The Alpha Prince's Abused Mate Chapter 26

William

“Alpha king, queen luna. I am happy to see you back in the castle. I hope that you have enjoyed the new country you have visited,” I greeted my parents while bowing before them in the receiving area of the palace.

“Of course, my dear William. Come on. Give mommy a big hug,” Luna Katrina beamed and opened her arms for me.

After hugging and kissing her cheeks, I also embraced my father who nodded at me pleasingly.

“Dad.”

We settled onto the sofa to partake with welcome tea.

“How was the party you hosted with Belinda? Did she like it?” the alpha king asked, clearly prying.

I am sure what happened at that party already reached him.

“To be honest, I don’t think so, dad. I think I ruined it for her,” I told the truth.

No point in lying to him when I know he already knew about it.

He set the cup down at the coffee table and turned towards his luna. “Dear, can you please leave us for a moment. I just have to talk with our son.”

My mother nodded seeing through her husband’s mind. Before going, she caressed my back as if telling me to just relax along with my father.

“Alright. I’ll just go to the kitchen. I miss the dishes here. I’ll also ask Belinda to dine with us.”

When she left, I put my hands together and began to ask my father again to retract about his initial decision about Alpha Killian.

“Dad, can you please revisit the case of A-”

“I heard you rejected Belinda to be your wife again,” he abruptly stopped me. “William, you do know you are not getting any younger. Mateless or not, you have to get married for the stability of the pack and the domain.”

“I know and I already set my eyes on another woman, father.”

“And who is that? The friend you brought along?”

This time, his voice became curious.

I nodded and met his eyes so he could see the overflowing sincerity and intention I have for Alana.

“Yes, alpha king. Alana is the most special one in my heart.”

He put his one leg on another without leaving his scrutinizing eyes on me.

“But you did that to her own father. You persecuted her whole family. Do you think they will accept you? Just because you are the alpha prince doesn’t mean they will like you. Alpha Killian is a good ally and he has rendered his army to the cause of the kingdom.”

Curling my fingers into a fist as I recalled how they all abused Alana, I matched the same intensity in my father’s gaze.

 Alpha King Razon is a formidable man. He is someone I looked up to as a leader but with the way he’s treating Alana’s case, my admiration for him has been diminished.

How could he still bring up her family when he knew they were the one who did those horrible things to Alana?

“Father, you know what he did to his own daughter! I cannot allow myself to see an injustice as evil as that! You and mother did not bring me up to just let it slide. The level of abuse he inflicted to Alana is unforgivable. You know that. It’s in my report.”

He took a sip from his cup and leaned forward, leveling our eyes as if he’s searching for something in my face.

“Will you marry her?”

I know deep inside the answer to that. It’s a resounding yes but…

“Daddy, I cannot marry her right now. Alana is…”

“What about her? Tell me.”

I sighed and resigned back into the seat. “I love her,” I murmured, my heart is yearning for her again.

I want to rush out from here just to see and hug her.

“Are you sure?” he asked, wanting to get something from me. “Can you do everything for her?”

“Yes, I will,” I firmly replied. “I can do anything for her. Anything.”

I must have seen the alpha king smile but he immediately covered by drinking his tea again.

“If you really love her, then you will let her be. An abused girl like her cannot survive in the kind of lives we live, William. It’s the first time I see you like this. I am happy to see my son this joyous but I am concerned about the welfare of the lady.”

Those words struck me and my heart skipped a beat in disappointment to myself. How did I not think about it? I thought I had always considered Alana’s well-being but it turned out I still overlooked the most important part of her.

“William, you are the alpha prince. You have responsibilities to the pack and to the people. You cannot just sacrifice everything for the woman.”

“I can, alpha king.”

“If you really like the woman then you will let your mother take care of her. There is a new project your mother has been passionate about. Teaching kids at the rural side. I am planning to send her there.”

I stood up in protest.

“Daddy! No! I will not allow that!”

Just the idea that she will be away from me drives me insane. No! I will not let her be away from me. How can I protect her if I can no longer see her anymore?

But the alpha king is immune to resistance.

“One month. If you can stay afloat with your duties and I can see her improvement then I will summon her to return. This is not a request, William. This is an order. While she is away, you will receive the ladies who will vie to be your luna. Who knows, one of them could be your mate.”

Stopping myself from being an indecisive son, I wanted to admit to him that Alana is my mate but knowing my father, it would only make him push me more to marry Alana.

I am dying to be married to her but she is what I am worried about. She is very innocent and traumatized by her own father. I don’t want to do anything that will be a big burden to her.

Now that my investigation about her real identity has deepened, I am more determined to protect her more than ever.

With hunched shoulders and a soul so weary, I went into the cabin house where I found Alana on the floor sleeping.

Scooping her gently into my arms, I lay her on the bed and brushed her hair aside, my eyes directly looking at her slender neck.

“I have to mark you now my mate. This is the only way I could protect you for now.”

Swallowing the guilt on my throat, I leaned in and bit her sensitive skin on the neck, nipping and sucking it at the same time to make the mark permanent. I buried my scent and essence into her vein so other male werewolves would know that she is mine.

Alana gasped in a hush but it was not enough to wake her up.

Breathing sharply to keep my self-control intact, I stood up with clenched jaws. The taste of her skin felt so heavenly, stirring up an extreme need for me to feel more of her. If I do not rein in my emotions, I would devour her lips in an instant which is not something that is appropriate for now.

“I know I promised you that I will be by your side but Alana, this is the best way to protect you. I am so sorry.”

I kissed her head for the last time and left the cabin quietly.

“I am so sorry, Alana.”