Rejecting Royalty

2: First loves

"Exactly. He's returned and here you are hiding away instead of welcoming me." I lift my head from my position as I felt goosebumps on my skin. For some reason I felt giddy and excited and happy. My wolf perked up and I could feel her wag her tail in excitement.

I squint my eyes and sit up from my position, looking for him but all I see are endless rows of trees surrounding me.

"Behind you, Princess." I turn around and get up on my feet as fast as I can and jump on him wrapping my arms and legs around him. I momentarily forget the existence of Red as tingles erupt down my spine. My wolf howls in content and happiness and that's when it all finally clicked.

"Mate." He whispers so softly, that I almost did not hear him. An overwhelming sense of emotion engulfed me and I reveled in it. Mother always told me that mates are the best things you can find but that we can live without them, I don’t think I’d ever want to live without Henry around. I don’t even want to imagine it now that I know we are mates but I wouldn’t put it past mother. She says her first mate rejected her because she was a hybrid but only later to find out that he was already married with a son. Apparently, my father was not her mate but a close friend—not that I believe it cause what friend doesn’t want to talk about them? She never talks to me about my father.

"Did you know? All these years...." I ask talking about how werewolves find their mate at 16. He's a year older than me, he should have known then.

"I had my suspicions." He answers gently pulling away from me. I give him a smile and he returns it while he gently caresses my face, my stomach is in flips and my heart would not stop racing but it was a welcome feeling.

"I'm loving this and all but since when did you two become so close?" Red interrupts, giving us a teasing smile.

"Hello to you too Red." Henry says placing his arms around my waist and pulls me close. I bite my lips to prevent a laugh from bubbling out of me. The tingles and sparks that erupt when we come into contact is just unbelievable.

"Hello, Mr. Future Alpha Henry sir! also, goodbye for I shall leave you with your mate and wallow in self-pity for having not found mine yet." Red replies giving us a fake salute and heads back to only she knows where. I sigh and silently pray that she finds her mate soon. She’s always dreamed of finding mate.

"Wait, you shouldn't be here! You have guests to welcome!" I remind him slightly panicking at the thought of the Alpha looking for him here. He tightens his hold around my waist and lays a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"No, we have guests to welcome." We? I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion and turn to look at him but instead, no words would leave my mouth. His light brown hair seems to be glowing under the warn sunlight and his dark brown eyes were shining with mirth. The gentle breeze tousles his hair all over the place making him look like he just stepped out of a modeling ad; also the fact that he was wearing a white muscle shirt and dark jean was not helping in anyway.

"Hello? Sapphire? Princess?" I snap out of my day dreams and blink three times to get myself back to reality. I see Henry stare at me in amusement as he flicks my forehead. I wonder, would I be over reacting if I said that tiny flick made me feel all tingly and warm inside? My wolf just feels content and satisfied so I allowed myself this pleasure.

"Pictures last longer you know." I lower my heart in embarrassment at being caught and tried to digress.

"Shut up! And stop calling me princess, people might misunderstand you." I explain giving him a playful glare.

"Why not? You're my princess anyway.” I cringe internally at his cheesiness, a small part of me would not admit that I actually liked being called his princess. His. I am his and he is mine.

"Well everyone in the pack calls me princess to mock me..." I trail off cautiously and as expected, a frown overtook his beautiful features.

"Why would they mock you? How long has this been happening? What the hell is wrong with the pack? Who are these people!" He huffed out and increased the pressure of his hand on my waist. I winced as it was starting to hurt but he was so lost in thought that he didn't notice.

"Henry." I placed my hands on his chest and rubbed them up and down hoping it would calm him but it didn't work.

"How dare they do that to you! I was gone just for four years!" I raise my eyebrows not exactly understanding how his being gone relates to this.

"Henry!" Still nothing.

'Blu, I need you to help me.' I said to my wolf who has been silently happy in her own spirit world.

All of a sudden Henry let go of me and stared at me horrified.

"s**t! I'm sorry! I didn't realize- s**t! Are you okay?" I nodded my head and rubbed my waist to ease the pressure. I could feel it starting to bruise but he doesn't have to know that.

"I'm okay Henry. Also, to answer your question, they mocked me because I have the same name as the lost princess. This has been happening since I can remember and it might just be harmless fun really but I don't like it so-" before I could finish I found myself in his arms as he buried his face in my neck.

"I'm sorry, I hurt you." I shake my head and place my hands around his hard torso.

"You didn't mean to, plus I bet your wolf is whining."

"Yep, he gave me a bark full of threats to pull me out of my thoughts. It's amazing how our wolves are easily connected in their own world." I nod in agreement and look around us once more.

"Henry, how do we tell the Alpha about being mates? He never really liked me." I bite my lower lip and give him an apprehensive look. No matter the Alpha's reaction, I'll fight for my mate.

"We walk up to him and tell him. He has to accept you if he still wants a son." He said determined as he took my hands in his.

"When?" I ask weaving my fingers through his. The calm that settled over me instantaneously is amazing.

"Tonight. During the party when they will announce my return, I'll announce our mating." My eyes widen. The alpha specifically told us to stay in the woods. Well not specifically more like he strongly hinted.

"Henry, I don't think today is the right moment. I mean your father-"

"To hell with his orders. You're the future luna of this pack. You have the right to be at the party. Omega or not you are still part of the pack. You are also my equal in every way." My heart warmed at his words as I lock my arms around his waist and pulled him close to me into a hug.

This may just be the best moment in my life.

~.~

Henry and I approach the open field holding the celebrations hand in hand when we were stopped by a strong presence.

The alpha.

We didn't even notice him approaching us. We were so lost in our own world.

"Son, I've been looking for you. We have guests arriving minutes from now, why are you here-" He glances at our entwined hands, his face showing no sort of emotion "playing with your friend?" He finishes condescendingly.

My wolf huffs at his tone while I try to pull my hand away from his but Henry held mine in place making my wolf purr affectionately for her mate.

"Sapphire is my mate father." Henry answers in a strong tone probably not liking the fact that his father openly showed his disapproval.

"Oh, really now?" The alpha belts out a humorless laugh and shakes his head and glared at me. I felt my wolf bristle and position herself in a defensive stance while I try to hold her reigns down.

In a split second I was behind Henry as he himself took a defensive stance in-front of me.

"Father it would be wise if you remember you're disrespecting your future Luna."

Henry and Alpha Warrick goes into a silent stare down which my mate eventually loses. My wolf buckles at the thought and growls at Alpha which I could not reign in.

"Did you just growl at me?" He questions but I was still blocked by Henry's back; something I was quite relieved about before any of us could say a word, Luna Questa comes running towards us with a smile .

"Warrick, Henry what are you doing here? The Kerberos pack just entered the gates, we have to be there to- oh hello Sapphire!" I peek out from behind Henry and smile at the Luna. She was a beautiful petite lady who looks like my mother. Long black hair, pretty blue eyes and a charming personality.

"This isn't over!" The alpha demands, walking away with the Luna following after him. She knew better than anyone not to ask questions when the alpha is in one of his moods-- which is all the time.

Henry turns to me and pulls me towards him. "I'm really sorry about everything, Princess. But we'll sort this out, why don't we just go-" I cut him short seeing one of the warriors coming near us.

"We should pick our battles Henry. Let's move the introductions and proclamations next time. You have to go and welcome the Kerberos pack. We'll figure this out soon. I'll always be here anyway." I smile and step back pushing him towards the warrior who was probably tasked to call him. I felt a tinge on my chest as I turn and run back towards my cabin.

It's alright. Everything will be alright.

Little did I know we've already lost the battle.