Chapter 18: My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter

Ayla let out another scream and this time I was hit with a force that threw me backwards. I landed in the sand on my ass. My neck snapped up and all the men were on their asses, and the man was no longer holding her.

She was now standing in the water with the water flowing around her, protecting her. I could only make out the silhouette of her body as I stood up, watching. What the hell was going on? And did she cause the force?

When the water finally dropped around her, we all gasped. I wasn’t sure who these men were, but I’m sure they were mermen. All but one of them dropped to their knees as I watched my mate in awe. How could any of this be possible?

Ayla was now standing in a black shimmery satin full-length dress with a slit up to her hip. The dress fell off her shoulders, exposing a sitting black wolf howling at a crescent moon. It looked like a tattoo and it was right under where I would place my mark. The tattoo shimmered like her dress in the sunlight, which should not be possible.

Her hair was now pulled over her right shoulder and a lone dark purple flower was placed over her left ear. Standing with her feet in the ocean, she looked like a goddess. The waves move the dress, causing it to shimmer different shades of purple and blue.

Ayla didn’t even look around at the other men. She rushed over to me, grabbing my cheeks, pulling me out of the trance she had me in.

“Nate, you’re bleeding.” She breathed out, rubbing a thumb over my split lip.

I didn’t hesitate as I wrapped my arms around her waist before I crushed my lips to hers. She gasped, and I deepened the kiss. She tasted salty as I tasted her, claiming her as mine.

“She’s the Black Pearl Queen.” I heard someone gasp and Ayla pulled her lips from mine, but I still held her against my chest.

“Queen Andrea, how is she claimed?” I heard a man growl.

I held my mate close as I looked around to find the alphas, my father, her grandmother, and a few other men I didn’t recognize.

“Claimed?” Alpha Atlas asked, stunned.

“When a mermaid is claimed, the flower is over her left ear, unclaimed it’s the right.” I heard the mermaid queen say. I looked at my mate to find the purple flower over her left ear. But how? We haven’t mated, and I have marked her.

“I’m not sure what any of this means, but if I’m claimed, then I can’t go along with your plan to marry me off.” Ayla said, glaring at her grandmother.

“You say it like I actually wanted to claim you.” One man said. Ayla turned to look at him. He was the man not on his knees after seeing Ayle change.

“Ayla, this is Prince Silas of the Northern sea.” Her grandmother introduced them.

“And this is his father, King Samuel.” Ayla watched the king intently.

“Why didn’t my mother want to claim you?” She asked him and her grandmother gasped.

“Ayla!”

“It’s a simple question, Andrea. My mother felt claiming my father was the only way out and I want to know why? I want to know why you demand that I claim his son?” Ayla demanded.

“Well, if you weren’t such a selfish brat, I would have answered all of your questions earlier, but you stormed off like a child.” Queen Andrea told her.

“And now you all can kill each other. Have fun.” Ayla told them, before taking my hand.

We started walking back to the pack house. I could tell my mate had enough of dealing with her grandmother. Maybe it wasn’t the king that was the problem for her mother. Maybe it was her mother’s mother.

“Ayla bear, I think you should hear them out.” Alpha Matt called out. Ayla whipped around, and I noticed everyone was following us.

“Out of everyone here, I thought for sure you’d be on my side in this.” She told her uncle, sounding hurt.

“It’s not what you think. I’ll always have your back. But this is a way for you to learn about yourself,” he said. And Ayla let out a sigh, and I squeezed her hand.

“Okay, fine. But I need a moment to process all of this.” She said, looking around at the people.

“Ayla, what do you need to process? You have learned nothing. This isn’t about you and what you want. This is about your people. Now step up and do what you have to do.” Queen Andrea said to her granddaughter. I let out a growl, not liking how she was talking to my mate.

“And if I’m a queen, as you so blatantly pointed out, then I can tell you to fuck off. I’m going to do what I want, when I want to. Stay around or don’t. I don’t give two fucks. But I now know why my mother ran. If I had been raised by you, I would have run as well.” She told her before walking back into the pack house, pulling me with her.

“She’s a breath of fresh air, isn’t she?” I heard the prince laugh. I pushed my lips in a line.

“There’s no way we are losing our mate to that guy.” Duke growled in my head.

“Agreed.”

Ayla didn’t say a word as we walked back to her room. Now that we were alone, I could truly take in her new look. I wonder if this is the stage before her tail forms? Did mermaids actually have tails, or is that a myth? Werewolves don’t just shift under a full moon and we look like wolves, not half man and beast. Maybe them having tails weren’t correct.

As much as I would like some answers, I won't push her to speak with her grandmother. I’ve never met a queen before, but she was definitely a queen bitch. I can see why her mother ran. But I still don’t know why she would run from the king? I didn’t get a bad feeling about him or his son, as much as I hate his son. It’s the grandmother I get a bad feeling about.

And what is this war about? Is it really so bad they figure marrying Ayla to the prince will make a difference? I was so stuck in my head I didn’t realize we were back in Ayla’s room. She looked beautiful as I closed the door behind me.

She looked to be stuck in her thoughts as well. She even jumped when I wrapped my arms around her waist. I turned her in my arms so I could look at her.

“I’m sorry, Nate. I know this is so much.” She breathed out, resting her head against my chest.

“Everything will work out, baby. And I’m not going anywhere,” I said. Leaning down, I kissed her cheek.

“That dress is gorgeous.” I whispered, gripping her.

“Too bad I’m out of clothes.” She huffed, and I chuckled.

“You can wear some of mine?” I offered, and she nodded against my chest.

“Nate, can we lie down for a bit? I’m feeling overwhelmed by everything.” She whispered.

“I’ll go get some of my clothes for you.” I told her, kissing her forehead.

“You could just move your stuff here? If you want, of course. Sorry, I probably overstepped.” She rambled, trying to pull away from me, but I pulled her back against my chest and looked down at her.

“I’ll go get my bag.” I said, and she smiled up at me.

I left the room to get my stuff from my room. Before going back to Ayla’s room, my father was in my head.

“Nate, everyone is staying for dinner. Ayla needs to listen, and I need you to help with that. I’m not taking sides, but she should know the truth.”

“Dad, I understand, but right now, she is feeling overwhelmed by everything. I’ll let her know about dinner, but I will not sit there and let her grandmother degrade her.” I told him.

“Nate, just don’t claim her until after dinner. She needs to know the entire truth before she decides.” He said before closing the link.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Duke growled in my head.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”