Four Abused Mates| DISCONTINUED

Chapter 21

Sora's POV

We were back at the guys' house.

We hadn't found Astrid and it was close to midnight.

At one point, she must've been singing since she let her words travel through the mind-link, probably accidentally.

I let Zac hear her words and he let his brothers hear them too.

Then an image of the night sky came through the mind-link. I let Zac see that too.

Blake immediately ran outside and disappeared.

"Where's he going?" I asked.

"As far as we know, there's only one place where the view of the night sky is as good as that," Zac explained. "It's a place off the territory to the north."

"Come on, you should get to bed," James said. "You still have school tomorrow."

I groaned.

"What?!" Aaliyah whined.

"Nope, I'm stayin' here tomorrow!" Constance cried.

"No, your not," Kaine shot back.

With that, he threw Constance over his shoulder and disappeared upstairs.

"Bye b*tches!" Constance called.

I turned to Zac.

"Carry me," I demanded.

Zac picked me up bridal style and filled Kaine.

"Oh for the love of God, I'm perfectly capable of walking," I heard Aaliyah say to James.

He must've tried to carry her as well.

When we got to his room, Zac set me on his bed.

Like usual, Zac took off his shirt before climbing into his bed next to me.

I heard Aaliyah scream.

"Sexual harassment! He's making me look at his body!" She shrieked.

"Don't worry I'll come save you!" Constance shouted.

I heard a door opening, the thudding of footsteps and another door opening before I heard a thud and a loud 'ow!'

I'm guessing Constance tackled Aaliyah.

Chuckling to myself I closed my eyes.

Soon, sleep overtook me.

Blake's POV

Again I was running.

After a long while, I reached the spot. It was dark so I couldn't see if she was here or not.

I smelled the air and caught my mate's scent. So she was here.

Astrid, I know you're here, I said.

I heard a gasp so quiet I almost didn't catch it.

Immediately, her thoughts came through our mind-link in a huge storm as a result of her nervousness. It was clear that she didn't realize I could hear what she was thinking.

What's he doing here? How'd he find me? Am I ready to go back, not only to them but to all my worries and thoughts? Or should I stay here for a while longer when I feel more at peace. Do I need help? Or can I continue like this?

It was silent for a while.

I've carried the weight for five years. I know I can carry it longer. We may get into arguments and let rifts come between us but they need me and I need them. But someone should know...

The one that stood out was one I didn't expect to hear from her.

I won't leave yet.

What are you going on about? I asked.

I sensed her grow even more nervous once she realized I could hear her.

Nothing, she answered.

She started thinking curses.

I started climbing up the tree until I found her sitting on a branch, watching me. She had her usual emotionless mask on but I could sense something troubling her.

I hadn't known her very long but I could sense that she didn't like to show her worries or emotions to others. Sure she laughed once and a while but I'd never seen her face sad or looking like she cared. The mate bond had proved she did feel those emotions though.

"It didn't sound like nothing," I said.

Astrid froze.

What did you just say? She asked.

"I said it didn't sound like nothing."

My mate let a small smile form on her lips.

What is it? I said.

"I can hear," Astrid whispered.

A smile grew on my lips. I didn't need her to repeat her words.

I put my arm around her shoulders. Astrid tensed but after a few seconds, she relaxed.

"I wouldn't normally forgive you so fast," she said. "But I feel like I need to tell someone."

"What do you need to say?" I whispered.

"I don't feel like I can talk to people as easily as most others can. For me, it would be easier if I showed you."

I nodded.

Astrid let her thoughts and even some memories through the link.

*Beginning Of Memory*

All four of the sisters were sitting in a classroom. It looked like they were in grade 7.

Another girl pushed one table and Astrid had had her hand pinched between it and the edge of the table the sisters were sitting at, hard enough to leave a bruise.

I growled slightly at the thought of my mate being hurt, even with something as small as that.

Constance was looking angry, glaring at the other girl while Aaliyah and Sora was asking if my mate was OK.

Astrid was trying to hold back her tears.

Don't let them see... She thought. I won't cry in front of these people...

*End Of Memory*

My sisters all look so much better than me. I don't get why Constance says my singing is better than hers. Her voice is way better than mine.

I'm too self-conscious, always working about how I look or how others will think of me. I wish I could more outgoing, like Sora. Or beautiful like Constance or more open like Aaliyah.

I don't expect them to know how I think or feel about myself since I don't tell them. I haven't told anyone. I haven't told people how I think negatively about myself, how I've self-harmed or how I've seriously considered suicide.

Maybe... Maybe people wouldn't notice if I'm gone. I try to stay invisible so that no one notices me and no one pays a whole lot of attention to me.

I wish I could just be... I don't know... Normal...

And that was where it ended.

I never expected her to think like that. Sure I'd realized she was a lot more withdrawn and introverted than her sisters but I never thought she might be a bit depressed.

Astrid took a few deep breathes, trying not to let her sadness show.

Then song lyrics started coming through the link, the same lyrics Zac showed James, Kaine and I and the ones she must've been singing earlier. I don't think she meant for me to hear them. I'd never seen my mate let the walls around herself go down like this. I'd never seen her look so... Vulnerable.

There more to her that I knew. More than maybe even her sisters knew.

And I was determined to figure her out.