FATAL CLAIM

Chapter 8

MIA

'Confidence is the key,' Sienna continued to give me her ted talk and I exhaled in annoyance.

'Would you please shut up for a while?' I asked in exasperation.

'Well, you're making me nervous,' She bit back and my eyes widened.

'I'm making you nervous?! What about your stupid lectures that make no sense?!" I snapped.

'Get lost,' She blocked me out. I clenched my jaw at her childish behaviour but continued to get ready. I applied the lip gloss, finally done with my look. I had decided to keep it minimal, but enough to make me feel nice. I had worn the maroon dress my mother had told me to. It had a jewel neckline frame with stringed cold shoulder and flutter sleeves. I tightened the string at my waistband which made the dress flare. It reached me mid thigh, I wore a pair of matching heels with it. I combed my hair, leaving them in their natural wavy curls, I didn't have the time to style them and braiding wasn't my strongest suit. I did wake up late, but they didn't look that bad.

"Wow, you're actually putting effort into this," I turned around to see Mason leaning against my door frame. "Did you hit your head or..." He trailed off. I rolled my eyes at him as I grabbed my phone from my dresser.

"It's good to look presentable, besides this is nothing. If mother had one of her beauticians to get me ready, I'd be in a ball gown," I shook my head.

"That too," he shrugged. "Well, father sent me here to inform you that Ryan is almost here," He smirked and I took a deep breath. I'm fine. If anyone should be nervous, it should be Ryan. Definitely not me. 

"We'll be waiting for you downstairs," he left after saying that, leaving me to collect my thoughts. I peaked out of my window, hoping to catch a glimpse of his arrival but I couldn't see any wolves or even cars for the matter. There were just a few pack members strolling out front, and a few wolves running around.

I took a deep breath, walking out of my room, I headed downstairs where my family was waiting for me.

I reached the last step, my parents were staring at me and my mother had the biggest smile plastered across her face.

"You look lovely Mia," She walked towards me, engulfing me in a tight hug.

"We're just meeting, I'm not leaving," I chuckled as I struggled to get out of her tight grip. She let me go, and stared at my face with a smile.

'Okay but why is it creepy?' Sienna laughed.

'Keep quiet,' I pursed my lips.

"He's here," Mason nudged my side, I shot him a glare but he was looking at the door. It opened causing my eyebrows to shoot up.

'Not bad,' Sienna smirked.

I ignored her and continued to stare at the stranger who had just entered. He had jet black hair, a sharp jawline and chiselled features. He had teal coloured eyes, they suited him a lot. I was wearing four inch heels yet I still felt short compared to him. He was wearing grey pants, with a white button up shirt. He looked really good in it. It fit perfectly around his arms, emphasizing his biceps. I looked away, feeling like a complete creep ogling a stranger.

He greeted everyone, his gaze lingered on me a little longer but he continued to chat with my father. I was sitting on the couch opposite from him, but I made sure to keep my gaze away from him.

"I'll be right back," my father excused himself. Mason and mother followed him out, leaving me alone with Ryan.

"Hi," He looked at me.

"Hey," I replied awkwardly. I didn't really know what to say to him. That's weird though, considering I'm a social person. That is the whole reason I befriended Dylan. But right now, I felt awkward. Maybe it was the fact that I was supposed to marry this guy.

'Plus he's hot!' Sienna chimed into my thoughts.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good, and you?" I replied.

"I'm good," He smiled, I returned it with my own smile and looked around.

"Would you like anything? Coffee or..?" I trailed off and he shook his head.

"I'm good," He said. He stood and walked towards me, he held his hand out and I raised my brow.

"Let's go for a walk," He said, clearing my confusion. I nodded my head, taking his hand as I got up. His hand felt warm against mine, I pulled away as we walked side by side out the door.

"Lead the way, you know this territory better than I do," He gestured.

I decided to take him to th bridge in the woods. I felt like it was a nice place. It was much better than the training room. The restaurants were good but we didn't want to have lunch. He followed me, as he tried to make conversation. I answered all of his questions with the same question for him in return.

"Haven't you found your mate?" I asked as we walked deeper into the forest. I was regretting my idea of coming here, I was wearing heels and the uneven forest floor was giving me severe foot cramps.

"No, I haven't but I was told you have," He replied.

"Yeah, he passed away," I shrugged.

"Oh. How?" He asked.

"Car crash," I said. I came to a halt at the clearing, he looked around and smiled at me.

"Impressive," He walked towards the bridge and I followed him. "You come here often?"

"Sometimes," I responded. "Don't you ever wonder about who your mate might be?" I looked at the pond, trying to avoid his gaze.

"I believe that I won't ever find her," he replied nonchalantly.

"What do you mean?" I asked with surprise.

"If she was out there, I would have found her by now," He explained his previous statement.

"So you're just giving up on her?" I asked.

"Yeah. I think you can love someone without being their chosen mate," He glanced at me, I felt my face heat due to the tone he used. "Like the humans," he added, causing me to chuckle.

"Of course," I shook my head as a smile played on my lips.

"You're looking very pretty," He said and I rolled my eyes. He was just trying to butter me now.

"You look good too," I replied.

"Just good? I'm wounded," He said in a teasing tone as he put his hand to his chest.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

"You don't talk much do you?" He asked.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"You."

"What about me?" I laughed. I thought back to my meetings with Dylan. It was so much easier to talk to him.

'Maybe that's because you aren't supposed to marry him,' Sienna snickered. I know I wasn't supposed to marry Dylan, but talking to him was easier.

I could not zone out to answer Sienna so I ignored her laugh.

He asked me how long it had been since Liam passed. We spoke for a long time about random things, getting to know eachother. I was beginning to feel a little comfortable around him. He told me about how him taking over the pack next year. That means all the Luna duties would be on me.

I looked at my phone to see it has been an hour since we had come here.

"We should get going," I said, he nodded in agreement and we headed back for the pack house.

Once we reached the door, I was about to open the door but I felt his hand on the small of my back. He leaned closer to me, I felt myself stiffen but I stayed put.

"I hope to hear from you again," He whispered in my ear in a husky tone, sending shivers down my body.

He turned the door knob, moving away from me, he walked in leaving me in a shocked state at the door way.