01 ~ Prologue: Unacknowledged Bond
“Twenty five years old and still no fated mate? You’re practically on the shelf, gathering dust, little sis. Maybe your soulmate died. Or maybe you just don’t have one.”
Alys eyes her big brother with dislike, wondering if, perhaps, their mother accidentally dropped him on his head when he was a baby. She’s certainly distracted enough sometimes… it could have happened… and it would explain a lot of things.
Alarick Theodulf Walton, more fondly known as Teddy, is the current heir to the line of lycan kings, and yet look at him now, grinning like the village idi0t while he gives it his best shot to ruin her day.
“Of course I have a soulmate! He’s… out there… somewhere. Maybe he’s looking for me too and we just… keep missing each other.”
Teddy snickers, acting more like a teenager than his real age, which is almost three years older than her, with that naughty glint in his eyes as he pushes on. “I meant that maybe you don’t have a soul to begin with.”
She rolls her eyes. “Ha, ha, very funny. I actually know that song. If you’re going to be an ass, at least try to be original about it!”
Before he can answer, Teddy yells in pain, cursing as his personal elite guard/friend/tutor, Jayden Marsh, grabs him by the ear and twists it, pulling it upwards until he’s on tiptoe, trying not to lose that part of his body.
“I suggest you wash that foul mouth later, Teddy,” Jayden mutters. “I know you two enjoy needling each other, but you could have spared your sister today, it’s her birthday, after all.” Jayden frowns disapprovingly. “You’re not little children anymore. Don’t you think it’s about time you outgrow this petty behavior?”
“No way, it’s like a… a tradition! To piss the celebrant off until her mood is so foul she looks like sh!t in photos!” Teddy protests. “She does it on my birthdays too!”
Jayden sighs. “Then, maybe it’s high time you start a new tradition, don’t you think? Now apologize to your sister before I make sure your ears don’t match ever again, you dumbass.”
“You can’t talk to me like that, I’m the heir to the lycan throne!” Teddy protests, full of indignation.
Jayden shows his teeth, but it is not a smile and Teddy pales and he stutters to apologize but it’s already too late.
“Is that so? Then allow me to rectify the matter immediately. Apologize to your sister before I make sure your ears don’t match ever again, Your Royal Highness.”
“Okay, okay! I get it, let go of my ear!”
“No, I want to hear the apology first. Now.”
Alys sighs. “It’s fine, let him go. He’ll just find a sneaky way to get back at me later, so don’t bother.” She finishes applying her simple make up and stands up from her chair in front of the vanity mirror, quickly tying her hair into a messy bun. “Besides, he’s never going to win. I always look great in photos,” she adds smugly, just to annoy her brother.
“Oh, dream on—owww! Jayden, what the hell—!”
“You will hear it nonetheless. DO IT NOW, ALARICK THEODULF WALTON OR I’LL MAKE SURE YOU REGRET IT DURING OUR NEXT TRAINING SESSION.”
Teddy winces at the use of his full name. Jayden only uses that when he’s really mad, and he knows it’s time to stop horsing around now.
“I’m sorry, okay!? I mean it, I was just messing with her. I’m sorry, Alys! I’ll never do it again!” He whimpers when Jayden finally lets go of his ear, massaging it and pulling the other one to make sure they still match.
Jayden shakes his head and turns to Alys. He stares at her for a few seconds before pulling out a small box from his back pocket and hands her a small gift-wrapped box, with a tiny red ribbon. “Happy birthday, Princess Alys.”
Alys stares at the box for a long time, suddenly lost in thought, until Jayden clears his throat, and places it on the table instead. Then he bows and leaves, leaving Teddy a warning look to behave.
“Well, that was awkward,” Teddy mutters, still rubbing his reddened ear. “What’s your problem? That was very rude, you know. He handed you a gift, the polite way would have been to accept it and say thank you.” He says very slowly, as if talking to a mentally challenged person.
Alys can feel her cheeks turning red from Teddy’s sarcastic tutorial.
“I… I was just thinking about something... I’ll apologize and thank him later…” With a sigh, she picks the gift up and turns away from her brother as she slowly undoes the ribbon very carefully. She will be keeping every single thing, even the tape he used to seal the gift, and she wants them in perfect condition.
There is a small envelope attached to the box, but even without opening it, she already knows what’s written inside.
“May you find the happiness you deserve. Happy birthday, Princess.”
It’s the same message he writes every year. The gifts inside may change, but the message is constant and never-changing.
The happiness you deserve…
Not the happiness she wants. Or her heart’s desire… not even her fondest wish.
The message turns more and more sour as the years go by. Apparently, what she deserves does not agree with the happiness she wants. The one meant for her.
Her fated mate.
The man who just left.
