Oliver's POV
"What? I don't think that is a good idea. I am not going to have a mate, and that is period." I said sternly, and I couldn't believe the elders would bring up this issue in our meeting, and I know their wisdom is also needed in our pack. However, being civilized wolves, we are now in a different era. We still go on hunting during the full moon, but thanks to our forefather's we are now all living in the city, having the best days of our lives being human. We live in a happy community.
But we know sometimes we hear violence happening in other packs, and having a mate is still necessary. I gained my position being the Alpha when the last Alpha in our pack challenged me, and I know I can never say no to our Alpha even if I didn't want to fight him. The rest of our pack asked me to fight, and he was the strongest amongst us. When he asked me, I tried to resist him, and I couldn't believe I needed to fight him because I only wanted to remain a Beta for the rest of my life since, for me being an Alpha means more responsibility. Still, I could tell because of technology, and our lives became more mundane.
The Valiant pack is living in Gallant City, not so far away from the mountains because sometimes we couldn't control our wolves selves, we wanted to go to the mountains every time our wolf self summoned us to be there. We mingle with humans and make friends with them. There are a lot of citizens who live in the City who are shifters like us, and Gallant City is one of the wealthiest cities within the country because of its natural resources.
The Sterling Pack is living in the Zenith City, the capital city of Lykos Country, and the elders are telling me that my mate is the daughter of the richest man in the country, who happens to be the Alpha of the Sterling Pack. He loves to travel because of their overflowing wealth, and I couldn't believe they would ask me to go to the city and meet his daughter.
"This is too much," I said, and one of the elders tapped my shoulder.
"Your father has been one of the strongest alpha in our pack, and Nicklaus Winner was his best friend; they met when they both studied in college, and they become inseparable. Even though they belong to a different pack, they promised each other that someday their children will belong in one pack by marriage, or by making their children as mates." Noel said.
"And why do I need to go there and babysit the heiress again?" I asked.
"Because the Moon Goddess says so." The elders answered in unison.
"How come you included the Moon Goddess in our conversation?" I asked, looking at them while I could see the amusement of my Beta/my best friend's face.
"You have known about this already, maybe because of your father's closeness to Nicklaus Winner, they both asked the Moon Goddess to hear their requests, and after your mother gave birth to you, after eight years, Nicklaus wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and the Moon Goddess appeared and talked to your father that she granted their wishes," Noel responded.
"And that is the end of the story, your father has been the Alpha of this pack, and we all know you will follow in his footsteps." He said.
"But I don't believe in love!" I exclaimed.
"Then let love take its course." They all responded, and I got out of the board room of my company, where we held the meeting, and I could hear their laughter as I made my way out.
"Hey, don't be so stressed about it, Oliver," Zane said as we walked towards the parking lot.
"I couldn't believe that they will be doing this, I am 26 years old, and they want me to pretend to be a senior high school student? What is wrong with them? I can never do that, Zane." I responded.
"As if you can say no." He said, and I grunted under my breath.
"And a hilarious thing happened, Nicklaus called me and informed me I would be staying at his mansion. How could I do this, Zane? Babysitting an eighteen-year-old senior student?" I asked in disbelief.
"Well, for me, I know you will look younger if you will only wear teenager's clothes, and even if you are wearing a suit, I could tell you look younger than your age, Oliver." He responded.
"You don't know, and maybe it is not that bad. If Victoria Winner is your mate, I could tell you will know it right away." He said.
"I hate this mate thing. We should find our mate; why do I need to be imprisoned with this brat?" I complained.
"Oliver, you should go to Zenith before you can say she is that bad. Why didn't you try looking at her profile on social media? Maybe you will know she is the one." My best friend declared, and I shook my head.
"Everyone will find their mate during the Moon Goddess Ball, and why I can't find mine? It was because I opted not to be mated." I declared.
"Come on, Oliver, you attended so many balls, and for how many times you come home empty-handed." He replied.
"It was because I don't believe in mating and how much more about love," I said, and he smirked at me.
"What?" I asked him, and he just shook his head.
"Tell me about it, Zane, or else we will not go to the bar," I said as we both got inside my car.
"Maybe you haven't found your mate because she is the one." He said, and I laughed.
"That is stupidity, Zane, I haven't found a mate because I don't believe in it, but the elders will kill me if I do not go to Zenith City." I declared as I felt so defeated, and my best friend looked at me sideways for a long time.
"Love is real, Oliver, once you found it, you will know about it, and all you have to do is mark her so, the process will become easier, and I think the moment you mark the heiress your opinion about love and mating will change." He said, and I shook my head.
"Whatever ever Zane, they said you will die with sadness once your mate dies; how could that be normal? We can fight that, and it is only an emotion. If your mate dies, you don't need to die as well, and you have to live and think you can do it. For me, a strong wolf is the one who can live alone without a mate." I said, and he raised his two hands to tell me he surrendered with our arguments.
"You better drive to the bar now and enjoy your last two days here in Gallant," Zane said, and I took a deep breath before I drove away from the office. And I chose a table as far away from the crowd, and we nodded to some of our pack members, and I always reminded them to greet me naturally since I wanted us to be equal. I don't want to be dominant because I am their Alpha. I want equal treatment when we are here in the city, but even if we are in the mountains, I don't want them to treat me differently, for we are all equals, but I bowed to protect every member of my pack.
"I think we should head back to my house, Zane. I think I am not in the mood to drink here tonight." I said as I stood up, and he was following behind me, and we got out from the bar, and we got inside my car, and I drove my vehicle away from the bar, and we became silent for the rest of the ride.
I got two cans of beer from the fridge, and I handed Zane his beer, and we both sat on the sofa, and as I leaned on the couch, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zane browsing at his phone, and I could tell he was looking at his phone seriously.
"Are you texting Trixie?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"Nope, once you marked your mate, it feels like your heart will beat as one." He said, and I shook my head. I like Zane's mate because Trixie is excellent and came from a decent family in the city, and too bad she is human. Still, Trixie loves Zane with all her heart, and she accepted my best friend without question, and she became part of our pack after Zane bit her, her transition went well, and they got married so it would be more realistic for Trixie's family.
I was the best man during their wedding, and many human girls tried to call for my attention, but I was too preoccupied to notice them. And now I am having the worst moment of my life; having an eighteen-year-old for my mate would be a no for me, but the elders didn't give me a choice but go to Zenith.
I drove ten hours straight to be here in this beautiful city. Even if Mr. Winner told me I would be staying at his mansion, I have a property in Zenith, it was a house and lot, and I have cars and motorcycles. It was only for investments purposes, and now I am staying at my home before I need to attend my class tomorrow. I couldn't wait to meet my supposed mate. Her name alone feels like a nuisance on my ear.
I couldn't stop thinking about my move, maybe after three days I could decide what to do with the heiress, and for now, I have to follow Zane's advice. I need to relax and enjoy my stay in the wealthiest city of Lykos Country and worry about my mission later. But I couldn't deny there is a part of me that wanted to know about the heiress, Victoria Winner.