My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 11

Future Beta Nate

We finally pulled up to the pack house of Alpha Matt’s pack. There were a few warriors standing guard by a tree where Ayla was sitting with her knees to her chest. Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks tear-stained as she looked out onto the ocean.

The pack house was close to the beach and with the sun setting, the sky was painted pink and orange. It would be very romantic if my mate was huddled under a tree.

What the hell happened to her? Ayla’s clothes were torn, and she didn’t even have shoes. I saw one warrior offer her a blanket, but she refused it, shaking her head.

“My brother isn’t back yet,” Alpha sighed. We all got out of the vehicle and walked towards Ayla. She turned her head in our direction and I could see her tense.

“Ayla, dear, are you okay?” Jim asked her. She shook her head, looking back at the ocean. One warrior walked closer to Alpha Atlas. I watched my mate intently while my alpha spoke to the warrior.

“We found her just before she crossed the border. She refused to enter the pack house or any other building. We have kept our distance. Alpha Matt should arrive any minute now.” He informed us.

“Did she say anything about what happened?” I asked him. He turned his attention to me and shook his head.

I walked closer to her and was stopped by one of the men. I glared at him and was about to say something until he did.

“Alpha’s order.” He said. Sighing, I nodded. I knew I would have to fight my way through them and that would only scare her.

“Ayla,” I called out, and she looked at me. Her eyes became misty as she held on to her sobs. Guilt turned my heart painful as I looked at my mate who was about to fall apart and I couldn’t hold her.

“Ayla, what happened?” I asked her, kneeling down as close as the warriors would allow.

“Is it true?” She whispered. I prayed that no one else told her I was a wolf.

“Is what true?” And she huffed.

“Werewolves.” She breathed out. I pushed my lips into a line, not sure how to answer.

“Mermaids! All the crap I just learned. Is it true?” She shouted.

“I just learned about mermaids. But werewolves are real.” I answered, watching as she tried to hold herself together.

“You’re a werewolf?” She asked me, and I wish she would look at me.

“Ayla, can you please look at me?” I asked her calmly.

“Nate, why didn’t you tell me?” She cried. Her walls finally broke as her eyes found mine.

“Ayla, I wanted to tell you and I was going too. I was called away this morning, but I promise you, I was going to tell you.” I pleaded with her to believe me. This is not how I planned her knowing about me and our kind.

“I don’t understand any of this. Nate, I’m scared.” She hiccuped. I didn’t even notice Alpha Matt had arrived. I was so focused on my mate.

“Ayla bear,” he called out behind me.

“Matt?” She gasped.

“Oh, my Ayla bear. Are you okay?” He asked her softly.

“Matt, what is going on? Why are you here?” She asked him, as he walked closer to her and knelt down in front of her.

“This is my house,” he said. He motioned for the blanket that one warrior was holding. She let him wrap it around her shoulders.

Logically, I knew this was her uncle, but I was jealous of how easily she let him approach her. I know Ayla’s scared. I would be too. Learning about werewolves and mermaids can’t be easy to process. I didn’t want to scare her, so I kept my distance as her uncle comforted her.

“Why don’t you come into the house and we can all explain and you can tell us what happened?” He said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

“I’m scared.” She whispered.

“I would let nothing happen to you. I’ve missed you so much, Ayla bear.” He told her, squeezing her to his side.

“I don’t understand any of this. She said my mother was a mermaid and my father was a werewolf. How is that even possible?” She said to him and he sighed.

“And she said I was a princess, and I was to be wed to this prince. I don’t know.” She cried, putting her face in her hands.

Duke let out a growl at the mention of her being wed to another. And it did not go unnoticed by Ayla. She looked right at me and I could tell that she was nervous.

“Who’s that?” Matt asked Ayla.

“That’s Nate. I met him last week when I was hiking in the mountains. He helped me when I was attacked.” She told him.

“Really, Atlas, attacked.” Matt called out, shaking his head.

“How do you know my father?” She asked him, turning her attention to the alpha holding her.

“He’s my brother.” He answered, and her eyes went wide. Ayla looked over to her father and Jim and then back at Matt.

“Breathe, Ayla bear. I would never hurt you. You’re my niece and I love you.” Alpha Matt told her, kissing her temple.

“How did I not realize you were his brother?” She said out loud.

“I’m the better looking brother.” Alpha Matt chuckled, making Ayla giggle.

“There’s my Ayla bear. Are you ready to head inside?” He nudged her shoulder with his.

“Can I have a moment with Nate?” She asked him, before looking at me. My mind began racing with why she would want to speak with me alone. Especially after learning I’m a werewolf. Was she going to reject me? Tell me to leave and never come back? I didn’t realize everyone had left until Ayla called out to me.

