CHAPTER 2

"So how was school?" My Dad asked as I walked in. He was working on the microwave which has been behaving funny lately. He had promised to call the repairman since his last attempt to fix the fridge failed, but as usual, he didn't.

"It was okay," I told him, going to drop my bag on the small table beside the fridge, where we kept a few important books and a trophy I had won in school. "Did you hear about the Prince's arrival?"

He laughed. "Who didn't hear about it? I'm sure the girls in your school are going crazy over him." He chuckled, standing up straight. "Just like how they did over him back then, I tell you, women couldn't keep their eyes away for a second." And that's why he's my Father, the man who showered me with all his ego. "But I met your mum, and she was the one who had my attention...the most beautiful woman I had ever seen." I couldn't see his face because his head was still in the fridge, but the crack in his voice broke my heart.

I never discussed it with my father because the first time I had blamed myself for her death while we went to visit her grave, he had warned me never to do that again. I tried my best, understanding there was nothing I could have done to help her, it was my first time on Earth after all, but there were times like this, I just really missed the woman I didn't even get to meet. "Hey, are you okay?" We don't talk about my mum often. My dad also wasn't ready to move on. It was normal for werewolves whose mates were no more to move on with other wolves in the same state, but my dad wouldn't do that. Other women had shown interest, but he was never interested. I did get worried sometimes though, when I'm off in college, I would hate that I'm leaving him alone.

"Yeah," he answered, standing up. "I better just go buy another fridge, this one has sadly kicked the bucket," He said with a big smile. It was always like this at the mention of my mum, he would change the subject quickly. "So Prince Adam, what's he like?"

I shrugged, turning my back to my dad and pretending to look for an item on the floor so he wouldn't see my reaction to that name. "He's alright," I said. "Even more handsome in person," I added for reasons I didn't understand.

"Mmhmm," I heard him say. "Sure he is." Though I couldn't see him, I could hear the smile in his voice. "You girls already have your eyes on him huh?" I rolled my eyes, not giving him a reply, then I proceeded to head to my room, it's been a long day, I could really use a nap.

"Won't you have lunch before you go?"

"Later Dad. I really need to rest before food. We'll you be the around when I wake up?" He leaves the house most evenings because of 'duty calls'.

"I don't think so, with the arrival of the Prince, things will be going on. But I'll be back before dinner," he said, but we both knew he wouldn't be back before dinner. They really held him over there when he goes to work, most of the time when he returned he retires for bed or is too lazy to even head up to bed, so sleeps somewhere around.

"Ok, no worries. I'll head to bed now, see you tomorrow." I skipped off before he could say anything else. I wasn't ready to have that conversation with him.

I got to my room, after locking the door behind me, I began to strip, getting ready to lay on my bed. I began to think of the entire day.

The next day at school, I had only one thing in mind, avoid Adam. It wouldn't be hard, I would just avoid him the same way I avoid Emily.

"Jimmy!" I sighed in relief when I sighted him. He had been talking with a boy, who when he saw me approaching, hurried away. "What was that?" I asked when I arrived. "Why did he leave? Do I now scare people away?"

"Don't be ridiculous, you don't scare people away. He left because he has somewhere else to be."

"Where?" I inquired.

Jimmy shrugged. "He has to go continue studying for exams. Why are you so interested, do. you know him?"

She didn't know how to tell him the only reason she even cared was because of him. She had no problem with gay people, but just with him being gay and seeing him close to boys, she couldn't help but assume. "N-no, I don't," I admitted. "I was just curious." The bell rang at that moment.

"Come on." He poked my nose. "You should head to class. There is something I have to go do first, I'll be there shortly."

"Okay," I said. He walked away, heading in the same direction that the boy from earlier followed. I knew he was going to meet him. "Stupid feelings." It was best to just forget about Jimmy and move on. I can settle with the fact that if he wasn't with me, at least he wasn't with any other girl.

The class was loud as usual, students were on their desks, rather than their seats, talking with their friends. I walked over to my sit quietly, doing my best not to gain anyone's attention. Jimmy was always by my side to protect me from anyone who tried to bully me, but seeing he was not around, and Emily was in the classroom, I needed to be careful. I don't think she noticed me yet, she was in a deep conversation with her friends, her best friend Sharon sat beside her, fixing her makeup.

I decided to rest my head on the table, till the teacher comes in. I was just about to do this when my eyes met with Emily. She never rarely me physically because of my dad, but it didn't stop her from doing whatever she could to cause me pain. As I said, she was just jealous I was prettier. "Your best friend isn't around to protect you today?" She asked in an irritating sweet tone. Her voice was really loud as she always did this to gather the attention of everyone. Emily always liked being the center of attraction, when she arrives she wants every eye on her. It was sick how she craved it like it was her next breathe. If a new student arrived, and she was intimidated by her looks, Emily would do all she could to break the person's s self-esteem just to make herself feel better.

