The Alpha’s Rejected Bride
Chapter 24

The dinner was great. The royal family is lovely and kind, I only hated that Olivia constantly treated me like I don't belong at some point. And the queen, queen Astrid is the sweetest. They were times she held her head in pain, her health is deteriorating and I'm saddened by that. "You're upset with me," a voice stops me. I continue to walk and answer

"No,"

Rayan grabs my wrist and abruptly turns me to him, tingles erupt on my skin.

"Walk with me to the garden," he whispers, putting a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I'm tired," I protest.

"Please, my lady," he is talking close to my lips, his eyes locked unto mine.

I sigh in defeat. We are walking very slow side by side quietly. I feel so content.

"I was thinking we should get some fresh air. You seem upset, I apologize if I offended you,"

Maybe I overreacted. I think to myself.

I close my eyes and inhale a lungful of air.

"Hmmm, it feels good," I whisper.

I open my eyes and prince Rayan is looking at me with a smile. I blush and gaze away from his face. He sits on the bench, just looking at me as I smell the lavenders, lately, my senses are sharp. I keep picking out every smell and I notice my sight is better than ever. I don't have a hard time getting around a dark room.

Small beautiful laughter echos in my head. I'm not scared, I'm getting used now. Maybe, I'm just crazy! "You're beautiful," he whispers softly but I heard. I'm blushing so much right now. He pats a seat next to him and I join him.

My heart is beating fast at this proximity.

And when our hands or skin accidentally touch, a zig of electricity rushes through my body.

I look up at him. "Why did you bring me here?"

"To apologize," he says. "I.. I. Lucy, my wolf likes you," he confesses with difficulty, I smile, flattered

that his wolf took a liking to me.

I don't understand why I feel a strong connection to him, if I were a wolf, I'd say he is my mate, but I'm not so I can't be blessed with one.

"What's your wolf's name?" I ask.

"Rexan," he replies." But I call him Rex,"

I nod. Rexan sounds like a good name.

I ask him about how he feels being the king of wolves but he doesn't seem too eager or excited.

"It's exhausting but it's my duty as the first prince of Altamonte bloodline," he says with a small smile curved on his lips.

"I'm sure you'll do great," I smile.

He is looking at me kindly.

"How do you know,"

I sigh.

"Intuition, I can feel it and if you won't I'm sure Jasper will kick your a*s,"

He laughs and I'm shocked. this is the second time I've heard him laugh, as usual, it's short and musical. "Oh really,"

I'm lost in his dark blue eyes.

"What is it?" He asks, staring into my eyes and I don't avoid his gaze.

"I've never heard you laugh," I say quietly. He is leaning closer to me.

His lips are cherry and look mesmerizing. I could kiss them if I could only lean in too.

I squint my eyes at my thoughts, why did I think that? I recently got my heart broken and I'm thinking of

kissing another man, a stranger no less! Lucy, you need to calm down.

"Do you remember any of what they were talking about at the table," I ask, referring to our childhood memories.

His fingers gently caressing my cheek.

"Every memory," he whispers. He hasn't looked so sincere.

"Lucy, I remember every curve of your body since childhood, your big mesmerizing unique eyes but as a

woman and far from the five-year-old, you're so damn gorgeous," he is smiling softly at me.

When I was five, he was eight, so it is likely possible that he remembers our childhood together.

Rayan and I are so close and I can feel his breath on my face.

As our lips almost meet but I pull away and get to my feet.

Cleaning invisible dust on my dress.

"It's late, I should get going," I whisper.

I can't get involved in any kind of relationship with him, I'm not a wolf and I'm sure he doesn't want anything serious.

Rayan gets to his feet too and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Lucy," He whispers." Would you like to ..um.."

His confidence seems to disappear suddenly and he takes a step from me.

"What?" I encourage.

"Um, do you want to go out with me on Saturday?" He is looking at me intensely. Waiting for response. "like on a date?" I ask.

"yes, a date,"

"a date, date," I ask just to be sure.

"Lucy, what do you mean?"

"What kind of date?' I inquire.

"I don't know, are there types of dates? Tell me what you want to do,"

"Hmm," I smile.

Josh and I used to go out on dates a lot. I squint my eyes, I thought of Josh and feel nothing at all. "We can go to an amusement park! I've always loved all the rides, especially the rollercoaster even though I throw up each time I get off," As I continue to talk about my favorite rides, I notice he is staring at me. I stop and he frowns

"I was listening,"

I shy away. I got carried away. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always loved the amusement park. mom

and I went there once or twice a month to spend the whole day to ourselves.

"Forget what I said. We can totally do what you want," I say timidly with a shy smile.

He puts his finger under my chin and tilts my head up at him.

"I can't remember the last time I've been at the park, we should go there," he says.

"Great," I'm smiling and looking at him. A gentle breeze hits my body and I shiver slightly.

"Cold?" He pulls me in an embrace. His body is warm against me.

"Let's go inside before you catch a cold, my lady,"

We walk back, he puts his hand on my lower back gently.

I reach my suite and sigh.

"Want to come in?"

