Heather

By Thursday morning, I entered full-on-annoyed mode. Everywhere I went, boys followed. And while the boys were busy fawning, the girls were driving me completely mental. If they didn’t stop with their whispering and staring and rude remarks, someone was going to get hurt. I was pretty sure that person would be me, because I’d seen them in martial arts class. But still, it was enough to make me forget that.

Brent was conveniently MIA. I hadn’t seen him since the meeting with Donovan and Sebastian. I told him to give me time, so it was on me if he was trying to do that. But still. The dude needed to grow a pair.

I tried to distract myself by figuring out what Donovan meant with "getting it settled." The word "mate" reverberated in my mind constantly. For some reason, it seemed too personal to share with Serena, so I was on my own with figuring it out. I tried to do more research on the web, but who knew how accurate that was.

The Werewolf’s Bible might have the info I needed in it, but the only time I picked it up, I got one of the most messed up visions I’d ever had. I’d tried to read it with my gloves on but the pages were worn and delicate. I took off my gloves.

Anger made me sweat. Then fear made me shiver. Despair. Confusion. Anger. Rage. Fury.

I’d thrown the book across the room, and pages ripped from the old binding. It took me a full hour to calm down. To separate my own feelings from those in the vision.

Suffice it to say I wouldn’t be attempting to read it anytime soon.

I was mulling it over again at lunch as I ate my thrice-daily mountain of food, but the whole thing was so alien to me.

"Look at that," Xander said.

I turned to see one of Callista’s friends—a blonde whose name I didn’t know—sitting at a table alone with one of the guys—Stephen? Stefan? Something starting with an "s."

"Hope found her guy?" Serena said.

Adrian laughed. "Yeah, right. That girl’s a tease. She’s got a couple more months until she turns eighteen. No way is she settling on one until then. Guaranteed. I’m still in the running."

Xander and Adrian fist bumped.

Serena shoved Adrian. "I’m going to get more food. Anyone need anything?"

"Nah. I’ll come with," Xander said.

Adrian got up too, leaving Leslie and me alone in uncomfortable silence. She and I weren’t exactly clicking. We’d gotten into a habit of ignoring each other’s existence, and I was totally fine with that.

I chewed on my lip, thinking to myself. "I wish everyone would shut it with the whole ’mate’ thing," I muttered, not intending it to really be heard.

"Listen, love," she said in a condescending tone. "Every girl here will be mated by the time she’s eighteen. It’s the way that it works. Girls are precious, and the males protect them."

I tried to keep the disgust off my face. "Eighteen is barely legal. No one should decide who they’re with at that age. You don’t even know who you are yet.

"Some choose earlier."

"It’s not the Stone Age anymore." I ran my fingers through my hair. I didn’t have long until my birthday, and couldn’t imagine choosing anyone...okay, I could totally picture choosing Brent, if he were anywhere to be found. "Whatever might seem normal to you, isn’t to me. It’s not right."

"Tough luck. You’re going to have to choose a mate soon." She pointed at the next table over. "See there, three boys have been courting Samantha. She’s favoring Paul at the moment, but she could change her mind." She spun in her seat. "And there. Nikki is already promised to Jacob." She stared at me. "Look around. Loads have already made their choices."

I looked from table to table. There were only a few girls who hadn’t chosen, and they had a bunch of guys with them. And there were still a few tables of just boys—who were watching me. I did a finger wave to them. They stood—ready to jump at my request. It was beyond creepy. And more than a little sad. They didn’t really want me. They just wanted a girl, and I’d do just fine.

"Don’t tease them," Leslie said.

I crossed my arms. "If it’s all so important to choose, how come you haven’t?"

She grinned, and I didn’t like the look of it. "I’ve got my eye on one. And since you’ve ditched him for the half-breed, I’m sure I’ll get him."

I should’ve known. Every girl, their moms, aunts, and female cousins wanted a piece of Brent. I’d seen him with his shirt off, so it was understandable, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bug the crap out of me. But who did I ditch him for?

"What half-breed?"

"You like to call him Xander."

What a bitch.

Some people in LA liked to call me that since I was half-Caucasian and half-Mexican. It was safe to assume that "half-breed" was an insult in any culture, even supernatural ones. That she called a friend one was inexcusable. "You seem to think real highly of your friends."

"I like him fine, but he isn’t a suitable mate. His great-grandfather was bitten. So it’s fitting that you two would pick up."

And now she was calling me a "half-breed." Why was Serena friends with her? "And you think you’ll get Brent?"

"Rightly so."

It took everything in me not to punch her in the face.

"If you weren’t here, all of those boys around you would be vying for the attention of the undecideds. They’re used to more attention, and they hate you right now." Her laugh wasn’t even a little sweet. "You’re a new element in the equation and have messed up the whole bloody lot. I’m quite enjoying the drama."

The one thing that made me happy was imagining her and Callista fighting over Brent. That would be something to watch. I’d bring popcorn. "Well, I have too much self-respect to beg some guy to be with me. Brent’s going to like who he wants, and unfortunately, none of you shewolves have a say in it. And if you think fighting over a boy is going to gain their attention, then you’re sadder than I thought."

"Damn skippy," said a voice right behind me.

I jumped out of my seat. "West?" I turned to find my whole family standing behind me.

Well, this was awkward.

Time for a swift subject change. "Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?" My voice was way high-pitched. A clear give-away. I was nothing if not smooth.

Mom pulled me in for a quick hug and then pulled away to look at me. "You look amazing. I don’t know what I was picturing, but you look beautiful...And a little thin. Are you eating?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. It’s just that this whole change burns through a ton of calories. I’m still figuring out how much to eat."

"Heather," Dad said.

I gave him a hug. "Thanks for coming and bringing Mom."

"I told you I would. And West wanted to say goodbye. He’s headed to Austin in the morning."

West elbowed. "I’ll only be a little over an hour drive away. Less if I speed. Call me if you need me."

I nodded. "Thanks."

"Who’s that hottie?" West said.

I spun to see Serena walking up with Xander and Adrian. "That’s my roommate. She’s not legal."

West laughed.

"Be nice," I whispered to him. "I’d like you all to meet my Mom, Gabby. My Dad, John. And my brother, West. This is Adrian, Xander, Serena and Leslie."