Victoria stormed away from me leaving me shocked. My brother’s mate is a murderer. That couldn’t be. That girl doesn’t look like she could hurt a fly. Maybe Victoria got something wrong.
So easy for you to distrust our mate. Maybe it’s good she rejected us, Jas growled.
I don’t have time for this or your mouth. I gotta find my friend.
I shut Jas out and continue my search for Zira. I went to her parents house and her mother opened the door.
“Isabella, this is a nice surprise.” I always loved Zira’s mother. She makes me feel loved every time I’m over. Unlike my own mother, Mrs. Lake actually listens to me and I can be myself around her. She embraced me in one of her legendary hugs. Her hugs are always the best. So comforting and so easy to fall into. She pulled me back to give me a once over. She frowned when she noticed my half smile.
“Oh baby girl, what’s wrong,” she asked and that did it.
All my emotions came pouring through my eyes like a raging river. I cried over my mother and her overbearing ways. I cried for shoving Victoria into my imaginary closet. I cried over her rejection. I cried over my heartbreak and the pain. I’m not very pretty when I’m crying but Zira’s mother couldn’t care less.
She just sat me down on the couch and held me. She rocked me back and forth, saying everything was going to be okay. Just like that, I poured my heart out to her. Telling her about finding Victoria, my mother trying to force me to marry Alpha’s Zack, and Victoria’s rejection.
Mrs. Lake was the only person besides Isaiah, Zira, and Victoria that knew I was gay. It was actually the day Zira turned eighteen. Zira didn’t know I had the hugest crush on her since I was fifteen. Her parents came from a pack that was overrun by rogues. Only a third of their small pack survived and were spread out to nearby packs. Thanks to the council.
**FLASHBACK**
It was the day after Zira's first shift. She was a bit upset because everyone seemed to have found their mate. I was upset for different reasons but nonetheless I decided a sleepover would be best.
We were laying down on her bed and she was looking up to the ceiling. It has been hours since she said anything. Once in a while her mother will come in to check on us but even then Zira didn't say a word. Since I've known her she's never been this quiet. For a moment I thought she was asleep but I could tell by her breathing she was wide awake.
"What if my mate died during the rogue attack three years ago," she said, breaking the silence, "what if I don't qualify for a second chance mate? What do I do then?"
These were questions I didn't have answers to but I wish I did to ease her pain. She looked at me with her tear-filled hazel eyes and my heart almost gave out. I just wanted her to feel better. I wanted her to feel loved even if she didn't have a mate. So right then and there, I jumped off of her bed.
“No! We are not going to sit here and wallow like a bunch of spinsters.”
Zira sat up and looked at me like I was crazy, but I saw a smile play at the edge of her lips. I turned on some music and grabbed her off the bed and I started dancing. Zira stood there looking at the ground. So I dance around her. I knew how much she loved dancing so it didn’t take long to get her in the groove. After ten minutes or so, I pulled her over to her full length mirror. I was a few inches taller than her, so I was able to rest my chin on her shoulders and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“I wish you could see what I see. You're the smartest and the strongest person, next to me, I know. There is no way the goddess would deny you a mate. Look at you. You are beautiful inside and out."
A blush crept upon her cheeks and she finally smiled. She leaned into me with her eyes closed. I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry as my heart started to speed up. I panicked a little thinking she would notice.
"Thank you," she whispered as a single tear fell from her eye, "you always know the right thing to say."
My eyes immediately went to her marking spot right before her collar bone. Oh how easy it would be to mark her right here and now, and making her mine. Subconsciously I felt my canines extending.
She is not our mate, growled Jas.
I know, but she's here and she's right now. I don't want to wait, I whined.
It's not just about you, it's about her too. How does she feel about this?
She was right but I couldn't help how I was feeling right now. My heart was definitely pounding through my chest and a warm feeling started building up in my stomach.
"Hey are you ok," Zira asked as her eyes regarded me with concern.
"I-I-ahhh," I stammered as I quickly moved back, tripped over something on the floor.
I was going down and of course I reached out to her. Being who she was, she reached out and we both fell into her bed, with her landing on top of me.
"Hey I'm usually the klutz here." Zira said laughing.
I, on other hand, was going crazy with her body pressed against me and I couldn't control myself. I just grabbed her face and kissed her. The sudden move made her fall forward which deepened the kiss. Her lips are so soft and full. I wasn't proud that our first kiss was hungry. I was happy that she didn't immediately pull away.
"Oh my."
Zira quickly pulled away and looked towards the door which her mother was standing in.
