I'd killed hundreds of men, been on countless missions, I've even jumped off of cliffs; but none of them were as scary as high school.

I had been stuck in the office for close to thirty minutes, my mind kept wandering to Tyler and his many conquests. I knew I was hit mate, but this bubbling fear inside of me kept telling me he would freak out once he learns what I am, or the fact I've known about him his entire life.

I mean, how do you even start that conversation?

'Hey, I'm a Protector and I've known you were my mate since I was six, your mother adores me and by the way I've watched you your entire life and know about all those girls you've been kissing.'

That wouldn't end well.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when the elderly secretary finally handed me my schedule, a small slip of paper next to a map that I didn't need. I nodded as I made my way to my first period, which unfortunately was the same as Tyler's.

They all were.

I couldn't still smell the remnants of goblin blood as I walked closer to the class, the smell battling with my mates smell. He smelt like lemons and something that I couldn't describe; like the warm feeling of the sun through windows, or the feeling of your first kiss.

I knocked on the door quietly before it flung open, my eyes immediately finding Tyler's. He sat up, his eyebrows furrowing as he took in my outfit. I couldn't help myself this morning, I wore black skinny jeans with a black v-neck t shirt and a leather jacket, complete with my famous combat boots that Mariah loathed so much.

Everything had little compartments for my weapons, and each classroom had a bow and arrow stuck up in the ceiling tiles. I was prepared for anything, hell, I even had a few potions stashed around the property.

"Hello, who might you be?" I smiled at the teacher, my ears narrowing on Tyler's racing heart.

"Lena Dupree." I gave the last name Ashe told me to say, since the fact I never knew my parents or my last name. The teacher simply nodded, pointing to a seat to the right of Tyler.

I walked quickly down the lane and sat down, his gaze on me for the rest of the class period. I had already learned everything she was going over, so my wolf was literally bouncing around inside of my head.

Tyler's hand kept creeping closer and closer on his desk, right as the bell rang it shot out to grasp my hand. I let him hold my limp hand, putting my books into my bag as I pulled it away. I stood and looked down to Tyler, his curious expression chasing my heart to stutter.

Did he really have to have such beautiful eyes?

I felt him behind me as I walked to my next class, everyone stared catching me as he followed me like a lost puppy. The sound of feet pattering almost drowned out the words I spoke, my fingers tapping along my thigh. "Are you going to tell them?"

I turned and halted mid stride, causing him to almost run into me. "Tell them what?"

I cocked my head, a quirk of the corner of my mouth catching his interest. "You know what big bad Alpha." I spoke it with a sly smirk, spinning around as I continued my trek to his next class.

His mother wanted him to learn the piano, and he did as a very early age, but he had no emotions for it. He still took the class to make his mother happy, but it forced me to curl into myself in the corner. It was the one thing I kept from the world, something that connected me even more with the Queen.

I watched him sit across from me in the room, his beta talking to him but he wasn't quite listening. He kept giving me glances until the class started, the teacher not even noticing me until someone spoke up.

"We have a new student miss." I growled lowly, the stupid human causing everyone's eyes to snap to me. I smiled meekly, waving my hand awkwardly at the human teacher.

"Names Lena Dupree." The teacher grinned, standing behind a podium. He was a short stout man, clearly balding and desperately trying to cover it up. We only stayed in this room with one piano for ten minutes, the rest of the two hours spent in separate practice rooms with our very own piano.

"Do you happen to know a Dale and Darla Dupree?" He pushed up his thin spectacles on his nose, a bead of sweat making its way down his forehead. I furrowed my eyes, why would he be nervous? His heart was racing radically, his right hand shaking as he tried to hide it behind the podium.

"Can't say I do, although they do sound familiar." I flashed him an evil grin, a gulp being heard from his throat. He nodded before back tracking his way to his office, muttering about free time and we should go practice.

'Ethan, what do we know about the music teacher?'

'Not much, he's human. Why?'

'He gives me the creeps, and freaked when he heard my name.'

'I'll look into him.'

