33.91 % Chapter 18 It was the first month Tessa had spent aboard the cruise ship . She gazed at the endless flow of exciting " news " on her phone , feeling an unexpected sense of happiness . Most importantly , she was no longer affected by the irrelevant matters that once weighed her down . Leaving the pack meant no one could contact her . The ship had everything she could need , but sometimes she still felt a pang of loneliness . Her wolf , Clara , was sluggish every day , mourning the loss of her mate . " I miss our mate , " Clara said . " We no longer have a mate , " Tessa replied nonchalantly . " That kind of mate isn't worth having . " " Do you think we'll meet a new mate ? " Clara asked with a hint of hope . Tessa fell silent . Compared to the failed relationship she had endured or the thought of facing another mate who might betray her , she would rather embrace the solitude . The ship arrived in Naples early this morning . Buildings unlike any she had ever seen appeared before her , just as she had imagined . It was 6 a.m. , and everything was calm and perfect . Seagulls flew overhead , their calls sweet to the ears . Tessa smiled , but when she turned , she locked eyes with a man standing on the deck of the ship next to hers . " Mate , " Clara whispered , her voice filled with disbelief . Tessa and the man both froze . " We've found our new mate ! " Clara exclaimed , excitement in her voice . Tessa was just as stunned . Chapter 18 Θ 34.78 % Dreame - Read Romance Stories Everyone knows that only the richest attend that school . Our 4.4 FREE Installed Open families were billionaires . She had met her fated mate again , and even more coincidentally , they owned the same cruise . Tessa blinked , recalling that when she bought the cruise , the salesperson had mentioned that there were only two ships like this in the world . The vastness of the world had led them to meet . It was fate . Tessa studied the man in front of her . He seemed mature and composed , and he stared at her for a long time when their eyes met . Tessa offered him a small smile , but before either of them could say anything , the ships started to drift apart , heading in different directions . By the time the sun rose , the other ship had caught up with hers . Tessa saw the man standing outside again , unsure if he was admiring the breathtaking view or waiting for someone . He held a bottle of red wine in his hand , dressed in casual clothes , but there was something about his strong , confident stature that set him apart from ordinary werewolves . He called out to her politely , offering an invitation . " Would you like to try some wine ? " he asked , gesturing to the bottle in his hand . Tessa had been approached many times on her travels , but none of those encounters had left an impression . She had rejected the advances of many strangers in different countries , believing that fate couldn't be forced . But meeting a mate abroad on the same cruise ship ? That was different . The moment Tessa laid eyes on him , she knew he was her mate , and Clara shared her excitement . As the wind blew through her hair , Tessa met his deep gaze and nodded slightly . " Sure , " she replied softly . For safety reasons , her mate came aboard her ship , accompanied by a group of warriors . At first , Tessa found it strange , but she didn't dwell on it . The first dinner they shared aboard the ship felt awkward for Tessa . Chapter 18 Dreame - Read Romance Stories 34.78 % 4.4 FREE Installed D Everyone knows that only the richest attend that school . Our families were billionaires . Open Since boarding the cruise , she had eaten alone every day , but this time , the man's engaging conversation eased her nervousness . They found they shared many interests and topics to discuss . She learned his name was Aaron Brooks . " Wait a minute , you're Aaron Brooks ? " she asked , incredulous . " The Alpha King Aaron Brooks ? " " You're not joking , are you ? " " Is that so surprising ? " Aaron said with a gentle laugh , watching her surprise . They talked well into the night , and as they parted , Aaron looked back reluctantly , still smiling warmly . " Will we meet again tomorrow ? " he asked softly . He didn't know that Naples was Tessa's destination , and he feared the ship would disappear when he woke up . Tessa blinked in surprise . " What ? Is this how you treat all the girls before your mate shows up ? " she teased . Aaron chuckled and waved it off . " Not really . " After they parted , she lay in bed , replaying the events in her mind . She kept thinking about Aaron's face - it seemed so familiar , like she had seen him before , but she couldn't place where . Today had been one of the happiest days since her trip started , and the source of that joy was the unfamiliar Alpha King who was her mate . She wasn't one to force fate , and she accepted the idea that things happened as they were meant to . Still , his face kept appearing in her thoughts , and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had met him somewhere before . Would he betray her like Ryan did ? Chapter 18 Dreame - Read Romance Stories 34.78 % Everyone knows that only the richest attend that school . Our 4.4 FREE