My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 32

Ayla

I was starting to lose hope I’d ever reach the bottom of these stairs. It felt like I had been descending for hours with no end in sight. I have to be below the ocean surface by now, but at least I can’t drown, I hope. Can a mermaid drown?

I didn’t know if I was hoping Nate was aware I was missing or still blissfully unaware. If I couldn’t find a way out, they wouldn’t be able to find me. Either way, I’m stuck here until I’m able to find a way out.

I stopped and leaned against the stone wall as I took a few deep breaths. My stomach twisted painfully as I thought about Nate and how worried he must be.

“f**k, Ayla! You have someone else to think about now. You can’t just run into the unknown.” I cursed myself out loud, like a crazy person. The staircase echoed as I sighed.

I continued my descent, as I wasted enough time on my pity party. There’s no one to blame but myself for being here. I should be more cautious. Curiosity is about to kill the mermaid princess. My mind just would not stop coming up with scenarios about what I’m about to walk into. But whatever it was, I was praying it would make my death quick and painless.

What felt like another hour passed and I finally came upon a light at the end of the staircase. It was a blue hue, but I couldn’t see where it was coming from. I had to be far underground. When the stairs ended, I cautiously moved out into the open.

Looking around, it looked to be a cave of some kind and the blue light was from a pool of water. I assume it was water from the ocean. But it was the mermaid and the gorgeous woman waiting that made me jump. I didn’t notice them at first until more light filled the cave.

“Where am I?” I stumbled out, hating my voice. I sounded scared and pathetic. The mermaid chuckled as she brushed her long dark hair. Golden scales cover her body.

“It’s okay, Ayla.” The woman with the long white hair spoke. She was wearing a full-length, gold satin dress with a high slit.

“How do you know my name?”

“It’s okay, daughter of Alpha Atlas and Queen Melody. We are here to guide you.” The mermaid stated.

“We are our manners. I’m Selene and this is Amphitrite.” Selene introduced herself and her friend.

“I don’t understand, why am I here?” I asked them, confused.

“Selene is the moon goddess. She is the goddess of the wolves.” Amphitrite explained, and then it hit me. Her name sounded familiar because it was.

“And you are the goddess of the sea, wife to Poseidon,” she nodded.

“But why are you both here? And why am I here?” I asked again. I had to be dreaming.

“We are here because we know you have questions that no one can answer. I knew my merpeople were being killed and I prayed to the moon goddess for her help. We need protection on land. And even in the seas, we are no longer as safe as we were before.” Amphitrite spoke.

“And how did you help her?” I asked Selene.

“I went to your mother with a plan to give birth to you. I also blessed you with a wolf. My wolves wait a long time for their fated mates. They don’t often take a chosen mate. This way, you were paired with a wolf,” Selene answered.

“But my father didn’t know. He was trapped by my mother. Why would you let one of your wolves suffer?” I demanded.

“I’m sorry, Ayla, but only your mother can answer those questions. We are both here to help you understand what you need to do.” Amphitrite told me. But my mother was dead, so I was never getting those answers and neither was my father.

“So what do I have to do? And why do I keep blacking out? And why was I born a black pearl?” I rambled, starting to pace.

“You are the bridge between both of our worlds. You and your mate. Ayla, you have the strength to protect your people on land and in the depths. But you need to learn how to control your emotions.” I stopped in my tracks and looked at both of them.

“Maybe if I had a better understanding of what was happening to me, I would have better control over my emotions,” I yelled.

“Soon, everything will be revealed and you will understand. But for now, read the book that is left for you. And when the time is right, everything will fall into place. The merpeople will have a queen to unite the kingdoms.” Amphitrite sang out and I sighed.

“But for now, our dear queen, we must leave you. Trust in your heart.” That was the last thing I heard before a bright light consumed them and I brought my hand up to shield my eyes.

When my eyes adjusted again, they were both gone. And I was left wondering if this was all a dream. Or maybe I was drugged without my knowledge. But whatever it was, I still needed to find a way out of this place.

Looking around the cave, the only way out was the water. At least I didn’t have to hold my breath the entire way, I told myself as I stripped off my clothes. I hesitated before I jumped in.

“Here goes nothing,” I said before I was engulfed in freezing cold water. I let out a scream as my shift began and my body adjusted to the cold.

Opening my eyes, everything was clear and bright as I swam away from the cave. I didn’t know where this was going to lead, but it was better than walking back up all those stairs. Swimming with schools of fish, I made my way out into the open ocean.

