Unlikely Mates

Unveiled Past

Amanda P.O.V

I feel like I know this person, but the trouble is, I cannot recall where I've seen him before. The handsome guy with spiky silver hair and glassy blue eyes stands me up, fixing both our posture. I step away from him, trying to rack my brain. I know I've seen him somewhere before but, I, just, can't, 'Ah, this is frustrating.'

“What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you forgot me Angel? That hurts.”

He places a hand over his chest as if to say I wounded him. 'Why do I feel a serious Déjà vu. Wait a damn minute. Angel. Only one person has ever called me that. That's impossible. It couldn't be.’

“Brayden?”

“You got it, Angel.”

I can't believe this. My eyes go wide from this discovery. It's been forever since I last saw Brayden. He was an old school friend who just one day up and vanished, no note, nothing.

I jump into his chest, and he catches me in his masculine arms. Tears run down my cheek as my memories of him flood back.

“Where have you been all this time? I thought you were dead.”

He rubs my head just like he used to.

“Hush now I’ll answer all your questions in due time, but first, l want to show you something.”

I let go of his warm body reluctantly. I used to hope that one day he would come back. He was my only friend, and now I have the chance to find out why he left, it overrides everything else, so without hesitation, I nod my head. In my head, I apologise to Laura, but Damian can suck it, at least for a little while. Brayden takes my hand in his. I think about how big his hands have gotten while we stroll out of the mall. We go out the passageway past the toilets. As soon as we're out he makes me get into a Black Jaguar XJ series car, which I'm assuming is his. He unlocks the car and opens the door for me. I gladly hop in, and he shuts the door. He makes his way around the front and hops in the driver's side, and the engine roars to life.

Damian P.O.V

Ever since we left the Manse this morning, Amanda has been giving me the cold shoulder. Although I see what kind of game she's playing, she's pretending I don't exist, immature, but it's not like I'm any better. Jax is starting to get annoyed at our distance, and frankly, so am I. It's been hours, and she hasn't said a word to me. Now we're sitting at the table opposite each other. She still won't talk to me even though I'm paying extra for her clothes to be delivered to our room. I own the mall, so money isn't much of an issue and most of the staff here are werewolves, but still nothing, not even eye contact.

"Come on the least you can do is talk after what you've done.”

She turns around, a mix of confusion and anger contort on her face from my statement, ‘excellent’.

"What I've done, it's you that-"

"Ha, you're finally talking."

It worked, she drops her eyes at her sudden defeat, 'game over, sweetheart, I win.'

"I'm going to the lavatory."

Stubborn girl. She doesn’t want to admit it.

"How about a kiss first?"

"What?"

“hahaha.”

‘She’s so cute when she’s embarrassed.’

"Relax, I'm only joking. Unless you want to."

"NEVER!”

She turns and rushes away. I fight the urge to chase after her, Jax doesn’t like it when his mate is out of sight. Yet, as I watch her disappear into the crowded food court. I can’t help but feel a little hurt by her immediate response. ‘Is that thought so unappealing to her? I mean what’s not to like.’ As I sit there trying to figure her out, a feeling of uncertainty washes over me.

"Go find our mate."

I force down that feeling of uneasiness, and ignore Jax's request.'Eh, what am I worried about.' It's not like someone would do anything here, it's too crowded, and she can't run away either. For this thought, I continue to sit and wait.

She's been gone for over fifteen minutes now, 'the lines can't be that long.' I stand up from my seat just as Laura comes back with our food. She places it down on the table and looks at me oddly. Without a word, Laura knows something's off. She looks me in the eye.

“Where’s Amanda?”

Strange, I would have thought she would have bumped into her at on her way there. Her face shows concern now. Jax is also starting to panic. I rush off in the direction of as Amanda went with Laura close behind me, not caring about the strange stares we're getting from the humans. I follow her distinct rosy, pine scent through the crowd and down the hallway away from the food court. But, wait I take another sniff of the air, her scent mixing with another's. I'm getting irritated by this scent, it's of a male, not quite human, but not entirely supernatural either. I start running until we come to a door marked exit. I burst open the door to see a black Jaguar take off, with my heightened sense I can tell that she's in there, with someone else and I swear he looked at me right in the eyes through his rearview mirror before they are on the road. I will never forget those piercing blue eyes. My blood boils, my fists clench. I punch the wall, breathing heavily, leaving a significant dent in the infrastructure.

“DAMN IT!”

'I swear in the name of the Moon Goddess, herself. I will do whatever it takes to find her.'

Amanda P.O.V

We've driven for I don't know how long, over an hour I guess. I'm starting to feel restless from this lengthy car ride. I turn to Brayden and ask how far we're going. He doesn't answer. He's been silent ever since we got in the car. I keep quiet and save my questions for when we rest, as he focuses on the road. We turn down a dirt road leaving dust in our wake and veering up and down the valley until we come to a complete stop. He hops out of the car and comes around to my side and pulls me out. 'He hasn't lost his gentle touch'. I  start asking him about his disappearance, and he calmly responds.

