TWO YEARS AGO.

It's the end of Summer.

When I was in high school, this was my favorite season. I was a fairly popular star pupil, no shortage of friends and rarely without a mouth to kiss. Before mating season, students run rampant with not a care in the world, doing what they want without the pressure of being paired up at any moment.

Of course, that all changes when you turn 17. Once you reach the age of consent, there is a part of you that thinks your mate will find you on the day of your birthday and that will be it. But it is very rare for teenagers to get mated on their seventeen birthdays.

What really happens is that you turn 17, spend weeks waiting around to be discovered, then forget about the whole thing until one of your friends gets mated. Then you are back on the lookout for your mate, but you cannot discover him (or her) yet until you turn 18.

The worst part of high school for me was when I was supposed to be mated but wasn't. The frustration of watching it happening to everyone else around you can be overwhelming. But I had parents who kept me grounded and focused, telling me over and over again that it would happen for me soon enough.

Well, now we know it didn't happen for me. Not then, not now. It's a drag! All I can do is to move on with my life and focus on my work, on what lies ahead of me. I cannot worry about things I am powerless to change.

I have a job to do, so it is best that I do that. I am sure that if Selene [the Moon Goddess] wanted, She could make my mate appear before me. She is that powerful. The werewolf society is filled to the brim with amazing 'meet cute' stories of mates meeting in the oddest of circumstances.

There is even an occasion in which a warrior found his mate when she was about to be killed by his Alpha [it didn't happen in our pack]. There is context to the situation I am not familiar with, but my point is if She wants, She makes it happen for you. That is not the issue.

Maybe the Goddess just forgot about me. Who knows?

I would consider adoption, but I don't know if I have it in me to be a parent without a partner. Also, werewolf babies are almost never up for adoption unless a tragedy strikes on their parents.

Werewolf society is different from humans. The father is always in the picture and you almost always are raised in a stable home. Of course, there are issues like any other couple. But werewolves don't divorce their mates except for an abuse situation.

Now that I have been Beta of the pack for the last eight years, Summer is just another season. Another reminder that a fresh batch of high school graduates is set free into the world and I am still mateless.

It is also the time when there are tryouts for a warrior position in our pack. Every June, young men and women gather around to apply to be a part of our force, one of the most feared wolf armies of the entire south.

Fortunately for me, I do not have to worry about making such tough choices. The Delta of the pack is the one who chooses among the candidates. I have to approve them, but I honestly just rubber stamp whoever Delta Andersen puts in front of me.

I do not even watch the tryouts. My dad used to say that if you trusted your Delta, he would know who to choose. Though Andersen was my father's choice - he already was Delta when I ascended as Beta of the pack - I learned to trust him just the way Phillip had to trust in me.

Besides, he was the one in charge of training me when he was still the Under Delta. I have known what kind of man he is for more than a decade. Not to mention that he went to high school with my dad, they were wrestling teammates and friends.

I walked inside the training center on a Monday morning. Though I have an office inside the pack house, I prefer to stay here with my warriors, seeing them in action, training. It is also the place where I can always find Andersen talking to his men and women.

As I walked, I heard a lot of the warriors congratulating the Delta. I found it odd because it isn't his birthday or (mate) anniversary, I have no idea why he would be congratulated today.

The warriors greet me as I pass them by, most of the force who aren't on patrol or on a day off spend their time here, training or getting instructions from Andersen or Clarkson, the second in command.

"Good morning, Delta. Why are people congratulating you? Are you retiring early?" I asked him in a humorous tone. He glared at me because he is not eager to retire at all, but all warriors have a mandatory retirement when they turn 50. Marcus Andersen is 49.

"Good morning, Beta. No, I am not retiring early. They are congratulating me because my daughter just got mated last night." He replied, barely able to contain his excitement at the joyful news.

"Lauren? I thought she was already in college?" I frowned, puzzled by this information.

