Cooper's POV
After Heather left, I finished my chores quickly before heading up to take a shower. I mind linked the chef to prepare two breakfast boxes instead of one because I knew that Heather would be late.
I got dressed in my usual clothes, t-shirt, jeans and jacket, I put on a watch and some cologne. I grabbed my backpack before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Since all the pack members go to the same school, father arranged for buses so that we save fuel and none of the teens demand cars of their own for school.
I grabbed the two Tupperware boxes, put one in my bag and one in my hand to hand it over to Heather when she comes. I went out to stand on the porch and waited for Heather. I decided not to think much about the kiss since I am damn sure that she was not into me. She was so madly in love with that leech that her decisions were clouded. I just hoped that before the spring break ends she comes to her senses and accepts me as her mate but I am also prepared to be mated to Cheryl just in case, which reminds me, I need to talk to Cheryl and ask her about this deal that the Alpha and Beta have made regarding our situation.
Heather came outside a few minutes later. I handed her the Tupperware which she accepted happily before I got on the bus. I went and took my usual seat in the back and plugged in my earphones. Sometimes, I like to drive in my car to the school but that is only if I am late otherwise I have to take the bus.
We reached the school just in time. I got off the bus after everybody else. "Thank you" I said to the bus driver before leaving. I walked to my locker to get my books for the first half of the day. My first class was AP Physics followed by AP Algebra. I had all boring subjects early in the morning. Good thing about today is that I get to work in carpentry workshop today.
The warning bell rang indicating we had to get to the classes. I made my way to the class and sat down in the last row. Our teacher walked in a couple minutes before the bell went off again. He began the class by taking attendance and as usual I zoned out. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door, I didn't pay attention to the latecomer and continued looking out the window when an all too familiar scent hit me. My wolf went wild as soon as it got a whiff of our mate's scent.
I turned to the door and there she was, in all her glory, the fiery red head having a stare off with our professor. Heather seemed to be battling with her wolf as she looked a little distracted. My wolf told me that Heather's wolf was not happy with her decision of rejecting me as a mate.
The staring contest ended since the professor wanted to start the class soon. Heather grabbed a seat in the middle of the class and opened her book but not before turning around as if searching for someone, when her eyes landed on mine she turned towards the board once again.
The day progressed and now it was the last class for the day, P.E. I had never noticed that Heather and I pretty much had all the same classes. We even had gym together and I never noticed. After gym, I have Basketball practice. I am on the basketball and track team.
The coach blew his whistle and everybody assembled on the ground. We were all asked to run 8 laps. Gym and basketball training were quite easy when compared to our pack's training sessions. Sometimes, gym was way too easy because of the human kids, they are not as fast as us, werewolves.
After the laps, coach informed us that we will be playing dodgeball today. Dodgeball is one of my favorite games and I am good at it. We were asked to divide ourselves into two teams. I noticed that Heather was part of the opposition. The play began, the first one to go out was one of my team members and Heather was the one who sent him out.
I observed her movements, she was quick and she predicted the other player's move. She used less strength and more strategy. She was a skilled player and I bet if she played a sport like volleyball, she'd excel at it. A few more minutes passed by and the last people standing were Heather and I.
We exchanged a few passes and neither of us was going easy. Heather was a good competition and I liked it. She threw the ball again and I successfully dodged it again. I noticed that Heather always jumps to the right in order to avoid the ball so I decided to spin the ball a little. As predicted Heather jumped to the right and barely dodged the ball.
At first, Heather glared at me before she gave me an evil smirk. She bent down to pick up the ball in a very slow and sensual pace. She made sure to give me a proper show of her ass. As she was bent, picking up the ball she turned to look at me and winked. Before I knew what was happening a ball landed straight to my face.
I was hot and bothered and also embarrassed. Not only did Heather seduce me in front of the whole class to cheat but she also managed to embarrass me in front of everybody. My wolf and I were both horny, like all the time. Heather's little show was just some harmless teasing for her but for me it was torture, I could barely control myself.
Gym was over with Heather's win and everybody headed to the showers. I, on the other hand waited outside since I still got basketball practice after which I would shower. I sat on the grass and gulped down some water. I caught Heather's scent again and saw her walking my way.
"Why aren't you in the shower? I bet you need a cold one right now" she teased before sitting on the grass.
"I got basketball practice after and I don't need a cold shower" I replied.
"Well, my wolf says otherwise" she laughed.
"My wolf and I are different. Why aren't you heading to the showers? The bus will arrive soon" I asked.
"I am on the cheer squad" she replied.
"Before I knew you were my mate, I didn't even know you existed. I never paid attention to the popular kids and now that I know you exist, I see you everywhere. Like every fucking where. You are in almost all of my classes, I checked at the admin office. We have gym together and now you tell me that you are also a cheerleader. I haven't seen you on the cheer squad and I know a lot of cheerleaders" I said.
