The Billionairess's Trusted Alpha Mate

Chapter 6

Nikolai's POV

I was back in the forest again. Dark trees surrounding me as I turned in a circle trying to get my bearings. The moon was large and full, bathing the treetops in silvery blue light but not enough for it to break the dense trees around me.

If I wasn't a shifter, I wouldn't have been able to see.

Just as I was about to start walking, my senses on alert for any sign of attack, she appeared from behind a tree.

The girl was gorgeous, with long wavy black hair that fell around her shoulders. Her dress was a midnight blue with silver beading along the skirt and bodice, her sapphire eyes shone happily as she saw me through the navy blue lacy mask she wore on her heart shaped face. Her creamy skin made her look like an elf maiden come to make me an offering.

She ran towards me and I knew she was someone special, her brilliant smile causing my heart to beat faster as she ran into my arms. I held her closely looking down at her pale pink lips, so badly wanting to find out what she tasted like. My wolf stirred, curious about the newcomer, that confused me. He never stirred in my dreams, they never really bothered him enough to bring him forward.

Luke, are you seeing this? I asked him and he began pacing in my head.

I see her, I feel her, I know she is there but can't reach her. She's close, very close. he replies vaguely and I huff. Darn wolf not giving me straight answers.

Who is she? I ask but he stops answering as the girl breaks away from my arms.

"Come on, Nik, we need to go." she says urgently and I look at her confused.

"Go where? Who are you?" I try to ask but she turns and runs into the forest giggling as she goes and I hesitate.

My instincts are urging me to run after her but knowing how this plays out, I'm not certain I should. I stay back, not running after her even though my body is screaming at me to do so. That the unknown girl is somehow in danger.

I walk swiftly, not quite a run but not a stroll since I know where this ends up, when I hear her cry out and I can't help but run towards the sound.

I end up in the same clearing, it's empty except for a silver heel in the middle. I pick it up and glance around, "Where are you?" I yell. Anxiety is blazing through me at the thought that she might be hurt.

As I search the clearing, a snap of a tree branch sounds behind me and a familiar scene unfolds before my eyes. I'm surrounded by humans in dark red robes, their hoods pulled up to cover their faces, all manor of crossbows pointed right at me.

I look around for the girl and I spot her, in front of the humans. Her black hair is straight, her eyes flash angrily looking like hard emeralds in the moonlight. Her dress is the same, but her face under the mask is different. And she's wearing a silver tiara with emeralds in her hair. I realize she is not the same girl just as she raises her arm then drops it and the arrows come flying at me.

I bolt upright, breathing heavily and covered in sweat as I glance around my office. Realizing I had managed to fall asleep and that the vision had come back but with newer details. The first girl was different from the second, which meant they were either related or just doppelgangers of each other.

Luke was pacing restlessly causing me to have a headache and I rubbed my eyes.

A knock sounded on the door and Thane's voice filtered through. "Your Highness, the Council meeting will be taking place in 30 minutes. I was asked to bring you some food as you have missed lunch." he stated. I got up and opened the door seeing the tray full of food from the kitchen.

"Thanks." I said as I placed the tray on the small coffee table by the sofa and began to eat. Thane opened the curtains revealing the almost setting sun. I had apparently slept longer than I thought.

He sat down next to me and watched me eat for a bit, "Feeling any better?" he asked and I nodded as I wolfed down the food. Inbetween bites I explained about the vision and what I had discovered. He nodded thoughtfully for a moment then took the empty tray and set it outside the door for the maidservant to take back to the kitchen.

When he closed the door, he looked at me thoughtfully, "Do you think the first girl might be your mate?" he asked quietly and I thought about it. She was indeed gorgeous and there was a very strong pull to protect her and be with her, enough of one that Luke even stirred in the vision. The problem was she wasn't a shifter. At least I couldn't sense an animal in her from the vision.

I shrugged, "She could be but if she is, she isn't a shifter. There was no sense of an animal in her and she didn't really act like one." I stated as I went into the bathroom connected to my office to wash my face and straighten my hair and clothes.

"Does that truly matter? It would explain why you haven't found her yet."

"No, I will love her regardless, but the Council will not like it. Most shifters in the clan accept humans as quite a few end up being magic-users, but some will not accept her at all." I replied.

Thane shrugged, "All the more reason for you to be there to protect her. They will come around eventually, they don't really have a choice. We can't hide forever." he said as I opened the door and we headed down the corridor.

We spent the walk to the council room talking about the protective measures around the castle and how the patrols were running under Thane's guidance. I tried to be at as many trainings as possible but with my work increasing due to my restless nights and lack of sleep, Thane had been training the men and women in my absence.

As we walked into the room, the guards on either side saluted me and then Thane, murmuring "Your Highness." as they opened the door then announced us to the room. The council room was brightly lit with reds and browns and whites all through the walls and carpet. In the center of the room was a large circular table, completely made of dark wood. There were six cushioned chairs seated around it and four of them were filled.

Thane and I bowed to my father at the center of the table. "Your Highness." we said in unison and he nodded fondly at us both. Father's grey eyes were clear and sharp taking in both mine and Thane's attire. He knew I hated dressing up for these meetings but he would not tolerate the Council giving me grief because they deemed my clothing inappropriate for a meeting with them.

The Council members consisted of two men and a woman. The men looked to be in their 50's or 60's but that was nothing to a shifter. Usually if you looked around that age, then you were in your late 300's or so. One of them wore a scowl, and I knew this was Councilman Reaver. He and father were constantly at odds over issues and he didn't like change at all. The other man was stern faced but his brown eyes were kindly and he smiled when I took my seat beside my father. Councilman Tate was a good man, he liked to know all sides of the argument before giving his vote on the matter.

The lady looked to be in her mid 40's and was the spitting image of a beautiful noble woman. She wore an elegant dress, and a large diamond necklace around her neck. Her graying hair was styled in an updo and she smiled warmly. Councilwoman Nelson wasn't a shifter but she was a magic-user and was for the kingdom and usually agreed with the royal family when it came to issues so long as they were for the good of the kingdom. She rarely butted heads with anyone.

Thane sat in a chair next to me. As Captain of the Guard and my future Beta, he was always in the meetings when it involved the Council. Usually there as moral support and as a protector to the royal family.

Father cleared his throat as we sat and greetings were given, "Now that we are all here, let's get to the reason for this meeting." He stated as he shuffled his papers in front of him.

"We are here to discuss the potential union of Lorraine Wildwing to Prince Nikolai. Prince Nikolai has, as of yet, found his fated mate and therefore, needs to take a chosen mate for the good of the kingdom." Councilman Reaver said sternly.

Father glared at him, his gray eyes flashing angrily. His eyes turning gold as his wolf tried to push forward at being disrespected. "Councilman Reaver, this will be your only warning. My son does not HAVE to do anything. If you try to imply that you are in control of what the Royal family will and will not do again, I will have you removed from this room. Am I clear?" Father asked raising his voice with each syllable.

The councilman glared but sat back, eyeing Thane as he shifted slightly in his seat, prepared to intercept the man if he tried to approach the King.

I looked between them and sat back, knowing this was going to go on for awhile.