Be My Mate.

THE STRANGER.

A place brightened with your presence has become such a dark cold cave in your absence.

I can't go back home if you are not there.

I can't go back to the realms because I don't have anyone I can talk to or get along with.

I'm with my mate, Star, and I enjoy life with him.

He became my shining armour in the darkness I was in and comforted me.

I've been able to survive ever since, because of him.

But—you left the people who mean so much to you.

Why?

Why did you leave without telling me?

Wasn't I ever your best friend? Didn't I ever mean anything to you that you had to push me out of the way without a second thought?

You are so cruel—Gerard?

Our home got shattered after Gerard left.

Our place became as silent as a graveyard.

I got drunk and impregnated Jessie, Oceana's best friend.

That day I panicked so much I almost told Gerard and then I recalled how he disappeared.

Damn, I was just so used to him in my life.

I almost lost Star because he thought I cheated on him.

It took me months to get Star back and reject Jessie, but Star told me to accept my child and not neglect it since he also loved children.

We both agreed, but I never wanted to have anything to do with Jessie ever again.

I will only talk to her daughter, our daughter, but not her.

However, the person who worries me the most is Oceana.

She had become so lean since she got married to Garold.

I know she must have seen Gerard with her eyes, but I didn't want to believe her and raise my hopes again until I see him for myself.

But if it is true she saw Gerard, I don't know what I will do next.

I had depression when he left and I don't want it to happen again.

I feel so sorry for Oceana, who had been with this burden for years.

I wonder how he will react once he finds out Oceana has kids for him since he hates children.

I opened the door for the young lad to get inside the room while I carried his boxes.

"This is your room, Nolan." I directed him inside the room and shut the door behind me.

"This is a fancy room, Carmine.” He looked around the luxurious room, decorated with expensive designs.

The furniture was silver. The room was painted in silver and white and his bed was the size of a king.

"Yes, you like it.”

He turned to me with a solemn look. "I did not ask for a king's room."

"I know.” I came closer to him and held his shoulders. "You must stay here with me, Nolan. I am getting you ready for anything, and I'm willing to protect you from the cruelty of the outside world."

'Am I going to live here like some prisoner like in the orphanage?'

"No, Nolan.”

I went to his bed and sat down on it. "Please feel free here. I'm keeping you here for a reason and I don't want you to die."

"Then why are you keeping me here is what I want to understand? I am not in any way related to you, but you act as if you know me. I want to know about you, Alpha Carmine. Why are you so interested in me and why do I have the feeling you know me somewhere as a relative or something?”

"Nolan." I sighed. "You are right. I indeed know you as a relative. I know you more than you know yourself. That's why I adopted you. The rogues are after your life as well, and I don't want them to hurt you since they came for you. I am keeping you safe. Please trust in me, and with time, everything will reveal itself by me telling you what you have to know. Please trust me and I will tell you who you truly are.”

'Will that help me live, Alpha Carmine?' he turned to me with a questionable look.

This kid was quite smart for his age.

"Yes, Alpha Nolan.”

"You don't have to talk to me with such formality. I'm nearly eight years old and you are my elder alpha. You are my father now."

"Still, you are an Alpha.” I chuckled.

"Yeah, I don't know if I'm an Alpha anymore or the reason you adopted me. It is quite confusing to take in and I find you dumb for adopting me. You and your Omega are gonna be my parents. It is quite shocking."

'Do you not feel uncomfortable having two dads?'

He shook his head. "I don't care if you guys are mates and gays. Not any business of mine, Alpha Carmine. If you have your reasons to protect me, I will gladly obey you and wait patiently for you to tell me everything. After all, I have my instinct telling me you are the right person who is going to keep me safe."

"Nolan.” I called with a sigh. He was such a gifted alpha.

"But don't expect me to be perfect because I've been sick my whole life. I'm a weak and a pathetic Alpha who can't do common work because of his weak bones. I get nightmares every night and can't sleep properly. I keep having dreams of unfamiliar faces and it's really disturbing to me. I keep getting wounds and pains in my body when I don't even do anything to cause those injuries. I hear laughter and cries from a girl, and I don't even know who they belong to.”

Back then, when this little lad was explaining his issues with me, I didn't quite understand what he was trying to say to me.

'Do you ever wish to meet your parents someday?' I asked instead, changing the topic.

I wanted him to feel free at his new home and not recall anything at the orphanage.

"Hell no! I don't wish to meet my parents. If I do eventually meet them, I hope I will be able—able to use my claws and kill them. Tear them limb by limb and throw them into the ditch, for they don't deserve to have someone like me. What a bunch of bastards."

"Nolan.” His statement took me aback.

"Tell me, Alpha Carmine." He wrapped himself with a little silver blanket on the bed beside him, as his long white hair waved with the breeze coming from the window. And his glittering blue eyes were as beautiful as the ocean under the sun.

'Who is this someone you said I reminded you of?' he questioned.

'Myself, of course. And someone who is so dear to me.'

"I see," he muttered.

"Tell me, Nolan, why did you wish to die when I picked you up from the orphanage?"

He frowned. "Let's turn that question around, Carmine. Is there any value to this life we call living?'

Someone once said the same words to me.

Gerard.

This child gives me the creeps.

"Nolan.” I sighed.

"Then I don't see any reason to answer your question if you don't have the answer to mine.”

“Nolan.” I muttered.