The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 30

If I were to describe how day four was for me, it would be something like vultures circling around my corpse- a corpse that apparently Mister O left for them to ravage.

I found myself flocked by a few dozen men, some even from our pack, all saying the same thing.

"Mister O said he was choosing someone and he even made a gift for her."

"It's all everyone is talking about."

"He's been in his room all day working on this gift."

"That means you're free now, Miss X."

A part of me, and I don't know how big or small that part was, had always hoped that somehow by the end of the week, 0 would come back and choose me. It was a terrible thing to harbor in my heart, especially with the Choosing so close, my window of opportunity to replace someone else was literally closing fast.

Yet here I was, still hoping.

Still praying.

How pathetic was I?

Waiting and waiting for this man that will never choose me.

And this man, this man I've been quietly hoping for, has already decided to choose someone else.

With a gift he made with his own hands to match.

I didn't know it was still possible, but my heart breaks all over again

Truly, I was done. I could not take more of this.

There was nothing left of him after all this time.

1 had to move on...

Somehow. Someway.

I had to.

For me.

For my family who needed me.

"Miss X, I will treat you well. You will be my partner in life... in everything. You will always have a say in things and you will be my priority. For every day and for every hour. It would be you."

I blinked, having briefly forgotten that someone was talking to me.

"I won't be like another 0 to you. I will make you happy and will choose you every day." He finishes his speech and though his words are sweet, the last part of it hardens my heart.

A calming whisper in my head says to let it go, that this man- whoever he is, was promising everything that I hoped O would do. That I should give in and be happy with someone who was exactly what my parents would like for me. Simple. Uncomplicated.

And most importantly, not 0.

But another voice in my head, a louder one, wanted to throat punch him for even saying this to me.

"Here is a token of my love," The man continued, giving me a painted vase full of flowers. "I made this for you as a promise that I will fill it every day with new flowers."

I wanted to cry all of a sudden.

Because why couldn't O be like this? Why did he have to want someone else? Why couldn't he be like this man who Ididn't know?

Finding no proper words to say, I found myself tilting my head forward in appreciation. "Thank you,"

I didn't even remember his letter.

That's how much my head was in the clouds... was with 0.

Emotionally exhausted while clutching a dozen gifts in my arms, I headed for the mansion, my knees feeling weak.

"Why do you look as though someone spat in your milk?" My guard asked, abandoning his post ten steps behind me to walk side by side, our shoulders brushing against each other.

My ears felt hot all of a sudden as I faced him. "Because I do want that. What the man offered. The flowers. The partnership that wed have. How hell always choose me.

And I'm furious at myself that even with him presenting everything I could ever want, I still don't want him."

He stopped me from walking, taking my wrist in his hands and pulling me until I was almost leaning on his chest. "It's not supposed to be easy, Miss X."

"Is that why you're still unmated?" I whispered, breathless like I had been running. "Is that why you went to the Games and never chose? Because it wasn't easy?" We were so close.

So impossibly close.

And if anyone were to see us, I am sure they would report us to the organizers immediately.

Because we looked more than just a guard and his attendee.

We could get banned from this.

But my guard didn't move, his expression warm. "Yes.

I placed a hand over his chest, attempting to push him off, but when I felt the steady beating of his heart, I couldn't bring myself to part from him. There was something calming about feeling him close.

He places his hands on either side of my shoulders and I lose my breath, because he still had my bracelet on, albeit hidden by the sleeves of his jacket.

But I could still see the hint of pink and lace right on the cuffs.

Feeling more confident than I should be, I reached for his wrist and pulled his jacket back up his arm. "I thought you said you threw that away?"

He smirked, an evil little curve of his lips that made my heart jump. "I didn't say that."

"What did you say then?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing." Which wasn't exactly a lie. He didn't say anything that day. He just shook his head. "I didn't say anything about it."

Never has my guard been more beautiful in that moment.

Dark clothes.

Pink bracelet.

My bracelet.

His eyes were only on me.

