The Prince’s Unwilling mate by Mutya

Chapter 226

001 Ayla

“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 and recognizing him as my mate, I was beyond happy. Grandma’s words rang in my mind. “The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes in whom she pairs together.”

me, 5 ft 3.

David is right. I have been the runt of the pack. Dad’s great grandmother is a rare human mate. Grandma is 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, After shifting, I can pass for a regular wolf. I always know that some pack members are whispering behind my back. But I get lucky, Mom is 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 are well–respected. And the Alpha’s son and future Alpha is one of my best friends.

It at least stops the other pack members from gossiping too much. So when I found out the morning of his eighteenth Birthday that he indeed was my mate, like I had been hoping for most of my life, and even more

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when I didn’t find my mate when I turned eighteen, nine months before he did, I was over the moon. I remember Willow 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 Willow 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 was why 1- 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 mates. 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

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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 from 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 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 Phillip 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 that. After all, it was only a few hours by airplane to get to SilverCreek where the Royals lived. I had 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.

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“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 because 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 parents were the only pack members 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 Jessa and her father

Theo.

“Got the letter too, I see?” Jessa greeted me with a warm 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.

“So are your parents 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.

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“Siveety, your parents, James, and I already discussed it. Of course, we are not letting two young she–wolves travel alone. We will go together, the four of us. And yes. we will stop at the White Oak pack.” Theo smiled at us.

“Wait. Mr. 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 Dad would have surely told me. All the faces around me fell, and I knew something had happened to my dear sister.

“Oh sweety, has nobody told you why Kate hasn’t been home?” Theo said avoiding making eye contact.

“No, what are you guys talking about?” All kinds of scenarios flashed. through my mind.

“Ayla, come to the packhouse now. It’s urgent.” My father mindlinked. me, rousing me from thoughts.

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Saying goodbye to Theo and Jessa, I raced to the packhouse.

“Of course, Kate can move into Cresent Moon pack with her mate Tim.‘ The moment I walked into the packhouse, I heard Alpha Phillip happily. permit Kate to leave with her mate.

Kate rejoiced at the great news, arm in arm with the man standing by.

Knowing my sister was fine, I sighed out of great relief.

“Wait, you’ve found your mate?” With a questioning gaze, I mindlinked

Kate.

Kate turned to me, nodding. Her face blushed with sparkles in her eyes

“Thank you, Alpha Phillip.” Father bowed. He gestured for me to come over and added, “And Ayla is intended to go to the royal ball. Would you mind she moving to the White Oak pack after that?”

Alpha Phillip thought Father’s words over and looked at me. My heart skipped a beat under his intimidating gaze.

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Finally, he shrugged his shoulder and broke the silence. “Honestly, I have no issues with Ayla going to the royal ball. But we all know the likelihood that the Prince will choose her as the Luna of all Luna’s is

extremely small…”

Just like his favor for members of the pack going to live in another pack to form an alliance, Alpha Phillip was very interested in the prospect of one of the pack’s unmated she–wolves becoming a chosen mate to the royal family as well. For him, it would be the ideal alliance, though he deemed me unworthy of being the future queen. He didn’t even try to hide his disbelief..

“But tell me how it would benefit our pack if Ayla was not to return to us after the ball?” Alpha Phillip questioned Dad’s words bluntly. “There is already an alliance between the BloodMoon and White Oak.”

That was the problem. Alpha Phillip would never let pack members move to another pack if it didn’t benefit him. In most cases, forming or strengthening an alliance would suffice. But I wasn’t about to move to my mate’s pack. I was about to move to family, so no new relationships were built.

“Alpha Phillip, some pack members were laughing at Ayla after David rejected her.” Dad tried to reason with him. “It’s hard to see my daughter suffering.”

“And how would the future Luna feel if she noticed that David’s fated mate was still living in the pack?” Dad added.

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“No worries. My son has already made the greatest sacrifice known to wolves. He has selected Hannah as his chosen mate. Hannah is a fine she–wolf, strong, poised, graceful, and kind. She will treat Ayla exactly like she has been doing ever since the rejection.” Alpha Phillip told us like he was reassuring a toddler that there were no monsters under the bed.

