SWEET AND SOUR: UNWANTED MATE

CHAPTER 13: NEW BEGINNING...? Part I

The next morning, Nate woke up at exactly six o'clock.

Not because he wanted to.

Because his body was used to it.

Years of early shifts at the café had made sure of that.

Even now.

Even here.

Even after everything.

His eyes opened.

And for one brief moment...

He forgot where he was.

The unfamiliar ceiling quickly reminded him.

The oversized room.

The expensive furniture.

The neatly stacked boxes in the corner.

The Blackwood Estate.

His new home.

The thought immediately soured his mood.

Nate buried his face back into the pillow.

Maybe if he stayed here long enough, reality would get tired and leave.

Reality, unfortunately, was very persistent.

An hour later, he finally gave up.

After showering and getting dressed, he left his room.

The mansion was already awake.

Servants moved through the hallways.

Some bowed when they saw him.

Others greeted him politely.

Every single one called him Young Master.

The title made him uncomfortable every time.

Eventually, he reached the dining room.

The smell hit him first.

Warm.

Sweet.

Familiar.

Pancakes.

Nate froze.

Because pancakes didn't belong here.

Not in this perfectly polished mansion.

Not surrounded by crystal glasses and expensive decorations.

They belonged in the Carter house.

On Sunday mornings.

With his aunt complaining that he used too much syrup.

And his uncle pretending he wasn't stealing pancakes off everyone's plate.

The memory made his chest ache.

When he sat down, Eleanor smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Nate."

Nate nodded politely.

"Good morning."

The food was already waiting.

Pancakes.

Eggs.

Sausages.

Fresh fruit.

The entire breakfast felt strangely normal.

Which somehow made it feel even stranger.

Eleanor noticed his expression immediately.

Of course she did.

She seemed to notice everything.

"Your aunt told us you preferred simpler breakfasts."

Nate looked up.

Eleanor smiled gently.

"We thought you might feel more comfortable."

For a moment, Nate didn't know what to say.

The effort felt... unexpected.

"It looks good."

The words came out awkwardly.

But Eleanor's smile widened slightly anyway.

"I'm glad."

Breakfast continued quietly.

Marcus occasionally glanced through documents.

Eleanor chatted lightly with the servants.

Derrick quietly sipped his coffee.

As usual, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Nate focused on eating.

And pretending this wasn't weird.

Eventually, the plates were cleared away.

Nate immediately stood.

Ready to escape.

Unfortunately...

Eleanor had other plans.

"Nate, dear."

He stopped.

Slowly turning around.

"Please sit back down."

Nate immediately became suspicious.

Nothing good had ever followed those words.

Reluctantly, he sat back down.

Across from him, Derrick set his coffee cup onto the table.

Eleanor looked pleased.

Far too pleased.

"Your husband has something he'd like to discuss."

The word husband hit Nate like spoiled milk.

Instantly unpleasant.

For a second, he considered throwing himself out the nearest window.

Instead, he looked at Derrick.

Waiting.

Derrick spoke calmly.

As always.

"You will be allowed to continue attending university."

Nate blinked.

Derrick continued.

"You may continue working at the café if you wish."

Nate blinked again.

That wasn't what he expected.

At all.

"The Blackwood family has no intention of restricting your freedom."

For the first time all morning, Nate actually looked interested.

Then Derrick continued.

"There is one condition."

There it is.

Nate knew there had to be one.

"You will be assigned a personal bodyguard."

Nate stared.

"What?"

"A bodyguard."

"I know what a bodyguard is."

Silence.

Derrick nodded once.

"Good."

Nate immediately wanted to throw something at him.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"I don't need a bodyguard."

"The decision has already been made."

Nate looked around the table.

Marcus nodded.

Eleanor nodded.

Even the servant pouring tea looked like she agreed.

Traitors.

All of them.

Derrick continued.

"He will dress casually."

"He will remain discreet."

"He will not interfere unnecessarily."

Nate folded his arms.

"And if I say no?"

A brief silence followed.

Then Derrick answered honestly.

"You will still have a bodyguard."

Nate stared.

At least he wasn't pretending it was a choice.

