Mated

The following morning, I didn't wake up early. However, the nanny banged on my door several times, leaving me with no choice but to get out of bed.

I opened the door and greeted my nanny who didn't explain what was happening. She only told me to get ready and come downstairs for breakfast. Annoyed by the early morning disturbance, I reluctantly brushed and took a bath, and then went downstairs to find out what the whole thing was about.

To my surprise, my dad had invited some people that I couldn't recognize. One of them was holding a bag, whilst the other seemed lost in thought.

"Dad, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Gena! Thank God you're awake," he said, putting both his hands on my shoulders and pulling me forward, "This is your makeup artist and designer. They will both glam you up for the party happening tonight," he told me, sounding very enthusiastic.

"A party? Whose party?" I asked him.

"Yours, baby. It's a huge celebration of your return, and also, your marriage," he said. His face brightened up as he spoke.

"What a ridiculous surprise. And whose marriage? Is dad going to make me marry someone I don't know and don't love?" I thought to myself.

As much as I wanted to argue with Dad, I decided that it was best to refrain from doing so. Nevertheless, I was curious to see whom he had chosen as my partner. Since time immemorial, werewolves have always chosen their mates, but it seemed that my dad wanted to make that decision for me.

I returned to the table, and the nanny came out of the kitchen to serve me food. Since I was the only one having breakfast, I thought that Dad was probably busy inviting everyone from his contact list. I swore to myself that I would decline whoever dad wanted me to marry.

Later that night, the celebration began. The guests invited by my dad had arrived, and they seemed taken aback for a second when they saw me standing beside my dad; they said I looked just like Mom. There was no lie in that, because each day, I found myself becoming more and more like her, and I have always sincerely loved and wanted to be just like she was - simple, kind, and generous.

"Gena, I'll be back," Dad said and left, heading to his study room. Since he was occupied and I didn't know anyone at the party, I decided to keep myself company by going to the bar to get a drink.

"Bartender, a glass of champagne, please," I called out, taking a seat and waiting to be served. After some time, the bartender, a cute young man, came over with the glass of champagne I had ordered. However, just as he was about to place it on the table, another person swooped in and took it from him. I turned, consumed with anger, and yelled at the young man who had snatched my drink without permission.

"Have you lost your goddamn mind?" I cursed.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" he asked, placing the glass back on the table and instructing the bartender to go away with it.

"How dare you do this? Do you know who I am?" I yelled at him, drawing the attention of the other guests, including my dad, who approached and found me furiously staring at one of the guests.

"Is everything okay, Luciano?" Dad asked, stepping forward and placing himself between me and the guest.

"I'm sorry, sir, but your daughter..." he began, but I didn't let him finish.

"I'm what?" I cried out.

"About to drink alcohol, and you think it's right for the daughter of a reputable hybrid to do this?" he answered.

"Has he gone mad? How dare he lecture me on right and wrong? Who gave him the authority to do so, my dad? I wondered.

"You're..." I reacted angrily and was about to burst with rage when Dad interrupted.

"Enough!" Dad held out his hand, signaling for me to stop. He turned to Luciano, "I apologize for my daughter's behavior. Please forgive her," he said on my behalf.

"It's okay, sir. Gena is a wise girl, and with much authority, she can be handled as a lady and as my future wife," Luciano said, tilting his head and giving me a grin.

"Wife? What are you saying?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing much, Gena. Just that I'm the person your dad wants you to get married to," he grinned. "I am your mate," he added, locking his hands behind him.

I left the party in anger and went back to my room. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw Dad standing there.

"Baby, may I come in?" he asked, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Why are you asking? It's your house," I told him, looking away from him. Dad entered and tried to touch my face, but I leaned away before he could.

"Gena, do you hate me?" he asked.

"Do I need to hate you?" I threw a question back at him.

"I don't know, because ever since you came back, you've been acting strange. What's happening? Tell me, don't you want to marry Luciano?" Dad asked, opening the room for answers.

I'm well aware that Dad loves me. Even though he still believes humans are evil, how do I teach him that whatever happened in the past is over, and a new era where humans and werewolves can live together is here? Although not all humans can accept the idea of werewolves being around, I know that there are people who value and love us just as we are. If only Dad could understand, we wouldn't have to shy away from civilization.