ERIK

I had planned to talk with Raven about our situation, about the bond, but I had a feeling he was avoiding me. No. It wasn’t a feeling. The omega was avoiding me. Days passed as I tried to talk to him, but he was nowhere to be found. Talking to him was harder than I expected; Raven made it even harder. Every time I had the chance to talk to him, he would walk away fast, or I would be interrupted by his sisters, who hadn’t given up on seducing me. Deep down, I felt honored. So many beautiful women were trying to win me or get me to their beds. Ed growled in my mind, disapproving. In any other situation, I would have done it, but not when I had to deal with the fact that my fated mate was a man, who was also avoiding me. I knew where his room was, but I didn’t want to feel like a weirdo or as if I was pressuring him to do something. I just wanted to talk, tell him I am not interested in bonding, and open him to the idea of being friends. 

‘I don’t want to be friends with him. I want him to be our mate.’ Ed roared with anger at me. ‘And don’t you dare think of those women. They are not our mate, Raven is.’ Ed continued to nag and scold me.

‘We barely know Raven and don’t forget we like boobs, Ed.’ I said, showing him memories of how much we liked women.

‘So what? Bisexuals exist. We can like boobs and Raven. I like Raven.’ Ed said, and I could almost see his tail moving from side to side, for a leopard he looked more like a dog like that.

‘You don’t even know him. It’s the bond talking.’ I said, annoyed.

‘And? The God/dess selected Raven for us. They know better than us.’ He explained to me with a serious tone. ‘I won’t allow you to reject him. I want to meet my mate.’

‘I don’t even know if I’m rejecting him. I just want to talk about it with him. See what he thinks. We could reach an agreement.’ I explained to my animal self. ‘We could become friends.’

‘Friends? Fuck that, I want to mate with Raven.’ Ed said with a roar. ‘I want him to wear our mark on his nape.’

‘Whatever. First I have to catch Raven.’ I said with a sigh.

‘It’s exciting how he is running for us, like if we are on a hunt. It’s arousing.’ Ed said entertained by the whole situation.

‘Touch some grass, Ed.’ I said.

‘Like you would let me take over.’ I could almost see him rolling his eyes.

‘You are right. I won’t.’ I said, and he huffed.

I sighed and decided to go out for a breath. I had been in Bramville for almost a week, and I had barely walked around the pride territory. I didn’t know anyone aside from the Powells, and without work to do because of my vacation, all I could do was explore. As a city boy, Bramville’s pride felt different from all I’ve known. The territory was big, surrounded by a forest, miles of territory that allowed people to freely shift into their animal forms and go for a run. As I walked around, I saw leopard and panther cubs playing, their parents in their human forms keeping an eye on them. I smiled watching them play. I smiled and kept walking until I found a plaza. Surrounded by a small market, stands full of all sorts of food. The nice smells distracted me until something bumped into my leg. I looked down and found a kid, who had brown hair and looked at me with curious green eyes.

“Are you okay, kid?” I asked worried he had injured himself. I looked around but couldn’t see his mother. Was he lost?

“Uhm…” He started to say shyly, but then closed his mouth, just looking at me with his big green eyes. 

“Marlon! I told you to wait for me.” A kid approached us, he looked just like the one who bumped my leg. Twins perhaps. “I’m sorry, sir. My brother doesn’t check his surroundings sometimes.”

“It’s okay. Are you okay, Marlon?” I asked the shy kid, he nodded softly, and I caressed his head. “Be careful next time, okay?” Marlon nodded holding onto his brother’s hand.

“Are you new here? I haven’t seen you before.” The extroverted kid asked with curiosity. “My name is Miles.”

“I am visiting, yes. Nice to meet you, Miles. I’m Erik.” I said with a gentle smile.

“Like ‘The Little Mermaid’?” Marlon shyly asked.

“Yes, like that.” I said nodding. I didn’t understand why he made that comparison, but it was cute.

“Miles! Marlon! There you are.” A woman came running to us. She stood next to the kids and scolded them. “What have I told you about walking away on your own? What if you get lost?”

“We won’t Mama. I know the way home.” Miles said puffing his chest, acting strong.

“Still, you can’t wander alone. I only went into the store for a bit.” She said with a sigh and then turned to look at me with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry if they bothered you.” 

“Mama, his name is just like The Little Mermaid.” Marlon mentioned holding his mom’s hand.

