In Reach?

Mira’s POV

We’re still at the training grounds, watching how everyone’s joining in on the friendly sparring matches. Sarah came to join me and Aubrey sitting on the side-lines watching the matches, as Aubrey is trying to explain to me about a wolf’s weak and strong points.

The guys are scattered around doing, I don’t know what. But what gets my attention is Liam. He’s with Mason at the platform, who is giving the fighters pointers on their moves. Liam on the other hand is being ogled and chatted up by a couple of women. Like, I’m not the jealous type but…….. seriously?

That blonde is the epitome of every woman’s worst nightmare, with her big breasts and her curvy hips. I bet she smells nice too. If she turns out to be nice as well, then I know there was never any hope for someone like me in this world.

I wonder what they’re talking about? With they way they’re laughing with each other and how close they’re standing, I’m going to assume that they’re close. But how close?

I want to ask, but whom do I ask, and what do I exactly ask? I don’t want them to think that I’m jealous, right.

“So what’s going on with you and the Alpha?” I turn and look at Sarah.

“What do you mean?”

“The way you’re staring daggers at him and Vicky is making it seem like you’re almost jealous.” So she has a name. Vicky? It’s probably short for Victoria, because she just seems like the type to come out on top in life all ‘victorious’. Dammit. I am jealous, but who has to know.

“No I’m not.”

“I was wondering something similar. Since when did you two get so comfortable with each other.” Now Aubrey is joining in on this ‘ridiculous idea’.

“What makes you say that?”

“You literally started a whole game of ‘catch me if you can' in the house yesterday and he actually joined in on it, instead of getting all hot headed as always.”

“Wait, you guys did what?” Sarah looks shocked. “I can’t even picture the head-members running around the house playing some chase game. And here I thought they were all strict.”

“Oh, that’s not even the half of it.” Aubrey just has to turn this into a gossip catch-up session. “Apparently, she also made Noah cry.”

“She did what?!” Sarah looks at me again, “How did you do that?”

“No, I didn’t. He just had water in his eyes.”

Aubrey snorts. “Oh please, the way he keeps trying to assure me it didn’t happen just convinces me otherwise. So,” she shoves my shoulder with hers, “you jealous of Vicky?”

“No.” I say too quickly.

“Well you shouldn’t be. She’s miss perfect here.” Now I’m looking at her all confused. You just said she’s perfect. “That perfect body of hers is annoying to just think about. Even her sweat smells nice.” She scrunches her nose. I knew it! “She’s one of Mason’s best warriors and actually gets along pretty well with the Alpha.”

And here the knot in my stomach just tightens. But who am I kidding? I shouldn’t be jealous. It’s not like I like him. Right? Of course a man like him will have perfect women falling at his feet left and right.

“Doesn’t that make her perfect for him then?” I feel a bit dejected watching them play-shove each other.

“Nope. Our Alpha is too focused on finding his mate. Which is probably why he friend zoned Vicky since high school. So that,” she points to them, “is never going to happen.”

I can’t help but want to smile a bit, I instead bite my lips together.

“So he hasn’t found his mate yet?”

“Nope. And if he doesn’t find her soon, he’ll probably have to settle down with one of the women chosen by the council.”

This has me a bit shocked. “As in an arranged, - marriage or should I say ‘mating’?”

“Yeah I guess you can say that. Being a Luna isn’t something to take likely. There are a lot of responsibilities and expectations. So if the true Luna doesn’t show up, then the council and other Lunas help to choose and train potential Lunas.”

Just great! Of course this man will have his own personal episode of the ‘bachelor’ where he gets to choose from a line of perfect women just for him. Why do I keep crushing over a man that will never be mine?

Don’t I have someone?

“Hey, can I ask you guys a question, about mates?”

“Sure.” Aubrey says while Sarah just nods her head.

“Have either of you found your mates yet?”

“Nope.” Aubrey speaks while Sarah just shakes her head.

“So how would you know if you found your mates?”

“Well, from what I hear, it’s magical.” They both giggle. “Apparently, you’ll just know. The moment you both look into each other’s eyes, you’ll just know, your wolves will know.”

I knew it. I’m doomed.

“So then, how would I know if I find my mate, especially since my wolf is dormant?”

They both look at me wonderingly.

But Sarah takes my hand and says, “I don’t think I know. But you should be fine. If your mate is also a wolf, then he should still be able to recognize you as his mate.”

“So my mate might not be a wolf?”

“It’s very complicated actually.” Aubrey sighs deeply. “Apparently it’s getting rarer for us wolves to find our mates. They say, it might be because they are somewhere too far away, some are already mated with others by the time their mates find them, especially when they’re human it get’s difficult to tell them about the whole wolf thing, and other times, it happens that they might just already be dead.”

She looks sad, so does Sarah. I guess this is a worry that all wolves must have to constantly carry around with them. I certainly do now as well. Except I won’t even know if he’s right in front of me. And then there are people like him, who seem to have options.

I hear another deep sigh and hear Aubrey speak. “But try to not fret about it too much. We’re still young. Nothing is stopping us from fooling around a little.” We all start laughing at her nudging us with the idea.

“What’s all the laughing about? You girl gossiping about someone?” We look up and see Noah hovering over us.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just some girl talk.” He pulls his face out of annoyance for Aubrey’s words. “I think we’ll head back to the house now.” Aubrey stands up and lends me a hand.

“Yeah, I need to get back too.” Sarah stand up from the ground. “See you guys around.” She waves at us as she makes her way to the other side of the forest.

“Okay. See you guys at the house. I don’t think we’ll be here for much longer either.” Noah rushes off to the other guys.

Just as I turn to walk with Aubrey to the house, I catch a glimpse of Liam on the other side, looking my way. I must be imagining things. He’s probably just looking in this direction, and I happen to be here. He has no reason to be sneaking looks at me anyways.