6

"Hey!" she replies happily.

-"What are you doing here Emily?" I asked him.

- "Bah... I was waiting for you, I wanted to see you, talk about what!"

- "I'm fine, go, where are we going?"

- "Towards the South district, are you okay?"

-"Yes!"

So we head happily towards the South district while chatting. I was a little shaken by what the Alpha of Europe had confessed to me. Why had this soul mates thing fallen on me? I didn't deserve him, he was too important, too handsome and too smart for me. And above all, he was an Alpha.

Émilie must have realized that something was wrong because she asked me:

-"There's something wrong with you today. What's going on? If you don't want to tell me anything, I'll understand, after all, we don't really know each other."

I think about it and I feel like telling her everything, I needed a girl's opinion and Elsa wasn't there. Besides, these weren't things you talked about over the phone, which happened to me. So I tell him everything, from beginning to end, without exception. She listens to me religiously, without interrupting me and without making comments, and I thanked her internally for these intentions.

When I finish my "story", she finally gives her opinion:

- "You know, I don't understand all the wolf stuff but after everything you've told me, you should stop bashing yourself. This bond you're talking about, it's extremely important, you can't reject it where You'll end up dying of grief. You like this Alpha, I can feel it. She's your soul mate and she likes you as much as you like. He will not judge you on what you are on the outside, but on what you are on the inside. You are the person who will make him happy. You are the ONLY person who will make him happy. Finally, you told me that it was very rare for soul mates to find each other, you should consider yourself lucky to have found it. That's what I don't quite understand."

She had strongly supported the fact that I was the only person who could make him happy. I pondered his words silently. For a long time, I didn't speak, and neither did she. She seemed to be waiting for an answer but what she expected didn't happen.

Finally, we parted after a goodbye. She gave me her phone number and I swore to see her again.

•••

I had gone back to the hotel, lying on my bed, thinking about my day.

Tomorrow I had free time, there weren't twice-a-week Meetings, and I was thinking of going to Central Park with Gab, since I hadn't seen much of him today.

Stretching, I get up to go see Gab. I know the number of his room, so I take the stairs to reach the floor below. Arrived at his door, I knock several times. A second later, Gab opens and, I don't know why, I jump on his neck. He hugs me tightly and I almost suffocate.

"Hi!" I called to him.

- "Hello, how are you? You don't look in good shape", he scrutinizes me and adds: "You look sad." It is an affirmation.

I may be answering a little too quickly for it to be credible, but he had better not bother me!

- "No. No! It's just tiredness, don't worry! But I didn't come to talk about me, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go to Central Park, tomorrow?"

- "I'm tempted! Around what time", he replied enthusiastically and skeptical of my previous answer on my condition.

- "Around 10 o'clock, are you okay?

-"Vi! See you tomorrow then!"

- "See you!"

We leave like this, without another word, and I think back to our embrace earlier. Something happened, I know it, and it disturbs me.

•••

I wake up the next day around eight-thirty. I yawn a big blow before getting up and taking my shower.

I haven't eaten yet I brush my teeth. I'm not hungry, but then not hungry at all! That's a big first! I wait until 9:55 a.m. before getting up and going to knock on Gab's. He opens to me immediately. He took a shower because his hair is wet. Her hair is strawberry blonde and it's dark from the shower. His gray blue eyes scan me and I smile at him. He is really handsome.

We go out in the street, we talk about everything and anything.

Then we arrive at Central Park and we sit down on a bench. The park is huge, there is a lake where you can go boating, there are tennis, football and golf courts. There is also an equestrian center! Everything looks awesome!

Gab asks me a question:

- "Well then, why did you invite me to the park?"

-"Uh... I don't know. You need a reason?", I ask, laughing.

- "Not necessarily.", he laughs.

Then he asks me if I like New York, I tell him I'm fine. So he says it's a beautiful city, he would still like to go home. He talks a lot about himself, he sort of frees himself. But I will not confide in him. I only speak to Elsa and, now, Emilie.

I listen to it patiently and time passes. It is now time to eat and it is while chatting that we go to the cafeteria of the park to have our lunch. I take fries and do the same to him. And we talk and we talk. Indefinitely. We have returned to our bench and it is now 4 p.m. I'm thinking of leaving.

- "Well, it's not that I'm bored, but I should go home..." I said a little sad

- "Oh, aren't you bored?", he asks me, half-joking, half-disappointed.

- "Roh! If I tell you!", I laugh.

Then I notice that he has come dangerously close to me. I don't see him coming, he steals a kiss from me. His lips are... insistent? Anyway, I feel something in my stomach and it's... weird.

He retired, pleased with himself, wearing a big smile. He takes my hand. Slowly, I take it off and stand up. I leave the park. I never should have let him. Never. And my soul mate? What will she think if she finds out? Oh, and then I don't know her! Damn! I don't care what she thinks!

Back at the hotel, I decide to call Emilie. First ring.Second ring.Third ring.

-"Hello?"

- "Hello, it's Lou"

-"Ah... hi. Is there something?", she asks me worried.

- "Uh ... I'll tell you later. Can we see each other tonight?", my voice becomes pleading.

- "Of course, around what time? And where?"

- "Well around 6 p.m. at the cafe near the hotel on the main avenue."

- "Ok it works, see you later."

-"Asset!". I hang up and sigh. A tear runs down my cheek.

•••

When I leave the hotel 1 hour and a half later, I head for the cafe. I see Emilie and call her. She turns around and smiles at me when she sees me. I smile back and catch her. We walk into the cafe together.

We sit down at a table and she looks at me with insistent, questioning eyes. I drop point blank:

- "Gab kissed me."

She doesn't answer, her eyes still staring at me, questioning.

- "First of all, who is this Gab?"

Damn, I forgot to tell him who it was.

- "He's a guy who goes to my high school, in France. His name is Gabriel Machvar and he's a year older than me. He was drawn to go to the Grande Réunion, like me."

- "Ah okay. And you know him?"

- "Yes, but he's a friend.", I feel like I'm being interrogated, but he's the only person who can help me and clarify this situation.

- "Are you sure?"

"I don't know." I confessed.

- "How did you feel when he kissed you?"

- "I had stuff in my stomach. But I really didn't expect anything!", I say desperately.

- "Were you consenting?"

-"I guess not, he didn't ask me."

- "Excuse me, but it's a bit like the principle of a kiss.", she said laughing

- "But what do you want me to know about it!"

- "Well, I don't know! I thought you had experience in matters of love!"

-"Apparently not!"

Silence hovers for a few minutes then we burst out laughing.

Émilie finally pronounces her sentence:

-"I believe, my dear Lou, that you have feelings for him."

-"But what about my soul mate?"

- "That, I don't know, I'm not a wolf, I don't know anything about it."

- "What do you think I should do?"

-"Up to you!"

Emilie helps me a lot there! Thanks! Note the irony.

I change the subject:

- "Okay! Enough talking about me! How are you?"

- "Normal, I'm going to school tomorrow so I mustn't come home too late, but I'm fine."

- "Ok... well, I still have a Meeting!", I joke.

We laugh a little then she says she has to go home, we kiss and we part.