"The Blackwood family has enemies."

Derrick's voice remained steady.

"Some may view you as a vulnerability."

The statement settled heavily over the table.

For a moment, Nate remembered exactly who he had married.

Not Derrick.

Not really.

A future Alpha.

A political heir.

Someone whose family carried influence most people couldn't even imagine.

Danger came attached to people like that.

Nate hated that Derrick was making sense.

Slowly, he nodded.

The decision had already been made anyway.

"Fine."

Eleanor immediately smiled.

Clearly relieved.

Marcus looked relieved too.

Derrick simply took another sip of coffee.

As if discussions about personal security happened every morning.

Which, honestly, they probably did.

Nate stood.

"I'm going to class."

Derrick nodded once.

"Your driver is waiting."

Of course he was.

Apparently, even going to school came with a driver now.

A short while later, a black sedan pulled up outside the university.

Nate stepped out.

Immediately attracting attention.

Students stopped talking as the black sedan drove away.

A few whispered.

Some stared.

Others took out their phones.

Nate resisted the urge to turn around and walk straight back into the car.

For the first time in years, he wasn't arriving as Nate Carter.

Whether he liked it or not...

People would start seeing him as a Blackwood.

Mostly because nobody had ever seen him arrive in a vehicle that probably cost more than their tuition.

Wonderful.

Exactly what he needed.

Embarrassment.

The car disappeared down the road.

Another figure stepped out behind him.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark hair.

Casual clothes.

The bodyguard.

Nate sighed.

At least the man didn't look like a bodyguard.

He looked more like someone who spent his weekends breaking gym equipment.

The man gave him a respectful nod.

"Young Master Nate."

Nate paused.

"You know my name?"

"First Young Master instructed me to address you by your name only while we're at the university, sir. Since I'll be working for you from now on, I wanted to make sure you're comfortable with that."

Nate nodded.

"That's fine. Honestly, I'd rather you called me Nate everywhere, but I don't want you getting into trouble because of me."

The man nodded once.

"Understood, sir."

Before Nate could say anything else...

"NATE!"

The familiar shout echoed across campus.

Daniel.

Nate barely had time to react.

Daniel was already running toward him.

Full speed.

Zero survival instincts.

Adam moved instantly.

One hand shot out and grabbed the back of Daniel's shirt.

Daniel came to an abrupt stop.

"...WHAT?!"

Adam looked genuinely confused.

"You approached Young Master... Nate at high speed."

"I was running!"

"Sir..."

"I WAS HAPPY! And... wait."

Daniel narrowed his eyes.

"Did you just say Young Master?"

Students nearby immediately started staring.

Nate closed his eyes.

Of course.

First day.

Of course.

Daniel finally untangled himself from Adam's grip.

He straightened his shirt before dramatically pointing at him.

"You!"

Adam blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes, you!"

A brief silence followed.

Then Daniel turned toward Nate.

"...Who is this?"

Nate sighed.

Long.

Deep.

Tired.

"Adam."

For some reason, the name only made Daniel look even more suspicious.

And somehow...

Nate already knew this was going to become a problem.

Daniel raised both eyebrows repeatedly with a teasing grin.

"So... my best friend has become a national asset?"

Nate rolled his eyes.

"National asset my ass. I wish they wouldn't do this."

"Nate... as much as I hate admitting it..."

Daniel scratched the back of his neck.

"...you're actually lucky. At least the Blackwood monster isn't as bad and as controlling as I thought he'd be."

The two of them took their usual seats together.

Nate glanced down at the ring on his finger before looking back at Daniel.

"I wouldn't have stayed if they tried to stop me from coming to school or seeing you. It's only a contract marriage. They probably don't want it to feel like a prison."

Daniel looked at him for a moment.

Then slowly glanced over his shoulder.

Adam had taken a seat a few rows behind them.

Close enough to keep watch.

Far enough to give Nate space.

Daniel lowered his voice.

"Then what about him?"

"Who?" Nate asked.

"The bodyguard. If they're treating this marriage like it's just a contract, why do you even need one?"

Nate shrugged.

