Chapter 2 Chapter 1

The leaves of the fake tree we stood beneath cast shifting shadows across his face, obscuring his features. He remained where he was, standing just beyond the edge of clarity. Then, with a step, he invades my personal space.

I gasped.

He looks like my boyfriend but he wasn’t my boyfriend.

It was evident in his eyes. His drooping green ocean eyes make me think of the deep forest. His eyes were more mysterious and deeper than Damien's lively ones. I was at a loss for words as I looked at him.

"I apologize, but could you please say it again?" I questioned, startled by the exchange we had.

"I am not your boyfriend," he restated his previous statement. He put both of his hands in his pocket, as I noticed.

The only thing that comes out of my mouth is "Oh."

"Yes," he pressed a thin line on his lips and looked away.

"I understand. My deepest apologies."

I took a step backward, biting my lower lip as I chuckled gently. "You look like my boyfriend."

“Yeah, I always get that phrase every time. But I’m not related to Damien,” he answered with a devilish grin.

I cleared my throat, scrunching my nose in confusion and disbelief.

Heaving a deep sigh, I felt my forehead crease with worry. “B-But... but we're mates. Did you feel the mate bond, too? This is ridiculous!" The realization of being mated to this stranger began to sink in, unsettling me deeply.

I could feel hysteria creeping up on me.

"Yes, I've already felt the mate bond before," the man said in an emotional voice. He looks at me like he wants to touch me, to feel me, to devour me, but he knows he can't.

My mouth dropped open as I stared at him incredulously. "No, this is a mistake! I'm not mated to you!"

I was screaming every word out of my mouth.

Shocked by the revelation, I turned away from him... until he called my name which sent shivers down my spine.

"Katrina..."

I felt dizzy when he called my name. It felt right.

Damn it! I felt so right yet so wrong in many ways.

My heart beats like crazy. I've never felt this when I'm with my boyfriend. It felt like I was betraying Damien! I wanted to cry so bad at frustration! I should get out of here!

“Don’t you want to know my name?” It wasn’t a question. It was more like a statement.

Tears started forming in my eyes, and my hand found my mouth to stop myself from crying.

No, no, no...

Damien is not my fated mate!

This stranger who looks like him is my mate... and I can't accept that!

When I didn't answer him, he continued speaking.

“I’m Archer. Archer Ellington."