Aphrodite And The Magical Forest

Mate

                                                                              Thalia Aphrodite Williams

"Where are we going?" I asked as I notice that she drove towards a village.

"To a friend" she said and winked. I frowned.

"Who?" I asked

"Rebecca. Remember, the friend I told you that is living in the city?" She said and my mouth shaped into an 'O' and nodded.

"The one you met in the spa that you always goes to?" I asked and she nodded.

"Then, is she going with us?" I asked and she nodded.

"If it's okay with you" she said

"Of course, it's okay. The more, the merrier." I said, smiling. I don't know but I feel excited but at the same time nervous about this clubbing.

"We will come fetch her and then borrow clothes from her for you to wear." She said and I turned to her.

"Why will I borrow clothes from her? I have clothes, see?" I said and point what I'm wearing.

"Don't make me laugh, nerd. I won't let my bestfriend go to a club, wearing that. It's your first time to go clubbing. And, what if your mate is there? I can't let him see you wearing just that. You should make your mate's jaw drop to the floor when he sees you." She said and I blink. Well... maybe she's right.

"Fine. But, not too revealing" I said

"Of course, my friend. I won't let you look like a nerd nor like a s**t. I will make you so stunning, so you will be the only girl your mate only sees." She said and stop the car in front of a simple but beautiful two storey house.

Christina went out of the car and to the door, clicking the doorbell. I went out of the car as a beautiful girl opens the door. She has a long black hair that is curled into perfection. A long tan legs and wearing a beautiful dark green dress that hugs her every curves. The dress makes her green eyes stand out even more.

The two of them hug each other and then the girl finally saw me.

"Is she the friend you were talking about?" She asked, smiling.

"Yeah. Rebecca this is Aphrodite and Aphrodite this is Rebecca." Christina said and I offered a hand to shake but unexpectedly, she hug me like we were long-time friends already.

"Nice to finally meet you, Aphrodite. Christina told me that it's your 18th birthday and you want to celebrate it in a bar. I remember when I turned 18, it's so magical when I met my mate that day too. So I'm going to do all I can to make you enjoy this night  and make you more pretty so that if ever you meet your mate today then, he can not take his eyes off you." She said with a genuine smile on her face. I smiled back at her.

"First stop, let's get you dressed up! I'm going to make your makeup so pretty." She said and pulled me to her house. Christina followed us. She pulled me until we reached a white door that has a thin wood with a name, dangling on it. She opened the door and keep on pulling me to her walk-in closet. Her walk-in closet is big, bigger than mine and so beautiful. She made me sit on a white single couch there and ramaged through her clothes, Christina joined her.

As they explore her clothes for a dress that suits me, I look around. Bags, shoes, dresses, gowns, cocktails and many more variety of clothes lined up all over her walk-in closet. Her walk-in closet is well-organized as all her clothes are lined up based on colors and types. Her bags are all on the other cabinet and another cabinet is full of shoes. All in all, there are five cabinets here. Three for her clothes and one each for the bags and shoes. I also notice when we just came here the big full-length mirror plastered on the wall. As I look around her room, I heard a shriek. I turned to them and I saw disgust written all over Christina's face.

"Yuck! Is that your mate's underwear? It stink of s*x!" Christina hissed again and wrinkled her nose as it actually stink. I can smell a little bit and it's not a very pleasant smell for someone who is not his mate. Like me and Christina.

"Sorry!" Rebecca said. She picked up the underwear and put it somewhere we can't smell it. I chuckled.

"It's not funny! You know that other male's smell is disgusting" Christina turned to me, still with disgust expression.

"Yeah, the only smell I want is of my mate" I said and chuckled again.

That's right, mate. I'm the only one.

I froze. Again. Because of that stupid voice.

The hell with you!

I frowned. Feeling frustrated with that voice.

Am I going crazy?

I decided to ask my quiet wolf. My eyes glaze and my vision turned to where my wolf is.

Do you know something about that voice?

I do.

Who is that? Why would I hear the voice but the others can't? Where the hell does that voice came from?!

You will know soon, Aphrodite. Just wait.

But-!

Just wait, Aphrodite. You will meet him in the right time.

Fine! I will ignore it. But why are you so quiet lately?

Nothing, I'm just busy.

Busy with what? You can't be busy inside my head?

Just busy, Aphrodite. Don't ask anymore. About the club thing.. I don't feel comfortable about you going there.

Yeah.. me too. But I feel excited too about this. If something wrong will happen, I think we could protect ourself and Christina knows how to fight like we do. Surely we can protect Rebecca too if something happens.

Fine

She grumbled and stay quiet. I decided to end the conversation between me and my wolf. As my vision of reality came back, I saw the two already stop ramaging through the clothes and are standing in front of me.

