"Aylin, remember to be respectful. We are on their territory." My father warned as he always did. I nodded and we walked up the stairs to the large mansion that belonged to their Alpha. Our house was large compared to most houses in our town but the Red Pine Pack was larger and therefore wealthier. I always gawked at the comparison of their house to ours.
"Welcome, Allen and Aylin." The front door opened to reveal Marley Barrens. He was always more well-kept than my father as if it was a competition and he constantly won. His blonde hair was styled back with gel and his eyes squinted as he greeted us with a smile. His red collared shirt was wrinkle-free and professional.
"Yes, thank you, Marley." My father shook his hand and I did the same. I noticed his palm was sweatier than usual. I was nice enough to wipe it on the back of my dress the moment he turned away instead of in front of him like I wanted to. We followed him through his giant house to the usual dining room where we held meetings between our packs.
Our packs were the only two who met on such good terms. We had no pacts or agreement to officially establish an alliance but that was why Noah and I getting married was important. We reached the dining room and I noticed the same expensive curtains and décor from when we visited last time. At the large round table, Marley's Beta's James and Riley sat expectantly. I smiled at them respectfully as they waited for us to take our seats.
"Nice to see you again, Noah." My father greeted the boy sitting to James's right. I had completely ignored him. I flushed quickly looking to say something and realized he was smiling.
"Hi," I simply waved. He waved back. This was always our greeting. I never said anything more to him and he never said more to me. We were there accompanying our fathers and that was all. Something told me that would be in the past from now on though.
"Nice to see you both again," Noah said, looking at my father. I studied him curiously since the last time I saw him was two years ago. He sat taller, his dirty blond hair styled nicely, and his freckled cheeks were thinner than they were before. I felt my cheeks warm a little when I realized I had been staring. Noah didn't seem to notice though he was gazing at my father who gave him a nod.
After taking my seat, I waited for Marley to take his seat across the table before resting my hands on my lap. I usually let my father do the talking and waited to be addressed but something told me I'd be more involved in this one. I listened intently, fixing my posture.
"Patrols have been going smoothly. I've had no issues between your pack and mine. Once the agreement is settled we can combine our territory right away." Marley began, my father nodded and I studied his gaze surprised. We were combining packs? Why didn't he mention that? Normally when Alphas from different packs marry, the female moves in with her mate's pack, and her pack's Beta takes over the position of Alpha. If they were uniting the packs that meant it would just become one big pack with the new married pair becoming both pack's Alpha and Luna.
"Yes, I would like our packs to unite. However, I think it will take a while for our packs to adjust to the new leadership. Once Noah and Aylin are married the pack must understand both of them are in charge." I pinched myself to stop flinching at the word married. Of course, they were talking like we weren't here.
"My pack understands. My Beta's are ready to retire. I'm sure Aylin and Noah can discuss who their Beta pair will be once it's all arranged." I cringed at his words. Is that all we got to have a say in? Everything was being decided right in front of us. I'm surprised that our choice in Beta's wasn't.
"I have my Beta pair picked already, dad." Noah suddenly spoke from his seat. My mouth dropped open. I spoke too soon. I bit my lip. Avery and Ben were my chosen Beta pair. I looked to my father who shot me a sharp glance.
"Right. Don't forget Aylin must agree with you now that she will be your Luna." Marley reminded his son. My heart dropped at the term. It was strange to be referred to as someone's anything. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Noah must have noticed because he looked at me in concern. I untwisted my face back to its neutral expression. I couldn't give away my feelings or Noah might tell his father I'm being difficult.
"Noah, if you could stand and take Aylin's hand." My father ordered. Noah stood and I wiped my hands on my dress hoping they weren't clammy. He came to stand in front of me and I stood grabbing his hand.
"Do you feel a Bond?" Marley asked. Noah scrunched his face in concentration. It didn't take concentration to feel a Bond. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The feel of a Bond was said to be overwhelming. This was not it. I dropped my hand.
"I guess we're not Bonded either," I said when Noah looked at his hand. My father sighed and Marley nodded.
"Noah, why don't you take Aylin out back to show her our new pool." Marley gestured to his son. I stifled a laugh. Show me the pool? What a rich people's thing to say. We didn't have a pool but it wasn't that we couldn't afford one it was just too cold almost year-round.
"Of course." Noah gestured for me to follow. I followed behind him awkwardly. I noticed he was wearing gray dress pants and a white collared shirt. The white made his hair seem even lighter. He usually wore red like his father. Was that a statement to symbolize that this was a neutral meeting and not a rival pack one?
