Alpha Prince's Legendary Mate

1. Birthday

I opened my eyes to another day of my boring, pathetic life. How boring my life is, you may ask. Well… I have only one friend, and the rest of the people at college doesn't even invite me to their parties where all the other students are invited. Other than making fun of me and insulting me, they have nothing to do with me.

You may wonder what it is wrong with me for them to treat me like that. Even I am still trying to find the answer for that.

I am just an average girl you would meet in everyday life. Nothing special… I have lovely golden locks and blue eyes that make me look okay, though I am a bit fat. My parents are from a middle-class family, but they earn enough to live without much of a struggle. I am not a straight-A student, but I score somewhat good results, which keeps me an average student. I never make trouble to anyone. I am more of a mind my own business type of person. Therefore, I don't even know how I ended up being the main target of college bullies.

However, my life was not this pathetic two years earlier. It all started after my 18th birthday. Anyway, it is a story I must tell you later because today we have to do something special as today is the most awaiting day of the year for me. Not because it is my birthday, but it is HIS birthday too…

Both my crush and I have the same birthdays. What a coincidence, isn't it?

I know you all really want to know about my crush, but if I start talking about him, I can go on talking for days. So I would just keep a small introduction about him until you all get to know him better.

He is Ayaan Kleinhaus. The most handsome man on the Earth, at least for me. He is everything a girl would want in a man. He is a super bright student and the captain of the college Rugby team. He is a good speaker, natural leader and a good friend to many. Lecturers admire him, all the boys want to become him, and all the girls want to make him theirs. Also, he is from a super-wealthy and influential family.

He is not just an ordinary guy, but a prince… Yeah… All the girls think of their crushes as princes, but in this case, he is a REAL PRINCE!

He is the only son of the royal family in our state. The heir to the throne!

I think you all can simply realise how powerful and adored he is when I am just average and ignored. You would call me a fool for having a crush on a guy like that, even my best friend Gina does. But what can I do? That's what my heart desires. Or, to be more specific, he is the one my heart is obsessed over.

Enough of the background story. Today I have to do something important. Giving the birthday gift, I prepared for him. So what is that important about sharing a birthday present you would think, just go and give him?

If I go to him and give him this present, he would shove it on my face and insult me in front of everyone. Yeah… That's too depressing when the person you love hates you and bullies you, but that's my destiny.

I am going to keep this gift near his locker. As I told you, he is like everyone's Prince charming, so it is normal to have a pile of gifts near his locker. I wanted to add my present to that pile before anyone could see me; I didn't want any unwanted attention.

So I am planning to go early in the morning before anyone comes near the locker area. Gina should arrive here to get me around 6. 30. I quickly got down from the bed and got ready to go to college.

I wanted to dress something nice since today is a special day. But I really don't have fancy dresses like the girls in my age would have. I usually wear a Tshirt or a blouse with a jean. Today I wore a blue long sleeve blouse which I kept for a special occasion.

After having one final look at myself from the mirror and thinking, what if I could get a bit slim, I went downstairs. There was no one downstairs. There were some sandwiches on the table, and under the plate, there was a small note from mom.

"Happy birthday, honey."

I smiled slightly. We never had parties for my birthday. Honestly, we don't throw parties for anything. We lead a simple life. My dad is always out of town for business work, and my mom is always busy working as a nurse.

It is not that they don't love me, but we don't have a solid bond.

I put the sandwiches in a box and went outside as I heard Gina honking.

"Happy birthday, girly..." she hugged me tightly and gave me a present.

"You shouldn't have, Gina," I said, but my heart filled with joy, thinking how much she cares for me. If she doesn't stay by my side as my shadow, I don't even know how lonely I would be.

"You deserves so much better, Zuri," Gina said while she takes the car to the main road.

****************************

I kept the birthday present near his locker. There were some gifts already. People start to keep presents here since the previous day evening.

I spent a few seconds staring at my gift, which was wrapped in dark blue wrapping paper. All the gifts I gave him so far were covered in the same colour, same design wrapping paper, that's kind of my signature.

This year I gave him a scrapbook filled with his photos from his childhood to the present. I had to surf through the internet and magazine for weeks to find all the required images. However, finally, it turns out pretty, giving value to my effort. I added a small note too.

