Chapter 2: Chapter 2~ I Don’t DO Confusion

As I headed to my office, I linked Kaiden and Brayden to my office. Eros has given me a headache all night. We caught a hint of an intoxicating scent of vanilla and jasmine , off and on for the last two hours and he hasn’t shut up about it! Swears the scent belongs to our mate..Mates don’t exist. They haven’t for a long time. When I was a boy, I always thought it would be so great! To have one person…one..that fit us perfectly. The second half of our heart and soul. But it’s like unicorns..a fantasy! I have never heard of such a thing actually happening. The guys walk into the office and Kaiden says “I expected you to be tucking into Candace by this time” I said she was waiting on me, I just wanted to make sure all the ladies had gotten settled in their rooms. He said “yep. And Candace is in the room next to yours..Celia is across the hall and Britney is next door to hers.” He knew I wanted the girls I have been seeing close so I can get to their rooms with little notice. I said “Good..good. And the other girls? All settled in?”

Brayden said “All safely ensconced on the third floor. I didn’t think you would want them to think the other three had undue advantage just because you’re fucking them” and he laughed. The fucker laughed! Because my personal life is sooo funny!

Instead of bouncing his face off my desk, I said “and the girl who showed up late? What room is she in.” Brayden said “Arabella..yeah! She’s a cool girl! I like her. She’s in the first room to the left of the stairs. I swapped her out with Kiersten because apparently..balconies are a phobia of hers.” I asked “of whose?”Kaiden says “Kiersten’s. She has a shit ton of phobias. Like balconies..not heights. Balconies scare her. And bananas. And red curtains. Girl has issues, dude!” I laughed and said this is going to be an interesting two weeks.

Then I said tell me about this Arabella. I must admit to my curiosity being peaked. Brayden says “She’s awesome! She’s funny and dishes out as good as she gets! Smart.. classy but cusses like a sailor. She’s not one to take shit off anybody, that’s for sure!” I smirked. “Sounds like you’re half in love already Bray.”

He frowns and says “Not that at all. I feel more brotherly towards her. There’s something about her that makes me want to be around her.. and she believes in the old ways..the Moon Goddess’ doctrine of True Mates.”

Kaiden says “yeah..she is absolutely sure they exist. It was a strange conversation. And I found myself wanting to believe her. Strange feeling!” I wonder who filled her head with that nonsense. “Hand me her folder. Let’s see what she’s about… “

I opened the folder and there she is..an 8x10 headshot,as required. As I look down at the photograph, I find she really is exquisitely beautiful. Eros won’t stop bouncing..his tail wagging so hard my fucking eyes are crossing! I roar Eros! Calm the fuck down! I stood up and grabbed a whiskey. Kaiden asks if I’m okay. I simply nodded and said Eros! He nodded in response.

I sat down and started reading her dossier. She was born 18 years ago on a full blue moon. Her parents weren’t married and her mother disappeared the night she was born, never to be seen again. Arabella is the result of an affair..so that makes sense.

Her father was Alpha Allen Sirces of Silver Moon. He was assassinated in his bed by his wife and her lover when Arabella was ten. Her half-brother took over as Alpha and she was sent to a boarding school until 2 months ago. She spends two weeks every summer with a distant relative no one knows the identity of. She’s just picked up by a vehicle and returned the same way and Arabella never answers questions about it. I’m going to have fun with her tomorrow in our first meeting.

She is very intelligent. Exceeding in all her courses. She holds three bachelor’s and two masters degrees in education, social work, psychology and medicine. A very accomplished young woman. She sings and plays piano and apparently has had some martial arts training… that field is vague…”some martial arts”? Too vague.

“What does my day look like tomorrow? I am so not looking forward to any of this! Fucking council demanding I take a Queen! I don’t want a Queen! I like my life”

Kaiden says “ After breakfast, you have ‘meet and greet’ in the throne room. Each girl has twenty minutes alone to dazzle you with their charms. I have listed questions you can ask each girl according to their interests..or you can wing it and just ask anything you want to know. After that concludes, it’s off to a garden lunch with the horde of horneys…and then over to the firing range for their first competition. Should be a busy day”

I looked up and said “elimination competition?” Brayden says “Yes…the two lowest combined scores go home. Leaving 18 for the next day. I don’t envy you at all, bro! Having to choose when you don’t want any!” And he laughs…again… I say it makes me so happy to be a constant source of entertainment for you guys! And they both laughed! Hard! I look at Kaiden and say “Horde of Horneys?”

Then I laughed! Brayden asks “Is that one of the competitions?” I said is “what one?” He responds “Do they have to have sex with you to see can they satisfy you?” And I lost my shit! Laughed so hard my stomach hurt! I said Nooo! He said “Thank Goddess! Because I betcha Bella would be outta here running!”

I said “Bella?” Kaiden says “Yeah..she told us to call her Bella. Kissed us both on our cheeks when she said good night. Nice girl and I think that’s what Bray was getting at” I looked at Brayden and see him nodding. How in the fuck did this girl get under their skin so fast!? I said “well men! We have a long day tomorrow and I have a woman waiting to get me inside her…so I’m off.” I have a lot to think about. This Arabella has my wolf all confused and I don’t DO confusion!