Once A Princess, Now A Slave

11- His First POV

Connor’s POV

“I do not want to force her,” I say in a firm tone. I and my father are currently in the Alpha’s office. We just finished meeting with the elders.

“You are not forcing her, Connor. You are just giving her the opportunity and time to think about it,” Alpha Audig said.

“Alpha, with all due respect, if there’s anyone in this room who knows Kelsie deeply enough, that’s you. We both know Kelsie will get what she wants, no matter what it takes,” I answered.

“Well, for the record, a mate knows what their partners want. If there’s anyone in this room that knows what my daughter wanted the most, it’s you,” he replied back.

I shake my head. “Kelsie is fighting it because she doesn’t want to,” I said, pertaining to the mate bond. Even though she didn’t voice it out, I can feel it. She may indirectly acknowledge the bond when we kissed and touch each other’s bodies, but I can sense her hesitation. I do not want to make a move, not until she is certain of herself.

Both Alpha Audig and my father are the only ones who know Kelsie is my mate. I did not tell any of them, but they noticed. I remember how they confronted me about it.

I was practicing my agility, endurance, and flexibility by sparing with my father. We are in my personal training grounds. Usually, I am training with the Delta and other wolves, but this time, my father asked me to join him in the exclusive training grounds for Beta.

I thought he just wants me to check how I was doing since we barely meet, however, in the middle of the sparring, he suddenly opened up about something I did not expect he would.

“So, how is the journey to finding your mate?” he asked while dodging every punch that I give.

I just shrug, “Still none.”

Obviously, Kelsie doesn’t want anyone to know that we’re mates. To be honest, at first, I was surprised to know that the moon goddess gave her to me. Even before I turned 18, I hoped for a mate that is submissive to me. And Kelsie is far from being one.

She will never submit to anyone. Not until she wants to.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a pain in my gut. I am trying to compose myself yet when suddenly, my father threw an uppercut. Good thing I managed to avoid it. I made a step backward and distance myself from him.

“You really think I wouldn’t know, huh,” he said meaningfully. He started removing his gears and dropped them on the floor. I thought he wants us to train without the safety gear, but he walked towards the nearest bench. I watch him pick up his towel and dry his sweaty arms. He then looked at me while cleaning himself.

“Should I tell it to Audig? Or you will face him and explain why the two of you still haven’t told us?”

I drew a sharp breath and started removing my gloves. I dropped them on the floor and walk towards where my father is.

“It’s not that I am hiding it from you,” I defended. I have no idea how they knew that Kelsie is my mate, but maybe that is how the Alpha and the Beta work. They know everything about the pack.

“Then what?”

I sigh. I sit beside him with my legs parted. I lean forward as I rest my elbows on my knees. “She doesn’t want anyone to know,” I answered.

A moment of silence enveloped the two of us.

“Did she tell you that?” he asked, breaking the silence.

I shake my head. “I just know.”

He nods. “Right…”

I shift on my seat and lean my back on the back of the chair. “I’ll just wait for her. I don’t want to force her to enter into a mate bond that she isn’t sure in the first place,” I added.

My father nods at me. He stand on his feet and gave me a tap on my shoulder.

“I know you can handle this.”

That was the last conversation I had with my father. I really thought he would let me handle this, not until he announced to me that they had a meeting with the elder and other high-ranking wolves.

“Connor, I also want the best for my daughter. If the moon goddess gave you to her, then it means, you are the best fit to be her mate.” Alpha Audig stated. “I want you to be her mate.”

“Is this why you started this wolf-ranking test?” I asked.

“I know my daughter. She wants an alpha mate not because she believes they are the strongest in the pack. She’s doing it for social validation. You know how she struggles socializing with the pack,” Alpha said.

Indeed. I grew up with Kelsie. Although she has great skills and abilities compared to other she-wolves, she struggles to build strong relationships with her peers.

“I do not need to be an Alpha, sir. I am contented—”

Alpha Audig’s chuckle bounces on the corners of the room. His gaze then darted to my father. I turn in my father’s direction and saw him shaking his head with a smirk on his face.

“You are really like your father. Both have strong integrity and loyalty.”

I did not respond to the compliment. To be honest, being chosen by the Alpha to be an Alpha is one of the rarest things a werewolf can receive. But I cannot be completely happy.

I do not want Kelsie to want me simply because I am already an Alpha. I want her to accept me as her mate because I am Connor.

“I will fight fair, sir,” I formally said.

“Of course, it’s a fair fight, son,” my father intervened.

“What I meant was, I do not want any special treatment to be given to me. I want to train with the pack members.”

They both nod. “But you don’t really use your own training ground,” my father said.

I did not respond to his jokes. I am more focused on Kelsie.

After minutes of meeting with the Alpha and my father, they decided to call Kelsie to tell her about the wolf ranking. I wonder if they will tell her the truth—that the said test is for her to realize I am the best mate for her.

