My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 49

Ayla

“Great, now how do I shift back?” I huffed after my uncle left with his son. I looked around at Nate and Xander.

The group watching us started dissipating, while I tried to figure out how to shift back. I could just go for a swim but wanted to see if I could shift back without fully shifting. I closed my eyes and focused on my skin.

I heard gasps and a growl that caused goosebumps to cover my skin before tingling covered my body and I hit something hard. I opened my eyes to find Nate, glaring around us.

“Nate?”

“Baby, you’re naked,” he growled and I chuckled. He looked down at me.

“I thought wolves were okay with nudity?” I smirked and he grumbled.

“Not your nudity. What the hell happened?” He growled.

“I thought of my skin and I guess I shifted back,” I explained.

“Nate, it’s no big deal, you shift back naked,” I said and he growled. Xander came up beside him and handed him his shirt. He snatched it before pulling it over my head.

“Really, babe?” I gave him a pointed look and he crushed me to his chest.

“Mine,” he grumbled.

“Yours.” I breathed out.

“But you’ll have to catch me,” I said, pulling from his grip and taking off towards the beach.

“What?” I heard him while I took off at full speed. I don’t think I’ve ever run this fast before.

“You are in so much trouble!” I heard Nate yell out behind me. I laughed as I got closer and closer to the water.

“Gotcha,” Nate yelled, but I sped up and he just missed me. I could feel his fingertips brush against my arm.

“Not yet.” I laughed.

As soon as my foot touched the ocean, Nate pounced and we rolled with me landing on top of him. We were both laughing as the waves crashed against us. I resisted the shift as I straddled him.

“f**k, baby,” Nate breathed out, sitting up. Before he could say another word, my lips were on his. He swallowed my m***s as I tasted the sea on his lips.

“Goddess, you’re sexy.” He purred and I giggled.

“Even if you did just show your a*s to half the pack,” he grumbled.

“But you’re the only one that gets to smack it.” I purred, rolling my h**s. Nate g*****d, squeezing my a*s.

“f**k, Ayla.”

“Do you want to go for a swim with me?” I mumbled against his neck before I sucked his mark.

“I’m surprised you haven’t shifted.”

“I’m trying to control it.” I breathed out. I pushed my chest against Nate. I knew he could see my n*****s through his shirt. It was white after all.

“There’s no way I’m letting you walk back to the house with just my wet white shirt on.” He growled and goosebumps covered my body. My core heated and I rolled my h**s. I didn’t care who was watching.

“You are such a tease, my naughty mate,” Nate g*****d.

“Tell me you don’t enjoy it?” I purred. I licked up his cheek before I slipped through this grip. I shifted as I swam under the swell.

When I breached the surface, Nate was out of the water, kicking off his now-soaking shoes. Before he could strip off his sweatpants, he turned around. I saw Xander walking over to him.

I sighed, knowing our moment was now over. It was fun while it lasted. But now it was time to get back to work. I dived below the swell as I swam back towards the beach. I shifted back before I surfaced. I could feel Nate’s anger through our bond and knew something bad must have happened.

They were arguing about something when I waded out of the water. But as soon as Xander saw me he shut up and jerked his head. Nate shut up instantly and turned to face me. Both of them looked worried and my heart sank.

“What happened?” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Ayla, something has happened and we need you to come back to the house. We will explain everything.” Xander said.

“We are ready to leave,” Jonathan announced before I noticed him.

“Ready to leave? Nate, what the hell is he talking about?” I exclaimed and his guilt hit me.

“Baby,”

“No, if you are leaving, then I’m coming with you.” I insisted.

“Give him a few minutes,” Xander told Jonathan before he left us. Nate closed the distance between us.

“Ayla, please listen,” he pleaded, grabbing my arms, but I pulled away.

“No, Nate, I’m coming with you. We are in this together and I’m not letting you run into danger without me.” I yelled.

“Ayla, there was another body found in your father’s pack,” Xander said, and I gasped.

“What?” I breathed out.

“Baby, I need to go with the warriors that Alpha Matt is sending to help your father. I can’t take you back there until this mess is cleaned up. I won’t risk you, Ayla.” Nate explained, pulling me against his chest.

