CHAPTER 3

Fernando’s POV

“What's going on with you?” Clara inquired, watching me with concern in her eyes. “Why do you look so worked up? You’re sweating profusely. Are you okay?”

“Yes Clara, I'm fine. Everything is good,” I lied. “I need to get some air,” I said, walking away almost immediately, without waiting to hear her response.

“There is nothing anyone can say or do to change what I just felt in there,” I told myself as I walked out of the hall.

Outside, I took a deep breath. “This has changed everything,” I thought. I knew. “Even if we decide to go on with this pack binding ceremony it's not going to change the fact that Sophia is our true fated mate. It's never going to be the same, not for me and definitely not for my brother Felixo,” I sighed.

“But why? Why now? Why did she have to come now? Why did we not realize this sooner? Everything would have been a lot easier. Not now that there's so much at stake, now that everything has been settled for Felixo and I to wed Clara and Claire. Why now?” My head raked in confusion.

“How are we supposed to share one mate? I know Felixo felt it too. I saw it in his eyes when I looked at him. I knew he was feeling the sand thing I was feeling. We've always shared everything but I did not think this would be the same. Yet there is no mistaking what was as obvious as that. I mean what else explains why he chased after her in that manner? I was even surprised to see him take off like that. I wonder what the priest who was just about beginning our moon binding ritual must be thinking. I can't even imagine what Claire and Clara are thinking right now.” I said, thinking out loud.

Felixo and I had just been introduced as the new Alphas and our Lunas Clara and Claire had also just been introduced when I first perceived it. But it was quite faint at the time only for it to gradually increase till all I could barely hold myself still.

“This is not what I think it is”, I told myself trying to fight the overwhelming scent that filled my nostrils and clouded my thoughts. “I have heard too many people describe the first meeting of fated mates. This must be it. No! Not now” I said to myself as I struggled with keeping my composure.

My brother and I exchanged looks and I knew he could relate to what I was feeling at the time. He looked even more stressed and as energized as I was. He was panting too. When I turned to follow the scent and trace the source of the scent I saw Felixo turn as well.

“He feels it too, I know it. I'm sure he can perceive it as well. That's why he's searching like me,” I said to myself as I wondered where the scent was coming from.

I knew immediately the door opened and Sophia walked in. I knew she was my mate. Because at that moment all my feelings were activated, feelings I did not recognise. I was filled with desire so intensely overwhelming that it took every ounce of self control in me to keep me from pursuing after her.

“Felixo has gone to find her. I should be out there trying to find my mate. But what will everyone say? Someone has to stay here and manage the situation or at least offer some explanation” I said to myself as I fought to subdue my jarring emotions

“It's nothing Clara”, I lied, even though I had stayed back to explain whatever needed to be explained.“I need to get some air”, I said and before Amara could object, I was walking away from her and out of the hall, shaken and in desperate need of a air and some time to process the situation.

Leaving the hall, I walked off to the lake, my favorite place in the pack ground. It was where I went when I wanted some alone time, to do some serious thinking.

“There is too much at stake here”, I said to myself. “It is not just that the incident may breach our agreement with the Hart family that worries me, but the fact that I and my brother were to be sharing a mate was what bothers me more.”

“Why is this happening? Why now? It should have happened a long time ago or even in the future. Maybe then it would be easier to deal with. And why like this anyway? With the twins I had my own Luna but now with Rose alone I’d have to share a mate with my brother. Why? How will this work?” I asked rhetorically knowing I would probably not be able to fight this attraction for too long.

“Despite these considerations, I couldn't stop myself. The attraction was so intense that I felt a sort of wildness that I had never experienced before. It made the hair on my muscular back stand.

“Duty above everything else”, I constantly told myself. This was the phrase with which I had carved my ideals, thoughts as well as beliefs. But the more I whispered those familiar words to myself the more unfamiliar they became.

While I sat there confused and angry at my confusion. Clara and Claire walked up to me. They had managed to track me to the lake where I was. I brought Claire here when we were getting to know each other. She must have figured I could be here. My back was turned to them as they approached.

“Fernando you just left us back there”, Clara said furiously. It seemed like they had both resolved that Clara would do the talking, probably because it was her chosen mate who had first runoff and who was still nowhere to be found.

“I'm sorry”, I replied genuinely remorseful. I already knew things were about to change and I could tell the Hart sisters already suspected something was wrong. “I just needed some time to process things,” I added, without turning to them.

“What happened back there? please tell us everything, it's obvious there is something going on. And what are you trying to process?” Claire asked worriedly.

I took a long deep breath, deciding to tell them the truth no matter how they react.

“Felixo and I found our true fated mate while the ceremony was ongoing, just before the priest started the ritual,” I said in a straightforward manner.

“What!” Clara screamed. All of sudden balls of sweat began to form on her forehead and she looked like she was about to faint. But she pulled herself together. “How is that even possible?” she asked rhetorically, and her shocked face gradually transformed into an angry face.

“Who is she?”Claire inquired, holding my eyes with hers.

“This is worse than I had anticipated”, I said to myself, “All the same I started it I might as well finish it”, I thought.

“Your sister Sophia”, I said as I refocused my attention on them.

“Sophia!” Claire exclaimed in disbelief. “You're joking now aren't you?” she asked, obviously disgusted at the sound of that. “My little worthless sister Sophia, what could she possibly have on you and Felixo?”

Clara just stood there looking as though she had been kicked in the gut. “You and Felixo…” she trailed off.

“Tell me Fernando that you don't believe in this whole true mate shit," Claire said after minutes of silence, trying to reach my chin.

“I don't know what to believe”, I said and walked away. Leaving the twins in shock, as I walked away, I heard Claire burst into tears.