Mate or Soul mate

Chapter 11

Dear Diary,

You wouldn't believe the people I just met. But that's a story for another day. Today. Oh boy. That stupid switch told me I belong to Leon. Surely, you remember him. I guess in a way that's a good thing. Shows me I'm not totally insane for constantly going back to him. Technically it's because my dormant wolf wanted to, right? That wasn't me. When I'm with him, I'm not myself. I don't like it but I want to go back to it. If you could understand how confusing this is for me. All of this. Learning about who-- what I am. Trying to wrap my head around the concept of belonging to someone whether you like it or not. And now, something new. I have to be be touched by this rare curse that automatically means I'm easily the most emotionally confused girl in the Universe, shape-shifter, human or otherwise. I hate him but there's a bigger part of me that wants to be in his arms and not Ace's. No, it isn't bigger. It doesn't feel bigger, it isn't. But neither is the side that wants to be with Ace. I'm torn. Mate or soul mate.

"Haylie?" Ace called out from his bed in a sleepy groan. "What you doing up?" I paused for a moment. Where could I possibly throw this little book that i hadn't written in for at least 6 months? Had to be some where he wouldn't look or couldn't see. I sat cross-legged on the other side of the room, my back turned to him. "Sweetheart? Come to bed." Just the sound of his voice, just hearing his gentle words, it took my breath away. So different from what I was used to, so much better. Before I could stop them, the tears began to race down my pale cheeks, warm but it felt like they were going to crystallise right in the moment. I couldn't stop it, the sobs, the pain, the confusion, the happiness, the miserable memories. All tearing me from the inside out.

I heard him jump from the bed and race to my side, holding me closely in his arms which only made the tears pour faster. I hardly knew what I was crying for. Everything. Every moment that ever took place in the past. All the joy, the sorrow, the shock, the pain and the pleasure. Every last emotion was morphed into one. But of course, the eminent one. The one that engulfed my tears more than they did to me. The one that boiled in the pit of my stomach. The happiness.

Haylie P.O.V.

His laughter practically echoed through the forest. It made me smile just to hear him but I had to savor the smile for as long as possible, hold on to the happiness before I had to let it all go. No more tears for the day. My emotions felt like they were at their peak, looking for any escape from inside of me. Pretty soon he was going to stop believing they were tears of joy, and so was I. They were teaching me how to shoot with a bow and arrow even though Ace was handy with a gun. The members of the pack were really nice. It was my first day training with them and never have I met a group of people so friendly. Although, on our way here, Ace had told me not to worry because they'd be nice to mates of the Upper Hand. 

"Wow, you're not too shabby for a first try." One of them, Alec, complimented on my skills. I smiled and even blushed a bit then tossed my gaze in Ace's direction. He was having a little chit-chat with another pack member, laughing and smiling. Then he looked at me. It was like a light suddenly began to shine brightly in his eyes as they stared into mine. His smile was so purely genuine and he gave an encouraging nod in my direction.

"Can I make it betterrr with the lights turned offff!" A deep voice vibrated through the forest grounds, singing 'Shelter' by Birdy.

"Isn't it 'turned on', Alpha?" Ace called out. I turned to see their Alpha Neil dancing around in circles before he gave a fake snarl at Ace. Then Alpha Neil spun around, his eyes settling on me. He raced over to where I had been practising.

He smiled and held my chin in his fingers. "Who told you that you were allowed to step into my grounds?" He questioned. Suddenly, my heart was down in my stomach. All the members of the pack that had been teaching me and talking with me took a few steps back, all fearing their lives. I took down a big gulp, swallowing my own serenity. Fear was slowly consuming me at the thought of an Alpha's rage. "I don't recall being given a response, Ms. Campbell." He urged, the smile erased from his lips as moments passed in my silence.