"Mate!" This was not what I had planned for this week. One minute I'm almost killed the next I'm being told I'm someone's soulmate.
Like what kind of weird fantasy movie have I been thrown into. Ahh Natasha would love this but I couldn't tell her at least not right now.
She would think I was kidnapped and had developed Stockholm syndrome.
I was going to have to call her and come up with a story.
I retraced my steps back to the dining room and found Samantha there. She was talking and laughed with Adam.
They looked happy, unrealistically happy. Is that how it is when you find your soulmate, the one destined and perfect for you?
"Hey" I said as I joined them.
"Hey" she said looking up "You done? Had the talk?"
"You make it sound like we were talking about the birds and the bees"
"Might as well have been" Adam says "Hi I'm Adam, Alex's brother and this lovely woman's mate, we haven't officially been introduced"
"Elizabeth "I replied "And thank you, for what you did for Bruce"
"Don't mention it. So how you settling in, I know this must be very weird"
"It is but I'm coping, maybe the shock just hasn't reached me"
"Nah you'll be fine don't worry " Samantha said "All will be well"
"So soulmates, they actually exist"
"They do" Samantha said "Even among humans though you rarely ever meet yours and even if you do you guys rarely get together"
"Why?" I asked.
"Humans let useless things get in the way of love, financial status, height, weight, even something as silly as race. You can't be with someone just because you aren't the same shade of brown?"
"And the funny thing about that is the prejudice is only held when it comes to skin. Would have made sense if it was in all aspects" Adam said.
"Yes and that's why you rarely settle down with your fated one even if you two meet"
"But surely prejudice doesn't happen among humans only. You mean to say you guys accept anyone you're mated to, no matter who they are?"
"Not entirely, we aren't above prejudice but rarely does a rejection ever happen. Because we can sense our mates and the bond between us is so deep, severing that bond could lead to one's death.
The pain would be unbearable and the wolf part of us would not allow us to do it. So even if you do manage to do so you won't live long enough " Samantha said.
"Jesus, that's bad. So if I chose not to be with Alex I'll die? That doesn't sound like I have a choice in the matter"
"No, since you're human and don't feel the bond you wouldn't but Alex would. You must understand that rejection literally feels like your soul shattering for you are two halves of the same soul hence the term soul mate" Adam replied.
"All you just said is that I have your brother's life in my hands. If I choose to leave him that means he dies, I don't think I want that kind of responsibility"
"Do not worry" Samantha said "You might be human but sooner or later you're gonna start feeling the pull the more time you spend with him and then you'll be together"
"You wish.." I replied sarcastically.
"Ohh darling" She said "These knight brothers are irresistible"
I continued to talk with Adam and Samantha for what seemed like hours. They were easy to talk to and quite friendly.
They told me all about the supernatural world, the different factions that exist like vampires, witches and even werecats.
Humans who could shift into all manner of large cats like lions or jaguars to tigers.
Finally Adam got a call, it was from Alex asking him to meet him in his office. He gave Samantha a kiss on the cheek and waved me goodbye.
"So" Samantha said "Want a tour of the place"
"Wouldn't hurt"I replied.
We got up and left the room and headed outside. This place was enormous to say the least, it was an estate.
Multiple mansions dotted the land but the one we came from was the biggest.
"Do you all live together?" I asked.
"Mostly, we are a pack so we prefer to stay close to each other. It's good for protection and it's also just habit"
"Does everyone have to live on the estate?"
"No they don't, you could live anywhere you wish really as long as it's in pack territory. Come let me introduce you to some friends"
Samantha then took me around the estate introducing me to people. Some I recognised from breakfast, others were new but they were all friendly. Sometimes I could hear them say how happy they were for Alex that he had found his mate.
I wish I was that optimistic, my life had been turned upside down. It wasn't that Alex wasn't attractive, it's that I didn't know him yet I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with him and I had no say in the matter.
"Oh before I forget here's your phone" Samantha said handing over my phone "The rest of your stuff is in your room, well the stuff that I could grab. If you need anything else like clothes, shoes, books whatever just tell me"
"Thanks" I said in reply.
