My hidden mate

Jayden’s POV.

 As I ran down the woods, something caught my eye. In front of me stood a woman, about 5'2”, with emerald eyes and long, curly black hair. She was dusting off her clothes, looking flustered and confused. I slowed down, trying to catch my breath, my curiosity piqued. I have never seen this woman before, and I couldn't help but wonder who she was and what she was doing here.

 I approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. I took a step towards the woman, my curiosity overwhelming my caution. But before I could reach her, I heard a voice calling my name from a distance.  

“Jayden,” the voice kept screaming.

I turned and saw Madeline, my girlfriend, standing a few blocks away. She was waving her arms frantically, and I could see that she was stuck, unable to move. I ran towards her, concern and confusion clouding my thoughts

“What happened?” I asked, my mind racing.

  “You were running too fast, and I was trying to keep up. I tripped, and my leg got stuck,” she said, her voice shaking. I could tell she was scared, and I felt a surge of protectiveness.

 “Hold on tight,” I said, and she wrapped her arms around my waist. I braced myself and pulled with all my strength, trying to free her leg from the hole. I could feel her trembling against me, and I whispered, “It's going to be okay.  

Madeline and I have been in a relationship for years. She was my girlfriend, my best friend, the person I loved more than anyone else in the world. But a few minutes ago, when I saw that strange woman, something inside me shifted.  I felt a spark of interest, something I had never felt before. I tried to push it away, but it wouldn't go. I didn't understand what was happening to me. Had I always felt this way and just never noticed? Or was this something new and unknown? Madeline and I were not mated, but we had always hoped that we would be.  

During the full moon, it was said that our true mates would be revealed to us. We had dreamed of this moment, of finally knowing who we were meant to be with. With one last, painful cry, Madeline's leg came free. She stood up, shaking and breathless, and I smiled at her, unable to help myself.

  “You did it!” she exclaimed, a relieved grin on her face.

“I'm not as weak as you think,” I said, trying to sound confident.

She rolled her eyes, a look of exasperation on her face. “I'm not a weakling,” she said, her voice strong and defiant.

“Says, someone who was crying a few minutes ago,” I said to her with a sly smile.

 She playfully hit my chest, her laughter filling the air. I couldn't help but laugh along with her, a sense of joy filling me. Moments like this made me realize how lucky I was to have a confidant, best friend and a girlfriend in one person.

 “I love you,” I said to her which made her blush and my heart fluttered at that moment.  “Let's go,” I said, taking a step forward. But Madeline stopped me, a puzzled look on her face.  

“Where are you going?” she asked.

 I hesitated, realizing that I had been so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't even noticed which direction I was walking. “Home,” I said, feeling a bit sheepish.