Fine Line ( under construction)

Chapter Five

I sit by the stream, my knees hugged to my chest as my friends chatter about the latest gossip in the pack.

Usually, I would include myself in the conversation, but today I was too exhausted to partake.

My thoughts were on Francine, as questions flooded through my head ever since lunch yesterday.

The main question was: who was her mate? If Walker was mine, much to his dismay, then who was Francine destined to be with?

Had she met them? Did she reject them or the other way around?

Goddess-forbid, was her mate dead?

That thought made my chest clench for her, suddenly feeling bad for hating her so much if that was the case.

Kaden sat next to me, a smile floating onto his face as our friend Autumn talked animatedly.

I hadn't seen very much of Autumn since graduation, mostly because my time had been taken up by getting into trouble recently.

Autumn was training to take over her mother's position as pack doctor, which was a lot more book studying than combat training.

She was tired mentally, and I could see it on her freckled face as she spoke.

"That new girl Francine is nice, I guess, but she thinks she knows everything." Autumn clicks her tongue, light brown hair blowing in the wind as she speaks.

I had learned from Autumn that Francine was helping out at the pack hospital. My father was more than willing to hand her a spot as a head nurse while she was here.

Kaden glances up at me for a moment, before speaking.

"She does give me know-it-all vibes" Kaden frowns, picking up a piece of grass from next to him.

"She told me I was putting a bandage on wrong this morning. A bandage! I was so annoyed." Autumn groans, leaning her head back with a tired sigh.

"How are you liking the new Alpha? Kaden told me he is training you." She suddenly quirks a brow at me, a playful smirk now on her face.

I hadn't told anyone but Kaden that he was my mate, and I had good reason for that.

For one, I didn't want the pity of others.

My mate didn't want me, and that was something I wasn't too keen on wanting others to know.

Call it self-preservation, or just me not wanting to injure my ego more.

"I don't really think anything about him." I lie, sniffing as I look towards the small stream that was covered in moss.

The truth is, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

Every moment since he had gotten here, I thought about him constantly.

It was like and infection that was spreading, and would one day kill me all together.

Autumn purses her lips, "well, I don't care what anyone says—you are a natural leader and that can't be taught."