You're Not My Mate

Let’s Go Home

Aurelia POV

The next morning I wake up feeling a little crushed. I open my eyes and Liam has fallen asleep with his arm and leg on top of me. And he is freaking heavy! I try and slide them off. No joy. I try and slide out from underneath him. No joy. I sigh. Looks like I’m stuck here until he wakes up. I try and look up at the wall opposite me for the time. 05:32. Hmm. Liam is usually an early riser. Hopefully he’ll be awake soon. I try to reach out to find my phone for something to do, but no joy. So I just lay back down and replay all my memories from last night.

Crimson wags her tail, excitedly.

“When do I get to meet Theodore?”

“Oh I totally forgot! I don’t know. I’ll have to ask Liam.”

She lets out a playful growl and wags her tail excitedly. I roll my eyes.

“I want Theodore. And you’re hurting him being lovey dovey with Junus. You need to sort your mind out.”

“I love Juno VERY much. He’s wonderful. But, Liam.. I love, need, and want Liam every second of the day. When I’m with Juno, I’m happy but I do think of Liam. When I’m with Liam.. I don’t think of anyone else.”

“Hm. Looks like you’ve got it sorted. I’ll tell Theodore to help ease Liam’s worries. Shall we do a goodbye shift with Junus?”

I nod at her and realise what I have to do. I try to mind link with Junus.

“Hey, fancy one last shift before I go?”

“Morning Boo, how’s your head?”

“It’s fine.”

Everywhere else aches. But my head is OK. Probably best not to tell him that though.

“I’ll meet you down at the garden now?”

“Uhhh. Sure, I just have to try and get out. I’m a bit.. Stuck.”

“What? Are you OK? Do you need help? I’m coming now.”

I panic looking at me and Liam both naked.

“No, it’s OK. Meet you at the bottom of the stairs in 5.”

I decide to try and slide my way out through the bottom of the bed. Liam’s leg is draped over my waist, and his arm over my chest. I breathe in and shimmy down the bed, and then hook my ankles onto the bottom of the bed to pull myself down. I manage to do it and then peek to see if Liam is still asleep. His breathing is still slow so I know he is. I pull on a pair of blue shorts, white bra and a white camisole. I put on my necklace from Liam, and my bracelet from Junus. Which makes me laugh as I’ll have to take these off when I shift, but never mind. I slip on my fluffy slippers and write a quick note for Liam.

“Morning sleepy. I’ll be back soon. I love you Hot Bun Xx” 

I smirk, picturing his face as he wrinkles his nose at ‘Hot Bun.’ And then quietly sneak out, closing the door behind me. I rush downstairs and bump straight into Junus. “Oof.” I say as the wind blows out from my chest. “When did you get so hard?” I ask, surprised. He laughs and flexes his biceps at me, making me roll my eyes. We loop our arms through each other and head outside. Everything from last night has been cleaned and packed away. The rides are still there, but I’m guessing they’ll leave later today.

We head through the clearing, to the spot where we had the campfire on Friday. That feels so long ago now. “Me and Crimson wanted to see you and Luca to say goodbye.” I catch his eye as he pulls off his shirt and I can see his huge smile. Crimson is jumping up and down excitedly at another chance to shift. Once we’re both naked we hold each others hands and then start the shift. It’s still painful, feeling all of my bones break, snap, move, and my body features changing. The nose is the weirdest as I feel it grow out of my face. It takes around 60 seconds for me to change now. I turn and Luca looks back.

“I’m gonna let Crimson take over.”

“I’ll let Luca too.”

“OK Crim, don’t do anything stupid.”

“We have our mate. It wasn’t me who needed assurance. I just want to say goodbye to our friend, Luca.”

She glares at me and then takes over and I take a back seat. After what feels like an eternity, Crimson pulls me back forward. I look over and tilt my head to see if Luca is still in charge or if it’s Junus again. 

“You ready to shift back? I think Liam is gonna kill me if I keep you any longer.”

I laugh, nodding and then start the shift back. The process of shifting back is even weirder when you feel your nose getting sucked back into your face. I reach over for my clothes and start getting dressed. I put my bracelet on and necklace carefully and then finally my slippers. 

Junus is beaming and I eye him suspiciously. “What?” I ask. He shrugs. “Luca is just happy he got to see Crimson before you both leave again.” I swallow, and it almost hurts. I hate leaving Junus. But I also can’t keep doing this to Liam. We walk arm in arm back to the house. Up ahead I can see Liam sat on the bench looking out, watching a bunch of men attaching the rides to vehicles to tow away. The wind blows and he immediately snaps his head in our direction. I instantly pull my arm from Junus’s and beam and wave at Liam.

“I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”

“I can’t stay in bed without you, baby.”

“I’m sorry, I thought you were going to sleep in. I thought you could use the rest.”

