My parents died when I was little, so I was put under the care of my uncle. He wasn't my uncle by blood, but we were very close and it didn't matter that he wasn't my mother's real brother.

However, after he got rejected by his mate, he completely changed. He became cold and heartless. At first he would only yell at me, but he began hitting me as well, and he's tried sexually harassing me several times. Luckily, I've managed to escape every time.

As a result, I've grown up not knowing much about my pack, and not knowing much about myself either. I don't know the names of my parents, or of any other relatives I may have. I also don't understand the whole concept of mates.

And here I am now, inches away from my mate, driven by lust and desire, yet not knowing what to do.

Our eyes were locked together, and time felt like it had stopped around us. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart, and all I could see was him. His scent was strong: So much that it was driving me insane.

I stood frozen in place as he slowly lifted his hand to touch my face. He lightly brushed my cheek with his fingers, sparks igniting between us at the contact. Next thing I knew, he had pulled me into a hug. He held me as if I would disappear if he let me go. My body felt like it was on fire, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back tightly.

"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do this for. I've endured so much while waiting to finally have you in my arms." Daniel murmured against my cheek, causing shivers to run down my spine.

I finally understand. I understand why he said what he said yesterday, and I understand why I felt sparks whenever we touched. It was all because he's my mate.

My wolf was jumped at the joy of finding her soulmate.

'We found our mate!'

At that moment, in his arms, I felt complete. I wanted to stay like this forever. I wanted to kiss him and have him all to myself.. But I couldn't let that happen.

My wolf's emotions mixed with my own, and for a while I let myself get caught up in the excitement. But when I started to think, I realized all the problems that lay ahead because he was my mate.

I couldn't be with him knowing he liked someone else. That someone being Carlie, who likes him as well. The thought of them being together was enough to make my heart ache, but I couldn't do this to Carlie. She was the only family I had.

I pushed him away, causing my wolf to whimper. I saw the hurt in his eyes, which made my heart break.

"I.. I can't!" I cried out, then quickly turned around and ran down the hall while fighting back tears.

My wolf howled in pain as I ran away from our mate. Our wolves yearned to be together, but that wasn't going to happen. I painfully continued down the hall. The further away I got from him, the more I wanted to run back to him and jump into his arms.

Before I realized it, I was outside my classroom. I wiped my eyes and straightened up. I entered the classroom like nothing had happened.

"Lauren? Late again? The bell rang eight minutes ago!" Mr. Castel said looking at me then back at his computer.

I didn't reply and quietly took my seat and sat next to Carlie. She looked at me worriedly.

"What happened? Do you feel sick?" Carlie asked as she placed her hand on my forehead.

I blankly shook my head. I wasn't sick, just in a lot of pain. My wolf wasn't doing good right now, plus she was angry at me.

'I want to be with mate!'

'I'm sorry. I know how important this is to you, but I can't be with Daniel if he has eyes for someone else. Especially if that someone else is Carlie.'

'I won't let you reject him!'

'Rejection? I hadn't thought about that.. But if anyone's gonna be rejected, isn't it me?'

'Don't be an idiot! He would never do that to us! You're just being selfish!'

After that, I didn't hear from her for a long time.

Having your wolf angry at you really sucks. She was right, though. I'm being selfish. I want Daniel, but at the same time I don't want to loose Carlie.. That's why I need to stay away from him for Carlie's sake, no matter how much it hurts.

I look back and see Daniel's friend Jeremy sitting all alone, looking worried. Then I realized I had Daniel for this period.. Why isn't he in class?

..No, it's probably best that he isn't here. I wouldn't know what to do. It's best if I try to avoid him.

Jeremy looked at me, and I quickly turned away. My thoughts were filled with Daniel. I even began imagining what life with him would be like, but I shouldn't expect any of that to happen.

I spent the whole period dozing off, and in the end I didn't get anything done. When the bell rang, I collected my stuff and parted ways with Carlie. As I left the classroom, someone grabbed my arm. I quickly turned around and saw Jeremy.

