My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 43

Future Beta Nate

My heart ached for my mate. There’s only so much a person can take before they break and she was at her limit. She had always tried to help others, but then when she needed help, everyone left her.

“We are never leaving her. She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen and she is mine,” Duke growled.

“I would never leave her or give her a reason to leave me. I love her and will protect her with my life. Duke, you know this,” I told him.

“She’s a true alpha female and you will respect her.” He lectured me.

“Does she really have a wolf?” I asked him.

“She does, and she will rule us all.” He purred.

“You are going to submit to her?” I questioned him.

“Only in the bedroom. Everywhere else we are equals.”

“Duke, I’m not an alpha. And she doesn’t have a pack. How is she going to rule?” I asked him, confused.

“You’ll just have to wait and see like the rest of them,” he said before retreating.

That wolf of mine needs to stop speaking in riddles. I need to be able to help and protect her and he isn’t helping. I was pulled from my thoughts when Ayla stood up from her seat beside me. She said she was hearing something, but I could only hear the sounds of the forest.

“Ayla, come back, it’s not safe,” I called out to her, standing from my seat on the log.

She stopped and turned to look at us. I don’t remember if she said anything before she let out a scream and the ground swallowed her up.

“Ayla,” I screamed as I raced towards her, just to hit an invisible wall, knocking me back onto my a*s.

Xander and Kaden were also on their asses and scrabbling to get up as we heard Ayla scream again. The only one not panicking was the queen. The rest of us, including the king, was pounding on the wall with our fists.

“What the hell is this?” I screamed, frustrated that I couldn’t get to my mate.

“Everyone, take a seat. Ayla will be okay. This is her test with the guardian. There is nothing we can do but wait.” The queen told us.

“I need to be with her,” I yelled, and the queen shook her head.

“This is something she has to do alone. I’m sorry Nate, I know this is difficult but there is nothing we can do until she proves herself and the magic is lifted.” Queen Laura sighed.

“f**k!” I screamed, punching the wall again. Ayla let out another scream and Duke was ready to shift.

“Nate, I understand,” Xander growled out beside me. He was glaring at the wall.

“Nate, you need to trust in your mate. She is more than capable.” The queen spoke calmly and I grumbled, her calmness was irritating. I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to her and I wasn’t there to protect her.

“All of you come and sit. I’m not sure how long this is going to take. And all of you should eat.” The queen ordered, and I reluctantly walked back over to the group with Xander beside me. He was cursing under his breath and I could feel his tension.

We both sat down and Prince Chase passed down a couple of sandwiches and bottles of water. I didn’t feel like eating. My stomach was in knots with worry about my mate. I haven’t heard any more screaming, but I’m not sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

“Mom, the first black pearl took two claims?” Prince Silas asked and I almost spit out the bit I had just taken. My chest rumbled loudly.

“He did, yes. But he was never asked to, as far as I’m aware. I don’t expect Ayla to take another claim. Wolves are different than witches and mermaids. They mate for life, do they not?” The queen turned her attention to me. I swallowed before I answered her.

“Not in all cases. Even after marking, we can still reject our mate. But I would like to say in most cases it’s for life. Mermaid’s claim seems to be forever once it’s done.”

“It is, but it can be broken if the scaling part hasn’t been completed. Once we mate under the full moon, we take the scale from over our hearts and replace it with our claims. It digs painfully into our skin until we shift and it heals in place. It bonds us forever with our claim.” She explained.

“And females can only get pregnant by their claim?”

“Yes, under a full moon. But I’m not sure what will happen when her wolf fully emerges. From my understanding, wolves can get pregnant any time.” She said and I nodded.

“It’s more likely during their heat, but male wolves can get any female pregnant, not just their mate.”

“So no multiple mates?” Prince Silas chuckled and I growled.

“I wouldn’t want to share her either,” King Kaden scoffed, and Prince Silas laughed. And we all looked at him confused.

“I think Xander has a better chance of being Ayla’s second mate.” Duke let out a growl, not happy about this conversation. King Kaden glared at Xander.

“Honestly, you can’t blame me. I’m not the one who left her without a word.” Xander shrugged and I smirked. He’s not wrong. I don’t want anyone else touching my mate, but I can see myself being friends with Xander.

“I didn’t leave because I stopped loving her.” King Kaden growled out.

