My Human Mate 

Ella glanced at the wall of her room for the last time. She picked the handle of her luggage and closed the door behind her. She went down the stairs and saw her mother waiting for her patiently.

"Did you already fix your things?” her mother asked. Ella smiled and gently nodded her head.

"I'm so sorry, my child,” her mother said.

"No, Mom. It's totally fine with me. I need this,” she answered. Her mother walked towards her and engulfed her in a tight hug.

"If only I could take away your pain, I would do it without a second thought,” her mother said. Ella hugged her back and quietly sobbed on the crook of her neck like a small child who wanted to be babied. It was never her choice to move away with her mother. She planned to live together with her boyfriend, but it never happened.

Slowly, flashbacks of the night that broke her came back, haunting her. It was supposed to be a fun night because it was her best friend Jasmine’s birthday, but it turned into something she wasn't expecting. She wanted to surprise her, but it was Ella who was surprised instead. Ella caught her boyfriend Ashton naked and doing nasty things with Jasmine in her room. It hurt her so much. She trusted those two with all her heart. It was then that Ella decided to move away from the place that brought her pain and sadness.

"Go and put your things in the car. We will leave once I talk to the agent about our house,” her mother said. Once again, Ella nodded her head and walked to her mother’s parked car. She carefully lifted her luggage and put it inside the car's compartment.

“Ella,” a voice behind her spoke. She closed her eyes and clasped her chest. It was the voice she never wanted to hear again. She mustered every ounce of courage she had and turned around.

"Ashton,” she coldly said.

"Babe, let me explain,” he begged and tried touching Ella, but she swatted his hands away. Ashton reeked of strong alcohol. He was struggling to keep his balance steady. He looked at her, tears falling from his eyes.

"There's nothing to explain, Ash. I saw what I saw,” she said and tried to bite back her tears. Seeing Ashton standing in front of her broke her heart again.

"Ella, please,” Ashton said. Ella couldn't hold it any longer, and she slapped him hard on his face.

"Damn you! Why did you do this to me?” Ella burst out with anger, her chest rising up and down. Her hands were shaking and stinging. "I trusted you and loved you with all my heart!” she shouted. Her body was wracked with an onslaught of sobs and tears.

"Babe, I'm sorry. It's not what you think it is,” Ashton begged. Ella bitterly laughed. He still dared to lie to her face. She was not a fool. She saw them having sex in the filthy room.

"Really, Ash?” she said and wiped the tears from her face. Suddenly, a pink car parked across the road, and Jasmine got out. She looked to her left and right before crossing the street.

"Ella, please let us explain,” she said and held Ashton's hand. Ella clenched her fist at the sight in front of her. It disgusted her so much. The friend she thought would support her had stabbed her in the back and snatched her boyfriend away.

"There's no need, Jasmine. He's all yours,” she said and turned her back away from them.

"I'm sorry, Ella. I'm pregnant, and Ashton is the father,” Jasmine said and sobbed. "I'm sorry. I love him,” she added. Ashton was stuck to the ground. He couldn't believe what Jasmine had said. Ella mumbled incoherent things through her hands and choked on her sobs. She couldn't handle that pain and ran back inside, leaving Jasmine and Ashton.

Ella broke down while clasping her chest. She kneeled on the ground while crying her heart out. Her mother quickly came to her after hearing her loud wails. She hugged Ella and kissed the top of her head, whispering words of comfort in her ear until she passed out.

Cars were speeding by, and their honking blared loudly in the busy streets. Ella woke up with swollen eyes, and a blanket covered in her body. She glanced out the window. The sky was already ablaze with the fire of the setting sun. Ella stood up and went to the kitchen, where she thought her mother would be.

"Mom?” she called. Elisa—that was her mother’s name—wiped her hands with a cloth and smiled at her daughter.

"Did you have a good sleep?” Elisa asked. Ella shook her head as a response. Her head was aching like someone was hammering on it. She sat in a chair and sipped the coffee that her mother gave her.

"I thought we were leaving today?” she asked. A crease on her forehead was visible.

"The agent has to finalize some papers,” Elisa answered. "We're probably driving to our new home tomorrow,” she added and sat beside her. Ella was ready to leave this place, along with her feelings and her shattered heart.

The sound coming from the car's radio kept Ella awake the whole ride. They left their previous home hours ago after the agent settled all the necessary papers. Ella's mother applied to the vet clinic in their new town and was accepted. The place was called Blue Moon. It was small, but it had all their needs.

"Are we there yet?” Ella asked while watching the trees dance with the wind.

"We're almost there,” Elisa answered with a smile. She gripped the steering wheel tight and turned left, entering yet another beautiful forest. Ella sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get an ounce of sleep. After what happened yesterday, she had no energy left.

"I think we are already here,” her mother said while glancing outside. She drove slowly on the cemented road.

"Don't you think this town is weird?” Ella asked. Elisa parked the car outside the house she had bought with what was left with her money.

"Why would you think that?” Elisa asked her daughter.

“Blue Moon. Who would name a town that? It's quite an unusual name,” Ella said and slammed the car door. Her mother got out of the car and peeked at her.

