9. What the Heck!?

Ash's POV

I walked silently into the classroom, feeling better and more refreshed than I had in weeks, even without the blood. Alex was sitting there, where he was everyday. For some reason, I felt my heart flare at the sight of his light brown locks that flowed messily over his rich green eyes that I swore I had seen before meeting him a few days ago.

"Hey," he whispered quietly, drawing me out of my fantasy. I ignored him, not wanting him to bring up the things that I had mentioned the day before.

"Uh, I figured out how to use a calendar. It's October 10th," he told me. I flinched as thoughts of that night flooded into my mind.

Shit, shit, shit... It's going to be my twentieth birthday in... "Ten minutes left," I muttered almost silently.

I couldn't keep my eyes off of the clock. After about nine minutes, Alex excused himself to the bathroom.

Fifty seconds left.

Forty.

Thirty.

Twenty.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two...

...One...

As soon as the second hand struck twelve at 9:23, October 10th, I felt the biggest change ever wash over my body. I was almost unable to keep my fangs from coming out in the middle of class. Then my overly sensitive nose discovered a sweet scent, one that I needed to find right now. Mate.

I quickly raised my hand and excused myself from the room, nearly running to the bathroom. I paced for a few moments, contemplating how to find my mate. I mean, he had to be close if I could feel his scent but...

I stepped up to the sink and splashed the chilly water onto my face, enjoying the way that it distracted my mind from the recent events.

Then the scent got stronger.

I snapped my head to the doorway, shocked but not surprised when Alex was the one who stepped in.

We connected eyes, and I felt myself lose control. Oh shoot, the only time I had felt this before was when I went psychotic for blood... I don't want to kill the only person who puts up with me.

I ran my tongue subconsciously over my lips, enjoying the pleasant shivers that went down his back. Within a few moments, I was toe to toe with him, and he was pushed against the wall beneath my smaller body. I surprised both myself and him by kissing him gently on the lips. Of course, it didn't remain gentle as I pressed them into his even harder. I loved the way that he submitted under my touch and followed my lead.

I kissed down his neck, fighting to keep my fangs in and not mark him because I couldn't let him figure out that I was a vampire. Although, his sweet moans were making it quite difficult.

I moved back to his mouth, pressing my chest to his while wishing they were bare. I was in control of my own actions now, but I didn't want to stop. I nipped his bottom lip with my front two teeth and he granted me entrance. He tasted good, but I couldn't figure out what the taste was since I hadn't eaten human food before.

His hands pulled at my hair, giving me more pleasure than ever. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I moaned. He shivered and drew back for air, locking his eyes with mine. I wanted him and only him, forever.

The bell rang and I mentally groaned, gripping his hand and dragging him through the halls. I ignored the judgmental eyes of other students, and we actually got to gym on time for once.

***

That night I had actually passed out. As soon as I opened my eyes, I had no recollection of what had happened the previous day. I stepped into school, watching the people chattering around me. They all stopped talking briefly, then launched into gossip mode.

I walked into first block confused. I had a feeling that all of this had something to do with Alex, so as soon as I entered, I asked him, "what happened yesterday? I can't remember anything."

"Follow me... I'll help you remember," he responded... Seductively? What went on yesterday!?

Still, I followed him behind the school, confused as to why we were there. Then he leaned into me and kissed me, causing me to remember everything.

I broke the kiss, asking, "that actually happened!?"

"Yup."

"Uh... I have to go..." I stuttered, basically running away.

He was my soulmate, mine forever. It was too much to digest for me. I didn't go to first block. I completely avoided him during gym, third block, and lunch. I finally spoke to him during computer science. Brad was sat next to me again, picking at my perfect mate...

I. Was. Pissed.

"Bradley! Enough," I snapped at him, his shocked and angered face turning my way.

"What the heck, bro! You hate him too," he shouted.

"I've never hated him, dammit!" I responded even louder. The teacher at the front of the room had stopped teaching and was making that 'I'll wait' expression.

"Really! So all of the times you called him annoying, or trash, or anything else, were just lies!"

I was silent. He was correct.

Then I heard Alexander speak up from beside me.

"Fuck this!" he yelled, much louder than either me or Brad. He sprinted out of the room at a top speed, and I watched the teacher make an angry expression.

Then, I processed what had happened and ran after him, trying to follow his scent trail. I was in the middle of the forest when it began to rain, washing away his sweet scent from the freshly fallen leaves. I collapsed right there, the rain soaking my back. I hoped that if I laid there long enough, I would fade from the earth.

I was put in a position where I had to defend him and I failed. I really wasn't fit to be his mate, his protector. Maybe he would be better off without me. Then, I caught a strong scent, one that I hadn't smelled since I was 8 and thought I would never be able to sense again. Another coven of vampires.

I got up very quickly, almost right underneath the feet of a 30 year old female. She sniffed me, probably to find my species.

"What are you doing here, lone vampire?" she asked, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"This is my home," I whispered nervously.

"Usually our kind travel in covens, so why are you all alone out here?"

"Well... My entire coven was killed by a wolf pack when I was only 8."

"Would you like to join our group? We were planning to settle somewhere a bit deeper into this forest."

I looked at her with a shocked expression. "Are you serious?"

"Of course I am! Us vampires gotta stick together, right?"

"Yeah... I'm in."