Tyler

There are no words to explain precisely what happened to me.

It's a strange phenomenon. Yesterday morning, as soon as Jack locked eyes with me, my wolf went haywire, howling inside my chest like never before. It's weird to feel the mate bond literally being ignited within myself, compelling me to reply to him: MATE.

It's undeniable. Inexcusable. Unstoppable. A force like I've never felt before awakened inside me to pull us together, changing every fiber of my being to alter how I perceive him. I never felt so connected to my wolf as I did yesterday morning, it's a wonder we don't shift into wolves when we get mated.

Because I felt like I could shift at any moment, especially if I didn't take some time to inhale his scent. It's absolutely the most wonderful scent in the world to me, I could never have enough of that. Of HIM.

It's everything just as phenomenal as advertised by my parents when they told me about it growing up. And I could never have anticipated how floored I'd be discovering my mate.

Now, I have a mate.

Not only that but my mate is a man. The Alpha, which makes me the Luna. Not Beta, not Delta, not even a warrior. The Luna.

My entire family is shocked with the turn of events. No one expected this to happen - and certainly neither did I. But the surprise of the century is that my dad not once jabbed at me over this.

He didn't tease me, belittle me or my masculinity in any way, shape or form. He congratulated me on becoming Luna. That's it.

So did my mom, but she's a remarkable woman. No surprise there. Sarah kept to herself, but I get it. She thought she was going to be Luna. I would be surprised if she was accepting of this. But she never criticized me either.

"Are you okay, son?" - Dad asked me while we're eating breakfast the next day.

"Not particularly. But I'll be eventually." - I replied to him in a slightly worried tone. Mom felt bad for me as she saw my concerned face.

"Did you talk to your mate yesterday?" - Dad asked and I felt the whiplash at the word directed at me. So did Sarah, who got wide-eyed at this.

"I did a little. He's just worried about the repercussions this is going to have on our life and the pack from now on." - I replied to him, honestly. My tone was troubled.

"I see. Just know that I'm here for you always. For both of my children." - He said with a warm smile that hugged my heart.

"Thanks, dad." - I smiled back at him. So did Sarah.

After I lost on Alpha, there was a part of me that wondered if I had lost my dad as well. I know I may be exaggerating a little, but Goddess only knows the amount of pressure I was under to secure that position.

And once I lost it, a good part of me thought my father would never look at me the same way again. And certainly not the way he looked at me before, which is why I was so worried about disappointing him after we got that e-mail from the Elder Council.

I was so crushed. Because as much as it killed me to face the entire school that day, it's nothing compared to what I felt about facing my own dad and his set of expectations for me. But in a twist of fate, he never belittle me over it.

In fact, he ignored the issue altogether, only speaking about the Beta position which was still within my grasp. WAS being the operative word. But my point is: he is there, he is present. He never withdrew his love and now with this surprise, his reaction charges my soul with enough love to face anyone, if I'm being honest.

Damn, I wish I could NOT be like this, but I'm only a 17 years old boy. My family means everything to me, as it does to all werewolves if you'd ask them.

When I arrived at school, people were still staring at me. Just not for the old reasons anymore. Sarah and I greeted everyone like always.

"So, have you completed the bond already?" - Jason asked me with a mischievous grin. I punched his chest so strongly that he almost fell backwards. He coughed up his lungs for a minute while trying to catch his breath. He's not a weak guy by any means, but have you seen my arms? If not, I can wait for you to go back to chapter 2 and have a looksie.

"I only used half my force because you're my best friend. Please don't be that guy. I barely just found out I have a mate. How am I going to complete the bond with a guy if I've never even kissed one before?" - I snapped at him, furiously.

"I'm sorry. But if he was a girl, you would have." - He rebuked, annoyed at me, sounding ill.

"Yes, but he isn't a girl. Is he?" - I retorted, sounding extremely annoyed at him.

Elsa and Anna laughed at this. Peter got startled by the violence.

"If you need any pointers, there's always google." - Anna snickered, laughing at me.

"Thanks, Anna. Let it go." - I glared at her. She hates any and every frozen joke. Her face dropped from a smile to a scowl.

"I'm sorry, bro. I know this is not what you expected." - Peter told me in an empathetic tone.

"Thanks, Pete. You're a true friend." - I replied to him, but glaring at Jay.

"Good morning everyone. Why is Jason looking so pale?" - Jack asked as he came to our corner, looking worried at Jay. Tony was by his side also looking troubled at him.

