Woof (ON HOLD)

Ch1: Mace

He bumped into me. That's all he did. I looked up at him and felt a wave of... I don't know what it was. It was like getting shocked from static electricity, but pleasing and warm.

I looked up at him and blushed. He was blushing too. He looked like he was lost in a dream, his amber eyes looking sleepy and happy. He shook himself when I apologized, his soft features twisting into an utterly horrified expression.

He ran down the hall, away from me, pushing his slender fingers through his golden hair. I stared after him, confused.

Did I do something? I shivered, feeling like my world got turned upside down. That little spark... did something.

The bell rang and sent me and a handful of kids scurrying, rushing to our classes. As I jogged down the hall, the school uniform restricting my stride, I wondered what he was thinking.

Did he like me? He hardly ever looked at me in class and I was pretty sure he didn't know my name. Hell, I didn't know his name. All I knew was it started with 'M'. Jesse would know.

English passed quickly and Jesse met up with me on the way to Sterling's class; Biology.

"I don't know his name. He sits in the back, super tall and intimidating, blonde, dark-ish skin?" He looked at me, his green eyes laughing, "You mean Mace Mitchell? The top pick for the Silvers?" I raised an eyebrow; the Quick Silvers?

They were one of two werewolf councils that ruled Lake Shire and all three hundred acres of surrounding land, the other being the Novas, who were reckless and rude, unlike the Quick Silvers.

They were kind and compassionate, leading with equal strength and cunning, fighting with stealth.

"He's a Silver? Huh..." He nudged my shoulder, "C'mon, what happened with him? Did he pull your skirt up?" I punched his shoulder, making him wince and flick his red hair out of his eyes. "No, you perv! He bumped into me and... it was weird. It felt like he shocked me, but it was nice. It didn't hurt me, it... made me feel like I was flying."

Jesse gaped at me, "He's your mate!" I clapped a hand over his mouth, "Shut up! He is not." "Is too! It's different for everyone, but he's definitely your mate. And guess what?"

I didn't respond. He was there. By my locker. Mace. "J-Jess... He's..." He squealed loudly, drawing his attention, "Dude! He totally likes y-" I hit him again, growling, "Jess! I swear to Alpha, I will kill you if you don't shut up!"

Mace smiled; he heard me. Oh, Alpha help me. I hid behind Jess, "I can't do this. I can't, I can't!"

"Well, you're going to have to because... I'm leaving!" He ran, leaving me in the middle of the hall, with Mace literally three feet in front of me.

Suck it up, Reagan. He's... your freaking mate! Breathe, girl! Get your stuff and go to class.

Easy.

I walked to my locker, my breathing getting erratic from how close he was. "Reagan Thrynn, right?" I dropped the key to my lock, "Huh?! Oh, uh, yeah, that's me. Mace Mitchell, isn't it?" He nodded and grabbed my key, holding it out to me, carefully.

I took it gingerly, trying not to come in contact with his skin. "Thanks." I kicked my locker, that being the only way to open it, and grabbed the worn, out-of-date, book.

I was completely aware that he was staring at me but I didn't know how to call attention to it and be nice while doing it. "Is there something you need?" I looked over at him, awkwardly. He leaned on the neighboring locker, "So, um... do you have a partner yet? For that Botany thing?"

I didn't. I preferred to work alone, ever since my last partner, a pup, almost poisoned herself when she got too close to the Deathbells.

"I normally work by myself." I turned to go to class when he stopped me, "That's not what I asked. Listen," he sighed, "I know that you're my... mate." He looked disgusted with the word. "I wasn't planning on this. Not so early, anyway. I mean, you're only, like, fifteen-"

I felt betrayed, "Hey! I'm seventeen, Mitchell. I may be short but that does not mean I will let your charms hypnotize me enough so you can call me fifteen." I clapped a hand over my mouth, turning red. Mace was... well, handsome, in looks, smarts, and personality.

"Alright, seventeen. You're still very young." He had put his hands up in defense, grinning at what I had blurted out. I slammed the door of my locker shut and we started walking. "My birthday's the day of the Choosing, Mace."

The Choosing was a ceremony where two males and two females would be sent to one of the circles. The Quick Silvers took smart, brave, and compassionate kids, where the Novas looked for strength and the ability to kill. Both circles were needed for us to exist independently from other "sectors", as they were called.

"Really? Well, happy early. Anyway, if possible, I'd like to arrange a meeting with our families so they can talk about this. Reagan... I'm twenty." I gaped at him, open-mouthed. It wasn't possible. There were kids two years younger and at least half a foot taller than him!

"Bull. You can't be. If you are you-" "Shouldn't be here? Yeah, I know. I got held back for getting involved with... stuff." He finished my sentence and went on to look ashamed and embarrassed all at once. We walked into class and sat at the tables, Mr. Sterling just starting in on a lecture on "keeping your cool" and "controlling your temper".

Mace and I sighed and muttered, "Caleb and Judas fighting over Sera again," in unison. We looked at each other and covered our mouths to keep from laughing. Our stifled laughs were still very audible, but Sterling ignored us, completely focused on chastising Caleb and Judas while Sera sat in the back shooting daggers at Caleb, her ex.

I stopped laughing long enough to comment, "Caleb's mad because Sera likes Judas. Judas is mad because Caleb still likes Sera. Sera's mad because they're both acting like their dicks can only be seen with a microscope."

Mace snorted loudly, drawing Sterling's attention. "I'm sorry, is there something funny in this?"

"No, sir. Reagan just made a point I found humorous." I turned to him, equally shocked, amused, and angry.

"Is that so? Please, Miss Thrynn, share your views." I rubbed my neck, flipping off Mace, "Well sir, I just thought that if Caleb confessed to still liking Sera, things would be more... casual. Yes, Judas likes Sera, but when she was dating Caleb, she always had the biggest smile on her face. Caleb just isn't good at communicating his feelings because a real man doesn't cry or admit being hopelessly in love."

Everyone was quiet until Sera stood up, "Mr. Sterling, may I please talk to Caleb in the hall?" He nodded and they left, Caleb confused and Sera determined to... do... something?

"Way to ad lib. Eh?" He put up his hand. "Don't leave me hanging." He wanted to high five? "Uh, okay." The sound of our hands making contact was deafening. His hands were really soft, like the blanket on my couch.

We kept sneaking glances at each other through class, passing notes, and drawing each other. We were having fun, despite being iffy on being mates. This was going to be... interesting, to say the least.