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1333 Words
"What is it with you sneaking up on me?" she didn't even try to hide her annoyance as soon as she recognised Arro as he walked closer along the stone pathway a grin on his face as it usually was or at least every time she had seen him "stalking is illegal you know?" she added her eyes narrowed as he got closer.
"Only in the human world. In the wolf world it's calling hunting your prey" he chuckled to himself as he slumped down onto the spot beside her to which she shifted closer to the edge and further from him.
"Oh and I'm your pray?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not today" his eyes observed her and looked over her entire being before settling on her face "you clean up nice" he finally spoke.
"Is that a compliment?" she questioned.
"Maybe" he simply gave another grin before glancing over his shoulder "you find the party boring too?"
"Not my cup of tea" she simply stated with a shrug turning her gaze back to the garden "I didn't want to come in the first place."
"I can't blame you. Watching your mate choose someone else doesn't sound like a fun party to me" he simply said but words practically made her eyes fall from her head with how much they widened.
"What did you... He isn't my..." but the more she attempted to deny it the guiltier she sounded.
"Eliza is a nice girl but anyone looking can tell they are fooling themselves by believing they are mates. Plus my cousin has been with Eliza for a while but he has never looked at her the way he's been looking at you tonight" Arro simply explained, his blue eyes seeming to take in her reaction. Gatlin had now only met the young man twice yet somehow he had better observation skills than anyone else she had ever met.
"One he wasn't looking at me and two where do you get off saying all these things you don't even know me" his blatant announcement of a secret she would have rather kept made her more annoyed than she cares to admit.
"I may not know you but I would like to out of all the people in this pack you seem the most interesting and..." he let out a breath his eyes still taking her in if it wasn't for her annoyance the complete attention would make anyone intimidated "I know my cousin and I've spent most of the night with him and trust me he was looking at you" if it were about anyone other than her mate perhaps it would make her blush but instead Gatlin simply scoffed and turned away "what's your name anyway?"
"Gatlin Pryce" she introduced but her gaze still diverted from his.
"Well Gatlin, mind telling me why my cousin is announcing being mates with someone who isn't his mate?" Arro couldn't seem to help but pry.
"Why don't you ask him" she quickly replied.
"But I'm asking you" Arro scooted closer to her but she couldn't edge any further away with her body already practically hanging off the seat.
"I don't want a mate, okay? At least not here" Gatlin sighed "I'm graduating soon and moving up north to live with my aunt and do what I want to do with my life" Gatlin suddenly turned to the young man "I don't belong here."
"Are they not treating you well here?" The question was loaded with concern.
"They treat me fine" she shrugged "I just don't feel like I belong" a furrow on her brow as she focused on the blue-eyed young man beside her "why do you care anyway? Like I said you don't know me."
"But I would like to" he smiled that charming smile once again.
"Why?" She couldn't help but wonder.
"I feel you and I have a lot in common" his eyes flickered to look to the night sky "you're an outsider like me."
"But aren't you the Alpha's nephew? Isn't your father an Alpha also?" She was a little confused it was hard to imagine such a charismatic guy being an outsider.
"He is... I'm in line to be the next Alpha on my twenty-first birthday in four months" he laughed but this time there wasn't any amusement behind it. It was sadder "I may be an Alpha's son but it doesn't mean I don't know what it's like..." he stood up suddenly his gaze continuing to stare at the sky "for people to want to only be around you for power and what you can give them. No matter the status, Gatlin. Everyone can feel out of place" he gave her one more glance before turning back and heading back to the party "and Gatlin there must be some part of you that belongs here..." his eyes glanced through the brush in the direction of the party "if you're meant to be with him" one more smile he gave "Have a good evening," he said before heading back to the party. Gatlin was stunned, it had been quite a birthday more than she expected, she was hoping for a quiet eighteenth just another day to pass but not only was she saddled with a secret mate which whom neither of them wanted the bond but only in a matter of hours his cousin knew the secret and even more strangely she was feeling some sort of soft spot for him.
"There you are" Hannah groaned snapping Gatlin from her thoughts to see her mother pushing past the bushes along the path "What are you doing here?"
"Just... Looking at the Flowers" Gatlin shrugged.
"Well, Avalee is tired we are heading home so let's go" Hannah waved her hand to encourage her daughter to move with a sigh of relief hearing they were leaving she practically jumped up and happily followed her mother out until Hannah abruptly stopped in front of the Alpha and his family which made Gatlin suddenly look to the ground. Alpha Maxon, Edda his mate, Huntly the future Alpha and of course Onyx and Eliza stood before her "we have to leave, I just wanted to say we had a wonderful evening and of course congratulations to you Onyx" Hannah said paying her respects to the family.
"Of course thank you for coming" Edda smiled but her gaze suddenly turned to Gatlin "oh my Hannah where have you been hiding Liny? I feel like I haven't seen her in so long and now look at this beautiful woman" Edda gushed stepping forward and taking a hold of Gatlin's hands as she looked her over.
"Thank you" was all Gatlin could muster under the gaze of not only the Alpha and his family but her mate and chosen mate.
"Oh yes, Liny is quite a busy girl. Always off doing something" Hannah simply explained because the truth was she didn't have a clue about what happened in Gatlin's life.
"You must come by for tea, dear" she gently touched the young girl's cheek forcing her to lift her gaze "if you don't find your mate Huntly is free" Edda teased but the words made both Gatlin and Onyx tense. The words affected him so much that he was quick to retract his hand from Eliza's.
"I'm sorry about my mother, Gatlin" Huntly always so polite apologised noticing her embarrassment.
"It's okay. I will come by for tea sometime" Gatlin gave a smile "mother, we should go we don't want to leave Avalee waiting and getting overly tired" Gatlin couldn't help but use her half-sister as an excuse she was desperate to escape.
"Of course, of course. Have a goodnight" Edda smiled once more at the pair before stepping back.
"Goodnight," Alpha Maxon and Huntly said.
"Night" was barely audibly heard from Onyx but Hannah and Gatlin both politely said their goodnights also finally letting Gatlin escape from the awkward situation and back safe in her room.
- Writer
