Chapter 5

Adrian Coals, Caleb Barnes, Eli Kaden, and Finn Rake were known as the “Top dogs” of Moonridge High. They were all friends since childhood and formed an unbreakable bond over the years. Despite their different personalities and backgrounds, they shared a deep connection beyond their werewolf status.

Adrian was the Alpha of the pack and the natural leader. He was tall, muscular, and had piercing blue eyes that could intimidate anyone. He had a strong presence that demanded attention, and people often looked up to him. He was confident and had a way of making people feel safe around him.

Caleb was the Beta and Adrian’s right-hand man. He was the brains behind the operation, always strategizing and planning. Caleb was tall with blonde hair and a charming smile that could swoon any girl. He was approachable and friendly, and everyone liked him.

Eli was the gentle Omega of the group. He was smaller than the others, with a lean build and sandy brown hair. Eli had a calming presence and was always there to listen to anyone who needed to talk. He was kind and compassionate and had a heart of gold.

Finn was the wild and impulsive Omega of the group. He was the life of the party, always up for a good time. Finn had messy brown hair and a mischievous grin that made him irresistible. He was carefree and lived in the moment, but he had a loyal heart and would do anything for his friends.

The boys had unique personalities, but they all shared an unbreakable bond. They had each other’s backs no matter what, and they were fiercely protective of their pack. Of course, people would thank that Eli and Finn were the weak links among them, but that was not true. They were the only Omegas that were able to sit with the Alphas. Finn and Eli had trained their wolves not to recoil at the bark of some rankle wolf.

The boys were up early, their wolves restless and anxious. They could feel something was different in the air and were excited to find out what it was. They all gathered at Adrian’s house, the largest and most luxurious of the group, because he was the Alpha, to get ready for school.

Caleb was the first to arrive, his black car pulling up behind Adrian’s in the driveway. He stepped out, looking sharp in his dress shirt and tie. As the Beta, Caleb was always the most put-together of the group, and he made sure to present himself well. He gave Adrian a nod as he walked up to the house to get ready for the day at school.

Eli and Finn arrived together, Eli driving his beat-up old truck and Finn riding shotgun. Eli was dressed in his usual laid-back style, with ripped jeans and a hoodie, while Finn wore a leather jacket over a band t-shirt.

They could feel the energy buzzing as they gathered in Adrian’s living room. They knew that something would happen today and were eager to find out what it was.

“Adrian, you’re driving us today, right?” Caleb asked, tossing him the keys to his car.

“Of course,” Adrian replied, catching the keys effortlessly. “Everyone ready?”

They all nodded, and they made their way out to the cars. Adrian took the wheel of Caleb’s car while Eli and Finn climbed into the backseat. Caleb joined Adrian in the front and set off toward Moonridge High.

As they drove, the boys chatted and joked around, their excitement building with each passing moment. Adrian kept his eyes on the road, but he could feel the eyes of the other students on them as they passed by. He knew that they were the center of attention, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in that fact.

They could feel the energy in the air when they arrived at school. The students were excited, and the boys could feel their wolves stirring within them. They knew that something was going to happen today, and they were ready for it. So they stepped out of the cars and headed toward the school, prepared to face whatever made their wolves antsy.

“Do you think we are going to meet our mate?” Caleb asked, breaking the silence as they walked to the cafeteria for lunch.

“I don’t know,” Eli responded, “but our wolves are going crazy. It’s like they know she’s here.”

Finn said, “Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”

Adrian nodded, his eyes focused on the path before them, but his wolf was howling, urging him forward.

As they entered the cafeteria, they felt it. The first stirrings of the mate bond. Their wolves were practically clawing at their insides, urging them to find their mate. They scanned the room, trying to sniff her out, and that’s when they smelled her. A lovely scent, a mixture of vanilla and lavender, drew their wolves in and made them recognize that she was their mate.

But as they looked around, they saw her sitting with Hayley, looking alone and vulnerable. They could see the contempt in the eyes of their classmates as they looked at her, and it made their wolves growl with anger. How dare anyone treat their mate with such disrespect?

“Guys, I think that’s her,” Caleb said quietly, pointing toward Avery.

Adrian’s eyes locked onto her, and he felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him. He could feel the mate bond strengthening and knew he had to get closer to her.

The boys walked over to their table, trying to hide their new fixation on their mate. She smelled so different; she also smelled so human! They could feel the possessiveness of their wolves growing stronger as they approached her, which made them feel conflicted. They had always thought they would each have their mate, but now they were faced with the reality that they were all meant to share one.

They walked over to their seat and tried to focus on their lunch.

“What is a human even doing here?” Eli questioned, his gaze still on her.

“A human family just moved into town a couple of days ago; she’s their kid,” Caleb informed the group.

