Village chiefs stood in a straight line before him in the meeting room. He had been an Alpha for less than twenty-four hours and they already had meetings prepared for him. Dean sat on his right guiding each chief up to state their claim or issues. Was this the third chief or tenth? Mika couldn't remember his head still pounded from the heavy drinking he'd done last night.

As the next chief approached, he bowed. "I am Chief Akala of the Gazeland region. I have come to state my issues regarding water supply to the people of the region."

"Go ahead," Mika instructed. The chef went on to describe the fact that they had no piped water sources in their region and the river was drying up due to the hot summer heat. They were now in the dry season. Their crops were dying and livestock was weakened.

"We have recorded it and will look into the best way to solve this problem," Mika stated. That's all he could say. He had no idea what to do about village issues. He barely knew how to take care of himself. Whether it was praedial larceny, crime rate increase, food shortage or water supply, all he could say was they will deal with the matters. How? That was another issue. The meeting droned on and on until he had seen all chiefs in the village. By the end of it, Dean had recorded ten pages of issues to be resolved.

"Well, that was a good meeting my boy." Dean patted Mika on the back.

"The next meeting with the chiefs is in a month from now." He closed the book the large hardcover book. "Tomorrow you will meet with Olafia and her family regarding the wedding. We cannot have a chief without a wife. The next day we will tour the town areas so people can see-"

"What about the Rebels?" Mika asked, cutting Dean off. He sat forward in the chair and interlocked his fingers.

"What about them? Security has been increased. There was no incident. You won't have to worry about them."

"You promised that we would find them." Mika rose his voice. "Not have me parading around the town."

"I know, I know. We will find them," Dean assured Mika. "As a matter of fact, I have some informants from the village. They have been looking out for any mysterious activity. Don't worry, we will find them."

Mika's headache felt like his brain was about to crack open his skull and escape. He squinted his eyes to try and dull the pain. " Who are these informants?"

"Well, I cannot give that away eh." Dean sat back in his chair.

"Then how can I be sure they are on my side?"

"They are on the Alpha's side, no matter what. I will ensure," Dean smiled assuringly showing crooked pearl white teeth.

Mika nodded his head. Dean had been at his father's side for years. Such a man wouldn't last in his father's company if he was anything but loyal and trustworthy. At least that's what Mika hoped.

"Why should I marry her?" The thought of putting a ring on anyone but Sherrice's finger made him feel sick. Yet he was told that it was a necessary union.

"Well, my boy, your union will bring a lot of good fortune to the Village. She is the daughter of a past Alpha of the Teriani Village. Could you imagine ruling over two villages?"

Dean's eyes seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. Almost as if his dreams were being realized.

"Why don't you marry her then?"

Dean chuckled. "I cannot afford another wife." The thought made Mika smile. A first genuine smile in a long time.

