My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 23

Ayla

My embarrassment and the pain in my chest were still front and center as Xander opened my bedroom door for me. I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed and, besides, it’s Xander. Whenever I was in pain before, I would just complain to him and he would always send me chocolate. He said he would send it because then I wouldn’t be able to start an argument with him. It always made me chuckle. And then, after I had eaten my chocolate and I was feeling less grumpy, he would always come over with comfort food and we would eat and watch movies together.

I wonder if he was doing that because he cared or if it was because he felt like it was an order. And now my mind was spinning out of control with all the memories of us and my heart twisted more painfully as I knew it wasn’t real. I was a job to him. Simply an order until I was to be brought back here. I know he said he cared about me, but how do I know what was true and what was an order?

“Ayla,” Xander said, and it pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t notice I was standing by the window looking out.

“Why did you leave your room this morning?” He asked and I turned to look at him.

“I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to wake you. Am I not allowed to leave my room?” I asked him and he closed my bedroom door, stepping fully into my bedroom.

“Of course, you are allowed to leave your room. You aren’t a prisoner. I’m sorry. You should have woken me. I thought something had happened to you.” He breathed out.

“Are you okay? How is your chest feeling?” He asked, concerned, but didn’t close the distance between us.

“I’m okay. More embarrassed than anything.” I shrugged, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I can answer all your questions,” he said, and I shook my head.

“No, and I don’t want to ask my grandmother either. I wish my mother was here.” I sighed.

“Would you like to speak with my mother?” He asked and I looked at him.

“My mother is a doctor here and she’s been asking to meet you. She’s seen everything so nothing embarrassed her.” He chuckled.

“I would really like that, Xander. Thank you.” I told him with a smile and his face lit up.

“There should be products under the sink in the bathroom for you. I’ll have breakfast sent up. Just take your time. I have some things to take care of, but I’ll be back.” He said before he left the room and I let out a breath.

I’ve been here less than a day and have already embarrassed myself in front of not only Xander but Prince Silas. I shouldn’t care but I’m supposed to be a princess. I will be the crown queen. If I live long enough to ascend to the throne, I used to be comfortable in my goofy skin, but now I needed to act like something I wasn’t. I’m not a princess, I’m just me.

My phone chimed, pulling me from my thoughts. I stood up from the bed and pulled out my phone before heading into the bathroom to have a shower. I smiled when I found a message from Nate.

Nate: gorgeous, baby. I can’t wait to see you. Xoxox.

Me: thanks. Are you busy?

My phone rang in my hand and I abandoned the bathroom and headed back into the bedroom.

“Hey, you, good morning,” I answered.

“Good morning, baby. How was your first night in the palace?” He asked me. I didn’t want to tell him about my nightmares or that I had embarrassed myself earlier this morning.

“It was okay. Just a new place. But I did get to snuggle a baby sea otter this morning.” I told him.

“The photo you sent me was beautiful, baby. It’s my new phone background.”

“Replacing Duke, are we?” I chuckled and he laughed.

“Trading him in for a sexier model.” I could hear Duke growling through the phone and I started laughing.

“You guys are so lucky. I would love to have my best friend in my head,” I told him.

“I guess it depends on the wolf. Mines a pain in the a*s.” I rolled my eyes.

“Anyways, what are your plans for today?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Bedtime for me. I had night patrol. And how about you baby?”

“I have the morning off, so I’m just hopefully going to relax. Then I think I have training with Xander,” I told him.

“Sounds interesting.” He said and I could hear he wasn’t happy.

“You have nothing to worry about. Xander is the warrior assigned to my protection. He is a really good friend and that’s it. We are friends.” I tried to reassure him and he sighed.

“I’m sorry. I just miss you. And I hate that others get to see you as a mermaid and I haven’t yet.” He grumbled.

“Others have met Duke and I haven’t,” I countered.

“True.”

“Nate, we just need more time together. I’ll ask about you visiting here, okay?”

“Okay, I’d like that. I feel like we were just getting to know each other and then you had to leave.” He said and I felt the same way. A knock on the door caught my attention.

“Get some sleep. I need to eat and get ready. I miss you.”