He shakes his head negatively.

"Okay, then. Goodnight prince Rayan,"

I turn to walk inside but his huge hand snake around my waist and pulls me close to him, he is leaning

into me. My heart is beating fast. I close my eyes. His chest vibrates with a chuckle and I feel his lips against my forehead.

"Open your eyes," I oblige, he is smiling at me.

My fingers fly to where he kissed me.

"Good night, my lady," Rayan is looking deep into my eyes. He motions for me to go in and do it. As soon

as I close the door behind me, I collapse on the floor.

That was so intense. We were so close and the inner me was dancing and squealing in excitement. 'Inner you?' A jovial voice asks. I yelp and get off the floor, clutching my chest tightly. I take deep breaths.

"Is anyone here?" I ask, still looking around.

"What is going on?" I whisper to myself, I'm no wolf yet I hear voices in my head, what the actual f**k?

'I think I'm in your head,' the voice speaks. This time I'm sure I'll have a heart attack.

I think I must have fainted, I wake up on the floor and my head hurts. I frown and force myself onto the bed.

'hey, what was that about!'

"Stop that," I yell, and the feminine voice chuckles. Her voice is smooth.

'I'm sorry I startled you, you're Lucy right?' it asks.

I look around once more, is the person I'm talking to invisible?

"Yes, and you are?"

I ask.

She is silent. I feel confused, wait, why am I confused?

'I don't know,'

"Hmm, are you invisible then?" I ask.

'I think I'm stuck in your head or you in mine,'

"Are you my wolf?" Asking the question sounds absurd. Ever since I was young, I was told I didn't have the werewolf gene but what if I did and they missed it, that would explain a lot. My feelings for Rayan! Maybe I'm his mate! I'm shaking right now at the possibility of that, could it be he's my mate, I start to doubt myself, Rayan would haven't said something. Then what Is this girl within me?

'what's a mate?'

Definitely not a wolf, I mean if I was, she would know that.

"A mate is your better half, the one meant for you," I continue to explain more, she seems intrigued. It's like I can feel her emotions clear as mine. She's Happy.

'Can I find my mate?' she asks. I smile, I know I should be panicking right now but I'm calm, enjoying this inner person within me.

T

'I think so but we don't know what you are or who you are,' I say but this time I don't speak loudly.

'Can I choose prince Rayan? I like him so much,' she slurs in a cute way.

'hey, I got dibs, back off!' I warn sternly. She is sad but cheers up

'what about the doctor?' she suggests, before I can say a word, she speaks.

'No, I only want the prince!'

I scoff.

'yeah, you're a host in my head so am the boss!'

She shrinks. I can't see her but I can feel her.

'No fair, we argue back and forth until it's time to get serious.

'Hey, so what can you remember?' I ask. I probably should give her a name, I already know she's female

but I'll think about that later.

'Hmm, I just remember waking up and seeing prince Rayan,' she is gushing over him.

'After the fall?'

'No,' What is she talking about? Am I imagining the whole thing?

'After the attempt to end your life,' she chimes. 'I opened my eyes or your eyes when I felt pain and I saw him, then the second time was when you saw him,' she explains patiently then lets out a sigh.

'I'm tired, I'm always tired since you woke up,' she yawns. Is it possible that she awakened because of Rayan? or maybe she was given to be by the moon to save my life.

'what do you do and why don't I feel you,'

'I like to hibernate, and wake up when I feel Prince Rayan close, we get too excited,'

She sounds hyper when talking about the crown prince of werewolves.

'Lucy, I know where I came from,' I widen my eyes

where!' I get to my feet

'I think I've always been here, sleeping. But whenever, I'm close to prince Rayan I feel renourished,'

I will have to ask around what is going on with me.

'Are you sure you're not a wolf?' I ask again.

My parents found out when I was thirteen that I didn't have a gene, but I was still hoping the doctors

were wrong. I used to tell myself that I will shift on my sixteenth birthday, I'll show them. I would comfort myself.

I was heartbroken when I didn't, I felt like a failure. My friends didn't talk about what it's like being a

wolf In my presence in order not to hurt me.

I should go to the royal library tomorrow or talk to the king about this.

'No!' she shouts, making me jump a foot in the air.

what, what, what!'

You can't talk about me to anyone?!' she says.

'why?'

'I'm scared. What if they keep me out, I wouldn't stand that being far from you, and It's dark and lonely.

Peaceful yes, but I like seeing everything through your eyes,' she says.

so you see what I see?'

'Everything! Except for the time you sleep, of course,'

'but we need to know more, I think you're my wolf but am not sure,

'if I say I'm your wolf will you let me stay?'

hmm, I don't know,' I say.

I put my face against the fluffy pillows and scream.

'I'm so confused,'

'you can research more in the library tomorrow,' she suggests.

'okay, I concede.

I can't feel her close anymore. I walk to the suite bathroom and sit in front of the mirror, wiping off my make-up.

Having this little voice sounds comforting. I should learn more about her and what if she's my wolf and the doctors were wrong? Maybe I'm a late bloomer, unlike my peers.