"You talk to your wolf?" Christina asked. I nodded.

"Just asked how is she" I said and she nodded. Then, Rebecca's shrill voice echoed through out the walk-in closet.

"We have found you the perfect outfit" she sang as she put the clothes in front of me.

She's holding a black long sleeve crop top with cross wrap cut outs on the front and a nude knee-length bodycon pencil skirt.

"I-I don't think the c-crop top will be a good choice to w-wear." I said as I eyed the cut outs on that little top. It's bad enough that it's a tight fitting crop top.

"Yes, it is good. And you don't have a choice anyway. So you have to wear this whether you like it or not." Christina said, sternly.

"B-but-!" I tried to tell my reason but Christina cut me off.

"No buts, Nerd. If you are worried that you'll not look good in this then you're wrong. If I were you, I will show off that curves you have that was always hidden in oversize shirts. You're beautiful and sexy, Ro." She said, trying to comfort and convince me. I bite on my lips. A sign that I'm agreeing but having second thoughts.

"A-alright, but can I wear a jacket?" I asked and they both turned to me and yelled.

"Absolutely not!" They yelled in unison. I sighed.

"Before going in?" I tried to suggest as I'm really not comfortable wearing only that. They both look at each other and communicate with their eyes as they can't mind-link each other.

Mind-links are made for the communication of a pack. You can only mind-link the pack members of your pack or your mate. All in all, mind-links are made for those who has a connection with each other. For example, the pack and your mate. Mind-links between pack members are activated when you finish the ceremony for joining the pack. And the mind-link between mates are activated when they finally mark each other.

"Fine. But! You will remove the jacket as soon as we come inside the bar, understood?" Christina said again, sternly. What?! She sounds like a freaking strict professors!

I sighed and nodded. Rebecca let out another high-pitched scream and gave me the freaking clothes. They came out of the walk-in closet and left me there to get dressed.

What if I'll just tell them that it's ruined so that I will not wear this?

No, Rebecca will get mad and eventually will know that I'm lying to get out of this. Ruining the clothes is not an option either, it's not my clothes. How can I get out of this situation? How about, I'll just ditched them? No, Christina will get mad.

Urrgghh...

I grumbled because of frustration. In the end, I just put on the clothes. I look at my self in the mirror.

The black crop top and bodycon pencil skirt hugs my body. This is the first time that I ever wear a body hugging clothes. The clothes I wore all my life are always baggy and oversize, I never once imagined my self wearing something like this. And then add to that the cut outs. The cut out just above my breast is making me uncomfortable, I feel like one wrong move and my boobs will spill out of the top. And then the bodycon pencil skirt, God. It makes my butt look bigger and I feel like my legs are suffocated because of it's tightness. I sighed.

I feel like I'm going to get judge because of this, and I don't want that. That's why I prefer wearing baggy clothes.

I went out of the walk-in closet and I saw them busy giggling as they type on their phones like there's no tomorrow. I slammed the door shut and they jumped from the bed. Christina and Rebecca both shrieked when they finally saw me and I fold my arms near my chest to cover the cut outs but it seems like a wrong move since my arms pushed my boobs up. Noted. I shouldn't do that.

"Oh my God! The clothes fitted you so well!" Rebecca said and pulled me to her vanity table. She made me sit on the chair in front of it.

"I'm going to make you more pretty with a light touch of makeup." Rebecca said and started by cleansing my face with a wet wipe. And then, she applied a moisturizer on my face.

It should be okay. She said it's just a little touch of makeup. It will be okay, right?

After an hour of t*****e, she's finally finished and just adding final touches.

"You can open your eyes now" she said and I open my eyes. My eyes widen.

Is this really me? Or did I fall asleep because of boredom and just dreaming?

She applied a bronze colored sparkly eyeshadow and also a dark brown eyeliner that makes my blue eyes stand out even more. She also applied a little bit of contour and blush that adds some color and depth to my face. And lastly, she applied a matte lipstick in the shade of sand nude to my lips.

I looked at Rebecca with wide eyes and mouth, she just giggled. I don't know what to say.

"Stop gaping, it's my turn" Christina said and start curling my hair.

"Just simple, Christina" I said as I finally stop gaping. She nodded and concentrated on what she's doing. After she curled my hair, she pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail. She left some hairs to hang on each side of my face. After that, she sprayed something on my hair.

"Alright, you're all set" Christina said and I stand up. I look at the mirror gaping again. I really can't believe this is me.

"Wait! I think there's something missing" Rebecca said and I turned to her. She's analyzing my outfit and then her eyes travelled to my face. Her eyes widen.

"I knew it!" She said and run towards her walk-in closet. I looked at Christina questioningly but she just shrugged. Rebecca went out and now holding two small box.

