His One and Only Mate

Chapter 3

It takes me longer to exit from my room than usual. Once I step out, I’ll have to play the part of Princess Alina Paxton with all the visitors we have staying with us, which basically means I have to think before I act or speak, and definitely not run around barefoot.

Ready for this day to be over with, I reluctantly change out of my PJ’s and into a day dress, on that is befitting for my station. Most days, I can wear pants, or heck, sweat pants and a loose t-shirt, but dad always says that we should look our best when we have company. I pull my hair up then squeeze my toes into some loose flats, hating the feel of them being cramped up. I’m already placing bets on myself on how long it’ll take to kick them off.

Mom and dad should be in the throne room holding court, since it’ll be postponed for the next few days, so I’m on my own for the morning. I take my time wondering down the halls and stairs, enjoying my little bit of freedom. After I proved I could have my magic under control, dad has let me wander the castle unattended, but of course, you’re never truly alone in a full functioning castle.

I say a few quick ‘hello’s’ to the staff I pass by and finally make it to my destination. I open up the double doors that leads to our smaller of the two kitchens in our home.

“And then I tripped her with the staff Sven got me! You should have seen her faceplant, Tink!”

I mentally groan as I walk in, seeing Tink and a few other brownies huddled around the breakfast bar, giggling and feeding the birthday boy a mountain of pancakes. “Glad I can amuse you all….”

Their laughs turn to smiles and a couple of curtseys as I sit next to Micah, and Tink immediately places a small bowl of fruit in front of me. “Good morning, Alina. Would you like some pancakes as well?”

Stuffing a strawberry in my mouth, I glance over to Micah, who’s shoving half a pancake in his, complete with syrup running down his chin. I make a face and force myself to swallow the fruit. “I think I lost my appetite.”

“Oh, hogwash!” Tink singsongs, turning around and starts working on the stove. “At least have small omelette!”

I want to say no, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Tink is my mom’s best friend, and I have been to my fair share of sleepovers with her. I love her, but she always feeds me until I pop.

While Micah blubbers incoherent words while eating, I glance at the empty stool next to me. Ever since Acker moved his family to their house outside the castle walls, Caden and Micah would come to breakfast a few days out of the week. The three of us would laugh and talk with Tink and the other staff before our lessons started. We were in a fun routine for years, but that seat has been empty for months now.

“So, what do ya think?” Micah says on another mouthful of food.

“I think you should be banned from the kitchen while talking with your mouth full.” Tink saunters over smiling while placing a small cheese and bacon omelette in front of me. It smells like heaven. “Thanks, Tink. How come you’re cooking? I thought you would be hustling and bustling all over wonder boy’s banquet hall for the party?”

She wipes her hands and takes off her apron. “You act like I haven’t been doing just that,” she says with a smirk, popping out of the room right after.

“She’s done that at least 6 times since I came in here. Makes me three pancakes, poof! Gone. Comes back, makes three more. I wish I could do that…. man, it would save a lot of time walking from the house to here. These pancakes make mom’s taste like cardboard!” Just as I start to laugh, he realizes what he said and aims the fork in my direction. “Tell her that, and you’re dead.”

I raise my hands up then start snacking on my own food again. “Shouldn’t you be eating at the buffet with your guests? I think like half of them are already here with their ‘rents.”

“Umm, no.” He picks up his now empty plate and heads to the sink, turning on the water to wash it off. “I’m the guest of honor. I have to wait for my ‘grand entrance’ before they see me.”

“Because that makes sense,” I laugh out. “So what, you’re just gonna hide out in the castle until your party tonight?”

Once he turns around, drying off his hands, I see that little evil glint in his eyes. The one that says I’m not going to like his ideas. “I was thinking the stables….”

“And why would we go to the stables?” Because I already know I’m involved in this….

“A little Tink told me most of the teens were instructed to take care of the horses by their parents, but mostly so people can get to know one another so it won’t be so awkward tonight.” Before I can say another word, he rubs his hands together and looks around to make sure no one is listening. “Let’s play a little recon…”

“Meaning….”

“Lets see who all our parents invited… go incognito.”

He elongated the ‘o’ in incognito and I give him a dead pan look. “Spy?”

He rolls his eyes. “Spying is such a negative word… I’m thinking more like, seeing how everyone acts outside the party- if they put on a mask or not when we meet them tonight.”

