Chapter 16: Alpha and Eloise

Ellie slept restlessly that night. She couldn't stop thinking about the fact the mate bond with Jake was going to get stronger and stronger until they turned 17 which is when they were supposed to claim each other. Sam and Meredith had sat with Ellie in the common area, explaining more about mate bonds once Stacy had left. On your 17th birthday, once you find your mate, you bite them to mark them as your own. The law of werewolves states you can only mark a mate that is also over 17, but since Ellie's birthday happened on the same day as Jake's they would have the same desire at the same time.

Ellie woke Tuesday morning in a fog. She made her way toward the hall for breakfast, her bag slung over her shoulder. She saw Sam and Meredith and dropped her bag next to a chair before getting a cup of coffee. She set the coffee cup on the table and sat, staring into the dark depths of the liquid. She loved coffee. The bitter taste of the roasted bean matched her mood this morning as