I run as fast as I can.
Heart pounding fast, breath ceasing, hands shaking. I nearly fall but I retain my speed. I need to see Maya. I don't know how I will explain it but I need to see her anyway.
She has this picture-perfect version of how my life with my mate will turn out. If only he is an Omega. Who will have thought my mate will turn out to be an Alpha? Hell, no.
To clear your doubts, meeting my mate didn't feel revolutionary. It was heart racing so fast, emotions all over the place. And his scent, oh God his scent. He smelled like peppermint, oranges, and herbs. It's intoxicating, like his eyes. And did I talk about his eyes? deep green dreamy eyes.
The community Centre is in view. There is a long line that leads into the building. Parents with daughters--potential candidates to fill in the position of a Luna--are all over the place. I scoff at that. I hide my face between tree branches, I'm too close to eavesdrop on conversations but not too close to be seen. Which I'm grateful for.
I take another route, here, there's more plants than land. So one scratches their legs as they walk. When I come to a clearing, I spot Maya holding a box of posters with both hands to her chest. It looks so heavy. There's a girl with her. She smiles at her, and warmth spreads all over me. If I choose to leave with my mate, will she be okay?
But I doubt Alpha Josh will like me. Omegas are low-lives, no-bodies, threats to the elite world. We don't belong with them. No Omega has been close enough to be with an Alpha. My wolf is asleep, I have overwork her: running around all day, collecting my thoughts.
I had thrown the apple away. The moment she leaped and wet her snotty nose on her paws, I knew he was my mate and that's her way of informing me.
I turn around. I don't know why I think telling Maya is a good idea. I will just go back to the kitchen and do the dishes or something. Just as I am halfway down the roadside, a flushed Maya rush to my side. "Are you done with your work, Zara?"
I try not to look at her. I will just walk ahead and pretend she isn't talking to me. I'm a good pretender, I really am.
But that too failed like all my attempts at pretending does. "Zara. Are you okay? Are you sad because we couldn't celebrate your birthday? I'm really sorry. Listen I--"
I frown at her words. She always thinks she is at fault even if she isn't. And convincing her otherwise is futile.
I interfer, "Maya I--" the words die in my mouth. What I really want to say is, 'I have found my mate but he isn't someone that we have predicted, and I don't think I can do it. I really don't want to leave you alone.'
She signals the girl to come forward. She strolls, her pink-dyed hair more visible now. On a closer look, she has a lip-piercing. Maya hands her the box, nods, and she takes it without any further questions.
"Anisa can cover up for me. Let's go to the swing. I want to spend time with you." She walks in the opposite direction.
I follow wordlessly. The swing is a two minutes walk and a minute run. We race towards it during the autumn.
All the time, I try to inform her but fail short of words. I have rehearsed the moments in my head three days ago. Maya had been excited and I figured I would be too, for her sake. I would run towards the swing set, hair all over the place, and breathless. I would say in a nonchalant yet sweet voice. "I have found my mate, Maya." She would hug me, and I would hug back. He was an Omega, and we would walk back to the main house, he on my right and her on the other side.
"Listen, Zara." She comes to a stop at the foot of the dangling swings. "Don't stress yourself, alright. If you don't find your mate today, that will also be great. We will just go back to the main house, and stuff our faces with icecream. We can cry as well." She closes her eyes at the end of her speech.
It is funny. I kick my foot at a weed. Maya knows I'm not too keen on mates. I manage a small smile. She sits on the swing, and pats the other one. I take a seat.
"How was your day?" It's noon. The day has just started but if it's Maya, she has alot of stuff to tell.
And I was right. "Do you know Stiff, from the decor team? The tomboy? She has this bracelets on her wrist, she says it's a charm against mates. She rebels the ideology of Mateship, kinda reminds me of you, but without the crazy stuff. She is turning eighteen next year, and I can't wait to see how that turns out."
I chuckle at her cute ramble. She stops midway, and laughs. I can't possibly fluff the moment by talking about my mate, can I?
"Excuse me, Miss Zara." A guy calls out. He is dressed in a white suit, his silver hair is swept back. My smile drops. When I sighted his silhouette approaching, I thought it was Alpha Josh. I'm pretty much obsessed for someone that didn't need a mate. It's the moon goddess, I swear. I'm not in control of my thoughts.
"I will like to speak with you." He shoves his hands in his pockets. Maya raises an eyebrow at his sullen expression. She is ogling him, her eyes darts all over him.
"What do you want?" She asks. He doesn't answer right away but bobs his head to the side.
"I am here to talk about Alpha Josh."
Maya looks at me no doubt waiting for an explanation.
This isn't happening.