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69: COUP
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2023-06-28 23:06:30Related chapters
The Mate Agreement 70: BANG
I kick the door behind me close softly with the heel of my foot, earning a warning glare from the man pointing a gun at my head. He presses the barrel deeper, applying enough pressure that I’m pretty sure will leave a mark on my temple.I pray by some universal miracle that William takes a hint of the closed door. Impossible, almost, but a girl can hope.Lucien takes his time walking down the stairs.I glare at him steadily.He looks slightly older than the last time I’d seen him. The neatly kept beard is new, but the dark curly hair with streaks of white here and there is something I’m familiar with. The cigarette in the corner of his thin lips glows; smoke enticingly rising upwards in a wiggly line. For someone in his late forties, he sure doesn’t look his age.I guess evil keeps a person young.He smirks, and it takes everything in me to not lunge at him and punch that stupid expression off his face. He flicks the cigarette on the floor as he reaches the bottom of the stairs, and s
Last Updated : 2023-06-29The Mate Agreement 71: A FRENZIED CAR CHASE THE LEXIE WAY
The sun glares down at me; too bright for being in the dark for too long. There’s danger in the air, oxygen burning up my lungs. Every muscle in my body begs to jump into action.A gunshot!Adrenaline pumps in my veins. It feels like salvation. Everything is somehow sharper, stronger, faster. The crisp breeze blows through the tendrils of my chopped hair as I sprint out of the driveway, towards the parking lot, eyes searching for the car and for Lexie.I spot the faded blue 80’s Volkswagen Rabbit pickup just as Lexie honks at us. I don’t turn around to see the armed men giving chase. Neither does William. He flings open the door of the backseat, and slides inside, my mom still limply thrown over his shoulder.I follow suit; cramping myself into the front passenger seat next to Lexie, she throws the backpack on her lap to mine, and I push it into a heap at my feet and slam the door shut.“Go!” I yell, looking into the rear view mirror and seeing the armed men take aim on the vehicle, r
Last Updated : 2023-06-29The Mate Agreement 72: UNLIKELY ALLIANCES
Lexie drives us to a field with an open stretch of land. It looks like the place had been commissioned for an industrial building, but the foundations were yet to be put in place. For what seems like stretch of miles in every direction, there are only industrial buildings and factories. We are a safe distance from Deveras civilization. William makes a phone call outside while Lexie and I stay in the car, the windows doing little to shield us from the pollution in the air.I move to the backseat and cradle my mom’s unconscious body. She’s breathing fine, but no amount of shaking or talking has woken her up yet. Most of her wounds are still fresh, unable to heal. Something must be impairing her fast healing abilities.My phone rings from the front seat.Lexie rummages through the dashboard compartment where she had stuffed most of the things I’d shaken out of her backpack, and hands me my ringing phone.“Thanks.” I say, collecting it from her, grateful not only for the massive help she
Last Updated : 2023-06-30The Mate Agreement 73: COLD AS DEATH
“Doctor, is my mother okay?”The doctor, an elderly man with a balding hairline and a grim face full of lines and creases from smiling too much or focusing for so long, sighs. He glances over to Luke Ravenstone standing behind me, as if asking for permission to tell me what is going on with my own mother, and when he receives a perceptive nod from him, he looks back to me.“We’ve done our best to pump out most of the silver in her system…”“Silver in her system?!” I interrupt, stumbling back from the wave of dread and trepidation that hits me. Luke balances a hand on my back to keep me from falling.“Yes…” The doctor confirms, nodding slowly, allowing me to take it in. “We found silver traces in her blood, which is why she couldn’t heal the wounds. The good news is, we’ve gotten most of it out…” He huffs out a breath, and I hold mine, bracing myself for the bad news coming. “But she’s yet to regain her consciousness, and we can’t really say when she’ll…”So my mom is in a coma.“Pleas
