My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 25

Ayla

I let out a scream as my body hit something cool. My mind was racing as I tried to bring on my memories of what happened. I remember talking with the council and then everything after was blank. What the hell happened?

I screamed as my body started to shift and the shift became painful as my legs became my fins and the scales covered my body. A moment later, something grabbed my wrist and I was pulled up toward the surface. I knew it was the surface when my head breached the surface and I opened my eyes to replace Xander staring at me. Concern was written on his face as I tried to return to my senses.

“Xander,” I breathed out. He moved my hands to his shoulders and wrapped his arms around my h**s. I felt exhausted and was thankful he was doing all of the work.

“Ayla, are you okay?” He asked me.

“What the hell happened?” I asked, shaking my head, trying to keep myself awake.

“We don’t know,” I heard a voice, but it wasn’t Xander. And then I heard a g***n.

“I know, try not to look directly at her.” I think it was Prince Silas.

“Ayla, take a deep breath and calm down your heart rate,” Xander instructed, and I closed my eyes and did what he said.

Taking deep breaths, I felt my heart rate slow to a more normal pace. With my heart rate slowing, I felt this nagging sensation in my chest. I must have made a confused face because Xander answered my question before I asked it.

“That feeling in your chest is your charm. Breathe until you feel the sensation in your belly.” I did what he asked and soon found the sensation less intense and moved down to my belly button. I opened my eyes to replace Xander smiling at me.

“That’s it. It will get easier to control. It’s hard when your heart rate is up.” He clarified and I nodded. I heard Prince Silas let out a breath with someone else behind Xander.

“Thank you, princess. You’re already sexy enough without the charm.” Prince Silas chucked and Xander g*****d.

Xander moved to the side of me, with an arm still around my waist. I now could see Prince Silas and Prince Chase, sitting on the edge with their legs in the water. I wonder why they weren’t shifting.

“We can control the shift. It’s another thing to master.” Xander said as we swam towards the edge.

At the side of the pool, I crossed my arms and rested my head on top of them. I felt exhausted as I closed my eyes. I’m not sure what happened, but whatever it was, couldn’t have been good if I ended up in the water with Xander.

“So what happened?” I mumbled.

“First, that was badass, princess. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a room of grown men ready to s**t themselves.” Prince Silas chuckled. I opened my eyes to look up at him and he was watching me.

“Ayla, you partially shifted again. Your eyes were a storm and even I was having a hard time holding you back. It seemed you came out of it but only for a minute and then you were ready to kill again. You honestly don’t remember?” Xander asked from the other side of me. I turned my head to look at him.

“I don’t. I remember asking about King Kaden and then nothing. What was said?” I asked him and there was an uncomfortable silence. All of them shifted uncontrollably.

“First, they said they were going to use you as bait to draw out King Kaden.” Xander started to say.

“You smashed the table and it was awesome!” Prince Silas exclaimed. I snapped my head to look at him.

“I what?” I yelled and he chuckled.

“Your fist hit the table and poof it was rubble.” He emphasized with the movement of his arms.

“And then what?” Not knowing if I wanted to know the answer or not.

“I was able to pull you from the trance you were in and then you doubled over in pain and you stabbed your nails into your chest. You said you were in pain and then the queen made a comment about Nate and you lost it again.” Xander explained, cautiously.

“And what did she say about Nate?” My voice shook and I knew it was bad if I lost it again. Xander let out a sigh and he hesitated before he answered.

“She said he wasn’t being faithful.” My breath lodged in my throat as I tried to comprehend what Xander just told me.

I slammed my eyes closed and willed myself not to break down. He wouldn’t have cheated, would he? My chest twisted painfully as I tried to breathe in much-needed oxygen. This can’t be happening.

“Ayla, breathe. It’s going to be okay.” I heard Xander say and I just shook my head.

“How?” I whispered.

“The pain you’ve been feeling in your chest can be associated with your mate cheating,” Xander mumbled, but I heard him clearly.

“What?” I yelled, pushing away from the edge. I looked at all of them. They were all looking at me with pity.

“Ayla, I’m not sure what you are feeling. But I know Nate is on his way here. He can explain when he gets here.” Xander said, moving towards me.

“I don’t understand, why is Nate coming here?” I asked him, confused. Last time I talked to Nate he was going to bed because he said he was on night patrol.