Was he that unaware of what was happening right under his nose or was he that uncaring? Hannah had always been jealous of my friendship with David. She claimed David was her mate and seeing David hanging around me made her crazy. She kept making troubles for me. Hearing. David reject me thrilled her. She rejected her mate, an Omega, a sweet guy, instantly and was determined to be the pack’s Luna. She started to try and hit it off with David. The fact that I was David’s fated mate was enough for her to bully me with her minions.

Not screaming about everything Hannah and her flying monkeys had done to me so far was already taking all of my self–control, Willow was, already itching to take over control. I knew I shouldn’t.

I had been enduring the bullying, the beating, and the abuse for two years. Now so close to escaping was not the time to mess it all up.

Easier said than done when David smirked at me, licking his lips before addressing his father like a good little Alpha in training.

“Can I give my opinion, Father?” He asked politely, and of course, Daddy dearest let him.

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His pride over his son starting to pick up Alpha duties was all over hist face.

With an evil smile, David started talking again.

“I do think the Hemmings put too much weight on my decision to reject Ayla. Every wolf with a sense of self–preservation would want a more suitable Luna. Pack members applauded me for the sacrifice I made in recognizing the Moon Goddess‘ only fault. Many seemed to thank for the mate bonds between me and Hannah.”

Right away, the air was thick with tension. Mom and Dad stiffened at the insult. His blatant disregard for me, my wishes, and the matebond we once shared set everyone off.

“I guess she is allowed to stop by the White Oak before going the to royal ball then…” Dad pled. I knew there was nothing else he could do.

Alpha Phillip smirked. “Make sure Ayla comes back home after that.”

Father’s silent and quick acceptance of my fate hurt me.

“What’s the point of going to the royal ball if I can’t go to White Oak and get away from all these forever?” I murmured to myself in desperation and anger.

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Yet Alpha Phillip sat there with a straight face telling me I was the she- wolf who made troubles to the pack.

My anger was taking over, and I needed to get these emotions out before they would get the better of me. Willow hadn’t stopped fighting to take control and it would be better to shift when I was still in control. My wolf tended to react more primal and I had no doubt she would go over to David and fight him the second I was no longer in control.

Too upset with my parents, I mindlinked Kate where I was going, so that my family would not worry about me. Then, I walked out into the forest, to one of the empty tree trunks where we could keep our clothes after shifting.

After checking no one was there, I shifted into my wolf form and just took off running. I’ve always loved running and it was the one thing I was better in because of my size. Being small made me faster and a lot more agile. I could outrun every wolf in my pack and most in the White Oak pack too.

The feeling of the wind rushing through my fair, the whizzing in my cars drowning all the other sounds out always made me feel peaceful. Feeling peaceful, calming down, and collecting myself was exactly what I needed now. The first few minutes it felt like someone was watching me. Once I got deeper into the forest, the feeling faded. It must have been my illusion.

Sun was already setting. I had ignored every single family member that

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reached out to me over the mindlink. Now my limbs were aching, I was hungry, thirsty, and honestly exhausted.

When I finally reached the treetrunk where I stored my clothing, and was about to shift back to my human form, a huge wolf ran into me. throwing me onto the ground.

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And of course, it is Hannah and her little band of bitches.

is it this time, Hannah?” I asked.

to shift back to my human form,

the ball hosted by the royal family. Do you really think you are fit to be the queen, the Luna of all Luna’s, if you are unfit to be the Luna

the mating process. Because she

as kind and fair. I imagine the future queen has to possess those same qualities, meaning it could never be Hannah. The smart thing was to keep my

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the Moon Goddess herself deemed barely worthy of an Omega.

with their paws. I tried hitting

Their growls and snaps told me

are? Doing five against one?” An unfamiliar voice boomed through

wearing the royal sigil

the only one who brought my clothes with me. So I quickly got dressed

royal sigil, either out of pure stupidity Hannah still

or pure arrogance,

think you are? Even if you are a servant of the royal family, you have no right to interfere with our pack business.” Hannah warned the man.

