5. Maybe I'll Enjoy It

Ash's POV

I looked at him stumbling over his words like he had committed some crime.

"U-uh, you noticed?" he asked, a light blush staining his freckled cheeks. He began to fidget with his fingers, proving the fact that he was hiding something big.

"WELL!? WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ME!?" I shouted, my voice even harsher than before

"W-well..." he started at almost a whisper, the rest of his statement too quiet for me to hear.

"What was that?" I asked angrily, getting close enough to anger to strangle this trash.

"You're my mate... You're mine," his voice changed at the end, deeper and about ten times more hypnotic.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, suddenly much quieter as I took in the new information. Of course I knew what a mate was, or a soulmate to myself, but I was unaware that humans could have one. He sheepishly looked down and tried to walk away, but he could hardly take a step before I was blocking his way.

"Answer my question, Pup," I snapped, enjoying the way that the taller teenager flinched. For some reason unknown to me, I liked feeling in control of him. Now that I think about it, he was really pretty up close. His emerald eyes seemed to glow in the sun, and stood out in contrast to his tan face. He was tall. Tall enough that I would have to stand on my toes to kiss- Wait! Why am I thinking about kissing him? He could be mine. I mean, vampires don't get our soulmates until we're twenty, so it was just possible. I lost track of my birthday as soon as my parents died, meaning that I have no clue when it was. For all I know, it could be tomorrow or in six months.

"In human terminology, I like you."

"What do you mean, human terminology, and also... You like me, as in you're in love with me?"

"As for the human terminology, don't ask, and yes, I love you."

"I'm sorry, but I can't return your feelings right now. I mean, we just met," I responded, shocked that he didn't hate me and my awful attitude. He visibly saddened quite a bit and turned around.

"We can try to be friends though, even if it doesn't work... As long as it isn't overly awkward between us for this," I stated, shocked even by my own words. Something inside of me had broken seeing him sad, so I just thought that was something that he would want to hear.

"A-are you su-re?" he stuttered in my direction. For some reason the hurt sounded so apparent in his voice. It shocked me that he could develop such strong feelings for me in only two days of knowing me. Maybe it shouldn't?

"Yeah! You should get home, these forests aren't very safe after the sun goes down," and its my fault, I added in my head. No one had really been alive to raise me with restraint, so I couldn't control my blood cravings at night. I blame the werewolves. If it weren't for them, massacring my whole family, I could maybe be happy instead of alone, struggling to make friends and assimilate with humans. My Mom would still be around, smiling, laughing, and kissing my father. Even he would be teaching me how to be running a coven, giving me the tough love that I see so often while I'm trying to steal my way in the world. Wherever that dumb Alpha's son is, I want him dead. No, not even dead. I want him to feel all of the pain that I feel every night. Rejection. Hurt. Sorrow. Dead Inside.

That's the exact thing I saw when I looked into his sad eyes, but there was also hope brimming around the edges.

"Thank you. Bye," he responded, walking away. I couldn't help but feel a small prick in the bottom of my heart. What am I thinking, I don't like him, I can't. Maybe once I find my soulmate I'll be less alone, and I can't be ruining that by having a boyfriend before them.

The sun began to set and I felt the all too familiar feeling wash over me. Even to this day, the pure power that ran through my veins made me think I was invincible. Of course, I had learned the hard way that I wasn't that one time that I fell out of a tree. That hurt a lot for weeks.

I ran through the forest at a quick rate, feeling myself become ecstatic at the wind passing all around my body. If any animal got into my way, they got killed. I turned into a bloodsucking monster. The worst thing is, I couldn't stop myself. I didn't want to be this way, I wanted to be free to spend a night with Brad or simply enjoy myself. Except no, this was how I was stuck each and every night, alone underneath the moon, almost like those dumb wolves.

Finally, after what felt like forever of not being in control of my own actions, the sun began to rise and I felt it release its energy from my exhausted body. Even though sleep wasn't required, that side of me always mentally breaks me down.

I made my way to the hollow tree that I called home and changed into some other stolen clothing since mine was slightly bloody. I'd have to put it outside the next time it rains.

I picked up the small backpack that took up a small space in my abode and walked out to go to school. Per usual, I only had a few minutes left to get into my class. Most people thought I was being intentionally criminal by walking into my classes a few seconds before the tardy bell, but it was difficult to maneuver the hallways at a measly height of 5'4", that is until one of the kids in the hallways spotted me and everyone in the area seemed to part ways for me like I was the royalty of the school. I mean, I was pretty good at putting on the tough guy act.

As soon as I stepped foot into the classroom, the bell rang and the teacher sent me a dirty look, telling me to take my seat swiftly so that she could take role. I plopped down onto my chair next to the boy that I made a promise with. A promise to break down my walls and just talk to him like myself. A promise I could hardly keep for myself. Every once in a while I would have distant memories of being a happy boy, openly playing and holding productive conversations with the other youth in his coven. That playful boy was gone now, buried by years of loneliness and forced into adulthood almost ten years earlier than he should have been.