Accidental Mates

3

Cassie

“So are you excited? Tomorrow is the big day for both of us!”

Cassie smiled as Liz dropped down beside her and started taking off her sandals. She kicked her feet in the clear water of the lake, creating ripples that mirrored the turbulent thoughts inside her head.

“Liz, I’m glad you’re excited and happy for you to find your mate, really I am, but..”

“But you’re worried and you don’t feel ready.” Liz finished for her as she dipped her own feet into the water.

“How can I feel ready? This is all happening so fast! I just agreed to this two days ago! And I’m not supposed to have a mate yet, my first shift isn’t due for at least another year! But, I am my mother’s daughter, she never ran away from a difficult situation and neither will I. I just hope he isn’t too horrible.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine. Besides, your dad and Mark will be there, plus Mark told me he bets Calvin asked Logan to come too. He usually involves him in anything important, and I’d say the protection of his daughter reaches high on Calvin’s list of important things. They won’t let anything happen to us.”

Cassie sighed, “ You’re right. But I’m not too worried about the trials, it’s after the mating ceremony that I’m worried about. I don’t like not knowing who I will be spending the rest of my life with, who will help lead the pride, father my children. There’s so many unknowns and ways this could go wrong. I hate not being able to control who I bond with!”

“Cassie, calm down. You are an amazing person and you will be an equally amazing leader and mother. So any man that bonds with you will be the luckiest man on Earth. And he will have to be just as amazing as you are to be your mate. You know I’m right because our mates are the other halves of ourselves. So chin up girl! By this time tomorrow you will have your own personal hunk! Just promise me something? Promise you won’t mate my brother. Because as awesome as it would be to have you as my real sister, I don’t want to think about you and my brother as mates.”

Cassie laughed at her best friend. “Eww!! I definitely don’t want that! But it would be easier to mate someone I already know. Thank you though, you always know how to make me feel better.”

“Dang right! Now let’s go back to your place and find you something special to wear for tomorrow!”

Later that evening

“Oh sweetheart, you look absolutely amazing!” Laura exclaimed, watching Cassie turn back and forth in front of the mirror in her room.

“Of course she does! She could wear a paper bag and still outshine Tessa and me!”

Cassie rolled her eyes at her best friend. “You know that’s not true! You are gorgeous in everything you wear. Besides, there will be more than enough males for all three of us. Right Mom?”

Laura chuckled. “ According to your father, he has been overran by young men asking to participate. Apparently this is the most we have had in quite a few years.”

“See? They all want the chance to mate the Mane’s daughter. I wonder who the lucky one will be..”

“No you’re wrong Liz, they are after the hot best friend. Just wait and see, they will be falling over themselves to get to you.”

Laura sat down on the bed, just watching the two girls joke and tease each other about the trials. She was happy to see Cassie being more excited about her future, she assumed she could thank Liz for that. Laura was thankful that Cassie had such a great friend who stood with her throughout anything, who seemed to know instinctually what Cassie needed at any moment, and was willing to give it to her regardless of what it was. Quietly, she slipped from the room, leaving the two girls to enjoy their last few hours as single ladies.

The Next Morning

Cassie was sitting in her window seat thinking of the day ahead when her mother softly knocked on the door.

“Cassie, it’s almost time to leave. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I think I’m as ready as I can get. Mom, I know we aren’t supposed to know what happens in the trials, but is there anything you can tell me? The suspense is killing me!”

“ Well, since today is your trial, I don’t see how it can hurt to ease your anxiety a little. It’s not like you will have time to tell anyone else. It’s actually fairly simple. Each of you girls will sit in a separate room, the suitors will come in one at a time. They each will have a few minutes with you. Now, since all it takes is one touch to initiate the mate bond, they are going to touch you, but because of your age, your father has added the stipulation that they must not touch you inappropriately. Also, it is customary for the female to have a guard to make sure the suitors don’t get carried away. It’s usually a male family member. Liz’s older brother Mark will be her guard but because of your father’s age, he has asked Logan, to be there too. You will be perfectly safe, he is one of your father’s most trusted fighters. Are you comfortable having Logan as your guard? It means he will be watching your trial with your father and I. If not, there’s still time to find a replacement.”

“No, it’s fine. If you and Daddy trust him, I’m sure he’s more than adequate.”

Laura chuckled, “ Trust me, if something were to happen, you would find Logan to be much more than merely adequate.”

She reached for Cassie’s hand,

“Come now, your father and Logan are waiting for us downstairs. How would it look if the day’s main lady was late for her own trial?” With that, Laura ushered Cassie from her room and down the stairs to her father.

When Cassie and Laura got to the top of the stairs, she paused. Her mother looked back at her, smiled and continued on down the stairs to her mate. Her father and Logan were standing in the entryway, talking about the upcoming trials, Calvin giving some last minute instructions to Logan no doubt. Laura placed her hand on Calvin’s arm to silence him, then gave Logan a hug in greeting. Cassie watched in stunned silence as the most gorgeous man, one even bigger than her father, bent down so Laura could get her arms around his shoulders, placing his muscled arms around her waist gently to return her obvious affection.

Cassie couldn’t understand how she had missed really noticing Logan after all of the times he had visited their home to talk with her father. The man radiated power and strength, but after witnessing the way he greeted her mother, she knew there must be a gentle side to him as well.

“Come on Cassandra, don’t just stand there!” Laura called to her, breaking into her thoughts and causing Calvin and Logan to turn toward her as well. Calvin smiled at her and walked forward to meet her at the bottom of the stairs, pride shining in his eyes. As Cassie reached him, she smiled at her father and reached for his outstretched hand, while doing so she made the mistake of glancing over at Logan. As her eyes met his predatory gaze, her heart jumped in her chest. She let out a small gasp as she missed the final step on the stairs. Luckily her father was there to catch her, chuckling, he whispered in her ear;

“It’s ok, he has that effect on almost everyone. He won’t hurt you, in fact Logan would give his life to protect you. No need to be scared.”

Cassie nodded as she felt her father turn her to walk toward the door, Logan and Laura following behind. She didn’t know what she had felt when she met Logan’s eyes, but Cassie was pretty sure it wasn’t fear.

Their small group started down the lane toward the conference building where all important business for the pride was held, including the mate trials. Cassie lifted her head and prepared herself to face her future, whatever that may be. One thing she knew for certain, her future didn’t involve the piercing brown eyes she could feel burning a hole in the back of her head.