My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 22

Warrior Xander

Leaving Ayla’s room, I knew I had f****d up when I told her my feelings. She was going to be with Nate and there was nothing I could do about that. I just want her happy and I’m in no position to give her what she deserves. After everything Ayla has been through, she deserves the moon, the sun, and all the stars.

Ayla is going to make the perfect queen, even though I might not be able to stand by her side and watch her love another. With Jordan, it was easy. He was an i***t, and every time he canceled she would hang out with me. But I never knew why they were together for so long. I thought maybe a couple of dates, but months, almost a year.

Maybe if I had just told her from the beginning, we could have been together. Then there wouldn’t have been a Jordan or a Nate. But there would still be two princes who her grandmother wanted to marry her off to. And I knew I was never in the running to be hers.

“How’s protection duty?” A voice pulled me from my thoughts as I hesitated to enter my room. It was located across the hall from Ayla’s. I wanted to make sure I would hear if anything were to happen.

“Prince Silas! What the hell are you doing here?” I exclaimed. He pushed off the wall he was leaning against and walked over to me. We shook hands in greeting.

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen him. He came here to train when I was still a warrior. The western sea prides itself on having one of the best militaries. King Samual wanted his son trained by the best.

“My father sent me to help with the princess. No wolf toy?” He asked and I chuckled.

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon enough.”

“Well, Chase will be here tomorrow. Apparently, the queen wants one of us to win over her granddaughter.” I pushed my lips in a line. Not only do I have to see the love of my life with her supposed mate, but now I’ll have to watch two princes fight for her love.

“But it would seem the princess has already chosen her merman of choice,” he said, giving me a pointed look.

“You should get some rest. We start training in the morning.” I told him before entering my room, closing it behind me.

With a sigh, I got ready for bed. If only things were different.

Ayla

My sleep was plagued with nightmares. If my mind wasn’t filled with images of Nate kissing Bailey, it was filled with Nate catching me with Xander. What the hell is wrong with me?

I g*****d as I got out of bed. I couldn’t take seeing it anymore. Deep down I think I knew I couldn’t be with either one of them. If I claimed Nate, he would find another if I died. But Xander wouldn’t get a chance to have kids. He would forever be claimed by me and I couldn’t do that to him. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I knew I couldn’t ruin anyone’s life. Claiming anyone was off the table until I knew I was coming back, alive.

And I was scared. I’ve never done anything like this before. I didn’t have any training and I barely knew anything that was going on. King Kaden is going to squish me like a bug. And I didn’t even know why he wanted a war. So many unanswered questions and my head ached.

I got dressed and went for a walk around the palace. It was very early in the morning and I didn’t want to wake Xander. I’m sure I’m safe here or I wouldn’t have been brought here.

I made my way outside as the sun was just starting to rise. The palace shined in the early morning light. I was in awe as I walked up the pool where a massive waterfall was built into the front of the palace. The pool was deep enough to calm the water before it rushed over the edge of another waterfall as the water made its way into the ocean. A beautiful stone bridge connects both sides of the pool.

The bottom of the pool illuminated as it had in the ocean when we arrived. There was an ocean ecosystem right through the palace, making this place feel truly like home. Fish swam through the coral and I wonder if there was a way for them to come and go without having to go over the waterfall.

Looking around and finding no one. I pulled my leggings off before pulling the sweatshirt I was wearing over my head. I placed my clothes with my phone, which was in my leggings pocket, on the edge of the pool before taking a deep breath. Standing on the edge naked with my eyes closed, I jumped into the pool. Letting out a small scream as my body hit the cold water. The water muffled my scream as I sank below the surface of the water.

The water rushed around me as I felt my legs still, becoming my beautiful scaled tail. The shift didn’t hurt and not long after, I pushed myself up to the surface, whipping my hair in the most dramatic way possible. Feeling like a model as my hair flew back over my head and away from my face.

I laughed as I shook my hair out and splashed my hands in the water. I don’t think I’ll ever get over this feeling. I swam over to the edge and pulled myself up onto my elbows on the side of the pool. I grabbed my phone to take a selfie to send to Nate. I held the phone above me so he could see more of my mermaid body and scales. But my face was looking to the side with my eyes closed.

Looking at the photo I took, I felt beautiful. I never felt comfortable in my own skin, but maybe that was because I was supposed to be wearing scales.

I sent the photo to Nate with the caption, wishing you were here. Xoxo.

