The Delta's Daughter Chapter 279

GILLIAN

The tears came as soon as Tawny left the guest room, which I had holed myself up in for the past two days. I couldn’t stay here. I knew that. I just needed some time and space.

Goddess forbid word reached my father’s ears that Kolby and I were having problems and were sleeping in different rooms. He would have a field day and I’m positive he would use the information for self-gain. Twisting it to suit his own agenda.

I couldn’t hate Tawny. If I were in her shoes and had found my true mate, the way she had, engaged and promised by a binding contract – I’m not sure I would have acted the same way.

Sure, I have always been a lover, not a fighter but I would fight for my mate. A rare gift in this kingdom from the moon goddess.

‘Too kind’ is what King Armand had said to me on many occasions, following it up with, ‘your kindness will be your downfall one day, young lady.’ I missed that old man; he was more of a father figure to me than my own.

Eventually, I would have to forgive Kolby. Who am I kidding? I had already forgiven him. The sting of his betrayal, that he didn’t trust me, is what really hurts. We were meant to be best friends, lovers. And yes, I truly love Kolby, with all my heart. I trusted him with everything. My heart, my secrets, my life. And I thought he did too.

I just can’t understand why he would have kept this from me, why he thought he couldn’t come to me.

It’s because he was afraid. I reason with myself.

I would never have been so intimate with him if I had known the princess was his mate. Did he not understand that she would feel his indiscretion with me? I have been told, as well as read that once you meet your mate, if they fornicate with another and cheat, then the pain can be excruciating. There were even reports and stories documenting how some shifters attempted to claw out their own hearts. Their spirit animals attempt at ending their lives, so they didn’t have to bear the pain of a mate’s betrayal.

My heart flutters and my hands begin to shake at the thought of Tawny, anyone, having to endure that.

I am not a monster. I told Kolby he needed to choose. I wanted him to choose me. Of course, I did - he was the love of my life. It was always him and I against the realm. But… and a huge but… I knew I had to let him go. No matter how much the thought made my heart ache with a thudding pang of loss. If he wanted his mate, who was I to stand in the way?

With a heavy heart and tear-stained cheeks, slowly, I walked down the hallway, making my way back to the other side of the palace. My feline began to stir, the feeling of her pacing was making my skin itch and heat in a strange and unknown way.

As I make my way down the stairs, I can smell the library even though I am far away from my favorite room in the whole palace. The smell of aged leather and knowledge wafts up my nose. It’s a comforting scent and today my favorite scent, which seems much stronger, apparently has my feline purring.

“Gillian, my love.” Kolby’s voice has my eyes opening, not even realizing I had closed them to the addicting lull of the heady scent I was relishing in. “I don’t believe you have met Tristan ScarClaw yet. He will be staying with us and acting as an advisor. Someone you will be working with.”

I had almost forgotten about the werecat that had rolled into town when Kolby and I were away conducting checks on neighboring Clowders. Apparently, Tristan had come with Hunji, a wolf from the MacTire Kingdom. Or I guess now Riocht as he is Queen Lamia’s second in command.

I was almost disappointed that we had missed him. His reputation proceeds him and from what I have heard from Mason is a legend in his own right.

I follow behind Kolby, the scent of the library growing stronger as we approach the room. Why is the scent so strong today?

I cross over the threshold to the large, and familiar room, yet it feels anything but familiar at this moment. My legs begin to shake, and I fear if I take another step I may collapse. My brain is swimming and I feel lightheaded. I hear Kolby speak as dots begin to form in front of my eyes.

“Tristan this is my fiancée, Gillian. Gillian meet…” Kolby’s voice drowns out and a loud unfamiliar roar resonates around the room.

“Gillian!” Kolby’s panicking voice is a muffled cry to my ears.

The last thing I hear is my feline’s sultry whisper from deep within ‘Mate’.

Pale blue eyes that make me whimper and shudder with need, are the last thing I see before I’m falling into darkness.

When I come too, it takes me a few moments to figure out I’m still in the Library, laying on one of the many sofas.

My ears prick at the sound of muffled voices. “She is mine!” I hear Kolby hiss out in a threatening manner.

“And the goddess has deemed me worthy of a second chance… It’s unfortunate for you that my mate happens to be your fiancée,” A stranger’s voice replies, calm and soothing. Smooth like silk. My feline begins to purr again, at the sound of the stranger.

“Exactly – my fiancée, mine! You cannot claim her. I won’t let you.” Kolby barks back, like a dog.

I blink a couple of times and shift to sit up. Immediately I am surrounded by three large males. Wyvern is there, placing himself between Kolby and the body of an older man. A tall, pale-skinned, blond-haired male whose pale blue eyes bore into mine.

‘Mate’ I feel my feline purr again.

