Ivy
"Ivy, this isn't how you're supposed to find your mate," my best friend Maddy says as she watches me gawk at every guy that walks into the cafeteria.
"I know, but I have to try something, Maddy," I reply, feeling frustrated. "I don't want the Alpha to choose someone for me."
"I get it, Ivy, but you can't force things like this. Your mate will come to you when the time is right," she says.
"I only have one month, Maddy."
"A lot can happen in a month, Ivy." Maddy smirks.
I roll my eyes at her. "Very helpful, Maddy."
"I'm serious, Ivy. Just focus on being yourself and doing what you love. Maybe you'll meet your mate while doing something you enjoy," she suggests.
"Like what? All I want to do is hang out in the woods and climb trees."
Oh, did I mention I'm an excellent climber?
"That's perfect, Ivy!" Maddy exclaims. "Maybe you'll meet someone while you're out there climbing. You never know who might be in the woods."
I consider her suggestion for a moment but then shake my head. "Not a chance. Werewolf boys only hunt in the woods and never stick around there to pass the time."
Maddy puts her hand on my shoulder. "Ivy, you have to stop being so negative. Not all werewolves are the same. There could be someone out there who loves climbing trees just as much as you do," she says encouragingly.
"Doubt it. Everyone calls me a freak because of it, remember? It's hopeless. One month isn't long enough to meet my real mate. I'll end up with some loser Alpha picks for me and breed more loser babies whose wolves won't come out either."
"Ivy, stop talking like that," Maddy scolds me. "You're not a loser, and neither are the babies you could have. You just need to have faith in yourself and trust that things will work out the way they're supposed to. And who knows, maybe the guy the Alpha picks for you won't be so bad. You can't judge someone before you even meet them."
Ugh, I'm really starting to get tired of Maddy's positivity. She thinks everything falls perfectly in place.
But maybe she's right. Maybe I need to stop being so negative and give things a chance. I take a deep breath and look at Maddy. "Okay, you're right. I'll try to be more open-minded and give the guy the Alpha picks for me a chance. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise me."
Maddy smiles at me. "That's the spirit, Ivy. I believe in you."
I nod, feeling a little better. Alpha Maurice is letting me meet the chosen one next week to prepare me for what's to come, I guess. Maybe he is some sexy guy with an eight-pack and big biceps who'd treat me like a queen. And then we will live happily ever after.
Yeah, right.
I look down at my phone and gasp. Oh my god, I'm late for class!
"I gotta go, Maddy. Professor Stapler will chew my head off if I'm late again," I say, hurriedly grabbing my backpack and starting to rush towards my classroom.
But as I turn a corner, I collide with someone, causing me to stumble back a few steps. I look up to see a tall, imposing figure glaring down at me. I can smell the Alpha blood in him, and from the looks of it, he's not happy.
"Watch where you're going, little girl," he growls, his eyes flashing with anger.
"I'm sorry, I was just in a hurry," I reply, trying to sound apologetic. "That's no excuse for running into me," he snaps. "You should show more respect to your betters."
I nearly say something sarcastic in response but decide it's not worth arguing with him. I quickly mumble another apology and try to walk away. But before I can take a step, he grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asks, his grip tightening on my arm. "I have to go to class," I say, trying to free myself from his grasp.
"Not so fast," he says, his voice low and menacing. "You owe me an apology."
I take a deep breath, trying to control my temper. "I already apologized Alpha. I'm not sure what more you want from me," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "But if it makes you feel better, I'm sorry for running into you. It was an accident."
He stares at me for a long moment, his grip still tight on my arm. "See that it doesn't happen again," he says before finally releasing me.
I rub my arm, trying to get the feeling back into it. "Believe me, I have no intention of ever running into you again," I mutter under my breath before quickly walking away.
"Hey, stop!"
I halt.
"What pack do you belong to?" he asks.
I turn around to look at him, annoyed. I'm definitely not making it to class on time now. "Hidden Valley Pack."
He scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Figures. A pack full of weaklings and losers."
I clench my fists, feeling my anger rising. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Your pack is a joke. You should be grateful that an Alpha like me even bothered to talk to you," he says, smirking.
