"MINE!" I know he is not talking about me. I should have smelt him or something.

It isn't until I feel a strong tug on Riley's arm like someone is trying to pull her away that I realize he's talking about her. But the fact that she's shaking lets me know she's terrified. I shove her behind me in one fluid motion and am face to face with a leadership wolf. Not powerful enough for an Alpha position but my guess is a Beta. I get into a defensive pose and look him directly in the eyes. Bright green and slowly turning darker, I'm keeping him away from what he claims is 'his' and neither him nor his wolf appreciates it. "Back. Off." I warn with a small growl, I will not be intimidated beta or otherwise. Not with the way I grew up.

We no doubt have an audience from a few wolves but they won't dare intervene. Something in their nature tells them to stay out of it. It's disrespectful for other wolves to interfere on a one on one battle. "She is mine!" He growls and is about 2 seconds from trying to tear my head off.

"You're scaring her." I hiss and that brings him back to reality. That's the exact opposite effect you want from your mate. "Back. Off." I warn again before he takes the smallest step backward in history. I spin around to my best friend with a questioning glint in my eye. She's sniffing the air like she's snorting cocaine. Might as well be, the smell of your mate from what I hear is addicting and comforting. "You alright?"

She nods and tucks her hair behind her ear, a nervous tick of hers that I realize she hasn't grown out of. "He's leadership." She says.

"Beta." He says proudly interrupting me, and I don't have to look at him to know he's grinning. I roll my eyes and smile at my peaches. She gives me a reassuring head jolt basically saying she's okay and I can move. It's no secret that your mate won't hurt you, their goal is to make the other happy. Your mate is your world and you will do anything… and I mean anything to ensure they are safe.

My wolf moves me over, she's pissed I interfered in the first place. That I tried to keep mates apart, but I don't hesitate from her wishes and in less than a second Riley's wrapped up in his arms. His nose buried in the crook of her neck and inhaling deeply. "What's your name princess?"

She exhales shakily and whispers, "Riley daughter of Cory and Topanga previously with the Crescent Moon Pack." We don't have last names. We use our parents and pack name as our title, us wolves are old fashioned that way. It makes no difference at this point that she's a rogue, especially since her mate is a beta. "What's yours?"

"Riley, such a beautiful name for an exquisite creature." I notice her body tremble when her name rolled off his tongue. "Lucas. My name is Lucas." He barely manages to get that out before running his fingers through her hair. His arms holding tightly to what's his and though that sounds degrading in our world it is nothing more than flattering. "You smell so good. So gorgeous." He whispers, and I instantly approve. Her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink and because this is an intimate moment for them you'd think I'd look away.

But I can't. It's so beautiful. Though I don't want a mate and I have accepted that would mean solitude for me-especially since Riley will probably be moving into the pack house soon-I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy. The bell ringing wakes me from my depressing thoughts. "Riley." I whisper in hopes to not disturb them too much, however it doesn't seem as if Lucas is going to let her go any time soon. I can't say I blame him, I would imagine I'd want to just study my mate and learn every perfect imperfection. "Riles we have to get to class."

My hand reaches out for her but after she's tugged away from me a small growl rumbles in Lucas' chest. "She's mine." His voice husky and deep and very much in lust with my best friend. I take the time to get a good look at him, sandy blonde hair that is short but even now my best friend is running her fingers through it. His eyes are a bright emerald green and his skin holds a natural tan wrapped around a broad array of muscles.

All in all. Beta Lucas of the Twilight Pack is one attractive wolf.

"Yes you possessive son of a gun, she is. But, I had her first." I quip but he doesn't find it too funny. Riley strokes his cheek and leans back slightly.

"She's my best friend so be nice and we do have to get to class." Her voice is not at all demanding but sweet and kind just like her.

"Yes, lets. You're coming with me." Lucas playfully nips at her ear and tosses his arm over her shoulder before walking in the opposite direction.

