Brooklyn shut her locker just as the bell rang and she sighed, looking up at Harry who was standing next to her.
"I have work at 5, maybe we can do this another-"
"We've got more than enough time to talk," Harry said. "Lets go, babe."
Brooklyn narrowed her eyes, but Harry ignored her as they made their way to his car.
"Hey," he said once he got in the drivers seat. He reached over and cupped Brooklyn's face.
"Don't!" Brooklyn snapped, slapping Harry's hand away and stopping the sparks. "Don't touch me!"
Harry gently cupped Brooklyn's face again and brushed his thumb over the bruise. "How is it?" He asked lowly.
Brooklyn looked into Harry's green eyes and swallowed. "F-fine."
"And your back?" He asked and slid his hand down, gently holding the back of Brooklyn's head and tangling his fingers in her hair.
Brooklyn sighed softly and shivered when the sparks flooded through her body. "That's fine too," she murmured.
"You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Brooklyn?" Harry asked as he got closer and closer.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Brooklyn said, lied, and Harry smirked.
"Good," he said and leaned in to kiss Brooklyn but she turned her head at the last moment.
"I... Ha-"
"I forgot, you're being stubborn," he snapped and pulled away from Brooklyn and started the car. "Like fucking always."
"Don't snap at me!"
"Then don't make me angry!"
"I don't intend to!"
"No, you just love being a pain in the ass," Harry growled and pulled out of his parking space.
"And you just love being a complete dick!" Brooklyn argued.
"Can you blame me when you're you!"
"Oh so it's my fault!" Brooklyn gasped. "It's my fault that I don't want to be around a dog?"
"We're not dogs!" Harry yelled. "Jesus, Brooklyn, we're not some unnatural beast!"
"Yes, you're exactly that!" Brooklyn exclaimed.
"All you think you know about us is from stupid human legends!" Harry growled. "If you give me the damn chance I'm trying to explain everything!"
"Give you the chance? You're the one not giving me a choice! Do you think I want to be with you right now?"
"Yes." There was no doubt in Harry's voice and Brooklyn narrowed her eyes at him.
"Fine. You can explain everything," she said. "But, once you've explained everything you need to leave me alone."
"No," Harry said. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"That will be explained along with everything else, babe."
*
Harry drove to the diner and was sat opposite Brooklyn with a plate of fries and two milkshakes between them.
Brooklyn was stress eating.
"I've already told you that werewolves aren't monsters," Harry said. "We're not. We're rather peaceful creatures."
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Harry narrowed his eyes. "I did say rather. Now are you going to let me continue?"
"Fine, go ahead," Brooklyn muttered.
"One of the main reasons we manage to keep the peace is because of the pack system," Harry explained.
"I read about that," Brooklyn said quietly.
"Werewolves live in packs. It's a large community of werewolves. You've got the Alpha- the leader of the pack. That's Greyson," Harry told Brooklyn. "The Beta- the second in command. That's Ace. Then there's the Delta- third in command. That's Kal."
"And you?" Brooklyn asked as she took a sip of her milkshake.
"The Warrior. I'm on the front line of the packs defence. I'm in charge of training the pack and I'm the best fighter we have," Harry said. He didn't sound cocky, but he was so sure of himself. "We help run the pack and keep order. Keep the peace."
"You said that was one of the reasons," Brooklyn said.
"Yes. The other is you."
"Huh?"
"Mates," Harry said and leaned forward, looking into Brooklyn's eyes. "Think of it this way; a werewolf's heart is split into two. Your mate is the other half. No one can have a stronger connection than mates do. Mates provide harmony between werewolves, they help to keep everyone happy, at peace. It's why when a werewolf looses their mate they usually die. They can't live without them."
"Die?" Brooklyn squeaked.
Harry nodded.
"Well, jheeze, drop that on me why don't you," Brooklyn muttered and rubbed her eyes. "Harry, I feel some weird emotions towards you, but... they're not nearly as strong as you're saying."
Harry pursed his lips. "It's because we've not fully mated yet."
"And you were telling me you're not dogs," Brooklyn said.
"We're not," Harry snapped. "To be fully mated two things need to be complete. We've already done one."
"Sex," Brooklyn murmured.
Harry nodded. "The next is the mark."
"The what?"
"It goes here." Harry reached over and gently touched Brooklyn's collarbone. "It binds us together. Makes the bond stronger."
"Stronger how?"
"You'll want me more than you'll already do," Harry said lowly. "These sparks," Harry moved his hand down Brooklyn's arm, "they'll be even more intense. Everything you're already feeling will be amplified."
