MIQUEL'S P.O.V.

“Father, what if my mate is not among them all?” I was on my feet already.

“That means you have to marry one of them, not everyone is destined to have a mate, my son”. It's so shocking, mother isn't saying anything because she knows this can't work. Maybe she didn't disapprove because father's mind is made up. It's been five years, and he has declined to appoint a new beta. He sees mother as his beta.

He is making everything tough for me. It was a love letter from a lady I don't know. She was ready to get united with a nonnative and also ready to endure every pain. She was ready to wait for my love.

What on earth! What kind of woman is she? Father contended I have no option but to go along with the treaties. I stood at a hill, reasoning what to do. I can't select any of them. I'm just a lady like them. My coaching with Seneca ended two years ago, but I still consider him as my guru.

It's a new place I discovered a couple of years ago that can relax the mind.

A breeze blew through my hair as I stood on top of a small hill overlooking the sea. The waves were calm and gentle in their movement, gently rocking me back and forth on the surface.

I was standing there alone, lost within those soothing waves. It felt like hours had passed since I left home, yet I still hadn't made any progress on getting away from reality. I felt so tired – the weight of the world weighing down on my shoulders.

All this is Miguel's responsibility and not mine. The only assistance I ought to provide was to support him in controlling the Pack. He should be the one getting married and not me. How can I cope with getting married to a girl? It's a forbidden thing in the Pack.

“You should go home, your father will be worried,” a voice startled me. I stared at the lady standing before me. Is she a mermaid? I don't see a tail anywhere… wait… Is she talking to me?

She has fresh skin with a black headband around her long wavy black hair. Her eyes are golden, and the colour of fresh honey. She looks stunning. If she isn't a mermaid, then where did she come from? She's far too perfect to belong here.

“Why are you out here all by yourself?” she begins again. “Is there something wrong with that?'' I raised my eyebrow, but her face remained calm and composed. What do mermaids usually look like?

Her dress is red with gold flowers embroidered along the skirt. It's beautiful and simple. A necklace hanging around her neck makes up for its simplicity.

“It is said that you will feel better when you talk to strangers,” she giggled.

“Well, my father wants a wife for me whereas I don't have interest in her, she might not even be my mate” I uttered sadly. She stared at me for a while, then took a stone and threw it into the sea.

“It's so funny, I have the same story. My father wants me for a royal home also, I don't know which pack or his name” she lamented. We came down from the hill and lay beside the ocean. I think that's the trending thing now. Fathers getting their children married to strangers.

“I have a plan,” she said.

“And what would that be?”

“We'll become mates! Fake mates to be precise” she replied excitedly.

“Are you sure about that?” I questioned.

“Yes, I am! Let's pretend to be mates until you meet your soulmate” she spoke confidently.

“That's really risky and dangerous…”

What was I even thinking? I'm a lady like her. She would be disappointed if she finds out, and that's dangerous for the Pack.

“I just cogitated your idea, I don't think I'm interested” she grimaced sadly, and a tear dropped from her eyes as she got up and left.

I felt terrible, of course, but it wasn't my choice to make.

I left for the pack house and sneaked in.

“An Alpha's son sneaking into his father's house,” a voice said, and I froze.

“Just let it slide” I walked up to the dining room and dug into the food.

“Where have you been?” He scolded.

“Went to clear my head and met a stranger in my shoes, she wants us to be mythical mates, but I refused”

“You don't like her?” I choked on the food. I don't like her because we are of the same gender. I wish to say, but kept the muffler.

It's finally the day I will be introduced to many maidens and I need to choose one as my wife. I wore a red hanbok with a touch of gold embroidery. I will be deliberately harsh today, but I have no choice. My hair was styled and parked into a donut with a gold hairpin in its middle.

“Everything is done, my Lord,” a maid said, wearing my shoes for me.

“Greetings father” I bowed as he entered.

“You're picking a bride and not going to war” he muttered, seeing I wore a red dress, but I ignored him. Miguel came in a few moments after father left.

“Do me a favour brother,” Miguel nodded for me to go on.

“Stay in the room with me while the ladies come in” he was reluctant, but I didn't give up.

I lay on the bed thinking about how to begin a conversation. This is just too hard for me.

“Come in” a maid unlocked the door and a lady stood by the door. She has a white spotless skin, and she wears a yellow hanbok. Her hair was tied in two ponytails and I could tell she was beautiful.

“You may enter” I stood up, giving her permission to enter.

She sat in front of me, looking straight at the floor.

“You wrote the letter, or someone wrote it for you?” I demanded, and she nodded stylishly. I sighed. Can't she talk?

