Benjamin

I can't believe this!

I have spent 17 years of my life barely having the opportunity to kiss - among other things - boys, mostly on the down low.

And now that I'm on the verge of finding my mate, the perfect boyfriend just falls on my lap for no apparent reason.

I mean... just my luck!

Of course, some might argue that Teddy could be my mate. Sure, theoretically that could be true. But I have zero hopes.

No, bitch! He is definitely NOT my mate.

Not only is he a cisgender boy, he isn't an omega. I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just saying I'm not holding my breath.

With that being said, he's been incredible for the short time we've been together. Especially after he patched things up with his best friend Roger.

We've been going strong for the past week and a half, going on a few dates since then.

Honestly, I'm still impressed that he came out at all. Being the football star that he is, there's a lot on the line for him.

But the response has been positive so far, after the initial awkwardness that ensued. He's doing great and so are we.

However, there is still so much to talk about.

We haven't discussed anything sexual nor did we go past oral, so I'm sure it'll come up soon. On the other hand, I'm not particularly in any rush.

Though we only have a couple weeks left to date until my birthday, I don't want to rush into sex just because.

I'd rather take my time than regret it later, though I highly doubt I'd regret anything I do with Teddy.

He's just so dreamy and has been so good to me. I'm genuinely in awe, though it could be because he's my first real boyfriend.

Regardless, I'm taking whatever happiness I can get for the time that I have with him. I understand it sounds a little gloomy, but my point is: there's no day but today.

"Good morning, everyone." - I greet my family on a Friday morning, as we take our seats at the (main) dining room of the pack house.

"Good morning, son. You look chipper today. Is it because today is Friday?" - Dad asked me, sitting at the head of the table next to my mom. It's a large table, but since I eat with just my family we occupy the 4 seats at the head.

"You look under-slept to me. Have you had another one of those terrible nightmares?" - Mom inquired with a concerned expression.

At this, Sasha and dad looked at me for a response, also worriedly.

"Yeah mom, I did. But I'm not letting it get to me anymore. Yes, I'm happy because it's Friday and I have a date." - I replied in an uplifting tone.

Nightmares are an unfortunate occurrence in my life. But I'm tired of these so-called omens. There's nothing I can do about it. I keep on dreaming my mate dies horribly.

It's not that I don't care about it, I just don't know who he is. In my dreams his face is always disfigured, so I can't make out a proper image of him. I hate that, but I can't let it control my life. Enough is enough!

"I'm sorry you keep being plagued by this, Ben. It really sucks." - Mom commented in a saddened tone.

"Are you worried he's gonna be attacked and die like those rogues that were found in the woods?" - Sasha asked me and I gasped at the insinuation.

Some days ago, a patrol found three dead bodies lying in decomposition in the outskirts of our town, just outside of the pack territory.

They were rogues and we don't know why they were dead, just that some sort of fighting took place.

They weren't killed werewolf style, that is bitten to death. The report suggested they were killed by individual(s) in human form.

This isn't an uncommon event. Rogues have no regard for life, respect any law and are known to fight for food, dominance or other foul motives that would probably make my skin crawl at the thought.

"Sasha!?" - Dad cried out, baffled at her words.

My sister stared back at us like she didn't say anything much. But mom is also wide-eyed, mouth agape at her.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" - She asked with an innocent look on her face.

"No, I don't think my mate will die alone in the woods because of a rogue fight. What would he be doing in the woods alone in the first place?" - I replied to my sister in a seriously annoyed tone.

What a terrible thought to put in my head.

"Maybe he's hunting like--"

"That's enough!" - Dad shouted, slamming the table angrily. We got startled by the loud bang since our ears are already sensitive to noise because of our wolf hearing.

Sasha looks a little frightened at dad, who looks beside himself furious.

"I'm not going to lose any more pack members to rogues! Especially my son's mate! I shouldn't have mentioned that incident with the rogues to my daughter and I blame myself for it. But that's enough of this conversation!" - Dad declared in a really angry tone.

"Dad, you don't need to shield me from this stuff! I'm not a little girl anymore!" - Sasha protested fiercely, frowning at our father.

"Yes, I do. You're my little girl and you shouldn't concern yourself with rogues! That's my problem!" - Dad exclaimed, wholeheartedly.

Sasha grunted in annoyance. And I can't get away fast enough from this awkward conversation. To think I was in such a good mood just a minute ago. FML.

