Linked By Fate

Chapter 2

The movie ended an hour ago and we are now sitting on the balcony that connects our bedrooms. Maggie and Braxton ended up going to bed wheel into the movie. My body has started to become affected by the transition that is to come once I lay down for the night. I'm hyperaware of Riley's presence, his scent, and it's begun to mess with my head. Wondering if he was bothered by anything, I turned to him only to find him squeezing his eyes shut while clenching his fists tightly. Looks like I'm not the only one suffering.

Not sure if I should touch him or not, I stood up from the chair and made my way to the banister on the balcony. Inhaling deeply, I was slammed by the intensity of his scent. He smells like sugar cookies fresh out of the oven. My mouth started to water. What in the world is going on right now? Goosebumps spread all over my body when I felt his hands on my hips. Shivers and quivers roll along my senses.

"Riley, what's going on right now? When did you start smelling so good? Is this all because of the transition? The sensations that are wrecking havoc inside of me I've never felt before and they scare me." Pressing closer to me, the bulge in his pants was unmistakeable. Placing his nose in my neck, he took in a deep breath.

His deep voice covers me like a blanket as he whispers next to my ear. "Things are happening inside of me as well, things I've never felt. You smell good to me as well. I feel that I know what is happening, but if I say it, you will run away and the last thing I want to do is scare you."

Though we are standing outside, the air becomes thick and charged with an energy that steals my breath. My lungs were fighting for air as I tightened my grip on the banister. A moan escapes my lips as he kisses my neck. We're best friends, this can't be happening right now.

"Riley, stop. We can't do this. It's got to be due to our transition starting. Our bodies are preparing us for our mate bonds. We need to move away from each other before we interrupt what the Fates have planned for us." My voice came out as a breathless whimper.

His thumb is rubbing the sensitive area where my tail will soon be. My eyes roll to the back of my head as I bite my bottom lip to keep from making any type of strange noise. My knees are so weak that if he was to let go of me suddenly, I'd for sure fall to the ground. His hard on is grinding against my butt and his breathing has increased. I can literally feel his heart beating against my back.

"Come on, Ri. Reel it in before we reach a point where we can't turn back." I pleaded with him as I fought for control of myself.

Squeezing me one last time, Riley steps away from me. Why do I miss his touch the moment he lets go? It has got to be due to the transition. Mama and Papa Bear warned us that we would be affected in some ways due to the change our bodies are about to undergo, but they were not sure how, because every person's experience is different.

Hot tingles still course through my body from where he kissed my neck moments ago. These feelings are more than heightened sensitivity. It almost feels like what his parents described happens when fated mates find each other. All mates share the alpha's mate crescent. But if you're fated mates, you become highly aware of one another and the crescent pattern mansifests.. The crescent wraps around the left arm from the wrist to the upper shoulder region. There have only been fifty fated mate matches in the history of the Beast Humans. If an alpha or omega transitions without a crescent, they are free to mate with whomever they like.

Not looking him in the eye, I fled back inside my room, shutting and locking the door behind me. Walking to the bed, I laid down, hugging a pillow between my legs. While he was touching me, I grew wet between my legs. That has never happened to me before. Groans came from next door, Riley's room. It's like he is leaning against the wall that my bed is positioned next to. What is he doing? Is he in pain or something? Listing closely, I heard him moan again and it sounded like he was panting. OMG, he's wanking off on the other side of the wall.

Like a movie reel, I imagined him leaning his head against the wall as his arm pumps. His shirt on the ground with his pants pulled down around his butt. The muscles of his abdomen contracted as he raced towards his release. I hear him call out my name just as he grunts, cumming. I grow wetter between my legs but I refuse to do anything about it. My mind is blown by the fact that my best friend got off thinking about me like that. Has he ever done that before or is this the first time? How will I face him tomorrow morning?

I wish that mom and dad were alive. I have so many questions about what the future could hold for me. I know that I can ask Rita and Braxton, but it's not the same as having my own parents by my side, explaining the facts of life to me. The loss of them has been hitting me harder these past few months than normal. Crying myself to sleep some nights has become pretty normal. It's not something that I've shared with Riley or his parents. It won't take away the pain and I also don't want to be more of a burden on them. It was a lot for them to take me, I know it was. That's why I always stayed on top of my grades and made sure to not cause any trouble for them or myself. I'm forever grateful to them for their love and support.

My phone begins to vibrate on the nightstand. Picking it up, I saw that Riley had sent me a message. I swipe it open with my thumb.

Riley: I'm sorry about earlier. Hopefully I did not make things weird between us.

Cooper: No need to apologize. We were warned that our senses would heighten before the transition took place. Are you still feeling off a bit?

Riley: Yeah, but hopefully sleep will come quickly. Thanks for not being upset with me. Get some rest okay and I'll see you in the morning.

Cooper: Don't mention it and I will. Goodnight, Ri.

Riley: Goodnight Coop.

Sleep is not gonna come easy at this time, so pull up the k****e app on my phone to continue reading the book I started a few days ago. My body still feels heated and my inner left wrist is starting to bother me. Getting up from bed before I got too far into the book, I grabbed the cool compressing wrap and began to wrap my arm up to my elbow. Once that's done, I go back to reading my book until I feel my eyes grown heavy. Placing the phone on its charger, I snuggle under the covers, my head resting comfortably on the pillow. The last thing I remember before falling asleep was the feel of his body against mine and the softness of his lips on my skin.

"Riley." His name on my lips as my eyes finally closed for the night.

********************

I can't believe I jacked off with the thoughts of Cooper in my mind. The way her body felt beneath my fingers. Those delicious covers of her that she dislikes so much, but I love. If this was the first time it has happened, I'd understand. However, that's not the case. It's been happening a lot.

My relationship with Julie these past six months has been for nothing but show for me. The fact is that I've always harbored feelings for Cooper deep in my heart. It's not a secret to my dad, who I confessed a month before Cooper's parents died in that horrible accident. With all that was going on at that time, I never told her my feelings. As time went on, I started to think that I did not want to run our friendship if she rejected by feelings, so I buried my feelings.

Julie has every right to be jealous and fearful of Cooper's place in my life. No woman, except for my mother, holds a higher position than she does. I've prayed to the Fates that when I wake up in the morning, that Cooper is marked with my crescent and that we are fated mates. I've always been drawn to her in some way and have always questioned if she has felt it too. One thing about Cooper is that she can hide her feelings well if she wants to. The girl can be a bit stubborn at times even though she is such a sweet and caring omega. There are not many omegas like her around.

"Oh, Cooper. If you only knew my true feelings for you. I wonder if we'd still be friends. When I picture my future, I've only ever visioned it with you."

Let me go to sleep. The transition can't take place unless I'm relaxed and well rested. Hopefully, when I wake up in the morning, my wish will have come true. Please let it come true. It'd be great to head back to school tomorrow with my best friend and roommate as my fated.

"Cooper."