Open Up

{ Theodore }

I leave Nukea's house feeling like someone is hitting my head with a frying pan repeatedly while screaming in my ear. I'm dazed and shocked.

What I just discovered in there is something that has the potential to destroy my life worse than a nuclear bomb. Maybe I'd even prefer the bomb, if I'm honest, because finding my fated mate has never ever been in my plans.

Especially not if is someone... like her.

The last fated couple in Greyhound was my grandparents. Their love was incredibly intense and magical, as it always is when there is a fated bond between two people. They met over seventy years ago and died together ten years ago. There were a few other fated couples in that generation, but they have not been any in recent years.

Except for now. I found my fated mate: Nukea Winters.

Now that I think about it a little more, all the signs were there since last night, but I couldn't see them because of my drunk state.

My wolf being interested in someone, pushing me towards someone in such a strong way, that's not normal at all. Not one bit. And that strong reaction of my body towards her is not normal either, the way I needed to kiss her is out of character for me.

Everything has been so chaotic that I didn't even have time to think about it, but having her in front of me without being drunk... it was totally undeniable.

The way that woman talks and talks and talks almost got me distracted again, but once I looked into her green eyes, our bond became a complete reality. My wolf has never been so sure about anything else in his life.

And once she got close to me, her light scent made it even clearer. She smells like warm vanilla and cinnamon and mine.

It's really crazy, I've never felt such wild emotions before.

But to be honest, I'm not too sure I like how all over the place I felt while standing in front of her. It's something new to me.

And to feel that way towards someone I just met and who is also so incredibly wrong for me, is something I'm not ready for.

It's too much and my first instinct is to run away from it. I don't know what that says about me as a man, but my wolf absolutely wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go.

Maybe seventy years ago this whole fated mates thing would be easier for me to accept, but times have changed. There are more important things than a bond, like... responsibility and power.

I have no idea what the fuck it means to have this bond, I have no idea what I have to do or how or why, but right this minute I don't want to think about it.

I get to my house in record time because of how fast I was driving and I get off the motorcycle trying to get out of my stupor, but only I succeed when I walk in and find my father in the living room, standing there talking to someone on the phone.

He raises a finger at me to wait for him, so I do.

"Where the hell have you been?" he asks once he ends his call, looking at me with narrowed eyes, "No one could reach you."

"I was with a friend, he asked me to help with something at his house," I lie because it's much simpler than telling the truth. My father shakes his head.

"You're usually so focused in your obligations, Theo, why are you suddenly doing this kind of thing?" he complains, looking at me with disappointment, "We're only months away from your Alpha Presentation, you should be on top of your game."

He's been telling me this shit for a week now.

"We're months away from our goal. I've spent twenty-five years focused... can't I take a couple of days to myself?" I blurt out, unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"Now is not the time," he replies, "Now more than ever you need to show yourself to the pack as a reliable Alpha. But more importantly... why is Isabella's father calling me to tell me you haven't spoken to his daughter since Friday?"

"I'm..." I take a breath, "I'm collecting my thoughts."

"For eight days? How many thoughts can you collect?" he rolls his eyes, "This should be the most beautiful moment for a couple, you should be over the moon. You should have proposed to her the same second she told you about the baby."

I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. Maybe he's right, but I couldn't do it.

Even if I had that ring Nukea stole from me right now, I still couldn't propose to Isabella.

I'm not ready for a commitment that big, at least not without thinking deeply about it for at least another couple of days.

"I know, but... knowing I'm going to be a dad is very stressful," I murmur, taking a deep breath, "The child will be born only a couple of months after my Alpha Presentation and I…”

"Theodore," my father says and looks at me like I'm stupid before snorting a laugh, "Exactly. You'll be the Alpha and your future wife has the potential to be a perfect Luna. I'm sure she'll do her part and she’ll take care of your son while you take care of your people. That's the way it should be and she knows it.”

"I guess," I murmur, but still, there is something inside me that disagrees with this.

In fact, after my realization a few minutes ago, I now want to marry Isabella even less. My wolf is completely against the idea.

I begin to consider... should I tell my father about Nukea? About our bond?

He loved my mom a lot, but he's never been a romantic. He’s so work-focused, he probably won’t even consider it important. Or worse, it might just worry him and stress him out. He might even want to do something against Nukea to make sure she won't ruin his plan with Mister Mihdi.

I can't let that happen. Maybe I don't love Nukea, but under no circumstances do I want anything bad to happen to her.

So, I guess the best thing to do is just... keep this bond a secret.

I mean, I just met her yesterday and she gave me a lousy first impression. It's not like I have any kind of feelings for her.

And since Nukea is an omega, she doesn't even have any idea that there's a bond between us. She'll only feel it when... if I ever mark her neck.

So, basically, I'm the only one who knows about this.

It feels completely wrong inside me to deny Nukea and deny something that could grow and be beautiful, but I was born with obligations and I have to think about my pack before anything else. Even before myself.

