Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 5

#Chapter 5 Prince William is searching for the girl?

Prince Martin's mouth parted slightly as he read, always in deep thought. Doris dragged her gazeaway from his slight frown and allowed her eyes to trail along his sharp nose up to his bright eyesthat creased just slightly whenever he smiled. She wondered how many girls had fallen for him justfor his smile alone.

“Doris, right?” His soft voice broke her out of her thoughts, Prince Martin's simple question almoststartled her when she caught his green eyes fixed on her.

"Oh! Yes, your majesty.” Doris straightened herself and silently prayed he hadn't caught hercuriously staring at him. It was rare for her to be alone around royalty, she couldn't help herself.The side of his mouth lifted, “That's a lovely name.”

Doris felt her cheeks warm. “Thank you, your majesty.”

Her fingers lightly touched her pulse along her wrist and felt her heartbeat pick up. He didn't talk toher often, usually they both read in silence if she wasn't cleaning. At first, she thought it wouldbother him if she read nearby, but he only ever smiled at her. And his smiles were quiteencouraging. She never got the impression that he wanted a conversation, she expected him to onlycrave the silence that the Library offered so she never interrupted him. Doris often hoped he wouldsay something to her first, anything to disrupt her thoughts. But he never really did, until today."How long have you been at the Palace?” He asked as he marked a page in his book and set it onhis lap. Her eyes followed his movements in an attempt to distract her from her own nerves.

"Five years, your majesty.”

“Five years? And you've been stationed in the Library the entire time? They never promoted you orrelocated you?" He tilted his head slightly as he studied her.

“No, but—I love it here.” Doris admitted, she glanced up at the tall shelves around them. “I wouldn'twant to work anywhere else, even if they offered.”

She felt his gaze still on her, she dropped her eyes to meet his own. It was a wonder how he wasrelated to Prince William when he was so... kind and gentle. Prince William was rough and hot-tempered, they were seemingly complete opposites of each other. Agh! She didn't want to think ofthat man, why wouldn't he leave her mind? She regretted the moment she ever stepped outside fora breath of fresh air.

A small beat of silence fell upon them again, a sort of warmth filled her when she realized it was yetanother comfortable one. She didn't feel as if she had to fill the room with conversation to pleasehim. “I love it here, too.” Prince Martin said simply.

Doris watched him leave, his book tucked beneath his arm. Slowly, her heart tamed from the shockof it all. He treated her like a normal person, not as if she were his maid or someone he couldcontrol. Almost like a friend.

The Library grew dark, Doris made sure everything was set in its right place before she started toleave. The halls were empty for the most part, she loved the silence that followed her whenever shewas alone in the Palace. It was the time of night when there was no one to demand anything of her,everyone else was already tucked away in their grand beds. She longed for that sort of comfort thatonly rest could give.

Beth rushed to Doris the moment she entered their room. A small look of panic coated her delicatefeatures. “Doris! There you are, what happened with Prince Martin? Did he say anything...?" Dorisknew exactly where Beth's mind went, if the prince had overheard any of their conversation.

Doris offered a gentle smile to calm Beth's fears, she pushed back her friends’ red curls and shookher head. “No, he didn't mention anything. I don't think he heard us at all.”

Beth looked as if she just released all of her fear in a single breath, Doris removed her apron andbegan to dress for bed. It only took seconds before her friend was ready to poke at her again."So..." Beth neared Doris with an innocent expression on her freckled face. “How come you nevertold me that Prince Martin visits the Royal Library? Has anything ever... happened between youtwo?”

"Are you joking?” Doris spun to face her friend, cheeks flamed. “Of course not! He just comes by toread sometimes!”

"Oh really? Only sometimes?” Beth grinned and crossed her arms over her chest. Slowly, she tappedher fingers along her arm. “Are you sure it's not more than that? The way he looked at you wasquite telling...” Beth teased.

"Oh, please! Beth, honestly!” Doris tossed her pillow at her friend. “You live for gossip, don't you?”Beth laughed and tossed the pillow right back at her. “Alright, fine. But truly, what happened withyou? You seem so... distant today.”

“l—nothing happened.” Doris sat on her bed and avoided her gaze. Part of her desperately wantedto spill everything to her friend, but the other half made her hold her tongue. Shame still washedover her from just the thought of the night before. “I'm just exhausted, especially after whathappened with Melody and everything. Can't we just go to sleep? I don't feel like answering amillion questions.”

Beth stared at Doris for a moment, as if she could see between all the lies in her head. After aminute, she sighed. “Alright, just don't forget I'm here for you if you ever need me. No matter whatit is.” Beth leaned down to hug Doris, it took everything in her not to fall apart at her friends’ words.“I know, thank you.” Doris whispered as she pulled away. “One day we will get out of here and live ahappier life than the one we have.” It was something she repeated a million times, they both neededto hear it. Perhaps it wasn't such a far off dream after all, especially after hearing of the amnesty theAlpha King planned to sign. Where would they go once their names were cleared? It honestly didn'tmatter, as long as it wasn't here.

Beth grinned and kissed Doris on the cheek. “You bet we will! Goodnight.”

Doris ran for her life. Her gasps echoed off the trees that stretched for as far as she could see. Hermate, the words circled her and tried to strangle the life out of her. They weren't true, they couldn't betrue.

His roars sounded closer, Doris’s foot stomped down in the mud and trapped her to the spot. Could hesmell her fear? Is that how he found her out here?

A big wolf roared behind her, she turned to see his razor sharp teeth pointed up towards the brightmoon in the sky. Darkness sounded them, but the light showed her enough of the beast that wanted torip her heart out. His blue eyes stared right at her, the same shade as they were in his human form.“No! Please don't!” She screamed. He tackled her to the ground, sharp claws cut into her skin as hepinned her small body down against the earth to hold her as his prey. She didn't see any trace of aman beneath his fur beyond his eyes. Did he know what he was doing to her when he was a wolf? Didhe know he was hurting her?

Doris struggled uselessly against his hold, she gripped his hairy chest and tried to push him off her—but he didn't move in the slightest. He growled as he leaned down to inhale her scent, savoring theway her fear made her smell. He bared his teeth above her neck, she choked on her salty tears as shescreamed as loud as she could but he only seemed more delighted the more she struggled.

“Please...” She pleaded weakly, he opened his jaw wide and clamped his teeth down deep into her neckwithout a sense of hesitation. The agony blinded her, she withered beneath him and screamed loudenough to shake the trees around them. She prayed to the moon goddess for help, to make the paingo away but no one would listen to her pleas.

The pain only got worse, her vision blurred and turned red as he devoured her. Slowly, she could feelher life leave her as his teeth sunk deeper inside her skin and she knew it was the end of it all. Hermisery would finally end soon... she was ready to give up...

“Doris!” A familiar voice shouted in her ear, she felt something shake her body back intoconsciousness. “Wake up!”