How Could This Happen to Me?

Chapter 9

Chuck stood in the lunch room, waiting for his turn to get food as thoughts crossed his mind.

“Hey, Chuck.”

He turned his head to see Kate walk up to him, a smile instantly came across his face. “Hello, Kate. Can I help you with something?”

Kate stood beside him as he took a few steps forward, “Yeah, I was wondering if you know where my brother is at. I haven’t crossed paths with him since this morning and I don’t know if he’s gone to any of his classes.”

Chuck nodded his head in understanding, “Actually, your dad stopped by and picked Seb up. He had a panic attack during free period and it felt like a good idea to let him stay home for the rest of the day since he was having trouble breathing and even moving around much.”

Kate’s eyebrows rose, “My brother had a panic attack and I’m hearing about it now?!

The Beta lowered his eyes to the ground immediately, “I’m sorry I didn’t come get you as soon as it happened. I was worried you might become upset.”

“He would’ve felt better if a family member was at least beside him while he waited for our dad to show up. Not telling me has made me upset anyways.”

Chuck paid for his lunch and moved to the side, “I didn’t tell you sooner because we think that Nichole may have caused his panic attack.”

Kate looked at him with confusion, “That’s not possible, those two are always nice to each other every time I see them.”

The taller of the two shook his head, “They were, but I think his shyness may have been too much for Nic and she got tired of the silent treatment. So when he went to go actually talk to her, she shut him out and I think that caused him to have the panic attack..”

Kate turned and started walking away from him, “I have to go home and check up on my brother.”

Chuck followed behind her quickly, “What about the rest of your classes? How do you plan on getting home?”

“I’m letting the front office know that I will be going home for the family emergency, they should understand that. And my dad is probably back home so I will just call him and see if he’ll pick me up too.”

Chuck walked further ahead before stepping in front of Kate, “Let me at least make it easier on you and borrow Pierre’s car and drive you home. It’ll be a lot quicker.”

Kate shook her head slowly, “I don’t know Chuck. It seems like your friends are a bad influence since the day we all met. Seb tried to warn me.”

“Please let me help you out Kate, I know the guys are intimidating. Don’t shut me out like you do to them.” he whimpered.

Kate sighed, “Fine, I’ll give you the chance to prove it to me that you’re better then they are.”

----

Pierre sat across from Nichole as they ate lunch, “You hear what happen today?” he kept his eyes down towards the table.

Nichole finished chewing the bite she took before speaking, “Not since I’ve seen you last, Bouvier. That was a few hours ago.”

Pierre nodded his head before lifting his eyes to meet hers, “Seb had a panic attack, David found him sitting in the hallway by himself when it happened.”

The sound of a eating utensil dropped on to a plate as the words slipped out of his mouth.

“How’s he doing?” Nichole looked directly into Pierre’s eyes while asking.

The Alpha shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know, I guess how any person feels after having a panic attack. He looks pretty drained, not as focused on things as usual.”

The smaller of the two looked down at her plate, “Is he still here?” she whispered.

Pierre shook his head, “No, the school nurse along with his dad and Chuck kept him where he was at until his breathing was more stable. After that he was excused for the rest of the day and went home to sleep.”

Nichole stood up from her seat and grabbed her plate, “I’m not hungry anymore.”

Pierre looked at her with concern, “We just sat down, are you seriously going to throw all that food away? He had a panic attack, it’s not like you had anything to deal with it.”

Nichole’s mind had already been made up as she emptied her plate in the trash can, she saw Chuck walking towards them as she turned and walked the other way.

----- 5:21 pm

Chuck stood outside the Lefebvre household and waited patiently by the front door, it opened a minute later with Kate at the other end of it.

“Chuck, now is not a good time.”

He nodded his head slowly in understanding, “I know, but I figured I’d stop by and drop off yours and Seb’s homework.”

Kate smiled and opened the door further, “I’m sure you’d like to go see how he’s doing too, huh?”

Chuck nodded, “Someone has to.” he smiled back and handed Kate her homework. “The homework isn’t due for a few days so you should be fine.”

“Thanks Chuck. Seb’s room is up the stairs, the last one at the end of the hallway. You can’t miss it.” Kate turned and walked back into the living room.

The Beta walked up the stairs and down the hallway, he seen one door slightly opened. Raising his hand, he tapped on the wooden door with his knuckles. “Hey, Seb?”

After waiting a moment, Chuck opened the door and stepped inside.

Seb raised his head up a little and looked to his friend, he smiled. “Hey Chuck, what are you doing here?”

“Ah you know, figured I’d drop by and bring your homework over so you wouldn’t fall behind.” the older of the two chuckled as he walked over to the desk and set down the books.