"A girl's outfit won't be complete without a little sparklings around her body. So, you should wear this" Rebecca said and opened the first box. The box contained a thick gold hoop earrings. She gave it to me and I wore it. And then, she opened the last box. My eyes widen again because of awe. The gold necklace is multi-layered and has diamonds dangling all around it. It's simple but very beautiful. I swallowed.

"I can't wear that, Rebecca. The clothes and the earrings are enough. I can't accept that, it looks so precious." I said and shook my head.

"No, please wear this Aphrodite. It's okay, I'm sure you will take care of this." She said smiling at me. I bite my lip.

"Just put it on, Ro. Rebecca will not back down until you accept it." Christina butts in and I sighed.

"Okay, I will do my best to take care of all your belongings." I said and took the necklace. I put it on and the black high heels that Rebecca gave me. I grab my phone and we got out of Rebecca's house. And then, Christina drove to a famous bar. The Cocktail Country.

As we got nearer, I can already see the name of the bar, up front. Many people too swarmed all around the place. Christina drove to the parking lot and it's full of so many kinds of cars. Luckily, we saw a vacant lot to park our car. Both of them got out while I'm hesitating about going in the club. There's so many people.

Someone knock on the car window and I saw Christina as her mouth moved, telling me to go out now. I bite my lip and got out of the car. As I got out of the car, I cover my self more with Rebecca's leather jacket.

"Remember, remove your jacket as soon as we got near the door" Christina said and I sighed.

"Can't I just keep this?" I said and Christina glared at me. I sighed again. Forgot that she's more hard-headed than me.

My eyes turned to Rebecca when I heard her giggle, then a question pop up.

"Is it okay that you go to a bar without your mate? Wouldn't he be mad?" I want to ask her that since earlier. I'm just so curious because as far as I know, mates are very territorial with their mates.

You got that absolutely right, mate!

Said that annoying voice again.

Get out of my brain!

Can't help it mate, sorry.

My jaw tightened and I ignore it again. I just can't help but get mad at this great pretender. I know that voice is not of my mate because me and my mate can't mind-link each other yet. As far as I know, I didn't even met my mate yet, why the heck would he be able to mind-link me if we never even met!

"Oh! Yeah, is it okay if he joins us later? He won't approve of me going to a bar without him. I want to go and meet you that's why I convinced him with all my best and he said he will let me go if he will be here too." She said and I nodded, smiling.

"Of course, it's okay Rebecca. As I've said earlier to Christina, the more, the merrier." I said and Rebecca hug me while saying thank you in a high-pitched voice.

We went at the end of the line and wait until we reached the bouncers at the entrance of the bar. We give the bouncers our human ID and they let us in but with weird looks on their faces.

Apparently, The Cocktail Country is a club that is owned and served by humans. There is a club for werewolves and supernatural beings but we're still not allowed there as we're still eighteen but on human clubs we finally can. Because in humans, we're already an adult. If in werewolf or supernatural world I'm 18 years old, in human world I'm already 36 years old, that's why the bouncers who are humans gave us weird looks. For them, we're already 36 but with a young face, which for humans is weird. Werewolves age two times slower than humans.

We got in and Christina tap on my right shoulder. I turned to her and she pointed the jacket. I rolled my eyes. Really? Thought she would forget about it.

I removed the jacket and restrain my self from wrapping my arms around me as I know the outcome will be worse. I look around the dark place but with neon lights, lightening the place. Sweaty bodies and drunk people are all swarm together. I get closer to Christina to not get lost. As we got nearer to the center of the club, I notice that Christina and Rebecca greet many people. I guess Rebecca goes to places like this often too.

This is my first time in human clubs because mom won't allow me to enter any clubs until I'm already 18 but Christina went often to human clubs and knows all about the clubs that's why the feeling of uneasiness faded a little.

We walked towars a U-shaped dark red couch far from the dance floor. Christina and I sat there while Rebecca went to the bar counter to order drinks and to wait for her mate there. As we sat down, a girl in a red dress went to Christina. Christina greeted the girl and introduced her to me but I didn't really bother remembering her name as it looks like she doesn't care about me either.

I sat there and looked around the bar. I can see the humans grinding wildly and doing inappropriate things on the dance floor. Clearly they are so drunk to even realize what they're doing. I grimaced. I can smell other werewolves too around here. But unlike the humans the werewolves are just talking and drinking the vodka and tequilla like a water. I'm really curious as to what extent can werewolves tolerate the alcohol. Is vodka and tequila really that amazing for people to like it and be addicted to it?

I stood up and decided to go to the bar counter. I thought of telling Christina about where I'm going but she's busy talking to the girl and other people who joined there conversation. I don't want to be rude and interrupt their conversation.

