25. Among The Wolves

**Kiara:** *See you tomorrow :)*

Marley let out a long sigh after reading her friend's text. Today was going to be a long day without Kiara and Rachel. The midterms were going to start soon and her friends had decided to take a leave for a group study at Kiara's place. Marley would have joined them too, if she hadn't had chemistry quiz.

She pressed the power button and placed the cellphone back in her jeans pocket.

"How did your quiz go?" Sanjay asked. He was, as usual sitting beside her, fiddling with his pencil. The chemistry period had passed an hour ago and now they were in calculus, waiting for their teacher.

"Good, I guess."

"I think I am going to fail. I should have studied last night." He groaned.

"What did you do instead?" She asked, letting out a faint chuckle. Sanjay's hatred towards chemistry never failed to amuse her.

"Uhh." Sanjay's natural tan failed to hide his red flamed cheeks. He bit his lips and focused his eyes on his lap. "I was with Oliver," he mumbled shyly.

"O-okay." Marley replied hesitantly. She was confused why her friend was suddenly acting so shy when it was her job to do so. Previously, he had openly admitted of being out with his boyfriend without any hesitation. It was strange, however, she shrugged it away.

"So, I heard today you'll be joining us in the pack house for the meeting." Sanjay looked at her with his big green eyes and a toothy grin, back to his bubbly self.

Marley looked around to make sure no one was listening before answering. "Eden wants me to introduce to his pack formally." Her eyes drifted to the desk and before she could stop herself, her insecurities spilled out of her mouth. "Sanjay, I am kind of nervous. What if they don't consider me good enough for their Alpha? I mean, I'm nowhere like the leading figure that they need. I could hardly make a child listen to me."

"Don't degrade yourself like that Marley." Sanjay placed his palm on hers in a comforting manner. "They are going to love you. Also, you don't have to be loud to make people listen to you. You are a girl of few words and sometimes few words are enough to make big changes."

"So, apparently you're also good at giving pep talks." Marley smiled, making Sanjay return her the same. She was really grateful to have a friend like him. "How did it go for you?" She asked as only a week ago he had formally met every pack member.

Marley was sure that Sanjay had managed to charm everybody with his friendly and charming personality.

"Aside from few stink eyes from occasional homophobes, it went pretty smoothly. They are good people Marley. You really don't have to worry about anything and besides you got that crazy alpha by your side. I'm sure he's going to rip out anyone's tongue who dare utter a single bad word about you."

"That's what I'm worried about." Marley leaned back on her chair and huffed. However, her face relaxed and a small smile made its appearance when she saw Sanjay grinning widely at her for a light tease.

When the lunch rolled around, Marley found herself sitting alone at her usual table with a small bowl of salad. She always enjoyed her own company but now she couldn't help but miss Rachel and Kiara. Everything seemed lonely without them.

"My mate is so shy that she can't even come and sit with me." A husky voice made her turn around to see a muscular boy smiling down at her. "What am I to do with you?" Eden plopped down beside her.

She saw all his friends taking the seats on the table one by one. "I just didn't want to intrude." She replied, looking at her bowl of salad.

"I don't know whether to be angry at you or kiss you." He smirked, wrapping his arms around her shoulder and pulling her closer.

The muffled laughs of his friends turned Marley red in embarrassment. She still wasn't used to his public display of affection. She tried to discreetly get out of his stealthy hold but as always failed.

Eden glared at his pack. "I am here to spend some alone time with my girlfriend. I didn't remember inviting you guys. Go away!"

"Eden!" Marley frowned, seeing him treating his friends this badly. As his eyes met hers, they softened.

Everyone burst out laughing not bothering anymore to hide their amusement.

"Look Eden, you've been keeping your mate away from us for too long and now we want to get to know her. Isn't it right guys?!" Callum exclaimed, driving a wave of 'yeah' from others on the table.

"You can get to know her at tonight's meeting." Eden groaned. "Now leave us."

Emilia shook her head. "We are your friends so we have special privileges. Besides, I am really curious what kind of spell Marley cast on you that turned our big bad wolf into a mewling cat." She chuckled, winking at Marley.

A low threatening growl rumbled from Eden's throat, making Emilia raise her hands in surrender but her laugh didn't stop.

"So, Marley how's our respected Alpha treating you?" Mark decided to break the tension. He enveloped Emilia's waist with his arms, making her lean into his touch. Marley had learned it a hard way that werewolves were really into skinship with their mates.

"What kind of question is that?" Eden narrowed his eyes at Mark. "Obviously, I treat her good, in fact better than good. I tre-"

"Let her speak." Jessica cut him off.

"He's okay." Marley answered timidly with a small smile.

"I'm better than okay." Eden scoffed, taking a bite of Marley's salad.

Everybody started firing questions at her and Marley tried to answer most of them. Soon, it got heated but Eden's presence beside her helped her in remaining calm. Even though his friends were a handful, she liked their cheering personalities and their efforts to make her feel one of them.

"Are you excited about tonight's meeting?" Matthew asked.

"Yeah." Marley lied smiling. She was nervous as hell.

All the werewolves caught her lie but none of them called her out. They knew it could be intimidating for a human to become a part of their supernatural world. However, Eden decided to have a talk with her in private. He didn't want to see his mate agitated.

"Oliver!" Callum yelled, throwing a morsel right on his face. "Stop gawking at Sanjay." Again everyone erupted into laughter, making Oliver frown.

Marley had noticed that through out their interrogation, Oliver barely uttered more than few words and at every five seconds stole glances at Sanjay who was sitting with his friends.

"What's it to you?" He glared menacingly at his friend.

"Callum, don't tease our beta. He had a wild night," Matthew taunted, eyeing Oliver mischievously. "Oliver, you should not make Sanjay scream so loud."

A shade of pink coated Oliver's cheek and again the laughter of everyone chorused. "Shut up!" He grumbled, irritatingly.

"I hope that you kids used the protection." Eden joined others and teased his beta. A smug smile making its way on his lips.

Oliver's eyes narrowed before he looked at Marley and smiled sweetly, too sweetly. "Atleast, I don't jerk off to the pictures of my mate on phone." It was enough to wipe off the smirk on Eden's face.

Marley's eyes widened in shock. She definitely didn't want to hear that, especially when surrounded by others. Her embarrassment reached another height when everybody at the table together hooted 'ooh' adding fire to already heated staredown between the Alpha and the Beta.

One thing was clear, her life undoubtedly was going to be a lot less mundane with these crazy wolves.