“Your father found another mermaid in his territory. Nate is coming with the body. He is also coming to protect you. There was a picture of you attached to your body in their pack.” Xander explained, and I gasped.

I could feel my chest constricting, as my mind raced to try to comprehend what Xander was telling me. Not only was Nate coming here, but there was a dead mermaid. And whoever put it on my father’s territory made a point of threatening me. Why is this happening?

“Ayla, Nate will be here soon and then we can come up with a plan. None of us want to go with the queen’s plan.” Xander said, pulling me against his chest. My head snapped at the princes before I looked up at Xander.

“What?” I stuttered.

“Princess, we aren’t just going to feed you to the sharks. And if King Kaden wants you, then he has to go through us and your wolf.” Prince Chase said. I could feel tears starting to pool in my eyes.

“Really?” I sniffled.

“Really, really,” Prince Silas chuckled.

“Now let’s get you some food and rest,” Xander said as he pulled me back towards the ledge.

“But we need to train,” I protested.

“You want to run,” and I g*****d. Xander chuckled, knowing full well I hated running.

“I didn’t think so. We can start training tomorrow. This way, Nate is here to help as well. You have a lot to learn in a short amount of time. I’ve been training for the last ten years.” Xander said, and I sighed.

“But if you go full wolverine on their asses they won’t stand a chance.” Prince Silas winked at me.

“Was I really that bad?” I winced.

“You were ready to kill. And you were strong. I was having a hard time holding you back.” Xander admitted.

“Oh,” I said, sheepishly. Now I just needed to figure out how to turn it on at will.

“Come on, Princess, think of your legs.” Prince Silas said, grabbing my hand. Before I was done shifting, he had lifted me up out of the water. My feet finally touched the cold stone and I heard Prince Chase gasp.

“If you didn’t already have a wolf toy, Chase and I would be fighting over you.” Prince Silas said with a smirk and I pushed his shoulder and rolled my eyes.

He grabbed his chest like I just broke his heart and chuckled. I grabbed the skirt of the dress to tie it close.

“Ignore him, princess. Silas isn’t much of a gentleman,” Prince Chase stated.

“And I’m not much of a princess. You both could do better than me.” I told them, as Xander’s hand touched my back.

“You two go get us something to eat and meet us in Ayla’s room.” He told the princes before he led me away from them and into the palace.

“Don’t ever sell yourself short. Either one of them would be lucky to have you.” Xander told me, as we walked to my bedroom.

“Xander, I’m not a queen. And I don’t want to be,” I sighed.

“Yet, you conduct yourself like a queen. You demand answers and you care about the well-being of your people. Also, you’ll kill anyone who threatens your family.” Xander rambled.

“I don’t want the responsibility. I know that may sound selfish but this is all too much.” I rushed out and he stopped.

“Ayla, I know this can be overwhelming but everything will settle. Just don’t make a decision until you have all the answers and you’ve spoken with Nate.” He said.

“I’m sorry, this is just so much. And then I have King Kaden to worry about. My life seemed so much simpler with my house burning down and I was homeless and almost broke.” I sighed as we finished walking to my room. Xander opened the door and we both entered.

“How about after morning training, we can head to the library? And I’ll ask my mother to meet us there and she can answer some of your questions.” He shrugged, as I sat on the bed.

“Getting some answers will help put my mind at ease. I think it’s the unknown that scares me so badly. How am I supposed to protect my people if I can’t protect myself?” I told him and he sat down beside me.

“I know you are scared, but neither Nate nor I will let anything happen to you. We will be heading into the unknown together.” He told me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

“Do you think Nate was cheating on me?” I breathed out, tears filling my eyes. Xander stiffened beside me.

“I don’t think Nate would cheat on you. I’m not sure what you were feeling, but I don’t think it was Nate.” He answered and I nodded, resting my head on his shoulder.

We sat in silence until I remembered I should clean myself up. I keep forgetting I have my period without those dreadful cramps reminding me. I should probably just be thankful, I’m not pregnant yet. We have more than enough to worry about.

“I’m going to go get cleaned up for dinner. Let the guys in when they get here.” I told Xander before getting up and heading into the closet to get a change of clothes.

“I’m going to go get changed as well. I’ll be back.” Xander informed me before I entered the bathroom.