I think for a second, trying to visualize us actually doing this. I polish off my own plate and take it to the sink next to him. “Why do you care though?” I turn around, resting against the sink, waiting for his answer. Being raised as a royal and him raised as a Beta’s son, we’ve known that people like to suck up and show their fake selves to us more than not. It’s nothing new. But, I also want him to admit out loud how he’s really feeling.

“You’ve been reading my aura, haven’t you?”

My eyes slightly bug out as I go to shake my head, but I just shrug and let out a breath. “Can’t help it….. sorry,” I say lamely.

He drapes an arm across my shoulders, letting out a groan, and ushers me out of the kitchen. “You know I love hanging out with you, Alina. You’re my best friend… but, since Caden has been, whatever he’s been, I kinda want to see if there are others I can connect with.”

I huff, even though he’s right in his feelings. “I know. I don’t blame you. Especially now since our studies are going in different directions. And I know me going to Amelia’s every now and then doesn’t help.” We make our way through the front courtyard of the castle. The sun is warm and several groups are out admiring the landscape. The gardener’s finished the day before yesterday, and every bush, flower, and pebble are perfectly placed and in full bloom.

“Exactly. All I know is that our moms sent out invitations for kids 10-18 in our kingdom. You would think at least one would take up interests in the investments and political ties of the kingdom.” A small snort comes out when I fail at holding back. “Don’t laugh!” he scolds, but smiles just the same. “Seriously. It may only be about 40 kids total, but mom and dad said if I found anyone truly interested, we could invite them to study at the castle, and I could travel to their town as well.”

“Really? That would be great!” And not to mention, a great opportunity to that person. We have some of the best scholars available and it would open a lot of doors working directly in the castle.

“Plus, don’t you want to see what Caden is up to?

Now that has my attention. “W-why is he at the stables?” As if I didn’t know. It’s only out of habit that has me trying to find out his schedule from Reggie and Nate.

Micah puts on a smirk and ushers us in the direction of the stables. “Dad put him on the welcoming crew, so I’m sure he’ll be there helping with the carriages and horses.” I stop, thinking that this will be a good opportunity to see him on his own turf. I hardly ever get to see him train anymore, since his schedule conflicts with mine. Maybe I could even find a chance to talk to him! “So…. Are you willing to perform best friend duties and help me scope out some potential friends?” I pretend to pull a face, then hike up my dress and start running towards the stables, which is about a half mile out. Soon enough both of us are laughing in a small race. “Hide our scent! You know half of them have had their first shift already!”

I immediately tap into my magic, closing off both of our scents. As soon as the stables come into view, we slow down to catch our breaths. The way long barn is shaped, the stable only has two entrances/exits, minus the cut out windows of the second story hay stock, so immediately I know that’s probably going to be our best way to hide.

Once we reach the building, Micah starts looking around, seeing which side we should enter from. We can hear voices of inside the stables, but unsure of which end they are coming from. I make sure no one is around, because one, I’m technically not supposed to be doing magic when alone, and for two, I don’t want to embarrass Micah, knowing he’s afraid of heights. I quickly hug him and focus on the air. “N-no, no no no!” he whisper yells, then I hear him let out a whine the further up we go. It’s hard not to laugh right now, but I have to remain focused.

I reach the window, and immediately put his feet on the ground. “You could have at least warned me,” he hisses.

“It was the fastest and easiest way, and you know it!” I whisper, already tip toeing around the small bundles of hay up here.

We take our time, making sure the thin floor board doesn’t creak with our steps, as we follow the voices on the left end of the stables. The hay thins out as we get closer to the entrance, and we can see the tops of a few of the huddled up kids.

“Great, I can barely see anything.” Micah strains his neck, but it’s futile. More than half the group are underneath us.

Since we’ve come this far, I try to think fast. I look to the opposite end of our floor, seeing big bales of hay stacked up on each other. I look back down and see the last stall with my favorite pony, Boots, sleeping in a corner, making me smile. “Hang on,” I say as I grab a hold of his arm.

He mumbles some half prayers as I send a blast towards the hay, knocking it down to the first floor.

“What was that!?!”

With sudden footsteps and people talking loudly, I make us jump, and use the energy around us to quickly swoop us into the horse’s stall, almost as fast as a fae’s sift. Just as Boots jolts awake, I rush and place a calming spell on her, ushering her into a peaceful sleep. I brush her neck with my hand then stand, seeing Micah already on his tip toes to look above the stall door. I roll my eyes and pick up a crate and gently put it to the ground, before getting myself one.

