THE MATE I NEVER CHOSE

Chapter 3

**Tobias’s POV**

“Do you know working too much can make you age rapidly?” my stupid friend Louis teased, hovering in my face.

“Do you know that if you don’t use your heart to love, you’ll get wrinkles?” he continued, grinning like a fool.

“Leave him alone. No matter how much you tease him, he’s not coming with us to the club. We’ll just go have fun and leave him here to suffer,” Jim, my other friend, said.

“Suffer? Nope. I won’t allow that. Please just come with us once. After that you can go back to working all day,” Louis whined.

“Enough!” I shouted.

“Yes, Daddy,” Louis replied, clearly trying to get on my nerves. It was working.

“I told you not to call me that again.” I glared at him.

“You know you’re making me wet with that deep voice.” His voice dropped. “If I hadn’t already met my soulmate, I would have chased you. But my soulmate is the best.” A lovestruck expression settled on his face.

“Eww. Brother, eww. That expression is so… uh.” Jim pretended to retch.

“I can’t blame you guys. Not being with your soulmate will make anyone cranky. So go get laid. I’m not even saying this for myself — you both need to rest someday.” Louis looked serious for a second before bursting into laughter.

“You know, I would make a great therapist. And you, Tobias, don’t let what that crazy b***h said get to you. You’ll meet your mate, and you’ll make a great match.” He looked at me steadily.

I still remembered her expression when—

**Flashback**

“Please. I can’t do this anymore. Let’s break up. I’ve seen my mate,” Diana, my girlfriend, told me during one of our hangouts.

“You’re kidding, right? You basically told me this stupid mate biology wouldn’t define us. That we would get married and have kids.” I paced as I ranted.

“I tried. But the pull is too strong. Whenever I see him, I feel full and happy.” A lovestruck look settled on her face.

“So what happens to us? You’re just walking away after we planned our whole future together?” I reached for her.

She smacked my hand away. “Are you deaf? I said let’s break up. Why are you being clingy? I told you I found my mate, and you’re asking me to leave him… for who? You? You don’t even care about me. When was the last time you celebrated my birthday with me? It’s always business or another transaction.”

“I always make time for you. I push things back for you. I make you my priority,” I said, standing up.

“That’s the problem. You don’t even know how to apologize.”

I scoffed. “Apologize to *you*? You tried to sleep with a guy at the club and I forgave you. You were cheating on me — my friend caught you twice — and I ignored it. Now you’re lecturing me about soulmates?”

“You knew everything and still kept quiet. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You don’t love me. If you loved me the way you claimed, you would have made me pay for cheating.”

“Is this how love is supposed to work? You cheat on me and I’m still the one who has to apologize? I invested everything in this relationship. Even when my parents pointed out the red flags, I ignored them. And now you’re sitting here lecturing me. I hope your soulmate knows he’s sleeping with a bitch.” I glared at her.

“And I hope your soulmate knows how heartless and undeserving of love you are,” she shot back, then stormed away.

I stared in the direction she had gone and slumped against the wall. Instead of feeling heartbroken, I felt relieved. Maybe I really didn’t deserve love, just like she said. I walked away quietly.

**End of flashback**

“Tobias. Tobias.” Louis nudged me gently, trying to get my attention. “You’ve been staring into space. Are you okay? If you don’t want to go, just say the word rather than—”

“I’ll go,” I said, cutting him off.

His eyes widened. “HAAAAAA! At last! You’re going! The club is already settled. Let me call my dear and ask when he’ll be back. And my outfit — which clothes should I wear? I have to show these people I’m still fit!” He ranted as he raced out of my office, slamming the door behind him.

Jim stayed behind. “Are you okay? If you don’t want to go, don’t force yourself. As clueless as Louis can be, if you tell him you’re not going, he won’t force you. He might whine like a b***h for a while, but he won’t get angry.”

I shook my head and chuckled. “You guys are so unpredictable. I told you I wasn’t going and you both whined. Now I say I *am* going and you’re asking if I’m okay.”

“Whatever. Let me go prepare for clubbing tonight. I’ve got some girls to impress.” He winked and walked out.

I sighed and closed my laptop. I just needed something to clear my head, and liquor sounded good enough. Club it was. I stood up and called my assistant to let her know I was closing early.

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The moment we stepped inside, the heavy bass hit me like a wall. I already regretted the decision and tried to turn back, but my two friends gripped my arms tightly.

“You’re in now. You’re not leaving,” Louis’s voice boomed in my ear.

We headed to the exclusive suite Jim had his assistant book for us.

I was already downing liquor and regretting every choice that had led me here when the invisible migraine started forming. I excused myself and headed to the restroom.

That was when I saw it — a guy being cornered, someone clearly trying to force themselves on him.

I rushed in without thinking and pulled the attacker off him. The guy fled immediately.

One thing stood out above everything else: his scent.

A realization hit us both at the same time.

“Mate,” we both said.

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