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wolf in a group. Honestly, I don’t know if I am praying to the Moon Goddess that you are mated, so you won’t come to the royal ball.

a low–rank wolf. In

me and helped me up, his eyes focused

pain, I slowly rose

sure?” He asked, worries

and fell

not.” He chuckled, “Come on, let me

I

me Dillion.” He introduced himself, holding me up and walking me

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I’m Ayla. Thank you for saving me back

a big deal. As a return, would you please tell me how to get to Alpha Phillip? I am here to hand deliver the invitation for the

It’s just a few blocks ahead.”

mark on you. And you seem to be of age. Are you unmated

his questions. I could tell that from his

won’t be completing a mating process

some of the pack members believe me to be unfit as a Luna. They want someone poised and gentle, and

and handed me

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was not excited to meet this Prince. But going to a fancy ball where I have to overdress at least present

little about the BloodMoon pack. He asked me how I had been treated here. No wonder he would do that after seeing all the bruises on my body when saving me from the five pack members. He picked up on most of the pack members whispering on our way to the packhouse as well.

worth the trouble that would

Where are you?” Daniel sounded agitated, so I excused myself to Dillion and

royal family. I’m walking him over to the packhouse and will be

be able to move to a different pack for

would think he was flirting

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in coming to the ball. Either way. I did not know him well enough to

wolf is the potential of needing to move to a new pack. I always know and I still do.” I gave the most non–committal answer I could think of before telling him the exact location of the packhouse and saying my

indeed exhausted the last bit

ran to catch me,

you allow to happen. She tried to protect all of

was about to tell him not to, but the second I opened my mouth, blackness overtook

  1. me.

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004 Ayla

my own bed,

could tell from her body language now

  1. to.

By now it was completely dark

are you okay? Why didn’t you tell us before?” Mom asked me while hugging me tightly.

I had told them about what Hannah was doing, they wouldn’t have let her get away with

I could not tell you and Dad because it would get you into trouble

little tighter, whispering how sorry she was in

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head in my arms, I started

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more strong arms wrapping around me. The two arms I least wanted to comfort me now but still I could not help but sink into the

so terribly sorry for not seeing what was happening to you. Please forgive me.” Dad kept apologizing as he

choice to hide the truth from him. However, I was disappointed at the fact that he did not

want to move to White Oak to live

to see is you arguing with David and Alpha Phillip and leaving the pack. Alpha Phillip would never allow that. It will risk a war. Your know Uncle Cedric would go to war over

and you’re his favorite niece who would have made it worse. Still, we could have

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to calm down and think this over before jumping

felt like

You would just keep living here with Alpha Phillip after you know what he allowed. You would accept Hannah as your Luna when she is the one who keeps beating our beloved

will I accept David. He isn’t

a lead warrior and a pack doctor, a young wolf like him would be very less likely to go to war with an experienced Alpha like your Uncle Cedric. But your cousin Sebastian is only nineteen. Your Uncle

looked into my

when it would be safer or easier to do so? But I didn’t

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ball first. After that, you will go. visiting your grandparents and stay with them there. And when the Silver’s come back, they will explain you got injured and need to rest at your Grandparent’s place. By then, he will know what his son and possible future Luna did and allowed. I will give him the chance to keep it under the rug, as long as

if Alpha Phillips doesn’t allow me to?” I asked back.

will and he has to, Sweetheart.” Dad locked his eyes

to be within reach now, and I

if the Prince is smart enough to see how amazing you are, sweety.”

in my heart. I know this would never happen. Hannah was right. How could I become the Luna of all

memories flashing in my mind, I felt my head spinning.

how dizzy I was. They settled me on my bed and forced me to take a good rest. It did my body good but I still had

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was always busy healing fresh injuries. Now that everybody in my family

with the BloodMoon pack has been weird. Even after I was getting much better, they hardly let

more small personal things with me. Mom promised me she would at least send all my books out in pairs of two.