After I swallowed my breakfast, I took my car and drove my annoying sister to school with me. She looks pissed but that should be me, not her.

When I get to school, I greet Lex and tell him about what happened at home. At least he's a sympathetic ear.

"Your mate is not gonna die, Ben. Don't sweat it! And those rogue deaths are completely unrelated to the situation. I just hope Tristan is fine..." - Lex told me in a soothing tone. He had me right up until the end.

"Really? Are you worried for that rogue?" - I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"Hey, don't talk about my future mate that way!" - He barked at me, frowning.

"He's not your mate, Lex! You'll never gonna see him again, get over it!" - I insisted in an aggravated tone.

"Who's not his mate?" - Teddy asks as he comes to our corner at the school yard. He kisses me on the lips and I instantly smile.

"Some rogue we've met at the river weeks ago." - I explained, much to his surprise.

"What? Are you crazy, Lex? You know they're dangerous, right? Haven't you heard about the three deaths in the woods?" - Teddy stared at him, baffled by his weird infatuation.

"Yes, of course I did. But I'm sure my Tristan had nothing to do with that." - He asserted in a hopeful tone.

"He's not YOURS!" - I practically shouted at him, irritated. Lex mumbled something incoherent and walked towards the classroom.

Teddy and I give each other poignant looks before he kisses me again and we go to class.

"I know we're short of (available) boys here in town, but lay off the rogues please my friend. It's not worth it." - I told Lex during lunch break at the cafeteria.

"Prejudice is a horrible menace in our society." - He stated, pouting like a spoiled brat.

"It's not prejudice when they killed my brother." - I said and pretty much ended the conversation.

Lex's face was so sorrowed by my statement, he feels so bad about this that he doesn't have any comeback to that. I mean... What's left there to say? Who can argue against that?

"Are you okay for our friend date later tonight?" - I asked Lisa at the beginning of the final period.

"Yes, but why did you invite Lex and I to play third wheel on your date with Teddy?" - She is genuinely intrigued.

"Because I want my friends to get along with my boyfriend." - I replied with an enthusiastic grin.

Roger and some of our classmates all stared at me and Teddy, surprised by the "b" word. I blushed under their piercing gaze.

"I already like your boyfriend. He's twice the man Roger will ever be with twice the dick size." - She snickered, causing literally the entire class to gasp, especially him, Teddy and me.

"How do you know the size of his..."

I can't bring myself to finish that sentence. I'm way too embarrassed. Teddy is absolutely mortified.

"Oh, girls talk. Wait, you didn't think Teddy was a virgin, did you?" - She replied with the most embarrassing follow up. I'm gobsmacked.

"Thank you, Lisa. I'm glad you already like me!" - Teddy interjected in a joking tone, causing a lot of people to laugh at his awkwardness.

"I don't think Lisa is quite over Roger yet..." - Lex whispered to me, though both of them heard him. All werewolves in the classroom did.

"One night with me and the girls go crazy." - Roger joked from his seat next to Teddy.

"Yeah, all 10 seconds of it." - Lisa shot back, rolling her eyes not amused.

This could go on forever, but fortunately the teacher entered the class and quieted them down. Damn, that was awkward!

No, I didn't think the linebacker was sexually inexperienced. I wasn't born yesterday. I just wasn't aware his privates were a talking point among girls.

"Are you okay?" - Teddy asked me as we walked to the parking lot after the final bell rang.

"Yeah, I am. I just didn't expect you to be so famous." - I snickered. He laughed.

"I'm not, trust me. I don't have half as much experience as Roger. I just got lucky a few times." - He downplayed it, shyly.

"No one is as experienced as him. I'm not so sure how he's gonna settle down once he meets his person." - I commented, a little intrigued.

"Like the rest of us, I'm sure. Are you still okay for tonight?" - He asked me with a slight frightful tone.

"Perfect! Can't hardly wait!" - I replied, then he kissed me.

I'm so looking forward to our date. No, I don't mind that we won't be alone. I was the one who invited them to come along in the first place.

We can have a private date tomorrow, no problem. I'm not opposed to group activities and spending time with the people I like.

I arrive home with my sister, grab a bag and go straight to warrior training. Afterwards, I take a shower and drive back to my house.

Normally, I'd have dinner with my family at 7 but tonight I'm going to a restaurant with Teddy, Lex and Lisa.

I'd invite Roger too but he can't be in the same place as her, if earlier at school is any indication.

I change clothes, spray some perfume, apply some cream on my face and take my car to Teddy's place. I greeted his family briefly before we set course to the italian restaurant.

