Our Surprise Mate

Our world is divided into nine territories.

Mortal Grounds, Half-blood Enclave, Hybrid Domain, Full-Blood District, Lycan Colony, Enchanted Region, Nosferatu Dominion, Tribrid Division, and lastly, Open Land.

Two hundred years ago, The Royals signed a peace treaty and placed everyone in a designated territory. Mortal Grounds is where the humans safely reside, and supernatural beings are not allowed to cross their borders. Half-Blood Enclave is where humans are mated to werewolves, and they procreate, but the humans choose to remain mortal. Their mate is the only one with the ability to change them; that is what makes them fated to one another. Hybrid Domain is for half werewolf, half vampire beings. Hybrids cannot choose when they shift into their wolf, so they are too dangerous to roam freely among other territories. Full-Blood District is for pure-blooded werewolves. They also do not choose when they shift, just like the Hybrids. These are the two most unstable territories.

Lycan Colony is where humanoid wolves reside. Lycans are larger and stronger than pure-blooded werewolves. They can choose when they want to shift and have more control over their impulses. Enchanted Region is for the witches and warlocks. They tend to stay to themselves and usually do not cause trouble, but The Wicked do exist. Nosferatu Dominion is where vampires reside. They might have a cunning reputation, but I believe they are misunderstood. Tribrid Division is for the rarest and strongest beings of them all. Tribrids are a cross between a werewolf and vampire, but their bloodline comes from witches. Their population? Five. There are two males and three females within this division. They cannot procreate with each other, but the males are capable of impregnating humans, werewolves, lycans, and witches. It is dangerous to mate with Tribrids, so they usually do not leave their territory. Their population used to be higher, but after living for so long, many chose to die. I've been told it is a lonely life to live as a Tribrid.

The last territory is called Open Land. No one actually lives there, but it is a mutual ground for all to go if they have not found their mate by age twenty-one. The Royals, the two leaders of each territory, put together a gala twice a year for those who are twenty-one and older. Humans receive an invitation, but they have the right to decline it if they choose to marry another human. Once married, humans are not allowed to attend because if they end up mated to someone from another territory, it could turn into a bloodbath. Hybrids and werewolves take a special pill to keep their wolves at bay for twenty-four hours so they can safely find their mate. Vampires do not usually go to the gala, but some do. I heard they are always the best dressed and look like porcelain models.

For the most part, the territories live in peace and rarely have problems. Sometimes there are issues with borders getting crossed, but it is punishable by death.

My parents have always told me the gala was for ugly beasts.

"It is no place for a pure soul like you. Never attend that gala, Hazel. Those monsters will take advantage of you, and you'll end up dead in no time!" My mother might mean well, but the more she nags about the supernaturals, the more I want to be near them. I've dated some humans, but I've not met one who is worth giving myself to. My parents aren't aware, but I accepted the invitation to the Mate Gala. Maybe I do have a mate out there, somewhere among the supernaturals. Maybe I'll become one myself.