Jack

I'm shocked.

No, I don't mean at Tyler's 'revelation' in the shower. That's just teenager biology, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often to be honest.

What really surprised me is the revelation that I will be the next Alpha of the Stonehold pack. I got so stunned by the news it took Tony giving me a congratulatory hug for me to acknowledge it.

When I got to my house after dropping off Tyler, uncle Gus welcomed me with the biggest bear hug. I'm neither a small nor a skinny guy, but he literally lifted me off the floor with his hug. Not even exaggerating. He also kissed my cheek, which is not something that happens everyday.

After his 10 minute hug, aunt Lidia kissed me tenderly and hugged me as well. Tony had already congratulated me at school when we got the news. It was the best welcome that only my own family could give it to me. My grandparents video called to congratulate me too. I felt so loved.

Not that I didn't already feel it at school. Literally every single student congratulated me today. I could say that I felt bad for Tyler, but I didn't lie yet so why start now?

Dinner was my favorite dish to commemorate. It felt like my birthday. Of course, I do want to celebrate it with Sarah as well, but all good things come to those who wait. And I got a busy schedule ahead of me.

Even when I arrived at school the next day, people were still cheering me on. Everybody bowed their heads to me. I mean, not Tyler, Jason or Peter. But I'd be surprised if they did, even with Ty buttering me up for Beta. When he said what he did yesterday at the warriors' shower, I was genuinely shocked. That's nicer than I ever could've expected from him.

But to be nice to me now is easy. And predictable. To be honest, there's nothing more I'd rather do than to reward the nicest guy I know with the Beta position. I'm talking about Tony, of course. The actual person who's been there for me trough thick and thin.

But I also know that I have to play the political game. So for now, that is to be determined.

Today I just want to spend a nice day in class, get to wrestling practice and prepare for my Saturday date with Sarah that I'm yet to ask her for.

"Good morning, Luna." - I greeted her with a kiss. She smiled at me and it never gets old.

"Good morning, Alpha." - She replied and I swooned. Somehow, it feels better coming from her.

"Man, I would pay the Goddess a year worth of allowance just to sneak a peak at Jack's future mate. Can you imagine if it's not my sister? Please, I need to see his face when he turns 18." - Tyler teased me, not far from where Sarah and I were. They're never far apart, unfortunately.

"I raise your bet and I would pay the Goddess the same amount, just to know who your mate is and warn her so she can run away now." - I provoked him in return. Sarah laughed at my words.

"Yeah, run away from all those muscles and that hot body. Who likes that in a mate?" - Elsa  snickered, making Tyler grin wide and wink at her. Anna also laughed at this.

"Don't mind him, Jack. He's just peeved because he doesn't have the same connection that we do." - Sarah said and then she kissed me. I melted under her lips.

"I'll connect with my mate just fine, thank you very much. I just don't want to get myself deluded with an infatuation just to see it goes away when Jack's real mate is revealed. Goddess, I hope she's ugly." - Tyler spoke in an amusing tone and all his friends laughed out loud.

I pay them no mind. They can tease me all they want, I'm the one kissing the hottest girl of the school.

"Hey Ty, what if she rejects Jack?" - Jason joked, but I'm not laughing. No one is.

I turned away from Sarah and darted in his direction, startling everyone around us. I grabbed him by the collar, pulled him close to me and asked him with eyes glowing in anger:

"What did you just say to me?" - My breath fanned his face with fervor. I just wanted him to repeat that to my face. If he dared.

"Nothing, Alpha. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it!" - He apologized quickly, looking scared of me.

I let him go and back away from him, turned around and walked away. But not before hearing...

"Dude, low blow. Who would reject the Alpha? Plus, if he gets rejected how can he produce an heir? The pack needs to have a Luna. Don't ever say that. Too far!" - Tyler reprimanded him in an annoyed tone. It really was too far.

Some things you just don't say in polite conversations. Or even to your nemesis.

You don't curse someone's mom. You don't need to bring out my tragedy to hurt me (or for any reason whatsoever). You don't joke about someone's sexuality - unless you're really close and/or have the same proclivities, the same way I'd never use what happened at the shower yesterday to humiliate or diminish Tyler in any way. Not in a million years.

