Chapter 6

Elina

I scream from frustration before I trek back to school. Why has my life become so complicated? Why couldn’t I finish this year without weird dreams and angry hot boys? My face heats up as I remember falling on top of Xavier a couple of minutes ago.

Our faces were so close, a little closer, and we would have... ok Elina, let's not think about that angry wolf. I need to figure out what our connection is and, more importantly, how to break it. In that dream this morning, he was there, and he remembers it, which means it’s more than a dream. Is he entering my thoughts? I know from werewolves' mates isn’t much, but I know they share a telepathic connection. However, that usually happens after the mate is identified on or after their eighteenth birthday. So even if I’m his mate, why would we be connected so early? I try to think of all the possible reasons, but nothing makes sense. I groan as I walk through the doors. He is right; I need to get my books together and probably my friends to help me figure this out. Mom would be more help, but she would probably freak out if I told her about my latest dream.

A chill runs down my spine as I recall the dream this morning. I was unable to move freely, but I kept moving towards that...that thing. I don’t even know what it is? What does it want from me? I don’t know what it will do to me once it gets to me; the only good thing about my connection with Xavier is that he keeps saving me from that thing. What will happen when our bond is broken?

 “Ms. Sutherland, where are you heading?”I stop immediately as Mr.Cole’s voice crashes through my thoughts. I groan; I should be in his class right now. Thanks, Xavier l, that damn wolf. I turn slowly to face Mr.Cole.

“Mr.Cole, aren’t you dashing today, new suit? I love the hairdo; you went easy on the gel. It suits...”

“Nice try, Ms.Sutherland, now get to class.”I groan again, just my luck. Nothing good has happened since I started dreaming about that boy.

“Why are you still standing here? Hurry up.”I start walking immediately, he follows.

“You witches are always looking for an easy way out. I’ve prepared a special lesson today, Ms. Sutherland. Do pay attention.” I roll my eyes as I walk into the classroom; I smile and Cassie and Iris as I make my way to my seat. I feel something magnetic pulling me from the back of the classroom. I look up, and my eyes meet Eric; he smiles at me. I look away immediately as my cheeks flush, remembering he kissed my hand yesterday. I quickly take my seat; Cassie leans over.

“ Mr.Dick isn’t here,” Cassie says with a smile which would make me happy if I didn’t meet Mr. Dick on the way.

“Why were you late,” Iris asks.

“I got kidnapped by an alpha,” I mutter, annoyance filling as I pull my books from my back.

“Huh?” Iris asks.

“I’ll tell you later, Mr.Dick will be here soon.” As soon as I say this, Mr.Cole enters, which makes the entire class groan.

“I’m not happy to see any of you either.”He states before putting his books on the desk, “I would apologize for being late, but I know all of you are more upset that I showed up. So let’s get this day over with.” He continues his bitter tirade.

Who interviewed him and decided he is fit to teach students? I wonder as he grabs a marker and begins writing on the board.

“Today, we will be focusing on mating.” He announces, which confuses me. Mating? I furrow my brow; that is not a topic on our biology syllabus. I turn to Cassie and Iris, who both shrug.

“More specific interspecies mating.” He stares at me as he says this. What interspecies is he talking about, Xavier and me?

“Does anyone know why we mate?”

He looks around, but no one answers. He sighs sharply. ”What can I expect from a bunch of idiots... ahh, Mr.Stevenson” I glance behind me at Eric, who has his hand up.

“Tell us, Mr.Stevenson, why do you we mate?” He stands, our eyes meet, and he winks at me, or at least I think it’s me. I turn away, feeling an oncoming blush.

“We..” he begins, his voice massaging my eardrums; there is something so intoxicating about him, it makes my head light.

“mate to procreate, to continue our lines.”He finishes.

“Correct!” Mr.Cole grabs his marker and writes on the board. “Now, if we... you can sit down, Mr.Stevenson.” Eric takes a seat as he continues. “If we mate to procreate, why does mating occur between different species? Can anybody answer that?”One hand shoots up.

“Yes, Craig.” He says to Greg, but he doesn’t correct him and answers the question.

“My uncle is a zoologist, and he says monkeys hump other animals because of pent-up lust.”

“Ding!Ding!Ding! You, sir, are correct.” Mr.Cole shouts. “In essence, interspecies mating is a result of hormones and animals who can’t control those hormones.”His eyes lock on me again as he speaks. “It is pointless and a waste of time to mate outside of your species, wouldn’t you say Ms.Sutherland?”I stare at him? This is most certainly about Xavier, and he’s trying to embarrass me. But I won’t let him,

“Interspecies mating might be pointless to you, but that will not stop it from happening, Mr.Cole,” I reply with a cheeky smile causing him to glare at me.

“Really, Ms.Sutherland, I would think long and hard and find a better answer.”Who is he to tell me who I can mate with. Even if I don’t want Xavier, he can’t tell me who I should be with.

“Mr.Cole, my answer remains the same; interspecies mating is common in your world; I believe they call them hybrids.”He growls low as I smirk; Cassie and Iris chuckle.

“ My world doesn’t welcome...” he begins, but the bell rings, interrupting him, and sends everyone out of their chairs. I get up, grab my books, and exit quickly, no longing to have this conversation.

“ Ms.Su...” He calls, but I rush past him before he can finish; Cassie and Iris catch up to me in the hallways.

“What was that about?” Cassie asks, confused.