Smiling, I put my phone away, flipping my body before diving under the surface to explore the bottom. I love being able to breathe underwater. Nothing has ever felt better than being in the ocean. Well, maybe being wrapped up with Nate is a very close second. Both felt a part of me but both were so contradicting. How is a mermaid supposed to live away from the sea or a wolf away from the forest?

I know he could shift here and there’s more than enough room to roam behind the palace. But he wouldn’t have a pack. Our children wouldn’t have a pack. And wolves need their packs.

I was lost in my head as I mindlessly swam around the pool. I forgot all about the animals and creatures because I couldn’t get out of my own head. I was a problem solver and I felt like no matter what I chose to do, it was going to be a loss for all of us involved.

I wish my mother was here to tell me what to do. If this was what she had to deal with, I understand why she ran away. The situation with my father, not so much. But I’ve been here for less than a day and I already feel like I am going to crack under the pressure.

What looked like a sea otter pulled me from my thoughts as it swam in a blur in front of my face. I couldn’t help but smile as I chased after it. Who wouldn’t want to snuggle with a sea otter? They are so fluffy.

I broke the surface with my dramatic hair flipped and laughed at the headrush I just gave myself. Something furry brushed against my chest and I looked down to see a sea otter looking up at me. Suddenly, I didn’t know what to do. Can I pet him? He was so adorable with his big brown eyes. I was instantly in love.

“Aren’t you just adorable?” I squealed as more sea otters popped their heads above the surface. There was an entire family of them.

The little one who was the closest to me brushed up against me again and I couldn’t resist patting him on the head. He made a purring sound before he snuggled up against me and I held him like a baby in my arms. I was ready to burst into tears of happiness. How the hell can this be happening right now?

A commotion coming from inside the palace had me turning my head to the door where I came out from. Then I saw Xander and Prince Silas storming out of the doors with a bunch of warriors who all took off in every direction. I looked around at the sea otters and they looked just as confused as I felt. Or maybe they always looked confused.

I looked back to where Xander was having what looked like a heated conversation with Prince Silas. I watched him with a smirk on my face until his eyes finally snapped to mine. I could see him physically relaxing as we looked at each other.

He looked like he had just gotten out of bed before he went into full-on panic mode. He and Prince Silas rushed over to me while Xander was calling out to the other warriors.

“Found her!” Found her? Like in me? Was I not allowed to leave my room? I was confused as he approached me with the prince on his heels.

“Ayla, what the hell are you doing?” He rushed out.

“Swimming with sea otters, obviously,” I said, rolling my eyes, and Prince Silas chuckled.

“Can you just come here, please?” He asked, kneeling down.

“Can you take a picture with me holding this adorable otter, please?” I asked, pouting and giving him my best puppy eyes. Xander g*****d, before taking my phone and snapping a picture.

“Bye, baby boo.” I cooed the otter before I lifted him up and snuggled him before placing him back with his family.

I didn’t want to get out of the water. The otters had the best puppy eyes and I couldn’t look away. I just wanted to snuggle them forever. Prince Silas g*****d and it pulled my attention away from the otters.

“Stop.” I heard Xander growl.

“I can’t help it. Did you explain how to turn it off?” Prince Silas retorted, not looking away from me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned.

“Nothing, but I’ll have to explain how to turn the mermaid charm off. Prince Silas here is having a hard time with yours.” Xander growled the last part.

“Come, let me help you out,” Xander said, motioning for me to swim over to him. But I hesitated. Was the mermaid charm really that strong? And what did it actually do? My mind was full of questions.

“I’m fine, Ayla. Please?” Xander pleaded and I finally nodded before swimming over to him.

“Think of your legs.” He said before I placed my hand in his.

Closing my eyes, I thought of my leg and began to shift back. Before I could open my eyes, Xander pulled me out of the water and into his arms. We were both standing and I could feel his breath against my cheek. I opened my eyes and found him watching me intently.

Someone cleared their throat and Xander let go of me, moving back. He looked me up and down before moving back and whispering in my ear.

“You’re bleeding,” I gasped. Looking down, I saw b***d running down my thigh. My cheeks burned and I scrunched up my face, embarrassed.

“It’s okay. Breathe.” He whispered. Tears started running down my cheeks and I didn’t know why. Usually, this kind of stuff wouldn’t bother me. It’s just b***d and it’s not like it’s unheard of for a woman to bleed.

I just didn’t understand why I was bleeding now. My cycle has always been regular and it’s too early. And I always cramped at first, so I knew it was coming. God damn hormones.