"This is why parents should knock. I think I get it now," Mrs. Lake replied, walking away with a plate of cookies.
"Mom, wait! It's not what you think," Zira jumped off the bed and headed after her mother. She stopped at the doorway and looked at me, "I'm sorry Isa. I have to stop her before she turns this into a whole big deal."
I was left alone sitting on her bed. I can't believe I just kissed my best friend. I can't believe her mother caught us. All sorts of questions popped into my head. Wait, did she kiss me back? Did she like it? Did I just make a huge mistake and lose one of the most important people in my life right now? What does her mother think? Will her mother tell my mother? I had to get out of there. I quickly gathered all my stuff and started heading out the door. Zira and her mother were busy in the kitchen which gave me an opportunity to sneak by. I was just out the door when I heard Zira behind me.
"And where do you think you're going?"
I looked over my shoulder and saw her in a doorway with her hands on her hips. Her voice sounded angry but her face looked playful. I was a bit confused but intrigued.
“You think you can just kiss me like that and walk away? Nuh, huh. That’s not how this works. Besides you're supposed to be making me feel better but you're leaving."
I won't lie and say I wasn't embarrassed. I couldn't even turn to look at her, but I could feel her walking towards me. I felt tears falling down my face. I've never felt so weak in my life. She walked in front of me and grabbed my face.
“I wish you could see what I see.” Deja vu, right? “The most beautiful person that I know kissed me. I am flattered, Isa, but I think my heart belongs somewhere else.” Her hands dropped to her side. “I still hope that we can still be friends, maybe even best friends?"
After all that she still wanted to be friends? Why is she so good? Why isn't she my mate? I didn't realize more tears were falling down my face and I started to laugh. It's funny how this day started with her crying, now ending with me crying. She reached for my hand and I hesitated for a moment before grabbing it.
"Just FYI my mom is making us a rainbow cake and she will ask stupid questions. So I apologize in advance. She has no boundaries."
"Well I'll take this over being kicked out any day," I said, remembering the first time I kissed a girl ever when I was thirteen. Her mother actually told my mother and it was hell after that. It's the one reason that I didn't have any girls as friends until Zira.
When we got back inside Mrs. Lake had some tea ready for us. It was probably the first time I've ever talked about this in depth with anyone and it felt so damn good.
**FLASHBACK ENDS**
“Well you've been busy I see,” Mrs. Lake laughed, handing me another biscuit. This woman and her pastries can cure all problems.
“Yeah, thank you for letting me get this out. It’s been a hard week since Zira’s been busy with training and my brother.”
“Of course, sweetie. I enjoy our talks. It’s not like my own daughter is forthcoming about her life. Now that she stays at the pack house, I barely see her.”
“So I’m guessing she hasn’t been here today," I said, finally remembering what I came here for.
“Not today,” Mrs. Lake says, handing me a cup of tea. “She said something about helping Isaiah with the alpha from Blue Moon. Besides, she knew you were having a tough time with the whole arrangement.” She looks at me cautiously. “Should I be worried?”
“Maybe,” I said, not wanting to lie to her. I could never lie to her. “You see, Isaiah found his mate today and Zira didn’t take it well.”
Mrs. Lake was quiet for a minute as if she was thinking. I thought she would be angry or shocked but that lady was a stone figure. “Well if I know my daughter, she would head straight to the woods. A change in scenery usually calms her down.” Mrs. Lake smiles and pats my hand, as if she was trying to convince herself more. “Don’t worry. She’ll be back in no time.”
There was something about her smile that calmed me completely. I couldn’t help but smile back, nodding my head. “Well if she comes back, could you give me a call? She’s not picking up for me at all.”
“Of course dear. Same for you.” As I walk to the door to leave, Mrs. Lake hands me a doggie bag of goodies. “These are a few of Zira’s favorites, if you see her before me,” she said while grabbing my other hand. “Isabella, I know I’ve said this before, but I want to thank you for trusting me with something so big and so important. When the time comes for you to tell your parents and they love you as much as I love my daughter, they will love you even more for choosing to be your true self. A parent’s love for their child should be unconditional no matter who they love as long as they’re happy.”
Tears started to roll down my cheek again. This lady should be a therapist, seriously. She slowly wiped my tears and shook her head.
“No more tears. Those emotions will be your strength, ya hear. If you love this girl and the goddess has given you her as your mate, then embrace it to its fullest. Love can be a wonderful journey, if you just let it in.” Then she gave me one last hug and sent me on my way.