The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 36

The weight of my absolute failure started to suffocate me as I not only left Mister Win the maze, but also because every single person that approached me after that was simply not someone I wanted to leave with and I could do nothing but accept my fate.

I was not going to leave the Games with anyone.

Except my disappointed parents.

"It's okay to be picky." Miss A says, trying to comfort me." That last guy was missing an entire row of teeth anyway."

"He was also missing a brain." Miss E very helpfully adds."

A sickly bird would have been a better option."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you, E."

She shrugs. "Just saying. He was squawking and sputtering around like one."

It was probably the only time my guard agreed with

Miss E.

And I hate how I knew he was smiling without needing to look at him.

"He's a warrior and got rattled a few many times. It's normal." I tried to argue, mostly to convince myself that he wasn't at all a bad option. As I say this, my guard from behind me loudly scoffs and I shoot him a glare before looking back at the girls. "He was fine. He looked strong and capable."

"Sure if you're looking for a plumber to hire." E turned up her nose. "The reality is he was dropped as a baby. He thought your real name was Miss.

He asked why your

parents named you after a prefix."

Miss A did not look amused as well. "Poor dude, he must have been so confused thinking all our names were Miss."

grimaced, thinking back at the man that just left. "So I'm basically screwed. I'm single and I'm a disapointment to my family."

"Don't fret, X. Unless you specifically ask not to choose, some guys like to propose their love during the Choosing itself. It's actually really romantic." Miss A tells me. "You'll never know. Someone might surprise you."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and playing with breadsticks on the table. It was well into the afternoon and at this point all the respectable choices had already pre-chosen their mates, leaving very few choices for me. Maybe it really was time to throw in the towel and accept my defeat.

It's been like this all day.

I just couldn't feel it.

Whatever it was that I was supposed to feel to know they were right for me.

It was nowhere

Not even a quake of my heart.

Maybe it was time I abandoned this 'following my heart' thing and chose someone logically. Because if I did that, then I would at least have twenty options.

"Is Mister O really out of the picture for you?" Miss A asked. "I know I said he was bad news, but if you love him and he loves you..."

"It wouldn't work out." I almost cringed at the way I said this because it was much more complicated than my simple explanation.

Miss E was quick to add more information. "I hear that girls from all over gave him their gifts but he didn't accept any of them. Maybe he's waiting for yours."

Though I know they weren't trying to hurt me by saying this, it still felt like a knife to the heart.

"He's a handsome guy. The hair. The eyes." E continues, looking dreamy. "And with the way he looks at you, X? It's spicy. It's juicy. It's... yummy. He definitely likes you. Why not push it?"

The knife in my heart twists and I fight not to visibly grimace.

Thankfully, I was saved from replying to this by the bell that rang, signaling that afternoon activities were over and we should all start preparing for the farewell party tonight.

"Wear something ravishingly hot." Miss A advices me as she stands up from her seat. "This is the last party of this year's Games. Everyone's going all out for it."

E finishes her mimosa with a quick tip of her head. "It's also your very last chance to replace someone. So flirt like he l and dance like you mean it"

I try to smile but I don't think I'm going to replace my mate while he's drunk out of his mind at a farewell party

Plus, my dancing skills weren't all that great.

The girls turned to leave and I followed behind them quietly.

Just as I was about to enter the mansion, I was stopped by an organizer. For a split second, I panicked, thinking they were going to take away my guard. She's in black like all of them are and she stared at me with such determination that for a moment I was just stunned into silence.

"Be careful with who you call your friends." She says quickly, her eyes narrowed and voice lowered so that her words didn't carry. "Not everyone has good intentions like you do."

The organizer doesn't wait for me to respond and leaves me standing there dumbfounded while watching Miss A and Miss E walk through the mansion doors.

I blink, trying to process this.

She couldn't possibly mean....

No.

They were my friends.

There was already so much to think about, so much to deal with, and this only made me more confused than ever. All of this... It's too much to handle in such a short time. Truly, I have run out of heart and the will to continue playing these Games.

Over and over it went, twisting both my heart and my mind

In the end, I know I was probably wrong, but I didn't care anymore. The girls were one of the only people I looked forward to seeing during the Games and I cannot stand to see them any differently than that.

I hurried after the girls, ignoring the warning. With a smile, we continued our conversation as if an organizer didn't just warn me off them.

