My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 40

Ayla

It took Nate and me the full hour to get ready for breakfast. From round three on the bed and then round four in the shower. Just thinking of us in the shower and him slamming into me from behind, makes me wet as he leads me to the dining room.

I gasped, when Nate pinned me against the wall, his body flush with mine. He pushed his face into my neck, inhaling my scent. His fingers gripped my h**s, making me hotter for his touch. He growled and goosebumps erupted over my body and my n*****s hardened.

“f**k woman, you and your dirty thoughts.” He g*****d.

“Tell me you don’t like it. Tell me you don’t want me as badly as I want you?” I purred, daring him to say differently. Nate smirked, looking down at me.

He rested his forehead against mine and I leaned up to lick his lips. Nate closed his eyes and shivered. I ran my hands up his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Do you want to go back upstairs?” He purred and I played with my lower l*p as I held in a m**n. I’ve never felt this way with anyone. I never wanted Nate to stop touching me.

Nate let out a g***n when someone cleared their throat up the hallway from us. I looked to see Xander standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and a look of annoyance on his handsome face. I gave him a smirk before I pecked Nate’s lips. I took Nate’s hand and we walked toward Xander.

“Good morning,” I said with a smile.

“Are you two done?” He asked, rolling his eyes.

“We weren’t, thanks for asking. Could we have another twenty minutes?” I asked him, over the top. He stared at me for a moment before he shook his head and I could see him trying not to smile.

“Well come on then, everyone is already eating,” Xander told us, turning on his heel, he walked away down the hallway. Nate wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to his side. He kissed my temple as we followed behind Xander.

As soon as we entered the dining room, I noticed everyone was already seated. The king and queen looked happy and were all smiles towards each other. I couldn’t help but smile and, hopefully, it’s not just a facade.

The doors on the other side of the dining room were thrown open and hit the walls. I jumped and Nate immediately pulled me behind him. Kaden came storming in with not only my grandmother but my mother and her claim.

Kaden rushed over to me and Nate stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Nate let out a growl when Kaden tried to push past him. I reached out and grabbed Nate’s hand, lacing our fingers together.

“Kaden, what are you doing here?” I asked him, confused.

“Ayla, are you okay? I was informed about what happened with the chopper.” He rushed out, reaching for the arm I didn’t have laced with Nate’s.

“I’m fine. The helicopter not so much. And everyone on the chopper was unharmed. But I don’t understand why you are here.” Kaden pulled me towards him and Nate pulled me back to him. I found myself in a human tug-of-war.

“Okay, both of you, stop. What the hell is going on? Why is my mother here?” I yelled, pulling out of both of their grips.

Nate grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him. My face would have hit his back if I hadn’t broken the impact with my hands. My chest vibrated with the growl that ripped through him. I could feel his fury.

“If you ever touch my mate again, I’ll rip you apart!” Nate growled and goosebumps covered my body.

“The only reason Ayla is even with you, Wolf boy, is because you convinced her to believe this mate bond bullshit!” Kaden retorted. And with that, all hell broke loose.

Everything was a blur as I watched my mate punch my ex. Then Kaden punched Nate. Xander joined the mix and I just stood there in shock. Even when Prince Chase was in front of me, protecting me.

When a loud growl shook the room, everyone stopped and all eyes were on me. But I was looking at Nate. His jaw was starting to bruise and he had a split in his bottom l*p.

“Can everyone just stop?” I exclaimed, shaking my head. Kaden moved closer to me and Prince Chase stepped in his path.

Nate growled at Kaden as he walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He pulled me into his chest, buried his face into my neck, and inhaled my scent.

“Kaden stop. I know you care about her but she has made her choice.” I heard Prince Chase speak but I couldn’t see him around Nate’s large frame.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Nate mumbled against my neck between his gentle k****s.

“Chase, this is bullshit and you know it! The black pearl needs to be with a mermaid, not a fucken wolf!” Kaden scoffed and Nate growled.

“Ayla is half wolf. And she feels the bond.” Xander defended me.

“If all of you would like to have a seat, I will explain that the black pearl is indeed supposed to be with a wolf.” Queen Laura chimed in.

“Everyone should take a seat. Kaden hallway now!” I demanded, and Nate looked at me.

“I’ll be right back. Take a seat.” I told him before peaking his lips. When I went to move around him, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I could feel his hesitation through the bond.

“Please, trust me?” I pleaded. He pulled me back against his chest.

“Okay,” he said, kissing my forehead.

“Thank you.” I breathed out. I moved away from Nate and pointed at Kaden and then at the door.

