The Prince’s Unwilling mate

“Ayla, honey can you come sit down with us, we want to talk with you” Dad called out for me. Hopefully, they finally decided I could go and live with dad’s parents at the White Oak pack. I had been begging them to let me go for a year after all. I started asking them the day after David rejected me for being the runt of the pack. 

I remember smelling him, recognizing him as my mate I was beyond happy. Grandma’s words ringing in my mind. “The Moon Goddes does not make mistakes in who she pairs together” 

David was right I had been the runt of the pack. Dad’s great 

grandmother was a rare human mate. Grandma was a werewolf as is my dad his brothers and sister. She was mated to my Grandpa Alpha Quinn and a very powerful werewolf. Dad is big even for a wolf everyone else in my family is either big or average–sized for a wolf. Then there is me 5 ft 3, after shifting I could pass for a regular wolf. I always knew that some pack members whispered behind my back. But I got lucky, Mom was the only pack doctor and after refusing to be Uncle Cedric’s Beta to move in with the Bloodtail pack, Dad became the pack’s lead warrior. They were well–respected. And the Alpha’s son and future Alpha was one of my best friends. 

It at least stopped the other packmembers from gossiping too much. So when I found out the morning of his eighteenth Birthday he indeed was my mate. Like I had been hoping for most of my life, and even more when I didn’t find my mate when I turned eighteen, nine months before he did. I was over the moon, I remember Sarah my wolf going crazy when we sensed David walking up to us. And when he spoke the thirteen words no wolf ever wants to hear I felt my heart shatter as Sarah closed herself off from me. 

“I David Birch, reject you Ayla Hemmig as my mate and future Luna” 

Rejecting me in the pack kitchen, so that everyone could hear. To make matters worse he felt the need to explain why he would reject his best friend. “You’re a sweet girl Ayla you would make an Omega very happy. But how could the runt of the pack ever be the Luna we need” 

Soon after he started avoiding me, being short with me like it was my fault that his mate was the runt of the pack as he put it. Of course, this caused the other members of my pack to bully me. They respected my family too much to get physical but their words hurt too. That is why I wanted to live with my grandparents. Their pack was different, they would all accept me. As a small unmated wolf, because I was sure I would never want a chosen mate. Second–chance mates are for those who lost their mate. Not wolves that got rejected like me. 

Deep in thought, I made my way to the kitchen to join my parents at the kitchen table. Mom looked sad and Dad looked conflicted, he held a letter in his hand. Instantly I recognized the royal seal. So the rumors were true Crown Prince Griffin would pick a chosen mate. On his first Birthday, he got the mark showing his fated mate died before they met. In four years he was supposed to rule the land and all the werewolf packs taking over from his father and mother. He needed a Queen by his side to do so. Rumors had been spreading he was inviting all unmated She–wolves ages eighteen to thirty to come to a ball, where he would choose his chosen mate. 

“The rumors are true, Prince Griffin is inviting all the unmated she- wolves between eighteen and thirty to come to the ball. We know you want to live with Grandpa Quinn and Grandma Emmy Sweetheart” Dad started confirming what I was thinking as soon as I saw the letter. 

“If you go to the ball we will grant you permission and we will convince Alpha Phill*pe to let you move in with the White Oak pack” 

This was the best news ever, if I was not suitable as a Luna even as a fated mate. There was no way the Crown Prince would select me as his chosen Queen. The royal family lived closer to the White Oak Pack, so I might as well pack all of my belongings. Maybe I could convince Mom and Dad I could stay at the White Oaks a few days before. After all, it was only a few hours by airplane to get to SilverCreek where the Royals lived. I never been there before and I was excited to go. I would be able to taste some new foods, and maybe even get some new recipes. 

“You’re not saying anything, honey, do you agree?” Mom’s voice pulled me back to the here and now. 

“Sorry Mom, I was daydreaming I just got a little excited, of course, I agree I cannot wait to see SilverCreek” I honestly told her. My parents‘ wide smiles hurt me a little. They were excited and happy I seemed so open to giving this a chance. But all I could think of was going over to Jessa so I could tell her. She was twenty like me and unmated too. My sister Kate named after our human great–great grandmother was nineteen and unmated. We would probably go together the three of us. 

Before I even asked Dad chuckled telling me I could go and visit Jessa. Jessa and her two parents were the only packmembers who never treated me differently aside from my family of course. I would miss them when I moved, but they could always come over and see me. 

*** 

I rushed over to Jessa’s house and was welcomed by one of her fathers. “Got the letter too I see?” He said with a kind smile. Unlike me Jessa hoped to be picked by Crown Prince Griffin. Even when I pointed out that I doubted the future Queen of all the werewolves got to get away with her country–rock aesthetic. 

“Your fated mate is supposed to love you just as you are” She 

shrugged, and like clockwork, her face twisted with guilt and horror the second she realized what she said. 

It was another thing I hated. Ever since getting rejected the few friends I still had and my family members danced around the subject of fated mates. I can’t blame them, there is no pain greater than your mate rejecting you. It was worse since David and I had a connection, we were best friends until the moment he rejected me. It took me days before I could get Sarah to talk to me again. And it took another week before I felt strong enough to get out of the house and face pack live again. My parents, my uncles and aunts, my grandparents. They all found their fated mate. I grew up surrounded by loving mated couples. My entire life I dreamed what it would mean to finally find my fated mate. To feel the love all the happy couples around me had. I longed to have someone make me as happy as Dad made Mom. I loved to have cute little things like how Granddad always made sure Grandma had a tin full of freshly baked red velvet cookies because that is what he served her on the first date. I still was happy for the mated couples around me. But I lost my belief in mates and romance, I knew now you either get lucky or you don’t. And I didn’t need others to shelter me like I was still the fragile thing I was after getting rejected. Jessa mumbled an apology. But I wanted to change the subject, so I ignored Jessa’s rushed apology. 

“So are your fathers going to take you, I doubt my parents can travel with us. Would they mind if we traveled together” I asked her about traveling instead. 

“Sweety your parents, James, and I already discussed it. Of course, we are not letting 2 young she wolves travel alone. We will go together the four of us. And yes we will stop at the White Oak pack” Jessa’s father Theo smiled at us. At first, I was so excited about seeing my grandparents and going to SilverCreek with my best friend and her fathers I missed that Theo said 2 girls. 

“Wait, Mister Silver, you said 2 unmated she–wolves, do you not mean 3? Isn’t Kate traveling with us too” I had not seen Kate in the last 2 days, which was unusual but if something happened to her Mom and Ayla Dad would have surely told me. All the faces around me fell, and I knew something happened to my dear sister. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Oh sweety, has nob*dy told you why Kate hasn’t been home,” Theo Silver said avoiding making eye contact.