“We walk from here.”

Not the answer I wanted, but knowing him, he will tell me eventually. He grabs a backpack and gives one to me as well, as if he knew he would have company. He's still well prepared, but it's still mystifying. I mean was he expecting this. My mind races with possible answers, but then I feel something warm consume my hand. His hand has taken my own, and we start walking, along a not well-travelled path. The sun is beginning to set. One can only imagine the mood that Damian's in right now. He'll kill me for sure, but it's better than playing his game, right?

We come to a steep rocky path in the mountainside, but my feet can't take anymore, there aching so bad. All of a sudden, I'm lifted into the air and onto Brayden's shoulders. My eyes gaze downwards, and I feel myself blushing. Brayden's gotten stronger since we last saw each other at my house and I'm not used to being carried like this.

"It's okay. I can walk by myself."

I flail about trying to get out of his firm hold. He strengthens his grip on my legs, looks up at me and smiles.

“Trust me, little Angel, I’ve got you.”

Somehow his voice is soothing, and my body relaxes, and my hands hang on to his shoulders. 'He's still my brother, and I'm glad to see him again.

"Here, we are Angel."

He lets me down, and my eyes, overcome with wonder. I take the heavy backpack off, dropping it onto the ground. I'm looking over a cliff to the valley below close to but quite at the edge. I can even see my house. My face falls at the sight of my comparably tiny house. My happiness is going down, like the setting of the sun. I miss them, my family. I wonder how they're doing.

"What's wrong, Amanda?"

‘Brayden. I almost forgot.’

“Nothing.”

I force a smile to hide my insincerity. Brayden eyes me suspiciously but doesn't say a word about it.

"Anyway. YOU need to answer my question. Why did you bring me here? And Where have you been for the past four years?"

He gazes at me with a solemn look.

"I'll get a fire going. Get changed in that cave behind us. There are some clothes in your backpack. I'll tell you everything when you come back out."

 I don't question him when he has that serious look in his eyes.

"Okaaayy, but don't peek."

 I decide to play it cheeky to get his smile back, even a little bit. He looks startled at that thought and looks away from me.

"Don't worry. You're safe."

'That was weird, but alright.' I go into the cave, just around the corner for some privacy.

After I'm changed into some new singlet and shorts with undergarments as well, I admit a little creepy but still. I walk out and sit opposite Brayden in front of the warm and cosy fire.

“It all started after...”

Flashback- Four years ago:

Brayden P.O.V

"So long, Amanda, Don't miss me too much."

My family is going to the mountains for the school holidays so I won’t get to see her.

 “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

I place my hand over my heart.

“Oh, You hurt me deep, Angel.”

We chuckle. I met Amanda two years ago when we were ten years old. I, playing, She, picked on. She looked like a pretty Angel. I stepped in to help her, not long after that, I found out that she was surprisingly feisty with those closest to her. We've been best friends since then.

“Alright you two, that’s enough.”

Amanda's mum looks at us. I unbuckle my seatbelt, grab my bag, rub my hand on Amanda's brown hair and say goodbye to her and her Mum. Angel and her Mum take off down the road in their family car to go home. It was Amanda's mum, who usually drops off and picks us up because my mum and dad work a lot. Today though, it was just convenient.

I open the metal gate to my house. It's modest but comfortable enough for the three of us. I walk in, although as soon as I get in the door, I spot my parents waiting for me in the lounge room. I'm happy to see them both. Mum stands up and walks over to me, smiling.

“Are you excited for today’s camping trip.”

“Yeah, it’s going to be fun.”

I respond enthusiastically.

“Go and get your stuff, and meet us by the car.”

I nod my head and rush to my room. I drop my bag on the floor, grab my packed suitcase off the bed and ran downstairs and out the door where my parents were waiting. They must not have heard the door shut because they continue to talk on the other side of the red 4WD.

“I don’t think he’s ready for this. He’s just a boy.”

Mum’s in a grumpy mood. ‘I wonder what’s wrong.’

“Darling. We’ve waited long enough. It’s time.”

‘Time for what?’ I get closer sneaking as best I can to hear more. Suddenly, Mum stares in my direction, surprise written on her face, but it soon vanishes and transforms into her usual smile.

“Hey, sweetie, your Dad and I were just talking.”

Mum sounds different.

“Time to go Son.”

Dad shouts. We all hop into the car and for the mountains. I'm so full of vigour that I overlook what happened just now and focus on the annual camping trip. It takes over an hour to reach the mountains before we ascend higher up. Before long Dad stops the car and we all hop out. Dad grabs the bags from the back of the car and hands them to us.

"Quickly, we must make it there before dark."

 Mum and Dad start walking, and I follow along, not knowing where exactly we're going. It's a long trek up the mountain. 

"I'm tired. How much further?"

Dad stops in his tracks at the top of the hill, allowing time for Mum and I to catch up.

"We're here."