We arrived outside and I realized it was a little chilly. I instinctively grabbed my arms, rubbing them. Noah didn't seem to notice as he seemed to welcome the chill. The wind ruffled his hair and he seemed to smile. He brought me down the porch to the pool deck. It was a newly built stone pool with aquamarine tiles forming the shapes of dolphins lining the pool floor. It was beautiful. I sucked in a breath.
The snow had finally completely melted and the pool reminded me of how excited I was for summer. "It's very nice," I said. I didn't exactly know the point of me seeing it until I realized it was because it was technically going to be my pool.
"I know, I can't wait to use it this summer. You should come over." He said. I felt my cheeks grow hot. I touched my cheeks to feel them. My hands were freezing.
"If you want me to." I simply said after a while. I looked over to see he was looking at me intently. He looked puzzled. "What?" I asked. I narrowed my eyes studying his face. Up close I realized he was pretty good-looking. I had never been this close to him before now. His eyes were a light green and his hair had more goldish blonde strands than brown and it was so perfectly kept I felt a little insecure that he was looking at me now. I grabbed a strand of my hair and shoved it behind my ear.
"I would." He said calmly. I barely knew him but I felt a jolt of sympathy. Looking into his calculating gaze I realized. He was just like me. Raised with the expectation to lead and a set of rules boxing him in. From what I've seen he felt joy in the small things like swimming in the summer or maybe even a car ride somewhere far away. "Aylin, I'm sorry about all this." He suddenly breathed. I looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?" It's not like it was his fault he wasn't my Bond or that he had to marry me. He sat down on a patio chair finally dropping his 'perfect host' act.
"Can I be honest with you?" He said after a while. I nodded but his face was buried in his hands so I didn't know if he saw or not until he took my silence as a yes. "I don't want to do this anymore than you do." He said as I sighed. We had no choice. Was I that transparent though?
"Didn't you tell your father that?" He looked up at me and for the first time in the years I've watched him next to his father, he looked actually eighteen and not like a carbon copy of his middle-aged dad.
"No, I can't. He doesn't understand at all. I thought maybe you would." I bit my lip instinctively. Of course, I did. My father didn't understand either.
"I do. I understand what you mean. I don't want to marry you either." Noah flinched a little, surprising me. I guess we haven't used the term yet. It was a bit awkward.
"I love someone else. She's my Bond." He blurted out. My eyes widened. He what? I backed away from where he was sitting. So that's what was bothering him. I looked out at the light reflecting off the pool and remembered my conversation with Carter. Could I go through with this if I loved someone?
"You love someone else too don't you?" I turned back to him. He was still looking at me and I crossed my arms protectively.
"No, I don't," I said defensively. Changing the subject I narrowed my eyes at him. "If she's your Bond, why didn't she..." I trailed off already knowing the answer. She loves someone else even though he's her Bond.
Sighing, I walked to the other chair next to him and sat down. "Why don't you tell your father you love someone else. He has to agree to call off this arrangement."
"No, he knows about her," Noah murmured. I was confused.
"Why did your father ask you to check if we're Bonded then?" I asked. His father seemed pretty hopeful we'd be Bonded.
"He might have hoped her rejecting me was enough to break the Bond." He shrugged. I sighed. A Bond wasn't so easily broken. Their mate would have to deeply reject the tie and the other mate would have to accept it.
"Wow, you're a mess," I said without thinking. He looked up shocked and I bit my tongue. "I mean, I'm sorry. This situation is a mess." I corrected myself. He laughed.
"No, you're right. I am a mess. Just forget about this, please. It will take me a while but I'll get over her. Maybe I could..." He trailed off looking up at me. I looked away embarrassed at what he was insinuating. He sat up now looking at the pool that still glittered in the sunlight. It felt a little warmer now making me glad to be outside enjoying it.
"I think I could try to get to know you," I said quietly while still watching the pool. He shifted beside me and I thought he would ignore me but when I met his gaze he looked hopeful. Tired but hopeful.
"I think I could get to know you as well." He flashed a small smile. I felt the weight I had been carrying the past week lessen a little. I suddenly felt better about the whole thing. He was nicer than I expected.
"Friends?" I inquired, holding out my hand. He studied it a moment before shaking it.
"Friends." Noah agreed. I laughed and so did he. I should have gotten to know him sooner.