“I miss you, baby.” He replied before I ended the call.

The knock sounded again and I answered the door to replace a young woman carrying a tray. She can’t be older than I am. And she bowed her head, not making eye contact.

“Princess, I brought you breakfast.” She said shyly.

“Thank you, I really appreciate it. Let me take it.” I told her, before taking the tray from her.

“I can help you,” she tried to say.

“I have it but if you could close the door, I’d appreciate it,” I said, and she nodded. I stepped back into my room and the woman closed my door behind me.

I placed the tray on my bed before I went into the bathroom to get myself cleaned up. I probably should have rushed to the bathroom first. I’m sure these leggings are ruined. Looking under the sink, I found feminine hygiene products. I pulled a few out before hopping into the shower.

I stood under the hot water, hoping to wash all my fears away. I wonder how much time I have before I have to confront King Kaden. Is it days, months, or even a year? How was I ever going to be ready to face him, knowing I may have to kill myself? Or knowing he will probably rape and torture me?

When the water ran cold, I shut off the tap and wrapped a towel around myself before I inserted a tampon. Usually, I would use a diva cup and period underwear, but for now, this will do.

Walking back into my room, I got dressed before I sat down on my bed to eat. I noticed a few books and a chocolate bar on my bed beside the tray. Xander must have snuck in here while I was in the shower.

I moved the tray and picked up the books and the chocolate bar. I ripped open the bar before leaning back in bed with one of the books. The title of the first book was ‘mermaid biology’. I figured there had to be some answers in there about my body and cycle.

Taking a bite of the chocolate, I instantly felt better as I flipped open the book and started reading.

After I was done reading the first book, I had a better understanding of why my cycle changed. If, under the full moon, a mermaid doesn’t become pregnant, a few days later, she will get her period. Merbabies from the age of two can shift and I now know why my mother kept me from the sea or any salt water for that matter. I would have shifted. It also explains the town to the back of the palace. It’s where all the families live until their babies can shift. I wonder if this place was just one of the islands they live on or if there are more.

I also found a few chapters on this mermaid charm I keep hearing about. It’s a defense mechanism for us. It’s to charm potential enemies into being lost in our presence. It doesn’t affect members of the same pod of mermaids. And since I wasn’t a part of this one officially, that’s why mine was affecting Xander and his was affecting me. I wonder why he didn’t turn his off? I still didn’t understand how to turn it off, so I have Xander explain it to me later.

The next book was all about the monarchy of this mermaid kingdom. My grandfather, King Tobias, married my grandmother, Andrea. They had my mother who was set to marry King Samuel of the Northern Sea, but then she left. My grandfather died from sickness a few years ago and it’s been my grandmother ruling alone ever since.

Now if only I could get ahold of a book of King Kaden’s history. I don’t understand why he’d want to start a war with his own people. I understand humans. I’m sure mermaids have been hunted for millennia for our scales, but why make your own people suffer? Why not work with other supernatural beings and make alliances with them? And then it hit me, maybe that’s my job.

Maybe I’m here to bridge the gap between wolves and mermaids. If we could get the protection of wolves on land, we would be much safer. Did my mother know this? But how would she have known about King Kaden years later? And then how does me, being a black pearl, play into this?

“f**k,” I growled, slamming the book close. None of this makes any sense and until I can speak with King Kaden, I don’t think it will. I need to know his thought process. What he is thinking and why he feels that way.

A knock on my door had me grumbling as I sunk back into the pillows on my bed. I didn’t want to get up so I just called out for whoever it was to enter. I was feeling frustrated and hormonal. I just wanted this day to be over with.

Xander entered my room and let out a chuckle when he noticed I was still in bed, wearing a pout.

“What’s wrong? Not enough chocolate?”

“I would never say no to more, but it’s not just that. Do you have a family history book on King Kaden? I want to understand more about him,” I asked him.

“I don’t. I’ve only been told so much about him. I know he wants to take over the kingdoms and then the land. But Prince Silas and Prince Chase might have more information about him. Lots of this has been made hush-hush so it doesn’t scare the masses.” He said, sitting on the edge of my bed, beside me.

