2 MEMORIES

She was too engrossed in her thoughts, perhaps it was the reason why she hadn't noticed someone had been following her, even with her heightened senses.

Dianne came to a stop, once she was in the woods. Without giving herself time to think better of her decision, she swiftly shifted; instantly feeling liberated, unrestrained.

Before she could savor the invigorating feeling of being free, unshackled; she heard the sound of something hitting the ground. Dianne freezed involuntarily, filled with trepidation as she slowly turned around to see him, her mate.

She gawked at the handsome figure for a long time; he wasn't dressed as smartly as Dianne was used to seeing him, but it didn't elude him of his attractiveness, his natural allure. Seeing him in casual clothes, he didn't seem as untouchable; so far out reach. Dianne's heartbeat reached a crescendo as she fought the urge to go him, to feel him against her. She trembled in nervous excitement at the thought.

No! She was still in heat. She had to leave now, before she did anything she would regret.

Still transformed, Dianne ran, her paws hitting the ground. She ran without looking back, despite the clawing pain in her chest, the ringing in her ears.

Dianne could still smell him. Oh, the heady, intoxicating scent of him. Every single fibre of her being was telling her to go back, pulling her to him. It took everything in her to not go back, she forced her limbs to keep matching ahead.

Seeing him tonight, had brought back memories; memories of the whirlwind of emotions she had felt the first time she had realized he was her mate.

. . . . . . . .

She had been too distracted to realize it; too distracted by the way his brown locks fell over his forehead, the way his shirt clung to his torso, the way he looked so intellectually charming in his glasses. Tall; probably over six feet, and lean, he screamed masculinity.

He was devastatingly handsome, ravishing. Hers weren't the only eyes gazing at him, devouring him; all the other girls in auditorium were eyeing him.

And then she realized who he was, her supposed lifelong companion, her other half, her soulmate; her human mate. Also her new and young professor, Mr Beckette.

Tongues wagged, and soon the whole school knew of the new, exceptionally good-looking professor in their faculty. The scantily populated class filled up the next semester. People, mostly girls chose the class as an elective just so they could openly admire him. You now had to be there half an hour earlier or you wouldn't get a seat, some would go even earlier just to get front seats.

Dianne however, was satisfied with any seat; so long as she could see him. No matter how disheartened she was feeling, just seeing him was enough to lift her mood.

Mr Beckette had received countless love letters, and countless confessions; from more bold ones, just within his first month there. They never conceded despite being kindly rejected by him, that was until he had told everyone he was engaged. Even then, some didn't give up, thinking he had just given an excuse to make them back down. She was among those those who thought he'd just given an excuse.

Dianne thought she was alright: in the looks department, she didn't think of herself as a great beauty. Her college was filled with beauties. And if he had rejected all the others, what chance did she have? Yes, he was her mate, but he didn't know that. It took a whole lot of of courage, but Dianne finally convinced herself to at least fight for him. She shouldn't give up without trying. She never got the chance to.

There he was, leaning on the wall beneath the archway. His tall figure was bathed in sunlight, his eyes downcast, staring intently at his phone's screen. Dianne's feet moved of their own accord, carrying her towards him.

Before she could reach him, a slender figure appeared beside him, clad in white from head to toe, long black hair a huge contrast against fair skin.

He didn't seem to notice her.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, the woman leaned in, planting a kiss on his cheek. He straightened then, finally realizing there was someone beside him.

He smiled, the kind Dianne had never seen, the kind filled with warmth and affection.

The sun shone on her raised hand, causing the diamond ring on her finger to emit dazzling light.

He really was engaged...

Dianne, who stood frozen, less than five metres away from them finally snapped out if her daze. She forced her feet; which felt heavier than lead, to move.

It wasn't until she had gotten back to the safety of her dorm room, did Dianne allow herself to cry. The tears came, falling in torrents, as she laid down in her bed. She felt as if a knife had been plunged into her chest, her heart ached.

Just when she had allowed herself to believe she could find happiness, her hopes had been dashed before they had even come into fruition. Her mate already had a fiancé.

She definitely wouldn't try to ruin their relationship. She would never be happy at the expense of other's happiness. Since he was happy, she wouldn't interfere. And even if he wasn't engaged, it wasn't a given he would fall for her.

Yes, they were mates, but feelings couldn't be forced.

The mate bond wasn't like that. The bond heightened the craving, affection, passion; it made everything more intense. But without any feelings there, the bond was as good as nonexistent.

Dianne put it into her head, that there was no hope of her being with him after that fateful day. But try as she might, she couldn't stay away from him. And she had tried.

She soon started waking up everyday with the anticipation of seeing him, she found herself waiting at the hallway he would pass to get to his office, just to get a glimpse of him. And if she didn't see him, her day would feel incomplete.

She started to loathe long holidays that would force her to go back to the packhouse, force her to go away from him.

He became a huge part of her life, and her a part of his; even if it was just part of the background. That was what she became in his life; part of the background.

But she was contented with that.

She wouldn't be his reason for happiness, but she would ensure he remained happy for the rest of her life.