Jack

My wolf is restless.

It knows we're getting a mate today and it woke me up howling in my chest like it's the full moon. Scratch that, it's stronger than the full moon. It's nothing like I've ever felt before.

It became so restless that I had to shift just to get it under control. So, I went downstairs into the living room where there's more space, took off my clothes and shifted.

Tony got downstairs not much longer after I began shifting, looking worried at me. But he probably understood that I did what I needed to do and opened the door for my wolf to leave.

I went for a quick run around the block. I guess the good thing about living in a town where everyone is a werewolf is that no one bats an eye at a large wolf running about in the neighborhood.

Not to brag, but my wolf is very big. Probably the biggest anyone has ever seen in this town, not counting my dad or granddad.

I make my way back to the house to find the door ajar. I pushed it with my snout and enter to see my aunt and uncle cooking breakfast.

They smile at me. Tony is setting the table. I wanna go to my room to shift back into human, but there's not enough space for me there. Which is why I shifted at the living room in the first place.

So, I started shifting back where I stood. As if on cue, Tony covered me with a towel when I was just about to show my skin. He's truly the best.

After I finished, I wrapped myself in the towel and greeted my family.

"Good morning, Jack. Happy birthday. You can shower now." - Uncle Gus told me with a smile.

I went upstairs for a quick shower. Tony had already collected the clothes I left on the floor and put it back in our room.

15 minutes later, I got downstairs showered and dressed to receive a plethora of love. I was hugged, kissed and cuddled by all three of them. It's the best.

"Thanks, guys. You sure know how to make an Alpha feel loved." - I melted as I looked at them with deep affection.

"You're welcomed, Jack. Are you excited?" - Gus asked me, smiling.

"My wolf surely is. He woke me up howling earlier." - I smirked, serving myself some breakfast.

"It's a very special day for him too. He's basically been waiting for the Moon Goddess to announce his soulmate for all his life." - Aunt Lidia informed me with a pleasant grin.

"So have I. But I get it." - I replied with a soft smile.

"I wonder who's gonna win the mate pool." - Gus said with a mischievous grin. I laughed at this.

"Whoever put Sarah's name. Can you believe your son refused to tell me whose name he put down?" - I said, still peeved that Tony kept his guess a secret.

His parents laughed at this.

"I do. He didn't tell us either. He said it would only make you angry at him." - Gus said, laughing shamelessly at this. So did Lidia.

"Oh my Goddess, who did you put down? Is it the girl with a scar on her face from a rogue attack? Because she's beautiful nonetheless." - I barked at Tony, who gasped.

"OK. First, I'm not that shallow. Second, she IS pretty. Third, it's not gonna matter because I will lose the bet. That's it." - He defended himself in an annoyed tone.

"I will find out eventually. You'll see." - I let out a low growl in discontent.

"Have you decided anything about the Beta position? Are you gonna give it to your cousin?" - Gus asked me as we finish having breakfast.

"You're the one who told me I had to give it to Tyler!" - I exclaimed, my eyebrows shot up, feeling backed into a wall. They all gasped at my reaction.

"I know, I know. Sorry I asked..." - Gus said in a low tone, as if apologizing.

"No, I haven't decided anything yet. I'm hoping for some inspiration. Maybe my mate will help me make a good choice." - I replied bashfully.

"You mean Sarah?" - Tony winked at me with a mischievous grin.

"From you lips to the Goddess' ears. Let's go!" - I prompt him to leave and we get into my car quickly, not much longer after that we arrive at school. I'm very anxious, not gonna lie. It's the biggest day of my life so far. Bigger than when I was confirmed as Alpha.

When I got there, I found a line of girls waiting for me to sniff them out (you discover your mate by the scent). Really, in a single line. But one by one, I was walking past them without so much as a sneeze.

I must've gone trough fifty girls by the time I reached the school hall. No surprise there. I told you all, I know who my Luna is.

And of course she wouldn't be in a line. She was exactly in the same place she is every single day. With her people inside the school, talking and laughing.

Jason perked up at me as I approached them next to Tony, looking for any clue as to whether or not I had already met her. But it's clear to anyone that I haven't yet. At the very least, she'd be by my side along with my cousin.

As I come near Sarah, my wolf gets agitated inside my chest. It knows I'm near our mate. It yearns for her just as much as I do. And I'm feeling the mate bond pull already.