So all of my effort to get her into my classes is wasted. Those words were hard to force out, I shrug my shoulders avoiding the glares I'm receiving from 'Sharp Features' and 'Tall Dark and Handsome'. Since I don't know their real names that's what I will refer to them as. "I mean no harm, but I have no desire to meet with your Alpha." Their eyes cloud over, obviously using their pack-link to communicate. With each other I'm assuming, but they could also be talking to Alpha Josh. I take the time to go to class, the halls are eerily silent so you can imagine when I open the door to the classroom all eyes are on me.

"Nice of you to join us rogue."

I glance at the teacher with a small smirk, clearly she's going to show favoritism. "I thought I'd grace you with my presence." I take the seat in the very back corner avoiding all sorts of eyes.

'Something is different.'

I avoid my scoff as to not draw further attention and glance out the window to my right. 'Yeah we're in a classroom of pack members and a super sweet teach.'

I shut her out but the insistent prying she has on my thoughts to get me to let her in is becoming very annoying. Almost as stubborn as I. My nostrils flare as I deeply inhale, my favorite scents invading my body. Freshly mowed grass and pine trees, oh my Goddess that is heavenly.

'MATE! MATE!'

Oh dear Goddess. 'Shush.'

I close her off again and desperately fight every instinct to look for my mate that smells like a manly version of the first days of spring. If I don't make eye contact it can't be confirmed, my wolf is snarling at me and using every bit of power to hunt him down. "Are you with us, Maya is it?"

"It is and no I'm not." My eyes never once leaving the window.

I don't acknowledge the satisfied growl that's muffled underneath laughter. He knows I'm his mate, he knows and I can practically guarantee that the only reason I'm not wrapped up in his arms is because I'm a rogue. Rogues as previously mentioned are hated by a vast majority of pack population, a few bad run-ins and suddenly we're all terrible. "Then you are more than welcome to leave."

I smirk, just a way to get away from my so-called mate. "Gladly." I lift my bag and trudge out of class making a split decision to go wait in the cafeteria until my next class.

'GO BACK TO MATE'

'Honey if he wanted us then he should have come and got us.' Not that it would have made a difference. However, I do find myself missing his scent. I'm so distracted with my thoughts that I didn't hear 3 wolves coming up behind me. A hand comes to my wrist and my first instinct is to fight, I'm completely disregarding the tingles that are shooting up my arm and the intoxicating scent invading my senses. With one fluid motion my freed elbow connects to someone's jaw and I do a backflip out of his hold before sprinting down the hallway.

The growl that occurs next sends shivers of satisfaction and utter lust through my body. But his growl also informs me that he's an Alpha, oh shit. "LEAVE US!" I just inadvertently challenged the Alpha. In my defense I just thought they were going to attack, though it makes no difference. I know he's right behind me, and the tackle I receive lets me know how close. I manage to wiggle out of his grasp and fly to my feet.

Holy mother of Goddess. The Alpha is sex on a stick, AKA my mate! Of course he's my mate, because the Moon Goddess knows how much I despise Alpha's and packs so why not try and force me to mate with a male who leads one. His dark shaggy hair is begging me to run my fingers through it, his deep brown eyes boring into me and showing every emotion flickering through him. Curiosity, lust, passion and anger. His naturally tan skin and broad muscles fill out that leather jacket like it was made for him. His nose is slightly crooked, probably from being broken as a child before he got his wolf and somehow it makes him even more luscious. Speaking of luscious, those lips. Sweet and pink and tempting.

So tempting. "You?" I tear my gaze off of his lips and glance at his eyes. "You are my mate?"

My wolf whimpers with his disdain and I internally wince as well. "Feelings mutual." I snap back in a feeble attempt to win back a little pride.

"You're a rogue." He seethes. If only he knew what I truly was.

I scoff and unknowingly clench my fists, "And you're an arrogant Alpha. If we're done with this foreplay I'll be going now." I hesitantly take a step back and drop my fists, hopefully as a sign of peace. I lean down to get my bag when I'm slammed into the lockers.