“Talk to me and stop nodding like a lizard,” I ordered.

“I wrote it, my Lord” she uttered, her gaze still fixed on the floor.

“Don't you think it's a mindless decision to love someone you haven't seen?” I pressed further.

She didn't say anything afterward.

“This is the tenth maiden and none impressed me” I groaned, though I'm glad.

“I love the game you're playing with your father” father smiled with anger in his eyes.

“I…”

“No need for explanation, the rest will be around tomorrow, I will choose one for you if you don't, you may take your leave” I went back to the hill side. It's better I agree to the lady's request. We can make an agreement that we won't live like real couples. I waited all day but didn't see her and left disappointed. I have no option but to decide on someone tomorrow.

“What's your name?” I asked the first maiden, and she gave me a slate. “Beulah” I read and she nodded. Ten minutes later, I was exhausted. She had been giving me a slate in every question I've been asking her.

“Can't you talk?”

“I'm on an oath not to voice out until our wedding night” I read and scoffed. How sure is she that I would like to get married to her?

MIGUEL'S P.O.V

“You're stalked with a dumb girl,” I laughed.

I step out of Miquel's room to grasp some fresh air, his immense room is suddenly too small for me, it's almost like I'm suffocating. That is when I begin to feel a pair of eyes on me. I turn around, but I see no one, yet I'm so sure someone is staring at me. Only Miquel and I are present in the room. I should be scared, but I don't feel any bit of fear whatsoever, instead, I feel excited.

It was then that it hit me, the sweetest, yet most intoxicating smell ever. I'd never perceived anything so sweet before. I shut my eyes and inhale the scent, breathing in and holding it for a long time. I looked around, but I couldn't see anyone. I still feel uneasiness within me. I've not been this excited in a long time. She's there, I can feel it, I can smell her. So, I start to follow the scent, oh goddess, she is within the Pack house premises. I went back to Miquel's room.

“You also want to marry the Alpha?” he demanded. I stared at the maiden before me. She is the most beautiful of all ladies I've been seeing in the pack house.

She scoffed, still not maintaining eye contact.

“I never knew I would be married off to an Alpha until today” she muttered. She is the first girl who has no interest in marriage. She had a veil covering her face.

“You mean you ain't interested in this marriage, and why does your voice sound so familiar?” Miquel demanded, suddenly interested in the conversation.

“It's a small world,” She said, removing her veil.

“You!” They said, simultaneously staring at each other. The lady standing before my brother is my mate! I'm so excited.

“I went back to the sea searching for you but couldn't find you” oh, it's the girl she turned down at the sea. It's so sad she couldn't recognize me as her mate yet.

“What do you think?” She demanded, staring straight into his eyes.

“Well, we can pretend to be in love and go our separate ways when we find our mates later”

“I agree with that,” she said, smiling.

“Mother, I wish to have an audience with you” she stared at me and left the clothes she was folding. It looks like wedding clothes for Miquel.

“It sounded so important,” she muttered. I walked back and forth thinking of how to begin.

“Mother, Miquel doesn't like this arrangement father is forcing him into and this has to do with a lifetime” She sighed looking up at the shining stars.

“Well, my son, people fall in love even after marriage” She chuckled softly.

“Why is father doing this, mother? What will happen when they finally find their mates?” Mother thought about it for a while.

“Let us wait until then,” she muttered.

“Mother…” I called softly, holding her hands. “The bride which my brother chose is my mate” she gasped and removed her hands from mine.

“You should have spoken out before he took her to your father, why would she agree to that, knowing she is your mate?”

“She isn't aware we are mates yet,” I thought about telling her they would separate when they find their mates, but changed my mind. Miquel should tell her himself.

“This isn't right, I need to tell your father about this” she stood up, but I held her.

“You know father too well, mother, has he ever believed in me? He will not agree to it since Miquel's bride didn't confirm us as mates” if I should tell Miquel, then he wouldn't find the best maiden for his plan. They will get separated in the end when she discovers me as her mate.

“Mother, please do not stop me to do this”

“To do what?”

“I will leave the Pack the night before the wedding takes place. I can't stand my mate getting married to my brother, nor do I want to ruin my brother's happiness. Please do not stop me mother” she stared at me looking so disturbed. She tried to say something but ran out of the garden. Maybe going for a run would do.

“You're letting our mate get married to our brother, what in the world!” Bruno exclaimed. “Can I just have a peaceful run?” I scoffed, almost removing my cloth, but stopped. I saw a figure staring at me.

“Miquel?” Has he been listening to my conversation with mother?