“But what if this is what they wanted?” I mumbled.

“You will be leaving with Xander after I leave. It’s no longer safe on land for you. Ayla, I’m sorry.” Nate said, resting his forehead against mine.

“Nate, I can protect myself. I can go with you and investigate this. I’m not useless.” I pleaded with him.

“I know you can, baby. I know you are strong and brave, but I need you away from here until I can get back. It’s not safe here for you until I return. Please, Ayla, I would go insane if anything were to happen to you.” He said, desperately. I could feel his fear. All I could do was nod, as I closed my eyes and willed myself not to cry.

“Go get packed, we’ll meet you at the pack house. Warrior Ryan will have your phone.” Xander told him, walking up beside us.

“I love you, baby,” Nate mumbled against my lips before wrapping his arms around me tightly. I snuggled my face into his bare chest.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. You go find that book and we will meet back here once it’s safe.” He said, kissing my forehead.

My arms felt empty and my heart twisted painfully as I watched him run back to the house. The bond screamed at me to run to him. To beg him to stay here with me. Before, when he was just leaving to pick up some of his stuff and now he was walking into unknown danger. With my mark on his chest, it puts a target on his back.

“It will be okay.” Xander wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I jumped. I was so lost in my thoughts I forgot he was standing with me.

He pulled me to his side but his comfort did nothing to ease the pain I was feeling. If anything were to happen to Nate, I would rip this world apart. How the hell were we ever going to be apart?

Nate walked up to the front of the pack house as soon as Xander and I did. Xander walked me the entire way, with his arm wrapped around me. Why does my life have to be such a s**t show?

Nate pulled me out of Xander’s grip and into his arms. I snuggled into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I love you, baby.” He cupped my cheeks so I would look up at him. He crushed his lips to mine as I gripped his shirt for dear life. I needed him like I needed air to breathe.

“I love you,” I breathed out when he pulled away.

“Xander, keep her safe,” Nate told him before he pecked my lips one more time.

He climbed in, riding shotgun with Jonathan driving. There were three SUV’s and I know all of them were full of warriors. When the SUV driving my mate away was out of sight, I turned my attention to my uncle. He was watching me intently.

“Can I see the report?” I asked him.

“Ayla, that’s not a good idea,” Xander said, and I shook my head.

“This is my job, to protect my people. And if I can’t be there I want to see that damn report,” I snapped.

A man standing beside my uncle handed me a folder and I opened it to find a picture of a female mermaid. She was just covered in pink b***d and there were no scales left to cover her body. She was also missing her head.

The more I looked at the picture, the more I gritted my teeth. The horrors this person must have endured were heartbreaking. And all of this was to get to me. I heard gasps and I looked up to find everyone staring at me.

“Ayla bear, are you okay?” My uncle asked, approaching me slowly like I was a predator ready to attack.

Xander snatched the folder from me before grabbing my wrists. He was now standing in front of me and he placed my hands on his chest. I could see fear as I looked up at him. I noticed I had shifted, my arms now covered in scales.

“Breathe, Ayla. I know you are angry.” Xander said.

“Angry? I’m furious! Someone is killing them to get to me. And there’s not a damn thing I can do about it!” I yelled.

“Okay, I understand but I need you to breathe,” Xander said softly, and I instantly felt guilty for yelling at him. It wasn’t his fault and he is just trying to defuse this situation.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Xander was right. I needed to calm down before I did something stupid.

“I need you to contact Kaden. The mermaid belonged to his kingdom.” I said, and Xander looked at me confused.

“How could you possibly know that?” He asked and I stammered.

“I don’t know,” I breathed out.

“Sir?” Ryan said, handing Xander a bag.

“I’ll contact King Kaden, Commander,” Ryan nodded to him.

“We should get going. We have to meet the other warriors halfway since this was all unexpected,” Xander told me.

“Are you sure she is going to be safe?” My uncle asked.

“With the way, I’m feeling right now, I dare them to attack me,” I growled, and my uncle pushed his lips into a line.

