The Lonely prince's mate

Introducing a new alpha

Zelenia POV

Strolling through the forest and back towards the party, I held on to Alex’s hand tightly. I could feel his nervousness through our bond, seeing so many faces from his childhood had him on edge, even though he was one of the strongest wolves around, deep down he still saw himself as the little boy who had grown up being beaten down by these bullies.

We emerged from behind a tree, re-joining the party and receiving stares and whispers of gossip as we passed groups of people, even without werewolf hearing I would have been able to hear them, they were not quiet about their thoughts in the slightest.

People’s thoughts were what rang out to me the most though, voicing the comments that they dare not say out loud. Numerous of the promiscuous unmated she wolves’ thoughts revolved around their plans to seduce my mate, how stupid could they really be? Others wondered who the mysterious male was and a few thought he looked familiar, but could not place him.

I stood in front of the pack on a make shift stage, silencing the members with my raised hand.

“Good evening, I am glad to see you were all able to join us tonight.” I began. “As you all know I have had some…” I paused. “Problems with previous mates, but I am ecstatic to announce that I have finally found my true, destined mate.”

An applause echoed around the gardens and I could feel the happiness from a lot, but not all of the pack members, before I continued with my speech.

“I would also like you all to join me in thanking the moon goddess for blessing us with our first litter of pups. Your future alpha.”

Alex pulled me to his side proudly, yet protectively as another thunderous applause erupted amongst the gasps of our audience. I held my hand in the air, asking for their silence and attention.

“Thank you, we are overwhelmed with joy, but I would like to make one last announcement.” I said, turning to Alex to mouth an apology before I made my announcement. “With my pregnancy, I will undoubtedly have other commitments and as of this moment, I am stepping down as alpha.” Gasps and cries came from the crowd, and Alex frowned at me in confusion. “I will be passing on the role of alpha to my mate, and I will be taking my role as your Luna.”

I ignored Alex’s stunned expression, his jaw nearly making contact with the floor as I spoke my final words.

“I would like you all to welcome my new mate and your alpha. Alpha Alexander Duncan.”

More gasps and shocked expressions appeared throughout the crowd of onlookers, confused stares were being thrown from pack member to pack member. The longer serving members wondering whether, it was the same Alex Duncan who had formally been terrorised by their former alpha, and the newer ones wondering, why everyone seemed so fazed by the news.

“I know he has been away for many years, but I expect you all to make amends for the way he was previously treated within this pack. He is your alpha now, and any disrespect towards our family will be dealt with, with severe punishment.” I said loudly and clearly. “I trust you hear me, there will be no exceptions to this rule. Now, let’s enjoy the rest of this evening.”

Alex’s POV

Everything was a blur of confusion as we vacated the stage, Nia’s announcement had sent me into a state of shocked anxiety. I had never even wanted to return to this pack, let alone lead it.

Looking at the sea of faces, I recognised a few. Some looking apologetic, small wary smiles gracing their remorseful faces. Others that looked unrepentant, sneers and glares being shot at me like I was the one who had wronged them.

I much preferred the pack members I didn’t know, at least with them it was a fresh start. They only knew me as their new alpha, not the pack’s former punching bag. Receiving from them nothing but respectful bows and friendly greetings.

I don’t know how or when we got in here, but we were all sitting in the alpha’s office, now my office.

“Alex please say something sweetheart.” Zelenia rubbed my back soothingly.

“I…I…” I began, still shocked. “You could have given me a warning Nia.”

“I know baby, but I know you would have fought me on it.”

“Of course I would have fought you on it, I have no f*****g experience in running a bloody pack!” I hissed at her, regretting it straight away when my head erupted into the worse pain I had ever experienced.

“Don’t you f*****g take that tone with me Alexander!”

“I’m sorry baby.” I cooed, still holding my throbbing head, while trying to calm her very short temper. “Calm down, please. Don’t get stressed, think of the babies.”

Nick looked between us, his expression seemed to be that of an amused one.

“Babies? How many exactly?”

No one answered him out loud, but I didn’t miss Lycus’ mouthing of ‘five’.

“Wow, someone was busy.” Nick smirked at me.

I shrugged and nodded. I wasn’t ashamed of my family, or embarrassed at how they were created.

“Anyway back to the business in hand…” Zelenia began. “With the babies coming, I have come to the realisation that there is no way in hell that I am going to be able to keep up with pack business.” She looked up at me from her seat, her eyelashes batting, she always knew how to get around me. “Alex, my love. You know the health of the pups should come first, keeping my stress levels down right now is the only way to ensure their safety.”

