My life

Vanilla and flowers

MICAS POV

I knew something was off the moment my beta dragged me to the boardwalk. He wanted to look at girls, to flirt, to waste time. I went along because I had nothing better to do and because part of me was tired of waiting. I still hadn't found my mate.

We wandered for a while, but hunger eventually pulled us into a buffet near the water. The second I stepped inside, everything stopped.

The scent hit me like a wave.

Sweet. Soft. Vanilla and flowers.

It was the most beautiful smell I had ever known, and my heart slammed painfully against my ribs. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't let myself hope.

But I knew.

We sat down, and I tried to act normal, but the pull was impossible to ignore. I told my beta I was going to the buffet, and that's when I saw her.

She was small, too small. Thin, fragile-looking, like the world had been too heavy on her for far too long. She couldn't have been older than eighteen. A bruise darkened her face, and the sight of it made something vicious stir inside me. Anger. Rage. Protectiveness.

Even bruised, even terrified, she was beautiful.

But she looked scared. Terrified.

Of me.

My chest tightened. Why would my mate be afraid? Was she human? Had someone hurt her? I wanted to go to her immediately, to say something, anything, but I forced myself to stop. I told my beta the truth. She was my mate.

I think she heard.

Because when her eyes met mine, fear flashed across her face, and she ran, And all I could do was watch her disappear, already knowing this wouldn't be simple.