Everyone with a pulse had eyes on the female.

Nancy Flick was her name, and she had excellent table manners, as well as excellent everything else. Perfect wannabe mate to the future Alpha.

Connor rolled his eyes as he took his place next to his father at the dining table. The girl had come with her own father, who looked at Connor like he was an insect, unworthy of his perfect daughter. He was not an Alpha, but he was on the Council of Elders, which was even better, politically speaking. An alliance such as this would make all the difference for the Woodrun Pack, and yet, Connor couldn't bring himself to give a damn.

"Your lands are beautiful," the female, Nancy, said diplomatically, her eyes piercing Connor's. She didn't seem to be stupid or flighty, which was really much better than most of the females Connor knew. She had a discerning gaze and a warm disposition, but she seemed to hold back as well, like she herself had doubts about this union.

This made Connor feel marginally better.

"Thank you," Connor said politely. "I was in Pensacola once, on business, and I have to say, your Gambas al Ajillo was delicious."

She smiled. "Yes, people come from all over the world to taste it."

He chuckled, sensing that the female was joking. Okay, she wasn't the worst person to be around, at least. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

"Hector," her father said, addressing the Alpha, "your son went to college, did he? I would hate to give my precious gem to a simpleton."

The Alpha bristled. "He is future Alpha and he is as educated as myself, Miles. Maybe you would like to quiz him?"

Miles nodded curtly, unimpressed. "What did you study, child?"

Connor frowned at the man who disrespected both his father and himself. He was hardly a child, for gods' sake. "Architecture and Business. I have a Masters Degree in both."

"You going to be a builder then?"

"No, but I am interested in how buildings withstand the trials of time, and of course, no Alpha would be complete without a Business degree," Connor said, his tone biting. His father cleared his throat, reminding him that the man is higher up than both of them, which is why he was even there in the first place. Disrespecting him would be a big mistake.

"I like that you followed your heart," Nancy spoke, surprising everyone. "These days everyone's about following duty."

Connor smiled. "It seems we have that opinion in common."

Miles snorted, but said nothing. It was obvious that he wished better for his precious daughter, but Connor's father must have sweetened the deal somehow. Or perhaps they were visiting every prospective mate to get a better feel with whom she would be best suited. Connor hoped it was the latter, so he wouldn't have to commit to anything.

The rest of dinner was pleasant, peppered with small talk mostly, and some stealthy looks between Nancy and Connor. She seemed to be easy-going and didn't seem to take the "mating" as seriously as her father. Connor hoped she wanted it as little as he did, but he would only be able to ascertain this if they talked in private.

How ironic was it that power gave you less control these days? The more power you had, the less control of your own fate.

Connor envied the people who had no responsibilities or higher callings, or titles waiting for them. They could choose to go anywhere, mate anyone, and nobody would bat an eyelid. Connor, however, was chained to his fate as tightly as the blood ran in his body.

After dinner, the Alpha suggested to 'leave the kids to it,' hinting in no uncertain terms that Connor was to spend time with his intended. Holding his annoyance back, Connor offered Nancy a walk around the grounds. "The gardens are beautiful at night."

Gracefully, she accepted and took his arm, as they left the palace, their guards following at some distance. They walked into the gardens, under the near-full moon. A romantic setting for some, but not in this case.

Connor didn't know what to say.

Nancy beat him to it. "You're having doubts, aren't you?"

He looked at her cheeky face. "Is it that obvious?

"Only to someone with eyes and a brain."

He chuckled. It was a relief not to try to act like he was excited about this, not that he was any good at it. "No offense intended, of course."

"No offense taken," she said solemnly. "Mind telling me why?"

He wondered if he could trust her. The last thing he wanted was to make his father angry again or to alienate her father, the important Council Member.

Intuitively, she picked up on his hesitation and said, "You can say, I promise I won't tell anyone."

He decided to go with the truth. "I have a true mate."

Her eyes, big and beautiful under the moonlight, widened, her face filling with awe and surprise. "Really? Who is she?"

"He," Connor said, "is still somewhere out there."

She frowned. "So... you haven't met him yet?" To her benefit, she didn't wince at the gender pronoun, which made Connor like her even better.