There is such thing as too far. And saying my mate would reject me is going too far.

She can be ugly, she can be fat, thin, older, younger, whatever. But what she can't do is reject me.

We only get one mate in life. One. And since I'm Alpha, I do need a Luna. It's kind of a package deal. So yeah, I want her to be Sarah. But she could be Anna, Elsa, even that girl Daisy. Really, whoever it is I will be glad. And I can't ever reject her. I just hope to Goddess she doesn't reject me.

Wrestling practice goes smoothly, but now more than ever the coach won't pit Ty and I against each other. Not that I blame him, to be honest. Would you?

But it's fine. The fight with him lost its appeal to me. There's not much for me to do now, except for finding my mate and...

"So, when are you going to complete the bond with Sarah?" - A male student asked me just as we went inside the locker room. I gasped at his words.

"Dude, show some respect! Her brother is here. If he put ME in the hospital and I'm the Alpha, what do you think he'll do to you?" - I glared at him, who's taken aback by my response.

Tyler's eyes are glowing with anger towards him. The dude got scared and put some distance between him and the both of us. I will never admit this to anyone, but Tyler does have an intimidating figure, especially when he's angry.

"Thank you." - Tyler said after a minute. I'm just about to take my towel and go take a shower.

"Like you said: too far." - I spoke, not looking at him. Then I left for the shower area.

Speaking of things I'd never do, I wouldn't use my relationship with Sarah to rattle Tyler. I'm a southern gentleman and don't feel the need to brag about girls. Not that there's anything to brag about yet. But I hope will soon.

Later after the final bell rings, I took Sarah to her house where I'd meet her dad for my internship. I took the opportunity to ask her out on a date and she said yes.🥰

Saturday, we will have a great time together alone again. Finally, maybe we can move our relationship forward. I certainly hope so.

In the days that followed, things were starting to adjust themselves to a nice rhythm. My afternoons with Mr. Burke are going great. Training with Delta Jones is good now that Tyler no longer wants to kill me. At least, I don't think so. Plus, we don't fight each other anymore.

Yes, everything's coming up nicely. Thank Goddess.

But I'm so looking forward to my date with Sarah. It's been a while.😳

Saturday comes and I take Sarah away from town. I wanted to distance myself from any disturbance we could get, so I took her to a neighbor town, our pack ally of course. Very low key. But I cleared it with her dad.

We spend a great day together, we did some sightseeing, ate good food. I even took her some place quiet just for us to be alone. We made out a lot.

I took it as far as she let me, but still not far enough. We felt each other up, enjoying the heat of our company. And it's very nice, very good indeed.

By the time we returned home, I was tired but glad to have this time with her. I just wish we could take it further, not gonna lie.

I don't wanna pressure her into something she doesn't want to do. That's not my gig. But it's hard when some other girls are much more 'welcoming', if you catch my drift.

Still, I persevere. It's the price you pay. If I wanted easy, I would've gotten easy. But no, I wanted the girl that I liked since childhood.

No regrets. But this is harder than I'd imagine it.

"Still nothing?" - Tony asked me Monday morning as we reached the school. We haven't been talking as much as before because it's been so crazy busy lately.

I have been training double time for more than a MONTH now. And every single weekend I spend with Sarah. And though we have done some naughty stuff, still we didn't take it all the way.

Not the way that I want anyway.

"Unfortunately not." - I replied with a frustrated tone. If blue balls could kill...

I reached Sarah's corner where she stays with her posse and greet everyone. Then, I kiss her.

"Good morning, Jack. Are you excited for the line of girls that is going to form tomorrow when you arrive at school?" - Tyler teased me not long after he saw me approaching.

"I'm excited. Period." - I replied, not giving away into his provocation.

"Hey, we're taking bets on who's gonna be the next Luna. My money is on Elsa." - Jason said excitedly.

"Why her?" - I asked him curiously, though I'm a little afraid of the answer.

"Because it's the only girl Tyler's ever been with. Just to fuck with you." - He said in a joking manner.

Tyler laughed out loud. Sarah and Elsa grimaced. I'm unresponsive. Peter and Anna also laughed.

"He should be so lucky. I would rock his world." - Elsa said with a naughty grin, not letting it get to her.