I come closer and closer to her, waiting for my eyes to glow the brightest they've ever glowed.

"Good morning, Lu--" - I stopped myself when nothing happened. Not a howl, not a glow, nothing. She's not my mate. Fuck!

Tears come to her eyes. She started sobbing and I dried them with a light touch on her face.

"I'm sorry. I really thought you were the one." - I told her with a remorse I shouldn't be feeling right now but I am.

Her friends are looking at the scene with sorrow. I feel bad for her. For us. But it is what it is and my wolf is restless. It senses our mate is close by. If it's Elsa, Jason is gonna be a millionaire. Of course my mate would be the only girl my nemesis has ever been with.

Like I cared. Honestly, who the fuck cares about virginity in this day and age?

We're werewolves, not monks. But it's not her either. Nor it's Anna for that matter.

I turned around to greet everyone else when my eyes shine the brightest they ever shone. My wolf gets restless, howling inside my chest like never before.

"MATE!" - I said with a deep, husky voice.

"MATE!" - Tyler replied, his eyes shining the brightest it ever shone, just like mine.

We stood in front of each other for what it felt like the longest time until we're awaken by the school bell ringing.

Then, I turned around and moved away from him, not sure what to feel. How to feel. Not sure about anything.

"Are you okay?" - Tony asked me. Evidently, he saw the whole thing play out. And he wasn't the only one.

"No." - I answered, so floored the words fail me.

"I'm sorry, Jack." - He said with a saddened tone. But I don't reply. I'm too gobsmacked.

We get to the classroom, I take my seat and go into autopilot. However, it is my birthday and everyone starts congratulating me.

I shake the hands of everyone in class. Probably they don't know what happened yet, but soon they will. It's gonna spread like wildfire throughout school and the whole pack, I can feel it.

Even the teacher offered me a birthday hug. I go through the motions as the scene repeats at my every class this morning.

Everybody wants to congratulate the Alpha. I get it. It's nice to feel loved but I'm numbed. I don't reject any love that came my way. I'm polite to everyone, obviously I can't ostracize my own pack members.

But with time, I start getting looks and stares as people got word of my mate situation. Everyone stared at me shocked and in awe. This has never happened before. I mean, not with an Alpha.

Of course, gay people get same sex mates. But I'm not gay and have no idea why on Earth would I get a male mate. And Tyler of all the people in the world.

By the time I get to wrestling practice, all the boys already knew about it and looked at me weirdly. Strangely, the coach didn't pair me with anyone. Not today. I just exercised on my own.

Actually, neither me or Tyler were paired today. I'm starting to think it's not a coincidence. But when we get inside the locker room, it gets worse.

The boys were self conscious about stripping in front of me, like they hadn't already done it a million times before. Fuck. Not only I have a male mate but now I have to face homophobia?

Tyler was quieter than usual. And he never looked at me, not once since early morning.

I tried my best to ignore and respect everybody's feelings and go to shower like nothing happened. Fortunately, no one says anything to me. But their looks tell a completely different story.

By lunch time, I was still getting celebratory handshakes and hugs from students. But more than anything, I'm getting freaked out stares. All around the cafeteria.

"It'll pass." - Tony informed me with his usual calm tone.

"Did you see the looks I got in the locker room?" - I asked him, worriedly. Tony signed up for the wrestling team when I did. It's a good training session and an easy way to fulfill the P. E. requirement for school.

"I did. But that will blow over eventually." - He reassured me with a soft smile.

"Thanks, Tony. I'm glad at least you're normal." - I told him with a weak smile. He didn't even flinch to undress and shower next to me today, but I'm not exactly surprised. He's too cool to be homophobic. Plus, he's practically my brother.

Jason comes near our table and handed Tony a lot of cash.

"Here. Congratulations, Tony. Long Live the Luna." - He said and then left in a sour mood.

I gasped at this. How? What? Why?

"You put Tyler's name? Why?" - I asked him, gasping hard.

"It was meant it as a joke." - Tony explained, defensively.

"Right. No wonder you didn't want to tell me who it was you bet on. I would've been pissed." - I admitted, glaring at him.

"Like you said, I know you the best." - He grinned smugly.

My last class of the day. Finally. I can't wait to get away from school honestly. On the other hand, facing Mr. Burke is gonna be something today. I wouldn't put it pass him already knowing about his son's mate.

