The Prince’s Unwilling mate

067 Ayla

The woman in the bookstore scowls at me, it remindsof the Blood Moon pack. Where the members would scowl at me. Judgingfor being small and short, all while being sweet and friendly with the people they knew abused me. Sure I hid how bad it truly was, but everyone in the pack knew something was going on. Even if it was just the bullying nobody stopped them. However, I realize with this woman that is not the case, in my need to do things on my own. To never depend on anyone. anymore I have hurt Griff, he has forgiven me. He understands where I am coming from, but the pack members don’t this woman clearly cares about Griff’s happiness and I shouldn’t blher for that.

“I will and I understand you do not trust me. I can tell you all about how Griffin knows the reason why I behaved like I did. And how that should” be enough for you to trust him, to trust you Crown Prince” I try to keep my voice even, not showing annoyance at being judged like this again.

Griffin wraps his arm around my waist pullingcloser to him. It relaxesand I can see the woman relax a little too but she is still watchingintently. Waiting forto continue.

“But that will not make you likebetter does it?” I smile at the woman, a genuine smile because of Griffin’s arm around me.

His silent support does makefeel so much better. It feels like I am

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not alone and for someone who felt she wanted to be alone for so long that is one of the most amazing feelings.

“Well no, I mean I trust our Prince but I also just want to see him happy. It seemed like you were not interested in getting to know the pack either” She huffs like she is trying to keep on to her frustrations and resentment towards me. And failing to do so.

“I get that but I have sissues with being at big pack events because of my past. Your Crown Prince, my mate, and the man I love with my entire being has madefeel safe again. So you will be seeing more of me. And now he even throws in an in–pack bookstore” I jokingly say the

last bit.

Not going to lie it is a huge bonus but I mostly wanted to dispel sof the tense atmosphere. I succeeded as the woman burst out laughing.

“I am so sorry, I might have judged you too soon. And if you love books I will see a lot more of you since this is my store. I am Rhonda by the way” She stretches out her hand as she says her name.

So I take it in mine and just like Milo I tell her to callAyla for now. She asks about using titles and when I explain I am not yet the Princess she replies by saying.

“Now that I’ve spoken to you hopefully you will be soon”

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I nod, because if fear if I tell her I will be the Princess soon enough Griff will hear how giddy it makes me and wonder why that is. As far as he is concerned it will take a few more weeks.

I ended up getting five new books, this is the first tGriff has seenin a bookstore. He just looks on with amusement as I bounce around between the shelves brushing my fingers over the book spines. Every tI pick up a book and excitedly tell him what it’s about he will look atand tellit does sound interesting. When we both know he will never pick up a book to relax. If it were up to him he wouldn’t even read books for his role as Prince. Where he complains sof the reports are still being printed. Or about the fact that nobody ever scanned all the. books about our history so he could just look at it on his phone or laptop. I don’t even read e–books. For me, there is nothing compared to having a book in your hands. Seeing the love that is put into writing it, seeing creases and small stains on the pages. Because that shows how well the book is loved after it is written and after it is bought.

At the register, Griff tells Rhonda to send the bill to the castle to him. start to protest

“Griff, sof these are expensive I never expected you to give them to

me”

“I am not giving you a wall of bookshelves and no books to fill them up with,” he shrugs.

“A you know I have a shitton of books at hand B you turning an

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entire wall into my dream bookshelves is more than enough” I know going back and forth on this is useless but I feel bad accepting yet another gift from him.

“Honey, let the man be better than a book boyfriend, and let him spoil you if he wants to. Because now that I have seen the two of you together you make him happy let him make you happy too” Rhonda says sticking her nose into our business.

I guess that is what you get from going back and forth on who pays at the register. Honestly, I don’t mind. I love hearing I make Griff happy too. So I reluctantly let him pay for my books. Before walking to the Italian restaurant hand in hand.

***

We have shared a plate of meatballs and bread with olive oil as our starter. We both get a glass of red wine with it. I’ve seen Griff in a few packs now, and people are always treating him like he is far different from the rest of us. But here at hin his own pack, the differences aren’t that huge. They still seem to respect him, but they treat him more than every other pack treats their Alpha to be.

“What do you prefer, getting the royal treatment like the other packs do? Or being cheated as just the Alpha to be like they do here? I ask, even if I think I know the answer to that one.

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I think I just want to hear him say it, and I want him to tell a little more about his pack. What he likes and dislikes about being a Prince and an Alpha to be. I mean I know he had the pack royal events. He prefers staying in his room playing video games as opposed to attending grand balls.

“I like this far better, you know I like becoming the King and the Alpha to this back because I feel I can make a difference like that. The rest of it, the glitch and glamour, the dealing with ass kissers. I could do without that, to be honest. You make it better though” He says taking my hand in

his.

As much as I love hearing I am making things better for him, I don’t see how I am certainly not doing anything special.

“I love that I can make you feel better about it Griff, but I wouldn’t know how. I am not doing anything special” I tell Griffin, because sometimes I feel like it’s still not enough.

Before he can answerwe get interrupted by the waitress, unlike Rhonda no one openly questions my motives here. But I can see the stares most of them still do not trust me. Griffin has offeredto say something about it. Which is sweet, but I told him not to. There is not way the pack is going to love me more if I have him tellto stop judging me. And I know he would feel bad about it, and I just want to enjoy the night.

Which we ended up doing, I couldn’t choose between the chicken.

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parmesan and the ossobuco. Griffin liked both dishes, so he suggested splitting and sharing both meals. Since this was a werewolf–owned restaurant in a pack of wolves. The portions were huge, and I was stuffed by the twe left the restaurant. Especially since we both had stiramisu as dessert. It even seemed like most of the other patrons. stopped watching us. Maybe the trick to it all was just showing how happy we made each other. Because we did as we walked back hand in hand I couldn’t help but wonder if I finally found my happy ever after. If

I finally would have a happy and peaceful life ahead of me.

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