“A pack elder warning me to stay away from his future alpha,” I mutter, blood boiling at the audacity.

“Really?”

“Yes, it was obvious, Cass, interspecies mating that isn’t even apart of this year's syllabus,” Iris explains.

“Why is he warning you?” Cass asks, even more confused.

“ Who knows, but I have bigger problems than that dick; I’ll need your help.”

“With what?” Iris asks as we make our way through the halls. I glance at my watch and notice the time.

“I’ll tell you at lunch; I have to get to Ms. Marisson's home economics class. I hurry off to my next class. Putting Mr. Coles's annoying lecture out of my mind. After a couple of hours of class, I drag myself to the cafeteria, picking up some spaghetti and meatballs, and then head to the table where Iris and Cassie are already sitting. I plop down at the table with my lunch.

“ You need our help,” Iris says, wasting no time.

“Yes, I had a new dream about Xavier.”

“Just date him already,” Cassie replies, rolling her eyes.

“No, he has a girlfriend.”

“And”

“ And I’m not interested, now listen,” I tell them about the dream with the eyes and Xavier saving me.

“He was there?” I nod at Iris.

“Yes, we established this, and he remembers saving me, which is why he kidnapped me to interrogate me this morning.”

“Did you guys get anywhere? After interrogation sex.” I roll my eyes; they really take nothing seriously.

“No, I was too focused on him threatening me to be turned on now, can you both focus.” Okay, so maybe I was a little turned on, but I won’t admit it out loud.

“Okay, okay, maybe it’s a blood bond.” Cassie chimes in.

“ Why would I have a blood bond with Xavier? We have only had two proper conversations, and all happened in the two days. Hard to believe he drank my blood anytime in the last 17 years.”

“Right and blood bonds don’t cause dream surfing. I’ve heard of this before, but it only happens with incubus or succubus, never with a werewolf.” Iris says as she takes a bit of her burger.

“Dream demons?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah, I don’t know much, but my sister does. She specializes in dreams and the subconscious.” Iris explains. Right, Iris’s sister Raina is an expert in all things dreams; how could I forget. She would be the perfect person to help me figure out what the hell is going on.

“When can I talk to her? Maybe she’ll know something.”

“Come over today; we’ll help you any way we can.”

“Okay, I’ll come over after school; we really have to figure this out.”She nods as I lift another full fork of spaghetti in my mouth.

“Incoming, incoming.” Iris whispers. I look up, confused at her; she points behind her. I turn to see Eric walking towards us with his lunch. Why is he doing this today again?

“ Can I sit with you?” He asks.

I finish swallowing the mouth full of food I have and nod. I don’t know what he wants, but I have no reason to be rude.

“Are you ok?” He turns to me and asks, I did faint after he touched me yesterday, so he had every reason to be concerned.

“I’m fine; yesterday, I was a little exhausted.”He smirks at me.

“And here I thought you overheated because I was too hot.”My face flush as he smirks. He’s a cocky one, isn’t he? I grab my drink and take a sip.

“Nope, you’re not too hot, just the right amount.”I smile at him; he will not know he has me flustered.

“Ooh, she’s flirting. Did you teach her how to flirt?” Cassie asks Iris. Teach me to flirt? I mean, I’ve never had a boyfriend, but how hard can flirting be.

“ No, but she gets an 8 out of 10,” Iris replies with a grin. I roll my eyes, annoyed at these two busybodies.

“ Shut up!” I shout, but all they do is laugh.

“Your boyfriend was pretty angry yesterday, and he looks even more pissed now,” Eric says. My eyes immediately shoot across the room to Xavier, who is currently glaring at us. I turn away.

“ He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Oh, Is he an overprotective friend then?”

“ He’s not...” I’m about to say we aren’t friends, but since he’s protected me twice, that feels too harsh.

“ Yes, he's an overprotective friend.”

“You and Xavier are friends?” Iris shouts. I glare at her, so maybe we aren’t friends, but we could be.

“Will you hush.”

“So if you’re single and I’m single, how about we get together and mingle.”I cringe at Eric’s pick-up line.

“ That sounds so corny.”He groans and laughs

“It sounded cuter in my head.”

“ I’m sure it did,” I reply, smiling; he’s a decent guy even if he is made of corn.

“ So is that a yes?” I frown; while he is cute, he still did nothing for me when it came to butterflies.

“Look, Eric”

“Oh no, here it comes the rej..” Cassie begins but shuts up when I glare at her.

“ You’re cute, but I have a lot going on right now.”

“Maybe I can help you sort some stuff out.” He offers, man; he is persistent.t I’ll give him that.

“I doubt it, but thanks for lunch yesterday.” I can’t date right now because every time I touch another guy, that wolf screams at me. Plus, I have to figure out and break my and Xavier’s connection.

“ I have to finish Ms. Spence's history homework; I’m off to the library. I stand to leave. He grabs my hand again.”

“Mine!” Xavier shouts in my head. I snatch my hands back, calm down; a wolf he’s not touching me.

“My touch seems to be electric.”

“ You have no idea,” I mumble, twisting my wrist in my hand.

“ So it’s no to dating…for now, but we can be friends, maybe catch a movie as friends? I eye him skeptically; he lifts his hand in the air.

“ Just friends, I swear.”I sigh; I guess there was no reason to turn him down.

“Sure.”Cassie and Iris both squeal. I know they think it’s a date. I roll my eyes.

“See you guys later.”