Chapter 2

“Wait!” The Alpha King said behind her and she froze on her steps, she had to get far away from him.

He was her mate and she wondered if he could feel this electric pull between them. He stepped closer, “where are you going?” He asked, his voice deep. Her chest squeezed painfully, it was so hard being in his presence.

“Away from here, alpha.” She bowed her head in order to show respect. “I am sorry but I really have to leave right now.”

She could feel his intense stare on her. Does he feel the mate pull too?

Tears burned the back of her eyes and she attempted to brush it away hardly, he noticed and stepped a bit closer, his thumb caressing the side of her cheeks. “Tell me what is wrong, little mate.”

He was her mate! The tears started to come down harder. Something shone in his eyes and he muttered something under his breath, but she caught it anyway. “I am twenty-eight for goddess’ sake, I was waiting all my life for you, but you didn't show up that night.” His voice was filled with so much sorrow, and Solene wanted to sit down and cry her heart out.

There was nothing she wanted more in this moment than to run away, away from him, away from her family, away from here. Why did he have to come along and ruin her plan? She was already bracing herself to leave and now he was standing in front of her.

Her one true mate.

“Please excuse me–” she attempted to say weakly but he grabbed her wrist, and she could feel the hot, electric pull. She looked into his eyes and felt her heart stop. Is this how it felt like to be in the presence of your mate? She has only ever read the experience in books and movies, she had never thought she would experience it right now.

“I know.” She said sadly, looking down at her cheap dress.

“Why weren't you there at night? I waited all day for my mate but you didn't show up.” He said, patience in his voice. The way he said it almost made her cry again but she couldn't be weak right now.

She couldn't tell him about the reason why she never attended the ball that night, even if she desperately wanted to. Her mother could face serious consequences if it came out in public. An alpha marking another woman while his mate was still alive and hadn't been rejected was very rare.

If it all came to light, it would cause a lot of problems.

“I am really sorr—” she tried saying, but he wasn't in the mood to hear her excuses.

“Tell me.” He growled softly when he realized she wasn't going to say anything. She could hear the royal decree in his voice and she knew there was no going back from here. “I want the truth, every single thing.”

She breathed in deeply and tried to avoid looking him in the eye, maybe if she did so, she would forget that he already had another woman in his life and that she was never going to be part of it.

“It was my mother. She kept me from seeing you because I was a mistake she had, a mistake she had always wanted to erase, it would ruin everyone if the truth came to light.” She said, her voice cracking in the end.

She could feel the anger that was rolling off Alpha King Henry, so she took a step back. She already read about how bad the anger of Alphas could get.

“How many years did she keep me away from you?” He asked and she remained silent. She could get in serious trouble for just staying in his presence. She tried to think about whatever punishment her mother would have in store for her when she got home and she shivered.

Thank goddess she wasn't going back home.

“Ten years.” She said under her breath, hoping he wouldn't catch the brokenness in her voice but he did. She could feel the pain of her mate vibrating in her bones, even her wolf was very sad, but what could she do about it? He already had another woman in his life, there was no way he would leave her and run to her, right?

His body started shaking. “She will pay for what she has done, I want your mother instantly–” he was still staying when a middle aged man ran to our side, he had a red badge on his cloth which signified his rank as one of the pack-house’s aid.

“Alpha.” He said when he reached our side, bowing his head.

“Speak.” Alpha Henry growled.

“The queen…her Majesty…her water broke and she is calling out for you.” He stumbled over his words, she froze in her steps and so did Alpha Henry.

His mate was giving birth to a child, a child that should have been hers. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this moment.

“She is calling for you, your majesty.” The man said, rushing over his words. “Please go right now, I will take care of this lady.”

Alpha Henry nodded before taking off, running as fast as he could. It felt like her heart was crashing over and over again.

“Ma’am?” He asked. “Are you okay? Perhaps we should find you a room for you to stay in so the Alpha can attend to you later?”

“There won't be any need for that.” She replied softly, “I was already leaving. Please tell the Alpha and his new mate that I wished them good luck.” At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to break the bond between them, but she couldn't. It would weaken them both and he had a kingdom to run, so he always had to be strong.

He looked at her sharply. It felt as though he understood exactly what she was saying. “You're the mate that got away?”

“Yes,” she smiled sadly.

“You should be with him.” The man replied sharply.

“No, it was someone else's fault but we both have to pay for it. Thank you so much.” She turned and walked away quickly, she had been planning this night for so long and it was finally happening.

She was heading to Ireland tonight and the boat was already waiting for her. Maybe she would find a bit of happiness there, but as she listened to her wolf purring sadly within her, she knew she could never find that happiness.