My Chosen Mate

Chapter 4: The Strange Boy

I laughed at the joke Aubrey just made while I watched Jen and Madi play in the play area at the mall. Aubrey wanted to buy some new clothes and since I had to watch the girls, we decided to travel to the closest mall so that they could have some fun and play too. Even though Jen and Madi weren’t related to me in the slightest, I had grown to feel like their big sister. Ever since I was sent to Clarise, the twins had latched onto me and fell in love with playing the role of big sister. I loved kids so much and these two definitely had me wrapped around their little fingers.

“Hey Bre? How much do you know about wolves?” I asked suddenly.

Aubrey nearly chocked on her froyo. “Wolves? Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve just been really interested in them lately. Like did you know that wolves are pack animals? It’s hard for a wolf to survive without at least having a mate.” I was starting to get excited about the research I did on them last night.

Aubrey didn’t look up from her froyo. “A mate? Really? That’s cool.”

I could tell that Aubrey didn’t want to hear more, but I couldn’t stop myself from sharing the information. “Yeah. When they find their mate, they don’t let any other wolves near it. I wonder what they do if one of them dies though. You know? Like do they find another mate? And they’re only supposed to be not even three feet tall. Do you think they ever get bigger than that though?”

“Actually, it’s believed that some wolves can grow taller than even you.” A voice said from behind Aubrey and me.

We both turned around and there was a boy probably around our age standing there. He had obviously listened in on everything I was saying to Aubrey. I blushed a little and looked down. I looked up at Aubrey and saw her staring at the boy like she had just seen a ghost.

I looked back at the boy. He had shorter light brown hair that I couldn’t stop thinking about running my fingers through.

‘Wait what? I just met this kid. Why am I thinking about running my fingers through his hair?’

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his sweet voice filling the air again.

“You were right about the whole mate thing though. Once they find them, they protect them at all costs.” He leaned in closer to me like he was implying something.

I lifted an eyebrow at him. “Are you like an expert on wolves or something?”

“You could say I have a bunch of experience with them. Almost like I was raised by them.” The boy smirked at what he said.

“Uhhh that’s really interesting and thanks for letting me know that I was right, but we really have to go. Right Aubrey?”

Aubrey was still staring at him, white as a ghost. “Yeah. Why don’t you get the girls and I’ll throw away the empty cups?”

“Wait!” The boy said harshly, grabbing at my arm as I stood up. He quickly pulled away when I moved before he could touch me. “Sorry. I just meant; you haven’t told me your name.”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to give my name to this strange boy I just met but something inside me was pushing me too. Almost like I’d die if I didn’t hear him say it.

“It’s-”

“None of your business.” I was cut off my Aubrey.

I looked over at her confused, but she wouldn’t stop staring at the boy.

“Uhhh ok? I’ll get the girls.”

I turned around and went to find Jen and Madi. When I found them, I turned back to look for Aubrey, but I couldn’t see her anywhere.

“Clara! I have to go potty!” Jen said, doing a little dance.

“Me too!” Madi chimed in.

“Ok. Let’s go and I’ll text Aubrey to meet us there.”

I started heading towards the bathroom. Before I got there, I caught a glimpse of bright red hair. It was Aubrey. She was behind a corner yelling at someone, but I couldn’t see who. I moved myself far enough that I could see better around the corner and saw that it was the strange boy that had just walked up to us.

The girls kept whining about peeing their pants, so I tore my eyes away and steered them towards the bathroom.

‘Why is Aubrey yelling at that boy? Does she know him? And if she does, why didn’t she say anything?’