Next In Line

There he was.

Just sitting there, surrounded by his friends. But he was staring at me.

Does he know too?

No. He couldn't know about the connnecton, the fact that we were mates. As far as I knew, even my name could've been unknown information.

Hello, Cassie.

I stiffened, my back rod-straight against the edge of my table.

"Cass? You okay?" I looked over at the manicured hand on my shoulder, surprised that I hadn't noticed it until now. My eyes followed the arm up until I reached my Leah's worried eyes. I smiled at her, she always noticed when sometihng was up; one of the reasons that she'd been my best friend since that day in second grade when I stole her popsicle. I smirked at the memory, then turned back to her.

"Yeah, Leah. I'm fine. But I just heard Mason," I told her, lowering my voice. She was the only one who I told about Mason and I being mates, and the only person outside of the two families that knew.

"Wait. Heard him? Like he spoke through the connection?" I could tell she was trying not to bounce up and down with excitement. I mean, who wouldn't? Her short-tempered best friend had finally found a mate. I'll admit that even I was excited. I mean, c'mon, I got to see who I would spend the rest of my life with. We were going to be so cute together, the it couple, pranking the entire school together...

Then I found out that it was Mason Wilson, school player and next in line to be the pack Alpha. Yep, that was a surprise. No one in the school really knows that his dad is Alpha of our pack, but when I found out there was only one thought running laps through my mind.

I was going to be the Alpha's mate.

I noticed that Leah had stopped trying to get my attention, and looked to see her asleep on the bench next to me. I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. Only Leah...

What was Blondie's problem? Someone feed her redbull for breakfast?

I jumped, and looked over to see Mason staring at me, a smirk forming on his lips at my reaction.

Stop that.

Stop what?

Scaring me like that. You can't just pop into my head whenever you feel like it.

But I can, babe. We're mates now.

NO! We aren't until you mark me.

He laughed at me from across quad, earning him a few confused looks from his friends.

There's one more step to that, baby.

I looked up again. He was smirking at me. I didn't know how much more of his teasing I could take. I truly had to fight the urge to run over and kiss him. When I met his eyes, I could see he felt the same way.

No, Mason. Not here...

I want you, Cassie Tasman.

My breathing hitched in my chest when I heard those words. I peeked at him from under my eyelashes, and even from about 15 feet away from him I could still see the mixed emotions in his eyes. Pride, lust, frustration, passion, tenderness, and many more. I was sure he could see the conflict in mine as well.

Trust me, Mason. I want you too. But I need time to get used to this.

Cassie. You've known for two months. I've known for a month, and I'm ready to be with you. Come over to my house tonight.