"I don't know, but the pay is good here,” Elisa said and winked at her daughter. "Now, go get your luggage. We have so much to do,” she added. Ella nodded her head and opened the trunk while Elisa searched for the key to their new house. Ella picked up her brown luggage. It created a soft thud when she put it down on the ground.

"Ah! I finally got it,” her mother beamed and raised the key. Ella sighed and shook her head. Elisa put the key in the keyhole as gently as she could. As she slowly opened the door, it squeaked noisily.

"I think it needs repair, don't you think?” Elisa said and turned to her daughter. Ella shrugged her shoulders and examined it. Indeed, it needed repair. The door was kind of old, so were its hinges, but it was sturdy. Elisa entered the house and looked around. It was a good two-story house with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a complete set of furniture, and a cozy living room.

"It needs repainting,” Elisa mumbled under her breath. Ella followed her mother and dragged her luggage with her.

"So, where is my room?” Ella asked.

"Upstairs. The bedroom on the right,” she replied. Ella nodded her head and ascended the stairs with her luggage. She stopped in front of her new room and inhaled deeply. Ella turned the knob and pushed the door slowly. The room's walls were painted blue, but they were faded because the house has been unoccupied for some time, and there was a queen-sized bed in the center. Ella dropped her luggage and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Mom! When will my other things arrive?” she shouted. Elisa, who was busy cleaning the cobwebs downstairs, put her hands on her waist.

"Probably tomorrow!” she shouted back. And for the nth time, Ella sighed again. She laid on the bed for a minute, then stood up and grabbed her luggage. She started cleaning the drawer where she would put her clothes and started unpacking. After that, she stood up and went to the bathroom, bringing her necessities with her.

“It's already evening?” she whispered when she saw through the window that the sun had already gone down. It was past seven in the evening. Ella shivered as the cold wind touched her skin when she opened the window. She was lost in her own thoughts as she looked at the beautiful forest in front of her.

"Ella!” her mother called. That snapped her out of it. She fixed her clothes and closed the window. "Come down. We have visitors!” Elisa shouted once more. Ella couldn't help but frown as she didn't know who would visit them at this hour. Ella went down the stairs and saw her mother talking to a man and a woman.

"Oh, she's here!” her mother said. Ella went to her side and politely smiled at their guests. "I would like you to meet my daughter. Her name is Ella,” Elisa said.

"Uh…hi,” Ella muttered.

"Hello, Ella. I'm Ronaldo, and this is my wife, Annie. Welcome to the small town of Blue Moon Pack,” he said. Ella's forehead creased.

"Pack? What does that even mean?” she thought.

"Thank goodness, I already prepared food!” Elisa said. "Come and let's eat,” she added and smiled brightly at the couple. It was a good opportunity to talk to these people since they don't know about the town.

"Don't bother, Elisa. We are just here to welcome you,” Annie said and smiled at her.

"No, I insist!” Elisa said. Ella wanted to groan at how pushy her mother could be, but that would be not polite for Ronaldo and his wife. The couple looked into each other's eyes as if they were talking.

"Then, we will take your offer. Thank you, Elisa,” Ronaldo said. They followed Elisa, who was blabbering.

"Where is Gwen?” Annie asked her husband, and Ella overheard.

"I don't know, but I called her already. She told me she was coming here,” Ronaldo replied. The three of them sat in the chairs while Elisa prepared dinner.

"Who is Gwen? I'm sorry, I overheard you talk about her,” Ella curiously asked as she fumbled with the utensils.

"She's our daughter. Her real name is Gwyneth,” Ronaldo answered her question gently. Ella nodded her head and remained silent while waiting for the food to be served. A sudden knock on the door interrupted them.

“It's probably, Gwen. I'll go and get her,” Annie said.

"No, stay here, Annie. Ella, you should go,” Elisa said. Ella stood up and went to the door. Elisa purposely sent her daughter because she remembered what Annie said earlier. Gwen was the same age as Ella, which led Elisa to think that they could get along.

"Hi, I'm Gwyneth,” the girl said when Ella opened the front door.

"Yeah, your father said so,” Ella said nonchalantly.

"So, what's yours?” Gwen asked while playing with her fingers.

"Ella,” she said and walked away. Gwyneth hurriedly followed Ella to the kitchen.

"My! Are you Gwyneth? You are beautiful just like your mother here,” Elisa said. Gwen blushed and sat in the vacant chair while Ella went back to her seat. She resumed eating while listening to them talk.

"Thank you,” Gwen said shyly.

"Gwen, this is Elisa and her daughter, Ella. They are the ones who will live here from now on,” Annie said. Gwen politely bowed her head and started eating her food.

"Gwen, can I ask you a favor?” Elisa said. "Can you accompany Ella tomorrow to your school?” she added. Ella almost choked on her own food. She secretly rolled her eyes. Ella was capable enough on her own. She could handle herself well and didn't need a babysitter, but her mother still insisted.

"I would love to!” Gwen beamed. She was ecstatic to have a new friend aside from the pack members.

"Then, it is settled. Thank you, Gwen!” Elisa beamed. Ella excused herself to the bathroom. She didn't want a new friend, but her mother thought she needed it. Her trusted friend betrayed her. She was okay all alone. She didn't need anyone, not Ashton, not Jasmine, and definitely not someone in this town.