A sigh left Chuck, he turned and looked back at the pup. “I also stopped by because I figured you’d feel better if you came over and hung out with the pack.”

Seb shook his head slowly, “I don’t know Chuck. I’ve been feeling kinda sluggish, today isn’t a good day to come over.”

Chuck walked over to Seb’s bed and plopped down on the comforter, “I’m inviting you over because you have to bond with the rest of the guys. Next Monday we’ll all be transforming when the full moon comes out. I don’t want you to be scared around us.”

Sebastien sighed as well before raising himself up, “Alright, but don’t mind me being slow. I just feel really drained.”

Chuck couldn’t help but smile, “We’ll help you every step of the way. Anything goes wrong, the guys and myself will be there for you.”

----

Pat sat close to Sebastien as Pierre paced in front of them, “You need to learn how to hold your anger back, Seb. You were so close to exposing us.”

The Shaman stood up, arms folded as he glared at his Alpha. “Pierre you know he had no control over what happened to him today. There wasn’t anything he could’ve done.”

Pierre growled as he turned to Pat and glared back, “I will not have a immature pup destroy what we’ve worked so hard to cover up, just because his hormones kicked in and he’s been trying to get laid with the one pack mate who would never choose him!” he snapped.

David stepped in front of Patrick and looked into Pierre’s eyes, “The near exposure was not Sebastien’s fault, Pierre. When I saw him sitting in that empty hallway the actual human part of him was freaking the fuck out. His heart rate was out of control and he was struggling to breathe. The only thing that fueled him to get angry was the wolf not wanting to look weak in front of us. Seeing you only made it worse.”

Pierre growled again, “David, you better shut the hell up before I-”

The Scout held eye contact with his Alpha, “If Seb didn’t have wolf blood in him, there would’ve been no way he could’ve fought against us for help. Any regular human would be lying down and focusing on breathing. Maybe the reason he had a panic attack, Pierre, was because Nichole argued with him and the wolf felt like he was losing his mate for good.”

“Dammit, David. I told you to shut up! I’m tired of these excuses all of you are making for this guy. It’s a joke!” Pierre shook his head, not bothering to listen to another word his pack mates tried telling him.

“You’re making it sound like an excuse Bouvier because you’re afraid that if Seb and Nichole do become a couple, they could take you down and gain your status.” David spat back.

Just as Pierre stepped towards David and put an arm around his neck, a loud engine rumbled down the street and parked by the garage.

“Hey, break it up!” Nichole stepped in between the two pack members who were trying to tear out each others throats. “That’s enough!”

“Oh just shut up, Nichole. If it weren’t for you snapping at the kid and making him have a panic attack, we wouldn’t be arguing with each other in the first place!” Pierre bit back.

Nichole dropped her arms and turned her full attention towards Pierre, “You think I don’t know what the hell I did wrong Pierre?”

Pierre could see the tears forming in her eyes, threatening to let go at any moment. Although he had cheered Nic up earlier that day, he was more focused on getting back at her for damaging his alpha status previously over an argument on the pup.

“You can’t even look at him because of what you’ve done. And for all we know, you’ve probably just lost the one friend that was actually a girl because you were a stuck up bitch. Now both Kate and Seb hate you!”

For once Nichole dropped her eyes down to the ground, she let out a shaky breathe before turning away from her group of friends and walking back to her truck.

“Nichole, don’t listen to him. Neither one of those two hate you.” David started to follow the smallest pack mate back to the garage.

“He’s right, David. I just got tired of Sebastien not saying anything to me because I got used to you guys always talking, and I got upset and yelled at him. I should’ve just kept my distance and not say anything. I started it.” Nichole hopped into her truck and started the ignition. She backed out of Chuck’s driveway and took off without looking back.

David turned back to Pierre, “Now look what you did, you over-grown pup! Always running your mouth and saying shit to make everyone feel bad.”

Pierre growled, “I’m not letting a female treat me like an omega again. She had it coming.”

Pat shook his head, “It’s not like she asked to be part of all this, Pierre. It was you who forced her into this lifestyle. Nichole may not know our secret, but hell if I was a regular human and I had instincts, I would be on guard knowing something was always wrong. She is surrounded by wolves that could kill her in a heartbeat, why wouldn’t she fight back!?”

Seb sat in the camp fire chair and stared towards the road, the argument between the pack members were drowned out by his thoughts as he no longer focused on them the moment Nichole had left the property.

He didn’t realize Nichole had gotten so angry with him, all because he avoided a few conversations.

-----

Chuck took a seat beside a sleepy Sebastien and stretched his feet out by the fire, “Sorry about, Nic.”

