M A T I N G

Months Later...

Connor's POV

"Tenor, you don't need to be somber. The mate who you think is your mate was mistakenly matched to you." Her melodious voice explained and what did I do in return, I stared at her blankly.

"Tenor–"

"I have been with her for the past five years and all you do is take her away from me. Selene, this is unfair." I said blatantly with no emotion and she sighed. How could I feel anything when I felt empty?

"The one who is meant for you will come and that is when your fate will be fulfilled." She said with a tone of finality, no more discussion.

"I–"

**

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"Alpha, Are you sleeping the day away?" I grunted as My Beta, Ryan, said in a singsong voice into my ears as he rang the alarm continuously. Rubbing my ear to get rid of the tinkling effect, I looked up to him with a death glare.

"What?" I snapped and he jerked back with a gasp, touching his chest dramatically as if he was scared.

"Easy on me, Alpha Man. You don't want to lose a treasure like me to your Canines." He said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I exhaled deeply and scrambled down the bed, not bothering to cover myself.

"What do you want?" I asked him with a more soft tone, at least to me it was.

"Have you forgotten what today is?" He asked and I raised my eyebrows.

He scoffed and hit his forehead in dismay. "It is the festival of lanterns, Connor. You are the fucking Alpha of this pack and for the last months, you have been sulking up in this room, unwilling to do nothing other than go through paper works then come back here and sleep!" He said in frustration and I raked my hand through my hair as I gripped it tight, trying to fight the impulse to throw him across the room and pounce on him for the way he was calling me out on my issue.

"You should stop this. The pack needs you. I have been doing all the works for you. Not that I am complaining but we need the boost in our morale and you are the only one who can do just that." He said.

He does not understand at all. Not even one bit. For an Alpha that lost his mate, I should be dead. In fact, I should have died along Annalisa but yet, I am still here trying to numb the pain.

"You cannot understand since you are not the one who lost his mate." I replied and his demeanor changed. Guess she still affects him that much.

"I–" I raised my hand to him.

"It is alright. I get it. I think you are right." I said, giving him a polite smile. He got the hint and did not bother to push further.

"Anyway, how is the preparation going?" I asked.

"Done. Just that we need you to bless it this evening before we start." He explained and I nodded my head. That is why he was my Beta. Trustworthy and understanding.

"Okay, I will be downstairs in few minutes." I said and he took that and left not without patting me on the shoulders and taking a look at his 'ugly' self in my mirror, winking at himself and struck a pose. I snorted and fell back on the bed, reminiscing what the Moon goddess said.

She was mistakenly bonded to me? How is that even possible?

Time to take a shower I guess.

*

*

*

I cast a last look at myself and exhaled before exiting my room. I was dressed in just casual clothes since I was just going to be hanging around the pack.

I went through the corridors and climbed down the stairs. The pack house was huge. I mean, why not?

"It's the Alpha." Someone yelled and everyone turned their heads towards me. I guess that what happens when you are rarely seen by your own pack. Don't blame me. I am more hit about my mate's death than them losing their beloved Luna.

I managed to smile and moved towards them.

"Oh, Alpha. We thought we were going to be celebrating this festival today alone." One of the older women said as a happy smile graced her face. This made my heart swell as I realized that I was the reason behind that smile. Ryan was right. I am the only one who can boost the morale of this pack.

"Never. I will always celebrate it with you." I said with a smile that could and they all cheered.

"Seems like you managed to get the pack to smile." Ryan's voice sounded from behind me and I turned to look at him.

"Yeah, after all I am still their Alpha." I replied with a casual smile and we moved to the kitchen. The maids on duty greeted us courteously and I nodded my head in acknowledgement.

"What do you have?" Ryan asked them and I nudged him. He shrugged.

"Did you invite other packs?" I asked, pulling at my lips.

"Nope. They must also want to celebrate it with their pack. Not to add that we received an invitation to Sky Lunar Pack but I rejected it. We can't leave the pack unprotected." He replied and I nodded my head. The maids passed a plate of fruits before us and we headed out to check out the decorations.

As I walked through, I saw the way Ryan arranged everything and I must say that I was proud of him.

"Ryan." I called out and he looked at me.

"Err... Wait... Don't." He said even before I could not talk. As if he knew what I was about to say.

"Don't go all appreciative on me." He added dramatically and I could not help but roll my eyes.

"Wasn't going to do that." I lied between gritted teeth and he scoffed in reply.

I checked the place we will be using to start the ceremony and it was already in perfect design. What can I do without a Beta as hardworking as Ryan?

"What time are we starting exactly?" I asked.

"5 PM."

Can't wait. But why do I feel like this night was going to be a different one?

"It is." A voice said so loud that only I could hear and I looked around in abrupt shock.

Who was that?