I ignored her, paying attention to my nails instead. I held my breath the moment I saw her get up. If Emily wasn't a werewolf I am pretty sure I would be able to stand up to her whenever she tried to bully me. But sadly, as a werewolf,  she was stronger. "Have you gone deaf?" She asked, standing before my desk."

"Leave me alone Emily," I muttered. "I don't-" I was interrupted when the door was locked open and somebody walked in. It was Miss Sarah, our English teacher walked into class with a big smile on her face. If my eyes weren't deceiving me, I believe I did see her do a little giddy jump.

"Settle down class! Everyone return to their seat," She said in a loud voice when she saw half the class didn't acknowledge her presence.

Emily eyed me, while I was dancing with joy in my heart. "We'll see later," I heard her say as she returned to her seat.

When the class was settled, Miss Sarah continued, "Prince Adam?" She called.

I raised an eyebrow, confused. Why would she be calling Prince Adam? I panicked, twisting in my seat to also get a view of my mates behind me, but he wasn't there. I'm sure I would have noticed him if he was, the whole class would. I sighed in relief, Miss Sarah must be in the wrong class because the Prince was not here. I turned back to face Miss Sarah, only to freeze in shock, he had just walked into the class. He was dressed all in black, which I was starting to notice was his signature colour. He had his long hair packed in a ponytail and a small bag strapped across his shoulders.

"Class it's with great honor that we welcome the Prince into this class," she was speaking to us, but her eyes were glued to the Prince. "Welcome," she told him.

"Thank you," he said and began walking to his seat. I kept my eyes glued to the book before me, I figured if I ignored him, hopefully he would do the same. He walked in my direction, stopping just behind me. I heard the s

"OK, let's continue with the class," Miss Sarah said, turning to face the board.

A few minutes later, I felt someone tapping my back. "Can you borrow me a pen?"

"No."

"I see you have a spare one with you," he said. "It wouldn't kill you if you gave me one."

"We don't know that."

"You know, you act like you don't want me around you, but I'm starting to think you really do enjoy it when I'm around you."

"Ha! You wish. I don't fancy you at-"

"What's going on there Cody? Prince Adam, is she giving you any trouble?" I gasped in disbelief at the question, she didn't even ask, but she was already assuming I was the one giving trouble.

"N-no, I wasn't-" I tried to speak, but she interrupted.

"I wasn't asking you, Cody."

"No, she isn't," Adam said. "I was just asking Cody here for a pen, but she insists that she wouldn't lend me one."

Miss Sarah gave me a disapproving look. "Cody, that's not nice at all. You know, I never expected this from you, treating our Prince with disrespect. Hand him a pen if you have one."

"But-"

"Would you like detention instead?"

"This is ridiculous," I muttered, giving him the spare pen on my desk. "Here, have it..." He had a pen! There was a pen on his book already, and from the looks of it, he had been writing and the ink didn't look like it had faded at the last few words he had written on his book, it means it was working. He collected the pen from me before I could say anything, but instead of using it to write, he just shoved it into his pocket.

"Thank you," he said, then picked up his old pen and continued writing, ignoring the disbelieving look I was giving him.

The second the bell rang, I bolted from my seat, not even waiting for Miss Sarah to leave first. "Cody, where do you think you're going?" she questioned.

"Bathroom!" I shouted, not looking back. I ran down the hall, heading to the female's restroom. When I got there, I went to the last stall, going in and quickly locking the door behind me.

"Jimmy, where are you?" I texted in the bathroom stall. "I didn't see you in class today." I waited for two minutes and when I got no reply, I decided I was going to call him when I heard the door open. Two girls had just entered the bathroom. I dared not step out now as I recognized the voice of one. It was Emily. I slowly put my phone in silent mode, if Jimmy replied, I didn't want the beep sound to alert my presence. If Emily knew I was the one here, she wouldn't think twice to put me in public shame.

"I tell you, Sharon, I could feel his eyes on me. I think he likes me!" Emily said, she sounded really excited.

Sharon scoffed. "You wish. He wasn't looking at you Emily, he was looking at that bitch Cody."

"Why would he look at Cody?" Emily sounded offended. "What about her would even interest him? The Prince has probably given up on finding his mate and is now looking for someone else he could claim as his and it's going to be me, not Cody, not any other girl around."

"If you say so," Sharon told her. "But I doubt he has given up on finding a mate. He is still a teenager, unlike us, he is going to live for a really long time, but I doubt he has given up on finding his mate, if it's anything, he has only just begun."

"What's your problem, Sharon? It sounds like you are against the union of the Prince and I. Also, I don't care. It would take him hundred of years before his mate shows up. I plan on enjoying my time with him, especially now that he attends our school. It would make things easier for me."