“Xander, I’m scared. I don’t know how long I have until I have to face him. I don’t know how to fight and I’m scared he’ll do the unthinkable if he gets ahold of me. Being claimed won’t stop him from hurting me. I won’t be able to give him a child, but that doesn’t mean he’ll just let me go.” I confessed, feeling the tears building.

“There’s a meeting with the council and military heads. Hopefully, they will be able to give you more answers. I’ll train you to fight and we can start this evening if you are feeling better. As long as I’m with you, Ayla, I won’t let anything happen to you.” He told me and I knew he was being sincere.

“Can you feel your claim cheating?” I asked him and he sighed.

“If the claim is complete, you can. Why do you ask?” I shrugged.

“Nate was telling me about the mate bond and how if your mate is with another it will cause them pain. I don’t want him to feel it if King Kaden does get me.” I told him.

“You’re more worried about Nate than you are yourself.”

“It’s one thing to experience something terrible, but I couldn’t imagine feeling someone I love going through something like that and being unable to stop it,” I explained my thinking.

“I understand. And I’m sorry you’re going through all of this. Honestly, I never thought your grandmother was going to bring you back here. She doesn’t talk very highly of your mother or her actions. She’s never said anything to me directly but I’ve overheard her talking with my father.” Xander said, and I sighed.

“Are your parents not together?” I asked him and it was his time to sigh.

“It’s a long story. They are claimed by each other but they don’t spend any time together,” he answered.

We sat there in comfortable silence. I was worried about Nate. He may have to reject me until we can figure out this war with King Kaden. But then what if he gets a second chance while I’m still figuring out my life? I smashed my eyes closed and willed myself not to cry.

Just the thought of letting Nate go twists my heart painfully. I hate this so much. I should be spending all my time with Nate. I’m sure he can train me and then Xander can teach me the mermaid stuff. Maybe the war can be defused before it even starts and we can all just move on with our lives. I can pass the throne to someone else and move beside the sea with Nate.

“Xander, what happens if I don’t take the throne?” I asked him and he looked at me.

“I’m not sure who would be next in line. Why?” He asked me.

“I don’t know if I can do this. I’m hoping we can defuse this war, but once it’s over. I don’t want to be queen. I just want to be me.” I told him.

“And who said you’re not the future queen of the western sea?” He explained, raising an eyebrow.

“Xander, you know me. I’m not a princess. I’m not elegant or graceful. I’m just me. I wasn’t raised to be a princess or a queen.” I sighed.

“How about you don’t make any decisions until you talk it over with Nate? Come up with something that will make both of you happy,” he said.

“Maybe you’re right. I’m overthinking everything. But you know I can’t help it.” I told him and he chuckled.

“Always the problem solver. Come on, we should get to the meeting room. Hopefully, you can get all your questions answered.” He said, standing up from the bed.

“I’m just going to get ready,” I told him, climbing out of bed and heading to the bathroom. I needed to make sure I looked presentable.

Xander’s phone started to ring and he pulled it out of his pocket before turning his attention back to me. I was about to step into the bathroom.

“I have to take this. I’ll wait for you in the hallway.” He said, and I nodded before he left the room.

I went into the bathroom to make sure I wasn’t leaking and to braid my hair before going into my closet to replace something more professional to wear. I was about to head into a meeting with some important people.

I’m thankful someone went shopping. I found tight black slacks with a lilac-notched neck and bishop sleeves blouse. And I paired it with a pair of nude heels. Looking at myself in the full mirror, I noticed my body had changed. My h**s are wider and they made my lower stomach look flatter. As I left the closet and headed to the door to meet Xander in the hallway, I wondered if it was because of the shift.

I found Xander leaning up against the wall, looking deep in thought with a scowl on his face. My face instantly fell as I looked at him. My stomach twisted in anxiety as I knew the news wouldn’t be good.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him and he turned his head to look at me. His facial expression changed to neutral but I knew something was wrong. I could see the fury in his eyes.

“Nothing’s wrong. Come, the meeting is about to start.” He said, motioning me to follow him.

We were both silent as I walked beside him, following his lead to the meeting room.

I had a really bad feeling about this.