“Nate?” She patted the ground next to her. I sat down beside her, my back against the tree trunk.

Ayla surprised me by resting her head on my shoulder as we watched the sun disappear beyond the ocean horizon.

“Did you know I was a mermaid?” She asked me.

“Not until your father told me on our way here.” I answered her, resting my head on hers.

“Why are you here?” She questioned.

“Because I needed to make sure you were safe.” I breathed out, then inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“Nate, I don’t understand. If you’re a werewolf and I’m a mermaid. I just don’t understand.” She sighed, sounding defeated.

“Ayla, I have a wolf. His name is Duke, and he is a part of me. He’s a big black wolf.” I told her, and she pulled her head off my shoulder to look at me.

“Seriously?”

“I swear and he wants to meet you,” I said.

“But why? This is so hard to understand. Ever since I saw you, I have felt this pull towards you. I don’t know why. And I’m so confused about everything else.” She ranted and I couldn’t help but smile. She feels something.

“How do you know Matt?” I asked her, changing the subject.

“I remember Matt as one of my mom’s friends. He would also spend time with me on my birthday or if he was in town for a school event. I lost track of everyone after I ran away. I hid myself away so foster care couldn’t find me.” She said, looking out at the ocean.

“Ayla, I’m so sorry you had to find out about me from someone else. I wanted to tell you. To explain all of this to you. I hope you can forgive me,” I told her. I know this is a lot and she must be thinking this is all a nightmare and she’ll wake up soon. But I needed her to know I wasn’t trying to hide this from her.

“Nate, my head hurts.” She sighed, resting her head on my shoulder again.

“On the plus side, we got to see each other today.” I said, and she giggled. I love hearing her happy. Her smile and laugh could light up the world.

“Yeah, too bad I was also kidnapped and had to jump off a balcony to escape.” She said, nudging my shoulder with hers.

“I should have stayed this morning,” I said, seriously.

“Nate, it’s not your fault. I thought I could trust my boss. And I just pray that Xander is keeping Bluey safe. I know I should call him, but I’m terrified about entering the house. Logically, I know Matt would never hurt me but,” she trailed off. Ayla shivered, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“We should get you inside. Are you hungry?” I asked her, and she gripped my shirt before I could move.

“I know I must sound crazy, but will you stay with me?” She asked me, shyly. And here I was thinking I sounded crazy.

“I told you she likes crazy.” Duke purred in my head. Freaking wolf.

“If you want me to stay, then I’ll stay.” I told her and she sighed, pulling away from me.

“I don’t want to force you to stay, Nate. Whatever I’m feeling, I don’t expect you to feel the same way. We only just met. But I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay if you don’t want to.”

“Ayla, I want to stay. And I’ll explain. But right now, I need you to come inside with me.” I told her and she looked up at me.

“Okay.” She sighed and I let out a breath. After I stood up, I reached out my hand for hers.

When she took my hand, our skin touching my body came to life. The tingle and the sparks of my mate touching me made me feel invincible. Interlacing our fingers, I led her into the pack house. The blanket was still wrapped around her shoulders, but she shivered as we walked inside.

As soon as we walked inside, I wish we hadn’t. I could hear Alpha Atlas and Alpha Matt yelling out some not-so kind words. I looked at Ayla, and she looked confused. Before I could stop her, she let go of my hand and walked towards their yelling.

“Do you think I wanted to be trapped? To have to live without my mate? And then to have a child she didn’t even want me to be a part of? I may have loved her, but I also hated her.” Alpha Atlas yelled out, stopping Ayla in her tracks. She pushed the door open before I could stop her.

The room became silent as I entered behind her. The three alphas looked at each other and you could see the guilt. Ayla was never supposed to hear that. To hear that it was her mother that didn’t want her father in her life. Ayla’s breathing became laboured as she looked around the room.

There was now a beautiful brunette standing by Alpha Matt. She must be his mate. I looked at my father and he, too, looked guilty.

“I was a trap baby.” Ayla whispered, looking at her father.

“Ayla, you were never supposed to hear that,” he said.

“But I did. Now explain.” She said coldly. I wasn’t sure if she was shaking in rage or because she was cold.

“Ayla bear, regardless of what happened between your parents. I want you to stay here with me and Julie.” Alpha Matt said.

“I don’t understand. How can my uncle love me so much more than my father?” Her voice cracked, and it broke my heart. I wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Ayla, I wasn’t allowed to love you.” Alpha Atlas said.

“Atlas!” Former Alpha Jim growled out.

