Chapter Five

Zach opened the door to Ms. Fredley's office and noticed a girl the secretary was helping. She had long brown hair that hung down her back in waves. A nice body from what he could tell from the back. She looked to be a little bit taller than five feet, with a slender build. He noted the girl was looking over the papers Ms. Fredley had given her.

*C'mon, turn around so I can see your face. *

Ms. Fredley glanced up after Zach got done checking out the new girl, and he cleared his throat to alert her someone had come in. "Zachary, how are you? I just had the privilege of having your brother in here a few moments ago." She grimaced about having to deal with Jacob so early on in the day. "So, what can I do for you?"

The call of his name again pulled Zach out of thought. "Um, Paige said she didn't have my schedule and to check with you." He kept his focus on the girl ahead of him.

The girl turned at the sound of his voice and smiled.

*'Ours' *

Zach's wolf screamed inside of him. He tried to calm himself and his wolf down. All these different thoughts were running through his mind. '

If she was my mate, wouldn't she recognize I was hers?

*Wouldn't she have this same feeling and want to be near me?'

His wolf was fighting to get out and go to her, while Zach was fighting to stay in control.

'She is so beautiful. Dark eyes to go with her dark brown hair, porcelain skin.

She's so...unbelievable. I can't even smile back.' 

Zach stared with a blank look at his supposed mate.

"Zach, this is Emily." Ms. Fredley handed the lost schedule to him. "She's new to West Lakes this year. I think you two may have some of the same honors courses together since you're both seniors. Maybe you can help her get acquainted with the school and students."

Zach didn't know what to do. Half of him knew to act normal, and the other half wanted to give in to his wolf. The screaming in his head continued. His wolf wouldn't let up on the fact this was his mate. He knew he had to get out of there quickly before he lost the battle of control. The girl wasn't showing any signs of recognition. She couldn't be the one. Restraining his wolf and going against what he wanted to do, Zach acknowledged each with a nod and walked back out the door.

***

"Damn, what's wrong with you, dude?" Danny asked Zach as he walked over to the group.

"Nothing. Why?" Zach tried to hide any confusion written on his face.

Alex placed her hand on Zach's shoulder. "You look like you either want to kill someone or puke on them. Are you feeling okay?" She gave him a small hug.

He responded to Alex's hug. "Oh, I heard in the office Jacob was already in trouble again, that's all." He lied to cover up what was bothering him.

"What the fuck! We all know Jacob never gets any type of punishment for anything he, Anthony, and Will do," Madison began ranting. She and Jacob had never gotten along. Nobody knew why, but it was constant bickering between the two of them. "It's like he's cast a spell over the entire school, except us, of course. He is Lord Jacob, does whatever he wants, whenever he wants." Madison was still going on.

Zach rolled his eyes at her performance as she imitated bowing to royalty in reference to Jacob and his entourage.

"You know," Madison continued her Jacob beat down. "Alex and I have always gotten our fair share of detentions for skipping. But no, not Jacob, he's like the king of all shit." They all left the cafeteria as Madison continued fuming over Jacob. "I think they are going to start rolling out the red carpet and hiring security so all the girls don't tackle him when he arrives at school. Damn, I bet there can be a reality show in his honor and follow him around twenty-four seven. You know there can never be too much Jacob for this school. He has to be the most annoying, self-absorbed, arrogant person I've ever met, but no one can seem to resist him. Am I the only one who doesn't put two thoughts into him?"

Zach, Danny, and Alex looked over at Madison, who had finally stopped talking, and laughed.

"What?" Madison appeared oblivious to the fact she'd just did a thirty-second tyrant about the man himself.

The group walked up the staircase to where the classrooms were located, each comparing their schedules. Alex and Madison's were almost identical as they were every year. While Zach and Danny only had one class together, PE. Zach's first class was honors microbiology, and the rest of his crew had regular biology together.

The group went to their lockers, which were the same ones they'd had for the past three years. It was a small school with only one central hallway that branched out for different sections. The main hall was lined with green and gold-colored lockers and was the usual place for everyone to congregate before and after classes. As they moved down the hall, Zach felt changes going on inside of him, like his wolf wanted to break out again.

The reemergence of his wolf could only mean one thing.