Chapter 3

Anthony’s POV

“Hey, guys. How was your first day of school?” Aunt Elena asked as we walked through the door.

“Great, fantastic, just perfect,” I grumbled sarcastically as I pushed past the guys and up the stairs.

“Ignore him,” I heard Felix sighed. “He’s been in a mood all day.”

I made it up the stairs, slammed my door, and dropped my bag jacket and sun glasses walking out onto my balcony.

I ignored everyone below in the backyard dad every  moment from today replayed in my mind. Could she tell? Did she care? I mean she was with that Ian and there was definitely something up with that guy.

The way she jumped when he spoke . . . it’s not how a girlfriend should react to her boyfriend.

I sighed and leaned against the railing.

“You remind me of your mother in a lot of ways.”

I breathed and then looked over my shoulder to see my father leaning against the doorway of my balcony.

“How’s that?” I asked, looking back out to the orchard.

“You both put on a brave face for everyone else, but I know when something is troubling you,” He stepped forward  and leaned against the railing. “She runs out to the cliff . . . You lock yourself in your room.”

“What are you getting at?” I asked not looking to him.

“What’s bothering you, Anthony?” He asked seriously.

“I really would rather not talk about it,” I looked away from him.

Between Alphas this was a truly embarrassing topic. An Alpha found their mate and marked them. Period. It was embarrassing for me to admit to my own Alpha Father  that I was too weak to take my mate.

“Stubborn. Just like our mother,” He chuckled. “Good thing with living with her for so long is that I learned a few things. So, speak,” He stood up tall.

I’m tall and have quite a bit of muscle to me. I am not going to lie I have been told I am intimidating, but I have nothing on my father. It showed as he towered over me.

“What are you talking about? Mom still gets whatever she wants from you,” I laughed looking at him.

“That’s true,” He sighed. “Your mother can be very persuasive,” He smirked.

“Gross,” I shivered.

“My father let out one of his bombing laughs. Sometimes I didn’t understand what my mother saw in him. It doesn’t matter anyway/ They were mates . . . they belonged together.

“Listen, Anthony, all I’m saying is that I can talk you through what is going. You might be surprised at the things I know about,” He leaned against the railing again looking down at me.

“I . . . Did you have a hard time marking mom?” I asked suddenly.

“Well . . .” He seemed to be caught off guard. “You mother had told you the story a bunch of times,” He replied.

“Yeah, but you never told me. I want to hear it from you,” I insisted.

“Considering it was on the day of our fathers’ funeral, I would say no, but she did reject me . I think twice,” he laughed. “I also caught her with someone else . . . another wolf. My best friend,” He shook his head.

“Wait, what?” I replied confused.

“Your mother is very beautiful, and at the time she was unmated and the highest ranking female in our pack. She was a prime mate.” He sighed. “Clearly, I mean look at all she has to go through,” He shook his head and stood straight. “Of course you don’t understand that, but your mother is important to our kind.”

“I know, but was marking her worth everything that . . .”

“Of course,” He cut me off instantly. ‘I would not tack back a moment I have spent with your mother. Every stress, fright, loss . . . it was all worth it because I was with her.” He smiled. “You will realize all of this when you find your mate.” He patted my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I breathed nodding my head.

“That’s not all. Is it?” He asked seriously.

“Yeah, I’m just . . . trying to figure things out,” I shook my head.

“Everything will fall into place when you find her. I promise,” He replied and turned to walk out.

“I did,” I mumbled.

“What? Come on, son, speak up,” He demanded turning back to me.

“I found her,” I replied turning to face him.

“Today? At school? But I though this school was all . . .”

“Humans? Yeah, I know,” I leaned back against the railing. “Now do you see my problem?”

“No, maybe you are mistaken,” He started.

“Dad, you know damn well that this is not something you can be mistaken about,” I growled.

How dare he shut down my mate like that?

“So you marked her. There must be a reason you are meant to be with her. Don’t get me wrong, Anthony, I am not disappointed in you for having a human mate. This is out of your hands,” He patted my back. “Were you embarrassed to tell me because of this?”

“I  . . . kind of, but, Dad . . .”

“No, listen. I don’t ever want you to be embarrassed by your mate. She’ll mean the world to you one day,” He smiled. “So when do we get to meet her? You know your mother . . .”

