Rosalie and Melissa splashed playfully in the waterfall, the cool water cascading around them and sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. The waterfall, nestled deep within the pack's forest, was their secret haven—a place where they could escape the world and just be themselves.
Melissa, her dark hair slicked back and eyes twinkling with mischief, turned to Rosalie with a grin.
"Guess who I saw this morning?" she asked, wading closer.
Rosalie rolled her eyes, already suspecting where this was going. "Who?"
"Chris," Melissa said, stretching out his name with a teasing tone. "The Alpha's son. Playing football with the guys. And let me tell you, he looked good."
Rosalie pretended to examine her nails, trying to appear nonchalant. "Oh, did he?" she replied, feigning indifference.
Melissa splashed her with water, making Rosalie squeal. "Don't even try that with me, Rosalie. I know you have a crush on him. Why deny it?"
Rosalie spittered, wiping water from her face. "I do not have a crush on Chris," she insisted, though her cheeks betrayed a slight blush.
"Sure, sure," Melissa said, winking. "I believe you. But your blush doesn't."
Rosalie splashed back, laughing. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"That's what friends are for," Melissa shot back, giggling. "Besides, it's not like he's totally unaware of you. I've seen him looking your way a few times."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "Really? Are you just making that up to mess with me?"
Melissa shrugged. "Maybe. But maybe not. You never know." She floated on her back, staring up at the clear blue sky. "Anyway, enough about Chris. What do you think our future mates will be like?"
Rosalie sighed, letting herself drift into the water. "I don’t know. Strong, I guess. Kind. Someone who makes me laugh."
Melissa nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, someone who understands us and can handle our crazy."
Rosalie laughed. "That’s a tall order. But hey, a girl can dream."
"Definitely," Melissa agreed. "And who knows? Maybe our mates are closer than we think."
Rosalie splashed her again, grinning. "You're such a romantic. Always think about mates and love."
Melissa laughed, splashing back. "And you, my dear, are a hopeless case. Denying your crush on Chris when it’s so obvious."
Rosalie shook her head, still smiling. "Okay, fine. Maybe I think he’s kind of cute. But that’s it!"
Melissa grinned triumphantly. "I knew it! See, that wasn't so hard to admit, was it?"
Rosalie rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help laughing. "You're ridiculous."
"And you love me for it," Melissa replied, sticking out her tongue.
"But really, picture yourself with one person for the rest of your life for a moment. This is about the part of the mate bond that lets you down. Why should there only be room for one soul mate here? There is always room for more than one."
Rosalie arched her eyebrows, considering Melissa's words. "I guess you have a point," she conceded, her mind opening up to new possibilities.
A momentary pause occurred in the middle of the conversation. Melissa chuckled while holding her sides and beaming. They slid down the rocky edges and landed in the refreshing water below, laughing.
************
Rosalie awoke, knowing it had all been a dream. She and Melissa had that chat when they were both 13, and they were both naked after swimming in the lake as wolves. Melissa and she had never acted their age. Her mother was usually in a tizzy about it. She woke up when her body jerked. She looked around, her eyes still hazy from sleep.
"Where exactly am I?" She eventually turned around, but it took her some time to recognise Alex's voice.
He said, "We're in a car right now."
"And to where are we travelling?"
"To a lodge that is on the edge of the pack lands."
"Mm... ok."
She leant back in her seat, appearing to be wide awake.
"That was an interesting dream," he remarked.
"Hmm?"
"You mumbled something about finding your soul mate and being open to more possibilities," he chuckled.
"That was Melissa, not me? Wait what? You were in my mind again!"
His laughter reverberated in the car.
"Well, I guess I've already learned something new here; you seem really perplexed. So, what was Melissa's point of discussion?"
Before responding, she gave him a sidelong glance. "Melissa found the concept of a mate bond to be a bit confining; she didn't want to be tied down. We were young, maybe 12 or 13."
"At twelve, you were talking about this subject?" He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Wow, that's pretty deep for a preteen. I guess you were always ahead of your time."
"We wanted to grow up soon."
Another chuckle came from Alex. It was an uncomfortable situation for her. Since she started having doubts about whether Alex was with his true mate, nothing has felt quite right for her. She was completely at a loss about how to approach him about the matter. When he finally found his soul mate, would he leave her ?
"So, why are we heading to this cabin?"
"It's sort of like a honeymoon. I was just thinking it would be wonderful to get to know each other a little better. I literally do not know anything about you. Other than your body." he winked.
She felt as if she needed it. There were things she didn't understand or that were new to her. Things she needed to know and wanted to explore. She raised her eyes to him once again. Her gaze was drawn to his profile. She was curious to know more about him as well. Her dream had brought to light some of her deep seated ambitions, so she was no longer so naive as to think that she could simply be married without ever getting to know him.
She cleared her throat, trying to sound confident. "Well, I guess we have a lot to learn about each other then," she replied with a smile. "Let's start with something simple—what's your favourite colour?"
"Red, " he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "And yours?" She felt a sense of relief that the conversation was starting off light and easy, allowing them to gradually open up to each other.
********
The rest of the journey was pleasant. When they arrived at the front of the cottage, she was itching to get out. The moment the car stopped. There were lovely wildflowers and trees all around the old, rustic cottage, surrounded by woods.
The scents blended harmoniously with the pine trees. She walked around the outside ring. A big stack of freshly cut wood was kept in the entryway on one side of the house.
There used to be a gorgeous, well-kept garden in the backyard. Rosalie could see the curve of the route as it wound through what was obviously a wild field now. It was as if nature had crept in and assumed the role of gardener. Eventually, the garden was home to a wide variety of plants, flowers, and wild fruits. There was a big cherry tree in the back with a lovely smell, and there were little spots where strawberries were growing. She didn't know the flowers well, but she couldn't argue with their beauty. The little animals that had taken up residence in the garden meadow came out to explore, as long as she remained still. Bees and birds carried on their daily activities, creating a soft buzzing sound in the background. She raised her hand to feel the warm sun.
She opened her eyes and glanced at the porch. The sun's rays were gradually obscured by the shifting clouds, making her eyes feel like they were slowly adjusting to the light. Alex sat rigidly on the steps, leaning against what seemed to be a rail post. His rugged and unpretentious demeanour blended seamlessly with the encroaching wilderness around the cabin. As she observed him, her gaze traced his subtle movements. She noted his loose T-shirt and low-rise pants, which did little to conceal the muscles and strength beneath their tight-knit fabric. The closer she got to him, the stronger her attraction to him grew. She felt an increasing urge to walk over and throw herself into his arms.
"It's beautiful here," she called softly, stepping out onto the porch.
Alex turned his head slightly, a slow smile spreading across his face. " I'm glad you think so."
She walked over and sat besides him on the steps, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers. "You seem to fit in perfectly with all this wildness. You were made for it."
"Maybe I was," he said, looking out at the trees.
She watched him in silence. Should she ask him ? She thought.
"There's a trail nearby that leads to a great viewpoint. Want to check it out?" he asked, unaware of her inner thoughts.
She nodded eagerly, excited at the prospect of exploring more of the forest with him. "That sounds amazing. Let me grab my shoes."