The lost mate
Chapter 31: Unexpected connections

Chapter 31: Unexpected connections

Emily, still focused on Ryan, didn’t notice Chris at first. She kneeled down to hug Ryan tightly, her relief palpable.

"There you are! You scared me, running off like that," she scolded gently, though her tone was more relieved than upset.

Ryan giggled, holding up his sticky fingers. "I found a new friend!"

Emily’s breath hitched as she took in the sight of the tall, handsome man standing before her. He had warm, brown eyes that seemed to see right through her and sandy hair that was tousled just enough to give him an effortlessly rugged look. His broad shoulders and muscular build hinted at a body that lived in the gym—one that probably knew its way around a weight rack better than most.

Chris seemed equally transfixed, his brown eyes studying her as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. His gaze lingered on her black hair, which was a bit windswept from the fair, before moving down to meet her wide amber eyes.

The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, neither of them knowing quite what to say. It was Ryan, with the impatience of a four-year-old who had no time for unspoken adult tension.

"Can we get another ice cream, Aunt Emily?" He asked, tugging at her hand and looking up at her with big, pleading eyes.

Emily blinked, the world rushing back to life around her. She tore her gaze away from Chris, her cheeks still warm from the unexpected encounter. "Uh, yes, of course, sweetheart," she stammered, grateful for the distraction. She turned back to Chris, who still hadn’t taken his eyes off her. "Thank you, um, for watching Ryan. I didn’t mean to leave him alone; it was just...

Her voice trailed off as she realised she was rambling. Chris gave her a smile—one that made her stomach do a little flip. "No problem at all," he said, his voice smooth and reassuring. "Ryan’s a great kid. We were just hanging out."

Emily bit her lip, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. "Well, thank you, really. I appreciate it."

Chris nodded, his gaze never wavering. "Anytime."

Ryan, blissfully unaware of the tension between the two adults, tugged on Emily’s hand again. "Let’s go get ice cream!" he insisted.

Emily gave Chris an apologetic smile, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy. "We should... probably go."

Chris smiled. "Hey, I could join you if that’s okay? I mean, if it’s not too weird," he added quickly, suddenly unsure. The last thing he wanted was to come off as too forward; she was a human who would not understand the mate bonding.

"Sure," she found herself saying before she could second-guess it. "I mean, if you’re not busy or anything."

Chris smiled again, this time with a hint of relief. "I’d love to."

**********************************************************************************

Annie and Damien sat in the dimly lit theatre, the flickering light from the screen casting shadows over their faces. The movie playing before them was, to put it mildly, a disaster. The plot was nonsensical, the acting was wooden, and the jokes fell flat.

Annie shifted in her seat, glancing sideways at Damien to gauge his reaction. He was staring at the screen, but the slight twitch of his lips suggested he was just as unimpressed as she was. When their eyes met, the mutual understanding between them was instant.

The two of them exchanged a conspiratorial grin, and Damien leant closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is painfully bad, isn’t it?"

Annie nodded, trying to suppress her laughter as the lead actor delivered another cringe-worthy line. "It’s terrible," she whispered back, shaking her head in disbelief.

Damien smiled, the corner of his mouth quirking up in amusement. "Want to get out of here?" he asked, his tone light but hopeful.

"Absolutely," Annie replied without hesitation, already reaching for her bag.

Quietly, they slipped out of their seats and made their way to the exit. Once outside the theatre, the cool night air hit them, refreshing after the stifling atmosphere of the movie. Annie let out a relieved sigh, and Damien turned to her with an apologetic smile.

"I’m really sorry about that," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I had no idea it would be that bad. I just picked a random movie because... well, I wanted to spend time with you."

"It’s okay," she said, a smile playing on her lips. "At least we both agreed it was a waste of time. Besides, it’s not every day I get to laugh at something this ridiculous."

Damien chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "True. But I feel like I owe you for putting you through that. How about I make it up to you with a drink? There’s a nice bar right below my hotel. What do you say?"

Annie considered it for a moment, her eyes scanning his face. And despite everything, she found herself wanting to spend more time with him.

"Alright," she agreed, nodding.

He drove them towards his hotel. It was a cosy, inviting place with a soft, amber glow emanating from within. As they stepped inside, the sound of soft jazz music filled the air, mingling with the low hum of conversation.

Damien guided her to a corner booth, and they settled into the plush seats. He ordered a couple of drinks.

"So, how’s your work going?" she asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. She kept her tone casual, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. "Some people are worried that you plan to buy everything."

Damien looked at her, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Worried?" he echoed, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. He set his glass down and leant back in his seat, considering her words. "I’m not looking to force anyone to sell," Damien explained.

"I’m more interested in buying large chunks of land near the forest. It’s for the packs. The humans and wolves have coexisted in townars, and that’s how it would be here as well. I want to create a safe space for both, a place where we can live alongside each other without fear."

He was genuinely invested in creating something better, something that could benefit everyone.

"So your work here is almost done, then?" Annie asked, trying to keep her voice even. There was a strange tightness in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite place.

Damien nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, pretty much. I’ve got a few more things to wrap up, but after that... I’ll be heading back."

Annie forced a smile, though it felt hollow. "I see," she said, looking down at her drink. The ice had started to melt; the once-clear liquid now clouded and diluted. "So, you’ll be leaving soon?"

There was a long pause, and when she finally looked up, she found Damien watching her with an unreadable expression. "Yes," he replied quietly. "I’ll be leaving soon."