"Good morning, Jack. Because he asked me if I completed the bond and I punched his chest." - I replied in an angry tone.

"You should be nicer to your friends. It's a fair question." - Jack replied to my utter shock. Really, he didn't even say it with a joking tone or a giggle.

"Thank you, Alpha!" - Jay shouted as if vindicated.

"How is it a fair question? I've never even kissed a guy! I have no idea how am I going to complete the bond!" - I barked at him, livid.

"There's this thing called google now. You should try it." - He snickered. Anna laughed out loud. Peter snorted. Even Sarah and Tony giggled.

"Fuck you, Jack!" - I growled at him, my eyes are glowing in anger.

"Are you okay?" - He asked turning to look at Sarah, ignoring my rage towards him.

"No, but I'll be eventually. It's just hard. I never saw this coming, you know?" - She replied in a deeply saddened tone. We all felt bad for her since yesterday, but I'm too floored myself to acknowledge any of it.

"Trust me, no one saw it coming except for the Beta." - He replied and I gasped. A shriek escaped my mouth before I could contain it.

Everyone stared at me. And everybody knows Tony won the mate pool. Jay kept bitching about it yesterday before he had to give him the prize money.

"You do know you can't be Beta now, right?" - Jack stared at me in disbelief. Tony looked at me gobsmacked as well.

"Yes, of course I know. But it hurts." - I confessed, painfully. There's a sorrow in my tone that anyone around me can feel it.

He hugged me. But this time it didn't surprise anyone but myself.

"I'm sorry, Luna." - He comforted me with a weak smile while his arms embraced my body. Inadvertently, I basked in his warmth. It's so soothing like nothing I've ever experienced before in my life.

"Thanks, Jack." - I said still shocked, but feeling much better. If this is what his clothed contact made me feel. I wonder what will happen when he's...

All of us went to the classroom. As soon as we entered it side by side, the entire class turned to look at us in surprise. And we're not even holding hands or anything.

We took our seats and went ahead like it's just a Wednesday, which it is. The stares continue all trough each of our classes but we persevere. We don't let it bother us.

At wrestling practice, coach didn't put us to fight against anyone. I frowned at it. Again, really?

But Jack isn't going to take this lightly. He stopped his exercise and faced the coach head on.

"Coach is there a problem? Am I underperforming?" - He asked him point blank while we're all at the gym. I mean, all the boys including Jay, Pete and Tony.

"No, Alpha. Why?" - He replied to him, either playing dumb or not getting the question. My vote is for the former.

"Because this is the second time you're not putting me or Tyler against anyone at practice." - He asked, looking deep into his eyes.

Coach gasped, blushed in embarrassment.

"Yeah, I just wanted to give the boys some time to process things. You know?" - He explained in an awkward tone.

"No, I don't. Process what? Last time I checked, the only ones who needed to process things are me and Ty." - He rebuked in a short temper tone. I could tell this could escalate fast, not that he'd ever get physical with a teacher.

"You know how it is..." - Coach got redder by the second trying to explain himself. But Jack isn't letting this go.

"No, I don't." - Jack said and then looked at the boys training and addressed them in a loud commanding voice.

"Everyone stop what you're doing!" - He ordered and all the students obeyed him promptly.

Werewolves have engrained in our DNA to obey our Alpha. It's next to impossible to resist his command. Of course, we are not robots without free will. We CAN resist it. But our natural reaction is to comply with it, no questions asked. At least, not until AFTER you did what was told.

"Is anyone uncomfortable to fight against me or my mate? Do you think we're going to spread our gayness to any of you? Have I ever given any indication that I will not respect you and the work that we do here?" - Jack asked the boys, who all looked at each other in confusion.

Did he really just say 'gayness'? If this wasn't a serious question, I'd be laughing my ass out.

"No, Alpha. We don't have a problem with either one of you." - One of the boys said after a minute.

"Thank you, guys. Please continue the practice." - He told them and they all did.

"Is everything cleared now? Can we get back to normal?" - Jack demanded of the coach, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Yes, Alpha." - Coach replied and bowed his head. Yes, he actually bowed his head. Like I said, we're programmed to respect the Alpha. Specially one who looks just like the deceased one, for those who remember. And Jack is the spitting image of his father.

We proceeded with practice like we usually do. I'm glad I don't have to fight my mate anymore. On the other hand, there's no one to match my fighting skills and strength here in the team. Which is why I'm the captain.

