The Prince’s Unwilling mate by Mutya

199 Ayla One Like Griffin, | felt a bit weird when we reached the table and all the conversations cto a sudden halt. But everyone was so nice, and welcoming that my apprehension disappeared. My eyes suddenly were drawn to Mike again. He was looking so sad and lost, that | needed to go and talk to him. I’ve noticed he was the only who did not bring a partner. It must feel like you're the odd one out. Like | used to feel thinking | would be the only unmated and rejected wolf in my family. He was the one who according to Griffin and River and River was the most interested in mates and their bond. Making it very likely that the only single guy at the table was a hopeless romantic.

yJI “ “Hey, you're Mike, right? Mind if | sit next to you I love being with Griffin but sometimes it is exhausting to only be a part of a couple. Striking up a conversation complaining about being loved up is a little tricky.

My gut was tellingit would work out, and it wasn’t like | had a lot of other options. He gently smiles atand gestures at the empty chair next to him.

“You must love Griffin a lot though, he is smitten with you. It must be nice to know that a Goddess created someone out there, especially for you. | wish humans would have something like that too.” He sighed, but my plan worked and he opened up to me.

“Honestly, it can be amazing, with Griffin it is. We are ‘H other's second-chance mates though. His original fated mate died when he was 0.00% o 12:39 199 Ayla 288 Vouchers an infant. Mine rejectedbecause | was so short, and small which in his mind equaled tobeing weak.

While being loved by your mate is the most beautiful thing in the world. Your mate rejecting you is the worst pain in the world. Swolves even die because of it. It is a double-edged sword honestly.” | don’t want to take anything away from the mate bond. | believe in it, but | want Mike to know it is not perfect.

“River tolda little bit about it. Griffin toldit was your first mate who kidnapped you. Or how not every mate is a good and deserving mate and then because of the bond you will still love them. If I had been lucky enough to be a wolf and have a mate. | would spend the rest of my life trying to be the best mate to hi life trying to be the best mate to him. | am sure he would be fortoo.” Mike seemed to be enamored with the thought of having a mate.

I was sure he would cheer up if he knew there still was a chance there was a mate out there for him too. Even if de chances he was were minimal.

“Then | hope you are one of the very few, rare, human mates. They do exist. My Great-grandmother was human.

She died a hero protecting her pack. It's why | am on the small side, | am proud of my heritage though.” Mike's eyes lit up like | expected them to.

| ended up going back to my seat next to Griffin after Mike and | chatted for a bit longer. What | told him cheered him up enough. We ended up going for drinks after dinner. In this crowd, I still had a good excuse not to drink.

Griffin, River, and Sonja were excited to show the humans how much wolves can drink, | was sure we were going to be in for a good night.

ork 22.88% 12:39 199 Ayla 288 Vouchers Another two weeks had passed, since our trip to New York. | kept in contact with all of them, we just made a group chat. After discussing it with Isabella and Rodrick we would invite them all to the wedding. The wedding we had started planning and now that we knew | was pregnant. Even if it was still justGriffin, Isabella, and Dean. We needed to rush the planning without making it seem rushed. For the pack members, our friends and family. And because we deserved a beautiful day.

Life still was busy, and we never got more tto spend quality ttogether. We had managed to keep our weekends work-free. The wedding planning had to be done in our spare free time. As was socializing with our friends. Meaning that we hardly spent any ttogether. It was all worth it though. We no longer were busy with making sure we were safe, to make sure people would accept us and our union. Because nothing went as it should be. This twe didn’t even have to worry about our own pack members behaving.

Because even Cynthia had calmed down. Sam’s punishment had worked she never spoke to me. And if we passed each other at any event she would still glare at me. Even if we would just walk down the sstreet on pack ground. She could glare all she wanted though, she could hate me, despise me. | never wanted to even talk to her ever again either. She was never going to be my friend. She just needed to respectfor my role within the pack and as the leader of this country.

| was too busy with beautiful things now. Too busy planning my wedding with the man I love. Too busy preparing to welcour pup into this world. And to learn and train so that | can grow in my role. Like tonight, when we were both done with work we would go over to Milo’s for dinner. Even with Milo having beca close friend it was not just a social visit. Milo would cook for us at our wedding. So this was our taste-testing dinner. Milo’s hworked out because Milo had complained that our kitchen was not equipped well enough. There was no privacy in the pack kitchen. Griffin and | were more than happy to go to his home. Despite having an almost industrial kitchen. Milo’s hwas cozy and comfortable, it always felt good being at his place.

| glanced at the clock to see how long | had to go before Griffin would be here to takeover to Milo’s. Only to find out that he should have been here ten minutes ago. It leftwith no tto go to our chambers and get dressed. | touched up my make-up, used sdeodorant and perfume, and pulled my hair out of the bun, before making my way to Griffin's office. | knocked but he didn’t answer me. He had to be inside, he never left his office without walking to my office across from him to pickup. Wherever we needed to go to after work he would always make sure we would walk there together. It started as a way to make sure | would not let myself get drowned in work again just to forget about everything. He must have fallen asleep this time. Maybe now | was slowly healing, | should take a bit more care of Griffin. His life changed so much when we found each other too. For now, though | walked into his office expecting to see him fallen asleep at his desk. But that was not the sight | was met with when | entered.”