I pulled his sleeves back to cover the bracelet, like a secret that only we knew about. I resisted the urge to kiss it, to hold him tighter, but I gave a light tap instead, knowing that was enough for now. "Well, at least someone is happily using it." "That I am."

I don't miss how he inconspicuously glanced at my wrist where Mister W's bracelet still was. I meant to remove it but I forgot.

I want to remove it now.

To prove something.

But / was too preoccupied by my guard and the effect he seemed to have on me.

It was like he had me in this choke hold, unable to breathe, unable to do anything but take it all.

"L... I think I'm going to head back to my room." I said distractedly, pulling my eyes away from him to look towards the mansion. "Shower and-"

"Hide?" He finished for me.

My feet move before I speak, heading for the doors. "Get ready."

He looked up at the sun right as we entered the marble halls of the mansion. "It's lunch. The party isn't until later tonight."

I found my way through the mansion easily, like it is my home. "Are you worried about me, T?"

His eyes darkened at this.

"Join me then if you're too worried. Come into my room and see that I truly am going to rest and prepare for a night where my liver cries as I drink." Because I truly needed a drink after learning about 0. A couple of drinks. "Maybe we can get some food and drink in the room as well. Spend the afternoon together."

He hesitates, I can feel his step faltering slightly. "Whatever you want."

Turning a corner, we make it to the long hallway where my room is, but I stop, noticing two guards stationed outside the door. I glanced up at my guard. "Did something happen?"

His jaw tightened, it was the smallest movement but I saw it. "There was another attempt to vandalize your room-"

My eyes widened, watching the two guards leave us as we made it to the door. I remember the picnic with Mister W before another guard came for him. "The other day. That's why you left."

He opened the door for me, but apart from the scent of cleaning supplies and a few lit candles that gave off the smell of warm taffy, nothing seemed to be out of place.

Yes but they were caught before they could do anything."

"They? There was more than one?" I asked, frowning.

Did people hate me that much?

How could this happen so constantly?

"It was a group of them." He explains, carefully looking over the room as if he expected more of these vandals to happen. "Led by the woman Mister O chose as a partner during one of the contests."

It was my turn to grind my teeth together. "What did they want?"

His sharp eyes nearly burned through me. "I do not care about what they want, only that they will never do it again."

I stood next to him as he inspected the bed and then the bathroom. "Did you k i Il them?"

The smile he gave was haunting and I was almost sure he did k i 1l them. "As much as I wanted to, no, but they are banned with no chance of going back and they will be forced to pay a few fees to your Alpha. For the trouble."

I poked his arm and felt hard muscles there. "Look at you being so protective of me."

He merely shrugs.

I want to tease him more but a knock on my door stops me. One of the staff walks in with trays of food and drink.

My guard takes it and dismisses the staff with a flick of his hand

Feeling more relaxed than ever since the week began, I urged him towards the bed with the tray in his hands. I make myself comfortable by fluffing pillows and a strum of thrill goes through me when my guard pulls a chair towards my bed to sit close to me. He was tense.

Very tense.

But when a laugh leaves my lips at how ridiculously straight and stiff his back was, I think I see him cra c ka smile. "Lighten up, T. No one is here to see you be more than a guard." I told him, taking a bite from a freshly baked muffin.

He looked at me then like he didn't care about anyone else and what they thought.

Something told me that he was doing this for my benefit, though I don't see why

But I should have known that the rush of adrenaline in my veins was my answer.

His eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

copied him, narrowing my eyes as well. "It is so."

Suddenly, he got up from his seat and, taking my hand, pulled me out of the bed to stand directly in front of him.

My heart squeezed as I was pressed against him."

W-what?"

He didn't respond, taking one hand in his while the other rested on my lower back. Like there was music playing, we swayed to it.

It reminded me of the night where we had to dance with everyone... everyone except him.

All resistance and logic left my body as I leaned on him, my ears to his chest, listening to his heart beat as we continued to dance in my room.

It felt like a dream but better because this was real.