Wolfswood (Currently being re-worked)

Part 11

My legs burned as I pumped them harder and harder, jogging steadily around the oval. Though gym class usually caused me annoyance and discomfort, today I used this period as a welcome distraction. The growl still echoed in my mind, goosebumps covering my arms at the memory. Asher's face in that moment conveyed nothing but pure rage, all directed at me and Ryder. All period I felt Asher behind me, his presence looming over me like a shadow, the hairs on the back of my neck prickling under his gaze. I heard him speed up, matching my pace and jogging next to me. Even in gym clothes Asher looked good, his muscular body filling out his black shorts and grey t-shirt. He had a light sheen of sweat on his forehead causing stray strands of brown to stick to his face near his temples. He had already run 10 more laps than anyone else in the class. I wanted to say something, anything. I felt like I needed to explain myself, tell him that what he saw wasn't anything at all, that he didn't need to be angry or upset because even though I pushed him away and said horrible things to him my heart wasn't completely sure if it believed them.

"Let's go! Everyone get dressed!" Mrs Griffin yelled from the grandstand of the oval looking fresh not a drop of sweat to be seen. The last bell of the day rung out, reaching the far corner of the oval, signalling the end of another long, confusing day. My lungs still burnt and felt tight with every breath I took, my steps to the locker room heavy with fatigue. As I turned the corner I collided with another body, the force enough to knock me back a few steps. I looked up, taking in the figure before me, standing at least a foot taller, dwarfing me and making me feel more embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Asher's dark-haired friend said. His voice deep and sincere. His hand came out and rested above my elbow shocking me slightly.

"No, I'm sorry, I should have been paying attention, not flinging my gross sweaty body at people." I said flustered, looking up into his ember eyes before quickly averting my gaze.

"You can swing your gross sweaty body at me anytime." He said, his smile growing, his hand still resting on my arm.

"I'm Jax by the way, in case you wanted to know exactly who you were flinging yourself at."

"I'm Izzy."

"Oh, I know who you are Bella." Jax said, dropping his hand and walking passed me, not saying another word, his playful smile disappearing from view as I turned and watched him walk away.

#

A strange sense of déjà vu overcame me as I walked out of the gym and was face to face with Ryder. His black hair pushed back as if he had run his hand through it recently. If it was possible, he looked even more handsome than before.

"Are you lost? You walked straight past the car park." I said, genuinely confused.

"I've actually just found what I was looking for." Ryder announced confidently, his smile on full display. I rolled my eyes and brushed past his, eager to get home but not so eager for that walk I needed to complete to get there.

"So, I've decided that I could fight you off if you were in fact an axe murderer and wanted to hack me up, so would you like a ride home? Save you the walk." He said from behind me, jogging slightly to catch up.

"What makes you think you are stronger than me?" I laughed in response, making my way into the car park.

"You can't be that pretty and strong, I just know these things." Ryder said, sending a wink in my direction. I stopped and looked around, my fingers fidgeting with my pants. I didn't know if it was my desire to not walk home after all the running or my very bad judgement but I was tempted to take Ryder up on his offer. I knew that my habit of getting into strangers cars was getting out of hand and one day my luck would run out, one day finding myself in a ditch.

"So what do you say?"

"Lead the way." I said with a small smile as I looked up at Ryder. A Sly smirk present on his face as he waved his hand and turned, walking further into the parking lot.

#

As I left the gym Bella's scent still lingered in the air, a sign it hadn't been long since she had left. The scent was driving me and my wolf insane, the need deep within me wanting to run and find her. If only I could tell her everything, would it even make a difference? Would she only ever see us as monsters?

Mates were fated. Chosen by the moon goddess herself, handpicked for one another. For as long as I lived I would completely and utterly belong to Isabella, regardless of if she wanted me or not. As soon as I saw her my heart was only ever hers to do with as she pleased. It was no coincidence they had moved here. It was fated. She was meant to meet me, like the sun is meant to rise every morning.

My own thoughts were loud in my head as I walked to the car, so loud that I barely noticed Jenny walk up next to me and put her pale hand on my shoulder. Jenny always seemed to appear when any seemed to be having an emotional crisis, to lend a helping hand or an unbiased ear. Forever being the glue holding us together, even long before she was Hayden's mate.

"So how long have you known she was your mate?" Jenny asked quietly, her hand still on my shoulder. Her words hit me hard, my brain struggling to process how she could have found out. My thoughts jumping from wanting to tell her everything to potentially wanting to strangle Jax for opening his big fat mouth.

"Come on Ash, I'm not an idiot. Which begs the question... maybe all our other friends are." She said with a laugh. When I looked into her soft eyes I broke, letting out a sigh of relief, finally having someone to confide it that could maybe have some insight. Not only from the female perspective but from a mate perspective.

"I knew as soon as I saw her on Tuesday, when we were in homeroom. I saw her and I just knew. I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

Jenny clutched her heart and made an aw noise.

"Why didn't you tell us? Are you nervous about her being human? Are you ashamed?" Jenny asked, continuing to ask questions before I quickly cut her off.

"No! None of that. I could never be ashamed of her. She is my mate, my other half. It has only been three days and I would go insane if she suddenly wasn't in my life anymore. She is all I ever think about, she consumes my every thought!" I quickly confessed, releasing a breath and looking at Jenny once more. It was a weight off my shoulders to be able to talk to Jenny and tell her everything that I just had, knowing that until I was ready no one else would hear them.

"I haven't told you guys because she doesn't know that we are mates, or even know what mates are or what werewolves are. So, when or if I tell her you guys will be the first people to meet her. You have my word."

"What do you mean 'if' of course you have to tell her!" Jenny slightly yelled, a shocked expression on her usually calm face. I didn't say anything else, just offering her a small smile as I made my way past her, not wanting to continue talking about something that I wasn't even sure would ever come to pass. As understanding as Jenny was, she had found her mate, who was a werewolf, someone who didn't need a history lesson on werewolves or an explanation on what a mate was. She had it easy.