“No, she deserves to know that I’m not the bad guy. I tried. I wasn’t allowed to sign her birth certificate to claim her. Her mother didn’t even call me to let me know she had given birth. I missed the birth of my own daughter. And all because I was a way out for Melody. She kept me from my mate for fifteen years. And as much as I wanted to hate her, I couldn’t. The bond wouldn’t allow it.” He yelled out. We were all silent after the alpha’s rant. I now understand more about this relationship with Ayla and her mother.

“Ayla, when you didn’t get a wolf, I knew they would hunt you for your scales. And your grandmother was already hunting Melody. I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away, but the hunters found you.” Alpha Atlas continued.

“How did she claim you?” Ayla whispered, and we all looked at her.

“s*x under a full moon. It’s rare that a child will be conceived during the claim, but she became pregnant with you.” Alpha Atlas confessed.

“And you didn’t know?” She asked him and he shook his head.

“I understand why you hate me. I hate me. I’m so sorry for what my mother did to you.” She cried. I pulled her against my chest, but she pulled away.

“Nate, I think it’s best if you leave.” She whispered.

“Ayla,” I was about to protest, but my father stopped me.

“Ayla bear, this is Julie.” Alpha Matt said.

“Come with me, sweetie. I’ll take you to your room.” Luna Julie said, before she led Ayla out of the dining room.

“Dad,” I turned my attention to my father when I could no longer see my mate.

“Son, she needs to process this. She doesn’t want to do to you what her mother did to her father.” He said, and I let out a growl. I can’t lose her over this.

“Nate, you can still stay here. My dad already filled me in about you maybe wanting to change packs.” Alpha Matt said. I just gave him a nod, since I couldn’t find my words.

“Nate, follow me and I’ll show you to your room,” Alpha Matt said, and I followed him out of the room.

“Is Ayla really your mate?” He asked me as we walked through the pack house.

“She is,” I answered.

“Does she know about the matebond?”

“I haven’t had time to explain. It’s a long story but I think she can feel the bond with me. She confessed to feeling a pull towards me.” I explained.

“Well, we can all talk more in the morning, but I think you should reach out. She is scared, and she’s afraid to hurt you.” He told me, stopping at a door.

“This is your room and Ayla’s is there.” He pointed at the room across from mine.

“And Nate, if you hurt her, I will kill you.” He said before turning on his heels and walking away.

I entered my room to find my bag already on the bed. Pulling out some clean clothes, I went into the attached bathroom to have a shower before I went to see Ayla. I wanted to give her some time alone to sort through her thoughts and feelings.

This is not how I thought today would go. I figured I would drive back into the city after I did whatever the alpha needed and spend the night with her again. Take her out to dinner and then explain everything to her. And if she still wants me, stay with her. But now I don’t know what she is thinking, and it scared me. I needed her to see I was her mate and her claiming me would make me the happiest man on this planet.

When I was ready, I left my room and knocked on her door.

“Just a sec.” She called out, and my stomach twisted nervously as I waited for her to answer. When she opened the door, she was wearing a robe, and she looked surprised to see me.

“Nate,” she gasped out.

“Can I come in?” I asked her. She moved out of the way and I entered her room. She closed the door behind me.

I turned around to see she was watching me, worry etched on her face. She played with her lips and the sight was driving me wild as we stood there in silence. Her hair was damp as she had just had a shower. Her scent filled the room, making it hard for me to focus on anything I wanted to say to her.

“Nate, you shouldn’t be here.” She said, breaking the silence. My heart tugged painfully at her words.

“Ayla, I want to be here. Nothing said down stairs changes how I feel about you,” I said. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I moved closer, holding onto her biceps as I looked down at her.

“Nate, I don’t want to hurt you.” She whispered, her eyes still closed, tears running down her cheeks. I moved my hands to her cheeks, brushing the tears away with my thumbs.

“Why do you make me feel this way?” She asked, opening her eyes. She looked up at me.

“Ayla, there is so much to explain. And I promise I will tell you everything. But right now, you need to rest. It’s been one hell of a day and your mind needs rest,” I told her.

“Will you stay with me?” She whispered, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips.

“Of course I’ll stay.” I answered, and her eyes lit up.

Ayla climbed into bed, as I stripped down to my boxers before lying down beside her. She instantly snuggled into my side, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

She inhaled deeply before her breathing evened out, and I knew she had fallen asleep. I pulled her closer, trying to get comfortable.

“Mate has been through so much today,” Duke said in my head.

“I know she has. And I know she feels guilty for what her mother did. She’s also confused about our world and the world of the mermaids,” I told him.

“She’s my mate, Nate. And I want her to claim us. So you had better be ready to spend forever with her.”