I walk towards the barcounter carefully. After a few minutes, I finally got to the bar counter and saw Rebecca, she's still alone but busy on her phone and drinks. I went closer to her and sat on the bar stool next to her. She looked up at me and I smiled.

"Hey!" I greet her and she greet me too

"You want to have a drink?" She asked and I look at her drink.

"Ahhmm, yeah. But I don't know what to get." I said and she chuckled.

"Yeah, I forgot this is your first time" she said and chuckled again. I smiled sheepishly.

"Let's get you something mild for starters" she said and called the bartender.

"One glass of Cosmopolitan for her" she said and the bartender started mixing what I think is vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice.

"One glass of Cosmopolitan for the beautiful lady" said the bartender and winked at me. He's very handsome for a human.

I'm more handsome than that human, mate

Maybe, maybe not. How would I know, if I never even met you... 'mate'

I said in my head, sarcastically. I smiled at the bartender with a flirtatious smile. Well...for me it's a flirtatious smile.

I lift the glass and drink it with one gulp and I smiled. It's delicious.

"Delicious isn't it? Now try a stronger alcohol. Can you give her two shots of vodka?" Rebecca said and the bartender immediately got what she asked for. The bartender returned and told us to enjoy and turned to the other customers, who are requesting for his service.

I gulp the vodka straight up and immediately regret it. I grimaced as the alcohol burned my throat.

"Easy, it's your first time that's why you have to take it slowly or the alcohol will burn your throat. And you will appreciate it's taste if you took it slowly" she said and I did what she advised me to do. I took the vodka and sip on it. Now I know why people like this kinds of drinks. It's bitter-sweet taste is very addicting for me.

Rebecca chuckled when I requested more shots of vodka. I sip on the vodka but stopped when a tall and handsome guy approached Rebecca and kissed her tenderly. Her mate.

The love is clearly visible from their eyes. They look at each other like they are the only person here. Seconds after, Rebecca turned to me but her mate still look at her. Only her.

"Aphrodite, I want you to meet Brett, my mate. Brett, this is Aphrodite, Christina's bestfriend and my new friend" Rebecca said and Brett, her mate, finally turned to me. I smiled politely at him and offered my hand. He shook my hand and greet me. And then, he asked Rebecca to dance. They said their goodbye and I went back on my drinks. I ordered another five shots of vodka. Werewolves have high tolerance for alcohol so this would be okay.

Shots after shots of vodka and I already consumed I think 12 shots of it. I don't know but I think I'm feeling a little dizzy already. I forgot that vodka is a very strong drink. Anyway, I still ordered another five shots of vodka but there's a human guy who sat beside me and tried to start a conversation but I ignore him because I'm busy and more interested with my drinks than him.

"Hey, want to dance, pretty lady?" He asked while smirking. That spark my interest. I looked at him from head to toe. He looks quite decent but a flirt. Guess there's no harm with a little dancing and flirting.

I gulp the last shot of vodka and put a cash on the bar counter. I went to the dance floor while he follows behind me. I dance like there's no tomorrow, no care about the others seeing me. I dance and I felt a hand touching my waist but I don't care. All I care about is to dance. My eyes are close as the song, Don't Start Now by Dua Lipa played around the bar.

"Hey, beautiful. Why don't we get out of here and party together. Alone." Said a husky voice. He grinds at me and I can feel his groin on my a*s. I push him away from me but because I'm drunk he easily pulled me back more closely towards him. I keep on budging from him but he's much more stronger than me because I'm drunk as hell.

"Let me go!" I shouted when I got so mad and irritated at him grinding on me. In my tipsy state, I can see the people near us are now looking.

"Don't be like that, babe. Come on, let's go somewhere more private. You can dance there as much as you like" he said, I stared at him with disgust but he just pulled me again close to him. I keep on budging and then, a guy pushed the perverted guy away from me. The perverted guy pushed the other guy too and punched him. The other guy punched him too but I get away from there as a crowd formed while the two guys punch each other.

I went to the comfort room as I can feel a bile rise up from my throat. I went to the nearest stall and let all the vomit out. After I vomit, I went to the sink and clean my mouth and face as the makeup smudged all over it. I look at my self and then walk out of the comfort room but as I walk, I feel my knees weaken and my vision darken. I felt so dizzy, I just want to lie down. And my knees gave up but before I fall to the ground, a pair of strong, muscled arm wrapped around me and stop me from falling to the ground. And before I gave in to the darkness consuming me, I saw a pair of beautiful grey eyes that glowed blue as our eyes met. I smell too, a very addicting and the most pleasant smell I ever smelled. I smiled.

Mate