In fall, I found you

Chapter 01: Him

Him, on The Bench Rows

Being normal is a privilege and I'm one of those lucky one.

Having a caring parent, nice siblings, good best friends, living safely, I felt like I already had every basic need that all humans desire. Our family has a stable financial condition, so I only need to focus on my studies and what I'm going to do in the future. Well, I always wanted something exciting to happen to me but I'm grateful for my mundane life.

Everything in my life was supposed to be easy, and in fact it is. There's just a pleasant surprise that disrupted my highschool life. I found you and uncovered many secrets.

Our world collides because of a string called fate. Nevertheless, I'll never let you go.

.

It was the last game of the year. At the end of autumn, when winter is almost here.
I was in the car with my sister to watch our brother's last football game of this season. She parked the car, telling me to meet back here after the match, and jumped out of the car. She went straight to her friends.

I also climbed out and headed towards mine. We agreed to meet tonight.
I saw a man and a woman leaning on the fence near the field entrance. I wave at them and they soon notice me.
"Ugh, I hate this smell," Beatrix groaned as she covered her mouth and nose with a mask. She has long wavy black hair and even darker eyes. If it was not because she always hides her face and avoids people, many would fall for her.

"Ren, do you want a hotdog?" Lucas asked as he dragged me to queue with him. Lucas has light brown hair and green eyes, sometimes it weirdly looks yellow. He's such an easy going person, completely different from Beatrix who is always grumpy and annoyed.
I just shook my head to answer his question. "Three please," Lucas said, handing the coins to the man behind the stall. I helped receive the food and walked.
"For you?" I asked Bea as I offered one of the hotdogs to her. Bea shows a disgusted look towards the food. Neither of us has ever been a big eater.
"Nope, they are all mine," Lucas said as we headed to the field.

We climbed the bench and took a seat in the middle row. Two rows behind the group of cheerleaders where I spot my sister and her friends. We talked and waited as the audience started pouring in and took their seats.

When the whistle blew the game started. 

Our high schools wear blue and yellow uniforms while the opposing team wears black and red. It's kinda hard for me to really see their dark outfit at night, but I can still grasp the situation.
The field was loud from cheers. Everyone was excited for the game, heating the bench. It was almost winter but people's excitement warmed the cold. This opponent was strong in comparison to many previous games. Still, our highschool has one of the best football clubs in this state for a reason.
Even Bea, who hates being in the crowds and always complains about unpleasant smells, looks excited and cheers loudly for our school's team.

An hour passed. It was almost the end of the game. 

Everyone felt nervous as our school only led a few points ahead. They were on a short time out, the team gathered in a circle, discussing final strategy with the coach. I spotted my brother from his auburn hair, the same color as mine and our sister. He seemed focused but I know he's just really excited to face a strong opponent.
He lacks competitiveness and just enjoys good games. He practices hard and joins the team to get a scholarship for college. Because he's just that good. I often envy his physical talent.

I shifted to look at the other team. I felt odd seeing them. Their faces were not familiar. I often watched the game to support my brother but never saw them around. Well, Lucas said that they are a new team.
Still, I could see that they have a great collaboration. They moved as one body, almost like they could read each other's mind. But that's impossible.
One thing that they lacked is good strategies and experience. Sometimes they looked awkward, like an ammature. Perhaps because they had not faced that many opponents? They also look like they're holding themselves. Weird.

After observing them for a while, my eye kept drawing back to one guy. He looked like the captain of the team. The one who led their strategy meeting. I was attracted to him the first time I saw him, even when he put all his gears which covered his face. Blond hair and tan skin. A typical high school crush. I chuckled to myself. It's silly. Even my taste in people seems common.

The whistle blows and they end their discussion. They start to run back to the field. As they once again entered the game, the blond-haired man suddenly looked at our bench.
It was very brief but when our eyes met, I could feel something tingling inside. Like I've been waiting to meet this person. What supposed to be seconds feel like minutes, just looking at each other.

The loud cheer from the cheerleader broke our gaze, returning my attention back to reality.
The game continues.

--

I almost didn't notice the scent when I first came.

A very faint sweet scent that I could only smell at a certain area on the field. The wolf inside me becomes restless and I know she's near. My mate.

I'm one of the few who haven't met their mate since their sixteenth birthday. She's not in our pack and I become anxious as one by one, my friend found their mate after their birthday. It's been almost two year. I've tried to attend several meet ups but haven't found her.
My parents told me to keep calm. I'll find her soon. But, as the first son of the Alpha, I feel like I have this responsibility to lead the pack and continue the line. So for that, I really need a mate. 

"You okay, Dan? You seem unfocused," Jeremy, my Beta asked me.
"Yeah, I'm fine man," I assured him.
Our coach kept explaining what we should do in the last minutes to gain points and turn the game. Even with our abilities to read each other's mind as a werewolf pack, we were against the strongest team in this state. They have a good skill, teamwork, and also strategy. They really live up to their name, showing their credibility.
Besides, we need to limit our power to look normal.

I remember the scent felt stronger around the cheerleaders of the opponent team. Is she amongst one of those girls? It would be hard to have a human mate but I'm committed to protect her and make her happy as my Luna, whoever she is.

Once in a while, I took a glance at that section. Trying to find out who's my mate. Her scent is so weak and I feel I need to really focus to find her. And on the last break, I try to scan the audience's bench once more. It would be hard to find who she is once the game is over, she could have left the field. This is my only chance.

For the last time, I give a quick scan to the girls who look excited and cheer loudly for the opponents team. I could see some blush forms and giggling faces when I met their eyes briefly. I ignored it, it was not them. Trying to look further.

It was then, I accidentally looked at someone, a few rows behind, sitting at the edge of the bench. Someone with an auburn hair, flawless face, and calm demeanor.

"Mate!"

I found you.

.

-- Author Note (1/12)

The time I published this first chapter, I already wrote the ending of this story. Just need to fill some chapters and edit them all. Sounds exciting right? I'll update every Saturday and Sunday until it finishes.
This story was inspired by classic werewolf/mate/supernatural trope that you often found here, with some twist. Hope you enjoy ^^

(For those who read my other story, I'm sorry that I need to do this first :bow:)