"She is! She is a sophomore at UT! But she is here in Regency Falls for the Summer." He exclaimed, apparently still baffled by the shocking mate pairing.

"Oh my Goddess! So, she is already twenty? Where did she get mated? To whom?" I was gobsmacked by the news. It is not like she got mated at this year's high school graduation. People who remain unmated until the age of 20 often attend the ceremony in hopes that their mates are younger than them. I certainly had high hopes my mate would be found this way.

"She is twenty, she was so heartbroken after graduating high school unmated and..." He trailed off, stopping himself once he realized he was talking to me, an unmated person at 26 years old.

Andersen was uncomfortable for a moment before continuing on with the story.

"Anyway, she took her nieces to the movies yesterday and..." He continued after an awkward pause.

"She got mated inside the movie theater?!" I gasped in shock, impossibly surprised at the revelation.

"YES!" He shouted the reply, mesmerized by the tale.

"Oh my Goddess!" I am so beyond perplexed by this mating. Who the hell gets mated inside a movie theater?

"I know, right? She had just entered the theater with my granddaughters when bam! Her eyes shone right then and there." He was giddy with excitement for his youngest [daughter].

"What about her mate? Why did they not find each other until now?" I asked him, intrigued by the curious fact. Though that could be for any number of reasons.

"Oh, get this. He is a senior in Berkeley!" He informed me, wide-eyed at the fact.

"In California?" I gasped in shock at the information.

"Yes! That is why their paths have never crossed before! It was just serendipitous that they would find themselves in the same movie theater, on the same day!" He told me with joy in his eyes. It is amazing how a mate pairing can bring joy to one's parents. Especially when it happens like this, so unexpected. So randomly.

While he talked about his daughter's surprise mate pairing, I couldn't help but to get emotional at the news. My grandparents once told me that when the Goddess wants you paired, She will make it happen for you. No matter where you are.

All of the sudden, Andersen realized I was about to cry and stared at my sorrowful looking face, pitying me.

"I am sure you will get your turn one day, Beta. Have faith." He consoled me, empathizing.

"Thank you, Delta. But today is not about me. I am really happy for your daughter. She deserved to be mated and I hope she can make it work, despite going to such different universities." I tried to contain my own sadness, but I could not help the tears from falling down my face. This is really fucking me up more than I could anticipate.

"Fortunately, he only has a year left before graduating. I am sure they can work it out. I am glad they still have a week left before they have to return to college." He spoke in a somber tone, now wanting to change the subject out of respect for me.

"I am glad too. Please excuse me." I excused myself to go to the restroom, being pitied by all the men and women who witnessed this uncomfortable show of my vulnerability. Usually, I do a much better job of hiding my weaknesses when I am inside the training center, but this surprise mate pairing really ruined my entire morning.

Who the hell gets mated inside a movie theater? Come on... *sigh*

After I made the necessary rounds, I drove to the pack house to lock myself inside my office. At least over there I wouldn't be looked down upon with pity. I genuinely thought I would be over this by now, but who am I kidding? I will NEVER be over the mate bond, I mean my lack of having that connection with someone special.

At least not unless I quit and move to another city. But even if I immerse myself in a sea of humans, I could never forget my true identity. Eventually, it would all crash and burn anyway. Again, not that I would ever quit my job.

I need to feel like my life is worth something. As long as I am Beta of the pack, I remain a respected and valued member of the Regency Falls society. Nobody can take that away from me. At least I hope so.

There is a knock on my door.

I got up from my chair to open it up and was surprised to see Linda, the Luna of the pack.

"Hi, Luna." I greeted her, looking surprised by her presence.

"Hi, Beta. You are late for lunch." She frowned at my tardiness.

Because I [live alone and] work from the pack house, it is only fair that I should have lunch here too. Therefore, I take my meals alongside the Alpha family every day. It's much easier than to go home and cook for myself.

"I lost track of time, I am sorry for making you come to pick me up." I apologized, remorsefully. I walked out of my office, closing the door behind me, and accompanied Linda to the dining hall.