Last Updated : 2023-08-01The Mate Agreement 74: DEADLY RIGHT HOOK
It’s almost like swimming; just like swimming.I’m swimming in dreams; I try to grab at the portals and gateways to other worlds, other realities, but it’s like trying to catch a specific droplet of water in a cold, deep swimming pool. Reality fills my lungs like chlorine.My eyes flutter open.Above me is a chandelier; unfamiliar, golden, it’s bulbs gleaming like stars. I have never seen that chandelier before. Not once in my entire life. I’m sunk in a sea of soft white sheets, and I cant quite feel my hands because they’re buried so deep beneath the softness.And then a man’s face looms into view above me, blocking the chandelier.I scream, shooting out of bed; electrified, my right fist tightening, my arm swinging the punch carelessly out of my panic. But it makes blunt contact with the guy’s jaw and pain spreads like molten lava over my knuckles.“God of chaos!” The guy swears, reeling back as he cradles his jaw, working it like it might've been hanging off the hinges. He chuckles
Last Updated : 2023-08-01The Mate Agreement 75: TWO BUTTERFLIES
The Ravenstone’s home is not just a pack house. It’s not even a simple pack mansion. It’s a freaking pack estate. And Mila Ravenstone takes no liberties in wowing us on the tour. Whenever Wilma and I become convinced there is no cooler building than the last, the next one turns out to be even better.We start the tour from the private quarters; reserved for the alpha and beta’s family, where Wilma and I were being hosted, and moved to a movie theater, the hospital building, a freaking general store, a swimming pool that’s open to all pack members, a massive parking lot with at least more than forty flashy cars, a restaurant that even serves Italian dishes, a sports arena with all kinds of sports equipment and even a kindergarten.“It’s practically a town.” Wilma says, impressed, and I can only speechlessly nod, my mouth ajar like an idiot.We had to drive a golf cart around just for the sake of easier navigation. Now, Mila restarts the engine, having finished showing us the kindergart
Last Updated : 2023-08-02The Mate Agreement 76: SELFISH LOYALTIES
I blink.In a flash, Ethan has the hooded figure pinned to the wall, arms twisted behind their back in an angle that looks painful. “What the fuck?!” The hood falls away, revealing black hair held up in a high ponytail, and Alexia Haufmann’s face contorted in pain.My eyes widen. “Lexie?”“You’re gonna break my fucking arm!” She yells.“Ethan, let her go.” I order quickly.Ethan glances at me hesitantly, then lets her go, stepping back.She glares at him, wincing. “The fuck, man?”“What the hell were you doing?” I demand of her.“Braiding her hair, what else would I be doing?”I look over at mom and sure enough, her hair has carefully been parted in two, and there’s an unfinished braid on one side.A breath of relief leaves me. “I thought…”“You thought what?” Lexie prods, looking at me with hurt.I shake my head. “Nevermind.”It was ridiculous of me to even think that. We’re safe here. And I can trust Alexia. Right? I steal another glance at her; the brown rope of her shark tooth nec
Last Updated : 2023-08-02The Mate Agreement 77: CLASHING AESTHETICS
I try on more dresses than I care to count.I thought prom dress shopping with Wilma and Bibah was torture? Mila’s idea of a makeover is basically hell. Two maids have been fussing over my hair for an hour now, trying to shape my red tendrils into a hairstyle that suited Mila’s taste. I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten heat damage from the amount of times a curling iron has passed through my hair. My lungs feel like they’re congested with hairspray.Mila holds up a sparkly blue dress with a corset bodice. “Perfect.” She mutters to herself, beaming, pleased.It’s not my color, but I’m not about to argue right now. I’ll willingly wear a potato sack of her choice if it means she’ll stop making me try on more dresses. It’s more workout than I’ve had since fighting Lucien and his men.A stray curl falls over my eyes, and I huff it away with a breath.It falls right back.I sigh, resigned.It would be rude and discourteous to decline the invitation to the pack dinner, and that’s the only reason ke
