THE MATE I NEVER CHOSE

Chapter 2

Mika’s POV**

**From Dave:** Guess what, I found my soulmate.

My hand shook. The phone slipped from my fingers. I slapped both hands over my mouth and choked on a sob.

I staggered backward until my back hit the wall, then slid down slowly to the floor.

Why?

I loved him before his soulmate.

Why can’t I be his soulmate?

He sounded happy. I could tell from the text.

I existed in his life long before he ever saw them.

I lay on the floor as my heart stung and seemed to stop. My breathing grew louder and uneven. I started hitting myself, then banging my head against the wall.

A few minutes later I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom. I peeled my clothes off and stared at my body. If I were me, I wouldn’t choose me either. I trailed a hand over my thin frame and chuckled bitterly. My reflection was already judging me.

“Why are you crying? I thought you said you wanted him to be happy.” It smirked.

“Shut the f**k up,” I screamed at it. “Just shut up and get the f**k away. If you’re only here to taunt me, then go. I’m too far gone to care what you say.”

“You know you shouldn’t take your anger out on me. I didn’t do anything to deserve that. So shut up and listen. Watching you break apart is fun, though.” The smirk stayed on its face.

The voices in my head grew louder.

*You’re disgusting. Selfish bastard. Skinny b***h. You deserve to die. Your best friend left you. Everyone is going to leave you.*

“Stop! Stop! Stoppp!” I screamed and slammed my fist into the mirror. Blood ran down my hand as I stared at the cracked glass. My knuckles were painted red — my favorite color. For a second I felt a twisted sense of accomplishment, and the voices quieted.

“You think doing this will make the bad thoughts vanish?” the reflection said, suddenly serious. “Grow a spine and tell him how you feel. If he rejects you, at least you’ll know you tried. Not doing anything just makes you a failure.”

I chuckled bitterly. “Then I’m a failure. I can’t risk our friendship just because my stupid heart won’t stop racing every time he smiles.”

“Whatever you’re feeling is depression. And I’m not real. See a therapist or tell someone before the voices drown you.” For once, it sounded almost kind.

“I won’t—” I started to answer, but I was cut off by the sound of the front door opening and the passcode being entered.

“Honey! We’re home. Come down for dinner,” my mom’s voice called through the house.

I splashed cold water on my face, quickly applied enough makeup to hide the worst of the redness, and wrapped my bleeding knuckles.

I went downstairs and sat with them.

“Honey, what’s wrong? You look pale. Didn’t you sleep well? And your knuckles… look at how you wrapped them. I told you to always play nice and be careful.”

I shook my head. “I have a migraine,” I said, forcing food into my mouth. My appetite disappeared the moment I sat down, but I shoved the food down anyway to avoid suspicion.

I could feel my father’s gaze on me — the kind that asked if I was really okay. I just nodded and kept eating.

His eyes stayed on mine for a few seconds before he finally looked away.

“Can you believe it?” my mom suddenly shouted. I flinched. “Dave has found his soulmate! And you’re next. I know how you two could never stay apart, but now you’ll both be spending time with your soulmates.”

My hands shook. I tightened my grip on the fork and forced a smile even as my heart skipped painfully. “A soulmate. Wow. Such a beautiful word.”

Mom didn’t catch the sarcasm. She was too excited that her favorite “son,” as she called Dave, had found his mate. I already hated them without knowing a single thing about them.

“You’re next after Dave,” she continued, still loud and cheerful. “Make sure you’re good to your soulmate.” Then she turned to my dad and started planning their weekend.

I drowned out their voices and kept eating in silence.

Could I still keep this brotherly friendship with him?

I shook my head in disbelief.

I don’t want to share him with anybody.

He’s mine alone.

---

**Dave’s POV**

I glared at Mika as I watched him walk away, looking lost and far too skinny. My heart ached.

He glanced at my car, then hailed a taxi and left anyway.

Still fuming, I drove off once I was sure he was gone.

When I arrived at the park, I started walking. A scent hit me instantly — citrus and raspberry. I followed it quickly and came across a scene that stopped me cold.

An angel stood beside the flowers. He looked like a flower god. The scent was coming from him. He looked relaxed and beautiful.

My heart began to race. I stood there, dumbfounded, as he turned and looked at me.

“Mate,” we both whispered at the same time.

He closed the distance between us. Up close, he truly looked like an angel. That wasn’t an understatement.

He pressed his lips to mine. I kissed him back hungrily, like a starved beast. He moaned into my mouth and every drop of blood in my body rushed south. I grabbed his ass as he melted against me.

“Get a room! Are you two going to f**k right here?” an angry woman’s voice interrupted us.

I took his hand and we ran laughing to my car, my fingers never leaving his.

“What’s your name?” I asked as I opened the door for him.

“My name is Loka.”

The soft, soothing sound of his voice made me melt. I already loved it.

I saw Mika’s apology text on my phone.

Still high on the moment and forgetting our earlier fight, I typed back excitedly.

**To Mika:** Guess what? I found my mate.

I closed my phone and stared into my mate’s eyes. The pull was only getting stronger.

I hoped Mika would find his mate soon too.