"Okay do you know your way back? I gotta run a few errands then I'll be free"
"No it's okay you go do you. I've got a good memory, I can make it back" I replied.
"Alright" she said as she left "If you get lost don't be afraid to ask"
After she left I spent a couple of minutes admiring the landscape. To say it was beautiful was understatement. These people had money and they weren't subtle about it.
As I walked back to the main house I noticed a forest to the far side of the estate. The forest looked dark even in the afternoon sunlight, the giant trees letting little to no sunlight penetrate the underbush.
"That's a place I'll never be going to," I said to myself. I'd watched Harry Potter and I knew dark woods like that meant trouble, especially when you discover that werewolves and vampires exist.
I walked into the house and went upstairs.
Wrong wing, I was back on Alex's floor where his office was. I heard him talking to Adam then pause briefly. The door to his office opened and he peeked through.
"Lost?" He asked.
"No," I replied, not wanting to look embarrassed.
"I could show you to your room," he said.
"It's okay I remember the way. Just get back to your meeting"
I could see he wanted to escort me back but he didn't push, so with a nod and tight smile he closed the door and I turned and went down the stairs and straight to the right wing.
A minute later I was back in my room. My bags were there in the corner of the room and my laptop was on top of the desk. At least they brought it.
I sat on the bed and turned on my phone then quickly went to the contacts app and looked for Natasha's number., found it and called.
She picked up on the first ring.
"Elizabeth, where the hell are you? I was freaking worried. The cops found blood in your apartment and it was as if a hurricane had stormed in there, what happened?"
"I'm fine, nothing happened. We'll I wasn't there when it happened so I don't know"
"What do you mean you weren't there? I reported you missing you know"
"Missing we were just together last night"
"Last night! It's been a week. Your neighbours called me first. Said the heard voices then a commotion in your apartment then in the morning you were gone"
A week that's not possible. I'd been out of it yes but that couldn't be right. I checked the date and sure enough a week had passed. How was I gonna explain this to Natasha and most of all the cops. They'll be looking for me.
"I'm alright Nat, there's nothing to worry about. I'm just out of town for a few weeks and I'll be back. I'll catch you up on everything when I get back"
"You better or you'll go missing for a second time" she said with a laugh.
The worry had passed and she was back to her old happy self. I loved that about her, once she was assured everything was okay she would focus on something else.
"So, you with a guy? Is that why you disappeared?"
I almost choked "And what makes you think that?"
"Why else would anyone disappear in the middle of the night if not for love unless you have been kidnapped"
"I assure you my dear, you couldn't be further from the truth"
"Ahuh" she said "My intuition has never failed me you know"
"Well this will be the first time it does," I said with a smile. Natasha had a knack for guessing situations, almost as if she was psychic or something.
"Alright, it doesn't matter anyway. You'll tell me all about it when you get back. Where are you by the way?"
"A town called silverpine"
"Are you still in the states? Never heard of it"
"I know"
"Alright" she said "Gotta go, but we still gotta talk about this you know"
"I know and we'll talk when I get back"
"Alright, talk to you later" She said and hung up.
"Ahh" I said, grateful she hadn't demanded answers because I couldn't give her any. Not without sounding crazy, but she knew not to push if I couldn't talk to her about it now. I was glad she was my best friend.
I grabbed my toothbrush from the bag and went straight to the bathroom. There were a couple of towels as well, good they were new. After brushing my teeth I stripped to take a shower, Ohh how my body needed it.
I didn't get a chance to finish the last one.
There was a tub as well in the bathroom so I opted to fill it with warm water and bubbles.
When it got to the desire
d temperature I stripped and hopped it, the water immediately relaxing my body as I sat in the tub.
'I could stay in this tub forever,' I thought to myself. Outside of this tub was reality and my reality had taken a dive off the rails. I'd lost one of my closest friend and I was now in unfamiliar territory.
Ohh well it could've been worse.