The best cantina we have in this town. I mean the only one. It's a small town, so our options are limited.

"Were you weirded out by Lisa's comment earlier at school?" - Teddy asked me in a curious tone, while I drove.

I should've known this was gonna come up. Especially since we haven't discussed sex yet.

"A little, I'm not gonna lie. Not because I thought you were a virgin, I'm not stupid. I just didn't expect your manhood would be up for debate." - I replied as honestly as possible.

Teddy looks uncomfortable at the topic, but so am I.

"I never meant for it to be a topic of conversation either, trust me! I'm as shocked as you are to discover it!" - He exclaimed, deeply uncomfortable.

I can see he's not the bragging type. And he has plenty of reasons to be if he were so inclined.

We arrived near the restaurant where Lex and Lisa were already waiting for us. We got out of the car and greeted them, then we started walking towards the entrance.

"Thanks for coming, guys. I know you probably had better things to do on a Friday night." - I said as we walked, next to Teddy. Lex and Lisa walked side by side.

"Thank you for the invitation. I'm actually half italian, so I'd never turn down a good pasta." - Lisa spoke in an excited tone.

"I'm just here for the free meal." - Lex joked.

"It's not free and you're rich, so don't even start!" - I glared at him, who laughed.

We're just about to walk inside the restaurant when Lex startled us all by shouting.

"Oh my Goddess!"

He was looking at the square on the other side of the avenue where the three young rogues we met at the river were casually walking by, carrying bags as if they were pack members on a night out.

Lex's reaction alerted them, who immediately looked at us from across the street. I can see they tensed up at our sight, probably trying to go incognito within our pack land.

If caught trespassing, rogues can be killed. This is not a joking matter for werewolves. Teddy and Lisa were confused by Lex's reaction and asked who they were.

Once I informed them they were rogues, Teddy practically snarled at them from a distance.

Lex darted in their direction, crossing the avenue, so I had to follow him reluctantly. My stance is already annoyed at this chance encounter disrupting my date night.

"Tristan, long time no see!" - Lex greeted the tall boy with a wide smile as if he's seeing a dear relative or a long lost lover.

All three of them are uncomfortable with our approach, especially the omega. Not that Lex cared at all. It's like he's completely clueless about the potential danger.

"Hi Lex. Nice to see you again." - Tristan greeted him politely.

"You're trespassing on Crescent Moon pack territory." - I declared in an aggressive manner.

"We were just about to leave. Please don't call the authorities on us. We promise to get out of your way." - Tristan said with a frightful tone. Though all three of them looked scared.

"Relax, Ben! They just got here!" - Lex glared at me, defending them.

"It's fine, Lex. Your friend is right and we apologize for the trouble. We just needed some supplies and we're on our way." - Tristan stated humbly.

The omega kept staring at Teddy, who frowned and was irritated at him. Lisa - who came along too - was being ogled by Christian as if she's the only girl in the world.

"Why are you staring at me, rogue? Haven't you ever met a black person before?" - Teddy asked him in an aggressive tone, staring him down. It looks as if he's about to pounce at them at any moment.

"Funny." - He rolled his eyes in annoyance. - "You look just like a warrior from your pack we've met some time ago. That's why I'm staring." - Alistair replied, not afraid to face him. Though Teddy would probably crush him in a fight.

"That would be my father. You should be glad he left you alive. He's not in the habit of letting your kind roam through our land." - Teddy stated, defiantly.

"We weren't in your land at the time. And like Tristan said, we were just about to leave." - He said, intertwining his arm on Tristan's. Lex didn't like that at all.

"Where did you even get the money to buy anything?" - I inquired in an accusatory tone.

"We didn't steal this if that's what you're implying! Just because we're rogues it doesn't mean we don't respect this town or your pack!" - Alistair defended himself, angrily.

"Hi. I'm Christian and I'd just like to say you're very beautiful." - The blue eyed boy spoke for the first time, reaching out his hand to Lisa, who blushed.

"Nice to meet you, Christian. I'm Lisa." - She introduced herself, shaking his hand bashfully.

"We were just about to eat dinner. Are you guys hungry? Would you like to join us?" - Lex invited them, causing a shocked gasp to pass my lips.

What the fuck! This is my date! There's no way I'm having dinner with rogues! It was just supposed to be a romantic Friday evening with my friends.

A|N: I do love this song.

To be continued.

Love,

Léo.