"My shining star, You are far away from where I am. But every night, I would look at you and feel happy and relaxed. Stay shined for the world every day; I will make my life light up with that."

As usual, I didn't add my name to the note. Just added, From someone who loves you so much.

After that, I eagerly turned to my locker. It was right in front of his locker. I opened the locker with a fast-beating heart. What if it is not there this year? I was thinking… It would surely break my heart.

But it was there as every year since my 16th birthday. This is the fourth consecutive year.

A gift from a secret admirer! I have never observed any boy paying me any attention, so getting a birthday gift is shocking. Gina and I tried to catch who keep this gift here, but we couldn't. It seems like whoever keep this here do that after the college gates are closed in at night.

The gift was nicely wrapped in pink colour wrapping paper. I quickly unwrapped it to see what's inside.

There was a small velvet box and a note. There was a small silver colour chain with a beautiful moonstone pendant inside the box. Tears filled in my eyes when my fingertips touched the pendant. This must be the most elegant gift I ever received from anyone.

I quickly opened the note, wiping out tears…

"You were so strong in the past year. No matter what comes in your way, keep your head up and stay strong." as usual, no signature or the name of the sender…

I hugged the gift box and the note to my chest and closed my eyes for a second. I really wish I could meet whoever sending me these gifts. I want to thank him or her from the bottom of my heart for bringing hope for me to live.

"Zuri… Enough dreaming, let's grab something to eat first." I came to the real world with Gina's pat on my back.

******************************

After having breakfast, we hurried to the locker area again. Ayaan will come to his locker to accept all the gifts he received. That's what usually happens on his birthday.

Around 8, Ayaan came with his friends. He was wearing a Blue Shirt and a pair of denim trousers. He always looks handsome, but today he looks like he just descended from heaven. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. God! How could you make this man so irresistible?

Girls were chanting his name and wishing him.

As usual, he stood in front of the pile of gifts and looked around the crowd, like he is searching for someone. For a second, our eyes met, and I quickly looked down because I had no courage to look at him in the eyes.

"Thank you very much all for your love and gifts." I heard him announced.

Then he bent down and searched through the gifts, again like he's trying to find something. I saw he took my gift in his hand, and a slight but charming smile raised on his lips.

"Take all my gifts to the car," he said to two of his assistants who came with him.

Did I really observed him smiling, looking at my gift, or am I just imagining things?

People started going to him and wishing him. He smiled with all of them and accepted their wishes.

"You are not going there?" Gina asked as in every year.

"Why should I destroy his happiness?" I asked with a smile.

"Your love for him is so selfless, Zuri. I just wish I have someone who loves me like you do." Gina said.

I smiled and put my arm around her shoulder.

"I love you, isn't that enough?" I asked.

"You're not a boy. That's the only problem," she said teasingly.

Gina, my one and only true friend. She is my friend since nursery. Is she an outcast just like me, is that why she became my friend, you would ask.

The answer is no. She is from a wealthy family, and she is a bright student. People don't despise her as they do to me. Still, she doesn't want to do anything with other people. She needs to stay in her own little world without anyone disturbing her.

Doesn't she try to save me from getting bullied? Well… I don't want her involved in that. It just makes her vulnerable too. Also, she can't do anything against my bullies. They are just too much powerful than her.

***********************

After lunch, I went to the library, not to study, but to read some novels. Since Gina is taking a subject for extra credits, she has lectures now. So I needed a way to pass the time.

After spending some time in the library, I went out to go to the washroom. When I was walking along the corridor, I saw Ayaan and his friends entered the hall from a room. They were all shouting and laughing like they own the place. Anyway, he is the Prince of this state and he kind of own the palace, right? However, I hate his i***t friends who act like they are from the royal family too. Those buggers are from rich and powerful families, but they all act this way because they have the crown prince with them, taking care of whatever mess they make.

I quickly turned around to go back, as I didn't want to face this gang alone, leading to lots of problems.

But my luck was not there today; Levy, a friend of his, saw me and shouted at me.

"Potatoe!!!"

I hate that name so much, but that's how most of them call me.