"Not yet," Connor said, "but I know he's out there."

She nodded, smiling. "I believe you."

"Really?"

"Yes, I've seen it before, you know. My best friend insisted for years that she had a true mate out there and that he would come to her when she was twenty years of age. People thought she was crazy."

"But she wasn't."

"No, she was not. Her mate appeared at her twentieth birthday." There was wistfulness on Nancy's face. "I wish I could say I know how that feels, knowing someone made just for me is out there. Unfortunately, I just don't know if it's true and if I'll ever meet them."

Connor felt bad for her. "I'm sorry," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder and rubbing it soothingly.

She smiled, looking up at him. They stood there, two shadows under the moonlight, she more beautiful than he had ever seen a woman being, and he sadder than he ever remembered being.

"I envy you," she said simply.

"There's nothing to envy," he said quickly. "I don't know when it will happen and my father certainly doesn't like waiting. Not to mention there's the logistics of having pups that must inherit the pack lands."

"I understand. My father's pushing for the union also."

"He is?" Connor said. "I had the impression he doesn't like me."

"He's just being cautious. He wants me to make you like me, so he could have an alliance with the North. He's wanted it for many years and I'm his most beautiful daughter, so..."

"Do you have any choice in this?"

She shrugged. "Do you?"

They sighed almost at the same time, then laughed together.

"Man, this mating thing sucks," Connor said.

Nancy shook her head. "It's refreshing to talk to someone who's not trying to get me in bed or mate me."

Connor took her hand and kissed it. "At your service."

"I actually envy your mate, you know. He's going to hit the lottery with a mate like you. He better show up soon or I might snatch you up for myself." She winked at Connor, and he felt his heart light. This was going to be less awkward than he'd thought.

From the side, they might have looked like eager lovers – holding hands and laughing together, but they both knew what they wanted – someone who was made for them and for whom they were made.

The stars be willing.

***

"Dude, you are so in, my man," Miguel said, patting Connor on the back. "She couldn't take her eyes off you, damn."

"There goes my summer mating," Daniel lamented as he took a ficus by the stem and swung it like a dance partner. Then he bent it to pretend he was going to kiss the prickly plant. "My love, will you be my mate for as long as we both shall live?"

"Your pups will be beautiful," Miguel said solemnly.

"And green," Connor added, rolling his eyes. "Can either of you ever be serious?"

"I am seriously happy about your success," Miguel said and whacked his brother over the head, making him drop the plant.

"You killed my fated! I shall kill you in a duel!"

They pretended to duel with invisible swords, finally making Connor laugh, who had done his best so far to hold back. "And I'm supposed to entrust my safety with you idiots?"

"At the very least we entertain, Your Majesty," Miguel said, then stepped closer, in Connor's personal space. "So, do we like her?"

Connor rolled his eyes and pushed his friend away. "She's fine, for a friend."

"Ouch," Daniel said, pretending to take a sword in the chest. "The kiss of death. The friend zone."

"Man, if I had the chance, friendship wouldn't even cross my mind. Are you sure you're not gay? Or, you know, legally blind?" Miguel waved a hand in front of Connor, checking.

"Not everyone wants... all that," Connor said, slapping his hand away.

His friends laughed. "Trust me, my friend, everyone with a dick would tend to disagree."

"Even dickless, most people wouldn't kick her out of bed."

"Okay, that's enough. Can you show some respect?"

They eyed each other. "Interesting. So His Holiness does like her a little."

"She's a fine female and dinner companion."

"Tell me, does her skin taste like moonlight?" Miguel asked wistfully.

"How should I know?"

"Dude, you kissed her hand. I'd give my left nut to swap."

"What if it's the left that holds the pups?"

"I'll kill them, all I want is her."

"Okay, you morons keep talking, that's all you're good for anyway–"

"Ouch."

"–and I'll go find someone with at least a semblance of reason."

"They won't love you like we do!"

Connor shook his head at the twins' silliness. He wished he could relax and just quip with them all day, but he had a mile-long list of duties and chores that could not wait.

Thanks for reading! So did you like Nancy?

We're meeting Connor's mate next!!!