Last Updated : 2023-08-03
Latest chapter
The Mate Agreement 111: EPILOGUE
I can't help the grin as it stretches across my face. Even when I tone down my teeth display for the camera, my giddiness makes my grin return to its full glory.These are the kind of joyful moments in life when everything aligns perfectly, and the future gleams with a brilliance that outshines the sun.Similar to tiny fireflies, the fairy lights surrounding us emit a soft glow in the approaching evening. My gaze shifts to the rows of people smiling and mingling, the white roses gathered in their transparent vases, the band playing an old classical melody that Akio Kamio has cherished for most of his life, and ultimately to Bibah's radiant smile, outshining even the stars in the sky.Bibah stands gracefully in her wedding gown, a vision of elegance and modesty. The gown's creamy hue complements her radiant complexion, and the intricate lace patterns and delicate beadwork trace enchanting designs across the fabric.Her head is adorned with a delicate hijab, carefully draped to frame her
The Mate Agreement 110: THE END
The idea of dying... it's like staring into a dark abyss, wondering what lies beyond. Am I ready for it? Is anyone ever truly prepared to let go of everything they know? It's as if life is this intricate tapestry, woven with memories, experiences, and dreams, and death is that final thread that could unravel it all.I've heard people say that death gives life meaning. That the inevitability of our mortality forces us to seize the fleeting moments and savor them. Is that why we laugh, love, and strive to make a mark? To counteract the impending darkness?But what if it's not about the mark we leave, but the mark we've made on ourselves? Like, how every heartbreak, triumph, and mistake molds us into this intricate sculpture of a person. And maybe death is the moment when we step back and see the whole masterpiece.It's terrifying, though. The unknown. The thought of losing consciousness, of the world carrying on without me. Will I be forgotten? Will my laughter fade into the wind, like
The Mate Agreement 109: PREMONITIONS OF CHAOS
The mountain top stretches out before us, bathed in the silvery glow of the moonlight. Jagged rocks and hardy shrubs dot the landscape, offering scarce cover. The air is crisp and thin, carrying with it a sense of anticipation. A veil of darkness conceals the treacherous precipices that lie beyond the edges.My heart races as we stand on the precipice, the night sky a blanket of twinkling stars above. The wind whispers of secrets yet to be revealed, as William's gaze scans the vast expanse. This was the kind of place he used to love—a rooftop under the sky.His eyes narrow, a flicker of recognition passing over his features, like a spark trying to ignite a long-dormant memory. I hold my breath, hoping that this moment will be the catalyst, the key to unlocking the past he's lost.Before my thoughts can fully settle, a guttural shout splits the air, shattering the tranquility. My head snaps towards the disturbance, and my heart lurches as seven figures emerge from the shadows, armed wi
The Mate Agreement 108: MOTORBIKE
“Are you sure this is the place?”“Absolutely.” I whisper back at William, uneasily glancing around the empty expanse of the beach. It feels like we’re about to break into a bank and steal cash. “Unless she invited me for breakfast in a friend’s apartment, then I guess we’ll be knocking on a strangers door.” I add in a rush of huffed out breath.William looks skeptic. “Isabe-”I step forward and press the ringer, cutting off William’s words. Time had passed us by while on the boat, and now it’s past the normal curfew of the resort. The demarcated areas outside the resort -including the mountain we’d impulsively decided to go to- were now closed off for the day. Since Tamie has been here her whole life and her family owns the resort and I somewhat feel as if we’re friends now, I thought that maybe asking for her help would be a good idea.Silence continues to answer me.“Mochi definitely came out of here.” I mutter, frowning at the whole modern shack like it had personally offended me.
