My Claimed Mermaid Queen

Chapter Eleven

Luna Princess Ayla

I was feeling nervous as we all sat down for dinner. I didn't know how my father was going to react to any of the news I had to share with him. I no longer had a baby in my arms to distract me. I picked at my food, even though I was hungry, but I also felt nauseous.

"Nate, how's the pack? Have you chosen a Beta yet?" Nate's father asked him.

"I have two. Xander and Christian." Nate answered.

"Xander, as in Ayla's mermaid friend?" Ruby asked and Nate's chest grumbled.

"Xander is a commander in the Western army. He and his warriors patrol the bay, while the wolves handle the land border." I explained. Everyone stopped eating and looked at me. "What, I listen. I'm just not obedient," I defended.

"Neither is your father," Thea said under her breath.

"It's a good thing I'm the boss," my father retorted and I laughed.

"So, not good at fetch then?" I smirked. My father grumbled while the table roared in laughter.

"Oh, come on old man, that was funny," I teased him.

"She also has your smart mouth," Jim chuckled. I smiled, liking how much alike I am to my father.

"And how have you been, my dear," Claire, Jim's mate and my grandmother asked.

"I've been okay. Nate won't let me do much, no matter how much I protest."

"The doctor told you to rest. I'm just following orders," he huffed.

"Men. They always think they know best," she patted my hand.

“In this case I am,” Nate said smugly.

“So, damn cocky,” I glared at him and he chuckled. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple.

“We have stories,” Mitch announced.

“Yes,” I exclaimed. And Nate groaned.

“I’m just following the doctor's orders,” I shrugged. I looked at him and batted my lashes. He didn't have a chance to say anything as my phone rang in my pocket. I pulled it out to see it was Silas.

"Excuse me," I left the kitchen before I answered.

"Silas, is everything okay?"

"Ayla, where are you? We are all here."

"Where is here?"

"At your pack. Xander won't say where you and Nate are. I called to find out what the hell is going on."

"I didn't know you were coming to the pack. Nate and I left this afternoon. We are visiting our families. Why are you at the pack?"

"Xander told us he needed to speak to us about new information he found. Did they not tell you?" I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"No."

"It's bad, princess. They were selling kids. The alpha that Nate killed was selling mermaid kids," I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand.

"f**k, I got to go, princess. I'll call you later," he ended the call.

Lorelei gave me the green light but Xander and Nate didn't explain anything to me. We had the entire drive here for him to explain to me what the hell was going on.

"But you were worried about telling your father about your mother. Our mate doesn't want to stress us. He's worried about the baby," she whimpered. I took a few deep breaths as I rubbed my lower belly. I looked in a mirror in the hallway and wiped the tears from my eyes. I couldn't go back in there looking upset.

I squared my shoulders and walked back into the kitchen. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.

"Is everything okay?" Nate asked me when I took my seat beside him.

"Yeah, of course. It was just Silas," I brushed it off.

"Silas? The guy Andrea wanted to marry you off too?" My father asked and Nate's chest rumbled.

"I had forgotten about that." I chuckled.

"Oh, who is he?" Rudy prided.

"Silas is the prince of the Northern kingdom. And no, Ruby, just no," I shook my head and she giggled.

"Oh come on, I'm just curious. You have this god of a king come in here, and we learn he is your ex. And you always have at least one hotty around you."

"Ruby," Nate growled in warning. I grabbed his thigh.

"First, I didn't know he was a king. Not that that matters. Second, these are the future kings that I work with. The joys of being the only princess. And third, those guys are warriors. If I could be left alone, I would. And your brother is sexy as f**k. Even the mermaid goddess was checking him out."

"That was true?" Mitch exclaimed.

"Told you," Nate smirked and I chuckled.

"Kaia almost got me killed when she growled at her."

"You growled at a goddess for my brother? You must really love him."

"Mitch, there is still time to run," Nate told his friend, and I smacked his chest.

"She's teasing you." Ruby tapped her nose and smiled at her brother.

"Ayla, you should write a book in all this free time," Ruby smiled at me.

"I'd read that," Elizabeth breathed out.

"Me too," Thea chimed in. I laughed at the look on my father's face.

"It's okay, Dad, I'll keep all my dirty thoughts to myself," I chuckled and he grumbled.

"Ruby, leave your brother alone," their father scolded.

"And Nate, you're an alpha now, suck it up,"

"What the hell did I do?" Nate exclaimed and I snickered beside him. This was the first real family meal I've had, and I loved every minute of it. The banter, the laughter. This is the kind of family I wanted for my little one.

"Sweetie, we had the pool filled with seawater, so you can swim. Also, Rosie would like you to take her swimming. She's very excited about seeing a real-life mermaid." My father said. My eyes filled with tears and guilt twisted my stomach painfully.

"Dad, I need to talk to you," I blurted.

"Ayla," Nate grabbed my arm as I stood up from my seat.

"I'm fine," I shook off his grip.

"Let's talk outside," my father stood up from his seat and I followed him out the back door.

I walked over to the pool, and he took a seat on one of the lounge chairs. I sat down beside the pool and splashed my hand through the cool salt water.

"I need to tell you something about Mom," I mumbled, unable to look at him.

"What did she do now?' he sighed.

"She died," I whispered.

"Ayla, you know your mother. She probably ran away again." I looked at him.

"I was there, Dad, I watched," I choked. "Please, don't hate me." I cried. I buried my face against my thighs as I wrapped my arms around my legs. I couldn't stop the sobs. Remembering that day, ripped a hole in my heart. I couldn't do anything to save her. I felt strong arms wrap around me.

"It's not your fault, Sweetie."

"I watched her die. I couldn't stop the bleeding. I couldn't save her," I sobbed as he held me.

"Ayla, tell me what happened?" I wiped my face before I looked at him. He was sitting with his legs around me, his feet in the pool.

"Mom came to the pack. She was in rough shape. I think her claim was abusing her. I didn't know she was in labor."

"She gave birth?" I nodded.

"She bled out, and I had to pull out my sister. She died coming to warn me about her claim. This guy named Noah. She also told me not to trust anyone."

"And the baby?"

"Matt and Julie adopted her. I told them not to say anything to you. I needed to be the one to tell you. I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me?" I stammered.

"I could never hate you, Ayla. Your mother made her own choices. I'm glad you were there for her in the end. She may not have shown it, but I knew she loved you."