Chapter Four

Lucian's POV

I was walking around, greeting some guests when I saw a werewolf coming for me.

Other werewolves did not come too close to the party before changing but that one did, and we bumped into each other.

She turned back to human almost immediately.

"Oh I'm so sorry I bumped into you," she said, full of remorse. I was now on the ground because of the speed she used to rush toward me. 

"That's okay, at least you came for the ceremony," I said while standing up, dusting my body.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"A thick werewolf huh, I guess you are from the El Salvador pack right?"

"No, I'm Ladurgal, the El Salvador has longer hair"

"Okay, okay, my bad. It's nice to meet you..."

I reached my hands to shake her, in a way of asking for her name. 

"Aveo, you can call me Aveo."

"Okay Aveo, I am..."

She cut me off before I could say anything,

"Lucian, the Alpha's son. I can see your crown, and you smell like an alpha."

I laughed and reached for her hands to give a handshake again but then stars appeared in her eyes, she was my mate!

My heart skipped a beat when I noticed that  I had nothing else to use to fill the awkward silence now.

"Did you know we were..."

"Yes," she said, cutting me again. "I saw that when I bumped into you."

“You sure love interrupting me right?”

She smiled, and then I continued,

"How strange, why do girls get to see their mate first?"

"It's just a matter of time, everyone has a different sign that they would use to identify a mate. But don't worry, you do not have to choose me to be your mate."

"Well, it's going to be rude to choose a mate different from the one already picked by nature Aveo."

"But we barely even know each other you know."

"You don't have to know anyone before you choose them, you would get to know them better after the mated ceremony."

"So you'll choose me then?"

She did not look too excited, I noticed that. Perhaps she had a self-picked mate already.

"What's wrong? Do you have a mate and you don't want to...”?

"No, I don't. How about you?"

"I..."

I stopped to think about Sazia, but then I smiled back. 

"I don't have any either. But if you are not comfortable with it we can..."

She chose to cut me in again.

"You know what, just attend the ceremony. Maybe you may find someone else as your mate aside from me."

"And why not you Aveo? I'm beginning to think you aren't interested."

"It's not that, I just think it may be a mistake, you might see another lady with a much stronger sign."

"Okay, if you wish. But expect to be called on at the ceremony."

"Okay, I'd take my leave now Lucian."

Aveo's POV

I could not believe that the first man I set my eyes on when coming to the ceremony was my mate, Lucian, the Alpha's son.

I loved it as I had a mate to be identified with, but what about Helwa? We had grown to fall for each other and I could not break his heart. 

But if my father finds out that Lucian was my mate, he may force me to say yes to him when he chooses me at the mated ceremony. Nature had its way of playing with people's emotions. 

Lucian's POV

Immediately after Aveo left, I saw Sazia running to me with a full smile. I tried to turn away so it may look like I did not see her but she was already close, and she grabbed hold of my hands.

"I'm glad I met you, Lucian,"

She said this, with so much joy. 

"Listen Sazia..."

I turned to say, I was going to tell her to forget the whole night, it was just out of a strong desire but her reaction cut me off guard.

"I know I know Lucian; we are not true mates. You see, I had always had a huge crush on you and it was easy to fall in love. But then I thought you did not feel love for me too, and I always battled with the fact that you may not feel the same way I did for years.

But yesterday proved it all, I'm the happiest wolf in the world because I know the love of my life would pick me for the mated ceremony, right?"

I cleared my throat and smiled. My heart was racing rapidly, how was I going to tell her that I had already found a different mate?

I did not want to hurt her feelings; I was all she had.

But I also did not want to break the rules of nature. 

Before I could make a decision, Xavier called my name.

"There you are, the ceremony has started and you are not even at the venue?"

"I'm just outside welcoming guests, father."

"Your job is to be inside at your ceremony, now follow me."

Xavier grabbed my hands immediately and to tell you the truth, I was happy. 

I did not have anything to say to Sazia, and I also thought of Aveo. 

Getting involved with her was a very big mistake, and now because of that, I put two lives on the line.

Who was I going to choose? Sazia or Aveo?

Xavier cut me through my thoughts.

"Did you hear me?"

"Sorry, what?" I had not been paying attention to what he was saying.

"I asked if you have found a mate yet, Lucian."

"Yes, I mean no. I don't know her well"

Xavier smiled broadly and he continued,

"So you have found a mate right?"

"Yes, I have. But I barely know her and she's a Ladurgal."

"No way!” he exclaimed, “so I'll be having a member of Ladurgal in the family. You know back in the days when El Altunia was in a war with La Chandral, we needed help to fight and the Ladurgal chose to help us without even thinking twice. You have to choose her for your mated ceremony, Lucian."

"But what about Sazia father? What would I do about her?"

"Sazia was a mistake, she is not your mate. You don't have to worry about her, she may probably pick a mate today. But you must choose the girl you found. "

My heart sank, so I had to break a friend's heart just to be with someone I barely know. 

We had chemistry, but I would have chosen to be with Sazia.