Forced Into Your Life

2

"You two are to help for the wedding. We'll need to decide on the color scheme, pick out flowers. Oh! I'll get the cake guy to make a blend of your favorite flavors... Alejandro likes coconut, right? We can do a wonderful rendition of coconut vanilla mousse cake with a red velvet top, coated in white fondant." Krolia cheers as she discusses with Camille who nods happily, across from her.

"Wait, wait. Slow down, please." I hiss, placing a hand on my forehead in confusion as I squint at my mother. "When is this wedding? What?"

"Oh! It's taking place tomorrow. The sooner, the better I believe. Alejandro, what do you think?" She turns the question on the alpha who freezes at that, looking at me as I bite my lip.

"Listen, your son is beautiful but I think I'd rather get to know who exactly I'm marrying before I'm forced to spend my life with them. Besides, tomorrow is our first day of school. I wouldn't want to subject Keith to miss that." He eloquently puts, raising an eyebrow at my beta mother who nods; understanding his words.

"We've been waiting for this moment for 18 years, but I know the pressure we're putting on you. The wedding will be held this Saturday instead. You two will still need to help so that it goes smoothly. We will be having wedding rehearsals throughout the week and a rehearsal dinner on Thursday. Friday is the last minute touch ups. Alejandro, what is your favorite color?" Krolia smiles as the alpha once again glances at me.

"Uh, blue..." He stumbles as she nods.

"Then that is the color of Keith's tux, the table cloth and the reception chairs."

"Uh what about my favorite color? I like red. Or am I to be ignored even though it is also my wedding?" I spit out as everyone looks at me while she shakes her head at my manners.

"Fine. Your tux will still be a pastel blue, but we'll give Alejandro a red tie. Happy?" She rolls her eyes. I try to reply back but am interrupted by my fiance.

"If it's okay with everyone, why don't I wear a white tux with a blue rose and he wears the black one with red? The flowers can be lavenders and lilacs to match with solid white table cloths. For the ceremony, the chairs can alternate in a red and blue pattern while the walk way is a pastel purple?" He suggests as my mother closes her eyes to imagine it before she coos.

"That sounds lovely. I'm picturing it now. You two dancing elegantly as a band plays slow, romantic music while a spotlight shines from above. You two under a wedding arch of roses and bluebells as you say 'I do', devoting your lives to one another. My grandbabies would look so cute!" She squeals before clearing her throat. "Yes, yes. I'll see about getting all of that to happen. But why don't we get dinner started, now? Appetizers, anyone?"

~

"She tried to ignore me for all of dinner. I greeted the guy, spoke to the guy for all of two seconds before she went off about cake flavors and invitations. Oh, by the way, they're inviting Shiro. I haven't even told him yet. Then I have to have dinner on Thursday with this guy's extended family. Like come on!" I huff, sitting on my bed with the blanket wrapped around my head as I tug on it; hiding my eyes from the laptop placed on my desk where Pidge listens. "She even wanted me to miss school tomorrow to get hitched. Luckily the guy pushed it back. He even listened when she wouldn't."

"Aw, he likes you. But seriously, call Shiro. Your cousin should know about you getting married bro. Before your mother reaches out. Did she say when invites were being sent out?" Pidge asks, taking off her glasses while laying her chin on her crossed arms that laid on the desk.

"She said she was sending them out asap, but they probably won't receive them until tomor-!" I begin to explain before Skype begins to ring, showing two other contacts. "Uh, Pidge... Shiro and Lance are calling..."

"Lance? Whose Lance?" She questions, wiggling her eyebrows as I click on the acceptance button before muting Lance.

"Hey Keith... Uh Krolia called us to tell us about an invitation. Care to tell me what it's about?" Shiro questions as I tug on the blanket even more in annoyance. "Don't go smuggling yourself now."

"Mom went and married me off 18 years ago. I just found out today, 6 hours before we had dinner with them... Speaking of which, I two-way muted my fiance so we'll have to make this quick." I bite my lip as Shiro nods.

"Oh he's on? I'd like to speak to him." Shiro hums as Pidge snickers, sitting up as she stretches. "Oh, hey Pidge."

"Hey man. And this is gonna be good." She grins as I roll my eyes.

"I'll unmute you both in a second. Just wait." I sigh, muting them both as I unmute both my side and his side of the conversation; catching him as he's talking to someone.

"Hunk, seriously. I'll be fine talking to him. I just want to get to know him on my own terms. Thanks, but can you just stay silent?" He asks, receiving a hum as he sighs before noticing he's not muted anymore. "Oh! Hello Lady Akira. I take it that you're doing well after dinner this evening?"

"Of course, same to you. And I already told you, Keith is fine. Thank you." I remove the blanket from my head, sitting up as he snickers.

"Can we both drop the formal act? There's a reason I called you this late. Were you busy?" He questions as I glance over to the other two panels, Pidge and Shiro in a conversation on a separate line.

"Uh. I was on a call with my best friend and cousin. But your reason for calling? It's not decent to be calling an omega past 11, especially after having dinner." I joke as he laughs, his brown hair bouncing with the slight shake in his shoulders.

"I know, I know. But I really would like to know you. As in person. I've barely heard you speak because your mother was, no offense, hogging the spotlight even if you are the one I'm promised to."

"That's Mom for you." We both laugh as he sighs, leaning forward on his hands as he stares at me through the screen with a gleam in his eyes. "What?"

"Look at me." Leaning forward, I look through the screen into his beautiful, bright blue eyes as he smiles at me. "Tell me what you see."

"I... I don't know what I see. I see the color blue. I see your tanned skin. I see you." I speak honestly as the corners of his eyes crinkle.

"Let me tell you what I see. What I see in your eyes is someone whose at a cross road with nowhere to turn. Someone whose afraid. Of what? I wouldn't know. But what I can tell you is that I won't hurt you, I promise with every fiber of my being to be a loving partner to you. Despite having this being a forced relationship and all." He sadly chuckles as I stare at him in awe. "You are your own person. I won't be one of those alphas that forces you to do anything you don't want to do."

"Glad to know that... Uh, they want to talk to you." I change the subject, still in slight shock from his promise; unmuting the two. "Uh, Katie, Shiro. This is Prince Alejandro McClain... Uh, Lance, Kathrine Holt and Sir Takashi Shirogane..."

"Hello Prince." Pidge smirks as Shiro rolls his eyes, glaring at Lance; both having heard his words. "Confessing your love already?"

"Pidge!" I hiss as he laughs.

"From the looks of it, she isn't from a rich family. Can't say much for your cousin. You are blood, after all."

"Nope, three generation of Italian engineers of all fields. My mother is a botanical engineer, creating new breeds of plants to study while my dad, brother and I are mechanical engineers. Building anything from drones to rockets." She explains as he hums with interest.

"My best buddy, Manuia Garrett or Hunk as I call him, works as a chef in our kitchen along as my personal tech guy since he knows his way around computers. Maybe you can show him a thing or two." Lance suggests as Pidge's eyes brighten.

"Keith, I officially love your fiance."

~