“Dad, I was  embarrassed to tell you because I can’t . . . I didn’t mark her. I can’t,” I looked down at my feet.

“What do you mean ‘you can’t’. You are an Alpha wolf . . .”

“Exactly!” I growled glaring at him. “I am a fucking wolf and she is a human girl . . . with a boyfriend.” I looked away again.

“An Alpha’s mate shouldn’t date. Anthony, you need to take her before you lose her,” He growled and I instantly felt ashamed of my reply.

“I can’t,” I mumbled.

“What advice do you think you are giving my son,” My mother walked in the door.

“Kendra, he found . . .”

“I heard,” She looked up at my father crossing her arms.

“But he won’t . . .”

“Said I heard, Derek,” She gave a cold look.

“Kendra, now don’t . . .”

“Don’t you, Derek,” She snapped.

“Kendra,” He growled stepping towards her.

“Derek,” She put a hand up instantly stopping his advance. “You never understood this and you just never will,” She sighed.

“Don’t start with me. He is my son, my heir, I know how to teach him what he needs to know,” He growled.

“Derek, I’ve never seen you be gentle or loving either nothing but me, Leila and the boys when they were babies. You treat your son as the Alpha he needs to become and I respect that, but leave the loving’ up to me. You always have in the past,” She smiled placing a hand on his arm.

“Let’s hear your advice then,” He crossed his arms annoyed.

“Stubborn Alpha,” She rolled her eyes and laughed.

“Mom, really I . . .”

“You hush,” She shooed me to my couch and sat next to me. “So tell me about her,” She smiled.

“This isn’t story time . . . “

“Hush up or get out, Derek,” She glared at him.

“Woman, you are going to drive me crazy,” He grumbled.

“You already are,” She laughed and then turned back to me. “Now tell,” She pushed.

“Well, she’s human . . .”

“Am I not speaking English? Tell me about her. I could care less if she was a fish. She’s your mate, Anthony. I thought I raised you better than that,” My mother shook her head at me.

“Well, she’s small. She seems extremely fragile, but it’s cute. Her hair . . . it’s so long and curly and dark. Her skin is so soft and tan. Her eyes,” I stopped and smiled. “I’ve never seen a blue like that before. She is excitingly unique, but at the same time easily simple . . .”

“Yep, she’s your mate,” She smiled. “Done doubting?” She turned to my father.

“I never doubt your ways, Kendra. I learned a long time ago that you are so much smarter than me,” He smiled at her.

“Stop sucking up,” She turned around back to me.

“Stubborn,” He muttered.

“Cocky,” she replied.

“Mom, focus . . . what do I do?” I pushed impatiently.

“I’m sorry, baby,” She patted my shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I sighed.

“Sweetie, it’s real simple. You have to be her friend. Get to know her and then you can break the news to her. She’ll come along. As long as she truly is your mate. Luna meant her for you, there’s no way around that,” She patted my knee and then stood.

“That’s your advice,” My dad barked out a laugh, “Play nice and make friends? That could take months . . . years even. He doesn’t have that time.”

“Fine,” Mom crossed her arms glaring at him, she then looked to me. “Take his advice. Jump her like he did me in the middle of the orchard. I’m not saying I was fighting too much . . . after he bit me,” She turned back to dad glaring.

“Kendra, don’t act like . . .”

“Like what? You used the physical part of the bond to get me to accept you? Well, you did. Not that I mind or that I blame you, but you are not teaching my son to treat a lady like that,” She snapped.

“God damn it, will you leave me and my son to talk about this,” He growled.

“Watch your temper . . . you are going to get yourself into a heap of trouble.

“Mom! Dad!” I got their attention. “Cut it out,” I demanded.

“Sorry, you know how much he gets on my nerves,” My mother smirked up at my father.

“Yeah, well you couldn’t live without me,” He smiled down at her.

“Luna knows that,” My mother sighed rolling her eyes.

Dad leaned in and pressed his lips to my mom’s. I sighed. Is it so hard to ask for? That is all I wanted. Something like that.

“The fact is, baby,” My mother pulled away from my father laughing, “You just have to be yourself.”

“That’s true,” My dad nodded holding her in her arms.

“She’ll come around. I promise,” My mother smiled.

“Thank you,” I breathed and looked down at my feet.

