Chapter 2 Two

Sarah's POV

I could not believe my ears as my mind transformed into a storm of conflicting thoughts. I had long given up on the idea of meeting my mate, even though it was believed that it was inevitable-that one way or another, fated mates would cross paths.

I was told that my mate would be the key to curing the chronic illness I had been living with since I was eighteen, according to a healer. However, the news came with a devastating prophecy: I would die within seven years if my mate didn't mark me. Now, I had only two years left. Two short years before the countdown to my death would hit zero-a fate I had already accepted. Until tonight.

Joshua didn't know any of this. This made me wonder sometimes if that made me selfish, knowing I would have left him a widower in the end. But I guess life spared him from that mess.

I should have been thrilled, since meeting my mate would change everything, right? But instead, all I felt was the sting of disappointment because the person who was supposed to save me turned out to be nothing more than a kid. And not just a kid, but a jokester.

"What?" He scoffed, our eyes still locked with each other as he snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Don't tell me you believe that."

My brows furrowed in confusion immediately by his utterance.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Come on, I was just messing with you. I'm not even supernatural."

"And if I was-and somehow fated to you-then whoever's in charge of that must really hate me." He scoffed.

I locked eyes with him instantly, jaw tight, fists clenched, my whole body brimming with barely contained rage.

I didn't say a word. Just hissed under my breath and stormed out of the club.

If I stayed, I knew I would lose control and cause a scene-something I had no intention of doing again.

"He's not even the one to blame. That was all on me." I muttered as I pushed through the crowd, bodies pressing in on all sides.

"How could I have been dumb enough to believe someone like him could be my mate?" I cursed myself.

But even as I reached a quiet, dimly lit corner near the bar, where the moonlight barely touched, I could not shake the anger burning in my chest. He had no idea how close he had come to pushing me past my breaking point.

I had no idea he was following me until I heard footsteps echoing behind me and turned to find out that it was him.

"What does this dumb kid want from me?" I muttered under my breath as I continued walking.

"His name, sweetheart," he said, like he had heard what I said.

"I'm not about to let him have his cake and eat it too," he added.

That was it. I had had enough of his nonsense.

I spun around, my face set in a cold glare-whether he could see it or not did not matter.

"If you don't back off and stop following me right now, you'll regret it." My voice was also cold.

However, his face gave nothing away, unreadable as ever as he stepped closer, closing the space between us. His hands slid casually into his pockets like he had all the time in the world.

A smirk curled on his lips. "I'd like to see you try, sweetheart."

"Fine," I muttered, ready to summon the power building in my chest.

My fingers tingled with energy, ready to strike. But before I could, a dangerous and low voice cut through the air.

"You really thought you'd just walk away after that? No one leaves my mark unpaid."

I was shocked to see that it was the guy I had thrown my drink on earlier.

He stepped out from the shadows like a predator with a menacing grin, from the same direction the boy and I had come from.

"Leave now. You are going to regret this if you don't." My voice was firm.

But he didn't stop. Instead, his grin widened unnaturally. His teeth then sharpened, jagged like shards of broken glass fused into fangs. His dull brown eyes flickered, shifting into a molten gold glow that pulsed with wild energy.

That was when it hit me that he was a panther shifter. That cocky arrogance should have tipped me off.

But instead of fear, a dark smile tugged at my lips. Panther shifters were not exactly the most difficult opponents to handle, unlike werewolves. If anything, this could be fun. A perfect way to work off the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

I was ready for action before a sudden metallic clang behind me made my heart jolt.

I whipped around, and there they were-two more panther shifters perched on the dumpsters behind me.

Their eyes gleamed with the same molten gold as their acquaintances, ready for action.

"I believe you all are gentlemen; why don't we solve this amicably and avoid violence? This beautiful lady clearly pissed one of you off, but come on, let's just pretend it didn't happen and move on, okay?" the boy said, curling his lips into a smirk.

I scoffed, biting back a laugh. He was clearly clueless about the danger he was in. Either he was high, drunk, or just plain stupid, because no human in their right mind would act this oblivious with panther shifters around.

Without a word, the panther shifters began to shift. Their faces stretched and twisted grotesquely, their noses elongating into sharp snouts as the sound of crunching bones filled the space.

But before they could fully shift, I clenched my fists, channelling every ounce of strength within me.

In one swift motion, my hands shot forward, sending the guy I had thrown the drink on flying to collide with his acquaintances, sending all three crashing to the ground.

Shock and disbelief were written all over their faces as I turned toward them.

"A witch?" One of them gasped, his golden eyes flashing with disbelief.

"No way," the other whispered.

A satisfactory smile plastered on my face because fear always made predators sloppy.

"You think you can handle me and my friends?" The guy I had poured drink on sneered.

"You are just a newbie witch," he added.

They snarled, their faces twisting as they began to shift again, this time completing the transformation.

But before they could make another move, I stopped them with a single thought. And with a snap of my fingers, I broke their necks in an instant, their bodies hitting the ground with a thud.

However, I didn't feel the satisfaction I thought I would. Instead, I turned to the boy.

I had expected to see fear in his eyes, but his expression was blank. He was not running or freaking out. He just stood there, staring at me, like he was trying to figure me out.

My brows furrowed. Did he not just care about what had happened?

"Earlier, you were all talk," I said, a mocking smile creeping onto my face.

"You wanted to be my hero by avenging my broken heart. But when it comes to actually saving my life when it matters, you could not even move. A hero, huh?" I chortled.

But he didn't flinch nor say anything. He just stood there like he was waiting for something.

I stared at him, disbelief gnawing at my insides. "You better run. You don't want to be here when they wake up because they will be, very soon."

Immediately, I turned to leave, my steps quickened as I left him there, rooted to the spot like a fool.

He didn't call after me nor move.

That stillness was the last thing I saw before I rounded the corner. But I swear, I felt his eyes on my back long after he should have been out of sight.

Well, it seemed like he had made up his mind to be death's prey tonight, and my warning was not enough to change that. And honestly, I could not care less.

I cursed myself under my breath for thinking he was my mate again as I quickened my step.

But one thing was certain: the search to put an end to my impending death continues.

But little did I know that the events of tonight would change everything for me.