Resisting The Heat [TinCan 18+] (ON HOLD)

-16- 🌙 Between You Two

[A/N - there's a section for the Q&A at the end!]

"Between you two I got my two hands full. I got one to push and another one to pull. Two that I want."
~The Roches, 'You're the Two'

~~~

*Pete's POV*

"Pete! You're going to be late for school!" My dad shouts from downstairs. Normally, that statement would've sent me flying out of my bed, but I'm too stuck with nerves to move.

Today's my birthday. The day I become fully connected to my wolf. The day I'm able to find my m-mate.

Before finding out Can is actually eighteen, I used to be the second oldest in the group. Tin is the oldest, followed by me, Ae, and then Pond. Ae's birthday is in a few weeks, with Pond's in a couple of months.

Even though it's not guaranteed that I'll find my mate today, I'm still really nervous. I've liked Ae for so long, and I'll be really sad if we're not mates.

But there's also... Pond. I never thought of Pond in that way until two months ago, when he took me out for a milkshake. Something about the way he looked at me left me feeling shaken. For the longest time, Ae was the only one I had eyes for. I'm not used to feeling this way about more than one person.

My breath hitches. What if Pond is my mate, and not Ae? Is that why I feel so drawn to him? But... I also feel drawn to Ae. And I can't tell whether these feelings are caused by a mate bond, or teenage infatuation.

"Pete," my dad appears in my doorway, making me sit up with a jolt. He raises an eyebrow when he sees me still in bed. "Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can skip school, young man."

"Sorry, dad," I grimace. "I'm just nervous about today."

His expression softens, and he moves forward to sit on the edge of my bed. "Why are you nervous?"

"I'm eighteen today," I whisper. My dad is a human, but he's been immerse in the werewolf world long enough to know the significance of this birthday. "What if I find my mate today, and he's disappointed that I'm an Omega?"

"Hey," dad scolds me. "There's nothing wrong with being an Omega. Type was born an Omega, but that didn't stop him from becoming an Alpha alongside his husband and leading a pack. And look at me! I'm a human, and my husband is the Beta of our pack. What you are doesn't define who you are. And you're pretty damn awesome."

"Thanks, dad," I murmur, my cheeks heating up. "That does make me feel a little better."

"Good!" He claps his hands together. "Now, get up and get in the shower! I made you some special birthday pancakes, so you better hurry up if you want to have time to eat them before school."

Grinning, I hop out of bed and head into the bathroom. Maybe today won't be so bad after all.

***

After first period, I head back to my locker to exchange textbooks. Some people carry all their books in their backpacks, but I don't really like doing that. It makes my bag too heavy and then my shoulders hurt. As I'm grabbing my science textbook, someone taps on my shoulder. Spinning around, I smile when I see Tin standing behind me.

"Happy birthday," Tin says with a small smile. He's been smiling a lot more over the past two months, ever since his birthday.

"Thanks, Tin. How are you? And Can?"

The smile on his face is quickly replaced with a look of surprise, and my eyes widen when a blush overtakes his cheeks.

"Why are you asking about him?" Tin huffs. "We're fine. I mean, we're not a we. He's fine, and I'm fine. Whatever, don't change the subject. How are you feeling now that you're eighteen?"