1-RSVP

~Hazel~

I received my first invitation to the Mate Gala last month. I found the perfect dress, red silk that hugs my curves with a sensual slit, and black strappy high heels. Now, I have to break the news to my parents. My mom and dad always tell me how horrible the supernaturals are. They chose to decline the gala invitations when they turned twenty-one, but I won't miss the opportunity to find a mate and live an extraordinary life. I don't want to settle for a human that most likely won't be loyal, and I want a connection with someone who was made just for me. He's out there; I can feel it in my chest when I think about it.

I accepted the invitation and sent back the RSVP to The Royals the day I received it. I've never seen any of The Royals other than my human leaders, Adrian and Harry Williams. The only time a human gets to see a supernatural is if they go to the gala. We are not allowed in other territories, and they cannot come into ours. It's hard to believe there was a time when they all roamed the world freely and without borders.

My mom and dad arrive at my house for dinner, as they do every Wednesday.

"Hello, darling. Can I help you with anything?" Mom asks when she walks inside.

"I think I have it all covered. You and dad can take a seat at the table. I'll bring out the food." I go into the kitchen to make our plates and serve them with a glass of wine.

"This lasagna smells delicious, sweetheart." Dad always says the food smells good, even when it doesn't. Learning how to cook was a long process for me, but I finally got the hang of it.

"Thank you. Before we eat, I have an announcement to make," I'm so nervous to tell them about the gala, but I have to. After Saturday, I may never get to see them again. They have the right to know what might happen to their child.

"Did you get another promotion at work? You are so bright, Hazel." It almost makes me laugh that my mother called me bright because I know what she says next will not be so positive.

"I have accepted the invitation to the Mate Gala. I leave this Saturday." Dad slams his fist on the table, and it makes mom jump. I prepared for his outburst, so I gave him no reaction.

"Why would you sell your soul to the devil, Hazel Grace?" Mom's lower lip trembles.

"I am not selling my soul to anyone. I have dated plenty of human men. They're all morons. They have no loyalty to their spouse, and they only expect one thing when they get you alone. Thankfully, I wasn't stupid enough to sleep with any of them," Dad shakes his head in disbelief.

"Not all men are disloyal. You just haven't looked hard enough," He grunted.

"That's rich coming from you. The guy who cheated on his wife with his secretary. What was her name again? Hannah?" He sits back in his chair.

"Who told you about that?" Dad asked while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You can't hide a scandal that the whole town talked about. Mom chose you, though. I guess she doesn't mind human flaws. I'm not like you, and I don't look forward to living an average life while being half loved by someone. Either be supportive or make this our last meal together." My parents have filled my head with enough negativity.

"You will never get our support. You don't think those creatures have affairs too?" Mom looks disgusted with me, but I don't care.

"Yeah, but you know the consequences are much worse for them, so it's not as likely to happen." She stays quiet because she knows I'm right. If a werewolf or Lycan is disloyal to their mate, it damages the mate bond. When the bond is damaged, their wolf weakens. A recent study shows humans are nine times more likely to have an affair than supernaturals are. Vampires are even more loyal than humans. I guess when you live eternally, cheating gets old.

"Let's agree to disagree on this. We don't want to lose our daughter; we just want you to be safe. We promise to stop giving you a hard time about it. You're an adult now, so the choice is yours." Dad is finally being rational.

"Thank you. I will be just fine, and I'll talk to you guys all the time. I'll always be your daughter, but this isn't the life for me." They share a concerned look and nodded their heads.

"Let's enjoy our meal together. If this is the last one we share, I want it to be happy." Mom wipes away her tears and takes a sip of her wine.

"I agree." Dad picks his fork up and starts eating.

________

My nails are freshly manicured and pedicured, ready for the gala tonight. I have never been more nervous in my life, but I'm ready to meet my soulmate. That is if my soulmate is at the gala. I've been lying awake every night wondering what kind of supernatural my mate would be. I don't have a preference because I feel like I could adapt to whatever new life I would have to live. I won't choose to stay human, so I know I won't be moving to the Half-Blood Enclave. Even if I don't find a mate this time, it will still be exciting to meet The Royals. I will go back every time until I meet my mate or even a vampire who is looking for the same kind of love I'm looking for.

I put dangly diamond earrings in and two golden bangles on my left wrist. My hair is in a beautiful updo with a few strands framing my face. I apply mascara and red matte lipstick that will last through the night, but nothing else because I don't want to hide too many natural features. I slide my dress on and zip it up in the back before checking myself over. The sweetheart neckline shows just enough cleavage to be sexy but not enough to scream desperation. My tattoo written in cursive across my collarbone is showing. My mom was angry when I got it. Not because I was marking my skin, but because of what it says: *Remember my heart.*

My strappy black high heels are on, and I'm ready to go. I grab my small black clutch and put my cellphone in it. As I walk out to the limo, I take a deep breath. Every guest to the gala must arrive in their designated transportation. The ride there is only thirty minutes from our borders, but it feels like hours.

"Are you excited to meet your mate?" The chauffeur asks with a bright smile. He's an older man with grey hair.

"I'm beyond excited. Did you ever attend the gala?" I know he's a human because The Royals hire chauffeurs within our territory to do the transportation for the gala.

"I went four times and never found a supernatural that was fated to me. Two months after my last gala, I met my wife. We've been together for thirty-four years. Our daughter met her mate last year and they're expecting their first child. I love how happy Ash makes her." He smiles at the thought of his daughter being happy in another territory, even if he's not able to see her anymore.

"I wish my parents were like you. Is your daughter still a human?" He shakes his head.

"Carlie is a lycan now. Ash never pressured her to change, but she knew it would cause difficulties if she chose to remain human. I'm proud of my daughter for making the right choice for herself and Ash. Her transformation was excruciating, unfortunately. It took her longer than most to wake up from her coma." That is the scariest part. When your mate injects their venom, your body goes into a coma as it changes the structure of your DNA. Once it's finished, your heart starts a new rhythm. It's the same rhythm as your mate.

"I'm glad she's doing well now. Congratulations on your grandchild, by the way." He shines with pride.

"Thank you. We're about to arrive in about a minute." I can barely contain my excitement.