Never mated

Belle was momentarily speechless. Clearing her throat, she said, "There is nothing going on between us," feigning ignorance.

"I am no fool. If it weren't for me, you both would have been caught yesterday," Mia revealed, grinning mischievously.

Belle gasped in shock. "You knew? Why were you standing there?" She asked, mortified, nearly bursting into tears at the thought of being spied on while behaving so shamelessly.

"Don't be shy. I envy you," Mia admitted with a dramatic sigh. "At least you have both a mate and a lover to run to. I have neither. I am hopeless."

Curious, Belle asked, "Did it not go well with the man you like?" She watched her closely, awaiting a response.

"He already has a mate," Mia revealed, exhaling dramatically once more.

Belle immediately felt sorry for her. "I am so sorry," she said, pulling Mia into a warm embrace.