Mate I never wanted

Unwelcome interruptions

Lucien

A deep breath filled my chest as if I had come to the surface after a deep dive.

My heart skipped a few beats as I felt my hand grip into a tight fist, as if holding onto something or holding onto someone.

The cold sticky sweat covered my body as my eyes slowly opened. It took me a few blinks to get my vision to focus. There is no mistaking the slight migraine that was developing at the back of my head. You would hope that after waking up to this every day for the last ten years or so, I would be used to it.

And I guess I am used to it. I know not to sit up too fast or move for a few moments, unless I want to throw up.

But it's hard to shake the feeling of the nightmares that haunt me every night. No matter how many times I have them, I still feel them lingering in my body, in the slight bitter taste in my mouth and the clammy feeling of my skin.

As my vision finally settled and the nausea at the back of my throat disappeared, I felt my phone vibrate on the bedside table,

Shit, what now?

A sound between a growl and a groan escaped my chest as I sat up rubbing a hand over my sensitive eyes.

Colors started to swim behind my eyelids.

Okay, this is more intense than usual.

It took me a moment to blink away the wave of dizziness and realize that I could feel everything in my body. I could feel every fiber touching my skin, all the already dim lights were burning my eyes and the scent of the laundry detergent that my sheets were washed in was burning my nose.

In general, I was being a bit more sensitive than usual, which was no surprise, but it was unplanned and very annoying.

I will have to tell Richard to clear up my schedule for the next few days. I won't be able to work like this.

Mentally I was running over my to-do list and meetings that I will have to push back, trying to figure out when I can squeeze them in not to offset my other meetings. Thinking about it just made me that much more irritated.

As the irritation started to build, a growl started to rise in my chest. Needing to distract myself, I reached for my phone.

With a big exhale, I forced myself to blink a few times, trying to force my eyes to concentrate on the screen in my hand.

There was the usual updates from my fighter team and few emails from Richard talking about the updates on my schedule as well as request, but then my eyes caught a message from the Elders Council.

This was strange.

I don't really deal with them. It's father's job to keep them pleased and deal with them directly. So they had never reached out to me directly.

What the hell would they want from me?

They never contact me directly…

Your Highness, we are happy to inform you that the Elderly council have found the perfect genetic match for a mate. Please come to the Elderly Council center today at one PM to meet your mate.

Sincerely yours,

The Elderly Council.

A… a mate?

What the hell?

This has to be a mistake or some sort of a joke.

It can't be true.

I did not sing up for genetic match. Who would dare to do something like this... only two answers popped into my mind... there was only two people that had the power and guts to pull s**t like this.

It had to be either of my parents. I highly doubt father would get himself involved in games like this... not that I think he cares about me right now, not until my marriage would provide an opportunity to straighten his power with my marriage.

So it leaves my mother. She had the guts and power to pull this s**t.

Frustration and anger filled my chest as I jumped out of ben and marched towards the closet while dialing Richards number.

Like always he picked up after the first ring.

"Your highness?"

"Get my car ready."

"Yes, sit."

"And you will be going where sir? You have a meeting with the generals in two hours."

"Cancel my meetings for the next two days. I have an appointment with he elders council in half an hour. My heat has started."

"Sir are you sure its a good idea to go if your heat has started?"

"I will be fine. Its the elder council I can't reschedule or send someone else in my place, even though I am the prince."

"Do you want me to bring your medicine?"

"Its too late for that, it wont do anything."

A low sigh on the other end of the line was a clear indication that Richard knew how bad this was.

"I should be back just before it fully hits, so prepare my room."

"Yes, sir. I will deal with the meeting schedule and your car is already waiting for you at the front."

"Thank you, Richard."

Ending the call I pulled out my uniform and quickly got dressed. I need to move fast if I want to get back before the entirety of it hits.

Once dressed, I made my way to the front of the palace, feeling more and more irritated by this situation. I know that its mostly the start of my heat that is making me extra cranky, but I forced myself under control. I am the crowned prince, I can't let something as stupid as hormones impact how I deal with situations like that, I have an image to uphold and there is no room for mistakes or messing up, especially when dealing with the council.

One wrong move and everything will go crumbling down. They would not waste an opportunity like this.

Taking deep breaths I was met by Richard standing by the car. He had a concerned look on his face as he was reading my face for any signs of emotions, but there were none, I made sure of it.

"Sir."

He made a small respectful bow as he handed me the keys.

"I managed to move all the meetings to next week. Some of the generals were not happy, but they had no choice when I insisted that you had an emergency."

"Good. Please keep my whereabouts secret from anyone as well as my situation. If anyone asks, I'm on a emergency call."

"Yes, sir. Like always. And does this apply to everyone everyone?"

"Yes, my mother included."

Richards eyes narrowed as he nodded. My mother was one person that I rarely kept any information hidden from, especially like my health. She was one of the people in the whole empire that knew about it and she usually informs father when necessary. So me hiding it is a strange occurrence, but Richard knows better than to question me.

"Of course, Sir. Will there be anything else?"

"No, that is it for now."

I answered him as I slipped into my car.

Richard made a small bow as I drove away from the palace. Once alone in the car I let myself exhale.

Sure, I trusted Richard to keep my secrets to an extent, but you can't ever trust anyone fully, not in the palace.

After a few deep breaths I made my way through the capital arriving to the Elder center. Without getting stopped I drove to the back and parked in the private underground parking lot for the employees and the upper society. I had no wish to get spotted here by anyone, even the thought of the scandal it would cause made cold sweat gather at the back of my neck, but that might just be my heat approaching.