Their Secret Exchange

Octavia’s POV

“*Ugggggh!*” I groan loudly, dramatically turning the pages of my monster sized textbook.

I've been flipping through the pages of my chemistry textbook for the last three hours, trying to prepare myself for my minimesters midterm. The past three weeks have been nothing short of *agonizing*. June classes seemed like an easy feat when I enrolled a few months ago… then I met Leon. It's absolutely impossible to concentrate when all that pops into my head is **him**.

*’I feel like I'm going to die of boredom.’* I think to my wolf, as I flop backwards onto my bare bed. My mom sent a few of the young omegas into my room about an hour ago to take my bedsheets to the wash. I guess she thought it would help me relax more if she had my space cleaned. All it has really done is make my mind more cluttered, and distracted.

I'm pulled out of the mess in my mind when my phone pings. I scramble up off my mattress and grab my phone from its charging pad as if I am a dog chasing a bone. Obviously, my excitement is met with an ecstatic feeling when I see that the text I received is from Leon.

“Finally!” I laugh out loud, as I open his message. I’ve been waiting for him to interrupt this horribly *boring* task.

**”*Via, meet me at 9pm on the corner of forks and charley avenue… I have a surprise.<3*”** As I read his message my heart leaps out of my chest, and then slowly with it my mind melts. Everything that bothered me basically disappears into vapor for a moment, as I bask in the thoughts of being with my mate once more. My heart and mind unite in bliss, if I had a tail in human form it would be wagging up dust. I miss him so much already, and it hasn’t even been a few days since we last saw each other.

**”*Okay, what time will I be back? I need to secure a believable alibi for my family.*”** I respond, afraid of getting caught with him before we can make things more…permanent.

We agreed to not tell anyone until things cannot be undone, to protect the bond gifted to us by the moon goddess. Neither of our families are very trusting when it comes to the goddess and her choices, but we believe we can make it work… and possibly change their minds.

My phone pings only a few seconds later, his responses coming faster than I can even think.

**”*Try to get them to let you stay out, maybe at a friend's house? I need as much time with you as I can get today… (;*”** I pause at the end of his text, a *spicy* thought popping into my mind. *What if Leon is planning to mate tonight!*

Shock and anticipation flood my senses. Before I can logically create a scenario where my being gone all night is not suspicious, I message him back with a simple yet excitable **”*CAN DO!*”**

*’I can’t believe it! He totally wants to mate!’* I think and squeal loudly, bouncing with excitement. A warm and happy feeling takes over me, because this means he has decided to fully accept me. *To make me his forever.*

Suddenly I feel my face get hot with realization, and a sense of embarrassment threatens my happiness. *’Do you think I come off desperate?’* I facepalm as I lay flat on my pillow, starfished on my bed. I question Lucia, referring to my short and… overly happy response. *’Should I have been a little more discreet?’*

She laughs internally, confusing me and making my face grow hotter. *’SO desperate! HAHAHA!’* My feelings grew sore from her response, but she's right.

Her wild laughter fills my mind with the image of her wolf form rolling on the ground like a hyena. I furrow my face, irritated that she thinks this is *that* funny.

*’Oh be quiet you silly dog!’* I wail silently, making her laugh harder.

*’You can’t even come up with a good insult Octavia, how do you expect to sexually whoo our mate?’* she responds in between her humorous howls, again hurting my feelings.

I sigh, thinking about her comment. *How do I **‘whoo’** him?* I question my thoughts, staring at the ceiling above. At a loss I just lay there for a while, floating into the abyss of fickle feelings growing in my head. And the popcorn pattern in the sheetrock.

My body feels light, and for the first time in my life… the decision I'm making feels like my own. Choosing my mate for myself, instead of being told who to bind my mind, body and soul to forever. The fear of my family's reactions is still there, in the back of my mind, but it no longer feels as important as before.

I take a few deep breaths, relaxing my senses back into place before lifting my phone to look at the time. *Six fifty three pm.*

“Haa…” I sigh, realizing it’s probably time for me to pack up for my meeting with Leon.

*’You know if we leave early we could go pick up something cute to wear for him..’* my wolf hints, with a strangely soft tone and a sexy purr. *’It may help set the mood.’*

*’Are you trying to help me now?’* I scoff, knowing all too well she was just pushing me into mating with him as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

*’Duh. With how clumsy and mindless you can be, you need all the help I can give you.’* She laughs again, making my face flush hot.

*’Oh **come on** Lucia.’* I roll my eyes in amusement, *’We are two halves of one whole being, if Im clumsy **so are you.**’* She howls at that and retreats to my subconscious, with a good mood.

My smile grows at how playful my wolf has become in the few weeks I have known Leon. Before he crossed our paths, Lucia and I simply coexisted as peacefully as we could. She never approved of my submission towards my family. Especially because of our alpha blood, we may be female but that doesn’t change our natural dominance.

I finish packing my backpack and toss my good ol’ leather jacket over my shoulder. I slip the keys to my bike into my jacket pocket, before stepping softly down the stairs.

As I approach the turn of the stairs I hear a familiar voice coming from the kitchen, directly across from the final step. I stop and listen quietly, eavesdropping.

“Felix, she isn’t ready. She's unmated and unmarked. The pack might rebuke her, would the elders even allow there to be a *female* alpha?” I hear my mom frantically talking in tears, stress shaking her voice. “What would we do then? We cannot allow our only daughter to be a *rouge!* What about the *hunter!*”

My breath stops, are they talking about *me?* What *hunter??*

My palms grow clammy from the shock. I stay still, breathing lightly to avoid being noticed. *’What in the world have I stumbled into…’* I think, feeling my wolf's presence lingering within my current consciousness.

“Adelle. *Listen to me.* They will have no choice but to accept her, she is a pureblood alpha. We will hold a ceremony to have the title passed to her.” He sighs heavily, I can basically hear him rubbing his forehead in frustration. “Stop worrying about that *stupid* hunter. Our pack warriors are covering the perimeters, nothing will happen with our guard up.”

A.. *Hunter?* What the hell?

My face contorts in confusion. Hunters never come this far out, not during the heat of the summer.

“The ceremony needs to be done quickly, and she *will* take a mate. I have one chosen for her already.”

“But Felix! What of the moon Goddess?!” My mother basically shrieks in a whisper, making me jump sharply. “her destined mate-!”

“It won’t matter. She will never meet him, and if she does she will uphold her responsibility as an alpha.” My Father scoffs, his tone growing annoyed with my mothers sensibility.

“You expect her to *reject* who the mother wolf has put in her path?!” She gasps, her voice still shaking .

“Yes. She *will*, there is no other option. Our pure bloodline will continue. We *will not* make the same mistake this time.” He growls, slamming a fist down on the counter. A loud crack echoes from the marble, my mother gulps loudly. “I won’t argue with either of you. **You will tell her**, and begin preparations for the title-passing ceremony immediately.”

My fathers steps descend down a front hallway, before stopping briefly, followed by a door slamming behind him. My mother remains still in the kitchen, silently sobbing under her breath. I could hear her breath shaking, as her tears splashed against the tile below her feet. My heartbeat *pounding* in my eardrums.