The Contrary Mate

I was excited to get back to Jack, so when it came time to leave I literally flew out the door. "Don't stay out too late," my dad called casually as I rushed past him.

"I won't," I said. It was such a relief that I wasn't hiding Jack from everyone anymore. If only they were all as great as my father, I wouldn't need to hide him at all, I thought with real displeasure. The fae were so irritatingly closed-minded. Odd that it hadn't bothered me so much before. I'd just ignored everyone and focused on my magic and beautiful plants.

I remained lost in my thoughts as I flew, other than to automatically avoid possible detection by humans. I'd only flown to Jack's home a few times, but it was like there was an invisible connection pulling me to him. I barely had to think of the direction and I flew that way.

I couldn't help imagining how my community was going to take the news when it did get out, and I could only hope that I was picturing worst case scenarios. Would I have been any better, though? I'd always tried to be the perfect fae until recently. What would I have done if a different fae had brought home Jack Wright, notorious tech entrepreneur as her mate?

The idea made me want to attack the hypothetical female, which was strange since I didn't think I'd ever had a desire to anything like that in my life. And it definitely wasn't out of protectiveness for my people, it was because the idea of him with another female bothered me. Was I jealous of the thought of him with another? How strange. It only made me long to get back to him more quickly, and I was almost there. Sadly it was no longer safe to fly. I landed on the ground and reluctantly put on my shoes before walking in the direction of his home.

Jealousy...I didn't think I'd ever felt that before. Definitely not with Rex. But without the bond, I probably wouldn't have really cared much about Jack Wright, one way or another. More than likely I would have been more bothered by agitated rants about what occurred than the actual event itself.

"Aura!"

As if he had been conjured by the word rant crossing my mind, I turned and faced my ex. What had I seen in him? I remembered that I had truly liked him, I'd even had a slight crush on him while growing up, but now it all seemed like someone else's memories. Had he always been so pushy and demanding? Maybe a bit, but it seemed to be getting worse. I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"Where are you going?"

"A better question is, what are you doing here? There's no way you just ran into me by coincidence, you hate the city."

"You hate the city, or at least you used to."

"So? People change. For example, you never used to be a stalker, but now it seems like sneaking up and spying on me is your new favourite hobby."

"I'm not trying to spy or sneak up on you. I happened to be going by."

"Right, and thanks for ratting me out to my brother, by the way."

"Well, he asked what was wrong when he saw I was upset about something. I couldn't lie to him."

"What's wrong is that we said we would be friends, and you're being a terrible one."

"Aura, I only agreed to be friends because if that's all I can get, I'll take it." He stepped closer to me beseechingly. "But I still love you."

The closer proximity between us did nothing to me like it might have when we had been together, and even that past attraction was nothing like what I felt for Jack after such a short time knowing him. Rex needed to understand. "Rex, I'm sorry," I began, but he cut me off, coming even closer and grabbing my hands in his own.

"Aura, there's nothing I wouldn't forgive."

I pulled my hands away and continued. "I'm sorry that I wasn't clearer with you, Rex. Whatever was between us is gone now, and it's not coming back."

"You can't mean that."

"I'm sorry, but I do."

Rex was getting agitated again. I recognized the signs, although it had usually been him ranting about something while I was the captive audience, rather than the actual source of his frustration. "But we were so good together, how can you just throw that all away? For what, this? Who is he?"

My temper was beginning to spark again. "I'm not throwing anything away for anything, because there's nothing left to throw. The spot of earth is empty, I can plant any seed I choose there now. We broke up more than a year ago, because we weren't good together. I wasn't happy." It was the truth, and it had probably been wrong of me not to be more blunt in an attempt to spare his feelings back then. It had been so hard to break up with him, and how I had hated to disappoint him even when I knew he wasn't right for me. My mistake.

"Give me a chance to make you happy again. Just one."

"I said no. I know you understand what the word means, Rex."

He stood for a long second, trying to regulate his breathing. I hoped he was planning to leave so I could be on my way in peace. I crossed my arms more firmly.

"Let me at least walk you there."

"Absolutely not."

"I'm not leaving."

The stubborn set of his jaw announced that we were at an impasse. I could just stand there with my former friend—because whether he recognized it or not, our friendship, along with anything else that had ever been between us, was over—or, I could let him follow me, likely discover who my mate was, and probably spill Jack's identity to the whole community.

Who was I kidding? Word of Jack Wright with a heretical fae would likely spread far wider in the fae world than that. I'd be as infamous as he was.

Miss my date or reveal my secret? Jack would be so disappointed if I failed to show. And also probably worried, because by the time I got home to the phone to let him know, I'd be late.

"Fine. Don't leave." I walked forward, and like I predicted, Rex was on my heels. I ignored him and whatever nonsense he said for the rest of the five minute walk.

When I got to the gates of Jack's home, the wolves inside glanced at me questioningly about the second fae behind me. "He's just leaving," I said, firmly as they opened the gates for me.

The gates shut behind me, louder than ever. I had made my decision.