The Prince’s Unwilling mate

Chapter 157

157 Griffin Everything feels so much better now that I am finally officially mated to Ayla. I now get why Dillion and Gerald told me how much better life would be. Before now, I always thought they were overdoing it. That completing the mating process wouldn’t change that much. Sure, I always looked forward to having her mark on me. To be able to mindlink her and hear her voice in my mind. Never did I expect that I could love her more. That feeling all she feels for me, being so connected with her, would make me love her more. Simply because, up until now, I thought I couldn’t love her more than I already did. But boy was I mistaken, I have half a mind to beat myself up over the fact that I made the two of us wait so long. I should have just asked her what she wanted after she had recovered enough. But it is all good now, so I will not spend time worrying about the has-beens. All I am going to do now is enjoy life with the woman I love. With my fated mate. That is why I suggested going out to eat after we finally got out of the shower. But if Dad’s face is anything to go by, he is worried. The fact that he is happy with me and Ayla finally being mated brings a smile to his face. Still, I can see the worry behind the smile. The fact that we are mated is only going to bring extra issues to the table. “You look like it cannot wait until after we had dinner, Dad?” I tentatively ask. I know it cannot wait, but Ayla and I are both starving. And if this is going to be a long discussion we might end up just getting some food from the pack kitchen. Which would be fine on any other day but not today I wanted it to be something special. I wanted Ayla to feel how loved she was. Having already failed at making the moment I marked 0 00% 10:28 157 Griffin 288 Vouchers her, the moment we marked each other special. At the very least I wanted her to have good memories of the rest of the night. A night she will always remember, an example to give our future

kids and grandkids to tell them how magical it is to find your fated mate and mate with them. What I do not want for her is her memory of finalizing our mate bond is rough make-up sex followed by dinner over a meeting. A meeting about a seemingly important topic if Dad’s face is anything to go by. “Sorry, son, I am afraid it is not but it should be quick enough so you guys can go on and enjoy the rest of your night. He confirmed my fears, and I still doubt we can go in with our night after this. It either takes us too long. Or the news is so depressing, the night won’t be as we planned it. But it is not like I can just take a night off from issues that are this critical. It is the biggest downside of being a royal. Showing she truly is the Luna the pack deserves, the Queen the country deserves and the mate I’m not sure that I deserve, Ayla’s voice suddenly fills my mind. “Don’t worry about this baby, we have the rest of our lives to make memories together” Before I have the time to react, she turns to my father with a bright smile. “Have you eaten, I could whip up some quick sandwiches to tie us over. Then we can be in your office in ten minutes” She tells him, to which he happily agrees, letting us know Mom will be there too. Ayla instantly walks back to the kitchen, going to work on the sandwiches. I say my goodbyes to Dad before joining her to see if she needs any help. “Sure, just pack some cookies and bags of chips, baby,” She tells me not looking up from the pan she is grilling the chicken in. 24.73% III 10:28 B 157 Griffin 288 iVouchers Her calling me baby is a new thing, she just started it today but I love it. Just as I love simply being in the kitchen with her. Watching her make club sandwiches for me and my parents as she is humming along — to some tune I don’t even know. It hits me that my life is far from perfect. WithContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Ayla still needing to heal, David is on the run, and the work as a royal that sometimes keep me from doing what I want to do at that moment. And yet because I am with Ayla it feels perfect. Like the rest doesn’t matter, none of these things can bring down the happiness I feel from being with my mate. I know she loves to cook, we both do, and we both do not like to be interrupted. She will just have to forgive me this time because the feelings I have for her now are so overwhelming that I need to just let them out. “Thank you for making my life feel like it is perfect, my darling” I whisper in her ear as I hug her from behind. “Life with you is as close to perfect as it can get baby, I am happy I chose this life over being in the heavens.” She smiles at me, pecks my cheek, and then motions for me to leave her be and pack the cookies and chips as she is finishing up the sandwiches. *** Whatever it is that had Dad so worried, it cannot be life-threatening because as soon as we open the door. Before we even set foot in his office, Mom jumps up almost squealing. She is holding a black velvet box that reminds me of a jewelry box. “Can I see your marks? I suspected that was what was going on, but when Ro told me he saw you were marked I knew for sure” It’s funny to me how the others always see Mom as this gentle but serious Queen When she is often like a giddy teenager behind closed doors. Dad is the one who is serious all the da mn time. Regularly forgetting the little 49.11% O 10.28 288 iVouchers things around him as he tends to get sucked in by the work. And I truly believe he needs someone as quirky and excitable as Mom to keep him from becoming a workaholic recluse. Ayla proudly shows the mark on her collarbone showing the moon and my name. As if I am not in the room, Mom coos over how pretty it is. Before taking on a more serious impression. I would

almost say she is a little shy. Which is unlikely for her, especially when she is in the company of the people she loves. “Ayla, Sweetheart we have a tradition in my family where we pass this necklace down to every oldest daughter once she is officially mated,” She tells Ayla well showing the velvet box. Now I get it Mom has told me she considered Ayla as a daughter, but asking her to continue a tradition as if Ayla actually is her daughter is a big ask. I know she will be hurt if Ayla refuses, but on the other hand, she would never want Ayla to say yes out of pity. “Sadly after Griffin, I couldn’t get any more pups, giving birth to him nearly killed me. But I have come to consider you a daughter and it would mean the world to me if you accept this necklace to continue the tradition. That being said, don’t feel any pressure, maybe your own family has a tradition that better suits you. And you know I used to be an omega before. So it’s nothing like the other royal jewellery” She ends her little speech by opening the velvet jewellery box to reveal a beautiful delicate thin silver necklace with an intricate crescent moon hanger with a moonstone in the middle. “It is stunning Isabella and I would be honored to wear it” Ayla beams leaving no question whether she is genuine about this or not. Dad and I smile as we watch Mom put the necklace on and then hug Ayla. But I cannot imagine this was what they called us in for. 74.40%