I turned around because going away from them like I didn't hear him would cause a lot more trouble.

"Come!!!" Levy shouted as I turned to them.

I saw how Ayann looked at me when I was walking towards them. His eyes first show anger, and then it converted to sadness… Why he looks sad?

They took me to the canteen.

"Get up on the table." after Ayaan sat on a chair, Sid, another friend of his, asked me to get on the table in front of Ayaan.

God knows what they are up to today.

I got onto the table without any objection. After going through years of insults and bullying, I knew following their orders is better than going against them.

"Now wish prince Ayaan a happy birthday!" Sid commanded.

I looked at Ayaan, who was drinking coke and looking away.

"Happy birthday," I said softly.

"Not like that, b***h. Louder. The whole college must hear you!!!" Sid shouted.

Ayaan was still looking away, so I couldn't read what he thinks about this.

However, I screamed, "Happy birthday!!" as louder as I could.

"Good. Get down and come here." Levy said.

I did what he asked.

Right then, Ayaan got up from where he was sitting.

"We must go; I have to prepare for the party too," he said—his birthday party where most of the students and lecturers are invited, but not me.

"Wait for a few seconds. You must give her some treat for wishing you that louder." Sid shouted at Ayaan, and then he pushed me to Ayaan.

I lost my balance, and I almost fell down when a strong arm holds me and saved me from falling.

Yeah, you guessed it right. That strong arm was Ayaan's. The moment his hand touched my body, I felt my whole body trembled with sensation. I would fell down over and over again if you are going o save me like this, I thought like a fool.

After he made me stand on my feet again, he looked right into my eyes. He seemed so angry, and it bewildered me.

Before I could realise anything, he poured the rest of the liquid on his coke bottle to my head.

I screamed with an unexpected reaction from him. His friends started to laugh hysterically.

"Look at this." Chelsey, Ayaan's current girlfriend, walked to me and touched the moonstone pendant I wore. My birthday gift.

"Ayaan… It looks so nice. I want it." she said in a fake pleading voice.

Ayaan's eyes clouded with pain for a split second, or did I imagine it too?

"Why do you want it? It doesn't even look nice," he said.

"Anyway, I want it. She shouldn't have something fancy like that." Chelsey said she is one of the meanest girls you would ever meet in your life.

I observed how Ayaan released a long sigh.

Anyway, the next second, he snatched the chain from my neck and gave it to Chelsey.

"No!!! Please… I want it back. Take anything you want. Please give me that." I screamed as tears running down my eyes. I couldn't bear losing my birthday gift. The most precious thing I received as a gift.

"You're not getting it back!" Chelsey held my chin with her fingers tightly and yelled at me.

"Please, Chelsy, I beg you," I begged.

"You heard her; you are not getting it back." Ayaan snarled while giving me a burning look.

"Please, Ayaan… Please… Take anything you want. But give me that… Please…" I couldn't continue my begging as Ayaan's palm slapped me on my cheek. It felt like my whole head got vibrated.

"Stop fu**ing pleaded after I said no!!!" he screamed at me.

I would obey his command right away if it was another time, but today I was not ready to give up on my moonstone pendant. I was already in love with it.

"Please… I really need that… Please..." I pleaded.

The next second, Ayaan grabbed me from my neck and started to suffocate me by pressing his fingers on my throat…

"Why the fu** you can't get what I said!!!" he was screaming. I tried to talk, but I couldn't. I was trying so hard to breathe… I felt like my heart and lungs going to explode...

Please don't do this, Ayaan… I would die…

"Stop it!!!" then raised a deep but powerful voice just a few feet away from us.

As soon as Ayaan heard that voice, he released his hands from me and turned in that direction.

Rubbing my aching neck and coughing like crazy, I too looked there.

There was a man who is of the same height and body structure as Ayaan. He looked a bit older and mature than Ayaan. But Ayaan looks more handsome.

He was wearing a Dark blue shirt with white trouser. I don't know his formal attire or what gave him a domineering look he had in his eyes.

However, Ayaan looked like he just saw a ghost. His face has turned white and bloodless…

"You!!" Ayaan screamed.

"Yes, me..." the stranger replied with a wicked smile on his lips.