Okay, now I know I haven't updated in forever but I have been working my ass off to update all my multi-chapters.

CPOV

It's been a month since we were kidnapped… Alek and I agreed that we would be friends for now…at least until I know exactly what I want with him—whether I just want friendship or a real relationship. And I know I am the one who has to break the curse…but I need to truly love him first. I will never forget what happened when we were trapped…

Flashback—1 month ago…

"I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. Jasmine and Valentina told me not to. I just found out then that it was supposed to be you. I knew before then though because I know that I'm falling in love with you. But I get that you don't love me and probably never will, so forget it."

"I'm not saying I'll never love you. I'm just saying that I don't love you yet," I said truthfully. "But, I was falling for you."

He sighed. "Was. Meaning you stopped falling."

"I don't know. I'm confused right now. How about we talk about this once we get out?"

"Will we get out?" he said in a negative tone.

"Well not with that attitude we won't."

"Look at you, Chloe. You're scratched and whipped from head to toe. You can't fight like that."

"Don't worry about me, Alek. I'll be fine. Plus, my legs aren't chained."

At that moment the door swung open to reveal the leader of the Order. "You have no where to go, Uniter, so stop struggling against the chains." I stopped all movements and faced the enemy.

He walked toward me with a whip, prepared to use it. He halted in front of me, raised the weapon above his head and slapped it hard against the skin on my torso, splitting the cut even more than it was. Alek let out a low, protective growl and tried to kick the menace, who dodged his kick just in time. "Isn't that cute? The creature has a crush on the Uniter." He said the word "creature" with such disdain; I could tell he was using that word because of Alek's appearance. While he was distracted by Alek's façade, I delivered a forceful blow to his abdomen. The keys on his belt went flying through the air only to rest at my feet.

I picked up the keys with my feet tossing them in the air to catch them in my restricted hands. I bent my wrist at an awkward angle and slip the key into the lock. I went up to Alek and set him free also. The enemy stood up and attempted to make a move at me but Alek didn't allow it. He forcefully punched him in the stomach, the shoulder, and the place where a guy really doesn't want to get hit. Once the man was unconscious, I hugged Alek with all my might. "You were amazing," I whispered in his ear. I felt him shudder, and since it's like 80° in here, I doubt it was because he's cold.

"Let's get out of here," he said to me. He picked me up bridal style and ran me out the door, kicking any Order members against a wall, who happened to cross our path.

He carried me all the way home to Valentina's. "Valentina! Aunt Val! Chloe needs you!"

"I'm fine, really. I didn't lose a life!"

"But you could have," Valentina said as she walked into the room. She went over to a Mai First Aid Kit in the kitchen and brought it over to the couch Alek laid me on. The other protectors that were assigned to me came rushing into the room also.

"Chloe!" they all shouted.

"What the hell were you thinking?" yelled Damien from London.

"You could have gotten yourself killed! Again!" screamed Jack from Dublin.

"Why didn't you request back up?" shouted Joseph from Venice.

"Quiet!" screamed Alek, silencing the never-ending questioning from my other protectors. "The important thing is that she is safe now!" Almost every Mai out there knows about Alek's transformation, mainly because my other protectors like to spread rumors like any other teenagers.

End Flashback

I am now fully healed and my birthday is coming up in a couple days. Have been here for three months total and school was out now, seeing as it is July. I didn't really have plans for my birthday, other than hanging out with my four protectors, Valentina, and Amy, whom I know will be drooling over the three attractive Mai males that will be coming.

"Chloe, your seventeenth birthday is coming up in two days, and it has always been tradition that when any type of Mai royalty turns seventeen, there will be a large celebration. One of the pride leaders will be in charge of everything. I, however, will not be planning any of this party. The pride leader from New York will be though."

"Valentina, I don't want a large celebration. I was just hoping for you, my protectors, including Alek, and Amy."

"It's tradition, Chloe. Please, it won't be so bad. You might actually have fun."

That's when a middle aged woman with graying hair and a loose fitting dress came bursting through the doors with a planning book in hand. A trail of people, who looked like caterers, was following behind her. "Hello, Uniter. My name is Destiny and I'm your party planner."

I shook her hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Destiny. And please, call me Chloe." She nodded in appreciation and smiled warmly.

She started rushing around the apartment once more, mumbling thing such as, "This is where the ice sculpture goes…This is where the suitors will stand…This is where the refreshment table will be…And this is where the dance floor will be cleared…" she finished. But one thing stood out to me. This is where the suitors will go…

"Excuse me, Destiny, but did you just say the word suitors?"

"Well, of course. You need a lifetime mate."

"Who will these suitors consist of?" She handed me a long list of gentleman callers.

(written as Last Name, First Name (City of Pride)

Cruz, Carlos (Mexico City, Mexico)

James, Skylar (Miami, Florida)

Johnson, Jack (Dublin, Ireland)

Michaels, Chad (New York, New York, USA)

Russell, Damien (London, England)

Russell, Sterling (London, England)

Russo, Benito (Venice, Italy

Russo, Joseph (Venice, Italy)

Sampedro, Luis (Bigota, Colombia)

Scott, Spencer (Dallas, Texas)

"Alek's not on here." With those words, Valentina peered over my shoulder to read the names as if she didn't believe me.

"Why is my nephew not on here?" Valentina demanded more than asked.

"We already had the top ten suitors chosen and have you seen your nephew lately? He is a beast, literally. Plus, we have the Russell brothers from London and the Russo brothers from Venice. All of them are absolutely amazing choices," Destiny said, trying to persuade me. It wasn't working in the slightest. "The boys will be staying for approximately ten days. Think of it as an episode of The Bachelorette. Each day, you will eliminate one boy, who will be sent to his home pride, until there are two suitors left. That is when you choose who you shall marry when you turn eighteen. Just think, a year from now, you will be married."

"So, it's like an arranged marriage? I can only pick from these ten guys and that's who I'll have to marry?" I felt the blood drain from my face and I felt as if I was about to pass out.

Okay, hopefully I did good on this chapter after abandoning it for so long… I have 5 multichapters going at once so idk when I will actually be able to update…

But please tell me how I did in a review ;)

~Sara