The Warrior Princess

WYATT

I had always thought that when I found my mate that we would fall deeply in love. It would be an immediate connection, like my parents’ bond. The way matings are supposed to be. That’s what all the stories said.

So when I felt the mating connection with Milly, I was baffled when she said she wasn’t interested in having a mate.

She was ambitious and a fierce fighter. Anyone could see that. She was passionate about those she loved—but why couldn’t I be one of those?

It had been hard to keep my distance since we returned to her pack. News traveled that King Raphael wasn’t doing very well. Maddox had phoned Dad and let us know.

Dad and Raphael had been friends since they were young. We got there as soon as we could.

Milly returned with her brothers a couple of days later. I saw them cross the borders and race to the castle. There was no doubt she was an impressive wolf. Incredibly fit, she held pace with her brothers easily.

“You just have to give her time, Wyatt. Milly is a complicated wolf. She wants to be a soldier like her father, and honestly, the females in this family don’t like being held to societal norms.

“That’s why I had so much trouble with Reign in the beginning.”

Maddox and I were having breakfast. Having delivered this sage advice, he blithely shoveled in more bacon and eggs.

“Aren’t you mated and expecting a pup in a couple of months?” I snapped bitterly over my orange juice.

“Yes—but how long did I have to wait until Reign was ready to make that step?” He waved a fork full of bacon at me before shoving it in his mouth. “Months!”

I sighed heavily, put my glass down on the table, and dished up some food of my own. Maddox was right, much as it pained me to admit that my little brother had a point for once in his life.

The Gray women weren’t ordinary women. I needed to accept that, do as Maddox suggested, and just give Milly some time.

“Here she is! My beautiful mate!” Maddox rushed to pull out a chair for Reign, kissing her on the cheek as she sat down. “Breakfast?”

“Ooh, yes please. Just not bacon or eggs—blah, I can’t stand the smell!” She waved her hand in front of her nose.

Maddox dutifully pushed the plates as far away from her as possible and served her some fruit salad and orange juice.

Why can’t I ~have that?~

I excused myself and left the room. The sight of them so in love made my stomach turn.

I am meant to be the next king, yet I can’t even mate properly. How am I supposed to run a kingdom?

I went out the main door and stopped at the top of the castle’s sweeping front steps. The grounds of the Blue Moon pack were a sight to behold.

Nearby was the pack house and its immediate grounds. From there, a stepping stone pathway led down to the training grounds.

All of the warriors made that trek daily and worked out to be sure they stayed in shape in case of attack.

Not far from the pack house was a lake surrounded by lush green grass.

The pack lands’ boundary lines were marked by a thriving forest. On the other side of that forest was the human world.

If I listened intently enough, I could just make out cars honking at each other and people bustling through the streets, completely oblivious to what lay on the other side of the trees.

I stood on the steps and watched silently as Milly walked down to the training grounds, hitching her bag higher up on her shoulder as she went.

She had looked shaken when she got home the other day. I had put it down to the news about her grandfather, but else something seemed off. She didn’t look herself even now.

Without really thinking, I began the long descent down to the training grounds myself.

By the time I reached Milly, she had already worked up a sweat.

“Oh, look, it’s Shakespeare,” she muttered, taking a large gulp of water.

I stopped about two feet away from her. “I, uh. I just. I just wanted to say sorry for your loss and see how you are.”

She shrugged. “I’m just peachy, mate.” She winked and went back to running drills.

I felt my shoulders drop.

She does hate me.

“Okay. Well, see you around, I guess.” I could hear the defeat in my voice.

“Wait! Stop. I’m sorry. It’s just been a weird few days, that’s all.” She sighed heavily, turning around to face me.

“Did you want to talk about it?”

She scrunched her nose up like she was sick of hearing that question.

“The king of the Blood Moon Pack.”

“Kane?”

She nodded, biting her lip nervously.

“Well, witches are controlling his mind, but he somehow got it into his head that I reminded him of his mate, so he tried to sleep with me…” Her voice trailed off and she eyed me. “By force.”

I took a deep breath, sucked in my lips, stuffed my hands into my pockets, and nodded.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She eyed me up and down. “Aren’t you going to go all macho, mate, and threaten to beat him up or something?”

“Would it make you happier if I did?”

“I can take care of myself. I did take care of myself.” She crossed her arms across her chest, sticking her chin out defiantly.

“I don’t doubt that one bit. Your reputation as your father’s right hand has traveled far and wide.”

Her shoulders slumped slightly before she regained her composure. “Oh. Well, good.”

She looked off into the distance as if contemplating something.

I felt awkward standing there just waiting for her to speak, and tried frantically to think of something to say to fill the silence.

Without warning, she lunged toward me and planted her lips on mine. They were soft and plump. I didn’t know where to put my hands, so I placed them on her shoulders.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds before she stepped back, blushing slightly.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”

“That’s all right. It’s kind of a confusing situation for me at the moment, to be honest.” I laughed, and she smiled sadly.

“I’m sorry about what I said before I left for the Blood Moon pack. I’m just afraid that having a mate will interfere with all of my goals. I have so much that I want to achieve.”

“I understand. It’s hard trying to carve a way for yourself outside of your parents. People presume you get handed a lot of things just because of who you are.”

“Yes, exactly!” she exclaimed, laughing. “I guess I’m not totally against the idea of a mate. I just don’t want to rush it.”

I tried to keep my heartbeat normal. “That’s perfectly fine. We can go at whatever pace you want.”

She smiled and nudged me roughly with her shoulder. “Shall we run through some drills?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Sure, but only if you promise to teach me something.”

“Deal!”

“Hey, Milly?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m gonna kill Kane the next time I see him.”

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the blush creeping up her cheeks as she set up the circuit.

I meant it. I will kill that bastard.