I knew I was going to mate for politics… I didn’t expect to meet him on our wedding day.

Cole

My father taught me from a young age that marriage is a human convention, designed for fiscal and political gain. When he tells me at ten that my role as his son would include such a “convention,” it doesn’t surprise me. It isn’t as if he ever pretends to have made a love match with my dad. It was strictly business, just like it will be for me. Sometimes I hate being the prince. No, that’s not true. It’s most of the...

I knew I was going to mate for politics… I didn’t expect to meet him on our wedding day.

Cole

My father taught me from a young age that marriage is a human convention, designed for fiscal and political gain. When he tells me at ten that my role as his son would include such a “convention,” it doesn’t surprise me. It isn’t as if he ever pretends to have made a love match with my dad. It was strictly business, just like it will be for me. Sometimes I hate being the prince. No, that’s not true. It’s most of the time.

Henri

Growing up, I had no idea my parents had signed me away to the neighboring kingdom. None. I lived this happy little life dreaming of finding my one true love, getting mated, and having a cabin full of pups. That dream came to a crashing halt on the day of my first shift. From that day on, my fathers kept me locked away with tutors, an “assistant”—AKA a babysitter—and the knowledge that in a year I would become the Bear Prince’s mate. Suck.