I cautiously swam to the surface before I breached. Looking around, the sun was starting to set and I knew I had been gone all day. Nate and the others definitely knew I was gone. I didn’t see the island with the palace as I spun around, taking in my surroundings.

“Really,” I huffed, throwing my arms up.

There was an island in the direction I came from, so I decided to swim to the island and climb to higher ground. I didn’t know where I was, let alone the direction I needed to go to get home.

I made my way around the island’s rocky coastline, hoping to find the beach. I was swimming mostly underwater and only surfacing to evaluate my position.

Swimming alone in the open ocean was eerie and I felt like I was constantly looking around, making sure I wasn’t being stalked by a predator, or worse. What if there are humans around? I couldn’t just shift and go over to talk with them. I’d be in my dress and that would be suspicious. f**k, Nate was going to kill me if I got back alive.

A loud buzzing sound hit my ears and I looked behind me to see what looked like a jet ski, speeding toward me. I swam towards the bottom and hid behind a boulder. My heart was pounding in my chest as I watched from below. I was praying whoever it was didn’t see me. With the clear water and me being black, I would be easy to spot.

I followed the jet ski until it docked. There was a massive ship out at sea and others were boarding another boat. I could hear muffled voices but I couldn’t make anything out. A speed boat engine started with a roar and the boat took off towards the ship.

I followed below the speed boat as it sped towards the ship. I was curious as to what was going on. Who were these people? It could just be a boat of fishermen, but I had a bad feeling it was something more sinister.

I heard the song of the humpback whale and my stomach sunk, twisting painfully. In the distance was a pod of whales, dancing and singing their songs. I swam as fast as I could in their direction. I needed to do something.

Maybe I’m wrong and the ship is full of tourists who are whale watching, but I’d rather be wrong than witness the killing of a whale. I was too late, as a whale let out a wail of despair and the water turned crimson.

“No,” I screamed. And the other whales howled with me as I tried to swim through the dark red water.

I was pulled back into something hard and I panicked trying to get away but they tightened their grip around my waist as I struggled to get away.

“Let me go!” I yelled, watching in horror as the whale was hit again.

“I have men here to help. But you need to come with me, princess.”

“No, I can help! Let me go! I can help!” I screamed as I struggled.

“Please, I can help!” I cried as I was pulled away from the whales. The scene faded and I turned my anger to the man holding me again against my will.

I turned in his hold and was pounding my fists against his chest.

“Let me go!” I screamed, my tears getting lost in the ocean around me.

“Ayla, please calm down.” The man said, snapping me from my assault against his chest. I haven’t heard that voice in over a year and I never thought I would hear it again.

Looking up, I found his emerald-green eyes staring down at me. Eyes I never thought I would see again. How can this be possible? He’s a mermaid, like me.

“Kyle?”

Future Beta Nate

Duke had been running around this entire island trying to pick up Ayla’s scent. Her scent vanished in the library and I haven’t been able to smell her since. I was growing increasingly frustrated as I ran along the beaches. Where the hell could she have gone?

“You don’t think Kaden was able to get her here?” Duke growled.

“How? I don’t understand how he would have been able to swim in here and take her. She was supposed to be safe here.”

“We are never leaving mate’s side again!” Duke snarled. He let out a murderous growl as a warrior approached us and I shifted back.

“Commander Xander has news.” The Warrior announced, and I shifted again. Duke took off towards the palace to find Xander.

I found Xander and the princes outside the front entrance and as soon as I heard her voice I shifted back.

“Where is she?” I yelled out, uncaring that I was naked.

“Nate?” I heard her and Xander held up his phone.

“Ayla, where the hell are you?” I exclaimed.

“It’s a long story, but I’m in the eastern kingdom.” She answered and my heart sank.

“How the hell did you end up there?”

“I’ll explain when you get here. I’m safe Nate. And I promise to tell you everything.” She answered, sounding nervous and my stomach twisted painfully.

“Ayla, we are leaving now and we will be there soon. If anything happens, you call me.” Xander told her.

“I’ll be here waiting.” She said before she ended the call.

“Nate, get dressed. We will leave in ten minutes.” Xander told me, throwing me a towel, and I wrapped it around my waist.

“Does he have her?” I growled out.

“All we know is she is at the Eastern kingdom palace. She told me she wasn’t hurt.” Xander answered.

“And you believe she was telling you the truth? This could be a trap.” I yelled, frustrated.

