Why A Dragon Mate?

Ch.10 A Talk Among Familiar Strangers

Suki's P.O.V

"So Suki you didn't know that Louis is my older brother? That's surprising, we have been friends for Decades and I personally know at least half of your brothers by name and the others I can recognize when we meet" Yuki doesn't sound angry as she says this, so I decide to play along as Louis is in the car listening.

I'm sill not sure how we got to this point one moment I was confronted by some rude people and was about to start a fight, Louis comes out the car and stops us then I'm being bribed to not say anything about this. I 'agreed' to not say anything for now.

I thought that was it, but now am being escorted who knows where after being dragged into a strangers car and on top of that I'm being questioned like it's an interrogation.

"Well I'm truly sorry Yuki, I guess having the same last name didn't ring a bell for me. Also,... I do know your younger brothers the quintuplet, and that distant eldest son of your family, your half brother, but Louis doesn't resemble any of them neither does he resemble you, are you sure he's your brother?"

I laughed a bit looking at Louis's facial expression change multiple times as I said these words.

Louis interjects this time, "Well I'll have you know I am indeed part of the Salvatore family and Yuki's older brother, it....., it's just that I'm the only one who has resemblance to my mother and her side of the family. My seven siblings all resemble my father and his side of the family."

Louis crosses his arms obviously annoyed that he had to explain this fact, probably because it's not his first time having to say this.

Yuki's laughter can be heard over the video call on my phone through the speakers since my conversation has to be monitored.
"Louis, big brother, don't be sad mom said your birth was a grate joy to her as she was sure her 'Beautiful Genes' would be passed on. That's why she insist that you find a mate soon, form a Mate-Bond, and eventually make some grandpups for her....! Oh and be Eternally Linked of course."

At the mention of finding a mate the mood in the car turns sour, even I can relate. Why does everyone push the notions that finding a proper mate, getting Linked or creating a Mate-Bond and having many offspring with that prospective mate/mates, are the most important things to do in our almost immortal life.

I wonder sometimes, if it is just me that thinks this way, I mean finding that perfect mate sounds unrealistic to begin with. I feel like that is something that can wait till you are ready both mentally, physically O and financially of course, especially the 'having offspring' part.

Most females around my age who have found themselves a proper mate, that fits all the requirements, have permanently left the middle working-class to fully focus on raising a family, but that's still a small amount compared to the overall work force with a ratio of 2 employed females for every 20 employed males. In most parts of this world, the 'economy scale' has become more stable in recent times, but it still tips heavily in favour of males being the sole breadwinners in the family.

"Suki,... Hay Suki are you listening?"
I turn my attention from the window to Louis who's waving a hand in front of my face, I swat his hand away answering no then asking for them to repeat their words.

" Well Suki we-" Yuki interrupts, questioning who is this 'we' in Louis's words.

Louis clears his throat, why is he acting so nervous?

Although I don't know him well it feels odd, like he is trying way too hard to hold a conversation. "Well Suki I was wandering what are your thoughts on finding a mate and settling down?"

I laugh a bit, so this is the big question that had him like a rabbit afraid to leave its borrow. I answer half jokingly yet serious at the same time.
"That business can wait a long time, and anyways, for me I do not really have much of a choice in that arena of life."

Louis and the male next to him, who has not said anything since I came into the car, both gave me a look, as if they wanted me to explain in detail what I mean by my statements above.

I glance at the window again, I hear Yuki's voice say 'I told you so' in the background. I zone out for a bit thinking about what I am going to eat once I'm back at the apartment it would be lunch time now if I was in the office, hmm I'll probably order something again.

I turn my attention back to their conversation when I here a familiar name, 'Ashton' that is my youngest older brother's name we are about 8 months apart in age.

I Interrupt asking "What's up with Ashton, did something happen, was it another sex scandal, or a bad break-up with another celebrity or something along those lines?"

Everyone pauses for a moment, the silence tells me I'm the only one missing something, what do I not know it can't be that bad that it deserves a reaction like theirs.

Louis finally speaks, "Yuki you haven't told Suki yet?"

"Hay don't call my name, it's a sensitive topic besides that I thought Suki's family would inform her, so I assumed she knew already and just didn't want to talk about it. Wasn't it on the news a few weeks ago?"

I look at my phone as Yuki speaks to Louis, who has a worried look on his face. I grow a bit impatient waiting for someone to answer my question. "What am I missing here?"

Louis looks me in the eyes, his light violet-blue irises contrasting my dark gold ones. "Suki, you don't know that your brother found his paired mates, and my five brothers found theirs."

I sigh holding my head, "So that is what all the fuss was about. Isn't this great news why the sour look, shouldn't y'all be celebrating, happily for your brothers like how I am for mine who-..... Wait did you say mates as in more than one?!"

I hold my head but for a different reason now.

"Are these events related by chance,... as in these paired mates of my Dear Baby Big Brother are your brothers or some weird shite like that‽"

I know it is common, but not excepted by all cultures, nowadays for males and females to have more than one mate as partners, but that is through mutual agreement, they chose them to be their mates, but if it is the truth I am hearing then this is different as my brother Ashton and Yuki's brothers the quintuplets are paired mates which means this was decided since birth.

I wonder if this is something for the history books or has this happened before, I need to do some research.

I see the look on their faces and my thoughts are confirmed. I open my mouth but nothing comes out.

The male sitting next to Louis, who I now noticed has unusually dark red irises, that resemble cooling lava.

He raises his hand slightly as if to quiet us and is about to speak when, I look ahead outside the car window to see a large group of people standing at the entrance near the apartment complex. "What is with all this commotion today?!"

A/N
Eternal Link: It is like marriage, but can not be forced and it is very hard to break off once formed.

Reminder:
Chosen mate is when both partners willingly give up on seeking their true mate aka Paired mate.

Paired mate is granted by the Moon goddess at birth.

After their 130th birthday (Age 26 in wolf time) they are free to have a chosen mate and are not bound by any troubles of finding the paired mate later on in life.

(I will explain later on how and why......Nope I changed my mind) =/

Well actually the best thing I could come up with in like 2 minutes,( because I want to sleep) is the moon goddess's twin brother, who helps her with her duties, often gets bought every 100 years or so and likes to mix up the mating pool which assigns partners to everyone in all the universes and sometimes unexpected things happen, in order for their to be a balance.

See you next☆~☆