I started heading over to a vampire at the bar I noticed was eyeing me.

This time, it was Happy's turn to stop me with a hand on my shoulder. He shook his head in warning and looked between me and Wolfie.

"Relax," I waved him off. "It's not like I'm going to make out with him or anything," I shot a glare at Wolfie.

He sighed when I gently tore my shoulder from his grasp.

I bounced over to the stranger, "Hey," I smiled.

"Hi," He smiled back, turning to face me fully.

Wow, not bad, not bad at all. . .

Not as good as Wolfie, but not bad.

His face has got a boyish look to it, making him more cute than hot. But it's okay, the mischievous smirk and messy light brown hair makes him look like a fun time.

Yay, turns out it may not be torture trying to make Wolfie jealous.

Oh goddess. . . I've never EVER gone out of my way to make someone feel jealous. Not a guy, not a girl, not an enemy. No one.

I know it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but his ability to make me act as anything other than myself is scary.

"So, do you wanna dance?" I asked the cute stranger, glancing over my shoulder to find Wolfie still sucking face with that chick.

  The stranger nodded, "Sure."

So, we made our way to the dance floor and started having a genuinely good time.

I kept sneaking glances over at Wolfie (and getting pissed when he still seems to be trying to swallow that girl's tongue) but other than that, it was surprisingly fun dancing with this random guy.

He didn't try getting all up in my space in the first five seconds of knowing each other, and he was wearing a charming little smile the whole time we were dancing.

This guy actually seems cool.

I made one of my routine glances at Wolfie and realized I had finally caught his attention.

He's now glaring daggers in our direction.

Good, screw him.

"What did he do?" The charming vampire smirked at me.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

He chuckled, "The guy you've been glaring at this whole time. What did he do to make you want to make him jealous?"

Am I really that obvious?

I looked down, kind of embarrassed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to use you —"

He laughed, "Nah, it's alright. It's a win-win really. You get to make him jealous, and I get to dance with a pretty girl."

My heart.

I couldn't stop my smile from growing. "You're a pretty cool guy, y'know that?"

"Yeah," he shrugged, "I get that a lot."

I let out an ugly snort at that.

"Aw, you're laugh is cute."

Why couldn't someone like him be my mate? He seems so awesome.

"Thanks," I smiled a little shyly.

"So what'd he do?" He asked again.

"You didn't see him getting all up close and personal with that blonde over there?"

  He gave a deep laugh, "No, I was a little too focused on you."

  D@mn, that just makes me feel worse about using him to get to Wolfie.

  This is why I don't do these sorts of things!

  "But that makes sense," he continued. "Not about why he would even look at anyone else if he has you, but why you'd be a little pissed."

  I gave a strained chuckle, "Yeah."

  "My name's Zane, by the way," he spoke up.

  I nodded with a grin, "Mari."

  Out of instinct, I shot a look at Wolfie and startled myself when we made eye contact.

  Goddess, I've got this great guy right next to me and still want nothing more than to run into Wolfie's arms.

  I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

  I hate the mate bond.

  I hate the mark on my neck.

  And I hate Wolfie.

  The only purpose any of them have served in my life, is to over complicate it.

  But that gives me an idea.

  I grabbed Zane's hands and placed them on my hips, "May I?" I smirked up at him.

  He glanced over to Wolfie's glaring form and laughed heartily, "Yeah, go ahead, I guess."

  I started swaying my hips a little wider to the music.

  I dipped and spun and put on a grand old show.

  Not too much of a show, because that's a little out of my comfort zone, but I could tell Zane was having fun, and so was I.

  I had to try and ignore Wolfie's gaze burning a hole in the back of my head the whole time, though.

  At first, I guided Zane's hands around the safe zones (mainly my hips, waist and upper thighs area. I know it's not a lot, but you're girl has a comfort zone). After a while, he got the hang of it and didn't stray once. Even when I decided to turn my back to him and sway my hips to get under Wolfie's skin even more.

  He's the best freaking dance partner I've had in a long time.

  "You wanna do something that'll get him really jealous?" Zane half whispered mischievously.

  I looked at him with playful skepticism.

  I've come to trust this guy, somewhat.

  That's weird for me, for within the first half hour, but he seems really sweet, and if he turns out not to be, I can always just kick his @ss.

  So, I decided to follow along. "What?"

  "This," He grabbed my face, and for a split second, I thought I was going to have to fight somebody.

  But my blood pressure went back to normal when he turned his back to Wolfie and rested his forehead on mine.

  From Wolfie's angle, it looks like we're kissing.

  I smiled up at him. "You're a genius."

  "Why, thank you."

  I kept looking at his boyish good looks and thinking about his awesome personality. "Your mate's one lucky girl," I told him, kind of wistfully, wishing I could feel the way he'll probably make his mate feel one day.

  He grinned, "I try. I hope when I meet her she feels the same."

  I nodded, "She will."

  After a few seconds, he looked around, "Sooo, is your mate going to kill me? He's big and seems angry."

  I laughed, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

  For a split second I wondered how he knew we were mates, then I remembered the eye sore of a scar that I obviously failed to hide with my hair.

  "Good, I'd appreciate it," he smiled.

  Dang, every time he speaks I feel like it's too good to be true.

  "So, your mate —"

  Right on cue, I heard Wolfie barreling towards us with barely enough time to push Zane out of the way.

  Of course, he came out swinging.

  I jumped in front of a wide eyed Zane and blocked Wolfie's first blow.

  "What the heck do you think you're doing you hypocrite!" I hollered at him.

  His heated gaze went from shooting lasers at Zane, to me.

  His eyes didn't become any less animalistic.

  They're swirling gray and gold.

  "You didn't see me running up on you when you were shoving your tongue down another girl's throat, did you?!" I scolded him further. (I just made you think I did the exact same thing in return, y'know, like a mature adult would...*note the sarcasm*)

  I swear, who did the Moon Goddess assign me for a mate? He makes me do weird things.

  His gaze didn't ease up.

  I started getting uncomfortable with the undisturbed eye contact. It just drew me in further.

  Suddenly, it appeared he made up his mind about whatever was going on up there, and gave Zane a resounding growl.

  Well, that's one way to say goodbye.

  And yanked my hand with him to one of the side rooms.

  I tried to break my hand free of his hold, but he wouldn't budge.

  "Alright, nice meeting you!" I called over my shoulder to Zane. "Hopefully we see each other again!"

  "Not if I can help it," Wolfie grumbled.

  "Bye," Zane called, sounding hesitant and confused.

  Wolfie and I made it to a side room, and he slammed the door shut. A sense of finality hung in the air.

  Well, this should be interesting.

~~~~~~~~
(A/N)

  Hey! This isn't edited but I hope you liked it:)

Thanks for reading!

~ The Awkward Girl