After I was done, I entered my bedroom to replace Prince Silas and Prince Chase had arrived with dinner. My tummy rumbled as I breathed in the aroma of steak.

“Hungry?” Xander chuckled and I nodded.

“Starving.” I breathed out. I took a seat beside Xander on the loveseat and the other two took the couch. The plate in front of me was full of steak, green beans and mashed potatoes. They had placed it on the coffee table. My mouth started to water as I picked up the plate and moved it into my lap.

“So, do you guys have a plan?” I asked them before stuffing a fork full of mashed potatoes into my mouth. I had to hold back the m**n that was about to escape. These had to be the best-mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted.

“Well, we think we should wait for the wolf and then head into the eastern sea. King Kaden may not be available, but his younger brother is running the kingdom for now,” Prince Chase answered.

“Is King Kaden older than you?” I asked Prince Chase. I knew I was older than Prince Silas, but I wonder why Kaden was now king while the others are still princes.

“Kaden and I are the same age. Both of us are twenty-four,” Prince Chase said.

“Then why is he king and you are not?”

“Ayla, King Kaden killed his father. The rumors are he killed him because he sold his mother to the hunters.” Xander answered and I gasped.

“I know why he would want to take over the land. That’s awful.” I exclaimed.

“It’s just rumored. No one actually knows what happened to the former queen. Maybe it was spread to justify what King Kaden is planning. We don’t know,” Prince Silas explained.

“I haven’t seen Kaden in a few years. We used to be really good friends until his father’s death and the takeover.” Prince Chase told us.

“So, we will go speak to his younger brother and hopefully he can point us in the right direction. That’s the plan?” I asked them.

“It’s better than nothing. But first, we should see how you train. You can’t go in there unarmed. Even with the four of us to protect you.” Xander said, and I sighed.

“Please don’t make me run?” I pleaded.

“And what happens if you need to run away from danger?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“I run faster, scared anyways.” I shrugged and they all chuckled.

“It’s not so bad. And since you’ve shifted, it will be easier than before.” Xander insisted, but I don’t think I believed him. He took me to the gym once and I was winded before I even stepped foot inside. So many stairs.

“I’ll try, but I should get a gun. At least I know how to shoot,” I told them.

“Not sure how well that will work underwater, but I’ll show you have to use a spear.”

“I’ll just have to learn how to bring my claws out.” I chuckled, remembering I stabbed myself in the chest earlier. I looked down my shirt at my chest before looking at Xander.

“The water healed you. It wasn’t a life-threatening injury so it didn’t take long.” He answered the question before I asked it. I let out a breath before I yawned.

“When is Nate supposed to get here?” I asked, placing my empty plate on the coffee table.

“He won’t be arriving until late or early morning. I’ll be notified of his arrival and I’ll bring him up here. You should get some sleep.” Xander said while gathering up the dishes.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep,” I said with a yawn and he chuckled.

“Somehow I think you’ll manage.”

After saying goodnight, the guys left my room and I changed before hopping into bed. I was anxious to have Nate here with me, but I was also exhausted from today. Whatever happened to me was draining and my body ached.

Snuggling under the blanket, my mind wandered to the pain in my chest that I’d been experiencing. Could Nate really be cheating on me? He said he was going to bed since he was on night patrol. Was someone with him? My heart twisted painfully. I didn’t want to think about him with someone else. But my mind wouldn’t shake the image of Nate kissing Bailey at the club. f**k. Why does this have to be so hard? I don’t have a reason not to trust him, we weren’t together when that happened. And I told him I was okay with it, but I knew I wasn’t. But that was crazy because we weren’t together.

My mind was racing in a circle and I couldn’t stop it. I slammed my eyes close and shook away my fear. If we were going to make this work, I needed to trust him and Duke wouldn’t let Nate do something like that to me. I can’t explain the random pain, but I don’t believe it was caused by Nate. Now I just had to make my heart believe my mind.

I must have fallen asleep, I woke to strong arms wrapping around me and a warm hard chest pressed into my back. I couldn’t help but breathe in his scent.

“Go back to sleep, baby.” He mumbled, kissing my cheek. I snuggled back into him, enjoying the comforting feeling I felt being wrapped up in his arms. It didn’t take me long until I was fast asleep.