I can only assume the stranger is Tristan ScarClaw “You can’t be my mate,” I whisper, still in shock. And so utterly confused.

The stranger kneels before me, much to Kolby’s annoyance if the look on his face and the way his fists curl in, is any indication. “You are a picture of beauty, young lady. You are my second chance mate; the goddess has deemed me worthy to have another chance. A chance so rare, so few and far between that I am humbled by her gift. I am pleased to meet you, Gillian, I am Tristan ScarClaw.”

“But… but… “ I’m at a loss for words as I stare at the distinguished older gentleman. Not quite as old as my father but not as young as myself or Kolby. Handsome for sure. So handsome that I feel an ache between my legs and stifle back the whimper when the thought of him moving between my thighs flashes behind my eyes.

As if knowing exactly what I am thinking, the stranger chuckles “I am older, but what is age to a werecat, when we live for so long?” His smile is dashing, and I melt at the dimples he displays with the widening of his pink lips.

“Age is just a number,” I reply, my voice breathy and needy. As I take him in, he doesn’t look a day over forty, if even that.

He is my mate. My mate. Mine.

It was only what, minutes, hours? Ago that I had said if in Tawny’s shoes, I would never reject my mate. I groan out loud. This is a mess. A fine complicated mess of mates, fiancées, and contracts.

Somehow, I manage to tear my gaze from my… mate. I look between Kolby and Wyvern. Poor Wyvern looks not only confused but completely uncomfortable with the situation. “I came when I heard Sir Crimson’s growl.” He tells me, “Good job I did” He grumbles.

“Kolby?” I question accusingly. Understanding that Kolby would probably tear Tristan to shreds had he not interfered.

He hangs his head, shaking it slowly, “This isn’t how it was meant to be. This isn’t how things were supposed to go.” He grumbles with a deflated tone.

“Things rarely go according to plan when you step outside the mate bond.” Tristan offers up unwelcome words of wisdom.

“That’s the fucking truth.” Kolby now growls. “First, the princess, then your brother, and now… you have a mate!” He throws his arms up in despair.

“A what? Brother? Kolby, wait!” I shout and begin to sit up as he swiftly leaves the room, his skin shimmering to a dark red, crimson, the reason for his second name.

I’m too late. He has already fled the room and with his speed, most likely already out the palace doors.

My attention turns to my mate who still kneels before me with a slap-happy grin still on his face, and to Wyvern who cocks an eyebrow at me, hoping he is dismissed from this crazy dramatic show.

I give him a nod and he high-tails it out of the library leaving just Tristan and I. Alone.

*****

MASON

Taking a step back I watch the princess, my princess, spar against one of the younger new recruits. Walking him through a move, then demonstrating the move with quick and precise skill.

I palm my crotch beneath the flimsy material of my shorts when my gaze lingers for far too long on her toned legs and tight ass. My eyes made their way up and over her tiny and curvy body, appreciating the fullness of her tits and landing on the face of a goddess.

“Good, good. Now try putting all your body weight into the throw,” She tells the recruit.

I grit my teeth, willing the hardening of my cock to go away, trying to think of anything but the beauty in front of me and how her legs would feel wrapped around my waist. How her lips would feel wrapped around…

I let the thought trail off, refusing to finish it with the accompanying image. It was wrong of me to think this way about the princess. I had been tasked with guarding her. Not thinking about fucking her.

I need to get laid. That is what I determine.

Over the months my attraction to her had blossomed into lust and now I think I’m falling in love with her. Who wouldn’t? Strong, confident, funny, smart, a body to die for.

Kolby Crimson. That’s who wouldn’t. A flare of jealousy burns my chest. The werecat was an idiot to turn down the princess. It made me angry that she had been given, of all shifters, a mate who didn’t appreciate her – couldn’t see her for the exquisite woman she is.

I was born a rogue, my parents served Silas the rogue king and when I became of age, I too joined his ranks. I didn’t choose that life, didn’t choose to follow the sick bastard. I was born into it, with no choice and not knowing any better.

When Queen Lamia and the Moon Kingdom overthrew and killed Silas, I was one of the first to lay down my weapons and pledge allegiance to the new Queen. Followed by my good friend Josiah, a bear shifter who was now Beta to Alpha Travis of MacTire.

I chuckle to myself, because, honestly, I never thought we would get so lucky as to be given a chance at a real life, a life we could be proud of. A life and position where we could hold our heads up high, knowing we were doing good in the realm. Not following the mind of a sick rogue king so blindly as we did.

I have never regretted that decision. More so, I am thankful every day that I was given a second chance - then a new life when I was ordered to guard Princess Tawny.

I would give anything to be blessed with a mate like the princess.

