Jonquil - “This Fucking Sucks” 

“Good morning, class. As you know Mrs. Shearer has gone on maternity leave, and I will be teaching your calculus class for the rest of the year. I am not so formal, so while you can call me Mr. Goodman, I would prefer if you just used Ares.” 

I wasn’t paying attention at all to whatever was going on at the front of the classroom. Some substitute was introducing himself while I was composing a well thought out essay for literature class. Ok, not well thought out, but I was getting it done on time for once! I was so into my writing I didn’t notice the silence in the classroom. 

I didn’t notice anything at all until the most enchanting scent came my way. It was unlike any cologne the boys in school usually wore. It was a mature woodsy scent with a refreshing hint of lavender. I could feel myself relax, my heart rate slowing, and my writing became less frantic.  

I stopped. With my pencil hovering over the paper as I felt not just a presence standing by me at my desk, but one inside. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. I didn’t want this. Not yet. Not this way. My wolf, finally making herself known inside of me, “Look up, look up, look up! It’s mate!” I closed my eyes against her flurry of thoughts in my head. Taking a breath of this heady scent, I raised my head and opened my eyes to see what boy in my class the Goddess had chosen for me. 

Oh, this was no boy. “Mine,” I whispered under my breath as I looked at our substitute teacher. Short dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, and my Goddess he was tall. Who, in their right mind, gives a shorty like me a skyscraper for a mate? AND HE’S AN ADULT! I am only 16 years old; this is NOT ok! “Jonquil! Shut up! He is mate. He is perfect and wonderful and my Goddess, I want him,” my wolf scolded me.  

For his part, he said nothing at first. Also did not look at all surprised. He had a small smile on his face as he reached for my paper, slipping it out from my hands with ease. “We will talk about this,” he waved the paper, “after class.” He turned and walked away casually, as if the mate bond had no power over him.  

I tried desperately to unscramble my thoughts through calculus. Evangeline introduced herself and reiterated her excitement at our mate. If she knows me, though, she knows this is not what I wanted. Every werewolf girl dreams of this day, except me. They want magic and the tingles and the ease of finding perfection. Many humans wish for this as well. But for me, I wanted the back and forth of getting to know someone. Falling in love rather than just finding each other. Not to mention, how old is this man?  

I decided. I’ll reject him. Evangeline begged me not to do it. I tried explaining to her how wrong it was to mate a child with an adult. I was still arguing with her when the bell rang, and class ended. With the heaviest steps I've ever taken, I approached him at the desk.  

Without looking up, he held my paper out for me to take. “Tell me if this is going to happen all year long, Miss....?” He looked up, and I could feel the pull of the bond with his eye contact. I think I forgot to breathe. He stood up, still holding the paper, and glanced around the empty room. In that second, I panicked. My body and my wolf hoped he’d sneak a kiss since we’re alone, I can’t lie, I kinda hoped too. This bond shit was strong.  

“Don’t worry,” he said in a thick, calming tone as he moved closer to me, looking down from on high, “I’m not into children.” He shook his head and laughed. 

I... I did not laugh. I grabbed my paper and kicked his shin as hard as I could, as my face turned red in embarrassment. He yelped in pain and fell back into his seat, a smirk on his face even as he rubbed his injury. Smirk? I’ll show him a smirk. 

I put on my cockiest smile, “I, Jonquil Louise Milner, of the Creek Run pack, re-” 

In an instant he was back up out of his chair. He grabbed me with one arm and put his hand over my mouth, “Don’t you dare,” he growled. 

The warm, exciting tingles bloomed at each place his skin touched mine. Somehow, my face managed to get warmer. Evangeline cheered him on from inside of me, begging for kisses and more touches. 

“You don’t know what you’re doing.” Ares’ eyes darkened; his wolf was just as angry as he was. “Rejection is not a game. Some wolves die from it. Are you willing to kill just so you can go chase whatever silly dream is in your head?” He let go of me and uncovered my mouth, guiding me to sit on the student desk behind me.  

Evangeline whimpered and I shivered at the loss of his touch. I sheepishly looked down at my hands as I fidgeted under his gaze. My emotions and thoughts became turbulent. Is my dream silly? Should I just accept the mate the Goddess had chosen for me? What do I do? Drop out of school and go be a good wife? I didn’t just want to fall in love, I wanted college, and roommates. Late nights at a diner surrounded by friends. Wives don’t do those things. I know I’ll never be a typical wife, and I can’t imagine what kind of wolf wants a mate like me? I would never be content with baking bread and making pups! 

Ares sat on his own desk facing me. “Look,” he started out quietly, “maybe I shouldn’t have teased you that way. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but this is uncomfortable for me too. I never imagined I’d walk into class and find out a student is meant to be my mate.” He sighed and I kept my eyes fixed on my hands, waiting for whatever came next. “I meant only that I recognize you’re too young to be mated. Regardless of the bond, and whatever our wolves say, there is no rush.”  

He reached out to me and lifted my head to face him. “You’re my mate. Whatever your dreams are, they are my dreams too.” 

I could feel a tear escaping and running down my cheek. He brushed his thumb over it, wiping it away. “Why,” I asked, “why do you seem unaffected by this feeling?” 

He smiled softly, “Let’s discuss that another time. You should probably get to your next class.” 

“Oh shit! My essay!” I hopped off the desk and grabbed it where it had landed, forgotten on the floor. I couldn’t even remember if I had finished it. I turned to walk out, but looked back, “Ares,” his name came out so softly. He looked at me, listening. “That’s a dumb name.” 

He grinned, “Not any dumber than Jonquil.” 

I stuck my tongue out at him before walking out the door. This fucking sucks.