Brooklyn pushed Harry away from her and leaned back. "H-how do you mark me?"
"I bite you."
Brooklyn's eyes widened. "You what! Hell no! Ew that's disgusting and... Barbaric!"
"It has to be done."
"No, it does not!" Brooklyn gasped and she looked over at the clock on the wall. "I've got to get changed for work." She scrambled up from her seat, but Harry grabbed her wrist.
"I've explained," he said. "You can fight this, but I know how this will end. If you fight it will only delay the inevitable, babe."
*
The next day Brooklyn didn't feel like getting out of bed. She was curled up under her covers counting down the seconds before she knew she would have to get up and get ready for school.
She thought about staying at home, but she had a feeling Harry would turn up at her house.
He was in her mind after all.
She could feel him. The pushing feeling was there.
If only she could block him out.
Brooklyn frowned. She had blocked before. When she found out about him being a werewolf she managed to block him out for a small while. It wasn't long, but if she had done it once she could do it again.
Brooklyn closed her eyes and focused, trying to remember what she did.
"Build a wall," she murmured. "Block him out."
Brooklyn imagined a wall. A big stone wall that was getting higher and higher, surrounding the part in her mind that let Harry into her head and blocking it off.
He wasn't in her head at the moment.
Brooklyn prayed it would stay that way.
Brooklyn gathered her covers and hugged them to her chest and closed her eyes, falling back into a peaceful sleep.
*
Brooklyn woke with a start. Her head was aching but she couldn't feel Harry.
"Brooklyn 1, Harry 0," she said triumphantly and rubbed her eyes and sat up. She checked her phone and saw she had messages from the girls.
Alice even wondered if she was dead.
Brooklyn rolled her eyes and stumbled her way to the shower and washed away her sleepy haze. When she was done she dried herself and let her curly hair go wild and she changed into her work clothes. When she was ready she started her walk to work.
She couldn't help but wonder if Harry realised she wasn't at school.
"Stop thinking about him!" Brooklyn told herself. "He's out of your head, Brooke! Stop thinking about him! Think of boys, really hot boys. Smoking boys.
Like Harry.
Brooklyn groaned and shook her head. "You're such a girl," she huffed.
"Hey."
Brooklyn yelled out in fright when a car pulled up next to her and she half expected it to be Harry, so she was surprised to see Ben, her manager.
"Need a lift?" He called.
"Oh, yeah, that would be great!" Brooklyn smiled.
"You look nice."
Brooklyn laughed. "Really? Thanks," she said.
"So, are you enjoying working at the diner?" Ben asked as he drove them to work.
"Yeah, it's just like being back home, it's nice," Brooklyn smiled.
"Do you miss home?"
"This town is doing a good job at distracting me," Brooklyn admitted and chuckled.
"This town or a boy?"
Brooklyn glanced at Ben and then looked at her hands. "Why ask when you know the answer," she groaned and rolled her eyes.
"I know of that group," Ben said and Brooklyn raised her eyebrows. "Those guys, be careful, they're not who they seem."
Brooklyn chewed her lip. "They're not, are they?"
Ben didn't say anything.
"What do you know about them?" Brooklyn asked.
"Not much," Ben shrugged. "Just the town gossip. We're small, everyone has heard of everyone."
"Yet no one really knows much about them," Brooklyn murmured.
"Or you."
"What?"
"You're quite a big mystery as well. You're the new person that no one knows anything about," Ben said. "You don't talk about your life before this town."
"There's not much to say," Brooklyn shrugged. "I lived in the city and nothing happened."
"That's what people with something to hide say," Ben chuckled.
"I'm not hiding anything," Brooklyn said.
"If you say so," Ben said lightheartedly and they pulled up to the diner. "You've got to meet the new manager today."
"New?"
"Well, old," Ben corrected himself. "He went travelling for a few months and now he's back."
"Cool," Brooklyn nodded and climbed out of the car. She followed Ben into the diner and spotted an unfamiliar guy standing at the cash register.
"Oscar! This is Brooke," Ben called and waved him over. "She's new, but she's great. She's a friend of Violets."
Oscar was quite tall with messy brown hair. He smiled politely at Brooklyn. "Hey, nice to meet you," he said and held his hand out.
"Hiya," Brooklyn greeted him and shook his hand. "You too."
"I'm sure we'll have time for chitchat later," he said and nodded to Ben before walking off and serving a customer.
"I'll be in the office if you need me," Ben said and left Brooklyn alone.
Brooklyn sighed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. She only had 6 hours to go.
*