Son of a rogue.

I growl and squirm against his hold on my wrists as he buries his nose in my hair. "For a disgusting rogue you smell delicious."

And that fuels me even more. Even my wolf is growling at his words, but is fighting me when I need to use her strength. However I win out and use all of my power to push him off of me. The brute force I applied only moves him back a few feet and to stumble. Damn Alphas. Without a second thought and ignoring his eyes that are flickering amber because of his wolf I lunge at him and tackle him on the ground. My left hand clutches his throat, not to choke him but just to hold him there until my fist connects to his face. "If I'm so disgusting and unworthy of your damn presence then just reject me! Alpha asshole!"

I'm shoved off of him and he rolls on top. "You will respect your Alpha!" He growls in an effort to intimidate me but even when he's throwing out insults and growling I can't help but think how smooth and husky his voice is. It does things to my body I've never before felt.

I chuckle manically because what I'm about to say is going to piss him off even more. "As you've said, I'm a rogue, a disgusting rogue that just so happens to smell good to you. You are not my Alpha." My feet somehow manage to get out of the hold and I again kick him off of me. "We can go round and round all day." I sigh, in the end it will pretty much be at a standstill.

A girl walks into the hallway and unknowingly into our battlefield and my focus shifts to her. "Leave." I demand and she does so without trepidation.

A hearty laugh that dances in my ears brings me back to reality that I've been fighting with my mate. Literally fighting, well I have. The Alpha here has simply been detaining me. "Who are you to command my pack?"

"Clearly she listened. Smart girl." I retort and my wolf is slowly losing hope that our mate wants us. In fact it's been made very clear he doesn't. His eyes shamelessly rake over my body, from my blonde hair down to my toes. Not that there's a whole lot to take in, I find myself decently attractive but I'm also 5 foot 1, and that's pushing it.

His burning gaze lasts minutes and I find myself uncomfortably fidgeting. All my wolf wants is for me to throw myself at him, just lunge into his arms and ultimately jump his bones. However I have a strong feeling he wouldn't catch us. "If you're done finding all my flaws. I'll be going now. Would hate to trouble your presence with a disgusting rogue now wouldn't I." I don't miss the emotions that he's trying to hide in his eyes.

Guilt, and regret. Just because I see them doesn't mean I'm going to point it out. I ensure to maintain eye contact with him so he can see that the damage he was-I'm sure hoping to inflict was done.

I lift my bag off the ground and start to walk away. This is the part where I'd like to say he follows me apologizing for being such an ass, and sweeps me off my feet. But sadly this isn't a movie and no such thing happens. It's kind of disheartening isn't it, the one person who was destined to love me no matter what, doesn't give me a chance. I didn't want a mate, I'll be the first to admit that but it still hurts. And after coming to the realization he was an Alpha- which makes me both livid and coil with fear for personal reasons- I still didn't reject him. So now as I'm walking away, the only sound in the halls is my heels clacking and I'm attempting to keep my head high, but epically failing.

'Mate?' She whines and questions at the same time.

I gulp, afraid of what's going to happen and the emotions that will swirl within me whenever I say, 'It isn't looking good.'

Not good at all.

And then an unexplainable pain runs through me.

I ended up leaving school, great first impressions that I've made on just about everyone. I couldn't stop the miserable and depressing emotions seeping from my wolf, which inevitably turns me into a blubbering mess. I don't know why she's so sad, she knew I didn't want a mate. I told her that and even though she consistently argued with me, it isn't like I didn't prepare her for it. I just need to nurse my wounds and go back to school with my head held high, because ultimately I want to learn.

Even right now I'm going over every second, no matter how fleeting that I spent with my mate. How his words though they were cruel, left those luscious lips. And his touch, which was anything but gentle still sent sparks up and down my arm and shivers down my spine. Not to mention his scent that had me drooling. However the look of pure hatred in his eyes pulls me out of those brief memories and back to reality.

