The Slightest Touch

Prologue

Cleo Jericho is as independent as they come. She doesn't want or need no man or in her case mate. She didn't used to be like this though; not at all, in fact she was far from it.

Cleo used to be one of those girls who imagined their lives with a man, kids, the family dog, the whole shebang. She planned her future with accommodation for her future husband and children. Cleo surrounded herself with friends who had the same goals in life and such. They bonded over what their wedding would look like, how many kids they wanted, and where in the world they planned to live with their family.

To Cleo, it all started coming together when she had her first boyfriend, Matthias Dunn. You could say she was in love — or how much in love a 13 year old could be. He was her dream guy, with the stormy grey eyes, short — yet long enough to let your hands run through — brown hair, and a sweet personality. Cleo's parents loved him like the son they never had and vice versa. Everyone was sure that they were mates, they were even treated like it. You can't possibly blame the couple for thinking otherwise.

Matthias was perfect for Cleo and she was perfect for him.

Cleo was living in her very own fairytale. She had to know it was too good to be true when a new girl took her dreams and goals and threw them out the window, right before her eyes.

That girl's name was Arabella Mitchell.

She joined Cleo's pack with her family for reasons only known to the Alpha. Arabella is not what you would imagine as someone who's a dream killer and goal crusher. She was beautiful with her silky blonde hair, bright blue innocent eyes, and a heart so pure.

She was extremely shy, barely talked, and kept to herself most of the time. Now, Cleo was an outgoing, friendly person who wouldn't let anyone have time for themselves. When she heard about Arabella being new and shy, she decided to take her under her wing and befriend her. Cleo knew exactly how Arabella felt because that still would've been her, hadn't it not been for her friends and Matthias bringing her out of her shell.

Before anyone knew it, Cleo and Arabella were best friends; you could even consider them sisters. They were literally two peas in a pod. They did everything together. They slept at each other's house every night, went shopping together, studied together; you name it, they did it. Arabella even went as a third wheel on a date with Cleo and Matthias.

Yet Matthias didn't complain once. He liked having Arabella around. She had this calming effect on him, but he just put it in the back of his mind because he thought that it was what everybody felt. He thought that it was one of the reasons why Cleo liked to hang around with her — as much as she does.

By this time, Cleo felt as though her best friend and her boyfriend should be familiar with each other and hopefully like one another. As you know how the saying goes about how something is wrong if your boyfriend and best friend don't get along. What Cleo didn't know, when she arranged this play date of some sort, was that as Arabella and Matthias get closer, their bond was going to get stronger and impossible to ignore.

Because Matthias Dunn and Arabella Mitchell were mates.

As their bond grew stronger, each of them start to realize that they might just like each other more than it is intended for them to. When Matthias finds this out, he decides not to tell Cleo because he thought that it was just temptation; after all Cleo's obviously his mate, right? When Arabella notices the attraction she feels towards Matthias, she starts to feel confused. She decided not to worry Cleo about this petty issue, and instead talks to her mom about it.

A few months pass and it seems like Cleo's best friend and boyfriend are getting along just fine; in time for Matthias' eighteenth birthday party, just days before graduation. The day when Cleo will know if she's his mate or not. Just like every year, it's a surprise party filled with family, friends, and pack members to celebrate Matthias' birthday. It was going to be extra special this year with Matthias turning eighteen; a legal adult, but also finding out if Cleo is actually his mate.

When the day finally came for the party, there was a buzz of electricity running through the air surrounding every member of the pack who was filled with excitement for the festivities that night. Cleo was nervous. Matthias was excited. Arabella was anxious. Pack members couldn't wait any longer. When the moment arrived, everyone was ready with stomachs full of cake and food from the buffet with a hint of butterflies creeping in from the anticipation.

The moment it hit twelve o'clock on June 19th; Cleo's world came crumbling down at her feet.

She was blind to what was literally in front of her. She felt blindsided by the only ones she trusted with her heart, her love.

So, she ran.

She ran like her life depended on it — which it did, to her room. She started to think back and see the signs that she missed by being so infatuated with a guy. While Cleo cried her heart out, she realized something. No one came after her. No one was there to comfort her in her time of need. No one cared enough to think about her. Instead everyone was too busy with their mates.

And from that day forward, under the influence of anger, hostility, and hatred; Cleo swore off mates for as long as she lived.

*•*

I was planning to do an ACTUAL description/synopsis/whatever you want to call it, but then I was like you know what, I'll just do a prologue. It's longer and more fulfilling so yeah. I hope you liked it (it's kinda crappy tho and the last parts are kinda rushed; oh well).

P.S. HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!

→RhymingReject