"My money is on Daisy. I just wanna see Sarah's face when Jack's eyes glow for her." - Tyler laughed. Honestly, it's a better response than I would've pegged him for. She's not exactly ugly or unattractive.

Everybody laughs it off taking pools on who my mate will be. Of course, it's the talk of the town. Or at least, the student body.

Tomorrow is my 18th birthday and finally I'll find out who my mate is. Hell yeah!

"I know that I laughed it off a month ago, but I get now why Mr. Mathews had to say it's forbidden to complete the bond at school." - I told Tony when we're near the classroom. I hear everybody laughing at this behind me.

Tony laughed at it too.

"Breathe Alpha, breathe." - Tony replied, smiling softly at me.

We take our classes normally as every Monday. By lunch time, the mate pool is worth hundreds of dollars. Everyone had a guess. Even some teachers.

"Who did you put your money to? You know me the best." - I asked Tony while we ate our food. I mean, I might as well play into it. You know what they say, if you can't beat them...

"Good question." - Tony replied, sounding mysterious.

"Aren't you gonna tell me?" - I asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"You would only get mad at me. I put it down just as a joke." - He explained and I got more curious.

"OK, but who? Daisy? Elsa? The lunch lady? Ms. Roberts [a teacher]? Who?" - I insisted, curiosity dripping from my voice.

"I really can't say." - Tony replied and I got up from the table, walked to Sarah's and addressed Jason.

"Jason, you're running the mate pool. Whose name did Tony put down?" - I asked him point blank.

"He told me you'd ask. And he made me promise not to tell you." - Jason replied, awkwardly. Tyler and Peter laughed at hearing this.

"As your Alpha, I command you to tell me whose name Tony put down!" - I insisted, staring him down intensely.

"He told me you'd say that too. And he asked me to tell you that you're not Alpha until next Summer." - Jason informed me and I gasped.

"Motherfucker!" - I yelled, gobsmacked. He does know me well.

"Did you put in your name, Luna?" - I asked Sarah, turning to look at her instead.

"No, I didn't put anyone's. I'm not taking the bet." - She replied while she ate.

"Why not? Are you scared it's not gonna be you?" - I question with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I'm just scared to lose you tomorrow." - She spoke and I broke my stance. I sat down next to her and pecked her on the cheek.

"I'm sorry this is so difficult for you. I wish I could choose a Luna myself. Alas..." - I try to comfort her, though there's nothing for me to do or say. It is what it is.

"I know." - She replied with a heavy sigh.

Not much later, I returned to my table and ate my cold food.

"I hate you." - I said to Tony. He laughed in response.

Last class of the day, finally. I wish I could say Alphas got birthdays off but they don't. Tomorrow is work as usual. Of course, my family is taking me some place nice to have dinner and celebrate. But to be honest, I'd prefer to spend the day...

"Mr. Stonehold." - Teacher snapped me out of my thoughts.

"What?" - I gasped, not knowing what he's on about.

"I asked for an example of irony." - He informed me, expectantly. The entire class was silently waiting for me to speak.

"It's ironic that I've spent so much time with all the Burkes but the only one I've ever seen naked is Tyler." - I replied, absentmindedly.

The entire class went into meltdown from the laughter. You could hear them laughing out loud from the patio. No joke.

Sarah glared daggers at me. But even Tyler laughed at my response.

When the class finished, I apologized to her.

"I'm sorry, it was the first thing that came to my mind. It's not my fault I had to shower with Tyler dozens of times." - I smirked, though she wasn't laughing at all.

"I'll shower with you, Alpha." - Daisy offered from her seat next to mine in the front of the class. Sarah glared at her even worse than she did me.

"Thanks, Daisy. I rather stick with Tyler for now." - I joked. Sarah laughed at last. So did the rest of the students who hadn't already left.

I would take Daisy up on her offer gladly, but now it's too late for me to take any action as I'm on the eve of discovering my mate. I made my bed, now I have to lie on it.

Alone. Isn't it ironic?

A|N: Things are starting to heat up for the first mate pairing of the novel.

It was a very conscious decision not to move things too forward in Jack and Sarah's relationship. I wanted them to have some boundaries left for their mates.

Love,

Léo.