"It's not a problem, Stephano. We are family. Are you okay? You seem a bit depressed today." She questioned me with a worried frown.

"I am fine. I heard about a surprise mating this morning and you know how it goes." I replied, honestly. I could not get away with lying to her, she knows me too well at this point.

"Are you talking about Lauren, Marcus' daughter?" She turned around, sounding excited.

"Yeah, I am." I replied, nonchalant.

"Well, if she got mated inside a movie theater then there is nothing stopping you from finding your special someone." She told me in a chipper tone, smiling at me cheerfully.

"There never was anything stopping me, Luna. I have been forgotten by the Goddess." I retorted, feeling annoyed.

"Stop this right now. You were not forgotten, Stephano! Who could forget your beautiful eyes?" She spoke, looking deep into my eyes. I blushed for a bit, then we arrived at the dining hall together.

Phillip was impatiently waiting for us with their toddler who was already eating. I bowed my head to the Alpha and apologized for the delay. Linda took her seat next to her mate who was watching their three year old eating as if it was a show.

"Thank you for your kind words, Luna." I told her as we began serving ourselves. I actually am very hungry today.

"Of course." She smiled at me, filling up her plate. As was I.

We began eating as the couple shared their attention with their heir, making sure he is okay and doesn't spill his food on the floor.

Later, Phillip asked me to catch him up on some pack affairs before I left for the day, which I did. After eight years of working together, we have a great rapport. I mean, we had to get used to each other because neither of us are ever going to quit their jobs.

I am not going to lie though, the 'meet cute' story of the two mates meeting inside the movie theater really messed me up. It's not that I never had to hear stories of people meeting their mates, but a twenty year old sophomore meeting her twenty two years old mate who goes to a college in a different state... Come on!

Give me a freaking break!

Where is my 'meet cute'? When do I get to meet my mate?

I am twenty six years old already! I should be the one meeting a stranger inside the theater... *sigh*

I don't mean to sound jealous. I wish nothing but happiness for the newly mated couple, I really do. But this story wrecked me. I am far from being a cry baby. I don't need to make everything about me and my struggles. I just really wish I was in a better head space to appreciate the sweet story.

Right now my big empty house is causing me to feel like the walls are closing in on me. I wish to Goddess I was not this person, but loneliness gets the better of me sometimes. It's hard out here for an unmated man.

I should not be feeling like this at my age, though I am far from being the oldest person ever to be unmated. There are people who get mated in their thirties, so... technically, I have no reason to complain at 26. I am still young.

I just gotta have faith.

Faith in a higher power that has not forgotten to pair me up. She is just taking her time preparing an awesome person for me. This is what my mom once told me. I love my mom, she is such a cool person.

Text message from my dad:

'I just heard about Marcus' daughter. It was her time, but it doesn't mean yours won't come. Have faith, son. I believe in you. Love, dad.'

It gets hard sometimes, but I am glad to have my family. They do keep me afloat in the mix of desperation that takes over me when I am alone and in my head about it. I texted my dad back thanking him for the support. I do have faith, I only wish there was any sign.

But then again, no one really gets a sign. It happens when you least expect it. I am here for it, whenever they want. Right here, just waiting for my prince charming to arrive.

A|N: I had another idea for the time jump, but it got away from me.

But I still need to remain in this bubble to explain a very important factor.

I guess the gag worthy drama comes next.

Poor Stephano. 😢

OFF: I could be delusional, but out of all the spinoffs I have written so far, this model is the one who I think he could actually be Simon's son. If you look at his picture in 'Topping the Alpha', I find similarities there which sold the model for me in terms of this character.

PS: The story where a warrior discovers his mate right when she's about to get killed is a nod to my first book "The Twins' Mates". In case you haven't already, please read it. Just forgive my grammar. I didn't have spellcheck by then... LOL

Next is "Iris".

Love,

Léo.