My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 56

Nate

I’m not sure how long I sat in the bathroom of the hospital room. I was lost in my grief. Why would they have killed her? Or maybe she had to kill herself to protect me. My stomach and chest twisted painfully at the thought of her hurting herself for me. To protect me.

“Duke, do you know what happened?” I begged him to tell me something, anything.

“Her wolf didn’t come forward. So I don’t have any answers for you.” He whimpered.

I’ve never cried this much in my life and the tears just wouldn’t stop flowing. I didn’t even know a person could cry this much. My heart felt like it was broken in my chest and I didn’t want to live the rest of my life without her. No one should ever have to live without their mate, the other half of their soul.

“Nate?” My father was in my head. Had enough time passed for my father to be here?

“She’s gone, Dad,” I cried in despair.

“Son, have a quick shower. I know you’re in pain but we have news. Please just hear us out.” I could hear my father’s desperation.

“What news, she’s gone?”

“Just get ready, and everything will be explained.” He said before he closed the link.

There’s no news they could tell me that would change the gaping hole in my chest. But I got up off the floor and turned on the shower. I didn’t bother to look in the mirror since I knew I looked like a mess. And I didn’t want to see my now bare chest.

I stripped off my pants before hopping under the cold water. It cooled my hot skin, I shivered as goosebumps covered my body. I knew I was forever going to be cold. I failed her and now she is gone.

I stepped out of the shower, not wanting to go anywhere, but back to bed. My entire body ached but it was nothing compared to the emptiness I felt.

I walked out of the bathroom, into the hospital room with a towel wrapped around my h**s. The room was now empty but there were clothes on the bed for me. After getting dressed, I opened the door to leave to replace Mitch waiting for me.

He was about to say something but I held up my hand to stop him. Nothing anyone said was going to make me feel better and I didn’t want their pity. Everyone was going to move on and be happy while my happiness was stolen. My life was never going to be the same.

I followed Mitch as he walked through what looked like Alpha Matt’s pack house. The hospital must be in the main building. I just wanted to go home. Back to the bed Ayla and I once shared. To our room, where our scents still mingled, like they were always supposed to.

Mitch opened a door and it led to a lounge. Looking around, my father and Alpha Atlas were sitting around with the others. My father stood up but I held up my hand. I knew if he said anything or hugged me, I would break down. And that wasn’t going to help anyone.

“So, what’s the news that couldn’t wait?” I said, my voice rough.

“I can’t believe you’re alive,” a female voice said. I didn’t notice she was sitting beside King Kaden.

“Uhm, thanks.”

“He did die but the doctors got him back,” Mitch confirmed, standing beside me.

“Nate, this is Zoe. She’s a witch associate of mine.” King Kaden introduced me.

“Okay, and what does she have to do with any of this? No offense,” I asked.

“None taken,” she said, standing up, she walked to stand in front of me.

“Do you mind?” She asked, looking up at me.

“What?” I questioned. Her scent hit my nose and I resisted the urge to gag. It wasn’t Ayla’s and it disgusted me.

“I need to see your mark,” I hesitated, but I pulled up my shirt. I knew my marks were gone.

She reached her hand up to touch me and I stepped back. I didn’t want anyone to touch me. She gave me a look before lowering her hand.

“I need to touch it, to feel the magic that was used. I believe a witch broke the bond. It will help us replace her.” Zoe said and I just looked down at her.

“You think she is still alive?” I breathed out.

“May I?” She pointed at my chest and I nodded.

As soon as her skin came into contact with mine, her eyes turned white and her hand glowed green. It was eerie watching her, but I couldn’t look away. I could feel everyone’s eyes, watching us. When Zoe let out a gasp, I jumped back and Mitch caught her before she fell.

“f**k,” she gasped, leaning against Mitch.

“Zoe, what did you see?” King Kaden asked, pulling her away from Mitch.

“The bond was broken. She’s still alive.”

“That’s not possible. Nothing can break a mermaid claim.” Alpha Atlas exclaimed, and I pushed my lips into a line.