“Out, now,” I ordered him.

He opened the door for me and we both stepped out into the hallway. I was furious at his behavior. I thought when I left the eastern kingdom, that we had an understanding of our relationship. I made it clear I wanted to be with Nate.

“Before you say anything, I’m here because I was worried about you. You blow up a chopper.” Kaden rushed out, running a hand through his hair.

“If you were worried, I would have called you back. You didn’t need to come here. And you didn’t need to say that to my mate. I feel the bond with him. I have marked him and he has marked me. I thought we had an understanding about our relationship when I left your kingdom?” I asked him, annoyed.

“That was until I heard about what happened with the chopper. He can’t protect you.” He defended.

“I don’t need protection. I need someone who loves me, who trusts and believes in me. I feel the bond with Nate and I’m not rejecting him. I don’t want to hurt you, Kaden. I’m being honest. I want you to be happy, but it won’t be with me. Now, Queen Laura is going to provide me with some answers about being a black pearl. If you stay to listen, there will be no more fighting or rude comments towards my mate. Are we clear?” My voice came out demanding, Nate is my family now and I won’t stand by and let anyone hurt him.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Good, now tell me why the hell would you have brought my mother with you?” I yelled, throwing my arms up. I started to pace the hallways since I needed to burn off some of this energy before I exploded.

“I informed your mother about what happened. She was worried,” Kaden said, and I huffed.

“She was supposed to marry King Samuel before she left him for my dad. I just informed him last night that she was still alive. He hasn’t been able to get over her and you just brought her here.” I growled out, frustrated with this entire situation.

“I didn’t know!” Kaden retorted.

“I know!” I yelled, everything just bubbling to the surface. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“I know you didn’t know, but this doesn’t make things easier for me. I didn’t want to see my mother and I don’t want you to inform her about anything that has to do with me. I don’t want her in my life.” I told him firmly.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I was just so worried about you.” He confessed and I placed a hand on his chest.

“Kaden, I care about you. But you need to respect the boundaries I’ve placed. I’m not saying any of this to hurt you. I would be hurt if our situation was reversed. And I understand, you left to protect your brother. I forgive you, and now it’s time for our relationship to move in a different direction. Can you do that?” I asked him, my voice softened.

“Fine, but I won’t sit back and watch him hurt you. If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.” He replied and I sighed.

“Just be nice, please?” I begged. He rested his hand on mine.

“I’ll be nice for your sake,” he finally said, and I let out the breath I was holding in.

“Thank you.” I opened the door to walk back into the dining room, with Kaden following behind me. I didn’t get a chance to look around the room when I was engulfed in a hug by my grandmother.

“Oh, Ayla, I’m so glad that you are okay.” She cried and I hugged her back.

“Thank you for coming,” I mumbled into her shoulder. She pulled away and took my cheeks in her hands.

“Of course, anything. I’m sorry, I’ve been so hard on you.” She said with tears in her eyes. And before I could say anything she spoke again.

“And you know King Kaden?” She asked, he was standing beside me.

“I do. I don’t know where you received your information about him, but what you’ve heard is all lies.” I told her and she nodded.

“We can work together to figure this all out.”

“I’d like that. I would like to get to know my grandmother, not just the queen of the western sea.” I said and she hugged me again.

“I’d like that.” She murmured.

“Now, come sit down. I’m sure you are hungry.” She pulled away and took my hand. She pulled me over to the table where everyone else was seated.

I sat down beside Nate and my grandmother sat beside me. Kaden went to sit beside Prince Chase. Nate leaned over and kissed my cheek. I placed my hand on his thigh and squeezed it, as I smiled. He has nothing to worry about.

The tension in the room grew thick until my grandmother decided to break it, which I was thankful for. Watching the hurt in King Samuel’s eyes as he watched my mother with her claim was heartbreaking. He really did love her.

“Ayla, why was I called here?”

“Well, I wanted to discuss Melody with you. With her not being dead and no longer with my father. And she is pregnant. I assume she is to take over as queen and her child will be next in line. Especially since I’m her illegitimate child after all. I wouldn’t have any claim over the throne.” I explained to my grandmother.

“I can see your concerns. And yes, Melody is the rightful heir to the throne.” My grandmother started but my mother interrupted her.

“I don’t want the throne.”

“Can you just own up to your responsibilities?” I asked my mother and she scoffed.

“Melody, why are you even here?” I questioned.

“I wanted to talk with my daughter,” She replied.

“We have phones. You could have called someone to get a hold of me. You didn’t have to show up here.” I told her. First, Kaden, and now my mother. This day just keeps getting better and better.

