Fateful Pursuit: A Soul Bound Tale

The journey from the depths of hell to a semblance of heaven had taken roughly four hours, and an entire night passed while I was unconscious. Even though eight years had elapsed since my escape, the haunting memories clung to me as if they were etched into my very soul. The echoes of screams and tears, the sight of blood and the grip of fear, they all continued to race through my heart, leaving my mouth dry.

My mother's words echoed in my mind, a reminder that life's ups and downs are temporary, akin to a rollercoaster ride. In my youth, unfamiliar with rollercoasters, I hadn't fully grasped her wisdom. But today, I understood the essence: life is thrilling, provided you face it without fear.

"Mirrie!" A distant shout interrupted my thoughts. I stood at the same spot where I had begun my new life, gazing into the eyes of the man who had helped me build it.

Back then, he was a tall, lanky boy, with enchanting eyes and a charmingly crooked smile. His hair used to be unruly and long, slicked back with sweat, but now it was neatly cropped, and his body had grown in both height and muscles.

"Hey, stranger," I greeted, a smile spreading across my face as I approached my best friend. He enveloped me in a comforting hug, a gesture that conveyed more than words ever could.

"How long have you been standing here?" he inquired, playfully pinching my sides while refusing to release his hold.

"Not long," I shrugged, but he sensed my deception and held me at arm's length, peering into my eyes.

"Who are you lying to?" he asked, prompting me to bite my lip and look at him sheepishly.

"Two hours."

"Mirrie."

"Sorry, this place just makes me nostalgic," I said, avoiding his gaze as I started walking toward the pack house.

"You have nothing to apologize for," he assured, catching up to me and slinging an arm around my shoulder.

"I know," I smirked, beginning to feel more like my usual self now that we were moving away from the border. "You, on the other hand, do!"

"Why, may I ask?" he playfully entertained.

"Well, you mister, haven't written to me in a long time," I retorted.

"Write to you where? You don't even have a permanent address. I've asked you to come stay with us a million times, but no-"

"Oh, shut up, you know I love living the rogue life," I nudged him. "And besides, your pack is not worthy of a person as great as me!"

"My pack is the best pack in the whole wide world," he countered, frowning.

"How old are you again, Mr. Alpha?" I teased. We had reached the pack house, and I saw the members giving me welcoming smiles. I knew that most of them secretly hoped that I was Cayden's mate. There had been a couple of instances where people had mentioned the same to me, but their hopes were shattered when they realized that it was not the case.

"Five, plus twenty," he grinned.

I playfully made a kissy face at him, garnering a chuckle from Cayden.

"By the way, nice clothes," he commented, eyeing my fluorescent pink outfit, a result of his mischievous cousins Felicity and Janine Donavan.

"Need to murder those brats," I muttered to myself.

"Speak of the devil," Cayden said, nodding toward the door as his two sisters, Felicity and Janine, entered the room with bright smiles.

"Miracle!" they exclaimed, practically tackling me and attempting to squeeze the life out of me.

"Girls, off!"

"We missed you!" they chorused. I could easily push them off, but I relished the love they were showering on me through their rowdy hug.

"Alpha Cayden, want to help me out here?" I asked him sweetly. He leaned against the counter, raising his glass of water in acknowledgment.

"Nope," he replied with a playful pop of the 'p.'

"Okay then." I pushed them off me but enveloped them in my own kind of hug once they were upright. They looked at me with expectant smiles.

"Are the two of you mates yet?" Felicity asked me eagerly.

"I told you last time, if he was my mate, I would know by now," I explained to the eager teenagers. Their faces fell momentarily, but hope soon returned.

"Are you here to stay, though?" Janine questioned this time.

"For a month," I nodded. I had injured myself a while back and didn't rest long enough for it to heal as I had a fight with another rogue who had been chasing me relentlessly. It had all started with something as simple as me telling him to "get a life" due to his weird insistence on wanting to be with me. Apparently, his pride took that as an insult, and as a result, I was stuck with him chasing after me for a long time. But Cayden didn't need to know that.

His protectiveness over his so-called 'wild friend,' that is me, was overbearing when it came to men. God forbid if someone from his pack tried to woo me; I would have their head handed to me on a silver platter. It was easy to see why his pack had assumed that I would end up being his mate.

"A month! That's quite long. What happened?" Cayden asked with raised eyebrows.

"I missed you, Cadie!" I mumbled in a baby voice, pretending to be upset. "You didn't miss me too?"

"When you're an Alpha, you don't have time to miss insignificant people," he scoffed haughtily.

"Get yourself a man who calls you insignificant, girls," I teased, slow clapping and giving a pointed look to Felicity and Janine, who were quietly giggling away. "For now, I need sleep. Lots and lots of it, on a warm bed with soft sheets, and maybe a box or two of good chocolate."

"I think you're looking for a hotel, Miracle," Cayden said, his eyes twinkling.

"Nah, I'm looking for a personal slave. Oh wait, look! I found one— you," I said, playfully. "And thus, the Alpha is made into a slave."