The reality where I don't want a mate and he doesn't want me. Unfortunately, I'm not going to reject him. He'll have to do that, my wolf has threatened me one too many times.

'I won't allow a shift if you reject mate.'

'You forget he's basically rejected us.'

'HE HASN'T SAID THE WORDS!'

You see my dilemma. If I allow myself to be honest, the idea of rejecting him pains me so much so that even if my wolf doesn't threaten me, I highly doubt I would do it anyways. This whole not having a mate thing is a lot harder than I thought now that I've found him. "Maya?"

I blink several times and watch as Riley saunters inside. "Hey peaches. I'm surprised you aren't moving into the pack house."

The small smile on her lips fades quickly, "I was wanting to talk to you-"

"Go." I whisper with a grin. "It's fine, I one hundred percent understand." My arms snake around her neck and I pull her even closer to me. "Just be safe okay, I can't be there to protect you." Another swift jolt of pain enters my body. I'm going to be alone again, even considering she was only here for one night we picked up right where we left off and now she's leaving. And honestly I do understand that she wants to be with Lucas, the mate pull AKA the 'bond' that they let bloom today would tug on their hearts until they were beside one another, if not in their arms.

"Are you okay?"

No. "Of course I am. I'm so happy you found your mate. You've dreamt of finding him for as long as I can remember." Isn't that the truth? "As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

And her smile tells me everything I need to know. "He's so sweet Maya." Like a little school girl all over again, I internally wince when jealousy and envy rush through my veins. "I never thought I'd be in a pack again. I just assumed once I found you, you and I would roam free."

It's noticeable that the longer she thinks about this, the more inclined she'll feel to stay. "You're welcome anytime. And tell Lucas I'll kick his ass if he hurts you. I have no problem doing so."

She nods and tucks some hair behind her ear, "At lunch though I was introduced to the Alpha." My muscles tense and my wolf is all ears at the mention of her mate. "He asked if I knew you. I guess he smelt you from my dress, but do you know him? Did you already cause trouble?"

You have no idea. "What'd you say to him?" I question in a feeble attempt to dodge her nosy side.

"The truth. That we were best friends growing up and I left to reunite with you and I found you yesterday and living here. I couldn't really lie, especially if I want to be a part of his pack. I even think he was about to use his Alpha command."

Sounds about right, Alpha's doing anything and everything to get their way. Never wanting to work for anything and expecting things to be handed to them on a silver platter. Even their title is more often than not handed down, at least 98 percent of the time. If there was one thing I could take away from leadership it would be 'Alpha Commands', your wolf submits to higher power and ranking. You couldn't defy even if you try. "But he left me alone after that, occasionally he'd turn my direction and sniff making my mate extremely uncomfortable but I suspect it wasn't my scent he was searching for." My blue eyes meet her brown ones and it isn't a statement, more of a question. The curiosity shining through her orbs. "Is your mate the Alpha?"

I run my hands through my hair and despite my attempts to stifle it I'm bitterly chuckling. "Funny huh. I never wanted a mate, and I hate Alpha's. And look at where I am."

"But that's so great you found your mate!"

I shake my head and tell her everything from the classroom and the teacher I'd like to attack and the punch I threw at the Alpha to the moment I left. The terrible things he said and how my wolf hasn't stopped whining and crying since. "I wasn't what he expected."

"He thinks you're a rogue." Riley stares at me innocently.

"Yeah because I am a rogue."

I knit my brows together in confusion. "You and I both know you are much more than a rogue. If you just tell him he'll-"

I cut her off and take her hand in mine, "If the only reason he accepts me is because he finds out I'm more than a rogue than I deserve better." It's like he'd be a freaking gold digger.

Truth is, I'm not just a rogue. Though I left 6 years ago, I'm the next Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack.

Thank you all so much for reading. Let me know what you think!