03

« Ouch ! Ouch ! Okay ! Okay ! That’s enough ! » I belted. The firing stopped, and I took the mask off.

I looked down at my body and had tiny red marks scattered across my skin. They should all be gone by tomorrow, but it still hurt.

« Now act like you’re in pain, » Gabby said and I smiled lightly at her.

« No problem, » I groaned out and struggled to shuffle across the floor.

« Here, » Karissa said and threw me a pair of shorts and a tee shirt. « Now be the amazing liar you are and get us sent to the hospital. » I glanced at them all with a glare.

« I’m just here for target practice, » Shawn stated and left through the back door.

I shuffled my way into the house and put on the best performance of my life.

« Shane ! » I cried and fell to the floor. Honestly, I the wincing wasn’t an act. My skin felt like fire. I heard heavy foot steps and then Shane’s voice.

« What happened ? » He inquired as he grabbed me and sat me on the couch.

« Shawn dared me to eat a mushroom he found outside ! I-I didn’t realize this would happen ! » I stammered sounding panicked, but angry at the same time. Gabby and Karissa barged through the door and winked at me.

« What happened ?! » Karissa shouted as she ran over to me. She poked my arm making me jump and growl under my breath. She smiled evilly and then returned to her fake, worrisome façade.

« Give me the keys ! I need to take her to a hospital ! » Gabby screamed in fake panic. Shane dug through his pocket until he pulled out the keys and handed them to Gabby. She pecked him on the lips. Then, Gabby and Karissa ‘helped’ me to the car.

Once we got in, we sped out of the drive way and down the street. We stopped at the end of the road and let out a breath.

« And that ladies is how you get things done, » Karissa chimed and highfived us both. We turned on the radio and rocked out to whatever song came on.

And that’s pretty much how our night went. We just drove down a lot of back roads and listened to the radio on full blast. It was like there was nothing wrong, but the whole time I felt a certain pull in my chest.

We returned home at around one in the morning. And of course, we were faced to deal with Shane and trust me, he was livid.

« Shane we can explain-« Gabby tried to say, but Shane cut her off.

« There’s a giant chance that one of you are Greyson’s mate, » he began, « Greyson said he knows for a fact she’s in the area. Everyone came but you three, » he snapped making my face as well as Karissa’s pale. It was the mate bond kicking in. A male-wolf can pinpoint his mate out of a freaking crowd. Greyson would know if his mate were close. « He doesn’t know that though, but he’s pissed that his mate didn’t come tonight, » Shane said angrily.

Well, things just got complicated.

« Yeah, his dad made him stay home because he was so freaked out. »

« I heard she left town. »

« It should have been me. »

« What a selfish bitch. »

« Maybe he’s gay ? »

My mouth felt so dry. All day people had been saying things like this. It was only a matter of time before we found out who was his true mate and we already knew it was most-likely one of us.

It couldn’t be me, though. Second chance mates are such a rare thing. Only six reported cases in the U.S. that I know of.

A second chance mate is when the moon goddess takes back her choice. It’s as if something uncontrollable had happened and led her to understand she had chosen the wrong mate.

Even if Greyson happens to be my ‘second chance’ I don’t want a mate. My ex-mate has made me a completely different person than who I was before. And I definitely don’t want it to be Greyson.

I used to be so happy and full of life. I always saw the good side of things. I was always quick to give up and always paid close attention to what I was doing. Now I’m just bitter. I believe in love, just not mates. I focus on what could go wrong and don’t usually think about what I’m doing. What’s the worst that could happen ? I could die, and then I’d come back and haunt Liam’s sorry ass.

Yeah, not really seeing a problem.

The bell for fifth period to be over finally rang. Now, I can just relax with my family and eat food.

I rushed out of the classroom and down the halls. I stopped at my locker and just threw my books in it, but then it got slammed shut with my arm in it. It hurt, but luckily it bounced off of my arms and didn’t lock.

« Sup, Scar ? » Mariah asked. I don’t know what I did, but she utterly hates me. Worst of all ? She was my best friend. We used to be close, but then she moved away. Then when I ran away we met again. She treats me like crap, but she promised to not tell my family where I am. At least,she was that nice. I honestly don’t know what happened.

« What Mariah ? » I growled out as I rubbed my arm.

« Oh, what ? Does Scar not like the nickname ? Maybe I could call you Earless ? Loveless ? Mateless ? » Every word she said cut like a knife. I wanted so badly to hurt her, but if I did I would be found. I can’t let that happen.

I slammed the locker shut and started walking to lunch. Sadly, she found out about my mate. Thankfully, she didn’t tell anyone, yet.

I shuffled my way over to the lunch table and plopped down in my usual seat. Everyone in our little family stopped talking and looked at me.. I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, and I looked up to find Karissa.

« Alex, I hope you’re not too upset. We were gonna tell you. We promise. We just didn’t know exactly how you would take the news that Greyson is making every rogue in the area go see him, » Gabby said. My mouth dropped and my eyes were most likely bugging out of my head. Gabby sucked in a breath and looked around nervously. « Ha Ha, woops ? »

« No ! Ha ha, woops ? No ! No ! No ! I’m just..er ! » I yelled and began breathing heavily. When I started shaking was when everyone noticed how furious I had truly become, though.

« Alex. Calm down. You’re being dramatic, » Shane said and almost instantly I stopped shaking.

I sucked in a big breath and clenched my fists.

« When ? » I asked trying to be calm.

« Anytime today, » Shane replied flatly. I sucked in a sharp breath and glared at the table. My face crinkled up in disgust as I thought about Greyson.