I couldn’t look Xander in the eyes as I moved to pull on my leggings. I pulled them up under my dress and pushed my phone into the pocket before pulling my sweatshirt over my head. Then I wiggled my arms out of the dress and pulled it down my body. When it hit the ground, it exploded into purple flowers, which the wind started to carry away. I heard a gasp but I didn’t lift my head to look around. I shouldn’t be embarrassed by this, but I just hated that I didn’t know my own body. I hated that I didn’t have anyone to talk to me about all of this. My mother wasn’t here and I really didn’t want to talk about this with my grandmother. I didn’t trust her not to sell me to the highest bidder.

Xander pulled me from my thoughts when he took hold of my cheeks and lifted my gaze to meet his. He wiped tears off my cheeks with his thumb.

“It’s fine. It could be worse, you could have a raging boner.” He said seriously. I sucked my lips in trying not to laugh and he chuckled before I burst into laughter.

“And how is that worse?” I chuckled, shaking my head, and he shrugged.

“Come on, I’ll take you back to your room. Breakfast will be served soon and you can get ready.” Xander said as his hand found the small of my back.

Before I could move, I winced and grabbed my chest as pain ripped through it. My breathing became labored as I tried to breathe through the pain. My hands found my knees as I leaned forward, willing myself not to cry.

“Ayla,” Xander exclaimed, leaning down. I shook my head, unable to speak.

When the pain was less intense, I straightened myself. I rubbed my chest, as I composed myself. What the hell was that?

“Ayla?”

“I’m okay, I must just be tired,” I answered him.

“Let’s get you back to your room and you can rest.”

Future Beta Nate

I was walking back from night patrol with Max and David when my phone chimed in my pocket. I smiled when I saw I had a message from Ayla but it was the photo she sent me that stopped me in my tracks. She was gorgeous, water dripping down her skin as her scales were different colors of black and purple. The sun caused a glare off her scaled h*p.

The scales covered her like an off-the-shoulder top with the front cut open down to her lower stomach. She wasn’t looking at the camera and she looked like a model posing for a magazine.

“Damn.” David whistled, he was looking over my left shoulder and Max was looking over my right. Duke let out a growl and David held his hands up in surrender.

“f**k, you got lucky, man,” Max said as we started walking again.

“Please say you’ve hit that?” David pleaded. I didn’t tell them about the time I spent with Ayla at her house before the mateball.

It felt weird telling them about our personal time together. I knew I smelt like her the day of the mateball, but maybe it wasn’t as strong as I thought it was. f**k, I was smiling like an i***t when Max punched my shoulder.

“Finally popped your fucken cherry!” he exclaimed.

“Yes! And you picked a hot one at that. Damn.” David yelled and Duke growled again.

“Come on, Nate. Say it was more than once.”

“That’s the reason I was late for the mateball.” I grinned and Max grabbed my shoulders.

“Yeah, it was.”

“Lucky bastard gets to f**k the alpha’s daughter.” David proclaimed and I shook my head.

“Are you forgetting she’s my mate?” I shook my head.

“Even if she wasn’t, you’d still be the one to get the princess,” Max said, and I chuckled.

“Damn straight we got the princess,” Duke growled in my head.

“Calm down. They are just excited for us.” I told him and he huffed.

“She’s ours and I don’t like anyone else looking at her like a piece of meat.” He growled before retreating to the back of my mind.

We had almost made it back to the pack house when Bailey started walking towards us.

“Nate?” She called out. I internally g*****d. I didn’t want to have to deal with her this morning. I just wanted to call my mate and get some rest.

“Bailey,” I nodded.

“Can we talk in private?” She asked me shyly, looking at the ground.

“See you tonight,” Max said, smacking my shoulder.

“Have fun thinking about your mate.” David teased and I punched him in the shoulder. And he and Max laughed. I rolled my eyes and shook my head before turning back to Bailey. She was watching me intently now.

“What’s wrong, Bailey?” I almost growled out. It was easier to be civil with her when others were around.

“I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I shouldn’t have hit your mate.” She said, not meeting my gaze now.

“Bailey, you shouldn’t hit anyone unless your life or a pack member’s life is at risk.” I scolded her.

“I know. And I’m sorry. I tried to reach out to Ruby but she didn’t respond. I know she is Mitch’s mate and he hasn’t even spoken to me since that night.” Bailey confessed, sounding defeated.

“And what do you want me to do about it? Ruby has every right not to speak to you. I wouldn’t if I wasn’t the future beta.” I told her and she winced.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” She said, reaching out, she touched my forearm.

“Prove it by being a better pack member,” I told her before walking past her toward my house.

None of us will ever be able to trust her again. She showed her true colors and I’m just sorry it took me so long to see them.