We watch as half the group comes back towards this side, not really caring to help clean up, just to start their idle gossip. While searching out for Caden, I hear comments about our castle, what dresses the girls are wearing, some combat training later, and other stuff I’m really not interested in. I look over and see Micah with a faint blush, and follow his gaze to see him looking at a really pretty blonde girl, who’s shyly laughing with a couple of people furthest away from us. I internally shake my head and smile about. Just about every girl here is taller than him.

“Oh, there’s the Beta’s son!” one of the older looking girls says excitedly and I look back over just in time to see a shirtless Caden lifting a large haybale and directing the line of guys to get everything back up to the top.

I start to feel warm and I know I’m blushing. I’ve seen Caden without his shirt on countless times before, but this is definitely the first time I’ve looked at him without him knowing. Even though he’s leaner than most of the men in the guard, his muscles are no less defined. Ohmygod! He just did that hair swoopy thing! He must’ve been working all morning because he’s already developed a sheen of sweat. Two years ago, I would have rushed to him with a water and scolded him to take a break. Now I just have to watch from afar as he pushes himself harder each time I see him.

….. his face looks so empty…

“He’s so hot!” The obnoxious giggling snaps me out of my own googling, and one of the girls yanks down her top to expose her cleavage and actually pushes her boobs up as if that will help them stay there. I know jealousy starts to creep in, especially with all the things I would like to say are highly inappropriate, but also because I’m not so blessed in that department. Guy like boobs, right?

“Yo Caden!” one of the guys says and he looks over with a blank face. “Orion- remember me from boot camp last year?” he then turns to the group. “This guy kicks major ass! Wins almost all the events during festivals.

I watch as he approaches the group. “Hey guys.” Caden shakes hands with several of the guys and nods to the group of girls. The blonde one with big boobs smiles brightly at him, waving her fingers… yes fingers… and I have to cover my mouth from laughing because her caked on lipstick is all over her teeth.

Micah pokes me in the ribs and I glare at him, but we both quickly panic as we hear the stall door unlatch. As swiftly and quietly as we can, we get off our boxes and try to smush ourselves into the corner, hoping to blend in with the walls.

Just as the door starts to open and my heart bursts out of my chest, I hear the guys start talking again. “You already checked on that one earlier,” says some random.

“Oh… right.”

Another guy laughs. “You’re training too hard dude. That’s like the 3rd time you’ve gone to the same stall.” I hear the latch go back into place.

“Man I couldn’t do all that Beta training. It’s like you really don’t get any time off.” I concur random boy #2.

“But the chicks man! Am I right?”

“I take offense to that!” a girl peeps.

“I bet your mate wouldn’t want such a horndog as life partner,” another girl softly speaks. I bet all my magic that it was the blonde Micah was eyeing.

“Mates? Psh, it could be decades before I find her! Hell, it took my dad over 100 to find my mom. You expect me to remain celibate? Dream on, Layla.”

“Hell no!” a few guys agree. Ugh, stupid teenage boys.

“And it’s not like they can hold it against us. What about you, Mr. Beta? Half the girls been oogling you since they got here. You gonna have fun, or do you have someone special in your life?”

I stop breathing as I anticipate his answer. He knows we’re mates! I know he knows! My ears pulse the longer the silence goes on. I thought I was going to faint until he finally clears his throat.

“Um… no… no one.”

“Whoa, is that thunder?” Gray clouds start to gather in the sky as a pit forms in my chest. “It’s not supposed to rain today.” Micah pulls me into a tight embrace as my first tear leaks down my cheek. “Dammit, we’re supposed to train with the guard today!”

I take a shuddering breath and close my eyes. Your magic doesn’t control you. Focus, Alina. You can’t let your emotions take over.

The thunder is still there, but when I open my eyes back up, the clouds aren’t nearly as dark as they were. A horn sounds from the entrance of the castle.

“More guests are arriving. If you’re not part of the welcoming party, I suggest you go back to the castle. The training games aren’t until later this afternoon,” I hear Caden instruct everyone, as if mentioning he didn’t have a mate didn’t faze him in the least.

I hear the stables clearing out and I let out my first sniff into Micah’s shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Alina,” he whispers and rubbing my back. After a minute, he takes the lead, grabbing my hand and walking us out of the stall.

I don’t know how to react. I haven’t felt this lost before, even when Caden told me to grow up. Why is this happening?