Seb shrugged his shoulders, “W-wouldn’t be the first time a girl didn’t like me.” he mumbled.

The older of the two folded his hands and leaned back, “No, but it’s a bad feeling when it’s your mate.”

Sebastien shook his head slowly, “Please Chuck, no more talking about Nichole or about soul mates.” tears began to form in his eyes.

Chuck lowered his head and chewed on his bottom lip in thought, “You don’t know why it bothers her so much that you don’t speak to her..do you?”

Seb lifted himself out of his seat slowly and began walking back towards the house, “I-I’m going home, tired of hearing this bullshit.”

“You’re the only one who has put an actual smile on her face, Sebastien.” Chuck lifted himself out of his seat as well, tucking his hands into his front pockets.

“I don’t care anymore, Chuck.”

“Then we both know who owns Nichole since you’ve decided not to fight for her anymore. You’ve made it to simple for Pierre.” Chuck crossed his arms as he kept his eyes on the youngest.

Seb stopped on the spot, a deep growl came from his throat. Anger built up inside of him from the words that Chuck spoke. “She was never mine to begin with, Charles.”

“She was yours the day the wolf woke up from his slumber.” Chuck walked over to Seb and stood in front of him, “You left a mark almost every day since then. The first time was when you creamed your pants when you two first met, second was when she was working on her truck, and then last night when you spent time together and carried her home.”

Seb’s face turned slightly red, “R-Really?”

Chuck nodded his head, “Pat told me that even though you pups stayed out way later then you should’ve been, it was the first time seeing someone actually care for her. Nic has always taken care of us, fixed things when they went wrong…, but no one has ever helped her when she needed it.”

Seb sighed as he raised a hand and rubbed the back of his neck, “How can I fix something that I messed up, Pierre is right…she won’t even look at me.”

A smirk grew on Chuck’s face, “I think it’s time you see where Nichole lives.”

-----

Chuck pulled up to Nichole’s house, he parked the car and sat back in his seat.

“Why is Nichole’s truck the only one here?” Seb poked his head through the window as he stared at the driveway.

Chuck sighed quietly and looked towards the house as well, “If there is one thing we all have in common with each other, it’s that our parents aren’t around much.”

Seb turned to the Beta and raised his eye brows, “What do you mean?”

The older of the two shrugged his shoulders, “Haven’t you noticed not a single one of our parents were around since we’ve met you?”

Seb nodded his head slowly, “Yeah, I thought it was just always bad timing.”

Chuck shook his head, “I wish it was like that, but no. All of our parents actually live in Canada. That’s where we all originally came from, hence the reason why we’re so good at speaking French.”

The pup sat back in the seat as well and looked towards the elder, “Why stay here in the states and not in Canada where the parents are?”

Chuck played with the steering wheel a little, his eyes down and staring at the horn. “Our parents thought living in the United States was a good idea when we were little. Back then wolves were under the endangered species list, they still are as of today. The only kicker is we actually live in a state where it is legal to hunt a wolf now.”

Seb rested his elbow on the door and turned his full attention towards the other male, “If the species is endangered still, then why is it legal here to kill one? Sounds like it would be the same whether you’re here or in Canada anyways.”

“We stay in this state because of the seasons, and there are plenty sources of food for the wolves when they hunt. Hiding is simple, we’re fine as long as we stay away from farms. None of our pack has been hunted by people, just by other wolves. The other reason we can’t leave is because this territory belongs to the Bouvier’s. Our parents guard the territory in Canada, the pups guard the one in the states. No questions asked.” Chuck answered.

Seb watched as Chuck leaned forward and rested his head on top of the steering wheel, sadness and stress rolled off of the Beta as he tried to relax.

The pup looked back towards the house, seeing a single light on upstairs.

“Nic only comes to her place when she’s had a long day, or if one of us is fighting. She’s good at resolving issues when its between two pack mates, but when its between her and someone else…well, it’s gaining the courage to actually apologize that seems to always stop her.” Chuck glanced towards the house as well.

“The day you and Nichole met, she hasn’t let Pierre control her. By that I mean she doesn’t take orders from him anymore. That’s why I think when he told Nichole it was her fault for everything that happened today, she just took it because not only did you feel like you’ve lost your mate…but maybe she didn’t realize what she was fighting for until she brought you down.”

Seb suddenly felt the need to go inside and comfort the lonely packmate, although his ego was slightly bruised from getting yelled at by the smallest one of the group. Without any more time to waste, the pup opened the door and started walking towards the house.

Chuck unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the car and followed him, “Wait! What are you doing!?!” he whispered loudly.

