Entangled Heart

An unexpected twist of fate

I stood outside my mother's fiance's cozy, two-story house, nestled in a quiet suburban street, the warm sunlight casting a warm radiance on the perfectly manicured lawn, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

The events of the past few days still lingered in my mind, but I needed to focus on meeting with my mother and her so-called fiance. She has been filled with enthusiasm as she talked about him last night, telling me all manner of things, that I was going to love him and stuff like that.

I guess she knows how much I hated all the men that she has been with in the past. I still don't get how she was able to get me to move with her to this pack, because I was never keen on doing so, right from the beginning when she introduced me to her first lover whose name I can't even remember.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside, calling out to my mother.

"Mom, I'm here."

She emerged from the kitchen, a warm smile on her face, and an apron around her neck. "Hey, sweetie! Come give me a hug."

As I hugged her, I noticed a man standing in the background, watching us with a curious expression. My mother noticed my gaze and followed it to the man.

"Ah, this is Kael, my fiancé. He is the Alpha of this pack," she said, beaming with pride. With the way she stares at him, one would think that she loves him, but that's not the case. She loves him because he can give her whatever she desires.

"Kael, this is my daughter."

Kael, my mother's fiancé, stood tall with broad shoulders, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, his chiseled features and strong jawline making him look like a model, his dark hair perfectly messy.

My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. There was something familiar about him, something that made my skin tingle. And then, it hit me – the scent.

His scent, a mix of earthy musk and fresh citrus, enveloped me, transporting me back to the hotel room where I had first detected it. It was identical to that man from that night.

My mind reeled as I struggled to process this revelation. This man, my mother's fiancé, was my mate. The one person I was meant to be with, and he was about to become my stepfather.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. I felt like I was drowning in an ocean of emotions, my thoughts unable to stay afloat.

“He's our mate,” Iris whispered within me.

I couldn't speak, couldn't move, couldn't think.

Kael's eyes locked onto mine, a hint of surprise and curiosity flickering across his face, as if he was trying to piece together the puzzle of our connection.

From the way he gulped hard, I think he already knows that I was his mate.

"Nice to meet you," he said, his voice low and smooth, sending shivers down my spine.

I managed a weak smile, my heart racing like a wild animal. "Nice to meet you too," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mother, her eyes sparkling with a calculating intensity, chatted about her wedding plans, her voice dripping with sweetness that felt forced, but her eyes occasionally flicking between her fiance and me, as if gauging our reactions.

How could this be? I thought, my mind racing. Why did fate have to be so cruel? What kind of game was it playing with us, with me? How on earth does my mother's fiance have to be my mate? It could have been someone else for goodness sake. Why does it have to be him?

Kael's eyes never left mine, and I felt like he could see into my soul. I knew I had to get out of there, and had to process this revelation before I lost my mind.

"Mom, I need to go," I said, my voice shaking.

My mother looked concerned. "Is everything okay, sweetie? You just got here. Is there a problem?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just need some fresh air."

I tried to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating tension between my mother's fiance and me, but my mother held my hands, her grip tight, as if she sensed my attempt to flee like I always did and was determined to keep me there.

“Talk to me sweetie,” she said and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at her. I don't know why she was acting like a good woman in front of the man. Someone that has always neglected me and treated me wrongly like I was never her child. Trust me, if it wasn't for the fact that we both shared a striking resemblance, I would have doubted that she was my mother.

My relationship with her has never been the ideal one. She has neglected me all the time I was growing up. She even introduced me to some of her male friends, asking me to ‘treat’ them well. For goodness sake, which woman in her right senses would say that to her daughter?

“I'm fine,” That was all I said to her before dragging my hands away from hers and stepping out of the house leaving her and her fiance or should I say my mate?

Come on! Why does he have to be my mate? I feel like I'm gotta go crazy right now. What the heck?

“Deep breaths, Nora. Deep breaths,” Iris whispered within me and I exhaled.

“What do you think is going on, Iris? Why does my step dad have to be my mate? What kind of game do you think the moon goddess is playing on me right now? What will happen to my mother? How do you think she would feel once she finds out that her fiance is my mate?”

“And that, I have no answer to. I was even surprised when I found out that he was the one whom we have been waiting all along for. But at the same time, it's not within our powers,”

Other females become happy when their mates are revealed to them. In fact I would have been happy that I had finally found my mate after waiting for twenty two years if he wasn't my mother's fiance.

For heaven's sake, they were gonna get married in a couple of weeks. Why does he have to be the one?

I am on the edge of going crazy right now. I think I have to leave here.

After what felt like forever, I walked back into the house. I don't know anywhere around, but I was ready to go from one room to another, in search of my mother.

I stormed back into the house, my mind racing with the shocking revelation about Kael. I had to find my mother. I have to tell her about her fiance. I had to let her know that he's my mate. I climbed the stairs with a fierce determination, my footsteps echoing in the house. But as I rounded a corner, I felt a sudden, violent tug, and I was dragged into a room. I wanted to scream, but whoever dragged me into that room, had his hands over my mouth, thereby cutting off my screams.

I struggled to free myself from whoever was holding me, but the person's grip was too strong.

It took me a while to realize that it was my mate. He dragged me into a dimly lit room, and I stumbled, my heart racing.

Kael's eyes met mine, his intense stare burning with passion. "Nora, I'm sorry I did that,” he said in a soft and smooth tone. “But I needed to talk to you alone,”

I glared at him, still trying to process the revelation that my mother's fiancé was also my mate. "What do you want, Kael?" I spat out, trying to keep my emotions in check.

Kael's expression turned serious. "I guess you know already that we're mates, Nora. And I have to tell you, my people have never accepted your mother and that's because she's not my fated mate, and they've never supported our relationship."

I felt a pang of guilt, because I had a feeling that my mother was still oblivious to this fact.

Kael continued, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't have a real Luna yet, Nora. And I want you to be mine since we are mates. Will you accept me as your mate and become my Luna?"

I don't think I can. As much as my mother and I don't get along pretty well, I don't think I can accept the mate bond. I don't want to hurt her. Maybe I should just reject him.

I paused, my mind racing with emotions. Before I could reply, Kael's lips suddenly pressed against mine. At first, I was taken aback by it, but after a while, I returned his kiss, feeling the sparks between us igniting like fireworks. It felt like we belonged together, like it was meant to be. We were mates in the end, weren't we?

However, when Kael attempted to escalate things with his hands on my body, I quickly came to my senses. I remembered who he was - my mother's betrothed. I pushed him aside, feeling a mix of confusion and guilt as my heart raced.

"Wait, Kael. Stop," I said, trying to catch my breath. "You're...you're my mother's fiancé."

Kael's gaze remained fixed on me. “I understand, Nora. However, I am also your partner. I won't abandon our relationship. I won't give up on us”