Wrongfully Mates [MxM]

Chapter 22

I laid in bed, the sky outside was pitch black by now, no stars came out of hiding, I inhaled deeply and turned my back to the window, I had allowed Mia to stay in Bernie's previous room.

I glanced at the glowing red screen on my alarm clock on my dresser, it was 3:27am.

My eyes felt heavy, but quite a few things kept me up,

Including the feeling of currently being watched, I shifted uncomfortably and glanced towards the window, but I saw nothing.

I slowly closed my eyes in hopes the feeling would disappear, but it didn't.

I got up and stalked towards the window,

Is nobody really out here?

I slowly moved my hand to make sure the window was locked before returning to my bed, once again turning my back to the window, ignoring the feeling of a burning presence just on the other side of the wall.

A sudden tap on the window made me freeze, the tapping continued for only a few seconds more before it was quiet again, except this time I didn't dare turn around.

Someone is toying with me...

The room was silent once more, I glanced at the clock once more, just in time to see it turn to 3:42, the movement from the window went silent.

My heart stopped as now the door suddenly creaked open, I swallowed, hoping it wasn't heard, my claws extended.

One footstep.

Two.

Three.

Silence.

A few more moments went by before I sat up, Mia stared down at me, her face a bit hard to see in the dark.

"I feel like I could hear your heartbeat from all the way in the other room," she said suddenly, I shifted uneasily before I dragged myself out of the bed.

"Sorry for waking you?...I guess..." I muttered, Mia made a facial expression I couldn't quite make out.

"I was already awake," she hummed, "But now that you're awake, we can go outside right?" She asked as she led the way out the room.

"Out? Out where?" I asked, using my teeth to bite the inside of my cheek.

"Just around the outside of the house," Mia smiled and ran a finger down the corner of a wall, "If I'm going to stay here, I might as well know the surrounding area."

"Ah.." now taking the led I headed towards the back door, "You don't have to stay if you don't want, I'll make up some sort of excuse.."

I grunted as a fist suddenly landed in the side of my arm, I quickly looked back at Mia, who wore a smile, though this one seemed more annoyed than friendly.

"Don't be silly," she hummed, pushing herself past me and into the backyard, "Who's going to protect you if I'm gone?"

I frowned and followed her outside, "What do you mean? I don't need your protection... I can protect myself." I huffed firmly, Mia continued walking.

"Don't kid yourself Ryan, I've only seen you needing to be protected the whole time I've been here, you're not all that strong Ryan,"

I felt my mouth start to scowl, "Well I'm not weak, either.."

Mia turned around, "Oh, of course not, I didn't mean it that way," she lifted a hand and ran it through my hair, "I'm sorry." She flashed a smile once more before she continued walking, "You have nice hair,"

"It's... black and it's normal..." I muttered, Mia let out a huff.

"You're not gonna start pouting are you? I just meant you seemed lonely."

"I'm not lonely..." I grumbled, Mia did a spin before replying.

"Yes you are, and that's why I'm here pretending to be the love of your life." She giggled, I frowned.

"I thought it was cause of the other thing," now it was Mia's turn to huff.

"It was, but can't you at least pretend I'm here to soothe your loneliness, I was a loner too y'know."

"Yeah, but an actual loner..." I grumbled, kicking a stone, Mia suddenly slowed so we now walked side by side.

"Geez, and here I thought you'd appreciate the normal company." She hummed, I glanced over at her.

"What do you mean?"

Mia looked at me as if she didn't know if I was joking or not, "You don't exactly have the most normal group of friends,"

I frowned, "They aren't... My friends..." I muttered, Mia shrugged.

"Well, I'm sure they were, guess them being together really ruined that for you huh?"

"How do you even know about that?" I grumbled, Mia stretched up.

"They told me, guess being mates really is a crazy thing, eh?" She asked, a new smile plastered on her face.

"I... don't like it..." I mumbled, though it barely came out in more than a light whisper.

"Don't like what? Them being mates? The concept of mates? Your mate?"

I stopped for a moment, "All of it..." I sat down on a rock, which felt cold, Mia sat next to me.

"Why so?" She asked, laying her head on her knees.

I awkwardly shuffled my hands, "I just feel like.... I'd rather be like a human... And chose who I want to be with." I whispered, dragging my finger in the dirt, I waited a few moments before I continued.

"What if you get stuck with someone you don't want to be with... Or your family doesn't like them, or they're just batshit crazy." I let out a sigh, "Wouldn't it just be better if...we could be with who we want to be with..."

Mia lifted her head, "Then, why don't you?"

I turned to look at her, "What do you mean?..."

Mia shrugged, "Well, nobody said you absolutely had to be with your mate, and if you don't see it working out why force it? Not like he was a prince charming anyway, what has he really ever done for you?"

I fumbled with my hands once more, "That's true but um... s-sometimes I get lonely and...I.. m-miss...him a little bit..."

"Well, that's more instinctive, no? It's not like it's out of affection, just out of what you feel like you need but there's other people you could go with," Mia stretched up, "One of them is bound to actually cure your loneliness,"

I watched Mia for a few moments before I could answer, "Could they?..."

Mia smiled and leaned in so our foreheads touched, "Of course!"