“King Kaden, this is her destiny. She was always meant to be with a wolf. And it’s her choice to take on a mermaid mate as well. The fact that you met her was a consequence.” The queen told him.

“So everything that has happened, happened because it was supposed to? Princess Ayla was always supposed to replace Nate and everything else was just bs?” Prince Chase asked and the queen nodded.

“I know it’s hard to hear, King Kaden. But her mother was right to keep you away from Ayla. It would have been even more devastating when she met Nate.” She told him.

We all jumped up when we heard Ayla screaming again.

“Why the f**k does it have to be goddamn spiders?” She screamed and I looked at Xander.

“She hates spiders. She is absolutely terrified of them. One time she called me over in the middle of the night to kill one in her shower,” Xander answered.

“Spiders?”I raised an eyebrow and he nodded with a smirk.

“It was big for a spider but nothing you’d think she’d be able to handle.” He chuckled. The gun going off, caused me to panic and my heart to race.

Silence filled the forest around us. The only thing I could hear was the beating of my own heart.

The next sound was Ayla’s bone-chilling scream before we were all thrown back by a strong force. I landed on my back and the air was knocked from my lungs as I scrambled to get back on my feet. The forest was eerily silent as I walked over to the invisible wall to replace it gone. I rushed over to where Ayla fell and there was no longer a hole.

On my hands and knees, I started to dig with my hands and Xander was also digging. This can not be happening, she can’t be dead.

“Boys, stop. She should be at the temple. Calm down.” The queen said and I snapped my head up to look at her.

“She’s okay?” I rushed out and she nodded.

“Did you feel the bond break?” She asked me and I shook my head.

“The magic disappeared. Which means she either died or is at the temple. And since you didn’t feel the bond break, I believe she’ll be waiting at the temple for us. Get your bags, and let’s get moving. We don’t want to keep her waiting.” The queen said as she walked past me. Xander and I stood up and the princes passed us our packs before we followed behind them.

“Is she really okay?” I asked Duke, as I walked.

“Can you not feel her?” He asked me.

“I can’t feel her emotions. I still feel the bond but I can’t feel her.” I confessed, trying to control my panic.

“The bond is still there. She’s alive but I’m not sure about the rest of the bond. If her wolf is not released, then we should be feeling the full efforts of the bond now.” Duke told me.

It took about twenty minutes for us to walk up to a cave. It didn’t look like a temple. It was just a cave you would replace in any mountain. The only thing that caught my attention was the power I felt coming from inside the cave. And then her scent hit me.

“She’s here,” I yelled as I slid the pack off and rushed inside the cave.

I didn’t care what I could be running into, I just needed to get to my mate and make sure she was okay. My heart was pounding against my chest as I followed her scent and the others followed behind me. It’s a good thing, wolves have great night vision, as it was dark here. I wouldn’t have been able to see my hand in front of my face the further I moved into the cave.

The tunnel finally ended and I entered a massive space. The sun was shining through cracks in the mountains that were above us. The room had pillars and stairs leading up to what looked like a throne. My mate was casually sitting with her legs crossed, looking down at us.

I stopped in my tracks as I watched her stand. She was now covered in scales that covered her body in a skin-tight suit. The only bare skin that was showing was her face. The black and purple opalescent scales covered her body like armor. And it left nothing to the imagination as she walked down the stairs, swaying her h**s.

Ayla’s lips were painted a dark purple and her eyes were smoky. Storm clouds replaced her eyes and I was lost in them as she approached me. I forgot all about the others as Ayla ran her hand down my chest. My breathing hitched as her eyes turned back to normal.

“Hello, mate.” She purred as she ran her hand back up my chest. She gasped when I grabbed her h**s and pulled her against my chest, burying my face into her neck.

To my surprise, when my skin touched her scales, they receded, revealing her skin. Tingles shot through my hands and up my arms, causing me to shiver. Duke purred in my head as the bond flared to life with just a touch. It was much stronger than before. Her scent engulfed me, and my c**k strained against my jeans.

If we didn’t have an audience, I would take her right here and now. I can’t believe how much of the bond was suppressed and I needed her desperately before. Now it was going to be impossible to be away from her.

“Baby, are you okay?” I mumbled against her neck, as I held her close.

“My child, your achievement was exceptional beyond my expectations. You proved yourself after the first challenge.” The moon goddess’s voice echoed off the walls of the room.

