"Marry?!" The word came out like a surprise from Manu's mouth. It was as if he never heard of it before that the sound of it rolling off his tongue was like an alien from a planet yet to be discovered. He coupled that with a widening of his eyes upon hearing his mother's ridiculous request. But of course, he wouldn't dare say out loud that it's the most preposterous thing he had ever heard his whole life. The old woman's birthday was in the next two weeks and she was asking him to be married by then. Like where the heck in the world would he drag a bride from? "Magnus, you are twenty-eight. Haven't you found your mate yet?" Selina's tone was hopeful that he somehow already did. After all, didn't wolves usually find their mate when they turn eighteen or twenty-one? Manu was way past that age. Manu stood up and walked towards the glass wall of his office. From there, he could see the dazzling city being illuminated by the moonlight above and by the city night lights below. The

Manu couldn't believe he'd found his mate that same night. It was Kiera. But it bothered him that besides the strawberry scent he undoubtedly liked the first time he caught a whiff of it, that was just that. He did feel the mate bond as Cole was obviously over the moon they found their mate. Kiera's wolf, Fia and Cole, connected well. But Manu didn't feel as much connection with Kiera. Wasn't it supposed to be the same way since he and Cole were typically one? "Can you believe it?" Kiera was still ecstatic. "I've been far away from home for a long time thinking that I could find my mate somewhere else. But here you are all along… I missed so much time with you!" Selina was right. Kiera had blossomed into a very beautiful and fine woman. His last memory of her was when she was just ten years old and he was twelve. Her family migrated overseas and they lost touch since. It was the first in nearly two decades that they saw each other again. Kiera was no longer the thin, pal