“Wow, Mr.-Knows-All, why didn’t you tell us that there is a chance that she could be our mate?” Fin rolled his eyes at Caleb.

Caleb was about to speak, but Avery stood to leave; the boys turned their heads toward her, their eyes widening at the sight of her. They could feel their heartbeats quickening as their wolves became even more restless, desperate to get closer to her. Avery stood to leave the cafeteria; the boys couldn’t help but take in her appearance. Adrian, couldn’t take his eyes off her soft brown hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves. He noticed the way it caught the light and seemed to shimmer. Caleb, couldn’t help but admire her smooth, creamy skin that seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights of the cafeteria. Eli was drawn to her soft features and how her eyes sparkled with intelligence. And Finn was captivated by the curve of her hips and the way she moved with such grace.

Adrian was the first to break the silence. “Holy shit,” he whispered, his voice laced with awe. “She’s our mate.”

Caleb shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way,” he said, looking around at the others for confirmation. “We can’t all have the same mate.”

Eli felt a warmth spreading through him as if the sun has suddenly appeared in the room.

“But we do,” he said softly, with a small smile.

Finn grinned widely. “Well, boys,” he said, “looks like we’re gonna have to share.”

The boys stared at Avery as she made her way toward the exit, their eyes following her every move. They couldn’t help but feel drawn to her as if they’d known her their entire lives.

Adrian spoke up again, his voice low and commanding. “We need to talk to her,” he said, and the others nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, but talk to her and tell her what?” Eli asked.

“Valid question; I don’t think she knows much about the werewolf world,” Caleb added.

While trying to work out their tangled emotions, Samantha and her friends approached their table; the boys exchanged glances. Adrian rolled his eyes discreetly while Caleb leaned back on his chair, looking visibly annoyed.

Samantha was wearing a tight-fitting dress that hugged her curves, and her hair was styled in perfect waves. She had a sultry look in her eyes as she approached Adrian.

“Hey, boys,” Samantha purred, her eyes locking onto Adrian’s. “Mind if we sit with you?”

Adrian gave her a curt nod, trying to hide his frustration. “Sure, go ahead.”

Samantha and her friends sat down, giggling and whispering amongst themselves, and Eli and Finn looked visibly uncomfortable while Caleb shot Samantha a cold stare.

“So, Adrian,” Samantha said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “I was thinking that maybe we could go out this weekend. This new club just opened up, and I thought we could check it out together.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Sorry, Samantha. I’ve got plans this weekend.”

Samantha pouted. “Come on, Adrian. You know we’d be great together. We could rule the school.”

The boys exchanged a look of disgust. Caleb spoke up, his voice laced with disdain. “We don’t want to rule the school, Samantha. We want to live our lives like normal people.”

Samantha’s face turned red with embarrassment. “You don’t understand anything, Caleb. You’re just a Beta. You’ll never understand what it’s like to be an Alpha.”

Caleb’s voice immediately became cold, his eyes blazing with fury. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that, Samantha? I may be a Beta, but I have more honor and integrity than you could ever dream of having.”

Samantha’s friends looked uncomfortable as they tried to diffuse the situation, but Samantha just looked more enraged. She didn’t say anything but stood up and left in a huff.

When Samantha left, Eli turned to the boys with a calm expression on his face. “That girl is persistent,” he said. “But don’t worry, she won’t cause any trouble. I’ll talk to her later and make sure she understands her place.”

Adrian nodded in agreement, grateful for Eli’s ability to diffuse tense situations. “Thanks, man,” he said. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

Finn snorted. “Probably get into a lot more fights,” he said with a smirk.

Caleb rolled his eyes. “You’re not wrong,” he said. “But let’s focus on more important things, like our mate.”

The mention of their mate brought their attention back to Avery. They all turned to look at the spot she had previously occupied; it was like they could almost still see her there.

Adrian spoke up first. “We need to talk to her,” he said. “We need to explain everything and ensure she’s okay with this.”

Caleb nodded. “Agreed,” he said. “But we need to be careful. We don’t want to scare her off.”

Eli spoke up next. “We should all talk to her together,” he suggested. “That way, she knows we’re all on the same page.”

Finn grinned. “And that way, we can all get a chance to impress her,” he said, earning a few chuckles from the others.

“I call dibs on talking to her first!” Caleb blurted out.

“What are you? Six years old? No one is calling dibs on anything,” Finn snorted at him.

“I’ll talk to her first,” Adrian started. The rest of the boys voiced out their protests, but he waved his hands to silence them. “You all go talk to her parents. Find out more information about our mate.”

They grumbled about how he was using his position to shove them aside but nodded in understanding.

Soon, the lunch bell rang. Lunch was over.