Isabella is definitely the best choice to be my pack’s Luna. Even if my wolf hates even the thought of it with all his soul.

I'm the one who makes the decisions, not him.

"I will propose soon, Dad. Trust me," I tell him, pushing all my worries aside, "I just needed some time to clear my head."

"I trust you completely," he replies, putting a hand on my shoulder and giving me a smile, "And don't forget about the gala tomorrow, you have to go on my behalf, with Isabella. Show everyone how much of a great pairing you both are. And you should buy the most expensive item at the auction. Make a good impression.”

Fuck, I completely forgot about that shit.

"Sure. I'll be there."

{ Nukea }

Besides the usual looks of complete disgust and some nasty comments from the Rich Ones, I spend a fun day with my brothers.

I took them to see a movie, ice skating and shopping. I got them some school stuff, new clothes and shoes and even toys they had been wanting for a while.

"By the way, we have to keep this a secret from dad, okay?" I ask the boys as we eat ice cream sitting at Greyhound's main park, in front of the big fountain in memory of Luna Lidia, "He can't know I have money or he'll try to take it away from me."

"You don't have to say it, Nookie," Knox replies, "We know how it is."

"My smart boys," I say and raise both my hands to squeeze one cheek of each, they both just whine but they let me do it, "Come on, it's time to go home."

They don't complain because we've been walking for almost five hours and they're tired.

"Where were you?" my dad asks as soon as we get home. He doesn't look too drunk yet, just the usual.

"Violet invited us to have dinner at her house. She gave us some stuff too," I quickly say as if it's not important, he just makes a bored sound. I push my brothers towards their room, "Are you going out tonight?"

"No," he replies and gets up from the couch before giving me a full up and down look, "I had a meeting with someone earlier. I think he's going to be the answer to all of our problems."

Okay?

"Hmm… good luck with that, then," I mutter and walk out of there.

I stay in my room until it's two in the morning. I think my dad is already asleep at this point.

I approach his room very carefully and open the door slowly to go in. I can see him lying in his bed but I don't hear his snoring so that's a bad sign.

Still, I'm here now so I'm going to continue.

I leave the door ajar and head for his jacket on the chair beside his bed. When I feel Theodore's wallet in the pocket, I grab it.

"What are you doing here?" my father asks suddenly, opening his eyes and scaring the hell out of me, "What did you take?"

"The wallet I stole last night," I admit, my father scoffs.

"I already spent the pathetic amount of money he had. And I couldn't use his cards to get more or buy anything online either because they're all deactivated. It’s useless," he replies in a bored and annoyed tone.

"Damn, that sucks. Well, I'll just take it and t..."

"Why?" he asks, squinting his eyes, "What else are you looking for?"

"Well, there was a ring..."

"Ah, yes," he rolls his eyes, "It’s a cheap toy, it's not even gold. Why do you want it?"

"I liked it, I want to keep it," I lie but my father squints his eyes even more and sits on the bed.

"I wondered why the hell Theodore Heiden had such a cheap ring in his wallet, it didn't make any sense. Now I think it's actually yours… did some man give you that ring, my girl?"

"What? Of course not," I snort, rolling my eyes, "I just saw it on the floor and ke..."

"You don't have a boyfriend yet, right?” He asks, cutting me off.

“No. No one gave me that ring. I just want to have it, where is it?"

"I kept it, I was going to pawn it tomorrow, I wanted to do it just in case that stone was expensive or something.”

"It's not," I say, trying to act like it's not a big deal, "Just give it to me, I want to wear it."

"Hmm… you really want it, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then do me a favor and I’ll give it to you," he says, as usual. He always tries to get something out of me.

"What?"

"Go out with Logan Gonzales tomorrow. He's very interested in you," he says and I grimace. I don’t know who that is, but this is not the first time he’s tried to do this shit.

"Dad..."

"Don't start, Nukea. It's time you do something for us, for your brothers and me," he throws in my face, "We need to take advantage of your one virtue, your beauty... you're still a virgin, right?"

"That's none of your fucking business," I spit loudly and turn to walk out of here. This is the kind of conversation I've been avoiding for two years since my father realized he could use me to get money.

"It is. Logan wants you to be his wife and he won't take you if you're used. Hey, you better play nice or you won't see that ring you want so badly," he threatens me just as I reach the door. I stop with my hand on the doorknob.

I need that ring.

"What does Logan want from me?"

"He just wants to meet you tomorrow. He wants a date to a gala or some shit like that. If you're good, he'll want to be your husband and then our life will be set. Logan will take care of all of us."

That sounds like I can get off easy just by letting Logan see how horrible I'd be as a wife.

"Fine... I'll go. But if you don't give me that ring after, I swear I'll fuck up that plan of yours somehow," I threaten.

"We're both on the same side, Nukea.“

No, we’re not.