I take a step closer to him, getting into his personal space. "I don't need your pity, Alpha. My pack may not be the strongest, but we have something your pack will never have – heart," I say, my voice low and fierce.
He narrows his eyes at me, clearly not used to being challenged. "You watch your mouth, little girl. You may regret speaking to me like that."
"I won't hold my breath," I say, turning on my heel and walking away. I can feel his eyes on me as I leave, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking back.
I arrive at class a few minutes late and out of breath.
"Look who decided to show up?" Professor Stapler quips.
I try to catch my breath and apologize to the professor. "I'm sorry, Professor Stapler. I got held up on the way here."
"Well, make sure it doesn't happen again," she says sternly before turning back to the whiteboard.
I quickly find a seat and pull out my notebook, trying to focus on the lecture. But all I can think about is the rude Alpha I just encountered.
What an arrogant jerk. I can't believe he insulted my pack like that. Who does he think he is?
But what can I possibly do against him? I am just a Beta wolf. Actually, I'm barely a Beta wolf since my wolf didn't come out yet.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Maybe I don't have to take him on directly. Maybe I can find another way to assert myself and earn his respect. I jot down a few ideas in my notebook and try to refocus on the lecture. But a small voice in my head keeps whispering, telling me that I won't be able to stand up to him.
I need to prove that voice wrong.
Ivy I rush out of the class as soon as it's over and start making my way back to my pack house. I need to take a break and clear my head. While I walk, I notice that the campus is buzzing with activity. There are students everywhere, some hurrying to their next class, others hanging out in groups, chatting and laughing. I look at them with a bitter expression. What are they so happy about? As I walk past the group of students, I catch a glimpse of someone familiar. It's the Alpha from earlier. He's surrounded by a group of friends, all of them laughing and joking around. Why does he get to have it all? Looks, strength, and popularity. It's not fair. He really pisses me off, I think to myself. I want to get back at him for being mean to me for no reason. Just because I look weak, doesn't mean he gets to treat me like garbage! I start to brainstorm possible ways to get back at the Alpha. I don't even know his name all I know is that he is pretty popular so he will definitely be at
IvyI am smiling brightly as the lightbulb turns on in my brain—I know the perfect solution to my problem."Stop smiling and tell me what you want," Ryder barks again."First thing first, I need to help you get sober," I say, quickly springing into action."I don't need your help," Ryder says, trying to push me away.But I am determined. I grab a glass of water from the nightstand and hold it out to him. "Drink this, it will help you feel better," I say firmly.Ryder grumbles but eventually takes the glass and drinks it. I can see him starting to sober up a little."That's good," I say encouragingly, "Now, let's get you cleaned up." I guide Ryder to the bathroom and turn on the shower. "Get in and let the water wash away the alcohol," I instruct him.Ryder grumbles again but starts taking his clothes off."Whoa there, buddy. I don't want to see you naked. Do it behind the shower curtain!" I say, wide-eyed. Although I'm kind of curious to see what he looks like naked.Ryder chuckles sl
IvyI nearly frolicked on my way to college. I feel like a woman in love, except I'm not.Gosh, I can't wait to see my fake boyfriend!My heart is beating faster with excitement. I can't believe I'm actually doing this.I finally spot Ryder in his usual spot, surrounded by his friends. He looks up as I approach and gives me a cold stare that sends shivers down my spine."Hey," I say and wave enthusiastically.Ryder grunts in response.I try not to let his icy demeanor affect me and take a deep breath. "Can I talk to you in private?" I ask, hoping to get a positive response. I can feel his friends' eyes on me, so I look at them and smile.One particular girl gives me a nasty stare. What, did she call dibs on him or something? He didn't mention having a girlfriend at the party!Ryder looks at me for a moment before finally nodding his head. "Fine," he says, standing up and motioning for me to follow him.I feel a sense of relief wash over me as we walk away from his friends and find a s
