What’s in a Name?

ALEX

I sit opposite Ariel in the dining room, waiting for this ~Matt~ to arrive.

Most nights, Ariel and I eat dinner while cuddled up in front of the TV.

But most nights, my mate’s ~new mate~ isn’t coming over for dinner…

So I guess this would be considered a special occasion.

Ariel is dead set on healing Matt, and at our mating ceremony I took a vow to support her until death do us part.

But I’m still going to keep a watchful eye on this guy and make sure he doesn’t get too cozy with Ariel.

“I know how uncomfortable this must be for you,” Ariel says, “but we just need to figure out where his girl is and what split them apart in the first place.”

“Sounds simple enough,” I say.

Suddenly, I see Ariel flinch in her seat. Her face flushes red.

“What’s the matter?” I ask her. “Are you all right?”

“Y-yeah, it’s j-just that,” she stutters, “Matt’s here. H-he’s in the palace.”

“You can feel his presence, huh?”

Ariel nods and the heat rises in my face, too. This is going to be harder to endure than I thought.

Within moments, I hear footsteps in the hall and suddenly Dom and Matt appear in the doorway.

~Well…FUCK.~

~Matt is an attractive son of a bitch.~

~Why Goddess, WHY?!~

I was hoping to see the human equivalent of a potbellied pig. Not a muscle-bound warrior with dark, sharp features and a thick head of black hair.

Without a word, I get up out of my seat and slowly walk over to him.

I reach out my hand to him, palm down, like my grandfather used to do.

“My king,” Matt says, bending on one knee in front of me and taking my hand.

I continue to stare him down as I force him to greet me in this bizarre, outdated fashion.

But I need to make sure Matt knows where he stands: ~beneath me.~

“What the fuck is going on?” Dom says suddenly. “You hazing the new guy or something?”

“Dom,” I say, “Matt is Ariel’s new destined mate.”

Dom’s face contorts with shock.

“I guess he left out that little detail on your walk over here, huh?” I say.

“He definitely did,” Dom says. He slaps Matt on the back and flashes him a sly grin. “You dirty dog…what else are you hiding?”

I see Matt swallow hard at Dom’s words.

Beads of sweat are forming at his temples, and his eyes are shifting nervously around the dining room.

If he ~is~ hiding something else, I’m going to find out.

“Well,” Dom says, “while I’m dying to stay for this unbelievably awkward dinner, I must go. Helena made a roast.”

“Helena’s vegan,” Ariel cuts in.

“Right,” Dom chokes. “Let’s all pretend I came up with a better lie. Good night!” he says, and then vanishes into the hall.

Now it’s just the three of us alone together, ready for the world’s most dysfunctional dinner party.

“Let’s eat,” I say, motioning to the table.

Ariel picks a seat and I point to the chair at the farthest end of the table from her. “You sit there, Matt,” I say.

“Of course,” he says with a nod and sits.

It’s time to get the information we need and get this torture over and done with.

MATEO

This is exactly as horrible as I expected.

I just need to keep my accent, remember my cover story, and get out of here.

But I am finding it hard to concentrate when Ariel is sitting in the same room as me.

Our mating bond is so strong that I must clench every muscle in my body to resist moving closer to her.

I can tell by the expression on her face that she is feeling the pull, too, and all the guilt that comes along with it. I too feel guilty…as if I am betraying Isabella.

“Well,” Alex says as I take a sip of the soup that was placed in front of me. “Tell me about yourself, Matt.”

I take a moment to gather my thoughts and then begin. “I come from the Blood Moon Pack,” I say.

“Oh,” Ariel cuts in, “that’s Valeria’s pack! How are she and Lyle doing?”

“I never spent much time with the alpha and luna,” I say. “I was just a lowly warrior.”

“Why did you leave?” Alex asks.

“Personal reasons,” I say. “I decided that my time would be better spent serving the king and queen in the Royal Pack.”

“Personal reasons, huh?” Ariel says. “Is that where she is? The girl you love? Is she at the Blood Moon Pack?”

I can feel sweat continuing to form on my brow. And the scorching-hot soup is certainly not helping.

“It does not matter where she is,” I say. “I cannot be with her. Fate has other plans for my Isabella.”

I detect my American accent starting to slip as frustration swells inside me. I just wish that the king and queen would leave me in peace.

“In this household, we have a motto,” Ariel says. “Fuck Fate. Isabella will be yours again.”

Queen Ariel is a feisty one, but she has no idea what obstacles stand between me and the woman I love.

ALEX

Matt is scarfing down his food at an alarming rate.

It’s clear that he’s uncomfortable and wants to get out of here as fast as possible.

Is it because his mating bond with Ariel is so strong?

Or is it something else?

His composure is slowly breaking.

Even his speech sounds different than it did when he walked in. Ariel mentioned that he has a slight, unidentifiable accent. Now it’s starting to get stronger.

~What the fuck is that about?~

And I’ve met with the warriors at the Blood Moon Pack. I definitely didn’t see him there.

Although something about him ~does~ look familiar…

I just can’t put my finger on it.

Our soup dishes are cleared and the main course is served: a roast chicken leg and a side salad.

But I don’t touch my food. I can’t stomach it. I just sit in silence and watch Matt eat.

The man has perfect table manners.

His napkin is folded over his lap. His elbows rest at his sides instead of on the table. His posture is as straight as a board. And he uses the correct fork and knife for each bite of food.

This man has better royal table manners than I do.

And besides, who refers to themself as a ~lowly warrior~, even if they are one.

I’m certain now…this man is ~definitely~ hiding something.

My eyes flick up to his face again.

And suddenly, I realize…

I ~have~ seen his face, before there was a defining scar etched into his brow.

I know this man.

I’m certain of it.

“Where did you say you come from again?” I ask him.

“The Blood Moon Pack,” he says, a little too quickly.

“How about this time you tell me the truth,” I say, my hands clenched into fists.

“Alex, what are you talking about?” Ariel says. “You promised you wouldn’t go crazy tonight.”

“I’m not being crazy, Ariel,” I say. “This man isn’t Matt from the Blood Moon Pack. His name is Mateo.”

Mateo’s eyes rise up to meet mine.

“And he is no lowly warrior. He is the crown prince of the Cataluna Royal Pack.”