“There is a way, Alpha. Ayla wanted to tell you this but there’s no point in hiding it. Melody is alive. She broke the bond with you. A mermaid needs to give their claim the scale over their hearts and consummate under the full moon. If both aren’t complete, the bond can be broken,” I explained.

“What?” He yelled, balling up his fists.

“And you can also break that bond, but it almost always leads to their death. It’s a barbaric act, one my mother went through.” King Kaden said.

Alpha Atlas sat back down and placed his head in his hands. This is not how I wanted him to replace out about Ayla’s mother.

“Wait, you said she was alive? Someone broke the bond?” I rushed out, looking at Zoe. She nodded.

“It’s not easy and you should be dead. I’m surprised she is still alive. Not only were you both marked with the wolves but with the mermaids, even though it wasn’t complete, both bonds together would have been stronger than most.” She explained and I let out a breath, as hope filled me.

“Don’t be relieved just yet. Whoever has her is willing to risk her death to break the bonds. She is still in imminent danger.” She said. But that just infuriated me. My sadness was replaced by an anger I’d never felt before. I was ready to shift and rip this world apart until I found her.

Alpha Matt excused himself and I sat down beside Alpha Atlas. I was probably the last person who would be explaining things about Melody to him, especially right now. But he did have the right to know. He didn’t get the chance to learn anything about the mermaids.

“I’m sorry about Melody. Ayla wanted to be the one to tell you.” I sighed.

“I found her after I left Ayla. I was looking for my mother but I found hers instead. She’s living in the northern kingdom.” King Kaden explained.

“So I wasted fifteen years and she could have just broken the bond?” He growled.

“She ran away with her lover. She left Ayla with no one so she could live the life she wanted,” Prince Silas said, and I glared at him. Great, now we have another furious person in this room. And an alpha at that.

“King Kaden, you better keep Melody in your kingdom because if I ever see that woman again, I will kill her.” The alpha growled and my father sat down on the other side of the alpha.

“I’m not going to pretend to know how you are feeling, Atlas, but right now we need to replace Ayla. She is alive but we don’t know for how long she will stay that way. The plan has always been for her to kill herself if she couldn’t kill whoever was after her. We need to replace where she was taken.” My father said. And right on queue, Alpha Matt walked back into the room.

“We have a lead.” He announced, placing photos on the coffee table in front of us.

“What are these?” I asked him, picking them up. A few men were loading up a crate onto the back of a truck. There were holes drilled into the wood crate and when you looked close enough you could see the shimmer of a scale.

“Scales?” I breathed out.

“And that’s not all,” he pointed at the back of the truck and there was pink b***d.

“That fucker is Alpha Gavin, so he can not deny his involvement. He was there when they were loading up crates of scales and there was mermaid b***d in the back of the truck. His truck.” Alpha Matt explains, pointing at one of the men.

“Nate, I want b***d,” Duke growled in my head.

“Could he be working with the hunters?” I asked Alpha Matt as I handed the photo to Alpha Atlas.

“I’m not sure. This just proves that he has been hunting them. And his pack members would have been at the mate ball in Atlas’ pack,” he answered.

“The hunters knew about Ayla being the black pearl. I don’t think this alpha would have found that information on his own. He has to be working with the hunters,” King Kaden said.

That confirmation was all I needed to get up from my seat and storm out of the room. The alpha was going to tell me where my mate was being held before I killed him. I was almost at the exit of the house when Mitch grabbed my arm.

“Nate, where are you going?” He breathed out.

“I’m going to get that fucker to tell me where my mate is!” I yelled.

“Okay,” Mitch said, and I whipped around.

“Okay? You aren’t going to talk me out of this? Tell me how irrational I’m being. Or we need to come up with a plan.” I furrowed my brows.

“If it was Ruby, would you try to talk me out of it?” He asked.

“I’d be there with you,” I told him.

“So, let’s go get your mate.” He said, clasping my shoulder. I looked back and both alphas gave me a nod.

“Just don’t tell your mother.” My father said, walking up to me.

“Or Ruby,” Mitch chuckled. I gave them both a nod before I spun around and walked out of the pack house. Duke was growling in my head. He’s been ready for this kind of challenge for a long time now.

As soon as I stepped outside, Ryan and the other warriors were waiting for us.

