Brandon had to leave early for school in the morning. Brooklyn made sure to set her alarm and wake up and get ready so she could ride with him.
Anything to avoid Harry.
The school was deserted when they arrived so Brooklyn decided to go to the library. She needed to be alone, some place quiet where she could think properly.
About Harry. Of course.
She sat down and leaned back against a bookcase, letting out a large sigh and crossing her arms over her chest.
Werewolves.
"There's a chance it wasn't real," she whispered. "Maybe he drugged you. Maybe you were imagining it all. Maybe it was all fake and I'm just going a bit crazy. Maybe-" Brooklyn's eyes landed on a book and she frowned. "Or not," she murmured and scrambled up and grabbed the book.
Werewolves: A myth?
Brooklyn's fingers shook slightly as she sat back down and opened the book.
Despite the stereotype, werewolves do not run around killing humans and howling at the moon. For the most part, they are peaceful creatures, surviving and packs and keeping the peace. The pack system has been around for thousands of years, helping werewolves to evolve and expand. Packs range in size, but they all follow a hierarchy of command; with the Alpha at the top.
Alpha- The Leader. The title is earned by birth. Once they come of age at 18, they can choose to take over from their father or wait until the current Alpha steps down and allows his son to take control. Their sole purpose is to protect the pack. Nothing happens within the pack without the Alpha's say. Without an Alpha, the pack would fall.
Beta-The Second in Command. The Beta is the second highest ranking wolf in the pack, under the Alpha. The next Beta in line comes to power when the Alpha takes over from his father. The title is given by birth, like an Alpha. When the Alpha needs assistance, the Beta is there. Without a Beta, the pack would fall.
Delta- The Third in Command. Unlike Alpha and Beta, the Delta's rank is achieved, chosen by the future Alpha and Beta to work alongside them. Delta's work closely alongside Luna's, dealing with the internal pack issues, helping pack members in need. Without a Delta, the pack would fall.
Warrior- The pack's fighter. Their sole purpose is to help the Alpha protect the pack from enemy threats. They are in charge of training and defense of the pack. This role is neither ascribed or achieved, this role is chosen by a single mark on the arm. A Warrior is a pack member chosen by the Moon Goddess to protect the pack.
Luna- The Luna is the highest ranking female in the pack. She is the Alpha's mate. The Luna is the bridge between the pack members and the Alpha. Along with the Delta, she helps with the internal running of the pack. She provides help and support to those who need it. As the only female with power, the pack would fall without her.
Without this hierarchy of order, the peaceful hidden world of werewolves would not be as it is today.
Brooklyn's eyes darted back and forth as she hurried to read the book. Her hands moved rapidly as she flipped the pages over and she noticed a familiar word.
Mate.
'Because we're mates,' Harry had said.
Brooklyn bit her lip and held her breath as she read this part.
Mates provide harmony between werewolves. Each pair of mates are bound by bonds interconnected in the fabric of the Earth and chosen by the powers of the Moon Goddess. No mating pair is wrong. A mate is a person with whom you have an immediate connection the moment you meet -- a connection so strong that you are drawn to them in a way you have never experienced before. As this connection develops over time, you experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that you begin to doubt that you have ever truly loved anyone prior. Your soulmate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime. You are also all that much aware of the beauty in life, because you have been given a great gift and will always be thankful.
"Immediate connection," she murmured. "Love... This doesn't make sense!" Brooklyn slammed the book shut, but she couldn't forget what she had read.
There was something about Harry when she first met him. Was it an immediate connection?
"No," she muttered. "Don't be ridiculous, Brooklyn."
The bell made Brooklyn jump and she quickly stuffed the book in her bag before jumping up and making her way to her first class.
Miss Mental greeted Brooklyn enthusiastically when she entered. Brooklyn forced a smile and hurried to the back of the class, hoping Sasha would get here soon.
When Sasha walked in she smiled at Brooklyn and took a seat in the middle of the classroom, glancing over her shoulder to send a smirk as Harry walked up to Brooklyn's desk.
"Bitch," Brooklyn said under her breath and she completely ignored Harry when he sat down next to her.
"Babe," he said lowly and Brooklyn grabbed her notepad out of her back and focused all of her attention on it. "You can ignore me after I've explained everything, but you're not ignoring me just yet."
Brooklyn gripped her pen tighter and gritted her teeth. Ignore him, she was chanting in her head. Ignore.
*You can't ignore me properly. Not really.*
Brooklyn gasped when she heard Harry's voice in her head and she whipped her head round to glare at him. "What is that?" She demanded. "How the hell can you do that!"
"You would've found out last night if you actually listened to me," Harry said and leaned back in his chair. "I can speak to you in your mind because we're mates, Brooklyn. And judging by this," Harry grabbed the werewolf book from Brooklyn's bag and opened it to the mate page, "I assume you already have some idea of what mates are."