"Something about the Blackwood family having enemies. Apparently they don't want anything happening to me because it'd make Derrick a widower."

The two of them laughed.

After a moment, Daniel's smile slowly faded.

He glanced behind him once more.

Adam wasn't watching them.

He was watching the room.

Still...

Daniel leaned closer.

"What about your secret?"

Nate understood immediately.

Without saying a word, he reached over and gently took Daniel's wrist.

Daniel frowned in confusion.

Nate guided his hand beneath the desk.

Carefully.

Slowly.

Until Daniel's fingertips brushed against the thick compression wrap hidden beneath Nate's trouser leg.

Daniel quietly let out the smallest sigh of relief.

It was still there.

Hidden.

Just then, the lecturer walked into the classroom.

Almost immediately, the room settled down.

Books opened.

Pens clicked.

The lesson began.

Everyone else seemed to return to normal.

Nate couldn't.

Every now and then, he caught someone glancing in his direction.

Sometimes at him.

Sometimes at the ring on his finger.

His notebook remained almost empty.

By the time he realized it, the lecturer had already filled half the board.

Without saying a word, Daniel slid his notebook across the desk.

"Copy mine."

Nate looked over.

"Thanks."

Daniel shrugged.

"That's what husbands' best friends are for."

Nate didn't even look up.

"Keep talking and Adam's going to arrest you."

Daniel slowly glanced behind him.

Adam sat perfectly straight.

Hands folded.

Expression unreadable.

Like a statue assigned security duty.

Daniel leaned closer to Nate.

"...Does he ever smile?"

As if on cue, Adam looked up.

Their eyes met.

Adam gave a single polite nod.

Daniel immediately faced the front again.

"...I'll take that as a no."

It was already noon by the time classes ended.

Nate, Daniel, and Adam made their way toward the university cafeteria together, weaving through the growing crowd of students. Adam remained a few steps behind, close enough to react if needed, yet far enough away to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

At least, that was the plan.

The three of them joined the queue and eventually reached the serving counter.

Daniel stepped forward first.

"Ma'am, can I get a bowl of brown rice, two drumsticks, stir-fried vegetables, no garlic or onions, and pork soup?"

Nate stared at him before slowly shaking his head.

"Are you actually going to finish all that?"

Daniel grinned shamelessly.

"Of course. It's rare that you're treating me to lunch. I might as well buy out the entire cafeteria."

He leaned closer with a teasing smile.

"I mean... you're rich now, right?"

Nate rolled his eyes.

"Keep dreaming."

He stepped forward to place his own order.

The lunch lady looked up and froze for the briefest second before hurriedly straightening herself.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Black... I mean, Nate."

Nate blinked.

Okay... that's new.

The sudden politeness made him unexpectedly uncomfortable.

He accepted his tray with an awkward smile before turning to Adam.

"You should order something too."

Adam immediately shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Young... I mean, Nate. I don't usually eat while on duty."

"I insist."

Adam looked uncertain.

"If we're going to keep pretending you're just another student, then sit with us and eat like one."

Adam hesitated before finally giving in.

"I'll have a bowl of brown rice... to go."

Nate looked at him.

"That's all?"

Adam nodded.

After a long moment, Nate sighed in defeat.

"I'll take what I can get."

The three of them walked toward a table where Daniel had already claimed seats.

As Nate lowered himself into his chair and picked up his spoon, he suddenly noticed several shadows falling across the table.

He looked up.

Just what I was hoping to avoid.

A group of girls stood before him.

At their front was one of the most recognizable Omegas on campus.

Angela Trinz.

She smiled sweetly.

Far too sweetly.

"Hi, Nate."

Her voice was gentle enough to fool almost anyone.

"Congratulations on your marriage."

Another girl beside her beamed.

"We've been wanting to meet you."

Daniel was already on his feet.

"What do you want?"

By then, Adam had risen as well, but Nate shot him a subtle glance.

Don't.

Adam silently resumed his seat.

Angela barely acknowledged Daniel.

Instead, she stepped closer, looking over his shoulder until her eyes met Nate's.

"You can't avoid me forever, you know."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, her group following behind her.