Most days were spent reading. Ash had a penchant for the written word and enjoyed the worlds that carried him away. Stories of love and action adventures. While he may not have found an alpha to take his breath away, love at first sight, that didn't mean he didn't crave it. Ash was a hopeless romantic at heart. That was partly why he was so against being forced to marry Tristan. How could he have a love that could conquer all if he was forced into it? Even thinking back to what Harold had said, it didn't make sense to him. His arrangement with Tristan couldn't possibly allow love to blossom. Then again, if he were going by his own words, impossible wasn't futile.

He sat in the library of the mansion rereading the same sentence for the sixth time. His thoughts wandered away from the book in his hands to think about a different alpha. Beau had shown up and was now staying on the grounds in the staff quarters. Tristan had made sure there was a bed in the alpha wing of the much more humble building. He had been rather graceful and giving when it came to Beau; something Ash was thankful for. Even with Beau's declaration of taking him home, Tristan was still as courteous as he could be. It was a nice but extremely naive thought that maybe they could get along.

He heard the knocking and looked up from the book to see Beau standing above him. A smile graced Ash's lips as he closed the romance novel.

"What were you reading?"

"Oh, nothing much."

"Seems like it wasn't interesting," Beau said with a lopsided grin as his caramel eyes beamed brightly. Beau had this demeanor about him that made Ash think of a dog. He was loyal, caring, and good-natured. His shaggy brown hair didn't help the picture in Ash's mind and neither did the fact that he knew the alpha was a werewolf.

"I just have more important things on my mind." Ash huffed and laid his head in his hand, elbow propped up on the table, with a dazed look in his eyes. He wished it would be simpler to find someone like him. All he knew about this arrangement was that Tristan needed someone like him. And after overhearing the conversation with Gregory, he could only assume that meant another unicorn. What Tristan would need a unicorn for he wasn't sure of.

"Oh? Like how you plan on getting out of this ridiculous deal you got yourself into?" Beau's grin widened as he playfully tussled Ash's hair. The omega chuckled and nodded his head.

"Yes, that. I need to find another omega unicorn. Well, I assume Tristan is looking for a unicorn. I overheard Gregory, the fae I made the deal with, talking about my pheromones. Something about how he knew I was what Tristan was looking for based on my smell," Ash explained. Beau scoffed and shook his head.

"You're telling me Lord Fancy-Pants needs an omega unicorn, and you just so happened to be silly enough to make a deal? C'mon Ash, how could you not have had been street smart?"

Ash knew it had been stupid. He knew it was reckless to toss his life away on unspoken technicalities. But hearing it from Beau hurt more than when he thought of it. For some reason, knowing that his best friend thought his mistake was stupid only made it a sharper pain in his heart. He went silent for a moment only for Beau to pull out the chair next to him.

"Hey, you know I didn't mean it harshly. I'm just wondering why you didn't think it was suspicious." Beau asked. It was a good question, one which he asked himself every day since being here. Six days in and they weren't even close to the wedding, scheduled exactly two months from today.

"Gregory didn't tell me what his debt was. And honestly, the medicine worked. I can't lose my mother to something that Gregory was able to easily cure." Deep down, Ash wasn't sure if that was the only reason he was so against this marriage. If he were honest, he would have agreed to marry Tristan if he'd been told it would save his mother's life. He would do anything for her. But there was something else at play that prevented him from accepting his fate.

"A plan was mentioned before, do you actually have one?" Beau asked to which Ash shrugged.

"Sort of. I just need to find someone else to take my place. That's why I need to find an unmated, omega unicorn. Tristan said he needs me specifically. So I assume that his mate has to be a unicorn like me."

"Hmm, that makes things more challenging. It isn't as though there's a log of unicorns in an area." Beau had a point. Ash knew this challenge was starting to look futile. But he couldn't let that stop him. He had to try to regain his freedom!