I had met her before, the few times she had visited MacTire when I was stationed there. Even back then, she had caught my eye. Dark and delicate, with yellow eyes that shone brightly. Innocent, but you could see was haunted by memories of death and war.

I still held hope that she might choose me when we came here, but as the months passed, we became closer.

Then – I found out she was mated to that prick Kolby Crimson. Actually, I do like him. For the most part. The only reason I call him a prick is because he’s a dumbass. Mated to this beauty and still can’t see what stands in front of him. She hurt because of him. Took medication that could damage her spirit animal because of him. For those very reasons I was beginning to dislike him more and more.

As a rogue, I never expected to find a mate. Rogues have generally been deemed not worthy of the goddess’s gift. Rarely and only in strange circumstances have rogue shifters found their mates.

‘Impure and tainted souls shall never be worthy of such a gift’ My father had once told me. My mother was his chosen mate, or so they told me. It wasn’t until I was older that I found out she wasn’t his chosen. She was his forced mate. A woman he stole and forced a claim on.

Eventually, she had given in, and he allowed my mother to claim him back, at that point I had already been born.

For years I have been told I was undesirable—a rogue by birth. I have never expected to find a true mate, but even now at twenty-odd years old, I still pray for a fated mate. That the moon goddess will see I am worthy of a bond.

Maybe if Crimson rejects Tawny, I will be blessed as her second chance.

It’s a farfetched dream - I know. But a man can hope.

“Whew, what did you think of the new recruits?” Lost in my own daydreams I hadn’t noticed Tawny was standing in front of me, the recruits dwindling as they packed up their gear ready to head home. They were to young become warriors yet, so most of them would go home to their families at the end of each training session.

Others who lived too far away were placed in exchange homes with other families that had new recruits. The program was working out well so far.

I turned my attention to the beauty before me, offering her a warm and wide grin. “They’re looking good,” To myself, I replace the word ‘they’re’ with you are.

Casually, I drape an arm around the princess, discreetly inhaling the intoxicating, fruitful scent of nectarines – that belong solely to her.

She’s not mine and I know I’m not hers. For that reason alone, I would never pursue her. Besides that, and more importantly – I respect her.

Maybe I am falling for her? She’s all curves and sleek lines. Skin that glistens with sweat under the heat of the sun – the tiny beads of perspiration glint under the light of the sun, making her shine like a goddess.

How does she make sweating look so… Damn erotic!

She and I will never be – this, I know.

“I was going to grill out with the Alpha team, tonight. You should join us, just kick back and get to know the team a little.” She bobs her head, thinking about it.

I’m sure she is going to refuse, like usual. To my surprise, she says, “Yeah, I should. Since the battle of Riocht, I haven’t even tried to reconnect the team.” She sighs heavily, moving from under my arm just to place her hands on her hips and stop in front of me. “I’ve been a poor example of a leader lately. I’ve been swept up by my own problems, which are so insignificant compared to what our Alpha task force went through. This,” she waves her hands about now, “Hanging out, getting together, is a great team-building idea. We should do more of them. I need to reconnect with the team. I need to start acting like a leader. The leader my grandfather wanted me to be.”

She finally stops to catch a breath, I laugh at her, because well – only she would see simply hanging out, as a team-building exercise. But hey whatever got her out of the office or her room.

Our Alpha team had taken a huge hit in the battle of Riocht, losing a good number of warriors, one was a female, and all died bravely following our orders in the name of their kingdom. I could see it in Tawny’s eyes, their deaths haunt her. She takes them personally, their lives lost in the heat of battle. A battle she feels she dragged them into.

“You have other team-building exercises in mind? Maybe one on one?” I joke, pulling her back under my arm so she has to keep walking.

“A hunting and camping trip!” She chirps excitedly.

I let out a loud hearty chuckle “Hunting and camping,” I rub the scruff on my jaw with my free hand, “Like what Queen Lamia did back at MacTire?” I question, remembering the bonfires and hunts – when we had to patrol part of the kingdom that was isolated, she would turn it into a camping trip. No tents though, just roughing it.

That’s when the Queen, really earned my respect and loyalty. Way back when she was just the conquering Alpha. After everything she went through – we all knew the story… what they did to her. The way she turned our lives around and gave us a fair chance to make something of ourselves, that’s when Queen Lamia had my respect.

I look down at Tawny, now explaining that’s what they would do when she lived in the Moon Kingdom. “I will see you at 7.30, wear pants,” I tell her, and she frowns up at me “I don’t want those boys eyeing up your legs, getting any ideas,” I added giving her a wink.

I swore loyalty to Queen Lamia, and I would die on the battlefield for her. But Tawny - I would follow her into the depths of the underworld.

But I will not complicate her life any more than it is. She deserves better.

She deserves better than Kolby Crimson.