Seb looked back at his new friend and then towards the house, “Uh, going inside to fix the little friendship I have left between Nichole and I.”

Chuck caught up to him as they continued walking slowly towards the front door, “Yeah, I don’t think she’s in a talking mood, Bud.”

Seb sighed when they walked on to the porch and looked at each other, “I don’t feel like losing the one chance I’ve got either, Chuck.”

“I hope you make this count and didn’t make me drive you all the way over here for nothing.” The Beta grabbed his car keys and searched for the house key that would unlock the door in front of them.

The pup watched carefully, curious as to why Chuck even had a key in the first place.

Chuck raised his eye brows and glanced at the youngest as he unlocked the door, “No need to look upset over the fact that I have a key to this place and you don’t, wish I could say that I’m special, but the rest of the pack has one too.”

Seb shook his head, clearing that uncomfortable feeling he had. Chuck started making his way up the stairs but was stopped when he saw Sebastien walking past the hallway and kitchen and heading straight towards the back door.

“Seb! Where the hell are you going?”

Seb stopped by the sliding glass door and looked back, “I don’t think my nose is lying when it tells me she’s this way, Chuck. You’ve been a wolf longer then I have, you losing your sense of smell already?”

Chuck huffed as he followed Sebastien and the two stepped through the back door. “Excuse me for using my eyes instead of my nose for once!” he growled.

The Comeau quieted himself immediately seeing Nichole sitting inside of a Gazebo with a fire pit started in the center of it, her eyes were down and focused on paperwork.

Chuck put a hand on Seb’s shoulder and stepped in front of him before proceeding to walk quietly up towards the small fixture, he stopped at the entrance and cleared his throat.

Nichole turned her head and looked up towards her friend, her eyes looked past him a second later seeing who else was with him. “Can I help you, Chuck?”

He shook his head slowly and stepped aside, “No, but Seb requested to see you so…”

Seb walked up to Nichole slowly, stopping a few feet short. Instead of his usual eyes-to-the-floor gaze, he kept his eyes up and looking into hers.

Chuck looked between the two for a moment before turning and walking back inside the house to wait, it wasn’t until he closed the glass door that Seb spoke.

“Nichole, I don’t hate you for yelling at me today. I’m sure Kate doesn’t have anything against you either.”

Nichole stood up from her seat and gave Sebastien her full attention, “Pierre told me I was the one who caused your panic attack to happen.”

Seb sighed and nodded his head, “You were, but that’s because I freaked out thinking I would lose you forever.” he whispered.

Nichole’s eye brows rose in surprise, she shook it off and looked to the ground. “We’ve only known each other for a few days, Sebastien. I don’t know why it would freak you out to lose me.” she crossed her arms.

Seb stepped closer, he put two fingers under her chin and raised her head up so that she was looking at him. “Because I enjoy your company, and I would hate to lose a friendship that everyone wishes they could have that only shows up once in a lifetime. And you do a pretty good job at protecting my ass from Pierre. I can’t fight him on my own.”

Nichole’s eyes teared up seeing the sad look on Seb’s face, it was one she saw before.

The smaller of the two stepped closer before wrapping her arms around Seb and hugging him tightly, catching the Lefebvre off guard and almost causing him to lose his balance.

“I’m so sorry for hurting your feelings today.” she sniffled.

Seb returned the hug by pulling her closer and nuzzling his head on top of hers, his nerves were shaking by how close they stood. At the same time he also felt relaxed and happy.

----

Sebastien walked slowly up to his room, he walked to his desk and picked up the books that Chuck had brought to him earlier. A breeze blew through his window just then, causing a loose piece of paper to slip through his hands and land on the floor.

The male Lefebvre raised an eye brow and looked down at it, unsure of what it could be since it was a small folded up piece of paper. He set his books back down on the desk and picked it up.

Seb unfolded it and began to read:

Hey Sebastien,

I know I should have probably told you face-to-face, and I probably will when I see you again. But, thank you for bringing me back to Pat’s last night. I never would’ve made it if I was out there alone.

I had a good time, it feels different hanging out with you then it is when I’m hanging out with the rest of my friends. A good kind of different, nothing awkward.

Hopefully you’ll get this note before I see you again.

- Nichole

Tears streamed down Seb’s face, he walked over to his bed and sat down. “I had ruined my chance..” he whimpered.

The pup’s heart ached knowing it must have been fifteen to twenty minutes after Nichole had written the note that he had walked right past his locker to find Chuck and talk to him about the night before. Seb had been too caught up in the moment realizing he was falling head-over-heels in love with the smallest member of the pack, only to become mute and freak out because the two were alone together once more.