Chapter 26 Fated Mates

*Diana*

It was the last day of school before Christmas break and it seemed it took forever. I floated from class to class, my mind on Ethan and not on the subject matter. Good thing I studied all of my lessons in advance at the diner when I had free time. Anyway, everyone else was thinking of the program later tonight so, I wasn't the only one who had their mind on other things.

John, my EX bestfriend, thought it would be nice to inform everyone I had a boyfriend. Michelle laughed at the idea while Bryan scratched his head, then slicked it back, sat on my desk, then whispered to call him if it doesn't work with this mystery guy. I told him to brush his teeth, his breath smelled like tuna. He did the sniff test in front of me and made a face, he couldn't even take the smell of his own breath. Gross.

When will the bell ring?! I was tapping on my book with my pencil waiting for the final bell to ring. I glanced at the wall clock and saw it was 5 minutes to 3PM.

"Because most of you need to get ready for the Christmas Program later tonight, I'm ending class early. Make sure you've copied down the assignments I want all of you to do over Christmas break," my teacher announces to my surprise. I jump out of my chair and start putting my stuff in my bag. Wait, it was early, maybe Ethan wasn't here yet. I fish my phone out of my bag to check if he sent me a message. I find I had two messages. One from my Dad saying he had a surprise for me and another from Ethan. My heart made a tiny cartwheel in my chest.

"Hi Diana! I'm outside waiting for you. Same spot. ❤"

It had a heart emoji at the end. I hugged my phone when John tapped my shoulder.

"D, we have one last practice before the program later. You wanna come with?" He had his eyebrows up hoping I'd say yes.

"Why should I? After you blabbed to anyone and everyone who has ears that I have a boyfriend." I raised a challenging eyebrow to his while putting on my coat.

" Aw, c'mon D, it isn't like you can hide him." He raised his hand to his chest trying to mimic a tickled girl. "He's tall, dark and handsome," he said in high pitch voice, "and has a nice car." He finishes his statement trying to tuck invisible long hair behind his ear while he bats his eyelashes. I giggle, watching him imitate Michelle.

"Sorry, John, my dad sent me a message he has something for me at the diner and Ethan's waiting for me outside to drive me there."

"Your DAD sent YOU a MESSAGE?!" His eyes widened, astonished my dad sent me a text message. "Okay, I give up. I'll see you later then, right, D?" He picks up his backpack and slowly walks backwards towards the door, waiting for my answer.

"Yep, I'll see you at the auditorium later. I promise to clap the loudest." I look under my chair if I dropped anything and double check my belongings. Seeing everything was in my bag, I hoist it around my shoulder. "I'll see you later, John. Rock on!" I raised my hand and formed the 'rock on' hand sign. He did the same and dashed out of the room to his bandmates.

The dismissal bell finally rings and the doors of all the classrooms open and the students come rushing out into the hallway. I smoothed my hair and my coat and walked out of my homeroom through the hall to the main entrance of the school. I open the door and was blinded by the bright light of the sun that crept out from the shadows of the gray clouds.

Covering my eyes with my hand, I glance to the spot where Ethan dropped me off and I was shocked to find him talking to Michelle and her friends. They were giggling at his jokes while tucking their long hair behind their ears trying to gain his attention. Perfect. After meeting Michelle, he'd probably just dump me at the diner and come back here to be with pretty Michelle.

He suddenly glanced up and saw me standing like a dork infront of the entrance of the school. I wanted to go back inside, but it was too late now, he saw me. To my surprise, he excused himself and exited the circle of girls around him, running towards me.

"Diana, I was about to come get you inside. I was asking those girls what classroom you're in. You had me worried there." He walked up the steps, took my bag from my shoulders and took my hand to guide me down the stairs. I felt a sudden warmth radiate from my hand to my arms which then went throughout my body. I smiled at him, lost for words for the first time in my life. His grey eyes stared into mine and his pink lips curved to the side into a half grin and I imagined myself planting a kiss on his lips. I blushed to the roots of my hair for ever thinking that. His grey eyes widened in amusement to my embarrassment.

"You are so beautiful. I just want to kiss you." I gasp. He was thinking it, too. Oh my gosh! "Yes, I was thinking it, too. Soon Diana. Soon."

