XX. Soulmate

Raine’s POV:

“What?”

“Mate.”

“What?” I question again, but louder.

“Mate. You’re my mate.”

“Soulmate?”

“Yes.”

During moments in the crowd, I often feel compressed. But, everyone generally leaves me enough space to breathe. Similar to when I was at the mall earlier. Even when I was in line with dozens of others I can still breathe. But right now, one by one, with the people around us, I felt claustrophobic. The panic rises inside my chest while the word mate continues to echo inside my mind.

Helen dove through the crowd, “What’s going on?”

I stood there, unable to move my eyes away from the guy in front of me. It’s like we’re stuck in a trance, hypnotized by each other.

Helen grabbed my shoulder, pulling my attention away from the guy in front of me. “Raine? What’s going on?” she said with much more concern. Her eyes leap around from person to person, until it reaches me again.

I lean in closer and felt the guy’s grip loosen. With all my effort, I turned my head towards Helen which wasn’t an easy task since she’s behind me. Despite every single part of my body rejecting my decision, I mouth out the word: “Run.”

Helen tilted her head, “Wh-” Before she can finish it, I mouthed the same word. After what seems to be forever, she finally understood what I had said. Her eyes narrow firmly and without another word, she grabs my hand that the guy was holding and dash down the sidewalk.

“Hey!” the guy’s voice boom from behind. “Get back here!”

We swift through the crowd, avoiding the potential of being trampled over. I can hear it, his gruesome growl along with a few others. Werewolves. Freaking werewolves are chasing us. Plural. He fucking has werewolves friends chasing us! It was warm earlier, but now it’s burning hot. If it wasn’t for the massive amount of people around us, we would’ve been caught in mere seconds.

Helen pushed down a bicyclist that swirls towards a car. The car attempted to avoid the bicyclist, in turn, swerve towards a fire hydrant. The fire hydrant blast in the air causing many people to stop their tracks. One of the people was carrying a large box of marbles, for some unknown reason, and it scattered all over the road. Horn honking. People screaming. Smokes drift into the air.

It was hell on Earth.

“Helen!” I scream.

“They’re werewolves! They’re going to catch us if we don’t do anything!” She heaves a sharp breath, “Why are we running again?”

“Mate!”

“What?”

“Mate! He says I’m his mate!”

Helen took a few blinks then screamed out: “What!”

“Stop running!” A harsh voice boomed from behind us. I refused to turn around because if I do, then I would piss inside my pants. I can hear it, my heart drumming against my chest. Despite his constant command to stop running, my legs only went faster.

The faster I ran, the more I lost track of my surroundings. The distance was all that mattered. It can’t happen. I cannot be mated to someone from this world. This is some F-up crazy shit. Then the memories return.

RB.

Selene.

Those two fuckers.

They said I was mated to someone, and eventually, I would return to my world after everything is over. With that brief summary, I was thrown here. At first, I didn’t mind it as much because it was simple. Meet mate. Make sure mate doesn’t fall into the dark side. Whatever that means.

Then, I read about werewolves’ mate.

I studied about it.

It’s not pretty like those soulmate movies I used to watch.

So, I went for the alternative.

Stay inside the human community and find another way to leave. From what I learned in my brief life, there is never only a single way out.

Granted, my fear of the unknown made it much easier to stay inside the human community. It may sound appealing to live in a world where mythical creatures exist, but it’s much more terrifying. Since I’m labeled as an orphan, I did a bit more study in regards to the programs for orphans to gain all the benefits. The amount of orphans in this world is terrifyingly high.

I wasn’t stopping for anything or anyone and I sure as hell ain’t going to stop all because a raging werewolf told me to stop. Who the hell does he think he is? My eyes stayed glued to the roads, ensuring I won’t hit anything. I was so focused that I lost track of Helen.

I can feel it, the distance is getting closer. His furious growls are getting louder. I cannot believe I did not find a single law enforcer.

For fuck sake, where are they?

My eyes widen at the sight of enforcers. I shot my arms in the air, “Help! Help!” I can see it. Their steady motions toward my direction. That’s it. My hope to get away from my so-called crazy mate.

I need to get away from him.

Far.

Far.

Away.

Then, the confusion strikes.

Green.

Nothing but greenness.

Steadily, I took a single step and the breeze paces through the gaps of my body. I twirl around, gazing up at the point of the trees from when green connects with blue. The birds swoop across the sky and the sun only breaks between each gap.

I chuckle slowly, my shoes digging deeply into the wildflowers and leaves beneath.

“This must be a dream. Yeah,” I said to myself. Nothing made sense. One moment I was in the bustling city and the next, I’m standing in the middle of the forest. I raised a hand and slapped myself in the face.

It hurts.

I look down at my throbbing red hand, “This is real.”

Then, a sense of hope appeared. A slight belief that I returned to my world. I trudge through the trees, taking in the fragrance of the grasses. Each breath got easier than the last.

A string of whispers wash into my ears and my head breaks towards the sound. My ears faintly distinguished the different echoes inside the forest but it wasn’t enough to fully establish a difference. I pushed a hand into my purse and felt the gun. I took a deep breath and clicked the safety off clicker before I moved forward.

I could’ve shot the werewolf earlier but it would’ve probably backfired on me. From what I read, they usually traveled in packs. Even if I got one of them, I couldn’t hit all of them with my amateur skills. After I missed, I would probably end up in prison for murdering one of them - most likely my so-called mate. Or worse, the one who claimed me as his mate is alive and gets a chance in taking me back to his pack.

Times like this, I wished Cory was here with me. He would have whoop their asses. Or, he could be a good distraction until I got away. They won’t kill him. Just hurt him.

I’m such a bad person to even allow that to cross my mind.

Of course, I wouldn’t let Cory do such a thing.

If I stayed with my mate and not run away, then he would most likely kidnap me because of my resistance.

Everything seems to be a dead-end.

The best choice is to find an enforcer and allow the law to take place. Cory and Helen’s parents would probably back me up. Then again, I’m an orphan so the human community wouldn’t have cared much about me.

Again, everything is a dead end.

I prayed for the best when I ran away.

Escape first.

Plan later.

And now I’m lost.

I’m officially someone who has no luck.

No.

I can’t think it that way.

No self-pity.

I need to move forward.