My Fated Mate

2. First Day

Lucian

Today was my first day as a teacher. Even though I had majored in economics, I had enough credits to get my minor in Fine Arts, which is how I became the local public high schools' newest faculty member, taking over my own teachers job as an art teacher.

I loved art class in high school. Mrs. Walker was my favorite teacher too. It was weird taking over her old classroom and being in the school halls without her. She retired and moved to Florida with her husband.

If my father were still alive today he would be disappointed in me. He took me in as his own son and groomed me to be the next Beta of the Sentinel Pack. Teaching was for mated wolves and omegas. Being an unmated wolf, living in apartments that smelled like a men's locker room and Febreze, I was considered an outcast. My mom got pregnant, by the grace of the moon goddess, and my brother Grant was born almost a full decade after me. Alpha saw this as a sign and had my adoptive father groom Grant to become the next Beta.

I'd probably see Grant around the school, not that he'd want to be seen with me. He told me it wasn't cool to have his brother teach high school art class. But he was a freshman this year and I was the only art teacher so he'd have to suck it up.

Cleaning up the room a bit, I took one last glance over my schedule and wrote my name 'Mr. Knight' on the smartboard. Thankfully I didn't have a first period class, so when the bell rang I was able to calm my nerves and take off my suit jacket. Today was the only day I was wearing this because I had a few oil paintings I wanted to work on and there was no way I was going to be in a suit while painting.

But I wanted to make a good first impression and show my authority to the younger wolves. I'm the only shapeshifting teacher in this school. The elementary and middle schools had a handful of omegas teaching which was more common.

The second bell rang and I was ready for my first class. Grant was helpful in putting out an aura of authority during my class that kept everyone in line. By 5th period I felt exhilarated, like I could really do this.

And then it hit me. A scent that woke my dormant wolf up. It was like a fall scented candle but better. Like the best smelling apple pie with extra cinnamon and a dash of vanilla.

'Mate.' Noir, my wolf, stirred and said the one word I had been waiting years to hear.

I'm in deep shit.

Tessa

Art with Mrs.Walker had been one of my favorite classes. But not this year. Just like the rest of my senior year experience this was screwed up too.

I walked in and took a seat with Mark. He was planning on applying to the top art schools. It was rare to see him without a sketchbook and pencil. The one today was large and he had a charcoal piece with him.

The tables were four architect-like desks that moved up and down. I chose one that still had all of its functions but most of them were broken and dirty. The art budget had been cut a year earlier. No wonder Mrs. Walker decided to retire.

I felt a jab hit my shoulder and breast, likely on accident, by Mark. "Look, the new teacher has been staring over here since we got in. Do you think Mrs. Walker told him about my art school applications?"

The new teacher was definitely a werewolf. I nodded at him but his dark hazel eyes were icy and unmoving. He was attractive in a suit, although why he wore that to teach art class was beyond me. He had brown hair with natural blond mixed in. Long, wavy and a tad unkempt, probably from how many times he'd run his hands through it. He had more than a 5 o'clock shadow which made him look older. As a wolf, I'm sure he was in great shape. I wondered if any of the other wolves going here knew about him. Was he in our pack? If so, how did I miss seeing him around?