Ayla pulled away and we both looked up at the moon goddess, who was now standing by Ayla’s throne.

“Thank you, my goddess.” Ayla beamed up at the goddess.

“And with you being so exceptional, I will grant you one wish. Something that can be just for you,” The goddess told her.

“I would like to gift the mermaids with the mind link,” Ayla spoke without hesitation.

“Ayla, are you sure? You could ask for anything.” I asked her and she nodded.

“I’m sure. I believe the mind link would help the mermaids, especially against the hunters. Each kingdom would be like its own pack and they could link with each other. I think it would be highly beneficial for the mermaid species.” She answered.

“And you would use your one wish on others and not yourself?” The goddess questioned her.

“It’s my job to protect my people. This will help protect them. And I don’t need anything. I have everything I need right here.” Ayla said, taking my hand in hers. The moon goddess smiles down at us.

“You are like no other I’ve ever met, Ayla. Your selflessness has no boundaries. And you will be such an exceptional queen.” The goddess praised my mate.

“Moon goddess, I can’t hear my wolf?” She asked, concerned, and the goddess chuckled.

“She will be with you soon. You’ve been through so much today. Now, should we get to the claiming?” The goddess clapped her hands together.

“The fun part,” another female voice exclaimed, walking out from behind the throne. She was dressed in a similar dress as Ayla when she shifted back, but hers was gold and deep blue.

“Goddess,” The mermaids all bowed their heads. She must be the mermaid goddess.

“Amphitrite, what do you mean by claiming? It’s not a full moon.” Ayla asked her and she giggled. The moon goddess and she walked down the stairs, stopping in front of us.

“That’s only half of the claiming. Now, my dear child, you will give your wolf a piece of you.” She explained.

“The scale over her heart?” I asked and the goddess nodded. Ayla looked up at me confused.

“I would also give you mine if I had one.” I chuckled. Ayla smiled, shaking her head.

“You may want to strip down, wolf, you’ll be shifting soon.” The goddess Amphitrite purred at me, her eyes glancing over my body. Ayla let out a growl before stepping in front of me, blocking the view of my body with hers.

“Your wolves really are possessive?” She chuckled, looking at the moon goddess.

“Can you really blame her?” The moon goddess smirked.

“No, I suppose not. He could easily pass as a god himself.” Her eyes lingered longer than they should, and I just pressed my lips together feeling extremely awkward.

“Nate, you will need to shift, and Ayla will need to see your chest.” The moon goddess said and I pulled off my shirt, leaving my pants. I didn’t need Ayla to attack a goddess.

Ayla turned to face me and ran her hands down my chest. I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through me or the goosebumps that covered my body. Her touch was electric now, and she stared up at me with a smirk on her lips.

“Ayla, take hold of the scale over your heart and remove it,” Amphitrite explained.

“But won’t that hurt her?” I questioned.

“It will only hurt for a moment. You should really be worried about yourself.” She smirked and I gulped.

I turned back to Ayla when I heard her whimpering and her breathing had picked up. She was now holding the scale. Looking at her chest, it was now bleeding. I leaned forward and licked the wound, causing Ayla to gasp as she dug her nails into my shoulder.

“You okay?” I asked her, lifting my head. I was now nose-to-nose with her.

“Yeah,” she breathed out.

“Now, push the scale into his chest, where his heart is located.” The mermaid goddess instructed.

“Will it hurt him?” Ayla asked, worried. I squeezed her h**s.

“Only for a moment. Once it’s in place, he will shift and the claim will be almost complete. On the full moon, after you consummate the claim, you will be forever bonded to each other.” Amphitrite answered.

“Are you ready for this?” Ayla asked, looking up at me with her big doe eyes.

“Whenever you are, baby,” I told her, kissing her forehead.

Ayla didn’t even hesitate as she pushed the scale into my chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I wasn’t expecting it to burn like fire against my skin. The more she pushed, the hotter it burned.

“My wolf, shift.” The moon goddess commanded. And I quickly shifted into my massive black wolf.

“I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Ayla asked, kneeling. Duke licked the spot on her chest that was now missing a scale, before nuzzling against her. As soon as I shifted, the pain stopped.

“Now, I think it’s time for you all to get back to reality. Ayla go to Alpha Matt’s pack. That’s where your journey will begin. Good luck to all of you.” The moon goddess announced before she clapped her hands and darkness consumed me.