Mystery Mate 2

Chapter 26 Part 1: The fall

“Let’s take a break guys” Both Rachel and Nathan went to the table consisting the drinks.

We were all given our partners to fight. Me and Eric, Jake and Mary, John and Mark, and of course, Rachel and Nathan. Nothing changed in this area, the stage was still there and the surroundings were pretty much still the same.

Eric has snapped at me for two or three times while we were training. My mind has been occupied about the room Luke and I built, and the dummy. My necklace was still here, not once did I even try to remove it in my neck. Who knows what can happen to this piece of memory.

I caught the water bottle Eric threw. “Thanks.” I said before chugging everything down. I splashed the water left on my sweaty face.

Wearing a sports bra should have made everything nice, but I wasn’t that type so I just stared at the comfortable Rachel talking to Eric.

If I didn’t look closely I wouldn’t see her hand brushed his. And something inside of me made me walk in their direction and squeeze myself in the middle. They were both looking at me with a confused look, but I can notice the irritated look Rachel temporarily showed.

You can only steal one thing from me.

My hand went around his waist before kissing him on the cheek. I was also shocked by my actions but didn’t let my wall down. I faced a wide eyed Rachel. I mentally scoffed, we were mates right?

We were supposed to do more than that.

“Rach-“Nathan stopped the moment he caught sight of me. I suddenly felt the urge to retreat my hand, but it wasn’t strong enough so it stayed there. “Oh hello.” He said.

I shuffled to my feet there was something in his eyes that made me think if he already knows something about me. The trees called to me so I eagerly looked at them, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

“So, how about your pack members?” I buried my face in Eric’s side as I heard Nathan grab a water bottle on my side.

“Alpha Larry’s training them for now. We were actually thinking about combining almost half of the country’s pack to train. Then we’ll plan the attacks. For example our pack will take the northern pa-“he was stopped by Rachel’s scream.

The smell of Eric’s cologne filled my nose as I buried myself more to volume down her high pitched voice.

“What happened?” Nathan asked her in slight panic. His blue eyes were looking at her with worry, and the sly grin that appeared in Rachel’s when Eric tilted a bit to see if she was okay hasn’t been missed by my eyes.

To my surprise, he didn’t let go, instead he shrugged at her before placing his arm around my shoulders which made Rachel frown and walk away fuming.

“What’s her problem?” John stood beside Eric, looking at the last place where we’ve seen Rachel.

And Eric shrugged again, and then John scoffed before walking away too.

They look better together.

My thoughts about her change the instant she walked away like an angry child. She wasn’t as composed and mature as I thought she was.

Nathan just looked at us with a shy smile, “She’s kinda moody.” He tilted his head to the direction where she stormed off.

I can see “Yeah.” I gave him an awkward smile as Eric stiffened beside me, making me look at him with worry.

He held my shoulders “Wait here babe, there’s an emergency.” His eyes were scared, I don’t want to leave you with them but it’s important he said in mind link.

But who am I to make him stay? I’m not his mate, I’m his friend. That’s still an excuse right?

I didn’t have the time to speak as he rushed to the forest. I looked around to look for Jake and Mary, who I still haven’t talked to since we came here, but they were both missing.

I mentally cursed; this isn’t something in my want to do list.

I was stuck with Nathan who seemed to feel the tension in the air.

“So, you’ve trained back home?” I didn’t look at him. One word stuck in my head. Home. Yeah, I trained here back then. I wanted to say, but I was on a cover. No one should know that I’m her.

“Yeah.” I said, focusing my gaze on the bird’s nest. They were the perfect family.

Ugh Grace just remove that thought for a while okay? You are just twenty two. You don’t even have a job, yet I don’t even have any plans to earn something for my future since it was all ruined when those nasty mutations came in my life again.

“I didn’t get your full name, what was it again?” He sat down on the table. It was obviously sturdy so I didn’t bother anything about it.

Just say Eric’s last name. That was it, mates aren’t usually married so, it’s fine.

“Gra-“ before I can even say my name someone stepped out of the forest. I mustered my most normal smile, thinking that it was Eric.

But it was a black haired dude with the scariest eyes I’ve ever seen in my life. He was wearing a suit, which was unusual, considering I just saw him step out of the forest.

Every step he made towards us gave me a shiver. But it wasn’t only his face that made me want to crawl on my bed. It was what he know.

“Nathalie Grace Steele.” The mention of my name in front of Nathan made me stare at the guy who said it. His eyes held no compassion, it spelled ruthless.

Nathan laughed, but I can tell that he was nervous.

I didn’t do anything. Instead. I looked straight in the cruel eyes of the man who just wasted one and a half day of me pretending.

“You don’t believe me son?” he raised an eyebrow, making Nathan close his mouth and stared at me, then at him.

“Why won’t you ask the great and mighty Nathalie herself then? Isn’t it amazing surviving alone in that room with nothing?” he was mocking me.

He was mocking me.

He. Was. Mocking. Me.

“Grace… he’s…” he was out of words as the man walked up to me with speed. Holding my face in between his hand and facing it to him.

He was squishing my face, making me wince in the process.

I swear, I look like a puffer fish.

“Can’t you see it Nathan?” I felt the man smile as Nathan looked at him more shocked.

Why is everything going wrong again?

Can’t the Moon Goddess give me some time?

He squinted his eyes and looked at me closely. “This is your mate.”

To say that I was shocked was an understatement. It brought so much pain remembering how it was before. The man placed his hand on my mouth.

“Don’t speak princess.” He whispered.

And right on time I saw 3 armed men walk behind Nathan.

I was shouting at him, giving him warnings that were all useless, considering my mouth is covered by his callused ones.

Everything went by in slow motion.

The three men held Nathan back, covering him with a handkerchief in his nose, making his eyes fall backwards and fall unconsciously on the ground. He went down without a fight, and I did too.