Shifting Love

Chapter 2: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mate

"Hurry up Ari! You are going to make us late for our midterm," Hannah exclaimed. She dragged my arm away from my locker. Freddie groaned when I pulled his arm and took him with us.

Freddie had been my high school crush until I found my mate. We used to go on runs together and we even went on a few dates. His eighteenth birthday passed last year. We knew we weren't mates but we still enjoyed each other's company.

When I woke up this morning I decided to push Tristan and his 'more time' attitude out of my mind. I had already been doing that since the funeral so it was easy.

"Ari, slow down!" he laughed as we all raced into the classroom.

Hannah was my best friend since the beginning of high school. She had short black hair with bright red streaks. Her bright blue eyes made her seem innocent but she was far from it. She could get away with anything. Last month on her eighteenth birthday she discovered her mate was my cousin Jerry. I was more than happy she would become a part of my family next year when he turned eighteen.

Both she and Freddie were from the Hollows pack. Tristan was their Alpha but neither of them knew he was my mate.

"When are you going to give that up?" she asked under her breath. We took our assigned seats on the opposite side of the room from Freddie.

"Why can't I have a little fun with him?" I asked. I gave him a little wave and a smile.

Hannah rolled her eyes at his eager response, "It's just wrong."

"My mate sure isn't going to care," I mumbled under my breath. Hannah gasped and I knew she heard me.

"You found him? When? Who?" she asked excitedly.

"Months ago and you wouldn't even believe me if I told you," I informed her, "It doesn't matter anyways. He denied me."

"No!" she gasped in shock.

"Yes, last night we talked it over and he informed me I was still a child."

"I'm going to kill him."

Pain rippled through my chest. A low growl sound in my throat. The need to protect my mate swelled in my chest.

"Sorry," she apologized quickly. I knew it wasn't a real threat but my emotions were out of control.

"Mind your own business," I snapped. Our nosy classmates were taking a sudden interest in our conversation.

"Tell me later?" Hannah asked.

"Of course."

Randall, our professor, walked into class and commanded our attention.

"Okay class, today I want only a pencil on your desk. No talking, no cheating, no wandering eyes. Don't even think about using your mind link to ask classmates for answers. I gave everyone a different test. You have two hours the moment I hand you the test. Any questions?"

No one dared to speak.

"Good."

He walked around the desks and handed us each our tests. My eyes glazed over and I shakily penciled in my name at the top. God, I better pass this thing or I was in big trouble.

Before I knew it the bell was ringing. I walked to the front of the classroom and handed Randall the midterm. I collected my things and left for my last lesson of the day. I shared my Wolf History lesson with Freddie. Hannah had to go across the school to Languages of the World.

I said goodbye to her. I promised to meet up before our night lesson and finish our conversation. Freddie had left the exam early. He was a genius and finished within an hour.