The Empath's Mate

My name is Veronica Sloper, my friend’s call me Roni for short. I spent my entire life being an outcast, so to speak. I was never completely forgotten or left behind. That would have made my life easier. If my life would have been a movie, I would be the extra they forgot to add my name to the credits.                I come from a big family, there are 5 of us kids and probably around 40 first cousins or so. You would think that would have helped me feel happy and loved but it just caused an emptiness. My large family that once was so loving towards me in my childhood years, faded into the background during my early teen years.                By age 16, I accepted my fate and desperately wanted to find a new family in friends. I never had any plans, making me the perfect “fallback friend”. If someone got grounded or bailed, I wou

I was nervous on my way to the director’s office. Today was just a formality for the previous department to give the replacement a run down. His last day is today so I am not sure what is going on, sweat started to form on the base of the back of my neck. I took a deep breath before knocking on the office door.                “Come in.” He called from inside.                “Oh good! Veronica, please have a seat. I have a special assignment for you.” Dr. Theodore Travis said with a smile. I didn’t realize he knew my name. I looked over and saw another man sitting in the office. He was older, around 60 if I guessed, gray-brown hair with a matching beard. More fit than your average lifelong research professor. His eyes were a strange amber color.            &nbs

The next morning, I woke up with more energy than expected. I had tossed and turned all night long replaying my afternoon with Nikola. My whole body wanted to see him again and feel him close to me. I was confused about this new…pull. Why was I feeling this way towards a stranger? The feeling was an odd comfort but nerve wrecking at the same time. I threw on my sports bra and my leggings and headed out the door for a run. Nothing would help me sort my thoughts like a run. The sun was still sleeping the air was cooler, around 60 degrees. I rounded the tree-filled lot on the corner and heard something large move. I stopped looking towards the woods. I left my phone behind today, wanting to enjoy the sounds of nature and a little quiet. I took a few steps towards the woods listening. After determining it was nothing, I shook it off and continued. I was out for around 45 minutes; about 4 miles. After an extra-long shower, thanks to my daydreaming of Nikola, I arr

Nikola POV As I finished my presentation, I felt a pull come from Roni. Her eyes were locked on the screen, but I swear I felt her staring right at me. I could feel the mate bond eating away at me. My body wanted to be entangled with hers. I wanted her to be mine as was meant to be. I was lucky Peter stepped in when he did, I may have jumped over the table towards her. I knew Peter wanted us to meet for a reason, but I had no idea he knew she was my mate. I wasn’t sure how he even knew. Peter taking the position here in Florida was the best thing that could have happened to me. Now I finally found my mate, she is human but that’s okay. I didn’t have a problem with the human part, just the married part. Why are the gods punishing me? To be without a mate for so long then to have one who is already happily married. I took my memories back to her scent the last two mornings, she didn’t smell like another man. I knew she wasn’t mar

The rest of the car ride was uneventful. We made small talk, he asked different questions about my childhood, how I ended up getting into our field, how old my kids are etc... I typically didn’t enjoy the “getting to know” details. Nothing about my life had been very interesting. I asked if he was married and he said he was a widower, so I didn’t pry any further. His emotions were off, there was pain from losing his wife when he spoke of her but not like a normal widower, his was more detached like a sister passed.                We pulled up to the bistro and I realized I had never been there before. It was a smaller building that was at the end of the road. There were a few people in the front windows all on computers with their lunches to the side. I noticed a younger couple eating lunch at one of the high tops. I followed Nikola over to a table that was reserved.