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“See, they want each match based on a person’s personality and traits rather than their physical appearance. It’s the reason their success rate is so high with matching alphas and omegas.”

“Where did you get the idea that we needed a mate?” Tripp asks, and by my silence, I can guess he has a good idea where I got this idea from.

I didn’t sign up because we are incapable of finding mates. I signed us up because we don’t have the time to go and find a mate. We all have very demanding jobs, and with those demanding jobs come time constraints. We needed the help.

We barely have time for ourselves, let alone spending hours on dates to see if we find a match. By signing up for this, I used a middleman to do the hard job for us.

“I don’t want you all to be mad at me,” I say, fiddling with my napkin. “But we need the help. We’re all going on thirty-one this year, and it’s about time for us to settle down with an omega.”

“I see,” is all Knox says while continuing to stare down at my phone.

“What if Knox and I don’t want a mate, Boone?” Trip inquires, his voice giving nothing away.

I know him better than he knows himself. He wants a mate. Ever since we turned eighteen, Tripp has been wanting an omega of our own. Knox may not want to admit it, but he wants a mate, too. He’s just hesitant about the idea because of the way some matings end.

To Knox, you mate for life. There is no take-back or return-to-sender. Once we’re in this, we’re in it for good. So, I can understand why he’s hesitant. He doesn’t want to be paired with the wrong type of omega.

I’m the only one who doesn’t see an issue with this.

I’m sure of it. The reason I don’t see a problem with this is because, quite frankly, we needed the help.

We’re not the pack that just anyone can approach.

We’re one of the most sought-after packs in Cedar Hill.

That’s why we need to be cautious. There are many omegas out there who would kill to be part of our pack just to have the social standing that it would bring them.

Silence envelopes us once again. We each sit there, lost in thought, wondering about the match that Select-A-Mate has for us. I know they’re just as curious as I am, but they don’t want to admit it.

Hopefully, they jump on board with this because I’m honestly tired of being without an omega. Yes, I have Knox and Tripp, but I need … more.

I want something tangible. I want something lasting.

Hell, I want children of my own, and without an omega, we will never have that.

Both of them know how much I want children. And, let’s face it, we’re not getting any younger. In fact, we’re becoming too old. If we wait any longer, then we won’t be able to enjoy our children’s younger years. We’ll be too old to be hands-on with them.

“If you don’t want a mate, then I won’t make you get one.” Even though I really, really want a mate. “We will continue going as we have been.”

Finally, Tripp releases a sigh. “Knox, we both know we can’t keep going on as we have been.”

“Says who?” Knox asks, leveling Tripp with a glare.

Tripp rests his forearms on the table and leans forward. He releases a sigh. “The longer we go without a mate, the worse I become. I’m one rut away from ending up in the big house. Then what? That will absolutely ruin your career.”

I would really like to know why Knox is so opposed to mating as much as he appears to be.

Yes, he has preferences. Yes, he needs a specific type of omega to fit in with his social circle.

But this seems to go beyond that, and I don’t know why.

His parents have a terrific mating, and they love each other more every day.

Every person around him who is mated has a terrific mating.

So, why?

I decide to put a voice to my inner thoughts. “Why are you so against mating someone?”

I can tell by the stubborn set of his jaw that he doesn’t want to answer me. Instead, he continues to glare down at my phone as if it’s offended him in some way.

Even if he folds, Knox will likely be an issue. He doesn’t want to have his choice taken away from him, and essentially, this is what is happening. Between me and his campaign team, he’s having his choice in mating taken away.

The bottom line is that he doesn’t have to mate with anyone. However, if he wants to become Mayor of Cedar Hill, then this is a necessary evil.

The way I look at it is that we will get an omega that is ours . We won’t have to frequent the heat dens anonymously when we need to get our omega fix. We will have an omega at home that we will be able to tend to.

That’s all I want. I want an omega I can take care of. I want to be able to come home every day and see her smiling face. I want to be wrapped inside her cocoon of warmth and comfort after a particularly stressful day.

I want it all.

“Fine,” Knox finally says, clicking something on my screen. He continues to type without saying anything. Once he’s finished, he gives me back my phone and resumes eating his now cold dinner. All without glancing in my direction.

My heart beats a mile a minute. I have to wipe my palms on my pants as I take my phone back off the table. When I look down, reading what he wrote, my eyes shoot up to see him already looking at me with an unreadable expression.

I see we are a match. My pack would be honored if you would agree to meet so that we may become better acquainted with one another. Please reply with your interest. We look forward to meeting you, RemiWithAnI.

Be still my overactive heart. I think I’m going to faint.