Rye, Becca, and I were all sitting at the table when the question was asked. "So Rye, rumor has it, you are not mated is that correct?" Becca asked him nonchanctly as she munched on a bag of Doritos.
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Rye took a sip of water before answering. "Not yet, but I am hoping I find her soon," He said. He looked pained for half a second before his smile was back on his face. "How about you two girls?" He asked Becca and I. He grabbed the water bottle he brought with him and started to take another drink. I fiddled with the hem of sleeve, not that it matters anyway. I don't know why I am so scared for him to find out about the biggest flaw of mine. Before I could say it, however, Becca beat me to it.
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"Samuel here doesn't think she has a soulmate." Rye choked on his water, and I started coughing harshly. Rye immediately started rubbing my back and to say I was sad when he stopped was an understatement. I had ignored the heat that burned through my shirt from the touch of Rye's hand. "She thinks that she's okay all by her lonesome. What do you think about that, Rye?"
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Becca..." I growled out when I got done hacking up a lung. Rebecca just smiled politely and batted her eyelashes.
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"What, Samuel? Are you having second thoughts already?" She asked me. I narrowed my eyes at Becca before standing up, grabbing Rebecca's arm, and dragging her out of the cafeteria.
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"Alright, what the hell, Becca?" I asked.
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"Did you not see the handprint on his neck? And how about how quick he was to a.) Become friends with you and b.) Help you when you were choking on God knows what. You really don't expect me to think that isn't a coincidence?" Sam was at a loss for words. Surely it had to be a coincidence, right?
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He's just being nice. I have no soulmate.
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"Look, Sam, just don't give up on the chance that you may have someone out there. You're my best friend, and it kills me when you think you're not good enough for someone to love. And don't let Jaden get in-," Rebecca was cut off abruptly by loud yelling coming from the cafeteria. Right as they were about to go see what the commotion was, I doubled over in pain and gripped my stomach. I only let out a small groan of pain since this was nowhere near the pain I endure at home.
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"Sam? Are you okay?" Rebecca was clearly freaking out and didn't know what to do. I just groaned and tried to ignore the throbbing in my lower abdomen. I slowly stood up and took a step.
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"I don't know what's going on. My whole stomach is on fire like someone just punched me wearing a glove set on fire. What's going on?" I asked while I braced myself against the wall, catching my breath. I had never felt anything like that. Even at home, I endure a different feeling pain than that. I was scared and surprisingly, hopeful for once.
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What if that's the power of the mate bond?
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"Sam..." She said slowly. I looked at her; I flinched from the pain and from how wide Becca was smiling at me. "Your mate just got punched in the stomach." Despite the situation, Becca had a look of happiness and excitement on her face.
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"Well, shit," I muttered. I'm not one for cursing, but I've spent years believing I had no mate and then bam! I have one in the span of like two seconds. Talk about confusing. When we were both sure I was in no more pain (which was only about 5 minutes later) we both walked back into the cafeteria, not sure what we were about to walk into.
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* * *
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When the final bell rang signaling the end of the day, I couldn't be happier to go home. Anna would be at work and Alpha James shouldn't be home until five.
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"Are you sure you don't want me to come over for a little while?" Rebecca asked like she does at the end of every day. I sighed and looked at my blonde friend.
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"I'm sure, Becca. I don't want you there if they show up early." I told her and as much as Rebecca wanted to argue, she knew I wouldn't let up. "It's bad enough you know about what they do. I don't need you to risk seeing it firsthand."
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"At least let me drive-,"
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"Not needed. I got it." Rye cut Rebecca off and she just smirked at him. I thought about it. If he took me home; maybe we could talk. I could understand somethings better. Jaden is sleeping somewhere else tonight anyway, so he won't miss me until school tomorrow.
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"Oh okay. That's cool, I guess." I said as Rebecca's jaw dropped.
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"I'll call you later tonight, okay?" I told her, and Rebecca just nodded, her jaw still open. We walked to his ride in silence.
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* * *
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I still couldn't believe I had turned down Rebecca to ride with Rye. I equally couldn't believe that Rye drives a beat up red truck. I smiled to myself as I got in.
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"Where to?" Rye asked me as they pulled out of the school.
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"The Alpha's house." I responded and gave him the address. When we pulled into he house, I audibly gulped. Alpha James was home. He wasn't supposed to be home. My hand rested on my sore throat, and I cautiously opened the truck. "Thanks for bringing me home." I hopped out and gave Rye one last look before grabbing my backpack and getting out. I took one huge breath in and out and then started walking to the house. My wolf whined as the smell of alcohol hit our noses.
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James met me in the yard. I hadn't heard Rye pull out yet and was really hoping he would soon. He didn't need to see this.
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"Who the hell is that?!" James yelled at me. I flinched because he was yelling like me was 50 feet away when in reality, I'm like 2 feet away.
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"A friend." I muttered when I got close enough; he stopped me as I tried to get to the house. I wanted nothing more than to just walk back into the house. He grabbed my wrist, and I flinched.
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"A friend, huh?" he scoffed. "I bet you're screwing him, little slut." He said with a laugh. "By this rate, even if you do have a mate, they aren't going to want you. I mean look at you! Who would want a little slut?" He taunted me. "That's why the best place for you is right here with my son. Just accept it, whore. You have no mate, he has no mate. You were broken pieces made for each other. Too bad you're an ugly slut." When he realized I wasn't listening he tightened his grip on my wrists with enough strength to bruise them. He pulled me really close to his face and it took all I had not to gag. "Alright, little bitch, I was talking to you. When I talk to you, you listen. You got that?" he asked me. When I didn't respond, He said and I just walked back over to where he was. He quickly hopped out of the truck and wrapped me in his arms. I melted in his arms just a little bit. The heat and spark that surrounded us just calmed me down more. I realized then that even if they were not mates, Rye was someone I could not lose, and that scared me more than Alpha Jones and Anna or failing ever could. "I have to go pick up my little sister, but I don't want you going back inside that house right now."
I just nodded and pulled him closer for a few more minutes. When I pulled away, Rye was staring at me. I blushed furiously and ran to the other side of the truck. I threw My bag in the floorboard and hid my face from him all the way to his little sister's school.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgYQ1ltDAe
