Your Man IS NOT My Mate
My Miserable Cycle

“Liyah Lee! Time to come and get ready for school, breakfast is hot and waiting for you on the table…. Oh yeah, and your dad and I are leaving now!” Mom shouts, her voice floating into the depths of the woods like a well-timed alarm clock.

Immediately my stomach grumbles. I stretch with a groan, feeling too lazy to get up, but my stomach grumbles again in protest.

Alright fine, I sigh, standing on all four, but something feels different…. Oh my gosh! I frantically look around, please tell me my mystery man wasn’t just a dream. I inhale deeply searching, but there’s not a scent in the air save mine. Did I really envision mating to a fragment of my imagination?

‘He was real, alright, and now I feel disgusted.’ An angry human shouts in my head. ‘You made some weird creature take what was never yours to give.’ she continues, her voice showing no signs of calming down. ‘You blocked me out purposely because you knew I’d protest... And worst yet, whatever that thing was, it doesn’t even want you.’

‘You don’t know that.’

‘Then look around, where is it, hmm?’ She demands, I look around even though I already know the futility of it.

‘See, it was a one-night stand.’ The sternest in her voice comes with a frightening chill. I feel a strong force rising from within, overpowering me. Liyah Lee uses the intensity of her anger to forcefully push through and I, after a night of fun and no food, don’t have enough strength to resist, I didn’t stand a chance. It isn’t long before my human form replaces me, reducing me to a mere voice in one’s head.

Liyah Lee POV

‘You are grounded for a week! I want you to think about what you’ve done.’ I scold Stella. ‘And I better not be pregnant too.’

With that, I cut off our connection, making my way over to the tree where I always leave spear clothes.

I enter the house and instantly the sweet aroma of bacon and eggs filters through my nose, filling my lungs.

Ahhhh! An exhale of satisfaction.

I quickly sit at the table, diving into the meal in front of me, before emptying the glass of orange juice sitting chilled beside the plate.

As I’m about to take my dishes to the sink, the landline rings.

I glance up at the time before walking over to pick it up. “Honey, remember being punctual is always a great characteristic to possess,” Mom says from the other end.

“Thanks for the reminder, though I was just about to head out.”

“Dressed like that?”

I look down at my oversize army green long sleeve shirt and the green and white checkered baggy pants; my comfort wear.

“I know you’ve just finished eating, you haven’t even showered yet”

My brows become knitted as my eyes being to scan the house.

“No, there are no hidden cameras, you have just become very predictable.”

I sigh knowing the reality of her words.

‘See that’s why I went out of our comfort zone last night.’ Stella breaks through the severed link to say.

‘I was practically raped’

‘What?’ Stella shouts flabbergasted. ‘Consent was given… I gave him permission… it was MY body.’

This is way too complicated for me. Why wasn’t my life just like those fairytales where the humans and their wolves are best palls, thinking alike like twins?

I sigh, having nothing more to say to Stella, she technically was correct, but I think I’ll take that confession to my grave.

I refocus on mom. “I meant to say, I’ll soon be ready.”

“Good, and check the time, it’s already 7:45.”

I nod, not that she can see me and the call ends.

However, as expected, I arrive at school late as usual, though I won’t classify myself as a delinquent.

School is already in session as I stepped through the classroom door.

Mr. Michael, my science teacher, is already sitting, which he only ever does after handing out test papers. Wait! Oh shoot! A test.

“Miss. Parker, you are late.” He calls out not even bothering to lift his eyes from the textbook lying open in front of him.

“Sorry, sir.” I slightly bow my head in apologies as I scurry to my seat, where a test paper already sits waiting on me.

I totally forgot all about the test and right now my brain is a vacant apartment without furniture.

I reread question one about 10 times. “Name the fourth element of-”

“Miss Parker, reading it out loud, for the the11th time, won’t make a difference... Either you know it or you don’t.”

My head shoots up as I pin my lips in my mouth before mouthing a ‘sorry’. I had no idea my thoughts were being audibly conveyed.

Well, that does it. I get up from my seat, being careful not to scrape the chair against the tile floor and cause more attention to myself as I make my way to the teacher’s desk. I hand in my test sheet with a broad dumb smile though internally I feel like a failure. But I’m not too worried; the feeling will fade- then I’ll procrastinate on some other subject, forgetting to study or revise for some other test and the cycle will begin all over again, I’m accustomed.

Mr. Michael just shakes his head in disappointment as he takes the paper from me and briefly glosses over it.

“Can you at least put your name?” He sighs. I’m sure the one percent mark for putting your name on the paper was probably implemented for people like me.

I fish my pen out of my pocket and write my name.

“When you leave, don’t go too far, I’ll like to speak with you after class.”

I nod, walk back to my seat, grab my bag and head out.

I make my way to the cafeteria, sitting at the table nearest to the door as I place my elbow on the table, cupping my chin in my palms. A labor sigh escapes my lip as I contemplate my miserable life.

“Why the long face, cupcake.”