"What happened with Daniel? Why didn't he come to class?" He asked, sounding worried and a bit angry, probably at me.

I quickly turned away, but in a louder, more angry and demanding voice, he asked, "Where is he?!"

I kept my head low, feeling like I was committing a crime for not being able to answer his question. I whimpered as his strong gaze felt like it was burning a hole in me.

I shook off his hand and quickly ran off. What he said had me worried. Daniel didn't show up to class, and not even Jeremy knew where he was. I found myself wondering where he was and hoping he was okay.

***

I planned to avoid Daniel, but I hadn't seen him at all today after what happened. When the last bell rang, I left my class and headed to the parking lot with Nate, where Carlie was already waiting for us. When we reached the parking lot, I caught a whiff of the heavenly scent that made my wolf go crazy.

It was Daniel.

I frantically looked around, and when I spotted him, my heart stopped. He looked terrible. His hair was messy and all over the place, and he looked like he had just gotten run over by a bus. When he spotted me, he rushed over to me. I jumped and quickly took a few steps back. I was about to turn and run away, but I tripped over my own feet and fell on my ass. Daniel fell on his knees in front of me and grabbed my arms.

"I won't let you reject me!" He yelled.

He looked like he was in so much pain, and his eyes were pleading me to accept him. Seeing him like this broke my heart. I wanted to pull him him into a hug and tell him everything was going to be all right. I didn't want my mate to suffer.

"What the hell?" Nate muttered as he watched Daniel.

I whimpered seeing my mate like this and reached my hand out to touch his face, but quickly pulled it away.

Before it would get any more painful, I pushed him away and ran to Carlie, who was waiting in Nate's car.

Daniel remained on the floor of the parking lot, and Nate hurried over to us as fast as he could with his crutches. He opened the door to the passenger's side, since Carlie was in the diver's seat, and slumped inside. Then he threw his crutches to the back, one hitting me on the head.

"I'm driving, since I don't trust you and that weak ass broken leg of yours," Carlie said as stuck her hand out, asking for his keys.

I looked to where I had that encounter with Daniel seconds ago, and he was just motionlessly siting there in the same position I had left him. My heart ached painfully, and I wondered if some of the pain I was feeling was his. I didn't want him to suffer, and yet the reason he's suffering is me.

We're mates, and even though we haven't known each other for long, we have a very special bond that can only be severed by death.

I had never really given the whole mate thing much thought. I didn't really think much of it, but now it made me feel as lonely as the day my parents died. I don't remember much from the time they were still alive, but I do remember being happy and innocent. Once again, I felt empty.

After I was taken in by my uncle, the feeling of loneliness disappeared for a short while, until two years later he started acting coldly and turned into a complete monster. Then, I fell into an even worse state of loneliness. That's when Carlie invited me to her house, and everything changed. I became a part of her family, and I finally felt like I belonged somewhere.

I would never do anything to hurt the one person who gave me a home when I had no where to go. It doesn't matter how much pain I'm in, as long as she won't have to suffer.

"Lauren?! Are you listening?" Nate asked as he looked back at me.

"Huh? Oh, sorry.." I replied as I looked down and played with the hem of my skirt.

"What was up with Da-" Nate tried to ask but I quickly covered his mouth before he could say 'Daniel'.

"Shhh! Don't say his name!" I whispered as I continued to cover his mouth.

He made a confused look, and I gestured towards Carlie. He sighed and nodded, agreeing to keep quiet.

I let him go and patted his head like a dog.

"Anyways, what took you guys so long?" Carlie asked as she started Nate's car.

She somehow managed to convince him to let her drive his precious car.

"..Whoren had to take another shit," Nate said with a smirk.

"What?! Seriously? Again?!" Carlie ridiculed as she looked at me with surprise.

I sighed and shook my head at them.

As Carlie left the parking lot, I turned to take one last look at Daniel, but he was already gone.