"I tried a matchmaker in town and Tristan was a client of his. But Harold wouldn't tell me anything about Tristan's search for a mate. I only know about the pheromone bit because I overheard him on the phone…" Ash admitted with a queasy smile. He didn't like to admit he'd been eavesdropping. It was rude to do so and he didn't want his friend to think poorly of him. Ash didn't think it was possible for Beau to think that, but he fretted about it either way.

"Good detective work! But unless we can locate someone to take your place, it's a starting point and nothing else."

That was an extremely blunt way to put it. Without someone to take his place, he would be forced to wed Tristan. Ash thought to himself, way to state the obvious, Beau. He didn't know where to start at all. Maybe if he could locate a pheromone similar enough to his own. But he couldn't smell them by himself. Ash was still amazed he could smell Tristan's scent.

"I think you need to help me. I need to find a pheromone like mine. If we can find an omega with similar scent notes, then we can pinpoint who is a unicorn. I just, I feel like this might be looking for a needle in a haystack." Ash admitted. It didn't feel good thinking that his plan wouldn't work.

"Hey, if anyone can find a unicorn, it's a werewolf!" Beau beamed to Ash while tussling his hair again.

"Leave it to me. I'll go into town and do some digging."

Ash looked over to the alpha with a thankful expression as tears tried to prick the corners of his eyes.

"I'm glad you're here to help me," he said while reaching over to hug Beau lightly. He may be bound to Tristan as a soon-to-be-bride but that didn't mean he was going to abstain from hugging a friend. 

***

Beau was in town tonight and that meant that Ash had to find something to do. Reading was a great hobby to pass time, but he didn't feel like his mind would settle on the words. He'd been entirely too distracted this afternoon and now he was growing anxious over Beau and what the alpha was trying to find. A hundred different scenarios ran through his thoughts, all of which differed in such minute ways it just made his head spin.

Ash didn't even notice that he was staring out the window at the sky as the sun set. It was already early evening and he'd been sitting in the bay window for a couple of hours now. His mind was so out of place that he didn't even know Tristan had entered the room twenty minutes ago.

The clearing of Tristan's throat made Ash look over with a 'huh'. 

"Sorry, I don't think I'll be good company tonight," Ash was truthful as his eyes turned their attention back to the window.

Tristan continued to walk over to the bay window, sitting down opposite Ash.

"I don't mind. Care to tell me your thoughts?" he asked. His voice was devoid of much emotion, only the barest hint of curiosity tinged his tone. Ash flicked his gaze over to Tristan's face for a second or two before he sighed and turned his body to face the alpha completely.

"I know you're allowing me to find a replacement and everything, but you know how discouraging it is? I'm not sure how long you looked for me, but I know nothing of what to look for. I assume you need someone like me, but I don't even know what part of me you need to be similar to." he vented. Ash wouldn't deny how hard this was. Six days of trying to find a solution. Six days of feeling agitated that he had no leads. At the same time, he just needed a little help. If Tristan were true to his word about wanting to get to know him, then Ash should be able to talk freely. The only thing he could do it seemed.

"I want to tell you. But if I told you, then our marriage wouldn't work. I need you to trust me."

He turned away. Easier said than done. Ash wanted to trust Tristan. It would be so much easier if he did. But he knew very little of the alpha. Maybe getting to know Tristan wasn't such a bad idea. Maybe he could appeal to his sympathetic side if they were better acquainted. It made sense to play the victim card and get sympathy if they understood the other better.

Ash didn't voice his idea though. Instead, he pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapped both arms around his bent knees, and then rested his head against the tops of his kneecaps. As he did so, his eyes were able to look fully at Tristan.

Once again the omega was reminded of how beautiful Tristan was. It was moments like these that allowed him to notice something else; something new. He made direct eye contact and noted how long his eyelashes were. His emerald gemstone eyes looked back at him with a kindness that made Ash blush faintly. Rolling his head to look away, Ash forced himself to breathe. Just because he was handsome and his eyes were extremely gorgeous, did not mean that he should entertain any notions of marriage to the alpha.

