From the first moment that we touched,

your arm felt like home.

~John Mark Green

"Sophia! The guests are almost here!" "Coming!" I exclaim, putting the finishing touches on my outfit. Today I wanted to do something for myself, so I put more effort into my looks. Of course, it was all due to Astra's desire and guidance. After all, she was the one who insisted on it.

"You look ... girly." "Geez! Thanks, Astra, for your compliment." She sure knows how to make me feel pretty! That's the first thing she says to me. "I'm sorry, but you have to understand me. You are always dressed in sporty clothes, so going from sporty to girly looks bizarre." I mean, she's right. Thank God mum bought these clothes. There was no way I would have bought this kind of clothes. I only purchase sweatpants, leggings, crop tops, etc. What's the point in buying something you're not going to wear? Staring at my reflection in the mirror, for the first time, I'm pleased with how I look. I usually criticize every tiny detail about my appearance, not knowing how harsh I'm being on my body and myself. "Run, or you'll be late!" Astra scolding me makes me so annoyed! She's being extra cheerful and eager today, and of course, she's withholding the reason behind it. I would have pressured her for an answer, but there's not even a tiny chance she'll share it with me, and I have accepted that by now.

"Good, you're here! Our visitors just arrived!" Mum's running like a chicken with its head cut off while dad is trying hard to keep himself at bay and not burst into laughter. "You look beautiful, dear." "Thank you, dad." I kiss his cheek, making him smile brightly down at me. Hearing knocking on the door, Stewart attempts to answer it, but mum stops him. "I've got it, Stewart. Thank you!" "She's eager, isn't she?" This sight of my mum is as amusing to him as it is for me. I've seen her excited and emotional at the same time, but never this excited. It makes me curious to meet those people she's been rambling on and on all the time. "Jessica!" Mum screams, tackling a woman into a hug. "Rosalinda!" A foreign woman cries out, wrapping her arms around mum. Dad goes to greet the people standing at the entrance looking at the two women amused.

"Sophia, this is John and his children, Chris and Cathrine." I shake John's outstretched hand, but Cathrine pulls me into a tight hug. "You and me are going to be best friends! I can tell!" She reminds me so much of Zoey. They share the same spirit and excitement. God knows how much I miss them. I need to arrange a visit and share my news with her face to face. The man, Chris, doesn't make any attempt to greet me. He stares at me with an unknown emotion. "Chris, aren't you going to greet Sophia?" His father nudges him, but he ignores it altogether. "It's okay." I assure his father. It's irritating, but I can't force someone to greet me. I don't think it's due to rudeness. He seems like he's in a trance.

Dad ushers them to the living room while Jessica catches a glimpse of me and runs to my side. "This is Sophia?" As soon as she receives the confirmation, she pulls me into yet another tight hug, just like her daughter. Like mother like daughter, I guess. "She's so beautiful! She would be an amazing mate for my son!" She exclaims, and my heart winces. I don't think that can happen. Werewolves usually get one mate, and if it doesn't work out between the two mates, they will have to choose to be with someone, but they won't share these intense emotions. I'm not sure I want to choose someone, not right now at least. I need to learn to be okay with myself first, to get my life in order. I'm afraid there will be a repeat of the situation with Chase, and I doubt my heart will handle another heartbreak. I used to wear my heart on my sleeve, and it left me with lots of heartaches, but not anymore.

"Why don't we go inside? I can't wait for you to try my favorite cupcakes!" I need to thank mum later for changing the subject. It would be awkward to say I'm no longer with a mate. When they too head inside, I take deep breaths to calm myself. It stung when she mentioned the mate thing. She didn't know. Nobody does because I wanted to keep it a secret. I'm glad I did. I wouldn't want to be known as the rejected princess. Taking a seat next to my dad, I busy myself with drinking my tea, aware of Chris's eyes on me. Even his sister sits next to me and starts chatting with me. Even when my father converses with him, he still doesn't break his gaze. "Can you show me to the bathroom?" He asks. Nobody is paying attention to us. They're too busy chatting with each other.

I walk with him only a few centimeters behind me. "Here is the bathroom. I trust you can make it back to the living room on your own." "Why are you ignoring it?" His words stop me midstep, and confusion swirls in my mind. "Ignoring what?" "This. Us." He motions to both of us. Us? Since when was there a relationship with each other? This is the first time I've seen him in my eighteen, almost nineteen, years of life in this world. "Astra? Do you know what he's talking about?" She remains silent, even though I can feel her presence in the back of my mind. "I'm not quite sure about what you're talking about." I apologize and turn to leave, but he gently grabs my arm. "Don't you feel it?" "Feel what?" "The sparks!" It's either he's a lunatic, or something's wrong with me. I hope neither one is true. "Why would therebe sparks?"

The question is logical, right? Then why is he looking at me as if I'm an alien? He withdraws his hand swiftly as if he was burned. His eyes turn pitch black, and his face morphs into a scowl. "Why are you feigning ignorance?" He's a lunatic! He keeps saying nonsense expecting me to understand him. "I'm not ignoring anything! You keep talking and falsely accusing me when I have absolutely no clue about what you keep ranting about!" "You're my mate!" He yells, and my heart stops for a millisecond. Mate?

Things are beginning to get interesting. Could it be that Sophia has a second mate? Could what Chris is saying be true?

Share your thoughts with me down below.

Thank you so much for reading my story! Hope you're staying safe during this difficult time! Love you!