Running From Soul Mates

My Mate (2)

Peyton's P.O.V

"Can we get two chocolate ice cream sundaes, please?" the man says, smiling. The woman opposite him nods, and I notice they're lightly kicking each other under the table.

"Sure." I plaster a forced smile onto my face and scribble down their order. I'm surprised they didn't just order one to eat, with the same spoon. "Anything else?" Either they don't hear me or they just ignore me, so I walk over to the register to put in their order, trying really hard not to roll my eyes at them.

Ugh, love makes me gag. Being a werewolf you're forced to love one person, but if I was human like the couple over there I would never fall in love. Ever. Being on your own sounds so much better! You could be free to do whatever you wanted to do with no restraints. No attachments required. Ah, that's the life I want.

I look up at the clock and notice I only have ten minutes to then end of my shift. I sigh in relief. Don't get me wrong; I love my job at Latty's Café, but it gets pretty boring pretty quick.

"Order up for table nine!" Ella calls from the counter near the back. I straighten my apron and grab the sundaes, delivering them to the table with hardly any social interaction.

I take and deliver a couple more orders before the end of my shift, when I take off my apron and hang it up on the wall, saying a quick 'bye' to Ella before grabbing a taxi outside. I give the driver my address and turn to look at the lights blurring past the window as we drive.

Georgie, my wolf, growls at me, wanting to be outside running right now. We've been working all day and she just wants to relax. I fight to keep down her growl as we drive past the forest leading up to my house. That's where we usually hunt and let lose.

Chill. I tell her inside my head.

Please can we just ask to stop here? We can get a quick run in before we have to go back. She replies in a whiny voice.

We go home first, dump our stuff, then we can go out. I compromise. Georgie reluctantly agrees just as we pull up outside the house. I pay the driver and get out the taxi, immediately smelling something different.

I didn't know we would have company... Georgie groans. I pick up on the smell straight away after that. Someone from the Grey Oak Pack is over. We used to be good friends with the Grey Oak Pack, but our packs drifted apart over time. I haven't seen anyone from there since I was... eight at the most.

The door is unlocked so I walk right in and dump my bag on the floor, pulling my hair out of its messy bun and throwing the hair tie on the side. Kicking off my shoes, I wander into the living room, to find I was right about the Grey Oak Pack.

The Beta's son is sitting on the sofa, his arm holding my little sister's waist onto his lap. I don't remember his name, but I remember his face from the photos my parents have of us as kids. We look at each other strangely for a few seconds.

"Oh hey, Honey." mum greets cheerily from the loveseat opposite the door.

"Uh... hi..." I mutter, looking from the Beta's son to Cath, my sister.

"Pey!" Cath yells jumping up and hugging me. "I found my mate!" she squeals. Of course she has.

"That's great, Cath!" I reply, faking enthusiasm. I love my sister, and she seems so happy- I'm not going to burst her bubble with my thoughts on mates.

"Remember Ethan?" She smiles, dragging me over to the sofa where she was sitting. Ethan stands up, and instead of shaking my hand like I thought he would, he goes straight into a hug. I laugh uncomfortably and shake my head slightly. It's been years, of course I don't remember him. I can tell why the Moon Goddess would put these two together. "Ethan, Peyton. His pack moved back yesterday- right next to the estate!" she adds. Right where they used to be. Pretending like moving never happened, are they? As soon as I pull away, Cath is right by Ethan's side with her head resting on his arm.

"Peyton, go get some nice clothes on. Ethan's family are coming over for dinner." Dad says from next to mum on the loveseat. I look down at what I'm wearing. My black T-shirt has smudges all over it from where Ella spilt milk on me and tried to wipe it off with her sleeve. My boots have ketchup on them and my hair must be a complete mess. I sigh and nod. I guess the run is going to have to wait for now, Georgie.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I enter my room and look at myself in the full length mirror. Nope, we need a total clean. I grab a towel and step into my ensuite bathroom, locking the door behind me.

We live in the Ash Feather Estate, which is a group of houses taken up by our pack. There's a big pack house in the middle for anyone on their own, but families usually live in the smaller houses around it. Everyone in the pack usually meets up every week to discuss pack related stuff. There are about three hundred of us in total, so our pack isn't massive, but it's not tiny either.

For dinner, Ethan's father will come, probably with the Alpha and Luna of their pack to. I don't remember them either. I know I used to be best friends with their son, Kyle. But I haven't seen him in forever.

So why can I still picture his nine year old face in my mind? He probably won't come anyway. He doesn't need to.

After taking a shower, I blow dry my dull, dark brown hair and pull on a cream sweater dress and navy blue leggings. I also slip on a long heart necklace and add some minimal make up; a little mascara and lip gloss with some concealer to cover any bags under my eyes.

When I'm happy with my appearance, I take a deep breath and give myself a little pep talk.

Okay, you're going to be nice tonight. Whatever happens, you're doing it for Cath. Your opinions don't matter. Politeness is key. Don't piss anyone off who doesn't deserve it.

The doorbell rings down stairs and I straighten my necklace before leaving my room and walking downstairs, where the most amazing scent greets my nose. It smells like nature and fog, if you know what I mean, and it's intoxicating. I take in the hallway full of people. We have the Alpha and Luna of the Grey Oak Pack exchanging hugs with my parents. They look around the same age, and I slightly recognise them. The Luna is wearing a pretty but simple black dress which hugs her figure and the Alpha is simply wearing a pair of dark jeans with a white dress shirt.

I slowly walk down the rest of the steps, trying to work out where the smell is coming from. Suddenly, two hands graze my shoulders from behind, sending sparks down my arms and up my neck. Then a husky, deep voice growls a word I've been dreading to hear since I was fifteen.

"Mine."