I know this wasn’t their fault but I was furious with all of this. I needed to stop this, but I can’t do that with them thinking I’m weak. I’m not weak. I have alpha and royal b***d. I can do this and it would all be over if they would stop protecting me.

“Ryan, contact Nate and let him know as well. Ayla and I need to leave.” He told him.

“Be safe, Ayla Bear.” My uncle came to hug me.

“Thank you,” I told him, hugging him back.

I didn’t wait for Xander as I took off running for the ocean. I need to find that damn book and, hopefully, it will tell me how to get my wolf to come forward. I had a feeling I was going to need her soon.

I was also going to have to have a chat with Nate and Xander about my involvement. This is why I’m here. I understand they want to keep me safe, but by doing so, others are dying. And I can’t have that. I’m supposed to be their hope, not their death sentence. And if the two goddesses can believe in me, then they should as well.

My stomach twisted, painful for the mermaids I couldn’t save. This was getting out of hand and the villains were getting too cocky. They believe they are untouchable and I can’t wait to prove just how wrong they are.

As soon as my feet hit the water, I jumped, driving under the swell of the waves. I didn’t even hit the sandy bottom as I swam through my shift. I didn’t even care if Xander was following me. I was running on instinct.

“Ayla,” I was whipped back into something hard, fingers gripping my arms.

“Xander, let’s go,” I demanded, but he didn’t let go.

“Can you please calm down?” He exclaimed and I glared at him.

“And can you just listen to me? I’m not useless. This is my job. And I’m so sick and tired of you and Nate treating me like I’m made of glass.” I yelled. My chest was pounding against his and we started at each other.

I just wanted to have a normal life. I was tired of all of this. I was tired of waiting around, hiding while my people were being killed.

Xander’s face softened, and one of his hands let go of my arm to caress my cheek. My face softened under his touch. I know he wasn’t doing any of this to hurt me. It’s his job to protect me.

“I’m sorry, Ayla. I just need to keep you safe. I believe in you, like no other. I know you can do this but I don’t want them to kill you. I couldn’t live with myself if I let anything happen to my best friend.” He sighed.

“Best friend?” I asked, hopefully.

“You’re not just my queen, you’re my best friend. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about Jordon. I should have. And I should have been camping with you that weekend. It’s my fault you were attacked by these rogues.” He confessed and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

I listened to his heart pounding against my ear. We stayed gliding in the current, holding each other until his heart rate returned to normal. Most women never meet their soulmates, but here I was with three men I could spend forever with.

“Let’s get you to the palace,” Xander said as he let go. I nodded before I followed him.

“How did you know the mermaid was from King Kaden’s kingdom?” He asked and I shrugged.

“I don’t know. I just know.” I answered him.

“Ryan told me he texted Nate and he was going to give King Kaden a call. I’m sure we will both have a few messages by the time we arrive at the palace,” he said.

“So are we heading to the palace because I need to go there or because you think it’s safer for me?” I asked him and he sighed.

“It’s safer for you. All the palace islands are protected by magic. Humans won’t be able to get to you there.” He answered.

“And what if they aren’t human? I could have witches, vampires, and other wolves after me. There could even be other mermaids. None of us are safe anywhere until I can find whoever is behind these deaths,” I told him.

We swam in silence after that. We had no idea who or what we were up against and until we got those answers I would always be in danger. My sadness about missing Nate was replaced with a determination to end this.

I missed Nate terribly, but I was never going to have the life I wanted with him until this threat was taken out. That’s what I need to focus on right now. Saving my people and living happily ever after with Nate. And if that meant being away from him until this was all over, then so be it. I would just have to live through the pain so another mermaid wouldn’t have to go through the horrors of being kidnapped, descaled, and then death.

Some of Xander’s warriors met us out in the open ocean. I didn’t even know where we were or how far we had to go. I was just thankful to be swimming. I needed to exhaust my body, so maybe by the time we arrived, my mind would be able to rest.

Ayla, how are you doing?” Xander asked me. His warriors surrounded us as we swam.

“I’ll be better once this is all over,” I told him.

“I promise, you’ll be able to kick a*s soon.”