The Unexpected Proposal
Amber stepped out of the house of one of the she-wolves on her list, her thoughts a whirlwind.
It had been the same with the others — they were polite, welcoming, even kind, but none of the girls had shown a real interest in the Alpha. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the lack of enthusiasm was frustrating. This matchmaking job was harder than she thought.
As she made her way to the next house, a mere stone’s throw away, she tried to calm her nerves. This was it. Ciara was one of the last names on her list. Surely, Amber thought, this one would be different.
The moment she stepped into Ciara’s family home, she was greeted warmly by Ciara’s parents, who already knew her mission.
The parents’ eyes gleamed with hope. They wanted the best for their daughter, as any parent would, and the best, in their eyes, was the Alpha.
Amber exchanged pleasantries with them, but her focus was on Ciara. As expected, Ciara’s parents wanted their daughter mated to the Alpha. It was no secret that every parent in the pack would have loved the honor of their daughter being chosen, but the girls? That was a different story.
Amber settled herself down and began the interview. “So, Ciara, how have you been? I hope everything is going well.”
Ciara smiled, but Amber could tell something was off. It was in the way her eyes flickered nervously.
“I’m fine,” Ciara answered quietly.
Amber, always the professional, pushed forward. “I know you’ve heard about the Alpha’s search for a mate, and as the matchmaker, I just want to know where you stand.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Ciara shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her gaze dropping to the floor before meeting Amber’s eyes again.
“I don’t want to be matched with the Alpha,” Ciara said, her voice firm.
Amber blinked in shock. “Excuse me?”
Ciara nodded. “I don’t want it. Not now, not ever.”
Amber’s mind raced. She had interviewed plenty of girls, and while most had avoided the question or deflected with polite answers, none had been so blunt. “But why?” Amber asked, genuinely curious.
Ciara’s expression remained unchanged. “Because it’s not what I want. It’s not about the title. I don’t care about being the Alpha’s Luna. I want someone I can connect with. Someone who cares about me, not just as a partner to fulfill some duty.”
Amber’s heart sank, but she couldn’t help feeling a strange admiration for Ciara’s boldness. Amber understood all too well. She, too, craved love, not just a partnership built on status and obligation.
“But don’t you think the Alpha could be a good match for you? He’s strong, powerful, respected…”
Ciara shook her head, cutting Amber off. “It’s not about that. It’s about who I am, and what I want. I want love, not an arrangement.”
Amber sighed. She could see the fire in Ciara’s eyes, the way she refused to be swept into a match based solely on status.
It was admirable. It was rare. And in that moment, Amber knew matching Ciara with the Alpha would only bring more heartache than happiness. They’d never find common ground.
Amber made a note on her notepad, then struck Ciara’s name off the list with frustration. She was one of the last hopefuls, and now Amber had nothing.
She’d come all this way, and nothing had come close to the right match for the Alpha. The list was due tonight, and it seemed like she had no one left to offer.
“Thank you for your honesty, Ciara,” Amber said, her voice soft. “I understand.”
Ciara smiled, a look of relief crossing her face. “Thank you for understanding, Amber. You’re a good matchmaker.”
Amber gave her a small smile before getting up to leave. She was so close to the finish line, but it felt like she was running in circles. As she turned to walk out, she felt a presence behind her. The hairs on her neck stood up as she spun around, startled.
A man stood in the doorway, a faint grin on his lips. He was tall, with dark hair and sharp features that made Amber’s heart skip a beat. She’d seen him earlier, standing in the background when she entered Ciara’s house. But now, he was standing directly in front of her.
“Can I help you?” Amber asked, trying to regain her composure.
The man stepped forward, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach flutter.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear,” he said, his voice smooth and confident. “I’m here to make a request.”
Amber raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A request?”
He nodded, his grin widening. “Yes. I’d like you to matchmake me.”
Amber’s eyebrows furrowed. “Matchmake you? I—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the man pointed directly at her.
“You,” he said, his voice calm yet assertive. “I want you to matchmake me with you.”
Amber’s heart skipped a beat. She stood frozen in place, unsure of how to respond. Her eyes darted between him and the door behind her. She couldn’t have heard him correctly.
“Me?” she finally whispered.
He nodded. “Yes, you. I want you.”
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication. Amber’s mind raced as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.