Chapter 27

It was so shocking that I lost composure for a bit that I was being proposed to by my friend's boyfriend. I didn't know what to say so I shut my mouth and stared in disbelief. What was really wrong with Mascot? 'What's going on? Why are you on your knees?" It was a stupid question because why would anyone go in their knees with a ring if not to propose? 'Naomi, I believe you are my mate. The one the moon goddess made for me. Let's get married." He was smiling that at this point I thought he was just pranking me. I laughed. 'Stop it, Mascot, I won't fall for your prank." 'This isn't a prank, Naomi. You mean a lot to me. You're probably the best thing that has happened to me for a long time." 'Stop it please." I was feeling so ashamed on his behalf. 'You can't do this." 'That's exactly what I'm doing." 'What about Laura? She's a good woman.." 'Why do you always mention her when we talk? She's not my mate!" Mascot was boiling. 'She's just a leech." I could remember when Laura mentioned that Mascot was her mate. Was she lying or was it Mascot who was lying? I didn't know who to believe, I also know that I shouldn't be dealing with situations like this. I always reminded myself that I have important work to do. 'Mascot, you know this is not the reason I am in this clan. I came here for a purpose and this is posing as a distraction right now. Please stand." I pleaded with him, stretching out my hands to help him stand. 'I won't stand unless you accept me." He insisted. 'What makes you think that you love me? You barely even know me. You've just known me for a month now and you're talking about marriage. This sounds so funny." I was upset. I was actually angry at Mascot for distracting me and breaking Laura's heart. Laura was a darling and didn't deserve men like Mascot who was heartless. As I stared at him kneeling, I could see the desperation in his eyes. He reminded me of someone in my past. Lucas! Yes. That's it. He had that same desperate look Lucas had when he asked me to marry him. Why was he desperate so suddenly to get married when he had been with Laura for so long and still hadn't married her? This stupid action of him spoke volumes to me. He was a few years older than me but still talked and thought like a child. I blamed myself for this, I shouldn't have let him follow me. There was something he saw, he must have found out something about me and suddenly wanted us to get married. 'This is so pathetic." I announced and turned my back to him. 'Laura loved you so much. Please go back to her." 'It is you I love." He repeated. 'No." I turned to face him. 'You don't love me, there's just a part of you, you found out that you love. What's that? I'm curious too." 'I know it's hard for you to believe me but it's the truth." Mascot was still on his knees with an outstretched ring. 'I'm leaving." I ran as far as my legs could carry. Tears threatened to fall down my cheeks but I couldn't let that happen. Why would I cry for people like Mascot who didn't pretend to care? I sat on the rock very close to the river on the other side. The night looked like a magical time. The night breeze gently rustles through the trees, creating an emotion in me. It was soothing and calming. I needed all this recently after what I had faced a few minutes ago. The world seemed to be still and calm. No one dared to even breathe. It was just the perfect time to sit and relax but there was nobody I could do that with, at the moment. 'You're here, alone?" It was a familiar deep baritone voice. I turned sharply only to see Thorne. I was shocked to see him. 'Why are you here?" I asked. 'Well, I came to see you." He replied, then laughed. 'I was just enjoying the night breeze when I saw you." 'Oh." I said. I was about to get excited when he said he came to see me. 'What are you up to?" 'Nothing really. I just have work to do for the Alpha." 'You work for the Alpha?" I asked, impressed. 'Not for him but with him." He replied, playing with his hair. 'I'm his most trusted warrior, so I work with him." 'Oh." I took a good look at him. I already knew, just for the few seconds we spoke that he was a proud spoilt brat. 'Don't stare at me like that." He said, embarrassed. 'I know I'm good looking but you don't have to stare." 'What do you mean?" I asked. 'I'm not staring." 'You don't have to admit it but I caught you." Thorne looked at me. Was the legend about the river at the park actually true? I was sure I had seen this man in my imagination when I shut my eyes. He was supposed to be my mate, according to what people say. It was said that if you had missed finding your mate at eighteen, you could just come to the river, close your eyes and pray. The moon goddess would have mercy on you and would provide a mate that would love and care for you. I didn't know how true that was but I didn't believe it. There was no way in the world that this spoiled brat was my mate, how is that even possible? I wondered while still occasionally stealing glances at him. 'You know this body of mine. Do you know how I got it?" He asked me and I nodded to say no. 'Well, obviously it didn't fall from the heavens. I worked hard for it, very hard. At some point, I wanted to give up but I didn't." I was excited to have a conversation with this man, I didn't feel butterflies in my belly when I spoke to him. I didn't like the way he talked. I wasn't just feeling him. Was that how one should feel about their mate? I have never had an experience before so I didn't know, or was it all a fallacy. Afterall, Laura also told me that she knew that Mascot was her mate because the river said so. Now, I knew the river could be wrong. If truly Mascot and Laura belonged together, he wouldn't have come after me and if truly, Thorne and I were mates, he wouldn't be as proud as he is. Maybe the moon goddess was also a fallacy.