“I know Nia, but…” She cut me off.

“And Lycus and Nick are here to help you.” She looked between the two of them as they nodded.

“Well I suppose I have a lot to learn then.” I conceded with a long sigh.

I looked down at my beautiful mate, the huge smile on her face making her glow more than she already was.

I watched her as she raised to her feet, leaving the room in search of Harriet and Sara, until the door was fully closed. My forced smile turning to an irritated expression.

“Dude, you are so whipped!”

Nick laughed and agreed with Lycus’ comment, earning a glare from me, but I wouldn’t admit that I knew it too. She had me wrapped around her little finger, and I highly doubted that this would be the last time I would agree to something I disagreed with, just to please her.

The next day I had sat with Lycus and Nick for ten hours, going through the pack’s finances and businesses. I hadn’t realised just how many businesses the pack owned and exactly how wealthy it was. Lycus had told me that forty percent of the wealth had been made in the last year, for a girl who had no education, Zelenia certainly had an eye for business.

My eyes widened as I read through the list of companies we owned, finding some of the richest businesses on the list. I was proud of my girl, in less than a year she had worked so hard. Running the pack as well as splitting her time in the kingdom, it couldn’t have been easy. I understood now why she saw the need to give up the position, for the sake of our pups.

The day had exhausted me, the constant reading of paperwork made my eyes gritty and blurry. I was just coming from the office, my foot rested on the first step as I started the ascent to my room.

“Oh, alpha.” A sickly sweet voice sung out. “May I speak to you for a moment?”

I turned with annoyance, my priority was to spend the rest of my evening curled up with my mate and unborn pups.

“Yes?” I huffed as I faced the young woman, I recognised her from our first arrival, her dark, fringed hair slightly swayed around her shoulders as she sashayed towards me. I visibly rolled my eyes as I caught sight of the short dress that strongly resembled a negligée.

“What can I help you with…?” I waited for her to fill in the blank that was her name.

“Angelica, alpha.” She said in a false innocent tone, but I knew she was anything, but.

“Right, Angelica. Is this important or can it wait until tomorrow?” I asked in a bored tone.

I watched her cautiously as she started to invade my space a little too much, her fingers began to trace small circles on the hand that I had rested on the oak banister.

“Well alpha…” She started, her big brown eyes sparkled with danger and mischief. “I thought that maybe tomorrow…” She bit her lip seductively before looking up at me through her false eyelashes. “I could give you a tour of the pack. I am especially proud of the decoration of my bedroom.” She smirked. “If you know what I mean?”

Of course I knew what she meant! I ripped my hand from under hers and growled.

“I suggest you go and try your luck somewhere else girl! I am not interested in anyone but my mate.”

“We’ll see…” She sung confidently. “The offer’s there when you come to your senses…Alpha.” She breathed out the last word sexily.  

Zelenia POV

I covered my scent as I witnessed the interaction between my mate and the little trollop attempting to seduce him.

I vaguely remembered Angelica, I had only met her once before travelling to the kingdom and that was only to interview her for a place in our pack, obviously I had been duped into trusting her.

Her story was not an uncommon one, when her mother had been killed, her parents’ mate bond was severed. It had left her father irrational and slowly insanity began to set in. He knew he could not care for his daughter in the way she should have been cared for, so he left her with a family friend. 

The friend was a rogue, cast out of their pack after he was deemed unworthy of his mate, the alpha’s daughter. But he was a good man and raised her for the sake of his friend. As Angelica grew older, however, so did her unmated guardian’s attraction for her. She had ran one night, escaping from the unwanted advances he had made towards her, leaving her alone and with nowhere to go.

When Angelica had finished telling me her story, it all rang true as I trawled through her thoughts, but here she was now, after been warned, attempting to entice my mate into her bed.

“She’s been very impatient awaiting your return, she’s been very persistent with her enquiries of you.” Nick announced in a low voice as he appeared behind me.

“And here she is, more interested in Alex? What do you make of her?” I questioned.

“There’s something off about her, Zel. I don’t trust her.”

“Was I wrong to welcome her into the pack?”

“I’m afraid to say, on this occasion, you just might have been.” I nodded at his admission. “You might have to keep an eye on that one.”

I watched as she sashayed away from my mate, her slutty outfit showing the underside of her arse cheeks with every hip flick that she gave.

"Don't worry, I fully intend to."