"No. All of that book is complete nonsense."
"You don't believe that," Harry said as the pressure in Brooklyn's head increased. "Not really."
Brooklyn rubbed her head and eyed Harry cautiously. "Is that you? The pressure that I've been feeling... Is it... Is it you?"
Harry nodded. "I can do more than just talk to you in your mind."
"Oh my god," Brooklyn whispered and covered her face with her hands. "This is insane!"
"I can read your mind. I can see what you're seeing if I want to."
"This is ridiculous!" She hissed. "This isn't normal!"
"Brooklyn, I'm a werewolf, normal doesn't quite cover it," Harry said. "And you, you're mine."
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You're my mate."
"I'm not anyone's," Brooklyn said and narrowed her eyes at Harry.
Harry sent her a look. "You feel this." Harry placed his hand in Brooklyn's arm and the sparks appeared. "You know what I do to you. That's the bond. The mate bond. You are my mate."
"What if I don't want to be," Brooklyn said and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You haven't got a choice."
"I want a damn choice!" She huffed. "I don't want to be your... Mate!"
"Yes you do," Harry shrugged.
"No, I don't!" Brooklyn insisted.
"Stop lying to yourself, babe," Harry snapped. "It won't achieve anything."
"I'm not-"
Harry cut Brooklyn off by pressing his lips to hers and she gasped softly. "Stop lying," Harry growled and Brooklyn kissed him back.
It wasn't a long kiss, but it was long enough to disorientate Brooklyn.
"An immediate connection," he murmured. "We had that. You trusted me. You trusted my touch." Harry cupped Brooklyn's cheek and she bit her lip when she felt the sparks. "You can't deny it," Harry said and he narrowed his eyes when he read Brooklyn's thoughts. "And you can't try!"
"Wanna bet?"
"No matter what you try, you will lose, Brooklyn," Harry said sternly and Brooklyn pulled away from him.
"You seem to forget how stubborn I am, Harry."
"I admire a lot of things about you, Brooklyn," Harry muttered and tutted, "your stubbornness is not one of those things."
"I'm sorry to disappoint," Brooklyn said and she grabbed her text book out of her bag as Mrs Mental told the class what page to turn to.
Harry sighed and grabbed the book from Brooklyn's grasp after she failed to find the correct page and he flipped it open to the right one, shoving back to Brooklyn.
"You're welcome," he said and Brooklyn sent him a look before trying and failing to read the French words.
"Having some difficulty?" Harry wondered.
"Shut up," Brooklyn grumbled.
"Oui means yes," Harry said lowly, watching where Brooklyn was reading.
"Hey!" She snapped and span round to see him staring at her with a small smirk. "I'm not stupid!"
"Never said you were," Harry shrugged.
"Stop talking," Brooklyn muttered.
"What if I don't?" Harry asked in her ear.
Brooklyn jumped and bit her lip, forcing herself not to reply.
"Oh, so now you're not talking," Harry said. "I can make you talk."
Brooklyn held her breath as Harry moved closer to her and placed his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him.
"H-Harry," she croaked.
"Yes?"
Brooklyn closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. The sparks were overwhelming. His touch was consuming her.
"I..."
"Yes, babe?"
"I'm stronger than you think," she whispered and fought against every bone in her body when she pushed Harry away from her and stood up from her seat. "Goodbye, Harry."
*
Brooklyn was walking down the corridor with Alice when she spotted him. They caught eyes and Brooklyn immediately grabbed Alice and pulled her into the girl's bathroom.
"Girl, you read my mind I am bursting at the seams," Alice exclaimed and waltzed into a stall. "What's up with you today, B? You seem off."
"I do?" Brooklyn wondered and she glared at her reflection in the mirror when she felt the pushing feeling in her head. "Go away," she whispered.
"Yeah," Alice said and Brooklyn jumped when Alice appeared next to her. "You're not really with it."
"I've got a lot on my mind," Brooklyn sighed.
"It's Harry, isn't it?" Alice said.
"I found something out," Brooklyn said. "And... And I don't like it."
"What is it? It can't be that bad," Alice called. "Unless he's like a bunny murderer or something." Brooklyn heard the toilet flush and Alice walked out of the stall. "I wouldn't like that either."
Brooklyn couldn't help but chuckle. "No, it's not that," she said and shook her head. "It's... It's something you wouldn't expect."
Alice gasped suddenly. "Is he gay?"
"Oh I wish he was," Brooklyn said. "Come on, lets go."
Brooklyn and Alice walked out of the toilets and Brooklyn's eyes landed on Harry who was standing across the hall. He raised his eyebrows at her and she quickly looked away and carried on walking.
"That was rather good," Alice observed. "If only you'll be able to keep this avoidance up."
"I'm going to damn well try."
"You've said that before."
"I didn't know what I know now."
"Gosh, what has this boy told you?"
Brooklyn sighed. "I wish I could forget."