“Nate, it’s good to see you alive,” Ryan exclaimed.

“It’s good to be alive. We are heading into Crimson Tide territory. We have proof they are involved with the hunters. I won’t blame any of you for staying behind,” I told them.

“Ayla?” Ryan asked.

“We believe she is still alive and they most likely know where she is being held. We don’t have much time. They broke the bond so she could be bonded to another.” I said.

“Where do you want us?”

“Pick a wolf and team up. But remember, the alpha is mine.”

Ayla

I’ve never been in this amount of pain, as I tried to open my eyes. Every cell in my body was screaming at me, but it was the pain in my chest that burned the most. They broke the bond with Nate and now I felt empty. I thought the pain was unbearable before, but nothing could compare to the loneliness I was now consumed with.

Xander was now awake and drawing circles on my back as he held me against his chest. I was so thankful he was alive, but I couldn’t replace the energy to be excited, to move. So, we just sat there in silence, as we held on to each other and I willed the tears not to fall. I did this to protect Xander, to keep him alive. And now I am going to have to live with this pain until I see Nate again.

But what if he doesn’t want me now? What if breaking the bond gives him a second chance and he moves on with her? I started to sob as the thoughts of him with another filled my head. He cheated on me, didn’t he? I should hate him. Be thankful the bond was broken, but I miss him so much. I miss his touch, his k**s, his scent.

“It’s okay, Ayla. I’m going to get us out of here.” Xander whispered, snuggling closer if that was possible.

“I miss him. I know I shouldn’t but I do.” I sobbed and he squeezed me.

“You love him. Love just doesn’t go away because he hurt you.” He said.

“What’s going to happen now?” I mumbled. My body was trembling but I wasn’t cold.

“Well, now we have to wait until the boss gets here and claims his prize,” Jordan said, and both Xander and I jumped. I didn’t even hear anyone coming.

“And who is this boss?” Xander growled out. I didn’t even bother to look over my shoulder at Jordan. It didn’t matter who the boss was or who was even involved in all of this.

Nothing mattered now but keeping Xander alive. And hopefully, I can kill this boss, but if not, I will kill myself so he can not claim me. I refuse to be another victim. I will take him out or die trying.

“Someone who has been waiting a long time for the birth of the black pearl. Ayla, I didn’t realize you were also a princess of the Western Sea. Never thought I’d date a princess and a goddess.” He chuckled and I could hear Xander gritting his teeth.

“Xander, don’t look at me like that. There’s still time before the boss gets here to take her for a spin. He’ll kill you when he replaces out, but at least you’ll get a taste of her.” He teased.

“Is this some kind of joke? Does Ayla’s life mean nothing to you?” Xander yelled, and I looked over my shoulder to see Jordan shrug.

“The boss wants to claim her not kill her. She may not be happy, but he’s not going to hurt her,” he retorted.

“Jordan, is this about money? Do you need money?” I asked, sitting up with a g***n.

“Slow, take it easy,” Xander whispered, resting his forehead against mine. I fought through the pain and looked at Jordan.

“Ayla, we both know the kind of money he is paying me isn’t the kind of money you have.” He answered.

“My grandmother is the queen of the Western kingdom. She is worth over two billion dollars. And do you not think the other three kingdoms wouldn’t pay for my safe return as well? Jordan, you don’t have to do this. I can pay you whatever you want. Get you whatever you want.” I pleaded with him. He stared at me for a moment with an unreadable expression. I was praying he would help us. If he did, I would get him whatever he wanted and never see him again. I would let him live for helping us.

“There’s some food and water,” he said, pointing to the floor.

“You should eat, Ayla. I know he’ll want to have you the moment he gets you alone.” With that, he turned around and left. I slumped my head against Xander’s shoulder.

“f**k,” I breathed out.

“I will get you out of here,” Xander promised. I sat back and looked at him.

“No, I will get you out of here. I will do everything I can but I won’t let him claim me. And I won’t let you be killed.” I told him. And he took my cheeks into his hands.

“They are coming. They have to be. I called all the kingdoms before we left the western sea. They will be here.” He said, kissing my forehead. I snuggled back into him.

“I hope they get here before the boss.”