I do not like how it sounds, but that is basically what the test is all about.

When she started walking inside the room, I sensed the intense stares my father is giving me. Throughout the meeting. I can hear nothing on her mind aside from the thought of not wanting anyone to know we are mates.

I am at the side of the room, leaning my back on the wall with my hands inside my pocket as I read her thoughts. She always tends to forget that she isn’t blocking her mind and I am her mate. Of course, I can pick up what she is thinking.

“What?! Come again?” she asked with disbelief.

“Whoever got the highest mark in this test will be your mate,” her father reiterated.

The way her brow furrows indicates that she isn’t happy with what her father announced.

“You’re the alpha’s daughter. The moon goddess won’t give you to anyone. Therefore, there’s a huge possibility that your mate is someone that is the strongest, wisest, most skilled in our pack,” Alpha Audig said.

I bite my inner cheek to stop myself from throwing a tantrum.

‘But I do not want anyone in this pack. I and my father are the only one that has Alpha blood. I want someone that has alpha blood! And that means I have to find my mate from other packs! Ugh, this is frustrating me!'

My jaw clenches at what she said in her mind. I know she isn’t aware that I can read her mind right at this moment since she’s too focused on thinking of how to find an alpha mate in other packs.

The thought of her thinking about how to reject me formed a lump in my throat. Never in my life did I feel rejected and unwanted.

I do not know why of all the people, it is my mate who doesn’t want me.

***

“Argh! I hate doing this stuff!” Kelsie complained while I ordered her to do a warm-up exercise.

The wolf ranking is already announced to the whole pack. Most are excited, while others feel anxious.

Today is the first day. In the first week of the training, everyone is ordered to train from their respective quarters. This is more like a warm-up to the upcoming tests that we will face.

I understand. This test may change the course of their lives and the lives of future generations.

The fact that this test started because of me and my ego, made me feel guilty. However, just like most of the members of the pack, I also want to prove something to someone.

I stare at Kelsie. Her hair is tied in a clean bun, making her collarbones and neck fully exposed. Her milk skin is now covered in sweat and some strands of her hair fall on the sides of her face.

Her annoyed expression made me bite my inner cheeks to stop myself from smiling.

“Do it properly,” I commanded.

She glared at me.

“Stop bossing me around. You are not the one standing under the sun!” she yelled.

She’s currently warming up, doing soft exercises to prepare her body on the upcoming tests.

“How about you start getting serious, so you won’t stay longer there?” I yelled back.

She doesn’t really need to join since this test is for her to find her mate. But, of course, it would be unfair to the pack members if she won’t join the training. Also, I know that even though she doesn’t get along with most of the members of our pack, she cares to the well-being of the whole.

To be fair, if not with the hidden agenda of this test, I must say that this wolf-ranking is vital in our pack. Skills and abilities should be the ones to consider on what role should they play and contribute in the pack.

I am standing under the tree. Its leaves form a shade on the ground to shield me from the striking heat of the sun.

“Coming from someone who is hiding under the shadow of a f*cking tree!” she yelled back

I frowned. “Words,” I warned and narrowed my eyes at her.

I do not like when she cussed. It doesn’t suit her angelic-dolled-like face.

Good thing she decided not to argue with me anymore. She’s probably tired of all these exercises.

“You’re a Scout, you should enhance your endurance and social skills,” I say. She ignored me and focused on stretching her arms.

It took us almost half a day to finish her exercises.

“Good job!” I greeted. I walk towards her, meeting her in the middle. Her hair looks dumped now because of the sweat and her chest is moving up and down. I raised my hand with an open palm, asking her for a high five.

She stared at it for a second. Out of a sudden, the sides of her lips stretch so that it almost reaches her ears.

My heart skipped for a second. Since when did she smile this way?

I thought she’s started getting uncomfortable with me, but not until I heard what she said next.

She accepted my high-five and stand inches from me. “Thanks! But I have something to tell you,”

“What?” I said while I playfully mess her hair, trying to help her freshen up.

“I, Kelsie Audenzia Tamaska, rejects you as my mate.”

My jaw dropped at what he said. I stared at her, expressionless. Her eyes and lips are both smiling as if what she said wasn’t a big deal.

“I thought hardly of it while doing my exercises. And I think you’re right. I need to do things seriously now. I will focus on finding my mate, and I hope you will find one too. Thank you, Connor! It’s been a pleasure being your mate for about…” she tilts her head. Her eyes looked at the upper corner of her eyes, thinking. “… for about a week? Yeah, right! That’s it. A week!” she said, still unsure of her statement.

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Unedited. English is not my first language. My apologies for the grammar, sentence construction, and wrong spelling.

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Once A Princess, Now A Slave

By: Joanne Cristel

©2023