I walked down slowly, making my way to one of the empty practice rooms. I felt my mate walk behind me, turning my head over my shoulder as I caught his eyes. His breath sprayed out across my neck, sending me a small smile.

"Don't tell anyone I'm your mate or I'll reject you." I spoke lowly so only he could hear. He stopped breathing, I could feel his heart breaking inside of me. I turned and saw his eyes, glassy and red. "It's for your protection."

My hand shot out and cupped his cheek, those familiar eruptions sparking across our skin. "Do you not love me? Or feel this?"

I gave him a soft smile, pulling his head down as I placed a small kiss on his forehead. "Forgive me."

I walked out of the classroom, finding the closest girls bathroom. I couldn't hurt him, if anyone knew he had a Protector mate he would get killed. I instantly hated myself for my words, but I couldn't take them back, even though I so desperately wanted too.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes flashing silver for a second. I furrowed my eyes, inching closer to the mirror. They'd never flashed that color before, purple yes but that was because of my vampirism, never silver.

My thoughts were interrupted when the door opened, revealing a very apologetic looking Mariah. "I heard."

I slid down the wall of the bathroom, the back of my head hitting the wall behind me. "He hates me now."

"No he doesn't, he could never. He actually left." My eyes widened as I scrambled up, mumbling curses as I ran out of the building.

I sniffed the air and followed him, running through the forest before swinging myself up on the trees. I found him as the lake, sitting out on his rock looking at the waterfall.

"Why did you reject me? Most girls want an Alpha mate, why not you?" I frowned as I sat on the branch, my wolf jumping over whatever barrier he had around his.

'It really is for your safety, otherwise she would love you like you deserve.'

He sat up, looking around the perimeter of the lake. He groaned, rubbing his fingers over his temples. "Now I'm fucking hearing things. Okay, great and all mighty voice, why the hell is it for my safety?"

'There are things you don't know my big bad Alpha.'

He growled at my words, scrunching up his nose. "Only my mate can call me that."

I smirked on my branch, the sun beating down on him.

'What if I am your mate?'

"My mate is Lena, not you." I smiled again before I felt the presence of someone else, looking down below me.

A Rogue sat below me, his scent hidden somehow. His fur was patchy and marred, his eyes trained on Tyler. I reached and took out a silver knife, leaning back until I fell out of the tree. I flipped midair, landing on the unsuspecting wolves back.

He roared and ran forward into the clearing, Tyler's eyes wild as I drove the knife into the Rogues spine. He turned and fell to the ground, crushing me under him. I roared as I felt a bone snap, my ribs burning in pain.

I reached my arms around his neck and snapped it, his dead body covering my injured one. I tried breathing in deeply, but it came out labored and caused my chest to burn. "Tyler." I whispered.

I felt his body taken off of mine, Tyler standing over me shaking. "The pack doctor will be here soon, why did you save me?"

"It's my job silly."

***

I woke up in Tyler's bed, my left ribs bandaged. The room was dark, the moon at the end of its phase. No light shown through the window, casting shadows all around me. I felt an arm wrapped around my waist, my eyes leading up to where a head lay.

His breathing was even, telling me he was asleep. I leaned down and kissed his temple, wincing as I felt my ribs mending themselves together. I slid out from his arm, pushing myself out of the door and into the hallway.

I came face to face with Tyler's father, his eyes wide when he noticed me. "Hello sir, I'm sorry for disturbing you this late at night."

His gaze softened as I spoke, his hand reaching out to clasp my shoulder. "You're my daughter, my sons mate, you do not have to speak to me that way."

I smiled up to him, seeing Tyler within his looks. "I can't be his mate, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize to me, I understand. My wife has told me a lot, some thing even you don't know if yourself. Even with you saying you can't be his mate, I know you love him."

I shook my head, my eyes not meeting his as I gasped in air. "I do, but I can't do anything without hurting him."

"Go to sleep, think about it."

I slipped out of the castle, climbing my way up to one of my favorite trees. I felt the wind wrap itself around me, the forest empty and silent at night. I leaned into a curve of the bark, pulling my knees up to my chest.

I closed my eyes and invited the darkness to come out and play.