“So what do you want to do? Leave her there?” Prince Silas huffed and I was about to punch him in the face when Xander moved in front of me.

“We are all worried about Ayla. Go get dressed and meet us out here. The chopper is almost ready.” Xander commanded, and I glared at him.

“Don’t forget she is my mate and if anything happens to her, Duke will rip this entire kingdom apart,” I growled out before heading inside to get dressed.

I had a bad feeling about all of this. What couldn’t Ayla tell me over the phone? And how the hell did she get to the Eastern sea kingdom? Is she with King Kaden’s brother or is King Kaden there himself, with my mate?

“I swear, if he touches her, I’ll scale him with my teeth,” Duke growled and I agreed. I will make his death slow and painful if he has hurt my mate.

When I was done getting dressed, I met the others by the front door again. None of us said a word as we walked to the helipad where the chopper was waiting for us. Xander climbed in the front beside the pilot and the princes and I climbed into the back. We all strapped in and put on our headsets.

“This is going to take about two hours,” Xander said, and I heard him through the headset.

I couldn’t even enjoy the view of the ocean as my stomach was in knots and my panic was an eleven. Would I be able to feel it if he was touching her? She mentioned she felt something when I kissed Bailey but maybe it was because she watched it.

“You think the bond is all in her head and she doesn’t feel it?” Duke asked me and I sighed.

“I don’t know. She said she felt the tingles, but what if that’s all she feels?” I said, sounding defeated. What if she no longer loves me after meeting King Kaden?

“Then we fight for her! She is ours and I’m not letting her go. I don’t care what you say, I’m claiming her the next time we are with her. There is no more waiting. Her claim is forever and I want forever with my mate.” Duke huffed.

“I can’t force her to stay. She could reject my claim. Or worse, we claim her and she cheats.” I retorted and he growled.

“She loves us, you i***t! She would never cheat on us!” He snarled, bearing his teeth.

“You okay?” Prince Chase asked, after pushing my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I breathed out. Looking around, Xander and Prince Silas were also watching me.

“Nate, calm down. We will be there soon,” Xander told me.

“I can’t calm down. All I’ve heard is how much of a monster this Kaden is and he has my mate.” I yelled at him.

“Nate, he’s not a monster. I know him. His father may have been a monster and that’s why Kaden killed him, but Kaden is not his father. I don’t know why Queen Andrea is so worried about him starting a war. If anything, Kaden is working to stop the hunters.” Prince Chase defeated his friend.

“And how do you know that? Killing someone, especially one’s father, can change you. How do you know he isn’t after Ayla because she is a black pearl? Not that I have any idea what that even means.” I snapped back.

“The legend says the black pearl will bring peace to our kingdoms. Whoever is blessed will bring our people together,” Prince Silas said.

“But you aren’t at war?” I told him.

“Not with each other, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t at war. We are valuable and our people have been going missing, now more than ever. I have to agree with Chase. It doesn’t make sense for Kaden to want to start a war against his own people,” Prince Silas explained.

“Then why is Queen Andrea pushing Ayla so much to accept King Kaden?” I asked them. We all looked at Xander, he was turned around in his seat, looking at us.

“I have no idea. My orders were to protect Ayla. Fit in and make sure she is safe. I didn’t know about my father bringing Ayla to meet her grandmother. And I didn’t know about the plan for Ayla to claim King Kaden.” Xander defended.

“Then who is feeding the Western Kingdom false information?” I asked, and they all looked deep in thought.

“The only person who would gain from Ayla stepping down would be councilman Andrews. His grandson would become king.” Xander told us.

“Is that why Ayla was brought back? To prove she was alive and to take the throne? But then why would the queen want her to claim you two? Or now Kaden?” I asked them.

“I don’t think we’ll get any answers until we can talk with King Kaden and Queen Andrea. Something isn’t adding up,” Xander said.

“And then there’s how Ayla made it all the way to the Eastern sea? She was in the library and now she is with the supposed enemy.” Prince Chase said, and we all agreed. Something isn’t adding up and I don’t think it has anything to do with Kaden wanting to start a war.

The palace came into view and I let out a sigh of relief that we were finally here. Ayla’s palace was made of white and lilac purple but this palace was in black and crimson red. It looked grim the closer we flew toward the island where the palace stood.

My stomach was in my throat as the pilot started to descend the chopper to land on the helipad. The only one waiting for us was a younger man, with darker blonde hair.

“That’s King Kaden’s brother, prince Dante.” Prince Chase told us.

“Now where is Ayla?”