The English teacher also congratulated me for my birthday. Everyone else already did at this point, but the stares continue from all the students.

"Are you going to reject him?" - Daisy asked me as soon as the final bell rings.

This startled everyone present, including Tyler.

"No, Daisy. I can't reject my mate, I'm the Alpha. I need a Luna." - I replied to her without missing a beat. I really can't. Rules are rules. And only my mate can be the Luna, no one else.

"Are you?" - She asked Tyler instead, turning to look at him from her seat.

This alerted me.

"Please don't speak to me." - He replied in a deep nasty mood. Everyone stared at me and him confused by his reply. Is he going to reject me? Because the only thing worse than me being mated to a boy is me getting rejected by my mate.😔

"Tyler, may I please drive you to your house? I need to speak to you." - I asked him not a moment longer.

"I don't wanna talk about it. But I accept your ride." - He said not in a good mood. Join the club!

I glanced at Sarah who was still reeling from all the news. But honestly, she's the last thing on my mind right now. I have no idea how to deal with any of this. Not at all.

"Are you okay?" - I asked Tyler once I started driving my car towards the pack house.

"Are you?" - He retorted. I could tell he wasn't in a good head space. But then again, neither am I.

"Are you going to reject me?" - I asked after a minute of silence.

He glared at me.

"Of course not. I don't wanna be the reason of our pack's downfall." - He spat at me in an angry tone.

"I don't want you to accept me out of obligation. That's even worse." - I told him, my tone indicating that my feelings were hurt.

"I know. I didn't mean it like that. I just don't have it in me to reject a mate." - He breathed out with a deep sigh.

"Neither do I." - I admitted. Despite what I said about rules, even if I weren't Alpha I would never reject him. I just can't reject my mate. It goes against everything I was raised on.

"I don't know how my dad is gonna react to this." - He said with a saddened voice.

"I feel you." - I replied in an empathetic tone. I'm worried too, but not for the same reasons that him. Plus, I don't need his validation anymore. I'll be Alpha now come what may.

"I just hope things will go back to normal. Did you see the looks we got in the locker room? Coach wouldn't even put us against anyone today." - I ranted in a displeased tone.

"Yeah. Casual homophobia I didn't know I'd have to face it." - He replied with hurt in his voice.

When we got to the pack house, his dad welcomed us like nothing happened. Does he not know? What's happening?

"Did you hear it, dad?" - Ty asked him with a concerned look on his face.

"Yes I did, son. Long Live the Luna!" - He said in a serene tone and both of us gasped. Tyler cried on his dad's shoulders for a good time. His mom also consoled him as she's present too.

But he still congratulated me on my birthday. He carried out the internship like nothing happened. His mate, Tyler's mom also wished me a happy birthday. And so did everyone living at the pack house who were present.

Later, at the training center, Delta Jones wished me a happy birthday as well. But he also informed us that Tyler didn't need to train anymore as he can't take any other position in the pack now that he's going to be Luna.

It hurt his feelings but he already knew that. Or at least he should.

"I know, Delta. But I want him to continue to train with me, if that's okay." - I insisted, much to Tyler's surprise.

He said it was fine as it wouldn't change anything for him. So, we trained as always. Plus, we don't fight each other anyway.

Hours later, we're back at the locker room for our joint shower. I'm curious to know if he'll act any different now.

He didn't. He took off his clothes in front of me like he did a hundred times before. So did I. We showered like nothing ever changed.

Except it did, didn't it?

"Everything will change for us now." - I realized it with a heavy sigh while the water caressed my aching body.

Tyler looked at me but said nothing. His stare was not of repulse or disgust. Instead, there's affection in his eyes. There's a sentiment I'm not used to get from him.

Then, he got wide-eyed and looked away from me scared. Oh how the tides have changed.

I didn't even have to look down to see what scared his gaze away. I could feel my hardness as the water hit it alongside the rest of my body. Damn, Goddess! Way to fuck it up things for us mere mortals.

A|N: And so it begins. Now things are REALLY never gonna be the same again.

And the best is yet to come, trust me!

Fun fact: few songs in this story match their chapters so well as these two in this one.

Really, SHINE is a massive coincidence. And this one. Well, turn around bright eyes, it really is a total eclipse of the heart.

Love,

Léo.