Blood Moon, that you are a queen in your own rights. And she would love to see this dress get used one last time.

I recalled it was the dress my Grandma wore when Grandpa introduced her

childhood room in the house where I grew up. It seemed like I was still living here. because I was running away from home like an over–emotional teenager. To avoid being beaten daily, I pretended to be interested in marrying a

prince.

Mom’s voice came downstairs. “You won’t want to

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miss the Shout

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me. She thought I might have been overdoing myself in preparation for the royal ball. Probably because this

out that I had one final chance of meeting my second chance mate. I had been praying to the Moon Goddess every night, bringing her offerings. And I had sent every staff member available, whom I fully trust to bring the invitations personally. To both get as many she–wolves to come to

I needed to consider the possibility of choosing a chosen mate. I had promised my parents and I am not someone that goes back on his word. But I will wait

to get to know each

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move in with me, leave her own pack behind, and fully accept me as her mate within a month. Come to think of it with all of the stress about this, and all the extra work I was taking on. Maybe Mom was right. Maybe I was waking up sore and achy because of all

giving my all though. I nervously looked around in my room. I was wondering whether I would just pick a different room. for me and my mate

room.

empty enough as it is, your highness.

I was doubting my room being ready enough for

sitting down on the bed and signalling for him to sit down next to

their packs and they were more than happy to attend the ball.”

worth it if I can find my mate.”

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laughing.

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for a fated mate, and you know I hope you find her, Griff. I want you to have the same happiness as I have.” He stated and I knew what he

made them nervous not knowing what he needed to look out for. Until he met Collin he had the moment I was dreaming of where he instantly knew who his mate was. Luckily Collin didn’t have an issue with moving to the castle. They had completed their mating process and were as happy as

random mate.

want you to find her. But if you don’t meet a girl and I wouldn’t mind her being our queen. She seems right up your alley, too.” He

backed down though being attacked by five other wolves. And the royal emblem on my coat didn’t change her attitude towards me at all.” He chuckled. “She is a little firecracker though. You need someone who helps you get your head out of your own

girl sounds like a fun person to be around. You know how

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up on others.” I commented. “Will she come to the ball?”

and she seemed to be

forget to point out who she is at

night.” Dillion continued, “And one. more thing, she has been rejected by her fated mate.”

not imagine someone being rejected by the person

be the worst feeling in the world, even worse than finding out your mate has died before you’ve met them.” I said out

to Dillion. It gave me another

the ball but she rejects me?” I asked. Dillion, worries all over

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be fine. You could not be praying to the

you’re right.” I tried to calm myself down. “But

against Dillion’s advice, I cleared out more personal stuff from my room, hoping my mate will feel welcome enough to put her own stuff in our room. It was the last thing I needed to settle before the ball.

***

me. It was a good thing though. The more she–wolves here,

I caught a wisp of one scent. A scent that was so enticing that it stopped me

was

felt my heart

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mate. Look at the Prince now. He is supposed to announce his chosen mate today. Out of all the she–wolves here, but as of yet he doesn’t know any of us personally. He doesn’t even know why we

who stopped Hannah and her minions from attacking me. He was standing next to the Prince and seemed to be a high–ranking wolf. At first, that made me

side of the prince walked up to us in big strides. I breathed a sigh of relief. This made far more sense the

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a fated mate. Maybe I was just too worried, now that I lost the absolute fate of fated mates instantly loving

you’re breathtaking. I mean. I am sure

guy was a nervous wreck. Jessa introduced herself. She wasn’t nervous but she seemed

out that Gerald would be the

to

Alpha

directly for the Prince, too?” I asked, hoping to find out

You mean Dillion, the one next to Prince Griffin?” Gerald ⚫ asked me

I looked up to see if I indeed meant Dillion, it happened. I. was hit by a smell that

To my absolute horror, it was the Crown Prince himself who smelt like that. Willow was going crazy, howling out for our mate. But it could not be. We found our mate he rejected us, humiliated us. My fated mate didn’t pass away, so it was not like I was getting a

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