“Have some faith in yourself, son, and in your wolf,” My father replied and then lead my mother from the room.

“Yeah,” I scoffed, “Have faith.”

Mine. The growl rumbled through my head.

Can you say anything else? I grumbled.

Make her ours and I will shut up. He snapped.

Damn it . . .

On the way to school the next morning my mind was still racing.

Friends . . . I can do friends. This can’t be that hard. At least I’ll be around her. . .

I pulled into the parking lot and ignored Felix and Travis ad quickly made my way to my first hour.

I was sitting with my head down on my desk when suddenly I felt her.

“Anthony? Are you okay?” Her small voice rang in my ear and my whole body shivered as she sat in the desk in front of me.

I slowly lifted my head and met her blue eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I breathed happily.

“Well, that’s good,” She turned away.

“Umm . . . Dawn, right?” I said quickly.

“Yeah,” she replied not looking at me.

“How are you?” I asked awkwardly.

“Listen, I know what you’re trying to do,” She turned back to me. “I get it. You’re the new kid and trying to gather up your groupies, but I am not one of those girls. I have a boyfriend. So back off,” She turned away.

“I didn’t mean . . .” I looked at her arm as I reached for it and I notices a large bruise on her arm. “Wow, what’s that?” I lightly grabbed her elbow.

My wolf growled murderously. How dare someone hurt our mate!

She gasped and pulled away quickly.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Dawn,” I breathed confused.

My hand was tingling with a heat I had never felt before. It warmed my whole body.

“You didn’t,” She seemed to choke on her words and I watched as hers eyes gleamed with tears.

“Are you okay?” I asked helplessly.

“Yeah, I just fell,” She turned away quickly.

That was the last time we spoke all hour.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dawn’s POV

I walked into the classroom and saw Anthony sitting at a desk with his head down.

No one else was in the classroom yet. Not even the teacher. I looked out into the hallway. Ian was long gone by now.

I took a deep breath and walked over to the desk in front of him.

“Anthony? Are you okay?” I asked quietly and nervously as I sat.

His head slowly lifted and those beautiful green eyes met mine.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” He replied easily. There was a slight smile on his face.

“Well, that’s good,” I turned away quickly trying not to get caught in his eyes.

“Umm . . . Dawn, right?” God, he would not give up!

“Yeah,” I replied trying hard not to turn to him again.

“How are you?” He asked awkwardly.

“Listen, I know what you’re trying to do,” I turned back to him struggling to keep a straight face. “I get it. You’re the new kid and trying to gather up your groupies, but I am not one of those girls. I have a boyfriend. So back off,” I turned away again.

“I didn’t mean . . . Wow, what’s that?” He lightly grabbed my elbow and an electric shock ran through my whole body setting every nerve ending on fire.

He growled animalistic.

The shock of his gasped me to gasp successfully hushing my moan.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Dawn,” He breath sincerely and confused.

The sincerity took me by surprise. With one touch and a simple sentence this boy had me crumbling. I couldn’t believe this. And the worst part was he thought he had hurt me. For some reason deep down, no matter how unreasonable, I knew in my heart this stranger would never hurt me. I just didn’t know why

“You didn’t,” I choked on my words. I didn’t know I was about to cry until I spoke

“Are you okay?” He asked helplessly.

“Yeah, I just fell,” I turned away quickly so he wouldn’t catch my tears.

That was the last time we spoke all hour and it was literally killing me.

After first hour was over I got up out of my seat and nearly ran to the one place I knew I was safe from Ian, from peering eyes, and from strange feelings towards strangers.

It was the old empty weight room in the back of the barely used Aux gym. I sat on the old weight bench where I spent most of my time in school and I let myself cry.

I cried because I was in way too deep with Ian and I knew one day he would take it too far. There is no way he couldn’t I knew one day he would be the death of me.

I cried because if I left him now he would just hurt me and my mother. I couldn’t let that happen to her again.

I cried because of Anthony. His soft touch that affected my body in ways a touch had never felt before. Because he was so sweet and kind to me yet I knew I would only get him in trouble.

Most of all I cried because Ian was the only thing in my way of being happy and free . . . and being with Anthony.

Suddenly I felt someone sat beside me and wrapped their arms around me. I gasped and began to fight them off.

“Shush,” He insisted rubbing my back.

“Anthony . . . no,” I tried to push him away.