"I know it is hard my boy. You are doing good for the Village. By marrying her you open a door to greater resources. For a village without an Alpha, they have been doing well as the second largest. You may not love her as your brother did, but she will make a fine wife." 

~~~~

Mika stood in the compound's garden surrounded by blooming hibiscus and lignum vitae flowers. The groundskeeper kept the official garden in pristine shape. The garden probably accounted for seventy per cent of the compound's water consumption. His father stood on his left and Dean on his right. Jonah along with other servants stood behind them as they awaited the arrival of Olafia and her mother.

Mika wore a royal blue dashiki with a black embroidered design on it. Dean had insisted on the colour and Jonah had followed through with preparing the garment. His father swayed gently beside them causing the old Alpha's clothes to brush against his arm. He was painfully aware of his presence. He hadn't seen his father since the swearing-in two days ago. He'd essentially left him to deal with the chiefs on his own. He had no idea what being the Alpha meant until he had an entire day of meetings. Dean did his best to counsel him but Dean wasn't an Alpha.

Thankfully the clouds covered the sun so the

heat was no longer beating down on them in the afternoon. Jonah had patted away any beads of sweat as they awaited their arrival.

Mika wasn't sure what to make of Olafia. The few times he'd met her, he was either near death or intoxicated. No in-between. She must have thought he was a joke. Though, Mika of a few months ago would be laughing at him as well.

Not long after, Olafia entered the gates of the garden accompanied by her mother and another gentleman. Mika's eyes widened she recognised him as the man who had helped save his life that night when he was as good as dead. What was his name again? He rocked his brain but the name wouldn't come.

Soon they were standing before him. Olafia was adorned in a royal blue dress, similar to the one Mika wore. She curtsied showing a myriad of shining jewels in her braided hair. Her skin was dark and flawless and smooth. Mika he bowed, he'd never taken notice much of her beauty. But she was stunning. There was no denying it. The parents bowed to each other. Mika bowed to the mother as well who smiled warmly at him. She took his hand in both of hers. They were warm and comforting.

"My son. Thank you for honouring the agreement that was made with your brother. It must have been a difficult decision," Mika looked at Olafia who had cast her dark brown eyes to the green grass at her feet when Elijah was mentioned.

Mika smiled back hopefully to ease the tension.

"No worries. Hopefully, I am half the man my brother was." Mika's father cleared his throat and his smile disappeared. His father knew Mika couldn't measure up. Mika knew he was barely even a man. He felt it on the inside and more and more it showed each day. 

Dean led them up to the wooden gazebo that rested in the far corner of the garden, leaving everyone else to mingle in the garden. In the middle of it was a table with a teapot, cups and saucers and an array of snacks and tiny cakes they could have. Mika and his father sat on one side of the table while the ladies sat on the other.

A female servant poured each of their cups of tea before retreating to stand just on the outside of the gazebo. 

"I suppose we should discuss details of the wedding." Olafia's mother spoke out first. 

"Yes, we intend to take care of the full cost of the wedding. I know it is customary for the bride's father to pay but seeing as he has passed I'll take care of the cost."

"Well, thank you. It hasn't been easy." Olafia's mother took a sip of her tea. 

Mika's father sat back with his golden cane leaning against his leg. "It is our pleasure. We will have a beautiful wedding." He laughed heartily. 

Mika stared at him with widened eyes. He doesn't remember the last time he saw his father smile let alone laugh. They made eye contact and Mika quickly turned away. He busied himself with his cup of tea. He placed two spoonfuls of cane sugar into it and mixed it. Olafia sat perched at the edge of the chair with her back straight and her shoulders square, just like her mother. Just like his mother. Her lips curved slightly downwards as she stared at nothing while their parents spoke. 

"Are you not going to drink?" 

She jumped slightly and her eyes focused again. It was as if she snapped back to reality. Her eyes narrowed slightly at Mika. 

"No, thank you." Her voice was low but the snark was loud. 

"Why don't we give them some time to chat," Olafia's mother suggested. 

They both got up and took a walk in the garden. Mika and Olafia were left with the sounds of birds twittering in the background. 

"I think we have much to talk about," Mika began. He'd hadn't had much time to think, the least he could do is find out more about her before he married her. She nodded without making eye contact. He rolled his eyes at the absurdity. Marrying his brother's woman for the sake of a marital contract. His mind descended into a memory of Sherrice, where they were talking about marriage on a Sunday afternoon. She'd insisted she wasn't interested in marriage and warned Mika not to propose. But he had every intention to put a ring on her finger. That was before she got pregnant. Something sharp felt like it pierced through his heart and Mika's eyes began to sting. He blinked several times and cleared his throat trying to chase the memory away. 

"The first time we met, you came to my room, knocked on the door," Mika began. 

She looked at him then with sharp eyes. "Yes, I did."

"Why is that?" 

"I suppose it was unconventional. We were at the funeral also. I saw you with the Alpha, former Alpha. And I wanted to meet this estranged brother."

"So you knew about me?" Mika asked as he took a sip of the lukewarm tea. 

"Yes, Elijah spoke highly of you a lot." 

Mika choked on the tea. He coughed and knocked on his chest. As if on cue, Jonah and Dean ran up the gazebo. Dean slapped him hard on the back while Jonah questioned if he was ok. Mika nodded profusely saying he was fine. Olafia laughed at the ordeal. A lot of people seemed to be smiling today. Happy even. The sight of her smiling did warm him up a little like her hand on his in the car that night. 

Dean and Jonah finally left when his coughing had died down. 

"What was I saying?" Mika asked, trying to get the conversation back on track. 

"Well, I  was saying that Elijah spoke highly of you. And I suppose I wanted to meet this amazing brother. It was a bit unorthodox but I didn't know we would be getting married." 

Mika couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What did he say about me?"

The sharpness in her eyes warmed a little. "Well, he spoke of having a younger brother who was a little eccentric. Who was good at books and art. One that he was fond of and that he wanted to protect. But that brother didn't want to live under his father's rule and decided to leave. I remember him saying how he wish he could run away like you did." 

Mika was too stunned to speak. He was always jealous of Elijah. His father's favourite. The warrior. The brave one, the one that was more of a man. A man that Mika could never measure up to. 

"Are you ok?" 

Mika cleared his throat again. "Yes I am, it's just that. I didn't know. I assumed he hated me for leaving. He didn't come looking for me. I suppose he couldn't"

"Well, things were a bit hectic with him training to be the next Alpha."

"And I just came here a few weeks ago. No training and here I am."

Olafia rolled her eyes. "I suppose they were desperate." 

Desperate? Why was it so important for there to be a new Alpha when his father was walking around just fine? The thought had rolled around in his mind ever so often but Dean never had a straight enough answer for him. 

"Yes, desperate," Mika confirmed. " So you and Elijah were to be wed?" He continued. 

Olafia shifted in her seat and broke eye contact again. "Yes, we were." 

"Was it like this? Arranged? Contractual?"

"Yes, but it was a lot more than that. He was my first love. Only love. And now he's gone." Her bottom lip quivered. She bit down on it and turned away. At that moment Mika felt like he could see her and understand her more than anyone else. He understood the loss and the pain she felt. Yet they had to pretend to be okay and move on. Carry the grief with them to the altar. 

"I understand. Before I came here-" Mika began. 

"You two seem to be getting along well," Olafia's mother interrupted. Mika's father followed behind. 

He seemed to be a little winded as he climbed the three stairs up the gazebo. Mika would help him but he knew better than to touch him. He ambled up the steps with the cane and sat in the chair. A servant came to him with a glass of cold water. He swallowed it quickly before speaking. 

"So it is settled. We will have the wedding here this Saturday." 

Mika and Olafia looked at each other with puzzled faces. So soon? He thought. 

"And seeing that the wedding is so soon. The former Alpha has offered to have us stay at the compound until then." Her mother said with elation. She clasped her hands together and plastered a broad smile on her face. Olafia managed to smile but it seemed to pain her. 

"Come we have a lot of planning to do," her mother said. She curtsied to both him and his father. Olafia followed suit before they were led out of the garden. Mika had many more questions to ask her. Why did she follow him? Why did she save him? All of which he could maybe get the answers to before this weekend.