The Alpha Prince's Abused Mate Chapter 21

William

“Francine, how is Alana?” I asked in the middle of the party that I threw for Belinda Crossworth, the princess of the north whom I was betrothed to.

It was not a formal agreement between our fathers but it seemed like the princess is so thrilled with the idea that she is still holding it up until now.

She requested my father to come here and the alpha king instructed me to receive her as our official guest.

“She is alright, alpha prince.”

I sighed and scanned the room. If only I could pull the time. I would really want to run back to Alana. I want to see her now. I wanted to smell her and to look at her puppy eyes filled with excitement once she sensed my presence.

 “Did she already eat? What is she doing now? Is she getting bored in the room? Please tell her that I will really go to her after a meeting tonight.”

Francine chuckled seeing how excited I am even though we only haven’t seen each other for hours. “I am sure the lady will understand you, alpha prince. Alana is a very understanding woman. And yes, she has already eaten her dinner.”

But I still can’t stay still. What if she is sulking now while waiting for me? What if she thinks that I am just imprisoning her and wants to walk away from me?

“Do you think she will get angry at me once I tell her that I am betrothed to the princess? I am sure she will be hurt but it’s not my intention to be arranged to be married with her. It’s the decision of my parents that I would never honor myself.”

I am having doubts about telling her. I am torn between being honest and protecting our relationship from being tarnished. I don’t ever want to have a misunderstanding with her.

“Alpha prince, your mate is a very intelligent and gentle lady despite all that she’d been through. I am sure she will understand you.”

I nodded feeling a bit comforted. Francine is right. Alana is intelligent. The feedback I get from her private instructors is overwhelming. They said she could be a genius with the way her education is pointing her to.

“William! William, come here.” Belinda daintily took my arm and pulled me to the dance floor. ‘I want to dance with you.”

I looked back at Francine who just shrugged seeing that it would be futile for me not to go. I obliged politely so as not to embarrass her. After all, this party is for her.

She hooked her arms around my neck and danced gently while making sure her body was pressing on mine. The neckline of her night dress is also too low but I did not feel anything for her.

My Alana in my oversized shirt and pants still look the sexiest in my eyes.

“Do you know how happy I am when dad told me that I am to be betrothed to you? You are the alpha prince of the kingdom known for your beauty, charm, and wit. You are perfect and many women in the kingdom want you to be your husband but I am the one who won. I heard that you refused the advances of a daughter of an alpha of the small Brookefields pack?” she giggled referring to Alana’s sister, Sophia.  “Is that because of me?”

“Belinda, you know that the engagement is not yet formal. The alpha king and the luna queen only said that out of courtesy. They know that I am waiting for my mate.”

And that I already found my mate, I wanted to add but kept my mouth shut. It’s not yet time to reveal Alana to my world, especially when something interesting has come up with my investigation of her real identity. Alana, let’s just say, is a very special being both in and out of my world.

She bit her lower lip to appear cute to me but I just don’t find her attractive to my taste anymore. I only have my eyes, mind, and heart for Alana.

“But William, that is already a hopeless case. A man not finding his own mate for more than two decades is considered to be arranged to be married. The alpha king is an honorable man. I know he won’t back down from his words in front of my parents.”

I gritted my teeth. I know she will use that promise against me to honor it.

I hitched her arms away from my neck to make a point.

“Belinda, no one can force me to do things that I don’t want to do.”

Her mouth fell open, her cheeks reddened in shame but she still raised her face in rebellion. “William, you have a responsibility to this kingdom. You are the alpha prince!”

“I am ready to leave the castle to search for my mate.”

That sounded so true to me because I am really ready to leave all my responsibility behind for Alana.

Belinda sobbed and held on to the hem of my suit in desperation.       

“But I love you. I love you already from the moment I first laid my eyes on you. You can’t just leave me here while you look for your mate!”

“We are not mates. You are not my mate. You only fell at the first sight when you see your mate.”

“That is not true!” she said and hugged me so tightly I just let her be so as not to attract so much attention from the crowd. “I rejected mine when I learned that the alpha king is selecting young ladies for you. I even begged dad to let me put my name on the list.”

A loud crash was heard in the whole party.

Everyone looked in the direction of the girl who is now kneeling in front of broken pieces of plates cleaning them.

My heart drummed out of its cage when she looked up and our eyes met.

“Alana…”