Sorry I'm Mated To The Commander novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Do You Like My Pheromones?

The Central Nexus of Alpha Prime was located at the heart of Prime City, handling nearly all the daily affairs of the planet’s residents. Civil marriage matters were processed on the 14th floor of the Central Tower.

Layla took a public aero-vehicle to the Central Nexus and entered through the iris scanner. As soon as she stepped inside, a polished man in silver uniform and glasses approached her. “Are you Ms. Layla Sullivan?” the man asked.

Layla nodded. The man went on, “Please follow me to the VIP lounge. Your genetic match is already waiting.”

“Thank you, please lead the way,” Layla said. She had no plan to go through with a forced marriage. She intended to explain clearly to her match that she hadn’t filed the application herself.

Besides, now that she’d cut ties with the Sullivans, she was broke. She was sure her match wouldn’t want someone with nothing to offer. As long as he refused, the Genetic Pairing would be canceled automatically.

She followed the staff member down what felt like an endlessly long corridor. Other people they passed kept glancing curiously at her, but whenever she looked back, they quickly turned away.

Layla frowned slightly, feeling something was off. But with this being her first marriage, she couldn’t tell if that was normal. ‘Maybe they’re staring because I used the Genetic Pairing Program. Hardly anyone does that anymore.’

Layla turned to the staff member. “What’s my match like?” Even though she didn’t plan to marry him, she wanted to know who she’d be dealing with.

The staff member seemed nervous. He adjusted his glasses. “You’ll see when you meet him,” he said, as if he didn’t dare to say more.

They finally stopped outside the lounge. Its door bore a gilded emblem, which looked strangely familiar to Layla. The staff member said respectfully, “Ms. Sullivan, please go in. Your match is already inside.”

Layla looked puzzled. “Aren’t you coming in with me?” She hadn’t expected to be left alone with a complete stranger.

The staff member hesitated, then shook his head. “Marriage is a private matter. It’s better if you talk alone first. If you need anything, coffee, for example, just ask the service robot inside.”

Layla nodded. “Your service has been very helpful. Do you take reviews? I’ll give you nine stars,” she said, genuinely appreciating his polite manner.

The man’s expression shifted slightly. He kept his smile with some effort. “Thank you. If you’re satisfied later, I would be happy to accept a nine-star review.”

His words felt odd to her, and he seemed almost too respectful. ‘Maybe he still thinks I’m Karter Sullivan’s daughter,’ she thought. Karter Sullivan, after all, was a duke.

Then she shrugged the thoughts off, turning and pushing the door open. It slid shut slowly behind her with a soft hum.

The room was bright, lit by floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the crisscrossing aerial lanes outside. Layla recognized at once that the furnishings were top-grade.

She moved quickly, because the urge to close the distance and kiss him was already too strong. If she stayed any longer, she wasn’t sure she could hold back.

Since Layla had fully awakened as a shifter, she’d never come across pheromones she liked this much. As for her former fiancé, Caleb James, she had never even caught his scent.

Caleb had always been polite and proper, telling her he would rely on suppressants during his rut until after their wedding. Yet he ended up spending his rut with Xanthe instead.

Layla liked everything about the stunning fox-eared young man before her. His scent, his look and his voice were all annoyingly perfect. He was exactly her type, and in every way, he outshone Caleb completely.

Still, Layla clung to her last bit of sense. ‘I came here to end this arrangement. If Xanthe hadn’t applied for it with my optical computer, he wouldn’t be involved at all. Taking advantage of him in his rut wouldn’t be right.’

But just as she reached the door and gripped the handle, the cedar scent grew suddenly stronger behind her. “Star, don’t go, please,” the young man said.

His voice was so close that she felt his warm breath against her ear. Both of her ears flushed pink instantly, and she spun around.