“Uncle, this is absolutely ridiculous. You are parading us around, hoping for us to find our soulmate all so you can form a stupid alliance.” Aindreas smiled down at his niece Qiturah. The Alpha, knowing how much she hated their bloodline and the certain lack of choices, he had expected a blowback much like this and had prepared what to say to the best of his ability.

‘Perhaps I am parading you around, but it is for your own benefit. It is not like I could ever force the bond to your soulmate to happen in one other your true soulmate – after all, there is only one meant for you, for each of you little ones.’ His electric blue gaze lingered on Qi for a second before sweeping out to each of her siblings, each of his nieces and nephews. But truly, it was Qiturah who seemed to be the most frustrated out of any of them… frustrated as she so often was. ‘An alliance between our pack of Dierne Hrof and Uyaraut is a smart one - we are two strong packs and together we shall be even stronger yet. And, at least this will hopefully help ensure that your bond with a soulmate will lead to love and not war but putting it in an endearing light. It is a delicate balance, and we hope to sway it toward the more favorable of the two.’

Qiturah huffed and shook her head. She did not want to admit that she understood what he was saying, but she did. The princess knew what he was saying and knew that he was right. Alliances were important. And she knew that once she met her soulmate, that would be the end of it. She could never have the hope of falling in love normally, that she would always wonder if what she felt for her eventual soulmate was real or forced by the magic in her veins. She knew that there was only one created for her heart, mind, and soul to bond to… And yet this. This was all so frustrating. And so she tried a different tactic of complaint to her uncle. “Okay… But doesn’t this seem awkward to you? Why not just have us meet each one of… Kershov’s… children individually? At least it would be less awkward that way than like this. All at once. Together. Publicly. Without any privacy. What if something embarrassing happens? Everyone will see it and it will never be forgotten!” Aindreas laughed and shook his head at his niece’s antics.

‘Nothing outwardly embarrassing happens when you finally find your soulmate. Except in my case, when I stumbled over each and every single word that fell out of my mouth. And I do mean fell. But… Only you can know if you found your soulmate or not. So it is important that you are all honest with me. All right? It will be important for your futures and for the future of Dierne Hrof. I never wanted to put this pressure upon any of you, as young as you are, but the issue has unfortunately been forced.’

Qiturah tilted her head, suddenly very curious and intrigued by what her uncle had just said. She had not known that Aindreas had found his soulmate. After all… He did not currently have a mate, nor a queen ruling beside him. “Uncle Aindreas… you bonded with someone? Who is it? Where are they? Did you screw it all up make them an enemy instead of a lover? Did they die?!’ Now it was Aindreas who was starting to become frustrated, the heat flushing up into his pallid cheeks as he stuttered and stammered out a response.

‘Sure…I… yes I…did… It is… None of that is important really. Right now. At any rate, Kershov will be certainly.. hopefully be along shortly, so we do not have any time for tales about me. Just sit up straight, all of you, and be ready to make a good impression. Kershov is a hard one to please…’ At last, Qiturah allowed a smile to slip onto her face as she chuckled once or twice. If her uncle‘s social anxiety had survived an encounter meeting his soulmate, at least she knew that she would survive meeting hers. Besides, the chances were slim to none that she would actually meet her soulmate at this little soiree. After all, there were how many wolves living in Blossom Forest? Maybe her soulmate had not even been born yet! Although, at the thought of that, she winced and grimaced. How gross would it be if she was almost an adult and her soulmate was not even born yet? If her soulmate was an uncreated fetus? Not even a thought in someone’s mind?

“Yuck… !” Aindreas glared down at his niece and shook his head.

‘Qi… Please behave…’ He growled at his niece quietly, his gaze looking across the beach where motion had caught his gaze.

WC: 829