“Dawn, please . . . n one can find us here. You know that,” he breathed into my hair.

“I . . . I . . .”

“Shush,” He whispered holding me tightly, but at the same time I felt like  his touch was as light as air. “I’m here for you,” He breathed. Then he mumbled something . . . like ‘always,’ but I wasn’t sure.

So I let myself continue to cry as he held and rocked me.

When I finally stopped my eyes were puffy and my nose runny.

“Are you okay?” He rubbed my back.

“Now I am,” I leaned into his warm touch. I couldn’t explain with feeling his touch gave me, but my body was quickly heating up.

“Do you car to tell me what that was about?” He breathed.

“I can’t,” I sniffled.

“That’s okay,” He reassured me.

“Oh god . . . I ruined your shirt,” I leaned away from him.

He chuckled and it was a warming sound, “I don’t care. I just need to be sure you are okay. I can’t lie, I was a bit taken off guard when I heard you crying.”

“I am just having a hard time right now,” I breathed.

“With?” He asked curiously.

“I can’t tell you, Anthony. I’m sorry,” I stood from the bench quickly stepping away from him.

“I am not forcing anything on you, Dawn. Please don’t think that. If you don’t want to tell me, don’t tell me,” He stood also and stepped towards me.

I turned to face him, “Why are you being so nice. This isn’t normal, you know? In fact it is extremely strange.”

‘I am not what you would call the norm,” He smirked.

“Why me?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

“You . . . fascinate me,” He stepped closer to me.

“How? I’m so simple . . .” I breathed looking up at him.

We were standing extremely close. Every time I took a shaky breath my chest brushed against his and the tingles that shot through my body were driving me insane.

“Not to me,” He blinked and his eyes turned to the icy blue gray again. I gasped and he stepped away from me rubbing his eyes with his fingers. “I’m sorry, Dawn. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll just . . .”

“Please, don’t,” I grabbed his wrist and the sparks went flying again. “Don’t leave me alone, Anthony,” I begged.

“Never,” He replied pinning me between him and the wall everywhere we touched I felt like my skin was on fire. I was panting so hard I could hardly get a sufficient breath. “Dawn,” he breathed.

“What?” I replied just as breathless.

“Mine,” Again I heard the animalistic growl, but this time it sent a shiver of pleasure and fear running through me.

I couldn’t explain it, just as I couldn’t explain his eyes which were an extremely light gray now.

Suddenly, as I was about to speak, his lips were on mine.

My body was set alive with fire. Everywhere was burning with passion, but it all centered around my most private place. I had never felt this way before, but my body instantly reacted to the touch.

My arm wrapped around Anthony’s neck bringing him closer to me. His hands moved down my sides until he reached my bare thighs. He gripped my legs and picked me up as I wrapped them tightly around his waist. I was now at perfect height as he pressed me against the wall.

His hands moved back up my thighs as he pushed up the short skirt Ian forced me into today . . . Shit, Ian!

“Anthony, stop,” I broke the kiss, but he continued to trail kisses down my neck. M brain instantly fell into a haze as I moaned letting my head fall back against the wall to reveal my neck to him.

Each time he moved he caused me to rub against him through his jeans causing insane waves of pleasure to wash over my body reeking havoc on my worn out nerves.

His hands moved to my shirt and he quickly took care of the buttons moving his hands over my bare stomach and sides leaving a trail of goose bumps in their path.

He slightly nibbled on my sensitive skin and I moaned against.

Focus! Ian will kill this guy! He deserve more than some thrown away girl like you that can only cause trouble for him!

“Anthony, stop!” I complained, but he didn’t. “Seriously, let me go!” I shoved at his chest.

His kisses stopped, but he rested his head against my neck.

“Put me down,” I demanded in a shaky voice.

He easily obeyed and gently grabbed my hips replacing me on the ground.

“Dawn, I’m sorry . . . I got carried away . . .”

“You don’t want me, Anthony,” I pushed him away quickly fixing my top and skirt. “I’m broken and used and worthless. I can only get you into to trouble. Ian,” I breathed and turned back to face him, “Ian will hurt you. He’s not all good like he acts . . . I know. So, please, for your own sake. Don’t ever touch me again,” I said quickly and then ran from the gym to the girls bathroom where I knew he couldn’t follow.