Mates of a Human

Part One. Chapter Three. Alex.

Though the wounds were still raw, I met Monday with a fake smile and a perfectly fitted mask.  My homework for Chemistry was given an A and it was steak, again, on the lunch menu.  My chips were all stolen before Marcus and Jenny sat down to join us.  I hadn't even realised that she attended this school.  I really have had only Marcus on the brain for so many years.  Now I was suffering from karma or something.

"Marcus tells me you are studying to be a doctor," Jenny said to me, trying to engage me in conversation, "but isn't that supernatural biology?"  I had my homework out on the table, I was just giving it the once over before I handed it in after lunch.

"Yeah," I agreed.  "I know it's unlikely that I'd ever treat supernaturals for ailments in a human hospital, but you never know.  Besides, I find it interesting."

"I still think you should become a pack doctor?" Marcus grumbled, he was holding Jenny's hand firmly in his own as they picked at their lunch.

"That would be boring," I complained, half-heartedly.  There was a time I had considered it, desperately hoping to be as close to Marcus as long as possible.  But it would be sheer torture for me in my current state to see Marcus all lovey dovey with his mate day in day out.  I needed to reconnect with other humans and maybe even date amongst them and get over this love of mine.  "You wolves hardly ever get sick and I really don't want to be a midwife."

"So you'll be going to university after we graduate," Jenny said and I nodded in agreement.  There would not be too many wolves following suit, most would find jobs or be more involved with the pack way of life.  Marcus would be learning the ropes from his dad and training hard against the day that others would challenge him for the Alpha status.  David and Charles would be training too, there would be beta and gamma ranks to fill.

"You never said," Marcus frowned, with a slight pout.  My heart skipped a beat.  Don't get me wrong, I know why Marcus is reacting this way.  He doesn't like the potential change to his 'pack' and as far as he is concerned, I am pack.

"How else am I going to be a first class Doctor and cure the common cold?" I joked, wolves still get light colds now and then, but you would have thought it was flu from the way Marcus carries on about it.

"Ah, someone is going to miss their pet human!" David said in cruel jest, causing the whole table to fall to silence.  That hurt, it really did.  It's not like others haven't probably thought this about me, hell, even I did once or twice, but for one of the guys I considered a friend?  Not a close friend, but still... he said the words out loud.

"David, for fucks sake," Marcus growled.  "You have been nothing but a complete arsehole since the summer.  I know you were disappointed, but stop taking it out on Alex, Charles and Adam!"  I glanced over at the big man, who shrugged and quietly ate his steak.  Jenny rubbed her hands over Marcus' arms, trying to calm him down.  She was so blessed that she had that privilege and that effected me more than David's hurtful words.

"Dammit," I said throwing my homework into my bag.  "I left my notes in my locker, so I'm going to head over there before class starts.  I'll see you guys later."  There were a few responses, but although Marcus expression was pitiful, he was soon wrapped up in Jenny's sympathetic arms.  David sneered at me and I was wondering now just how long he has hated me for.  Is it just because I am human amongst wolves? Or is he really just lashing out, in as much pain as I was, just unable to suffer in silence?

I felt another set of eyes on me as I headed for my locker, which I walked past and into the boys toilets.  Bloody hell, they were rank.  Could the guys not aim straight or something?  I would have placed my aching head against the cool tiles, but I was worried about urine and germs so I resisted.  I washed my hands though, even though I didn't do anything, I'd already touched the handles of the door after all.

I shook off the excess water and turned to leave, when I was faced by a large chest of dark muscle.  "Fuck, it stinks in here," Charles bitched and held his nose.

"I know right?" I replied, staring straight at his chin.

He crossed his arms about his chest.  "How long?"

"How long what?" I asked, clueless to what he was referring to.

"How long have you been in love with him?"  My head shot up and I starred at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

"I don't know what you mean," I said, dismissively, looking to go around him and leave.

He did not let me move though, his silent stare was almost as powerful as Marcus' dominant growl.  I really wanted to show him my neck in submission, dammit, I really was a human pet!  "Ever since I met Adam," Charles began to say.  "I feel like I've become more aware of certain things around me.  I think it's my wolf looking for threats and shit, trying to know his surroundings so he can protect his mate.  But it's also made me see other things that I have never noticed before."

"Like?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Like how your neck twitches when Marcus comes over all Alpha," he purred close to my ear, causing me to shiver.  "And how your eyes seem to soften just a little when you look at him.  And how you breath in just a little deeper when he hugs you."  My eyes must have been filled with panic as he added after pulling away; "I don't think anyone else has realised.  It's not like I don't know how dense that lot is.  Like I was."

"Don't tell him," I begged in whisper.  "There's no point in him knowing."

"I agree there is no point in him knowing," Charles said, "but is there no point in you telling?  Would it not be better to get it off of your chest?"

I shook my head.  "It won't be long, just another term, then final exams and I'll be out of here for university.  He has Jenny, the mate he has always wanted and I can tell that he already loves her.  I know I couldn't possibly come between them, the Moon Goddess knows they are perfect for each other.  But I don't want to do anything to even remotely blot their blossoming relationship."

Charles sighed deeply and took me into his arms to give me a companionable hug.  I returned it, I would have squeezed his body tightly, but I would probably break my arms attempting to do so.  I just rested my forehead on his chest instead.  "Your mate is very lucky, by the way," I murmured into his chest.  "And very beautiful."

"I know," Charles replied.  "I'm sure the Moon Goddess has someone in mind for you as well."  I laughed, doubting that.  I am after all human and one of the Sun God's people.  He has a strict policy of non-interference.

"It would be so much easier if I could hate her," I grumbled, he knew I meant Jenny and not the Goddess.  "But she is such a good girl."

"She'll be the perfect Luna," Charles agreed.

"I know right?" I said and loosened my hold upon him.  I hoped I didn't look a right mess, but one glance in the mirror told me that this hope was false.  I sighed and moved to the sink as he let me go, in order to wash my face. 

"It'll be alright," Charles said, hoping to give me some hope for my own future.

"It will," I agreed.  "I will graduate, go to university, become a Doctor, marry and have five kids."

"So you are bisexual then?" Charles asked, moving to wash his own hands and the slight stain I might have left on his shirt.

"Actually, I don't know," I admitted.  "I've only ever looked at Marcus.  I can say other people are good looking or pretty, but I've never experienced attraction to anyone else."

"Well," Charles stated as he flicked the water from his thick fingers.  "Whoever finally pins you down is a lucky bastard."

"Definitely," I agreed, even if I did not feel that way myself.  "Now lets get out of here, the stench is starting to stick!"