Three Alphas, Three Mates

Mia x Carson - Childhood AU

Description: Mia and Carson found each other at an early age, but alphas aren't meant to mate omegas. Let alone hybrids. OR Carson will always be there for Mia no matter how much she pushes him away.

A/N (7/2/18) - This chapter is a one shot. It exists in a different universe than the main story "Three Alphas, Three Mates," and although the characters' personalities may remain the same, their interactions with each other could be completely different. Couples that exist in the book may not be the same here, but don't worry. It's just a fanfic. I hope you enjoy! :D

Warning: I don't know what rating to give this xD I don't think it's much higher in maturity than the usual TATM chapter, but there are going to be some... interesting verbal interactions.

---

(17 years old - the present)

He walks beside me. I put one foot in front of the other, slowly, dragging out the inevitable. Our shadows overlap on the concrete, two figures against the burning sun, and I want them to be closer. I want to say something, but I don't.

He doesn't either.

Since second grade, he's walked me home, but it feels so different now. The smell of the frost in the air. The ice crunching beneath me. The weight of his jacket draped over my shoulders. He smells of male and musk and the woods in a good way. In a warm way. In a let me smell this for the rest of my life way. That's why it's time for us to stop pretending we can do this anymore.

It's not like it's life or death. Rejecting an imprint bond isn't easy, but if we stay friends, it's bearable. Survivable. We can move on to... better things.

I hold my breath, looking into his eyes.

He stops walking.

Pause.

"What is it?" he asks.

I tap my foot against the concrete.

He's still the cocky boy I've always known. Crookeds smile, tousled hair. He's got bags under his eyes from the stress of his new position, but he's still alert. Eyes burning into me, full force, no matter what I have to say.

I see amber. I see gold and liquid sunlight. I have to squint my eyes against the rays of the setting sun behind him, and even something as trivial as that reminds me that the closer I get to him, the more pain I feel.

Not because of him.

Oh no, it's nothing like that. It's the exact opposite. I'm not mad at him. I'm mad at the loss of time, because I wanted so much with him. Picnics and movie marathon. Late night kisses and good morning texts. I wanted forever. I wanted now. I wanted him however he could give himself to me, but it feels like we haven't said anything real to each other in weeks. There's nothing left to say, and all we have is this endless sidewalk that leads us down a path we've already been down a thousand times before.

This is literally going nowhere.

But still, I want it. What's wrong with nowhere? Is it so bad to just... want to keep something forever? Even if it's getting old? Even if I can feel the monotony? I don't mind the stillness or the calmness or the repetition, as long as it's him. Can't that be enough?

Carson squares his shoulders, watching me. That's one of the things I admire most about him. Even if he doesn't know what's going on, he's always ready to face it. Head first.

But if he could read my mind, maybe he could tell that all I want to do is run away with him. Tell him to forget his people, forget his pack, forget his family, and come with me. I clench my fists, willing myself to say what I need to.