Chapter 53: A Compromise

"I will do what I planned." Then I shrugged. "I will have the marking ceremony with Lisa in three days. At least it will satisfy Father and Alpha Fred. It will buy time for me to find out where Father keeps Anna."

"I will try to find information for you too," Nate said. "Besides, it’s my fault you need to do this."

I shook my head. "No, Nate. We both know that it’s all about Alpha Fred’s pride." Then I remembered something. "What will you do if Lisa is still under the false influence? I don’t know what it is, either drugs or brainwashing, but it must have happened, since she’s unlike her usual self."

Nate looked away. "I never thought I would find my mate, you know. Because of that, I agreed to be your replacement. But after finding out Lisa is the one for me, I will do anything to keep her."

"What if I can’t send her to you as soon as possible? What if I need to touch her?"

Nate closed his eyes. His face showed how hurt it was for him, but then he opened his eyes again and looked me in the eye. "In that case, I will wait for her. I know you love Anna and won’t betray me. If you are forced to mate with her, I will accept it though it will be hard for me."

"I hope I don’t need to do it. But with Lisa’s condition, we can’t know what will happen. I don’t want to hurt you, Nate. You are my brother and best friend. You are the closest person to me. I don’t want to destroy our relationship."

Nate bent his head. "I know. We have the same sentiment. Yet we also know things don’t always go as we want. So, I must prepare myself if the worst happens."

"Thanks for your understanding. Speaking about that, I want you to prepare for the mating night." I tapped my chin. "I don’t know whether Lisa will still be under the false influence. Please prepare a blindfold. I want you to replace me and mate with her."

Nate smiled, though his shoulders sagged. "Thanks, Cam. I appreciate that."

There was a knock on my door. A guard bowed at me and Nate. "Beta Cameron, someone is coming to see Delta Nate."

Nate raised his eyebrows. He glanced at me and then asked the guard, "Who?"

"Delta Lisa Shadow."

Nate immediately bolted and left my house. It was a wonder to see how much Nate loved Lisa.

"Did Lisa come alone?" I asked the guard.

"No, she came with someone. It seems it’s her sister or her companion."

***

~ Nathanael/Nate ~

I ran as fast as possible. But then I stopped midway. Why didn’t I ask the guard where Lisa was waiting for me? But before I could return to Cam’s house, I suddenly thought she might wait for me at my house. So, I rushed to go home, and it’s true. Lisa was sitting in the living room.

She raised her head, and the moment she saw me, she whispered, "Nate …"

I hugged her and kissed her neck. "Lisa, you came to me. Finally!"

"Nate, let me go!"

I released her immediately and worried that I would face a stranger, but Lisa bit her lower lip and held my hand. She glanced at Susanne. "Please wait elsewhere. I want to talk with Nate alone."

I shook my head when Susanne walked toward the door outside of the house. "Susanne, please wait in the guest room." I pointed at the room in the hall's corner. "No one must see you outside of my house. Otherwise, they may report it to my father."

Susanne nodded and walked in the direction I showed her. Then, when she was already in the room, I squeezed Lisa’s hand.

"Are you alright? Cam told me you are differed from your usual self."

Lisa bit her lower lip again. "Nate, I don’t know what happened, but I don’t remember what happened in a few days."

"Cam told me you were pregnant, but you claimed it was his pup."

"What?!" Lisa took her hand from my grasp and covered her face. "What’s wrong with me? Am I insane already?" She stared at me. "I have never been with Cam. You must believe me. I only mated with you."

I hugged her and kissed her neck again. Her scent calmed me. "I know. Don’t worry. Maybe someone drugged or brainwashed you so you couldn’t remember properly. But no matter what, you are still my mate."

Lisa sobbed and shed her tears on my chest. "I’m so sorry …. I must freak out Susanne too as she was the one who made me know something’s wrong must have happened. What should we do?"

I took a deep breath. "We will continue our plan. You will have the marking ceremony with Cam, but you will mate with me. But we can pretend that you have mated with Cam."

"Why should we do that?"

"Because my father used Anna, Cam’s mate, as leverage. He arrested her. Cam must ensure Anna’s safety. He needs more time to locate and save her."

"What if they drug or brainwash me again?" Lisa shook her head. Her voice was low and breathless. "I didn’t even know what had happened …. What if I demand Cameron mate with me?"

I let out a sigh. "If it happens, we will let it go. No matter what will happen when you are under the false influence, I will consider it as someone else, not you."

"Oh, Nate! I can’t imagine mating with anyone other than you. To think I must mate with Cameron is too horrible. He’s your brother!"

"I know. But calm down. Unless you are under the false influence, you won’t mate with him. You will mate with me."

Lisa nodded and kissed my lips. Her lips were soft, and I almost wanted to mate with her because tasting her lips felt so good for me. But then I stopped. "I heard you have been pregnant."

Lisa blushed and took my hand. She placed my hand on her belly. "Yes, it’s yours, Nate. What do you think our pup’s name should be? My father asked me to ask Cameron. But I know for sure, it’s you I should ask."