Chapter 38

The next day was a big day for us all, I woke up feeling very energetic. The air was crisp and tanged with a scent of damp earth. The sky was painted in deep shades of blue and beautiful to watch. I was ready, bag packed with a sweater because of the cold. I was to go visit Laura but she showed up on my doorstep. 'You're here?" 'Yes. I couldn't wait for you. I was too excited." She literally jumped up as she spoke. 'So tell me about your mate. Don't forget what you promised." 'Did I?" I pretended not to remember. 'Yes. I'm not in the mood for jokes. I want to know." 'Well, I have a surprise for you." I told her. 'What is it?" She stared at me. 'Instead of just telling you, I'll show you." I told her and we made our way to Thorne's chambers. 'Where are we going?" She asked. 'If I tell you then the surprise would get ruined." She stopped asking me about it. We talked about random things before we got to Thorne's chambers. We were close by to his chambers when Laura knew it was him. 'He's the one right?" I nodded, wondering how she knew. 'Did you see him at the river park that day?" She asked and I nodded in affirmation. 'Wow. So it does work. I'm so glad for you." She congratulated me. Thorne must have seen us from his chambers as we stood gossiping, so he approached. I swear he looked good in his clothes even though his huge muscles were covered. 'You're here." He smiled at me. 'Yes." I answered, smiling back. Laura must have noticed and cleared her throat. 'Oh. This is Laura, my best friend, Laura, this is Thorne, my friend." 'Hello." Laura greeted, extending her hand for a handshake which Thorne took. 'Hello." He responded and looked up. 'The weather doesn't look good so we should get going." 'Yeah. It's quite a long walk." 'We aren't walking." Thorne responded. For a moment, I wanted to ask him what he meant but I turned to see three horses, waiting. 'This would make our journey faster and less tiring." He said, signaling for us to climb on. 'Oh.. I love it. It's been a while since I rode on a horse." She commented while I stood there, glaring at the scaring looking horse. 'Come on, Naomi." Laura called me. I took two steps forward but I couldn't move again. I remembered the last time I tried entering a horse, it gave me the worst fright in my life. 'Did something happen? Don't you like horses?" Thorne asked. 'I'm afraid of them." I said and hid my face because I was ashamed. 'The first time I tried I failed woefully so I didn't try again." 'What? How can you be afraid of these cute little creatures?" Laura teased me. 'They're not that cute." I went glaring at the horses like they did something evil to me. 'Don't kill them with your eyes." Thorn burst out laughing and was joined by Laura. 'Help me, you guys. Don't laugh." Laura didn't stop laughing while Thorne tried to get one very close to me so I could touch it. 'Touch it, you'll see they can't hurt you." 'No, no." I ran back. 'What should we do now? We don't have the time to teach her how to ride a horse." Laura asked. 'Maybe she should ride with you." 'No, she should ride with you because I don't think I can handle two people." Laura suggested. I knew it was a plot to get me closer to Thorne, seeing that she gave a stupid reason. 'I agree because I can't ride on that." Thorne gets on the horse first, then with the help of Laura dragged me up, as I sat behind him, holding on to his waist. Laura climbed on her immediately and we set off with Thorne leading the way. I couldn't even move my body, scared that I would fall and hurt myself. I felt a blend of excitement and nervousness at the same time. The horse' movement was rhythmic, swaying from one side to the other with us swaying with it. I could feel its warmth underneath and I for once didn't feel it was a cold hearted beast. As I opened my eyes for the first time, the world looked different from this high perspective, more beautiful than one could imagine. 'Wow." I gasped. 'Beautiful right?" 'Yes, very beautiful." 'Oh.." I held onto Thorne tighter when it fell like the horse was about to fall. Thorne laughed, teasing me. 'Don't be a cry baby." 'I'm not being a cry baby, I'm just anxious. That's all." I said to him, still not letting him go. He seemed to be enjoying my hold on him so I didn't let go even for a second. We kept on going, the wind blowing softly on my skin. I looked back only to see Laura with her hands wide opened. 'What are you doing?" I had to raise my voice so she could hear me. 'I'm just enjoying the ride." She responded. 'This is so lovely. I don't want it to stop." At one point, we stopped for the horses to have a drink. As I watched them enjoy a drink of water, I felt a strange feeling of respect for this creature. 'According to my map, we are very close by." Thorne said. 'They aren't that scary anymore, are they?" 'Well, they don't look like it but I still have to be careful. The last time I fell for their cuteness, I fell on my back." I said and my colleagues laughed. 'I didn't know if I did anything wrong to that particular horse but he hated me." 'When we have time in our hands, I'll teach you how to ride a horse, so you don't have to worry." Thorne said to me. 'Awnn.. that's so nice. Let's quickly go pick some fruits so we could be on our way." Laura said and dragged me with her, furiously. 'Emm.. I'll stay here and watch the horses." Thorne mumbled. 'Be safe." He waved. 'Thorne is being so romantic." Laura said when we walked a little distance away from Thorne. 'So cute." I watched her display her craziness. 'What do you mean?" 'He wants to teach you how to ride a horse. What do you think he wants?" 'That's normal obviously." I said, completely oblivious of the point Laura was making. 'I think he likes you. Does he know you're his mate?" Zhe whispered to me. 'I don't think so." I whispered back to her.