The Chosen One •

3

The ride to the Diaz's was quicker than I remembered. It could because of the constant thoughts racing through my mind. That man's voice kept echoing in my head along with my mom's rude words about the way I smell. Why did she have to cover my scent?

I followed behind them silently as we approached the front door, my mind still racing. I didn't even notice when the front door opened until I heard Tio Celo and my dad greet each other, loudly.

"Marcelo!" My dad laughed heartily and pulled him into a hug.

"Joel, you act like you haven't seen him in years," my mom teased with a smile.

"Stephanie!" Tio Celo laughed and pulled her into a bear hug. "Gabi is in the kitchen with Elise. Where is- oh wow! Look at Isabel!"

I smiled brightly at him and allowed him to pull me into a hug. He stood at an average height but his potbelly made the hug awkward for me; comparing to my little frame.

"Elise is so excited that you are here!" He spoke while guiding us into the house with his arms around my shoulder. Tio Marcelo had always made me feel comfortable and at home. His wife and their children are the ones who take pleasure in my discomfort.

"Daddy! Who is at the door? Oh my stars!" Elise gasped when she saw me. I suppressed my urge to roll my eyes at her acting. "Isabel! You look so cute! I love your boots!"

She almost ran over to me and gave me a hug. She squeezed my body tightly and gave my arm a quick pinch. Before I could respond she gave my parents hugs. "It's so good to see you guys! Tia Steph, you always look amazing,"

My mom smiled at her but I could see disgust written all over her face. She didn't try hard to hide it honestly. She never liked Elise or her mother, who has yet to emerge from the kitchen.

I can smell the spices and herbs mixed with meat and seasoned rice. At least she can cook. The only benefit of coming here is the fact that Tia Gabi knows her way around a kitchen but she still can't touch my mom's cooking. She herself even knows it.

She quickly excused us and pulled me downstairs to the game room they have set up. Compared to my family, Elise lived comfortably with her parents buying her and her brother whatever they wanted. The latest tech, cars, clothes, shoes, purses. Everything.

Music played lowly and laughing sounded the basement as we stepped off of the stairs. I yanked my body away from her and glared. She shrugged and continued to walk until I saw the back of two people's heads. One I easily recognized as her brother but the other person isn't registering in my head.

"Look who is here!" She sang out causing the music to stop and their heads turned. Antonio's mouth dropped as he eyed me then he turned to Elise and shook his head. "Doesn't she look so sexy!"

"Hey," Antonio waved at me and I waved back. The guy standing next to Antonio  looked at me with a blank expression then at Elise causing her to glare back at him. His smooth, brown skin is complimented by shoulder length locs and muscles defined. Brown eyes, brown skin, and a baby face with a nice jawline.

She turned to me and sweetly smiled at me. "Isabel this is my fiance, Josh. Josh this is Isabel my childhood friend,"

Josh looked at me and nodded but didn't say anything. Elise smirked. "We're aligned. I met him at UCLA and come to find out we're aligned!" She pulled down her shirt to show me a silvery star marked into her skin above her heart.

Aligned for us is what mates are to wolves. Someone who is meant for you, two bond by souls, the difference are differences though. We don't feel the pain of rejection nor do we feel if someone is cheating but like wolves, we do something to completely bind you to that person. From what I can remember from school and books, a full star silver means that they were truly aligned and ordained by the gods. A half star that is black symbolizes true loves who claim each other as aligned. It's believed the gods don't let just any one claim each other unless they ordained it or they bless it as a second chance for the ones who deserve it.