“What?” She said confused, looking at his son and then at me.

“My name is Erik, you know, like the prince.” I said with a smile. She nodded, and it seemed like she realized something. 

“Erik? Wait. Erik Bennet?” She asked curiously, her blue eyes familiar, but I couldn’t think where I had seen them.

“Yes, how do you know my last name?” I asked confused.

“Oh, I’m Roxanne. Roxanne Powell.” She said with a smile to me. “I couldn’t come on the day you arrived. Miles and Marlon were recovering from a cold.”

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you. You are the oldest right?” I asked, remembering Esme had told me that.

“I am, and I heard about Raven.” She said giving me a curious look. I gave her an awkward smile. “Sorry, words travel fast here.”

“What about Uncle Rae?” Miles asked curiously looking at me. “Do you know Uncle Rae?”

“Yes, I do. I’m a guest at your grandparent's house.” I explained. Both kids looked at me with curious eyes. 

“Oh! You are staying with Gram? Why?” Miles asked.

“I’m on vacation.” I answered with a smile. It was more complicated than that, but the bond was not something kids should know about.

“Why?” Miles asked curious.

“Okay. Enough with the questions, we have to get going kids. Your father is coming home soon.” Roxanne said to her kids, and then gave me an apologetic look.

“Ow, I wanted to play with the prince.” Marlon said with a pout.

“Another time, maybe?” I said to him with a soft smile and he nodded.

“Sure. Now off we go, kids, " Roxanne smiled at me. The twins waved at me as they said their goodbyes.

I waved back at the twins and watched them walk away with their mother. I smiled and kept exploring the plaza, even buying food from the stands. I felt eyes on me from time to time. I was a guest, and of course, people were curious. Roxanne’s words came to me: ‘Words travel fast here’. Did everyone know? Did they know about me and Raven? Was that why they looked my way? 

“Erik.” I heard a voice call my name and turned. Soren was standing there with a man I didn’t recognize. He had a strong aura, an alpha. He had blue eyes and his hair was white, but not because of his age; he didn’t look old. “Fancy seeing you here. Taking a walk in the plaza?”

“Hello, Mr. Powell. Yes, I finally took the time to explore the territory. It’s very beautiful, very different from what I’m used to.” I said with a smile.

“I’m glad to hear that.” The white-haired man said with a smile and then stretched his arm to me for a handshake. “I’m Zenon Whiteclaw, current alpha of the Pride. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Erik.”

“The pleasure is mine. You have a lovely Pride here.” I said shaking his hand with a firm grip.

“Thank you, I hope you are enjoying your stay.” Zenon said with a smile letting my hand go.

“Yes, the Powells are great hosts.” I said sincerely.

“Esme would be happy to hear that.” Soren mentioned, and I was going to make sure to tell the omega later.

“I also heard about the situation.” Zenon said with a knowing smile. Word indeed traveled fast here. “Congratulations, and I wish you a successful courting.” 

“Actually, I—” I started to say, but was interrupted by the ring of a phone. Zenon took out his cell phone from his pocket, looking at the screen.

“Sorry about that. We have to get going.” Zenon looked at me and then nodded at Soren, who soon followed him.

I sighed as I saw the men walk away, and I felt wary of the stares on me. Everyone knew. I was certain of that now. A cute couple passed by my side, and I couldn’t help but stare at them. They looked so happy and in love, just like I had wanted to look with my fated mate.

‘We still can look like that. We just need Raven.’ Ed mentioned, and I rolled my eyes.

‘No, absolutely not.’ I said in a serious tone.

‘Reject it all you want, but you will see. You are going to fall for him.’ My animal self said, and I frowned.

‘Are you challenging me?’ I asked him, I was weak to a challenge.

‘Perhaps I am.’ Ed said with a playful purr.

‘What are you betting? Money?’ I asked.

‘Mmmm, I don’t have any use for money, but you know what I want.’ Ed said mischievously.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘A favor, not for now, but for later.’ He said, and I gave it a thought. It wouldn’t be that bad; he wasn’t going to win anyway. This could be in my favor.

‘Okay, and if you lose, you will stop bothering me and accept my wishes of not mating with a man.’ I said, and Ed waited for a few minutes to answer.

‘Deal.’

‘Perfect. We will see who wins.’ I said, knowing well that he would lose.