The Mate Agreement 107: SPEEDBOAT DINNER
“Maybe we should call it a win win and stop here.” I suggest, leaning back as the last few chuckles escape me, my laughter finally subsiding.William raises a triumphant eyebrow as he rearranges the chess pieces back to their normal starting formation. “Giving up already?” He taunts, smirking.“You wish.” I reply, rolling my eyes before sighing. “I’m just tired of staring at the pieces.”We have been playing cheating chess since after breakfast when I got back to the suite from my conversation and walk with Tamie. William had brought his chess board along from the pack estate, and had suggested we play it, in hopes that he might remember something again. There has been no luck in that area, but at the very least, we’ve had an unexplainable amount of fun as the hours flew by. We fixate on morals of the game, creating new rules, and finding more ridiculous ways to justify breaking the classical rules of chess.The sun is setting now, painting our beach-side view of the window a brillian
The Mate Agreement 106: LUCKY GIRL
The very next morning, I wake up early, get out of the ball dress I ended up sleeping in, and took a quick shower, changing into more comfortable beach shorts and a loose tank top.When I leave the bedroom, William is still curled up in the sheets, sleeping. I call the room service and other an elaborate breakfast, hoping to return the heartwarming gesture he had done to me when we got here.Out of the breakfast of waffles, fruits, and a jug of a fancy cocktail blend fresh from the Island’s own produce, I only manage a single waffle before leaving the suite and closing the door softly behind me.Now, where the heck do I start looking for Tamie?I go out to the beach, taking the trail where William and I had first seen her walking her Pekingese dog. Well, more like where we saw her dog about to drown and rescued him.It’s a sunny day, the sand warm as the soft, fine grains slip in and out my flip flops. The ocean’s waves laps eagerly at the shore, and I squint into the far distance, in
The Mate Agreement 105: YOU’RE KINDA HOT WHEN YOU NAG
Leaving the chaotic ballroom behind, we retreat to the quiet safety of our room. The tension of the night still lingers between us, though now it's wrapped in a cocoon of slight awkwardness.William doesn’t say anything, still steaming with remnants of his anger, and neither do I, as we enter the bedroom and he shrugs off his jacket. I notice a few specs of blood staining the front part of his white shirt.“You shouldn’t have done that.” I sigh, retrieving a first aid kit from a nearby drawer, sitting him down at the edge of the bed and gently begin tending to the cut on William's lip, my touch both soothing and reproachful.He winces at the disinfectant that touches the small split flesh where the silver rings had made impact."Oh, now you can feel pain?" I chide softly, dabbing the wound with an antiseptic swab. "Stop being such a baby. I know you were defending me, but there are better ways you could’ve handled the situation."Like poisoning the bastard.Or gutting him in a dark al
The Mate Agreement 104: LOST TO WHIMSY
We spend the rest of the night and the following day simply talking and exploring. William asks a lot of questions about our time in Acadia Academy, and I try my hardest to answer him to the best of my ability, although none of my answers end up triggering his memory.Soon, the night of the ball arrives.Preparing for the ball is a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement. The vibrant energy that courses through me is infectious as I carefully choose my attire for the evening; my makeup already done and my hair painstakingly pinned up into an updo. The dress, a delicate masterpiece of flowing midnight blue silk, shimmers with an iridescent glow in the soft light of our suite. Its off-shoulder neckline adds a touch of elegance, and the intricate lacework along the bodice and hem hints at the craftsmanship that went into its creation. With every twirl in front of the mirror, I feel like a character from a fairytale.I don’t even remember when I bought the dress.The air is electric as I
The Mate Agreement 103: IMMERSED
I gradually stir from my peaceful slumber, the room cast in a gentle twilight as the sun dips below the horizon.I yawn.How long have I been asleep?As I stretch and sit up, I notice a beautifully arranged plate of dinner on the nearby table and a goofy smile overtakes my face. William must’ve kept it there for me. I glance around the bedroom and the living room for the second time, looking for him, but I don’t spot him anywhere.Where did he go?My stomach rumbles in response to the inviting aroma of the garlic butter stake and potato skillet, and I find myself savoring the delicious flavors as I sit at the edge of the bed with the tray and devour the food.Sated and content, I decide to take advantage of the cool evening air and to also look for William. I change out of my t-shirt and jeans into sleeping shorts and a bralette, despite the cool weather. The sliding glass door leads me to the terrace, where the world is adorned with the soft glow of moonlight. My gaze is drawn to the