Ryder I step up to the plate, the cool metal of the bat resting on my shoulder. I take a deep breath, trying to focus on the pitcher as he winds up, and I prepare to swing. The ball comes hurtling towards me, so I bring the bat around in a swift arc. The satisfying crack of wood meeting the ball fills my ears as I watch the ball sail through the air. I never miss it. Well, I guess being a werewolf has its perks. Of course, my teammates have the same powers as I do, but I am still the Alpha wolf. No one could match my speed or strength. I hit the ball perfectly and watch it fly through the air. I feel alive, powerful, and free. As the ball lands in the outfield, I take off toward first base, my heart racing with excitement. I can hear my teammates cheering me on, and I know that I've made them proud. "Woohoo! GO, RYDER, GO!" I hear a girl cheering loudly, so I smile and look up at the bleachers. She must be one of my fans. If she is hot, I might take her back to my hous
IvyI guess my fake mate didn't like my acting because currently, he is staring at me, scowling."What?" I ask."Did you really have to yell this loud?" he barks.The look of annoyance on his face makes me giggle. "Okay, sorry. That was stupid. Maybe we don't have to yell the word mate at each other. We can just act like we are in love."Ryder lets out a deep sigh before nodding his head. "Fine, but let's try to make it believable. No more of that overacting you just did."I nod my head, feeling relieved that he's still willing to go through with our plan. "Agreed. We can start by spending more time together, maybe even going on a date or two."Ryder looks at me skeptically. "A date? You really think that's necessary?"I nod my head eagerly. "Yes, it'll show everyone that we're really into each other. And who knows, we might even have some fun in the process."Ryder rolls his eyes, but I can see a hint of amusement in his expression. "Okay, fine. But let's keep it low-key. We don't wa
IvyI'm anxious because Ryder won't tell me where he is taking me. We are going on our first date, and I don't know what to expect or how to prepare.Sure, it's not a real date, but still..."Where are we going?" I asked for the twentieth time."I told you it was a surprise," he barks."But Ryder, this isn't a real date, so why can't you just say it?" I whine.Ryder's eyes sparkle mischievously. "Because surprises are half the fun. And besides, just because it's not a real date doesn't mean it can't be a memorable one."I roll my eyes but can't help the flutter of excitement in my stomach.He parks his car and urges me to get out then we start walkingAs we turn a corner, I gasp in surprise. We are standing in front of an old-fashioned carnival, complete with a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a row of brightly lit game booths."Welcome to the carnival," Ryder said with a grin.I snort. "Really?"Ryder almost looks offended. "What? I thought we could have fun and be kids for a day. I don
Ryder So, I just invited Ivy to Sirius's birthday party. I'm not entirely sure why I did it, but it's done now, and I can't take it back. Maybe it was because I had fun hanging out with her earlier today. She's funny and easy to talk to, and I feel like I can be my true self in front of her. And also kind of cute. I shake my head. No, I'm being stupid. She is more annoying than cute. But I can't stop thinking about her now. Her soft, rounded face with full lips and a cute nose with tiny freckles sprinkled on it, her wild curly hair and big green eyes... Dang it, why do I find her so attractive? "Why do you look like you swallowed a whole lemon?" Sirius pushes me to get my attention. I jump, startled, and quickly compose myself. "Uh, what? No reason. I'm fine." Sirius is the Beta wolf of our pack and my childhood best friend. We are supposed to be celebrating his birthday tomorrow night. Sirius raises an eyebrow. "You sure?" You nearly ran into me just now, not even watching wh
IvyMy mind is weird.I should be mad at Ryder for being mean to me all the time, but instead, it makes me giggle when he snaps at me. Maybe I like the way he scrunches his nose when he is annoyed at me or the way his little vein pops up on his forehead when he is mad at me. It's adorable.But then again, why do I find it adorable when someone is being mean to me? Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I have some sort of weird psychological issue that I need to address.Or maybe I just have a strange sense of humor. I mean, I laugh at my own jokes even when no one else finds them funny. Maybe finding Ryder's annoyance amusing is just another one of my quirks.Either way, I need to stop thinking about him so much. I can't get too attached because this isn't meant to be a long-lasting friendship. Guys like Ryder don't hang out with girls like me!But I really did have so much fun with him at the carnival!He had been weirdly understanding when I was scared of heights, and then he invi