"But he hasn't even noticed you yet, how do you plan on enjoying your time with him?" I bit my lips to hold back the laugh that struggled to escape. Though Emily and Sharon claimed to be best friends, it was no secret that the two girls secretly competed against each other.

"Wait...did you hear that?" Emily asked. My eyes widened as I wondered if they had heard me. I raised my legs, so if they looked under the bathroom doors, hopefully they wouldn't see me. "I swear I just heard something."

"Of course someone is in here...I heard her breaths the moment we walked in. She's probably taking a shit." They both laughed at that. "Come on let's go. We're having Maths next period and if you're lucky, you could take Cody's seat besides Prince Adam."

"Yeah, let's go." They were out seconds after that, sighing in relief I stepped out. I had no problem with Emily taking my seat, it would only mean that I don't have to sit next to Adam. I opened the door and stepped out, it was just then that a reply came from Jimmy.

Hey, can you come to the roof of the school? There is something I would love to discuss with you.

I read the text again. The boy I saw Jimmy with earlier crossed my mind, Jimmy didn't show up to English class, and I could only picture them together. I wouldn't he surprised if he wanted to announce that they were dating.

OK, I'll be there.

"Jimmy?" I called when I got there. There was no sign of anybody around, I wondered if maybe he hadn't gotten to the roof yet, but then why did he text me to show up when he wasn't even here. "Jimmy!" I brought out my phone to text him, but stopped when I felt a presence behind me.

"Sorry, Jimmy isn't going to be coming here. It's just you and I." It was Prince Adam. "I had to borrow Jimmy's phone to text you, since you are so hellbent on ignoring me."

"What did you do to Jimmy? He wouldn't trick me into something like this."

"Really? Because he willingly gave me the phone himself, and might I mention how excited he was." Adam grinned. I wasn't surprised though, Jimmy had been fangirling over Adam few days ago, it's no surprise that he would do as asked.

"I don't want to speak to you Prince Adam." I moved to leave, but he stepped in my path. I groaned, looking up at him. "Will you let me go? I have to...go use the bathroom."

"You hesitated before speaking, you're lying." I rolled my eyes, moving to go, but this time he grabbed me, pulling me close to him. "Calm down Cody, I am not going to harm you. You're after all my mate."

"Don't call me that."

"But that's what you are, and you know this."

"OK listen, I get that you're the prince, a Lycan and many times stronger than me, but that doesn't give you the right to use your powers and hold me against my will...W-what are you doing?" It didn't look like he had listened or paid attention to the things I just said. His hands were caressing my face

"Nothing," he said softly. "Your hair is really soft."

"Thank you?" I closed my eyes as he suddenly leaned close, placing my arms before my lips as I thought he was about to kiss me. But nothing happened, instead I felt the feathery tingling of his breath close to my ears. I opened my eyes quickly and pushed him, he didn't budge. "Don't touch me."

"Don't worry, I won't—not yet." But he didn't move back, our front were almost touching that I felt any closer and my nipples would brush against his chest. He continued combing his fingers through my hair. "Why are you human?" He asked, ignoring the slaps she was throwing at his chest as I struggled to escape.

I stopped, sighing in defeat. I could scream for help, but who would believe he was holding me against my will when he was the Prince. Everyone in the school admired him, there's probably nothing I could do or say that would save me from him. "I don't know. Why don't you go ask my father, he brought me to this world after all."

"You have a sharp mouth."

I smirked at him. "I do."

"You know anyone would be happy if they found out that I am their mate."

"I'm already interested in someone else." I thought of Jimmy, a frown now etched on my face as I remembered his betrayal.

"Is it your best friend?" He gave a short laugh. "Isn't he gay? I saw him with a boy earlier...they looked really close."

"It's none of your business!" I snapped.

"True...but then isn't it funny that your best friend would be more attracted to me, than he would ever be to you?" He grinned. "You are here rejecting me, but I bet if I moved to him, I would have a better chance than you'll ever have."

"Y-You don't know what you're saying."

He shook his head. "I think I do. You know, maybe I should come see your Father and introduce myself to him as his daughter's mate."

"You know my Father?" I cocked my head to the side.

"He is head of security right? I even know where you live. I do know many things about-"

He said it like it was a common knowledge. I could only imagine the 'many things' he knew about me. I felt like poking the silly mouth of his and make him groan in pain, "Have you been stalking me?"

"I wouldn't call it stalking, I'm simply satisfying my curiosity. In fact I have a stronger one now..." His eyes moved down to my lips. "They look really soft." He leaned down a little. "so full," he whispered coming even closer. My breath hitched as he looked me deeply in the eyes, a little smirk on his face. I could see the wheels in his head spinning as his eyes twinkled mischievously, I was going to kiss me. Without thinking, I let out a cry and slapped him hard.