Mates. 

A beautiful concept, really. Someone fated to be your partner for eternity, to help you grow, to be your ray of light in the darkest of times, to be the yin to your yang. Someone who complements you and someone who is not afraid to love you. Someone who will stay by your side when everyone leaves you. Someone who finds you perfect, regardless of your flaws and imperfections. Someone you can be your true self with.

For Vampires, it is truly a blessing. When you have to witness people, humans, dear to you age in front of your eyes and then slowly fade away, the fact that you have at least one constant in your life is comforting. The pain of losing a mate is unbearable, yes, and many do follow their mates into the arms of death, but that is only because losing your mate makes you weak and many are reduced to the shell of the person they once were. 

Vampires live an indefinitely long life. In this long life, many of us may grow indifferent to human emotions and that would turn us into ruthless killers. Having a mate reminds us of the emotions, helps us keep in touch with our humanity, however small it might be.

A pattern system allows you to identify mates. A pair of mates will have a distinct pattern unique only to them inked on their skin. This pattern, called an immortelle, usually materializes on the left wrist when you and your mate make eye contact for the first time. If your mate is within a close radius, the part of the skin on your wrist meant for the immortelle starts itching, at times even burning when there are only a few feet separating you from your mate. 

The idea of having a mate always put me through mixed feelings. Sure, it would be nice to have someone as your partner, but at the same time there is a chance that they would abandon you. Given my origins, I'm not a big fan of people abandoning me. My parents made sure that I would have a first hand experience of how it felt like, since they abandoned me at the doorstep of an orphanage when I could barely walk. 

Pulling myself away from the past, I look down at my wrist. The immortelle stares me in the face, and my mind immediately goes to tonight's events. 

My mate tried to kill me. 

The bullet missed my heart by barely an inch and before my blue-eyed mate could pull the trigger one more time, I had dashed out of the wretched place, slamming the door shut behind me.  Ignoring the idling figures of Luca, Rayne and Ava waiting for me at the end of the alley and making a beeline towards Brewing Bites and into the back forest, I had made myself comfortable on a high branch of a high rise tree. 

The serene night sky draws my attention and I tilt my head up. The wide expanse above me is littered with brightly shining orbs, a sea of glitter, but I still can't seem to get those icy blue orbs of my supposed mate out of my mind.  

Just like chemistry, the rules of life have exceptions. Although Vampires generally mate with their own kind, there have seldom been certain unusual pairings of a Vampire and a Hunter. These matings, not obeying the principle of nature, have always ended badly. Massacres, wars, tragic deaths of both the mates. A Romeo and Juliet tragedy, if you will. People call it bad mojo.

The swirling set of lines on my left wrist that makes up the immortelle is now a constant reminder that I might have to face a similar fate. 

Every time that I am in a close proximity with my mate, the mate bond binding us together will grow stronger, attraction following it. Soon, it will be too strong to ignore, unless the bond is broken. The only way to break the bond being either of the mates dying. 

Oh, sweet joy.

My ears pick up the faint sound of rustling leaves and not even a second later, I see Ava standing near the foot of the tree, giving me a crooked smile. I reciprocate the gesture and hop down. 

"Are you okay?" She asks me, her dark caramel eyes analyzing my face. 

"Perfectly dandy," I smile brightly and hold out my wrist for her to see. She looks confused initially but the confusion soon turns into disbelief when her eyes spot my immortelle. 

"Zoe if that is a tattoo then let me tell you that it's not good to joke around about something as life-altering as mates," she scolds me, thrusting an accusing finger in my face.

"Its not a tattoo, Ava," I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. She gives me a long scrutinizing look before examining my wrist for herself. 

"It really is an immortelle, huh," she says in wonder and whistles lowly, her wide dark eyes full of amazement. 

"Duh," I roll my eyes and start walking deeper into the forest, the trees serving as a sanctuary to my chaotic jumble of thoughts. Ava trails behind me and starts bombarding me with questions. 

"Who is it?"

"Where did you meet him?" 

"Was it at Nixon's?" 

"Is that why you ran away?" 

"I told you this was coming," she concludes, stopping in front of me and crossing her arms, left foot tapping the forest floor impatiently. Knowing she won't budge without any information, I explain the night to her and her eyes grow wider with each passing second until they look like tea saucers.

"So you're saying your mate is a Hunter?" she asks, baffled. 

"Yes, apparently," I sigh.

"Damn."

We continue walking in silence and I'm grateful for that. The raging storm inside my head is already tiring me out, I don't think I could handle anymore questions from Ava. Soon, we reach a forked pathway and I remember about the meeting we had with Raphael. 

"What about Raphael? Do we still have to go to his place for the meeting?" I ask Ava.

"Not tonight. He shifted it to tomorrow evening," she says and I let out a groan. I really don't like Raphael. 

"Let's just head home."

 We reach our apartment in less than two minutes, seeing it safe to use our speed to our advantage considering it is well past midnight. Opening the door to our shared penthouse, the first thing I hear is Rayne calling Luca a 'pig' and Luca retorting with 'ogre'. Ava sighs and ties her long midnight black hair in a low ponytail. 

"Cut the fight you two, we've got some news," she says, sitting down in between them on the couch and I take a seat on the bean bag in front of them. They stop their name-calling marathon and sit up straighter, Luca putting on his t-shirt in the process. 

"What's up?" he asks and looks at us expectantly. I point at my wrist and Rayne lets out a gasp. Before she can bombard me with questions, I hold up my hand. I proceed to explain the events and after I am done, Luca asks me the obvious question that has been bothering me for the past few hours. 