"I-I-I wasn't thi-thi-thinking of k-kissing you," I stuttered. What is happening to me? I don't stutter!

"Ethan Crowne is your mate, Diana. You are fated mates paired by the Moon Goddess herself. You are his as he is yours. No one can break the mate bond unless one of you rejects the other. Watch your words, Diana. Do not reject your fated mate. It will be painful for both of you and a void will be present for as long as you live." The voice in my head was becoming clearer now. So, Ethan was mine? And I was his?

"Penny for your thoughts?" I didn't notice I had gone down the steps and that we were already near his pickup. I shake my head of my thoughts and shakily try to laugh it off like it was nothing to be concerned about. How can I tell him I'm a part wolf and that I hear a voice in my head which seems to be more intelligent than me? And oh the voice in my head says we're fated mates, you are mine and I am yours? Ha..ha..ha..

"Sullivan, Ethan's your BOYFRIEND?" Oh, thank God for Michelle. At least the conversation has now diverted from me being schizophrenic, high scary level, to my love life which is equal to zero scary level. I was about to open my mouth to answer her, but Ethan beat me to it.

"Yes, Michelle, I'm Diana's boyfriend. Remember, I told you I'm here to pick up Diana? I even asked you where her classroom is. Anyway, we'll see you later. You're performing correct?", Ethan politely said to Michelle while his eyes were focused on me. I felt myself go hot under his gaze and I blushed again, this time, he rubbed his thumb on my wrist, indirectly telling me he saw my reaction.

"Ah, y-yeah, tonight. The program starts at six thirty," Michelle answers Ethan's question and I see her blush in humiliation for being brushed aside. I wanted to laugh at her, but I didn't want to embarrass her further. She was embarrassed enough.

"Excuse us ladies. I need to take Diana to the diner. We'll see you later." Ethan had the girls move over so he could open the door to the passenger side of the pickup so, I can go inside. He closes the door and goes to the driver's side. I could feel Michelle's glare as I sat there waiting for Ethan to get into his pickup. I casually looked at me phone so I could ignore her. I noticed my dad sent me another message.

"Diana, please tell Ethan to get both of you here as soon as possible. There's something very important happening. Dad."

This possibly can't be my father texting. He never sends me messages. Well, he does, once in a while with three words max. I decided to call him to see what was going on.

"Dad, what seems to be the problem? You don't text. You never text. So there has to be a huge problem for you to actually text."

"Pumpkin, can you give Ethan the phone please?"

"Okay, Dad." Ethan was about to drive off when I handed him the phone. "My dad wants to talk to you." He takes the phone and asks my dad what was wrong. He just kept nodding his head to whatever my father was telling him. I started feeling nervous.

"No need to be nervous, Diana. I am here with you. Together, we are strong, and with the Moon Goddess on our side, we are invincible." The voice in my head told me.

"Is your name, Onyx, by any chance? You're my wolf?" I decided I should start talking to the voice in my head. The voice was becoming clearer and I could now tell that it was a she.

"Yes, I am your wolf, Onyx. Finally, you can clearly hear me. The man, Ethan, and his wolf, Howl, are our mates."

"Wait. Ethan's a wolf, too?" I couldn't believe it. Here I thought I had just gone from normal to abnormal when I was just starting to crush on someone. I let out a sigh of relief. He was like me. It gave me hope.

"Does he know we're mates or is this just a figment of my imagination?" I needed to be sure the feeling was mutual and not just one sided.

"Ethan knows and is waiting patiently for you to turn 18. When you are 18 and are of age, you will feel the mate bond instantly and you will want to have him leave his mark on you. You are his and he is yours. There is no mistake between fated mates. It is the Moon Goddess's will." Onyx knew her stuff. Ethan clears his throat and I turn my head to look at him.

"Diana, I'm afraid we might not be going to the program tonight. I'll take you to the diner. There is someone important waiting for you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." Ethan promises me and hands me back my phone. His statement was very cryptic. Who was this someone waiting for me at the diner? My heart started to race and I could feel my palms sweat from nervousness.

"I, Diana, won't let anything happen to YOU." Onyx's voice changed to a deep growl which made the hairs on my arm stand erect.