Will's day was going shitty for 'the most important day in your life'. This morning he'd overslept, after an early celebration of his 18th birthday. His pack had hunted until far past midnight, when the sky was lighting up, announcing the start of the day.

Will had set an alarm but the world decided to be against him and there was a power cut. His mom hadn't woken him up either, simply because she had overslept too. Will eventually awoke 30 minutes before school started and had to rush through his morning.

As the school came into view, Will changed back. He normally didn't shift to go to school but this was an emergency. He and his best friend Nico were supposed to meet up in two minutes at the entrance.

Will swiftly put on his clothes, which he had wisely stored in the backpack that had been hanging from his mouth previously.

1 minute left. He couldn't see Nico through the crowd but he knew for certain that he was already there.

Will wasn't looking for just Nico, to be honest. In the back of his mind his wolf sniffled the air, looking for their mate.

"Happy birthday sunshine" Nico's voice interrupted his train of thoughts. Will slowly turned to his friend, whose hand was resting on his shoulder.

Brown met blue. The wonderful scent of fresh baked goods and chocolate filled the air, mixed with a hint of lavender. Will's wolf purred satisfied: "MATE"

"Earth to Will. Will, hello?!" Nico waved his hand frantically in front of his friend's face. "Nico, I need to tell you something. Can you follow me to the woods?"

Nico looked a little uncertain, but followed his nervous friend.

The woods behind the school were often used by people who skipped class and horny couples who needed to blow off steam. Nico and Will both knew that most of the school thought they were a couple, and shipped them. So for anyone who happened to look in their direction it must have looked like they're were going to do something completely different than the truth.

"Will!" Lou Ellen called out from across the courtyard. Will exchanged a quick look with her, a silent conversation being thrown across the courtyard, seemingly unnoticed.

For a split second Nico thought he saw Will's eyes flash golden, but then it was gone and Will gestured to the cover of the trees.

They walked for a minute or two, until you couldn't see the school anymore. Nico was starting to wonder where Will was taking him, when the latter turned around suddenly.

"I've kept this a secret since I was 12. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone who didn't know. It was quite easy, everyone who already knew were my friends, and no one else. Then two years ago, you came barging into the classroom, as a transfer. Suddenly one of my friends didn't know about my deepest secret. And this friend turned into my best friend. The friend I chose to tell I was gay, when no one knew that yet. But I couldn't tell you the secret I've wanted to tell you since I first met you. As of today I have a reason to tell you, Nico."

Will took a deep breath and looked his Italian friend in the eyes. One more deep breath.

"I am a wolf. A shape-shifter. Even, better, I am the alpha. Or soon to be, when my mate accepts me as their other half. As of today, my 18th birthday, I know who my mate is. And funny thing is, deep down I knew it since I met him. Because when he sat down next to me that one day, I felt like I could tell him everything, that I could trust him with my life." Will had turned his gaze away when he started speaking and didn't dare look into Nico's eyes. If he had however, he would have seen a reaction he never in a million years would have expected.

"You're my mate. I didn't know consciously until today, but subconsciously I knew it the moment our eyes met. Could you please say something? Please?"

"Will, look at me." The blonde lifted his head, to meet the softest and friendliest eyes he could have expected. "I have known you were my mate since I first laid eyes on you. And the wolf thing, I knew that too. If you live for over a hundred years, you kind of know what a wolf smells like."

Nico was relaxed, but Will's eyes had gone comically wide over the course of the words. They spoke unspoken questions.

"I'm a vampire. You know, the things that suck blood, are immortal, and are told to sparkle. Which by the way, is NOT true. Only fairies sparkle. And we can go out in the sun, but we just don't really like it. Or I, anyway."

Slowly things started to piece together in Will's brain. Nico was a vampire. And his mate. His mate was a vampire. And Nico had known this since they first met.

"Will, I know you have a lot of questions, but now that I've said it out loud, I really want to kiss you."

True to his word, Nico slowly leaned towards him and softly cupped Will's cheek. He looked him in the eye, silently asking for permission. Will's wolf whined, desperately wanting to close the small distance between their lips. Not that Will didn't want it, but he was still Will. Teasing Nico was his priority. So instead of just kissing him already. He looked up thoughtful, as if considering giving in. his wolf didn't agree with this plan however.

He lurched forward and attached his lips to Nico's. for a moment Nico didn't react, but slowly he started kissing back, responding to his urge. Fireworks went off inside both the boys minds, and their bodies replied instantaneous.

Nico's hand slid into blonde, soft curls, and tugged on them slightly. Will obliged, pulling Nico closer and sliding his arm around his waist. However when Nico ran his tongue over Will's bottom lip, Will teasingly didn't respond, instead tugging on the raven hair.

Nico instantly moaned. Somewhere in the back of Will's mind he had noted that it was a turn on for Nico. Will slid his tongue inside the other's mouth and roamed around.

Nico moaned again and tugged on the curls again. He started pushing Will towards the closest tree, in order to push him up against it, but as they hit the tree, a wolf howl was heard from beside them.

Will jumped and glared at the white wolf, that almost looked like it was smirking. "Lou, I told you not to follow us. Yes I know you're not going to answer because you're not going to change in front of Nico. She told me that we should go back to school, before we're being missed. I can talk to her through a pack link."

They walked back to school, but before they entered, quickly fixed their hair and clothes, to make it look like they didn't just make out.

----

Nico hadn't seen Will all day, and he wasn't responding to his texts. It had been a week since they started dating, and Nico was concerned for his boyfriend. Normally he replied instantly to texts wherever and whenever. Lou Ellen came up to him, and told him Will wasn't feeling well, side-effect of becoming alpha or something.

So instead of sending a get well soon text, Nico skipped school and rushed to the pack house, following Will's scent.

The door was unlocked as usual, so pack members could walk in and out of the house as they wished. Inside the house it was quiet, most of the pack members working or being at school.

Will's room was on the second floor, and Nico had been their almost every day of the past week, so he knew the way by heart.

Slowly he opened the door, in case Will was asleep. When he entered, he saw Will sitting on his bed, reading a book, but not fully concentrating on it. His eyes darted up from the pages and found Nico.

"Nico..I..Hey." "I heard you weren't feeling well so I came to check up on you..... What are you doing?!" Will had launched himself at Nico mid-sentence. He pushed the Italian against the wall and started kissing his neck. Nico moaned, but was still aware of Will's behaviour. All week the most intense make out session had been the day they started dating.

So reluctantly, Nico pulled away from Will and used his vampire strength to push him on the bed. He flushed and seemed to find the reason behind these actions.

"I'm so sorry Neeks. This is the part of the coming of age and finding your mate process. A week after you find your mate, your wolf wants to complete the process and Mark the mate. That comes together with a lot of horny thoughts. As soon as you're close to your mate, you kind of lose control. That's what just happened."

"Then just mark me."

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