"What are you going to do?"

I run my hands through my hair and let out a groan. 

"I don't know, Luca," I grit out. "I am going to avoid him, that's for sure."

"How can you avoid your own mate?" Rayne scoffs.

"Well, I don't want to end up with a stake piercing my heart, thank you very much. So yes, I will avoid him at all cost." I snap at her. 

"You will have to report this to Raphael. He is the Head of the Council, after all. It is a rule to inform the Head about the mate pairings." Rayne reminds me, ever the practical one. I let out yet another groan, sinking further into my bean bag. 

"Can I just not? It will complicate things, a lot," I whine. "I can just pretend it didn't happen and we can be on our way." 

"Umm, you don't want to do that, trust me." Luca grimaces. "Remember Preston? He denied his mate bond and he grew miserable and moody and went on a killing spree, draining almost thirteen humans in a day. My point is, denying the mate bond makes you... lose control. The small shred of humanity left in you vanishes. If you deny the bond..." he trails off, shaking his head. 

"I can't accept it either, Luca," I growl. "I am not going to accept it." I am not about to give myself up as bait for another falling out between the two races. 

"Your wish," Rayne says, surrendering. "You could always turn the game around, but whatever."

"I need tequila," I groan and make my way towards the kitchen, retrieving a bottle from the alcohol cabinet. Opening the bottle, I put it straight to my lips, downing a big gulp. I take a seat on the kitchen counter and offer the bottle to Ava, who takes a seat beside me. Rayne and Luca retreat to their room, leaving the both of us in pin drop silence.

 "Is he hot?" Ava breaks the silence after a few sips, sparing me a side glance. I give her an incredulous look and she scoffs. "You must've noticed him."

"I am not going to talk about this," I snatch the bottle from her. "Besides, all I saw were his eyes." Entrancing, ethereal, icy blue eyes. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and take another swig of the bitter, burning liquid. 

"Suit yourself," she shrugs. "Let's dance," she suggests and hops off the counter, dragging me along with her. We put on music and the next thing we know we're headbanging to Guns N' Roses, an almost empty tequila bottle swinging between us, the room filled with the sound of our laughter. The lovebirds join us, Luca with his electrical guitar and Rayne with her drums. We jam to the legendary band, getting high on the vibe of the night, forgetting about a certain stupid blue-eyed Hunter.

"It's a shame we can't get drunk," Ava whines. The four of us are now on the living room floor, sprawled out in different directions. 

"I have not done this in a long time," Rayne laughs and we agree. Luca passes me the fourth tequila bottle of the night, and I shamelessly accept it with a huge grin. Just as I'm about to take a swig, the doorbell rings. 

"Ugh, must be the downstairs couple, complaining about the noise. Stupid humans," Luca groans. "I thought this building had soundproof apartments. Such a scam," he scoffs, stuffing his face with a handful of nachos.

"I'll get it," I groan and stand up. Not bothering to look through the peephole, I open the door and instantly regret my decision of skipping the peephole. 

The same blue eyes that have haunted me for the whole night are staring back at me. High cheekbones, a straight nose and pale pink lips set in a straight line accompany those entrancing orbs, loose strands of the unruly mane of dark hair casting shadows over the forehead. The cheeks and a sharp jawline sport a light stubble and scars are scattered all over the face, a particularly big one running down the side of his neck from the left earlobe. 

"Who's there? Is it the Carsons from downstairs?" I barely hear Rayne's questions. My immortelle is buzzing with warmth and for a moment, a strange urge to touch his skin takes over me. But it is gone as soon as I see him open his mouth and take a step towards me, his arm moving in my direction. 

My instincts kick in and I grab hold of his outstretched arm, ignoring the electrifying sensation that courses through me at the physical contact, and twist it behind his back painfully till I hear a loud 'crack' resonating in the corridor. He groans and immediately reaches into his jacket with his other hand, probably to pull out his stake. Before he can do that though, I swing my hand holding the half empty tequila bottle upwards and bring it down on his head, the glass shattering loudly. The golden-brown liquid runs down his face and I feel his body starting to slump. I let go of his hand and he slides to the ground with a soft thud, unconscious. The once white marble tiles are now tainted with blood and tequila, littered with glass shards. Shocked at my own actions, I stumble a few steps back.

The scent of his blood reaches me and entices the Predator in me, and I feel my eyes turning red. His blood attracts me like a moth to a flame and I find myself gravitating towards it, taking a small step forward. Sweet, metallic taste. Another step. Crimson ambrosia. Another step. 

I hear a gasp from behind me and I whip around, my trance broken. Ava runs out, kneeling beside my mate and looking around at the mess I caused. 

"What the actual hell, Zoe?" She gives me a baffled look, her eyes shifting from caramel to red to caramel again, no doubt trying to keep the blood-hungry instinct at bay. She keeps her eyes on me, expecting an explanation, but I seem to have lost the ability to speak. 

I just stand there, frozen, and watch as Luca and Rayne push past me and join Ava. Unaware of the fact that he's a Hunter, and my mate, they hurriedly rush him inside the apartment and I follow them wordlessly, the image of my mate's unconscious body lying on the cold floor, covered in blood with his arm bent at an unnatural angle not leaving my mind. 

So much for avoiding him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hello lovelies! 

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Make sure to vote and drop a comment! :)

Q: Pancakes or waffles? O.o

It is a really tough decision, but I would go with waffles. Lemme know your opinions!

Adios! <3

The face claim for Ava is Sofia Carson