“What about you? How are you feeling, sweet baby?”

“Well, I can just about walk.”

I can hear him chuckle and then cut the mind link. “You two are gross, you know that?” I turn to Junus with an eyebrow raised. “I don’t know what you mean.” “Go on, run and play little wolf with your mate.” He pushes me gently forward. I nod at him and then run over to Liam with a giant grin on my face.

Junus POV

Walking out of the forest with Aurelia all to myself felt amazing, until Liam spun his head to look at us, and she lit up. Like a f*****g Christmas tree. My heart almost stops. As happy as I make her, and as much as I can make her light up, it’s never like this. She has eyes for him alone. I silently curse the Moon Goddess as I watch her eyes cloud over and they both start mind linking. I wonder what he thinks we’ve been doing?

Luca grows playfully at me. 

“We chased each other around the whole forest, played, had fun.”

“And?”

“And.. Crimson told me that this was the last time we would shift together. Theodore is her mate, and she would never do anything that would disrespect him.”

He pouts, whines and drops his tail down.

“I know how you feel bud. I know.”

When her eyes come back she is grinning giddily. “You two are gross, you know that?” She turns me to, raising an eyebrow and I chuckle quietly. “I don’t know what you mean.” She says innocently, and I roll my eyes slightly. “Go on, run and play little wolf with your mate.” She nods and runs off to Liam with a huge grin on her face.

I sigh. Nobody will ever be able to hold a torch to her. 

“We’re never going to find a mate with an attitude like that.”

“She’s my mate.”

“Nope. The Moon Goddess gave her to someone else.”

“I know. Why did I have to choose that path?”

“Because, we love them. And we want to see them happy. And that meant letting them go.”

I nod. Of course he’s right.

“We’ll find our mate. The Moon Goddess always has a plan.”

“I hope so, Luca. I hope so.”

I close my eyes, picturing all the times me and Aurelia spent together and smile. Those memories will live with me forever. As I’m walking back into the house, Aurelia calls me over. I sigh and change direction to walk towards her and Liam.

“I forgot to tell you! Liam just reminded me. I have extra powers! I can SHOW and SEE people’s memories!” I look at her dumbfounded and then at Liam. He smiles, nodding. “Come here, quick!” She says excitedly. She’s stood between Liam’s legs with his arms wrapped around her and it’s a little weird but I walk closer to her. She reaches up and pulls my head down and then presses her forehead against me.

She flashes through loads of old memories of us. Of us playing in the pool. Baking together. Her trying to rugby tackle me when I stole her t-shirt. I chuckle at that one. “And I can pull memories!” She beams and I s**t myself. Oh no. What’s she going to pull? She rifles through to last night and pulls memories of us dancing together and how happy I felt. I pull away sharp but smiling before she can see anything else. “That’s amazing, Boo! Looks like Liam was the key to unlocking those extra powers of yours all along.” I smile at her, trying to force it to look real. I don’t know if I manage to look convincing but she grins at me. I nod to them both and say my goodbyes and head inside.

Liam unlocked her extra powers. I was never able to do that for her. Looks like they were destined after all. And it broke my f*****g heart.

Aurelia POV

“I can’t BELIEVE I forgot to tell people about that! Thank you for reminding me. I have to tell Lucia!” I beam at him, excited. Standing between his legs as he sits on the bench is my new favourite place. I can sit on one knee, I can rub up against him, I can hold him against my chest, I can climb up and straddle him. The options are endless. And I love it. 

“So, what did you get up to this morning that had you sneaking away from me?” He asks. I give him a playful slap. “I wasn’t sneaking, you were fast asleep. I figured we could do one last shift with Junus, and then I could fetch you breakfast in bed. But you were already down here when we got back.” And I playfully pout with him, sticking out my bottom lip, knowing what that will make him do.

He leans forward, taking my bottom lip in his teeth and pulls it away. “When can I meet Crimson?” I tilt my head to the side. “She asked the same thing this morning. But, she wants to meet Theodore, sorry to burst your bubble.” He laughs and pulls me close to his chest, stroking my lower back. “Nice necklace.” “Thank you, it’s my favourite. For lots of reasons.” “Oh yes? What reasons are those?”

I kiss the top of his head. “Well, it’s from you. It’s my first gift from you. It smells like you. And it’s a symbol of us.” The sides of his eyes crease as a smile spreads across his face. “Although, you could fetch me a chocolate bar and I’d love it because it’s from you.” He bursts out laughing and pushes his lips against mine. “I’m glad you had a nice birthday, baby.” I nod. “Let’s go home.” He looks surprised.

“You don’t want to stay here a little longer?” I shake my head. “Let’s go home, and maybe you can meet Crimson.” His face lights up and Crimson wags her tail enthusiastically.