My Laughable Fate

30. I won

NATALIA POV

When you’re a child and someone you trust tells you something as a fact, you accept it, no questions asked. Like when my father told me I didn’t have a mate, that he would chose a wolf for me. It was easy for me to not only believe but also accept it. I also didn't question it.

Eventually, I understood that what he had really said was “No fated mate for you! I know better than the moon goddess and will find you a chosen.” At least that was the translation my wolf gave me shortly after we first met. Mia didn’t believe we weren't given a mate.

After weeks of her insisting there was no way our father could know we didn’t have a mate, she convinced me to question him. Not sure why I expected answers though. My father wasn’t the kind of wolf to give answers to anyone except his Alpha.

As I feared, I didn't get any. Instead, I ended up confined to my room for two months. During that time, Mia and I had loads of time to talk. We both agreed we didn’t want to accept a chosen or remain under my father’s thumb, but we had nowhere else to go. Until now.

The whole reason I accept Paul and the position of Luna at Dark Mist was to get out of Silver Rock. In my pea brain I saw it as an opportunity to get away from my father, but I didn’t plan on mating with anyone who wasn’t my mate. No matter what rank or social stature.

Paul is a very handsome wolf, like all the others, but he’s very much like my father. They don’t see the wolves around them as beings. We’re just pawns in a game they created. He might not be as bad as him yet, but he basically accepted me as his chosen for a dowry. Yuck.

I figured if I did what I always do and faded into the background, then I’d find an opportunity to slip away. How was I to know a team from the council would be here watching every inch of the pack for security deficiencies? I’m not exactly a stealthy shewolf.

It’s a good thing my grouchy sister-in-law showed up too, because I can’t imagine being anywhere but in my mates’ arms right now. I feel like I finally rolled the dice, passed go and the Moon Goddess gave me a prize way better than two hundred stinking dollars!

“Are you grinning mate?” Shoot! How did he even know? “Your dopey face is pressed up against his chest, he can feel it!” Mia said excitedly. “Our turn to feel something.” She added cheekily. I giggled and Luke chuckled. It was deep, husky and intensified the tingles I was already enjoying.

After we left the pack house, I didn’t get to hear his dreamy voice. He didn’t say anything, just stomped away from the pack and into the woods. When he was far enough away, he found a large boulder and sat with me still in his arms. He’s done all his talking with his hands and that’s all right by me.

The way he was holding me, so close, as if he was scared someone would take me from him. Every so often, one hand or the other would roam and give a squeeze here and there. All of it feels so amazing, and it’s hard not to giggle.

I pulled my face away, as far as he would let me, and smiled up at him. “I… I won.” My warbly voice gave way to happy tears. The amused look on his handsome face disappeared. His eyes softened before he frowned. “What’s your name mate?” His hand came up and cupped my cheek, his thumb whipping a tear as he waited.

Had the first thing I said to him been “I won!”? All I remember since meeting him is the warmth and comfort of his arms. Breathing in his scent as if I was trying to bottle it up for future use. Wonder if that’s possible. “We won’t need to. We will always be with our mate.” Mia insisted.

While that would be amazing, I can’t help but imagine what my father is going to do when he finds out I found my mate. Suddenly, taking mental snapshots of his gorgeous face became a priority. First up, his chiseled jaw. No stubble on his fair skin. Snap.

Next, a straight and perfect nose flanked by high cheekbones. Cheekbones a woman would kill for. Snap. Snap. Right above them were the most intense light brown eyes. I couldn’t even work the imaginary camera, he was so.... perfect.

All his features were sharp, unlike his twins. His sandy hair was cut neatly, but not too short. I hadn’t been graced with the vision of his goodies, but being pressed up against him as I am, I had used my imagination. His eyes crinkled further, and I was reminded he had asked me a question.

“What did our mate ask?” I asked my wolf in a panic. “Name! Your name you dolt!” Mia hissed. “Natalia Martin.” I finally blurted out, sniffling away the tears. I wanted the frown on his face to go away. “Natalia.” He said, tasting my name on his lips. His gorgeously full lips.

Those same lips opened, but before he could say anything, he turned to the right, in the direction of the pack. That’s when I heard the footsteps, someone was coming. It would make sense that his senses would be more attuned since he’s a warrior in the army, right? Or my senses suck.

I shivered at the thought it could be Alpha Paul or Daniel, but my mate didn’t seem worried. “Our mate probably has a name.” Mia snarked. Shoot! She was right, I didn’t know his name. Before I could ask, Leia and the literal depiction of Hercules came through the greenery and into the small clearing.

“Luke.” Leia said, and it made me a little sad I hadn’t heard it from his lips first. “Former Alpha Daniel snitched to her daddy." She pointed at me, with hardly any annoyance. That's new. “He’s Beta Richard of Silver Rock and he and his Alpha are on his way.” She practically smiled as she said it.

I felt mortified at the thought of my father and former Alpha coming here to take me away. I’m not sure why, but she and the Greek mountain seemed amused. Even excited. I turned back to Luke, expecting some type of worry, but was met with a handsome grin instead.

I didn’t know whether it meant he underestimated my father or didn’t have reason to fear him. I hoped it was the latter. “Mate.” That single word sent shivers up my spine and my brain went blank for a moment. “Hmmm?” If he wanted me to speak, I wasn’t sure I could do that for him right now.

My unease was what brought a worried look on his face. “What’s wrong?” His words were so soft and tender; as if we were alone. They almost made me forget the chains that were holding me back. “I agreed to marry Paul. My father…” He’ll never let me break that commitment.

I couldn’t get the words out, but I didn’t have to. Luke not only understood, but he shook his head, dismissing whatever promises I had made. “Your father has nothing to do with our bond. Now. If you tell me you don’t want to be my mate, that you would rather mate that…” He was already sneering when my hand covered his mouth.

“NO WAY! When I said I won, I meant it. You are my mate and I want to be with you.” My hand was still covering his mouth, but his eyes were smiling at me. “Good. Now you just need to tell your father that when he gets here.” My head snapped to Leia, who was kind enough to give me that reality check. Thanks sis.