“It’s a good thing Melody is here. She can come back to her kingdom with me. And we can launch an investigation into these King Kaden rumors.” Queen Andrea explained.

“Mom, I’m not here to go back to the western sea. I wanted to talk with Ayla about not telling you about me but it would seem coming here was a mistake.” My mother said.

“So you’re not here because you were worried about my well-being, you were worried about me telling grandmother?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“I can’t do both?” My mother questioned.

“In this case, no you can’t. You care more about your new life than you do about your own daughter. Did he know about me before you decided to leave? Did he know that you left me with nothing? That you never allowed Atlas to sign my birth certificate, so I ended up in foster care? If you wanted to leave, fine, but you could have left me with family. Even Matt would have taken me in!” By the time I was done with my rant, I was yelling and standing up from my seat. My nails dug painfully into the hardwood table.

“Ayla, I’m,” but I held up my hand to stop her from finishing.

“I’m not done. I was abused in foster care. While you were living your best life, I was not only grieving the loss of my mother, but I was fighting a monster. You choose d**k over your own daughter. But you are right about one thing, you aren’t worthy of ruling a kingdom.” By the time I finished, I was on the verge of blacking out. I could feel my anger and pain rising higher to the surface and I couldn’t stop it.

“Baby,” Nate grabbed my hands and placed them on his chest, while I tried to slow my breathing. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.

He took my cheeks in his hands and forced me to look at him. This was all too much for someone to ever have to deal with. And I couldn’t believe my mother would do something so selfish.

“Breathe, beautiful, breathe. Focus on me, okay?” Nate’s voice seemed to snap me back from where I was heading.

“Melody, I think it’s best that you leave and you never return to the western kingdom. I will always love you, but this is for the best. You are no longer fit to rule.” I heard my grandmother speaking.

“Fine,” my mother yelled. I buried my face in Nate’s chest and willed myself not to cry.

“It’s okay, baby. I got you.” I heard Nate say as he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

I jumped when another hand touched my back. I turned my head to see my grandmother smiling at me.

“I need to head back to the kingdom but I’m going to get the house ready for you, the one by Matt’s pack. I’ll ask him to extend his borders so they can protect you. I need to investigate everything I’ve learned. I’m truly sorry, my granddaughter, I was being fed misinformation. And I’m truly sorry for everything my daughter put you through.” She said the last part with tears in her eyes. I let go of Nate and wrapped my arms around her.

“I’m sorry you lost your daughter again. I know this can’t be easier for you. And I’ll try to step up. Just let me deal with the hunters for now and figure some things out.” I mumbled against her shoulder. She pulled away to look at me.

“Whatever you decide to do, you will be great. I have faith in you.” She whispered, kissing my forehead.

“Queen Laura, please take care of my granddaughter?” She called out.

“Of course, Queen Andrea. Ayla is like family here.” The queen told my grandmother and she gave her a nod.

“Call me when you get to the house. Everything should be ready by tomorrow but you can show up anytime. The house is yours. Both of you are going to need a house by the sea.”

“Thank you,” I sniffled.

“No need to thank me, Ayla. We are family and I love you.” She hugged me.

“I love you,” I told her.

“Now, be safe. And you, keep my granddaughter safe.” She pulled out of the hug to scold Nate.

“With my life,” Nate replied. My grandmother nodded at Nate before she left the room.

“Ayla, sweetie, are you okay?” Queen Laura asked me, coming over to me, she placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah, I just need a few minutes,” I answered.

“I’ll have some food sent up to your room. Go sit in the pool on the balcony. The seawater will help. It just doesn’t heal our bodies but our minds as well. And when you are ready, I’ll take you and Nate to where you need to be. There is no rush.” She explained and I hugged her.

“Thank you.” I breathed out, fighting back my tears.

I grabbed Nate’s hand and headed out the doors we came in through. I didn’t acknowledge anyone else and I know that may have been rude, but I was going to break any minute now.

I didn’t know where I was even going, so I was glad when Nate started to lead. I’m surprised he even knows where he’s going. This place is massive and I could use a map.

Nate didn’t speak until we finally made it back to our room and, to my surprise, a young lady was already waiting, holding a tray for us. She took one look at Nate and her face went a shade of pink before she looked at her shoes. He definitely has that effect on women.

“Thank you,” I told the young woman as Nate took the tray. She bowed her head quickly before rushing off. I opened the door for him and we both stepped in.

“So, pool or food first?” Nate asked as he set the tray down.

“Pool.”