"Looks like someone has been stalking me!" Heather teased. "Well I didn't know about it either but after meeting you, I have noticed it too. Isn't it weird that we have been in the same school for years now and we never knew about each other until yesterday" I nodded.
"About the cheer squad, well, I am new. I became a cheerleader this year, until last year, I was on the varsity volleyball team. And I also know why you are so familiar with the cheer squad, I heard you have slept with 80% of the cheerleading squad" Heather said. When she said the last part it seemed as if she was jealous, her tone had changed completely.
"The cheerleaders tend to exaggerate." I lied.
"You don't have to lie, it's not like it bothers me." Heather said nonchalantly.
"Not taking back what I said. We should probably head to practice now, I don't know about you but my coach takes tardiness very seriously" I said getting off the ground.
I extended a hand to Heather who was still on the ground. As soon as our hands touched, jolts of electricity erupted in my hands. I pulled her up trying to ignore the electricity coursing through my veins. I might have pulled her off the ground with a bit too much strength because she came up with so much force and rammed into my body that I staggered.
"I am sorry" I whispered to Heather who was clinging to my arms and shoulder with her front against mine trying not to fall.
"It's okay" she said before distancing herself from me. My body felt the lack of warmth immediately. Silently, we made out way to the our respective practices. The practice was uneventful. The bus was waiting for us when we finished our showers and came out. I climbed on the bus and noticed that Heather, I and two more girls from the softball team were the only ones left.
Heather joined me in my usual seat in the back of the bus. She sat down quietly to my right side. The ride was silent until Heather spoke "I want you to lose tonight's fight"
"Heather, I know you care for 'that boy' but just imagine how it will look if a pack member beats the future Alpha. He is not even a Beta. Not just that, the coach and my father will make training real hard for me if that happens" I said.
"I- I.. - please lose the fight" Heather pleaded.
"Heather, please, try to understand. If he beats me then he is going to get cocky. He is insulting me everyday as it is and if he thinks that he beat me then he will not have an ounce of respect for me. Not to forget, the pack members will no longer trust me." I said.
"I don't care about that. You will have to lose" Heather demanded.
"What am I getting in return?" I asked. "If I have to lose to him then that means you know he is weak and is gonna get his ass kicked. But why should I give him a false sense of victory? What is in it for me?"
"How about a kiss?" she immediately added "on your cheek."
"Look honey, I am not dying to be kissed by you" I lied. I am dying to kiss her again. "If there is anything that is actually beneficial then I will think about it. Maybe you give me more than a kiss and I will think about it"
"I am not a whore. Fuck you" Heather snapped.
"I wasn't talking about sex. More like a make out session in front of your boyfriend." I defended.
"It will break his heart, so no" she stated.
"The deal is off!" I made my statement and plugged in my earphones. Heather huffed in anger and annoyance before moving to a seat in the front.
We got home and as usual I got off the bus after everyone else, thanked the driver before making my way inside. I changed out of my clothes before going to the library to do some more research.
"It's time for dinner" Harry said emerging from the door.
I nodded, closing my book and putting it back in place. Harry and I made our way down the stairs to eat dinner. Almost everyone was already down. I saw mom walking out of the kitchen towards me.
"I heard that you have accepted a challenge to a duel" Mom said in an annoyed tone.
"You heard right" I said.
"Why would you do that? I thought you were smarter than that."
"Mom, he keeps insulting me. Its not the first time he said things to me and he even made homophobic comments. I was challenged to a duel in front of all the teens and young adults of our pack, what else could I do?" I exclaimed.
"You should have brought the matter to Alpha Richard" mom suggested.
"And let everyone believe that I am a coward?" I countered.
Mom sighed, shaking her head. "I will lose" I said.
"What? You want to lose intentionally?" she asked.
I nodded. She sighed again " That would be worse than your decision of accepting the duel. You cannot do that"
"I was requested to let him win."
"You can't do that" Mom ordered.
"Fine, I am going to eat" I said and left.
After dinner, I changed into a sports bra and running shorts. I walked to the training area and started my warm up. After the warm up, I ran 20 laps before starting with the push-ups, pulls-ups, dips, and crunches.
Soon people started coming out, I checked the time and it was almost 8 o' clock. A lot of people had gathered to watch the fight. Heather came out a few minutes later with the leech boy. Heather looked absolutely stunning in the black leggings and the red crop top. Her flaming red hair and clothes looked great. My view of her was blocked when leech stood in front of me.
"Ready to lose?" Drake smirked.
"Less words, more action" I replied.