"Would you care to ask questions? I would like to get to know you as well, Ash."

It was a great suggestion. Asking questions would give him answers. Well, not the one answer he sought.

"Sure. I'll start. Are you fae?"

"No. I'm not bound by contracts and promises. I'll give you a hint though, I hoard objects." Ash nodded his head. That could be a number of things, but the image of Tristan was starting to become clearer. He was rich because he hoarded things. He was probably much older too.

"What's your favorite color?" Tristan asked.

"...emerald green which is completely coincidental!" Ash said loudly as he appeared to fluster himself up.

"Does that mean you like my eyes?" 

"I thought it was my turn?" Ash quirked an eyebrow.

"Ah yes, go ahead."

"How old are you?"

"I'll be two hundred and sixty-five next month. Now back to my eyes," he teased.

Ash sighed dramatically and tilted his head up toward the alpha.

"Yes. Your eyes are really pretty. What a waste of a question," Ash joked with a short laugh. Why would he waste a question on that? Was Tristan vainer than he'd imagined?

"It's good to know when your fiance thinks you have pretty eyes… I believe it's your turn again."

"Why do you need to marry now? I mean, if you're as old as you say then shouldn't you have a wife already?" Direct and to the point. Ash felt a victorious win under his belt.

"I've had three."

Oh, only three wives before. That didn't sound like a lot—wait! Three brides? Ash's face showed his shock and Tristan chuckled.

"You could say I've been cursed. None of those marriages lasted. Complications and life got in the way."

Ash squinted at the alpha. That cryptic response made him wonder what would happen to him if he did end up getting married.

"Okay, so you've been married three times already. Why get married again? What's so important that you need to marry me in two months?" Boom! Great question, he praised himself.

"That's part of the secret I can't tell you. I will tell you it has something to do with my curse. But that's all I can say."

Hmmm, very suspicious. Ash knew Tristan was cursed now. However, he couldn't imagine what kind of curse would require them to marry each other to solve it. And just because Tristan was cursed didn't mean he had to suffer to save him. Although, he knew he'd feel terrible if he didn't care at all. His bleeding heart wasn't a blessing in this instance.

"Do you hate marriage?" Tristan asked. This question caught him off guard. Ash fidgeted with his feet before shaking his head no.

"If I'm going to marry someone, I want to know that I love them completely. I want to find an alpha to love and then get married and have kids. This situation kind of does it backward. Marriage, then possibly kids, and hopefully love. I just want to be free to choose who I love." There was a moment of silence between the two. Tristan looked out across the estate grounds toward the treeline. He looked so serene that Ash wished he could capture that expression on the alpha's lips. He rarely looked so calm around him.

"I only have one more question. It's a doozy though." he started before pausing again. This was a vain question on his part but Ash needed to know.

"The first night, you said I would do. I understand you probably aren't attracted to me but will you be happy being tied to me forever? I don't think I could even consider accepting this arrangement, replacement or otherwise, if my mate doesn't find me attractive." It was a big leap of faith. Tristan had asked Ash to trust him. Well, trust has to be earned.

"I find you cute. I wouldn't call you repulsive in the least. I find your body to be desirable. That isn't the only important factor in this marriage though. I need more than just a beautiful face, Ash."

Dang, that was a good answer. Ash bit down on the inside of his right cheek hard. He needed to know what more Tristan needed. Why couldn't he just say it? So frustrating!

Plopping his head further onto the tops of his knees, Ash felt defeated. There was no way Tristan's tight lips would reveal the truth.

He felt a hand under his chin, guiding his gaze back to the alpha. The hand left his chin to caress his cheek though and Ash stilled his body. This was new. He felt an explosion of jitters in his stomach so strongly he swore he could be sick.

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Tristan's words of encouragement were short and to the point. Grandiose gestures and words weren't needed. Tristan thought he had a beautiful face and that he was cute. Shouldn't that be enough? But Ash continued to feel an emptiness he couldn't explain.