Tᴇᴛʜᴇʀᴇᴅ

❄︎𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 3❄︎

•Isadora•

My mood's totally spoiled. It was supposed to be our night. The four of us, to connect and bond to check out compatibility. But Cory had to ruin it by inviting Estella as well. Guess it's pretty much harder than dying to stay away from your mate. Bleh. Saps.

Thankfully Janice and Troy haven't found their mates yet, so it's not only me third-wheeling around the Alpha couple.

"What is it? You look sour." Janice bumps her shoulder with mine, I shrug, dragging one foot after the other, us following behind Cory and Estella.

"Is it because of Cory?"

I almost shoot her a growl but resist on the last second. It's not appropriate to growl at your peers without any reason. It also counts as a crime or disrespect.

"Fuck Cory, girl. We'll find our mate soon and everything will be perfect. You'd forget about Cory like that teeny crush never even existed."

My wolf, Brielle, reassures. Wolves are really devoted to their Alphas and very protective of their Alphas' respect, but for my poor heart's sake, she speaks badly about our future Alpha occasionally. To help me move on, but everytime I see Cory with his mate—the spark and affection in his eyes—it sours my mood and a dull pain settles in my chest.

Janice doesn't speak further as she can probably tell it is actually because of Cory, since almost everyone knew how much we were shipped together as kids, and they know how I actually like him. So it's like I'm a pitied girl in this pack. I hate it!

"I don't need a fucking mate, Brie. They'd only get hurt because I'm not an ideal type of mate." I speak to my wolf in my mind.

Brielle lets out a low growl. She's quite sensitive about the mate topic. Wolves are much more connected to mates than the human parts, they feel and get attached on another level. Sometimes wolves complete mating but their humans stay strangers, I've heard stories like that. Which is rare because after finding your mate, it's almost impossible to stay away from them or not complete the mating—I heard the pull of the mate bond is that strong.

"You'll see when he comes. Just you wait."

She threatens and disappears before I can reply. I huff.

"Guys! Let's check the new game!" Cory yells over his shoulder at us. Guess he finally noticed we are here as well.

The three of us follow them to the gaming machine—we are in an arcade—and take tokens to start playing.

I only focus on winning so I don't have to witness Cory teaching his mate how to play by touching all over her body.

Their giggles feel like needles piercing in my eardrums and I put all of my senses in the game, blocking out any other sound or sense.

As I'm too involved in the game to notice my surroundings, suddenly something catches my nose. A whiff. A scent.

It's common, and familiar, but also the most unique among all the other scents I've ever smelled.

It's of fresh berries and baked goods. It's heavenly.

Brielle starts to wag her tail and let out low growls as the scent intensifies, my head buzzing and without my knowledge, I'm already following its trail.

"He's here." She exclaims joyfully, my heart almost bursting in my chest from how fast it's beating.

He? Does she mean o-our mate?

"Yes, idiot! Hurry! He's here! So close. I can feel him!"

Her contagious joy starts to rub off on me but still the rational part of my mind is bothered about the fact that we're gonna find our mate in a few seconds. And everything's gonna change after that.