Both the commanders, Alphas and the Lunas arrived too. Heather looked worried, she was genuinely worried about this boy. I just wished she'd show this kind of worry for me. My wolf was getting very jealous. The jealousy was fueling my anger. I couldn't lose this fight even for Heather but could sure as hell make it less painful for her to watch.
"Fighters ready?" Rick asked.
"Ready" Drake and I replied together.
I took my fighting stance, so did Drake. He was still smirking, he seemed way too confident for my liking. Rick signaled the start of the fight. I bounced forward and backward waiting for Drake to attack first. Drake charged at me like a mad bull and swung his fists. I dodged the first two easily and blocked the third one.
I was playing defense for now. Drake kept throwing punches and kicks my way, most of which, I dodged or blocked but he did manage to hit me a few times. I could see my father getting irritated, he was angry that I was entertaining Drake for so long. I decided to retaliate, landed a few good punches. I saw Heather visibly flinch when I punched Drake. I decidedly go back to defense.
Drake was getting exhausted and irritated because he couldn't manage to land punches on me. He shifted into his wolf and pounced on me. I pushed him back with all of my strength. I threw him at a distance. He charged back and managed to claw my back. Now, I was done playing defense and thinking about Heather. I jumped and landed a roundhouse kick to the wolf's snout, sending it flying. I knocked out the wolf, sure enough the wolf turned back to its human form. I wiped the blood off my lips when Rick came and held my hand up in victory. The crows cheered. I walked back into the pack house.
Before I could go up to my room, I heard my name being called. "Yes, father? Mother?" I asked.
"That was the worst fight I have seen you put up. Starting tomorrow, you will be training an extra hour with Rick" Father commanded.
"But I won the fight, sir" I replied even though I knew it will not help my case.
"Yeah, you did but my Omega could have put up a better fight than that" he sneered at me.
"Yes, sir. I will be training one full hour extra starting tomorrow" I obeyed.
Mom looked at me with sympathetic eyes before leaving with my father. I sighed making my way up the stairs towards my room. I hopped into the shower quickly. I discarded the bloody clothes and checked my wounds. Apart from a few bruises, there was the claw wound and a busted lip.
I turned on the warm water, relaxing my muscles and soaped up. After the shower, I felt very refreshed. I slipped on the my boxers and a sports bra. I took out the first aid kit before leaving the bathroom. I stood in front of my full body mirror. I took the sewing material, ready to stitch up the wound. After a few minutes of slow and careful work my lip wound was closed and looked half as good as new.
I took out some bandaging supplies to bandage the claw wound on my back. I was trying to reach the wound and dress it properly but it was more difficult than I thought it would be. I heard someone knock on the door and yelled a come in. The door opened and instantly I was hit with my mate's scent. My eyes closed on their own accord, I inhaled some more of her delicious scent.
Heather walked inside the room, closing the door behind her. I turned around to face her. I saw her eyes roam my exposed body. Her eyes stopped on my abs, she bit down on her bottom lip which was a turn on for me. I cleared my throat to get her attention. She looked up, blushing.
"I-I.. I just wanted to thank you. I know you didn't beat up Drake for me so, you know, thank you" Heather said shyly.
"Its alright and I am sorry for earlier. It wasn't my intention to make you feel like a whore or a hooker. I am extremely sorry, it was very rude of me" I apologized.
"It's okay, I know you didn't mean it that way. I over exaggerated because I was angry" she said.
"You are something else, Heather Bloomingdale. Anyone ever tell you, your bitchiness makes you look sexier?" I wondered out loud. I don't know where all of this confidence was coming from. I was flirting with my mate who had rejected me. I was surprised that I was doing that.
"Are you flirting with me?" Heather asked, shocked and surprised that I actually hit on her.
"I swear, I don't know where that came from" I tried to defend myself. Heather started laughing which relieved me. At least she is not mad at me, I sighed in relief.
"Looks like you need help with your back" she commented and took the bandage and the dressing supplies from my hand.
"Turn around and let me take a good look" she ordered.
I turned around instantly. Heather sighed before saying "He got you good"
"I have had worse, I have fought guys three times his size and seen wounds 10 times worse than this. This will heal soon. He only managed to claw my back and give me a busted lip" I shrugged it off.
Heather applied the disinfectant solution making me hiss in response. She blew some air on the wound, causing chills to go down my spine. She started applying the ointment making electric currents pass everywhere she touched. She quickly dressed the wound and wrapped the bandage.
"The wound needs dressing everyday. I will come by everyday at 9 pm to change the dressing until the wound heals. I am sure, you cannot reach the wound", Heather said.
"You don't have to do that. At least not out of guilt or something. But thank you, for today and for offering" I said politely.
"Its not because of any guilt. I am just trying to help."
"Okay, thanks. I will see you here tomorrow at 9" I smiled. Heather returned the smile before leaving the room.