my shit," and stalked towards my mate like a raging bull. 

Good grief... 

I groaned. "Victor, Shannon's in ghetto mode. Stop her or she might do something stupid." 

Laughing, he went after Shannon and wrapped her waist, pulling her back to us. She started thrashing and demanded him to let go or she'll kick his ass. 

"Let me go, Victor!" she hissed, squirming out of his tight grip. "So help me, I'll whoop your freaking ass to Timbuktu!" 

He didn't listen. He ignored her death threats as he leaned into her ear, whispered something so low I could barely hear what it was and just like that, she melted into her mate's arms like goo. Whatever he said, I don't want to know. 

I sighed. "Guys, let's go inside," I suggested and they nodded in agreement. The pull was making it hard to reign in my wolf because the distance was killing him, but I had to resist. I need to take this one at a time. 

As we passed by her group, I subtly made my wolf come forward to make my eyes glow. I unleashed my Alpha aura to make her look at me, and when she did, I made sure to drill my glowing eyes into her emerald green ones intensely, setting a warning for my intentions. And for my final touch, I sent her a wink sealing the deal. 

Take that, mate. 

The chase is about to begin. 

But I just had to let out a low territorial growl for that guy still draping an arm around her shoulder. 

Damn it!