Later inside the locker room, I block Jack of my sight completely.

"Are you okay?" - Tony asked him, worriedly. I'm not looking, but I can hear them loud and clear.

"I'm fine. I just don't like it when people assume things. I'm man enough to admit that if things change for me, I'll remove myself from the situation. I would never disrespect anyone." - He replied in an annoyed tone.

There's a brief silence after this and I go to the showers, still blocking him from my sight. This isn't like the training center where we shower alone. Last thing I need is for any boy here to stare at me getting hard for my mate.

Even though it's a completely normal thing. He is my mate, whether I like it or not.

"Are you afraid?" - Jason asked me while we're showering in a low tone. But still anyone can hear us. We're werewolves. By the close proximity in the showers even a whisper is too loud.

"Of what?" - I asked him not sure, but already guessing.

"Of seeing your mate naked." - He replied and I laughed.

"I've seen him naked hundreds of times." - I replied with a giggle.

"I know. But still..." - Jay insisted, frowning at me.

"Can we not have this conversation here please?" - I pleaded, feeling so awkward.

He nodded and didn't bother me anymore. I was very uncomfortable. I just don't want to give anyone any reason. Even though it's a stupid situation.

Later at lunch break, I'm glad to try having some normalcy. But maybe I'm wishful thinking.

"I could never shower in front of my mate like that. I mean, not without wanting to attack him." - Elsa spoke first while we're eating.

Everyone laughs, even Sarah.

"Me neither." - Anna agreed. - "Especially without completing the bond yet. I would be throwing myself at him and climb that mountain like I'm Maria escaping the Nazis." - She joked.

We all laughed out loud at this.

"Me too." - Peter said, shocking everyone.

"You're not even gay." - I gasped at him.

"Neither are you." - He rebuked, without missing a beat.

I got tongue tied for a second. He isn't lying.

"Precisely." - I said after a while.

"I don't know how Sarah resisted for so long, even I would hit that." - Jay snickered, giggling like an idiot.

Sarah gasped at this.

"I know this is weird for you. But it'll pass when you meet your mate." - I told her in a soothing tone.

"I know." - She muttered under her breath.

"Thanks guys, I really appreciate this. It's good to laugh about it since it makes this less stressful." - I looked at my friends with affection.

"You're welcome, Luna. But seriously though, how are you not climbing that mountain?" - Anna smirked, looking at Jack several tables distant from us.

We laughed again.

"It's weird, you know? I knew what to do with Elsa, it came naturally. This will take some getting used to." - I spoke honestly, looking at them pensive.

"I know, Ty. I'm joking. But there's no rush. I mean, unless he takes you down, rips your clothes off and--"

"What are you guys laughing so loud at? I wanna laugh too." - Jack asked as he approached our table.

I'm blushing hard from Anna's words.

"They're saying that they could never shower with their mate like we did." - I told him. Not that he didn't hear what Anna said. Even a first time shifter would have heard that.

"Tony said the same thing." - He informed me in an amused tone and smile.

"I hope you're not too uncomfortable earlier." - He spoke and sat down next to me.

"Just the right amount." - I replied with a cheeky grin. He laughed.

"This isn't easy for me either." - He admitted, not surprisingly.

"I know." - I whispered. My eyes fluttered uncontrollably. He came at an inch away from me, fanning my face with his lunch breath that didn't even bother me.

"Also, I wanted to ask you something." - He whispered in a charming tone.

"Ask me anything." - I grinned wide, looking at him like he's the only boy in the world.

"I would like you to come with me to my parents' house next Saturday. I need to face it sooner or later and I'd like my mate to go with me." - He said it and I gasped. Not what I thought he'd say in a million years.

"Of course." - I replied with a large smile. I'm deeply flattered that he thought of me to accompany him. My heart might've skipped a beat or two.

"Awn." - Elsa and Anna swooned. Even Jay and Pete were looking at us with hearts in their eyes.

After that, Jack returned to his table.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I hope things would adjust themselves as we tried to deal with everything naturally like it's no big deal.

Because in the end, despite the surprise, it really isn't. It's just part of life. The werewolf life.

However, I gotta say: my mate is dreamy.

I never thought I'd be caught dead uttering these words: but damn, what a man!

The way he handled his business earlier and the sweet manner in which he talked to me.

I can't believe he asked me to go to his parents' house. This is huge. I'm starting to fall much faster than I anticipated. And I'm not sure if I'd ever wanna stop. Unless he is the one to catch me.😜