"What about the guy with a chin so wide it was like he was flattened out by a rolling pin?" Miss E suggested. "He was nice? And I hear he has a title."

"X doesn't care about titles," Miss A says with a shake of her head. "She wants someone with passion and someone that will treat her right."

"Ah, you want a unicorn, huh?" E teases, rolling her eyes like it was so impossible to replace the right guy with the right intentions.

How could either of these girls be anything but genuine?

From the very beginning, they were nice to me when no one else was. They cheered for me and comforted me and taught me the ways of the Games.

I just couldn't see it.

I didn't wanna believe it.

When we split up to go to our respective rooms, I faced my guard who was faithfully ten steps behind me. "Should I worry about what the organizer said?"

He knew immediately what I meant. "It's not in your nature to care if it is. You only like to see the positives in everything. It's what makes you... you. I think you've already decided for yourself, anyway!"

He was right.

So right.

Thad.

And him knowing this makes me flush.

"It's your last night." He took five steps forward. He was still a respectful distance away but he was closer than any other guard was to their attendee. "Why don't you forget everything else and simply enjoy your time here?"

"Why, did you have fun on your last night?" I asked, smirking up at him. "I bet you had plenty of proposals during your time."

He doesn't confirm my theory, only taking two more steps closer. If he didn't have his bracelet on, I would easily smell him. "I mostly stayed in my room and avoided the whole thing, but you deserve to have fun and to have time for yourself without worrying about anything else. Do what you want to do, 'll take care of you."

Something warm spread across my cheeks and my chest.

I was red as a tomato but he didn't make fun of me for it

He takes another step closer and this time I swear, I can smell him.

"I won't let you out of my sight."

My heart drums so loudly that I feel my entire body rattle along with it. I could see a growing sense of... something in his intense stare. Whatever it was that gleamed there, it sent a thrill through me.

When he takes that final step to close the distance, I can barely stand it. I can barely breathe. "ll k i ll anyone that touches you."

By all means, his words were scary and intimidating, promising de a th yet, somehow I only feel this irresistible attraction to him.

I think I'm actually losing my mind.

I think he has broken me.

"Things would be different if you were an attendee." My eyes widened after I realized what I had just said.

But it was too late to take it back.

Because my guard's lips had parted and I knew I had taken him by surprise.

"Yes." He suddenly admitted, looking like his response surprised him too. "It would be very different."

My heart pulls and pulls and pulls, wanting to say more, but I've already said enough... too much even. "I, uh, better get ready for tonight."

He nodded, watching me go inside the room with a look that spoke a thousand words.

I get ready for the final party slowly, taking my time to allow my mind to calm down from fantasizing about my guard. I soak myself in the tub until my fingers are wrinkly and choose between the available outfits. There were three more. One was a white wedding gown for the Choosing One was a white tailored suit for going home.

And the last was a simple sheer grey dress. It was backless and had the lowest neckline among all the dresses I've ever worn.

Miss A said to wear something ravishing and this was by far the most skin I would be showing.

For the first time, I actually put effort into doing my makeup. I did my best to apply foundation, eyeshadow and blush and red lipstick and, to finish the look, a poor attempt at eyeliner.

Twice I ended up looking like a confused panda.

Until finally, I got it right... at least I hope it's right.

It was dark at the party anyway. No one would notice.

When I'm done, I notice the pair of wolf figurines on my vanity, nose to nose. It was us in our wolf form. My heart automatically aches at the sight of it and I almost didn't want to go out anymore.

But I force myself to stand, steeling my spine and remembering my promise to 0.

That I would have fun with or without him.

Because there was a reason why I couldn't choose him.

Ihave to start accepting this and stop comparing every single man I meet to 0

Maybe that's why I couldn't replace someone else... everyone was just not who I wanted them to be.

My family never voiced out my responsibilities to them... on how this match that I was to make would impact our lives greatly. They never said anything but I know it looms over me. I had to make this work

For them.

For our future.

Stepping out of my room, I expected to see my guard like usual, but panic bubbles up my chest when I do not see my guard immediately like I always do. I look around, chest squeezing and squeezing as my heart starts to beat erratically. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't.... I couldn't.

Did the organizers take him?

Has he left me?

Did he break his promise?

Has he been taken away?

The thought of him being reassigned to someone else or maybe even released from his position as guard causes a tremor inside me.

No. I won't allow that.