WHO IS BETTER, ME OR YOU?

CHARLES FOX.

I looked at my watch—I was running late for dinner with the girls. I didn’t really care for them; after all, none of them were my fated mate. Grudgingly, I went to the pack house where my mother, Luna, lived.

“Good evening, Alpha. Your mother has been expecting you,” the butler said as he bowed.

I nodded, knowing what this meant. My mother was already getting annoyed by my lack of punctuality. As soon as I entered the dining room where the girls and my mother were, I immediately went to my mother’s side and kissed her on the cheek. Not that I expected it to do much for the disappointment she felt over my lack of interest in finding a new Luna and mother for my heir, but it’s the thought that counts.

“Good evening, Mother. You look stunning as always,” I said with a light smile. “It’s almost as if you never age.”

My mother rolled her eyes, a slight smile dancing on her lips. “Stop with your cheap flattery and take a seat.”

I was barely seated when the girls started bombarding me with various questions about my life and work. I sighed, then stared at the blonde girl with wide eyes who looked starstruck by my presence and would probably be impressed by everything and anything I did—even if it were simply breathing air.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Alexa,” she replied, smiling widely.

“Alexa, I would appreciate it if you let me enjoy my meal before you ask me all these questions. I’m famished,” I said firmly.

I was about to put a spoonful of food in my mouth when my mom cleared her throat. “We are gathered here to learn about each other.”

“…and eat,” I added.

She cleared her throat again, signifying that she did not like the idea. “There is plenty of time for that,” she said calmly.

I turned to look at the ladies patiently waiting for me to acknowledge them.

“Okay, ladies, what would you like to know?” I asked, even though pretty much everything they needed to know was freely available on the internet.

The red haired lady spoke first. “I heard you will be starting a new project to expand our community. When I heard that, I knew you would be the best Alpha this pack has ever had. It would be an honor to be chosen as your Luna.”

“I’m sorry. Can you remind me of your name again?” I asked the redhead.

“Genesis.”

“Genesis, what a beautiful name.”

“Thank you,” she smiled.

“Tell me, Genesis, why should I choose you to be my Luna,” I asked, staring at her.

She was taken aback by my forwardness and blinked her eyes a couple of times before murmuring an inaudible sound.

“So, tell me—why do you want to be my breeder?” I repeated.

“Well… uhm… I wanted to be your breeder because this kingdom needs a successor, and I know you would make a good father.”

I nodded before turning my attention to the other girl. “What’s your reason?”

Alexa smiled. “My family has a good fertility rate, so you don’t have to worry about having a child. Plus, who doesn’t want a beautiful woman who will listen to everything you say?”

I shook my head but said nothing. This meeting didn’t really matter to me. I desperately wanted a mate who would match my energy and wasn’t afraid to be herself. Staying with these girls, I knew I wouldn’t get any of that from them, so I would wait it out until my mom got tired of her quest for a grandchild and left me alone.

I soon noticed that during all of this, the plain-looking girl did not say a word. Her eyes seemed distant, her thoughts miles away, as if she was utterly unattuned to the conversation swirling around her. I found myself wondering if it was because she didn’t think she was attractive enough for me, or perhaps she didn’t care.

“Ruby, you haven’t said a word since I arrived. You are not enjoying this dinner, are you?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. There was something about her quiet demeanor that made me want to draw her out, to see what lay beneath the surface.

She raised her head, her eyes wide and startled, as if she couldn’t believe I was addressing her.

“Isn’t your name Ruby?” I pressed, though I was confident I had it right.

“Yes, Alpha,” she replied, a blush creeping up her cheeks. The way her skin flushed with that soft pink hue sent an unexpected warmth through me, catching me off guard.

What is wrong with me? Why did my heart stutter at the sight of a simple blush on the face of a woman who was nothing compared to Morana, my mate?

I cleared my throat, pushing away the unsettling feelings. “Tell me, Ruby, what do you enjoy doing?” I asked, my voice a little rougher as if trying to regain control.

The room fell into a silence, all attention fixed on her. I could see her discomfort in the way her smile faltered, but then something shifted—her blush deepened, and I found myself leaning forward, inexplicably eager to hear her answer.

“Nothing that would interest a man like you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper yet quickening my pulse.

“Let me be the judge of that,” I replied, unable to hide the intrigue that laced my words.

“Uhm… I,” she hesitated, her eyes dropping to her hands as she fidgeted nervously. “I love sports,” she whispered, as if revealing a forbidden secret.

The room erupted into laughter, the sound harsh and grating against my ears.

“Don’t be silly, Ruby. No man wants a lady who likes sports. It’s too aggressive for a lady,” Zoey said, her laughter shrill and dismissive.

I frowned, my gaze narrowing at the girls. In this part of the world, a woman’s love for sports was seen as unladylike, almost a rebellion against her femininity. But the way Ruby had spoken, so softly yet with such quiet conviction, stirred something protective within me.

“Sports are for men, not soft, gentle ladies,” Alexa chimed in, her tone condescending.

I ignored them, turning back to Ruby, who seemed to shrink under the weight of their judgment. “What kind of sport do you enjoy?” I asked, my voice gentle, urging her to continue.

To my surprise, and my mother’s, she answered, “Archery.”

For a moment, I was stunned. Archery was my favorite pastime, a skill I honed in my spare moments. It was something deeply personal, a connection few knew about me. She couldn’t possibly know this, which meant she wasn’t trying to impress me—she was simply being herself.

“You know, I’m a big fan of that sport,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “And I think it’s not a bad sport for a lady.”

Ruby’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, and then, with more boldness than I had expected, she asked, “How good are you?”

“The best,” I replied proudly.

She scrunched her nose and rolled her eyes, a gesture so unexpectedly endearing that I had to resist the urge to laugh.

“You don’t believe me?” I asked, genuinely taken aback by her reaction.

“You can’t claim to be the best if you haven’t played against me,” she said, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Are you implying you are better than me?” I asked, a mix of surprise and admiration filling my voice. There was something exhilarating about this quiet girl challenging me so openly.

“I’m not implying I’m better than you. I’m saying I’m the best, and you could be second if you wish.”

Her words sent a thrill through me—oh, how I loved a good challenge. It had been far too long since anyone had dared to test me in a sport I was so confident in. This was no longer just a dinner; it had become something much more, something that made my blood hum with anticipation.

“I guess it’s a duel, then,” I said, my smirk matching hers. “Tomorrow, we will find out.”